The present invention relates to the halftone processing of tone image data in an image processing device such as a later printer or the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to halftone processing which is devised so that the position of the center of gravity is determined using a predetermined cell from the tone values of the pixels contained in this cell, and dots are produced in this position of the center of gravity in an amount corresponding to the sum of the tone values of the pixels within the cell.
Conventionally, image processing devices such as printers and the like have been devised so that in the case of tone data having multi-value tone values for respective pixels, the data is converted into binary values that express the presence or absence of dots, and is printed on printing paper. Generally, processing that converts multi-value tone values into binary values is referred to as halftone processing.
Such halftone processing includes processing (hereafter referred to as the “CAPIX method”) in which pixels are searched in a specified order until specified tone values have been accumulated, and the accumulated tone values are redistributed in order from the pixels with the largest input tone values (for example, see non-patent Reference 1: Shunsei Kurozawa et al., “Quasi-intermediate Halftone Processor Using peripheral concentration integration and redistribution method (CAPIX method)”, Gazo Denshi Gakkai-shi, Vol. 17, No. 5 (1988)).
Furthermore, halftone processing is also known in which pixels are selected in a specified order until the total of the tone values of the respective pixels reaches a specified threshold value, so that a pixel group (hereafter referred to as a “cell”) is formed, and a dot is produced in the central position of this cell (e.g., see patent Reference 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-27528).
Moreover, there is also processing in which a cell is formed while selecting pixels in positions closest to the position of the center of gravity until a threshold value is reached, and a dot is produced in the position of the center of gravity within the cell, but the threshold value is varied in accordance with the input tone values (e.g., see patent Reference 2: Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-352270).
Furthermore, there is also halftone processing depending on so-called dot processing, which is devised so that dots are produced by comparing the input tone values and a threshold value matrix (conversion table) consisting of a specified size.
However, in the abovementioned CAPIX method, in cases where pixels with a large input tone value are present in a scattered manner, the accumulated tone values are distributed in accordance with the input tone values, so that the dots are also present in a scattered manner. When such isolated dots are reproduced by a laser printer, stable dots cannot always be reproduced. The reason for this is that the adhesion of toner to the photosensitive drum is more stable in the case of dots of a uniform size. Such unstable dots are a cause of image deterioration.
Furthermore, in the abovementioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-27528, the system is devised so that pixels are selected and cells are formed until the total of the tone values reaches “255”; this system is devised so that dots are produced in the pixels positioned in the center. Accordingly, since the system is devised so that dots for a single pixel are produced, isolated dots are similarly generated, so that the reproduction of the dots is unstable.
Meanwhile, in the abovementioned Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-352270, the system is devised so that dots of a stable size are produced by varying the threshold value required for cell construction in accordance with the input tone values. However, the position of the center of gravity must be calculated a number of times in order to select the pixels that form the cells, so that the problem of delayed halftone processing arises.
Furthermore, in regard to the abovementioned dot processing as well, in regions where continuous input tone values are present, there are cases in which isolated dots are generated by the threshold values compared within the threshold value matrix.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing device and image processing method which produce stable dots with no image deterioration by preventing the generation of isolated dots, and which have a rapid processing speed of halftone processing.
In order to achieve the abovementioned object, the present invention provides an image processing device which converts input image data into output image data that has two or more types of level values, and outputs the output image data, this image processing device having a center-of-gravity position determining unit which determines the position of the center of gravity on the basis of a predetermined pixel group from input image data for the respective pixels contained in this pixel group, and an application unit which applies level values to the pixels on the basis of the position of the center of gravity determined by the center-of-gravity position determining unit. As a result, for example, since the pixel group is determined beforehand, the processing is rapid, and since level values that produce dots are applied to the pixels on the basis of the position of the center of gravity, the dots are concentrated, and the generation of isolated dots can be prevented.
Furthermore, the present invention also provides the abovementioned image processing device further having a pulse width modulation unit which produces K stages (K is a positive integer) of pulse widths for N types of level values applied by the application unit. As a result, for example, halftone processing that allows the expressing of a greater number of tones can be realized.
