Apparatus and methods for hand coded image smoothing
OwnerLionel Mougin, Didier Maitre +1inventors
InventorsLionel Mougin, Didier Maitre, Philippe Gautier
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for smoothing an image representation for printing and display purposes. The invention recognizes that for smoothing purposes, there are only a limited number of patterns that require such smoothing, normally not exceeding a few hundred. It is therefore practical to compare an input image to a plurality of pre-determined patterns. If a match is found, then the input image is replaced by a corresponding pattern that was empirically found to be more suitable for the purposes of printing or display. Alternate embodiments of both the methods and the apparatus are disclosed.
Claims17
Apparatus for smoothing at least part of a bi-level image pattern, said apparatus comprising:
- an n-by-n bit pattern buffer configured to store an n-by-n bit image segment wherein n is an odd number;
- a storage device configured to store a plurality of pattern segments that may need smoothing;
- at least one comparator configured to compare a plurality of pattern segments to be stored in the storage device with a corresponding part of an image segment to be stored in the pattern buffer;
- and,
- center bit control circuitry responsive to a finding of comparison in a pattern segments to be stored in the storage device with a corresponding part of an image segment to be stored in the pattern buffer to set the center bit of the image segment to a predetermined state.
Apparatus for smoothing a bi-level image input pattern, said apparatus comprising of:
- input means for an n-by-n bit image input pattern, wherein said n is an odd value;
- storage means for storing a plurality of n-by-n bit image patterns;
- comparison means for comparing said n-by-n bit image input pattern to the plurality of n-by-n bit image patterns;
- center bit switching means for switching the center bit of said n-by-n bit image input pattern from its original bi-level value to an opposite bi-level value upon indication of a match from said comparison means.
Apparatus for smoothing a bi-level image input pattern, said apparatus comprising of:
- input circuitry configured to receive n-by-n bit image input patterns;
- a storage device configured to store a plurality of n-by-n bit image patterns;
- at least one comparator configured to compare an n-by-n bit image input pattern in the storage device to a plurality of n-by-n bit image patterns in the storage device;
- a center bit switch configured to switch the center bit of said n-by-n bit image input pattern from its original bi-level value to an opposite bi-level value upon indication of a match from said comparator.
A method of smoothing a bi-level image input pattern comprising:
- receiving an n-by-n bit image input pattern, wherein n is an odd value;
- comparing the n-by-n bit image input pattern to a first plurality of n-by-n bit image patterns;
- switching the value of the center bit of the n-by-n bit image input pattern to the other bi-level value upon detection of a match between the n-by-n bit image input pattern and at least a pattern of the first plurality of n-by-n bits image patterns.
A method of smoothing a bi-level image input pattern comprising:
- receiving an n-by-n bit image input pattern, wherein n is an odd value;
- comparing the n-by-n bit image input pattern, less its center bit, to a first plurality of n-by-n bit image patterns, each also less its center bit, whereby the image input pattern and the image patterns all have n2−1 bits;
- upon detection of a match in the comparison, forcing the value of the center bit of the n-by-n bit image input pattern to a state associated with the matching pattern.
A machine readable medium that provides instructions which, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform operations smoothing a bi-level image input pattern comprising:
- receiving an n-by-n bit image input pattern, wherein said n is an odd value;
- comparing the n-by-n bit image input pattern to a plurality of n-by-n bit image patterns;
- switching the value of the center bit of the n-by-n bit image input pattern to the other bi-level value upon detection of a match between the n-by-n bit image input pattern and one of said plurality of n-by-n bit image patterns.
A machine readable medium that provides instructions which, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform operations smoothing a bi-level image input pattern comprising:
- receiving an n-by-n bit image input pattern, wherein said n is an odd value;
- comparing the n-by-n bits image input pattern, less its center bit, to a plurality of n-by-n bit image patterns, each also less it center bit, whereby the image input pattern and the image patterns each have n2−1 bits;
- upon detection of a match during the comparison, forcing the value of the center bit of the n-by-n bit image input pattern to a state associated with the matching pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.