Element generator for dither matrix and a dithering apparatus using the same

Abstract

An element generator for a dither matrix comprises a logic device which receives a row address and a column address and performs a logic operation thereon so as to produce a dither element corresponding to the row address and the column address, which is implemented at low cost and has an advantage in that the processing speed is increased. The dithering apparatus comprises a dither-matrix element generator, a comparator, an adder and a selector. The comparator compares the output of the dither-matrix element generator with lower-bit data of the original image data. The adder adds a predetermined number to upper-bit data of the original image data. The selector selects one between the upper-bit data and the adder output, in accordance with the output of the comparator, so as to produce the selected one as the dithered image data. Dithering is thereby performed via hardware, which leads to an increased processing speed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.