Furthermore, the present invention also provides the image processing device wherein the center-of-gravity position determining unit calculates the product of the pixel positions of the respective pixels and the level values of the input image data for the respective pixels for all of the pixels contained in the pixel group, and determines the value obtained by dividing the sum of these by the total value of the level values of the input image data for the respective pixels contained in the pixel group as the position of the center of gravity. As a result, for example, the position of the center of gravity containing the tone values of the respective pixels can easily be calculated.
Furthermore, the present invention also provides the image processing device wherein the application unit preferentially selects level values from pixels that are close to the position of the center of gravity, and applies level values to the selected pixels. As a result, for example, since level values are applied in order from pixels that are close to the position of the center of gravity, the generation of isolated dots can be prevented.
Furthermore, the present invention also provides the image processing device wherein the application unit is devised so that when the application unit applies a level value to the pixel that is closest to the position of the center of gravity, if there is a remainder in the level value after the applied level value is subtracted from the total value of the level values of the respective pixels contained in the pixel group, the remaining level value is applied to the pixel that is closest to the position of the center of gravity other than the pixel to which the level value is applied. As a result, for example, dots that grow from the position of the center of gravity are generated, so that dots that are coherent to some extent are generated; accordingly, the generation of isolated dots is prevented.
Furthermore, the present invention also provides the image processing device wherein in cases where the remaining level value is not a level value of any of N types that cause the generation of dots for a single pixel, the application unit applies the remaining level value to the pixel, which is contained in the pixel group, and which is closest to the position of the center of gravity other than the pixel to which a level value of any of N types has been applied.
Moreover, the present invention also provides the image processing device wherein the center-of-gravity position determining unit determines the pixel group beforehand by holding coordinate positions of the respective pixels contained in the pixel group. As a result, for example, since there is no need to calculate the position of the center of gravity a number of times in order to construct the cell, an image processing device that performs rapid halftone processing can be provided.
Furthermore, the present invention also provides the image processing device wherein the respective pixels contained in the pixel group are adjacent to each other. As a result, for example, since the cell has a coherent area, the generation of isolated dots can be prevented; furthermore, since the amount of position information for the pixels that construct the cell can be reduced, the required memory capacity can be reduced.
Furthermore, in order to achieve the abovementioned object, the present invention provides an image processing method having the steps of: a center-of-gravity position determination step which determines the position of the center of gravity, on the basis of a predetermined pixel group, from input image data for the respective pixels contained in the pixel group; and an application step which applies level values to the pixels on the basis of the position of the center of gravity determined in the center-of-gravity position determination step. As a result, for example, since the pixel group is determined beforehand, processing is fast, and since level values that generate dots are applied to the pixels that are closest to the position of the center of gravity, the dots are concentrated so that the generation of isolated dots can be prevented.
Furthermore, in order to achieve the abovementioned object, the present invention provides a program for processing that converts input image data into output image data having two or more types of level value, and outputs the output image data, the program causing a computer to execute: a center-of-gravity position determining processing which determines the position of the center of gravity on the basis of a predetermined pixel group from input image data for the respective pixels contained in the pixel group, and an application processing which applies level values to the pixels on the basis of the position of the center of gravity determined by the center-of-gravity position determining processing. As a result, for example, since the pixel group is determined beforehand, the processing is fast, and since level values that generate dots are applied to the pixel that is closest to the position of the center of gravity, processing in which the dots are concentrated so that isolated dots are not generated can be executed by the computer.
Furthermore, in order to achieve the abovementioned object, the present invention provides a dot image generating device which generates dot images by converting input image data into output image data that has two ore more types of level values, having: a center-of-gravity position determining unit which determines the position of the center of gravity on the basis of a predetermined pixel group from the input image data for the respective pixels contained in this pixel group; and an application unit which applies the level values to the pixels on the basis of the position of the center of gravity determined by the center-of-gravity position determining unit. As a result, for example, dot images that are rapidly processed are produced, and the generation of isolated dots is prevented; furthermore, the resolution is improved, and an output that is faithful to the input tone values is obtained.
Furthermore, in order to achieve the abovementioned object, the present invention provides a dot image generating method which generates dot images by converting input image data into output image data having two or more types of level values, the steps of: a center-of-gravity position determination step which determines the position of the center of gravity, on the basis of a predetermined pixel group, from input image data for the respective pixels contained in this pixel group; and an application step which applies the level values to the pixels on the basis of the position of the center of gravity determined in the center-of-gravity position determination step. As a result, for example, dot images that are rapidly processed are produced, and the generation of isolated dots is prevented; furthermore, the resolution is improved, and an output that is faithful to the input tone values is obtained.
