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US 7,746,500 B2Granted
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
AssigneesKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorTetsuya Sadowara
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Abstract
An image forming apparatus according to this invention includes an image processing unit configured to input pre-image processing image data and perform various image processing, a storage unit configured to store the pre-image processing image data and repeatedly read out and output the stored pre-image processing image data to the image processing unit, and a printing unit configured to print post-image processing image data outputted from the image processing unit. With the image forming apparatus according to this invention, the work efficiency in adjustment of image processing parameters can be improved.
Claims8
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a scanner unit configured to read an original;
- an image processing unit configured to input image data before image-processing from the scanner and determine whether the original is a monochrome original or a color original by a threshold value;
- a storage unit configured to store the image data before image-processing
- a parameter control unit configured to adjust the threshold value and set the adjusted threshold value in the image processing unit;
- and
- a printing unit configured to print image data outputted from the image processing unit in a single black color when the original is determined to be a monochrome original, and in multiple colors when the original is determined to be a color original,
- wherein, when the threshold value is adjusted,
- an evaluation chart including a major monochrome part and a minor color part is set in the scanner unit and read by the scanner unit, and
- the parameter control unit performs:
- a) setting an initial value of the threshold value high enough that the image processing unit determines the evaluation chart is a monochrome original,
- b) controlling to write image data of the evaluation chart before image-processing into the storage unit,
- c) controlling to read the image data of the evaluation chart before image-processing from the storage unit,
- d) sending the read image data of the evaluation chart before image-processing to the image processing unit,
- e) inputting a determination result of the image processing unit, and
- f) repeating the step c) through e), while changing the threshold value in a decreasing direction and setting the changed threshold value in the image processing unit, until the image processing unit determines the evaluation chart is a color original.
12 more elements
An image forming method, comprising the:
- reading an original by a scanner unit;
- inputting image data before image-processing from the scanner unit and determining whether the original is a monochrome original or a color original by a threshold value by an image processing unit;
- storing the image data before image-processing to a storage unit;
- adjusting the threshold value and setting the adjusted threshold value in the image processing unit by a parameter control unit;
- and
- printing image data outputted from the image processing unit in a single black color when the original is determined to be a monochrome original, and in multiple colors when the original is determined to be a color original,
- wherein, when the threshold value is adjusted,
- an evaluation chart including a major monochrome part and a minor color part is set in the scanner unit and read by the scanner unit, and
- the adjusting step further comprises:
- a) setting an initial value of the threshold value high enough that the image processing unit determines the evaluation chart is a monochrome original,
- b) controlling to write image data of the evaluation chart before image-processing into the storage unit,
- c) controlling to read the image data of the evaluation chart before image-processing from the storage unit,
- d) sending the read image data of the evaluation chart before image-processing to the image processing unit,
- e) inputting a determination result of the image processing unit, and
- f) repeating the step c) through e), while changing the threshold value in a decreasing direction and setting the changed threshold value in the image processing unit, until the image processing unit determines the evaluation chart is a color original.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.