Image reconstruction architecture

#The invention relates digitized image processing systems, and in particular to image reconstruction architectures in which digitized images that are obtained from an image source, such as a scanner, are processed for output to an output device, such as a printer.

#Image processing systems typically are used to adjust and correct image signals. For example, when printing a digitized image, such adjustments and corrections can include: color adjustment, deskewing, background and dust removal, descreening, text detection, text enhancement, color conversion, scaling and color manipulation.

#In most image processing systems, digitized image signal correctors perform the adjustments or corrections based on processing parameters provided by a system operator. The task of selecting the appropriate processing parameters for these correctors to achieve certain desired output results is normally left to the operator, and is one of the more difficult tasks in image processing. As the complexity of the image processing model grows with advances in image processing technology, this task has become even more difficult.

#The above-mentioned objects and features of the present invention can be more clearly understood from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same elements throughout, and in which:

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digitized image processing system including an exemplary image reconstruction path in accordance with this invention;

#FIGS. 2a and 2b provide a processing flow diagram for an exemplary image reconstruction path that processes a multipass scanned image in accordance with this invention; and

#The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for reconstructing digitized images. One important feature of the invention includes the ability to process one or more color formats, e.g., contone or 1-bit, and to operate upon any image source. For purpose of the discussion herein, multiple scan refers to systems that scan an image once per print separation. That is, for a CMYK printing system, the image is scanned four times, and printing separations for C, M, Y, and K are generated one by one. In contrast, single scan refers to copy systems that scan an image once for all print separations. For example, for a CYMK printing system the image is scanned once.

#Referring to FIG. 1, a digitized image processing system including an exemplary image reconstruction path in accordance with this invention is described. Image reconstruction path 10 accepts digitized image data from any of several sources, such as memory 14, video 12 (including data that may be cropped 13 or otherwise processed) JPEG or other image data 16 (such as GIF, TIFF, or PICT data), and RGB data 18 (e.g., from a scanner). In the case of video data, the system provides a mechanism, as is known in the art, for decompressing and deblocking the data, upsampling, and converting YUV to RGB 19.

#Image reconstruction path 10 provides a front end capability for processing any type of digitized image data, although the internal operation of the image reconstruction path is based upon the ultimate receipt of digitized image data in an RGB format. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that image reconstruction paths in accordance with this invention may be configured to operate on digitized image data in any format, and that the exemplary embodiment of the invention is provided solely for purposes of illustration and example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.