Moreover, in order to achieve the abovementioned object, the present invention provides a program for dot image determining processing that generates dot images by converting input image data into output image data having two or more types of level values, the program causing a computer to execute: a center-of-gravity position determining processing which determines the position of the center of gravity, on the basis of a predetermined pixel group, from input image data for the respective pixels contained in this pixel group, and application processing which applies level values to the pixels on the basis of the position of the center of gravity determined in the center-of-gravity position determining processing. As a result, for example, dot images that are rapidly processed are produced, and the generation of isolated dots is prevented; furthermore, the resolution is improved, and processing that obtains an output that is faithful to the input tone values can be realized by means of a computer.
Moreover, in order to achieve the abovementioned object, the present invention provides an image processing device having: an assigning unit which assign predetermined cells containing a plurality of pixels of input image data to input image data; a determining unit which determines the position of the center of gravity within the cell from the tone values of the plurality of pixels within the cell; and generating unit which dots corresponding to the sum of the tone values of the plurality of pixels within the cell in at least pixels containing the position of the center of gravity. As a result, for example, the generation of isolated dots can be prevented, and an image processing device with fast processing can be provided.
The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached figures.
The host computer 10 is constructed from an application part 11 and a rasterizing part 12. Data that is the object of printing, such as character data, graphic data, bit map data and the like, is produced in the application part 11. For example, in the host computer 10, character data, graphic data or the like is produced by the operation of a keyboard or the like using an application program such as a word processor, graphic tool or the like. The data thus produced is output to the rasterizing part 12.
In the rasterizing part 12, printing object data that is output from the application part 11 is converted into 8-bit tone data for each pixel (or each dot). Accordingly, the system has tone value (level values) from 0 to 255 for the respective pixels. The production of tone data in the rasterizing part 12 is actually accomplished by performing processing by means of a driver that is installed in the host computer 10. The tone data that is output from the rasterizing part 12 is output to the image processing device 20. In the present embodiment, furthermore, this tone data will be described below as monochromatic data.
The image processing device 20 as a whole is constructed from an image processing part 21 and a printing engine 22. The image processing part 21 is constructed from a halftone processing part 211 and a pulse width modulating part 212. In the halftone processing part 211, tone data that is output from the host computer 10 is converted into multi-value (binary or greater) values (level values), and quantized data is output. The quantized data that is output from the halftone processing part 211 is input into the pulse width modulating part 212, and the pulse width modulating part 212 produces driving data for this quantized data that indicates the presence or absence of a laser driving pulse for each dot. The driving data thus produced is output to the printing engine 22.
The printing engine 22 is constructed from a laser driver 221 and a laser diode (LD) 222. The laser driver 221 inputs driving data from the pulse width modulating part 212, produces control data that indicates the presence or absence of a driving pulse on the basis of this driving data, and outputs this control data to the laser diode 222. The laser diode 222 is driven on the basis of the control data output from the laser driver 221; furthermore, a photosensitive drum and transfer belt not shown in the figures are driven, so that data from the host computer 10 is actually printed on a recording medium such as printing paper or the like.
Next, the concrete construction of the image processing device 20 will be described with reference to
The image processing device 20 is constructed from an input interface (I/F) 23, CPU 24, ROM 25, RAM 26 and printing engine 22. These parts are connected to each other via a bus. The input I/F 23 acts as an interface between the host computer 10 and image processing device 20. The input I/F 23 inputs tone data from the host computer 10 that is transmitted by a specified transmission system, and converts this into data that can be processed by the image processing device 20 under the control of the CPU 24. The input tone data is temporarily stored in the RAM 26.
The CPU 24 is connected to the input I/F 23, ROM 25, RAM 26 and printing engine 22 via the bus; this CPU appropriately reads out programs stored in the ROM 26, and performs various types of processing such as halftone processing and the like. Details will be described later.
The RAM 26 acts as a working memory for the various types of processing performed by the CPU 24; various types of data (during and after processing) are stored in this RAM 26. Furthermore, driving data that is used to drive the laser driver 221 of the printing engine 22 is also stored in this RAM 26.
