US 2001/0043749 A1Published application

Image processing apparatus

AssigneeRiso Kagaku Corporation

InventorsYUKIO IRIE, SHINYA OKADA, AYA NAKADAI, YOSHIYUKI OKADA

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Abstract

An operator can select image processing for a half tone image area among a plurality of processing methods, and image processing appropriate for the image can be carried out thereby. An original image is read by an image sensor 1 and output through either simple binary conversion by binary conversion means 3 for character processing or half tone image processing by binary conversion means 2 for photograph processing. Judging means 6 judges whether image data are of a character image area or a half tone image area, and switches output between the binary conversion means 3 for character processing and the binary conversion means 2 for photograph processing. The binary conversion means 2 for photograph processing includes error diffusion processing means 10 and dither processing means 11. By setting of setting means 13 carried out by an operator, output from either the error diffusion processing means 10 or the dither processing means 11 is selected for a half tone image.

Claims2

Dependent claims

An image processing apparatus of the present invention which comprises judging means which judges the degree of likelihood of being a half tone image pixel or a character image pixel of a target pixel in an original and outputs a judged degree in stepwise values, gamma correction means which has a plurality of density conversion curves showing relations between input density of image data and output density thereof and converts the image data by using one of the density conversion curves corresponding to the judgment result by the judging means, and binary conversion means for photographic processing which carries out binary conversion on a half tone image by using a predetermined method, is characterized in that it further comprises:

an image processor installed in the binary conversion means for photographic processing, which carries out binary conversion processing on the half tone image by using at least two different kinds of image processing methods and outputs binary-converted image data;
and
a selector which selects a binary-converted image data output by any one of said at least two kinds of image processing methods.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.