Method and system operative to process monochrome image data

A system for converting a monochrome image to binary data, comprising:

• one or more computers operative to:
• receive a frame of monochrome image data, said frame of monochrome image data comprising a plurality of input pixel values corresponding to a plurality of pixel positions in an image, wherein said input pixel values are represented as N-bit values, and wherein N>1;
• define a plurality of pixel value ranges, said pixel value ranges comprising a low range, a high range, and at least one intermediate range;
• assign each of said input pixel values to one of said pixel value ranges;
• assign pixel positions having input pixel values assigned to said low range an output pixel value that is a first binary value;
• assign pixel positions having input pixel values assigned to said high range an output pixel value that is a second binary value, wherein said second binary value is different than said first binary value;
• and
• assign pixel positions having input pixel values assigned to said at least one intermediate range output pixel values representative of a spatial binary pattern, wherein said spatial binary pattern assigned to each of said at least one intermediate ranges is different.

A computer program product for processing image data, said computer program product including:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium;
• first program code for receiving a frame of monochrome image data, said frame of monochrome image data comprising a plurality of input pixel values corresponding to a plurality of pixel positions in an image, wherein said input pixel values are represented as N-bit values, and wherein N>1;
• second program code for defining a plurality of pixel value ranges, said pixel value ranges comprising a low range, a high range, and at least one intermediate range;
• third program code for assigning each of said input pixel values to one of said pixel value ranges;
• and
• fourth program code for assigning pixel positions having input pixel values assigned to said low range an output pixel value that is a first binary value, assigning pixel positions having input pixel values assigned to said high range an output pixel value that is a second binary value, wherein said second binary value is different than said first binary value, and assigning pixel positions having input pixel values assigned to said at least one intermediate range output pixel values representative of a spatial binary pattern, wherein said spatial binary pattern assigned to each of said at least one intermediate ranges is different;
• wherein said first, second, third and fourth program code is recorded on said computer readable medium.