The printing engine 22 has the same construction as that of the printing engine shown in
Next, the halftone processing of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached figures. First of all, an outline of the present invention will be described briefly with reference to
A plurality of cells (indicated by thick lines in the figures) are present in the respective cell blocks 251 through 254. Furthermore, a plurality of input pixels are present inside the respective cells of the cells blocks 251 through 254, and processing that is used to generate dots is carried out by determining the position of the center of gravity in the respective cells.
These four cell blocks 251 through 254 are prepared as shown in
Here, returning to
Such cell blocks 251 through 254 are applied to the input images 100, the position of the center of gravity corresponding to the input tone values are determined within predetermined cell frames in the respective blocks 251 through 254, and values indicating dot production (e. g., “255”) are assigned to pixels positioned at the abovementioned center of gravity. In this case, when values indicating dot production are further assigned in accordance with the total of the tone values within the cells, such values are assigned to the pixels that are furthest from the center of gravity.
Since processing which causes dots to be concentrated in the position of the center of gravity in accordance with the total value of the tone values of the pixels within the cells in the calculation of the position of the center of gravity, the generation of isolated dots is suppressed, so that dots of a certain size tend to be generated. Accordingly, stable dots are generated so that images with no deterioration in image quality can be reproduced. Furthermore, when the cells are constructed, cells that are predetermined in the cell blocks 251 through 254 are used instead of determining the pixels that are to be incorporated into the cells by calculating the position of the center of gravity each time; accordingly, processing time required for cell construction is eliminated, so that processing can be accelerated by a corresponding amount.
Furthermore, In the case of conventional dot processing, threshold values and input tone values are compared in respective dot cells (threshold value matrix); however, it appears that isolated dots are generated due to the generation or lack of generation of dots according to the threshold value and the like. In the present invention, on the other hand, since the system is devised so that tone values are collected from the surrounding pixels and dots are generated from the position of the center of gravity, stable dots can be reproduced compared to dot processing.
Furthermore, in the case of the present invention (compared to conventional dot processing), the resolution is improved, so that an output that is faithful to the input tone values can be obtained. Specifically, in the case of conventional dot processing, the positions of the dots (dots) are fixed; accordingly, the resolution deteriorates to the extent of the period of the dots; for example, problems are encountered such as the occurrence of jaggy in which characters are jagged, the difficulty of reading small light characters and the like. In the present invention, dots are formed by generating dots in the position of the center of gravity; accordingly, the reproducibility of fine lines and edges is improved, so that jaggy does not occur, small light characters are easy to read, and dot images with a high resolution can be produced. Moreover, in the case of conventional dot processing, the following problems arise: namely, input tone values are cut and discarded by a large threshold value, so that fine lines cannot be reproduced, or conversely, input tone values are cut upward to “255” indicating dot generation, and are converted into thick lines, so that input tone values and output tone values do not coincide. In the present invention, dots having the same tone values as the total of the tone values contained in the cells are produced, so that an output that is faithful to the tone values of the input image can be obtained. Furthermore, in light of the above discussion, the present invention may be said to produce absolutely the same effect not only when applied to the image processing device shown in
Details of the halftone processing according to the present invention is described with reference to the associated figures. FIGS. 5 to 7 are flowcharts showing the processing operation.
As is shown in
Returning now to
Next, the CPU 24 refers to all of the pixels contained in the Nth cell within the block (step S13). In the example shown in
Next, the CPU 24 calculates the total of the tone values of the reference pixels in the cell (step S14). The reason for this is that this is necessary in the subsequent processing that calculates the position of the center of gravity. In the example shown in
Next, the CPU 24 calculates the center of gravity of the reference pixels (step S15). This is done in order to perform processing that generates dots on the basis of the position of the center of gravity. The calculation of the position of the center of gravity uses the following formulae.
