Image processing apparatus including binary data producing unit

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• image sensing means having a plurality of photoelectric converting elements for outputting electric signals of an optical image converted by a said photoelectric converting elements in a predetermined order;
• difference-value signal producing means for producing difference-value signals according to a difference in amounts of said electric signals output from said image sensing means;
• first binary data output means for outputting one-leveled data of first binary data after said difference-value signals produced by said difference-value signal producing means become more than a first positive reference value, and for outputting another-level data of said first binary data after said difference-value signals produced by said difference-value signal producing means become less than a first negative reference value;
• second binary data output means for outputting one-leveled data of second binary data after said difference-value signals produced by said difference-value signal producing means become more than a second positive reference value which is less than said first positive reference value, and for outputting another-leveled data of said second binary data after said difference-value signals produced by said difference-value signal producing means become less than a second negative reference value which is more than said first negative reference value;
• and,
• addition means for adding said second binary data output from said second binary data output means, while said first binary data output means outputs one of one-leveled data and another-leveled data, to said first binary data output from said first binary data output means.

A method of operating an image processing apparatus which comprises image sensing means having a plurality of photoelectric converting elements arranged in rows and columns in a matrix form, the method comprising the steps of:

• outputting electric signals converted from an optical image by said photoelectric converting elements;
• selecting said electric signals produced by an n.times.n ("n" being an integer) array of said photoelectric converting elements;
• producing an average value of said selected electric signals;
• and,
• producing binary data in response to electric signals produced by an m.times.m ("m" being an integer) array of said photoelectric converting elements at the center of said n.times.n array of said photoelectric converting elements, with said average value as a threshold value.

A method of operating an image processing apparatus in constructed of at least image sensing means having a plurality of photoelectric converting elements, said method comprising the steps of:

• outputting electric signals converted from an optical image by said photoelectric converting elements;
• producing difference data according to a difference between amounts of at least two electric signals produced by said photoelectric converting elements arranged closely each other;
• and,
• producing binary data in response to said difference data.

A method of operating an image processing apparatus constructed of at least image sensing means having a plurality of photoelectric converting elements, said method comprising the steps of:

• outputting electric signals converted from an optical image by said photoelectric converting elements in a predetermined order;
• producing difference-value signals according to a difference in amounts of said electric signals output from said image sensing means;
• outputting one-leveled data of first binary data after said difference-value signals become more than a first positive reference value and outputting another-leveled data of said first binary data after said difference-value signals become less than a first negative reference value;
• outputting one-leveled data of second binary data after said difference-value signals become more than a second positive reference value, and outputting another-leveled data of said second binary data after said difference-value signals become less than second negative reference value which is more than said first negative reference value;
• and,
• adding said second binary data being output, while one of one-leveled data and another-leveled data is output, to said first binary data being output.