# US 2008/0187214 A1 · Image processing apparatus and image processing method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0187214 A1 - Document ID: US20080187214A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/670,711 - Filed: 2007-02-02 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-02 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba; Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hirokazu Shoda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080187214A1 ## CPC - H04N 1/486: {with separate detectors, each detector being used for one specific colour component} - H04N 1/1013: {with sub-scanning by translatory movement of at least a part of the main-scanning components (H04N1/107 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/193: using electrically scanned linear arrays {, e.g. linear CCD arrays} - H04N 2201/0081: Image reader (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence) - H04N 2201/0091: Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' (H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence) - H04N 2201/044: Moving a scanning element into cooperation with a calibration element, e.g. a grey-wedge mounted on the document support, or vice versa - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract To obtain an image with good visibility by identifying an original document as being a color original document or a monochrome original document for every original document and using processing suitable for each for an image read by the image reading device. To achieve the object, the invention includes: a color processing portion 77 that performs color image forming processing for a multi-color color original document made of more than one color; a color original document monochrome processing portion 74 that performs monochrome image forming processing for a monochromatic color original document made of a single color; a monochrome original document processing portion 73 that performs monochrome image forming processing different from the monochrome image forming processing by the color original document monochrome processing portion 74 for a monochrome original document; and a CPU 75 that enables appropriate selective use of the color processing portion 77, the color original document monochrome processing portion 74, and the monochrome original document processing portion 73 for each original document. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image processing apparatus, comprising: a color processing unit configured to perform color image forming processing for a multi-color color original document made of more than one color; a first monochrome processing unit configured to perform monochrome image forming processing for a monochromatic color original document made of a single color; a second monochrome processing unit configured to perform monochrome image forming processing different from the monochrome image forming processing by the first monochrome processing unit for a monochrome original document; and a selection unit configured to enable appropriate selective use of the color processing unit, the first monochrome processing unit, and the second monochrome processing unit for each original document. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the selection unit determines whether an original document is a multi-color color original document, a monochromatic color original document, or a monochrome original document for each original document acquired through reading, and selects an output of at least one of the color processing unit, the first monochrome processing unit, and the second monochrome processing unit according to a result of the determination. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: in determination processing by the selection unit, a signal indicating chromatic saturation is generated from an input signal, the chromatic saturation signal is compared with a specific threshold value to calculate a total number of color pixels present in an original document, and whether the original document is a monochrome original document is determined by comparing the total number of the color pixels with a specific threshold value; and in a case where the original document is determined as not being a monochrome original document, a signal indicating a hue is generated from the input signal, frequencies of hues present in the original document are calculated using the hue signal, and whether the original document is a multi-color color original document or a monochromatic color original document is determined by comparing the frequencies of the hues with a specific threshold value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: the selection unit classifies hues into at least eight states including red, yellow, green, cyan, blue, magenta, black, and white for determination as being a chromatic color original document or a multi-color color original document. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: regarding the determination as being a monochromatic color original document or a multi-color color original document, whether the original document is a monochromatic color original document or a color original document in more than one color is determined by comparing a hue having a highest frequency among the hues excluding black and white with a specific first threshold value, and comparing all the hues excluding black and white with a specific second threshold value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image reading unit configured to be able to read RGB signals and a monochrome signal, wherein the color processing unit and the first monochrome processing unit perform processing using the RGB signals and the second monochrome processing unit performs processing using the monochrome signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a color original document mixed mode setting unit configured to allow a user to set a mode in which a determination operation by the selection unit is performed for every original document as a color original document mixed mode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: when the color original document mixed mode is set by the color original document mixed mode setting unit, the selection unit stores images formed by each of the first monochrome processing unit and the second monochrome processing unit into a memory unit, and displays the images stored in the memory unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: the selection unit allows the user to select the images formed by each of the first monochrome processing unit and the second monochrome processing unit and being displayed by the display unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein: the selection unit further allows the user to select an image processed by the color processing unit instead of the images formed by each of the first monochrome processing unit and the second monochrome processing unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: an image reading unit configured to be able to read RGB signals and a monochrome signal, wherein: the first monochrome processing unit performs image forming processing using the RGB signals; and the second monochrome processing unit performs the image forming processing using the monochrome signal. ### Claim 12 An image processing apparatus, comprising: color processing means for performing color image forming processing for a multi-color color original document made of more than one color; first monochrome processing means for performing monochrome image forming processing for a monochromatic color original document made of a single color; second monochrome processing means for performing monochrome image forming processing different from the monochrome image forming processing by the first monochrome processing unit for a monochrome original document; and selection means for enabling appropriate selective use of the color processing means, the first monochrome processing means, and the second monochrome processing means for each original document. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein: the selection means determines whether an original document is a multi-color color original document, a monochromatic color original document, or a monochrome original document for each original document acquired through reading, and selects an output of at least one of the color processing means, the first monochrome processing means, and the second monochrome processing means according to a result of the determination. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein: in determination processing by the selection means, a signal indicating chromatic saturation is generated from an input signal, the chromatic saturation signal is compared with a specific threshold value to calculate a total number of color pixels present in an original document, and whether the original document is a monochrome original document is determined by comparing the total number of the color pixels with a specific threshold value; and in a case where the original document is determined as not being a monochrome original document, a signal indicating a hue is generated from the input signal, frequencies of hues present in the original document are calculated using the hue signal, and whether the original document is a multi-color color original document or a monochromatic color original document is determined by comparing the frequencies of the hues with a specific threshold value. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: the selection means classifies hues into at least eight states including red, yellow, green, cyan, blue, magenta, black, and white for determination as being a chromatic color original document or a multi-color color original document. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: regarding the determination as being a monochromatic color original document or a multi-color color original document, whether the original document is a monochromatic color original document or a color original document in more than one color is determined by comparing a hue having a highest frequency among the hues excluding black and white with a specific first threshold value, and comparing all the hues excluding black and white with a specific second threshold value. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: image reading means capable of reading RGB signals and a monochrome signal, wherein the color processing means and the first monochrome processing means perform processing using the RGB signals and the second monochrome processing means performs processing using the monochrome signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: color original document mixed mode setting means for allowing a user to set a mode in which a determination operation by the selection means is performed for every original document as a color original document mixed mode. ### Claim 19 An image processing method performed by a computer in an image processing apparatus, comprising the steps of: performing color image forming processing for a multi-color color original document made of more than one color as color processing; performing monochrome image forming processing for a monochromatic color original document made of a single color as first monochrome processing; performing monochrome image forming processing different from the monochrome image forming processing in the step of performing the first monochrome processing for a monochrome original document as second monochrome processing; and enabling appropriate selective use of the step of performing the color processing, the step of performing the first monochrome processing, and the step of performing the second monochrome processing for each original document. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The image processing method according to claim 19, wherein: in the step of enabling the appropriate selective use, whether an original document is a multi-color color original document, a monochromatic color original document, or a monochrome original document is determined for each original document acquired through reading, and an output of at least one of the color processing means, the first monochrome processing means, and the second monochrome processing means is selected according to a result of the determination.