Xcenter of gravity=Σ{X coordinates of respective pixels)×(tone values of respective pixels)}/total of tone values within cell [Equation 1]
Ycenter of gravity=Σ{(Y coordinates of respective pixels)×(tone values of respective pixels)}/total of tone values within cell
(Xcenter of gravity and Ycenter of gravity indicate the coordinates of the positions of the center of gravity)
As is shown in Equation 1, the values obtained by multiplying the respective coordinate positions by the tone values of the corresponding pixels are calculated for all of the reference pixels within the cell, and the sum of these values is divided by the total value of the tone values within the cell (i.e., the value calculated in step S15). For example, this Equation 1 is stored in the ROM 25; then, during this processing, the CPU 24 reads this out from the ROM 25 and performs the calculations. In the example shown in
Returning now to
Returning now to
In step S163, the CPU 24 judges whether or not the remaining tone values are greater than “255” (step S163). In the example shown in
In step S164, the CPU 24 outputs “255” into the pixel found. Specifically, “255” is stored at the coordinate position corresponding to the pixel found in the output buffer region 262. In the present embodiment, this “255” is a value that expresses the production of dots for one pixel as a whole. As is shown in
Next, the CPU 24 subtracts “255” from the remaining tone value (step S165). In the example shown in
Next, the CPU 24 judges whether or not there is any remaining tone value (step S166). Since the remaining tone value following subtraction in step S165 is stored in the RAM 26, such a value is read out, and a judgment can be made as to whether or not this value is “0”. If there is a remaining tone value (“YES” in the present step), the processing again goes to step S161, and the abovementioned processing is repeated. On the other hand, if there is no remaining tone value (“NO” in the present step), the dot generation processing is ended, and the processing goes to step Sl7 in
Specifically, in the processing from step S161 through step S166, “255” is output in order from the pixel with no dot output as of yet that is closest to the center of gravity, and this is repeated until the total value of the tone values within the cell is eliminated. Accordingly, in cases where the total value of the tone values within the cell is large, the number of pixels to which “255” is output is correspondingly large, so that the generation of dots is increased. In cases where the total value is small, the generation of dots is conversely reduced. Accordingly, dots corresponding to the size of the input tone values within the cell can be generated.
On the other hand, in case where the remaining tone value is equal to or less than “255” (“NO” in step S163), the remaining tone value is output to the pixels found (step S167). In the example shown in
Furthermore, in cases where a search is made for the pixels with no dot output as of yet that are closest to the center of gravity, but no pixel with no output as of yet is found (“NO” in step S162), this means that values indicating dot generation are stored for all of the pixels within the cell; accordingly, the present dot generation processing is ended, and the processing goes to step S17.
In the dot generation processing (step S16), as was described above, the processing is devised so that values indicating dot generation are output in order from the pixel closest to the position of the center of gravity on the basis of the total value of the tone values within the cell. Accordingly, the dots are grown in the form of a circle centered on the position of the center of gravity, so that the probability of producing coherent dots is increased.
In the case of a laser printer, a latent image is formed by irradiating the photosensitive drum with laser light inside the exposure unit; however, for example, in cases where the system is devised so that dots corresponding to one pixel are formed, there are cases where the dot width is too small when the toner is caused to adhere to the photosensitive drum on which this latent image is formed, so that favorable adhesion of the toner cannot be achieved. There may also be cases in which dots are not formed in the proper positions on the paper on which the images are reproduced by printing. Specifically, since the reproducibility of isolated dots is unstable, such dots lead to a deterioration in the quality of the image.
On the other hand, if the system is devised so that coherent dots that are as large as possible (corresponding to three pixels, four pixels or the like) are formed, problems such as the failure of dots to be formed due to the inability of achieving favorable adhesion of the toner can be solved, so that image deterioration can be prevented. In the present invention, therefore, the system is devised so that successive dots are generated in order centered on the position of the center of gravity, thus preventing the generation of isolated dots.
