Image processing apparatus and method

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• a developer, arranged for developing entered image information described in a page description language and storing developed color image information in a first memory;
• a discriminator, arranged for discriminating a characteristic of the entered color image information and storing a discrimination code representing a discrimination result in a second memory;
• a readout portion, arranged for reading the color image information stored in the first memory and reading the discrimination code out of the second memory;
• and
• a plurality of processors, each for processing a respective one of a plurality of color components representing the color image information read out of the first memory in accordance with the discrimination code read out of the second memory;
• and a converter, arranged for converting image data outputted by said processors, to a pulse-width modulated signal having a period according to a discrimination code read out of the second memory by said readout portion,
• wherein the reading of the discrimination code is synchronized with the operation of said plurality of processors and is performed in correspondence with the processing operation performed by each of said processors, wherein said discriminator determines whether a pixel of interest is contained in a character/line-drawing area or in a continuous tone image area, wherein said discriminator performs discrimination processing by referring to image data of an area comprising the pixel of interest and a plurality of pixels surrounding said pixel of interest, wherein said discriminator performs discrimination processing based on a number of items of image data having different values present in an area comprising a plurality of pixels and a maximum value of differences between the pixel of interest and the pixels surrounding said pixel of interest, and wherein said plurality of processors selectively perform first processing for reproducing a color, and second processing according to a black character or black line drawing.

An image processing method comprising the steps of:

• developing entered image information described in a page description language;
• storing developed color image information in a first memory;
• discriminating a characteristic of the entered color image information;
• storing a discrimination code representing a discrimination result in a second memory;
• reading the color image information stored in said first memory and reading the discrimination code out of said second memory;
• and
• operating a plurality of processors to cause each processor to process a respective one of a plurality of color components representing the color image information read out of the first memory, in accordance with the discrimination code read out of the second memory,
• wherein in the reading step, the reading of the discrimination code is synchronized with the operation of the plurality of processors and is performed in correspondence with the processing operation performed by each of said processors to a respective color component, wherein said discriminating step includes determining whether a pixel of interest is contained in a character/line-drawing area or in a continuous tone image area, performing discrimination processing by referring to image data of an area comprising the pixel of interest and a plurality of pixels surrounding said pixel of interest, and performing discrimination processing based upon a number of items of image data having different values present in an area comprising a plurality of pixels and a maximum value of differences between the pixel of interest and the pixels surrounding said pixel of interest.

An image processing method comprising the steps of:

• developing entered image information described in a page description language;
• storing developed color image information in a first memory;
• discriminating a characteristic of the entered color image information;
• storing a discrimination code representing a result of discrimination in a second memory;
• reading the color image information stored in said first memory and reading the discrimination code out of the second memory;
• operating a plurality of processors to cause each processor to process a respective one of a plurality of color components representing the color image information read out of the first memory, in accordance with the discrimination code read out of said second memory;
• and
• converting the image data obtained in said operating step, to a pulse-width modulated signal having a period according to a discrimination code read out of the second memory in said reading step,
• wherein in the reading step, the reading of the discrimination code is synchronized with the operation of the plurality of processors and is performed in correspondence with the processing operation performed by each of said processors to a respective color component, and
• wherein said discriminating step includes determining whether a pixel of interest is contained in a character/line-drawing area or in a continuous tone image area, performing discrimination processing by referring to image data of an area comprising the pixel of interest and a plurality of pixels surrounding said pixel of interest, and performing discrimination processing based on a number of items of image data having different values present in an area comprising a plurality of pixels and a maximum value of differences between the pixel of interest and the pixels surrounding said pixel of interest, and
• wherein the plurality of processors selectively perform first processing for reproducing a color, and second processing according to a black character or black line drawing.