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US 7,068,395 B1Granted
Image processing apparatus and method
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsHiroshi Tanioka, Shoji Takeda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Multivalued image information is input, subjected to multivalued processing, and converted into data representing the number of print dots for each pixel. Print dots are counted for each region made up of a plurality of pixels, and a print dot layout in a region of interest is determined in accordance with the count value of print dots in a peripheral region around the region of interest. This arrangement can provide an image processing apparatus and method capable of obtaining a high-quality image without increasing the amount of information.
Claims8
An image processing apparatus, comprising:
- input means for inputting multivalued image information;
- conversion means for converting the input multivalued image information into first data representing a number of print dots for each pixel of the image;
- generation means for generating second data representing the total number of print dots in each region made up of a plurality of pixels, based on the first data;
- a memory for storing the second data generated by said generation means;
- and
- print dot layout determination means for inputting from said memory a plurality of the second data comprising the second data of a region of interest and the second data of at least one region around the region of interest, and determining a print dot layout in the region of interest in accordance with the plurality of the second data;
- wherein said print dot layout determination means con- centrates dots of the print dot layout in the region of interst at the center of the region in a case where the total numbers of print dots in the regions around the region of interest are small and the total number of dots in the region of interest is small, distributes dots of the print dot layout to the right and left sides in the region of interest in a case where the total numbers of print dots in the regions around the region of interest are large and the total number of dots in the region of interest is small, and shifts dots of the print dot layout in the region of interest to a region around the region of interest, which has more large number of dots than the other region around the region of interest in a case where a difference between the total numbers of print dots in the regions around the region of interest is large.
4 more elements
An image processing method, comprising the steps of:
- an input step of inputting multivalued image information;
- a conversion step of converting the input multivalued image information into first data representing the number of print dots for each pixel of the image;
- a generation step of generating second data representing the total number of print dots in each region made up of a plurality of pixels, based on the first data;
- a memorizing step of storing the second data generated by said generation means in a memory;
- and
- a print dot layout determination step of inputting from said memory a plurality of the second data comprising the second data of a region of interest and the second data of a least one region around the region of interest, and determining a print dot layout in the region of interest in accordance with the plurality of the second data,
- wherein said print dot layout determination step concentrates dots of the print dot layout in the region of interest at the center of the region in a case where the total numbers of print dots in the regions around the region of interest are small and the total number of dots in the region of interest is small, distributes dots of the print dot layout to the right and left sides in the region of interest in a case where the total numbers of print dots in the regions around the region of interest are large and the total number of dots in the region of interest is small and shifts dots of the print dot layout in the region of interest to a region around the region of interest, which has more large number of dots than the other region around the region of interest in a case where a difference between the total numbers of print dots in the regions around the region of interest is large.
4 more elements
A computer-readable storage medium which stores a computer readable program for an image processing method, the program comprising the steps of:
- an input step of inputting multivalued image information;
- a conversion step of converting the input multivalued image information into first data representing the number of print dots for each pixel of the image;
- a generation step of generating second data representing the total number of print dots in each region made up of a plurality of pixels, based on the first data;
- a memorizing step of storing the second data generated by said generating step in a memory;
- and
- a print dot layout determination step of inputting from the memory a plurality of the second data, comprising the second data of a region of interest and the second data of at least one region around the region of interest, and determining a print dot layout in the region of interest in accordance with the plurality of the second data,
- wherein said print dot layout determination step concentrates dots of the print dot layout in the region of interest at the center of the region in a case where the total number of print dots in the regions around the region of interest are small and the total number of dots in the region of interest is small, distributes dots of the print dot layout to the right and left sides in the region of interest in a case where the total numbers of print dots in the regions around the region of interest are large and the total number of dots in the region of interest is small, and shifts dots of the print dot layout in the region of interest to a region around the region of interest, which has more large number of dots than the other region around the region of interest in a case where a difference between the total numbers of print dots in the regions around the region of interest is large.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.