Returning again to
In cases where the cell number N is not equal to NMAX (“NO” in step S17), the CPU 24 next adds 1 to the cell number N (step S18), and repeats the abovementioned processing for the next cell (i.e., the processing goes to step S13). In the example shown in
On the other hand, in cases where the cell number N is equal to NMAX (“YES” in step S17), i.e., in cases where the abovementioned processing has been completed for all of the cells in the single cells blocks 251 through 254, the processing goes to step S19 in
If unprocessed pixels are present to the right of the right end of the block (“YES” in step S19), the processing moves one block to the right, and substitutes “1” for the cell number N for which the abovementioned processing is to be performed within the block (step S20). Specifically, processing is first performed for the upper left end block Bk11; next, processing of the block Bk12 that is adjacent to this block on the right (the processing from step S13 to step S18) is performed, so that the block that is the object of processing is successively moved to the right one block at a time. Furthermore, in regard to the listed coordinate positions of the respective cells contained in the upper end cell block 252, these are all the same among the respective blocks 252 applied to the respective upper end blocks Bk21 through Bkm1 of the input image 100. Specifically, the coordinate positions within the upper end cell block 252 applied in the block Bk21 and the block Bk31 of the input image 100 are the same. However, in the block Bk21 and the block Bk31 of the input image 100, the coordinate positions of the respective pixels are different. Accordingly, a distance (offset value) equal to the width of the block Bk21 is added to the coordinate positions of the respective cells of the upper end cell block 252, and the upper end cell block 252 is applied to the block Bk31. Furthermore, for the block Bk41, a distance equal to the width of the block Bk31 is added to the coordinate positions of the respective cells of this calculated upper end cell block 252. The coordinate positions of the respective cells of the upper end cell block 252 applied to the respective upper end blocks Bk21 through Bkm1 are determined by successively repeating this operation. As a result, in regard to the upper end cell block 252, it is not necessary to provide coordinate positions within different cells for each cell block 252 that is applied to the respective blocks Bk21 through Bkm1; accordingly, the required memory capacity (of the ROM 25 and the like) can be reduced. The situation is exactly the same with regard to the cell block 253 used for the left end and the cell block 254 used for ordinary regions.
Returning to
Here, in regard to the upper end cell block 252 that is applied to the upper right end block Bkm1 of the input image 100, as is shown in
Returning to
On the other hand, in cases where there are no unprocessed pixels below the lower end of the block (“NO” in step S21), the series of processing operations described above is ended (step S23). For example, when processing in the block Bkmn that is positioned furthest to the lower right is completed, there are no unprocessed pixels located to the right of the right end of this block Bkmn (“NO” in step S19), and there are no unprocessed pixels located below the lower end of the block Bkmn (“NO” in step S21); accordingly, processing for all of the blocks of the input image 100 has been completed.
The processing from step S19 through step S22 is processing that relates to the manner of movement of the blocks. Besides such a movement method, for example, there may also be cases in which movement is successively performed to blocks on the left side from the upper right end block Bkm1, and processing is performed by immediately moving to the block at the lower right end when the block furthest to the left has been reached, and cases in which processing is performed by successively moving to blocks on the right from the lower left end block Bk1n, and then immediately moving to blocks above.
Furthermore, output values indicating the presence or absence of dot generation stored in the output buffer region 262 are output from the halftone processing part 211 (see
In the example shown in
Since details of the processing have already been described, the example shown in
Then, the processing goes to dot generation processing (step S16), and a search is made for pixels not yet processed for dots that are positioned in the position of the center of gravity (step S161). First, the pixel (3, 1) is found. Since this pixel position is a pixel for which a dot has not yet been output (a pixel in which “0” is stored), “255” is output in this pixel position (“YES” in both steps S162 and S163; step S164). An example of this is shown in
The state shown in
As is shown in
Furthermore, when the halftone processing of the present invention is applied to flat images in which there is no variation in the input tone values, since the size of the respective cells is substantially uniform, the variation in the inter-dot distance produced in adjacent cells is reduced. Accordingly, visually favorable images are formed. In this case as well, since the system is devised so that dots centered on the position of the center of gravity are generated, the generation of isolated dots is prevented; furthermore, since the cell size is also fixed, it goes without saying that the processing is faster.
Moreover, as is clear from
As was described above, the present invention makes it possible to prevent the generation of isolated dots, and to generate stable dots; furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to realize halftone processing with a fast processing speed.
In the examples described above, blocks consisting of circular cell frames were described as examples of the cell blocks 251 through 254; however, cell blocks that have diamond-shaped cell frames as shown in
Furthermore, in the above examples, halftone processing for monochromatic data was described; however, processing for color data may also be performed. In this case, RGB (red, green and blue) tone data is input into the image processing device 20 from the host computer 10, and a CYMK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) color conversion is performed in the image processing device 20, so that the abovementioned processing is performed for each of the respective colors.
Furthermore, the abovementioned halftone processing may also be performed by the host computer 10. In this case, the quantized data following the abovementioned halftone processing is input into the image processing device 20 from the host computer 10, and pulse width modulation is performed by the image processing part 21. In this case, the host computer 10 functions as the image processing device of the present invention.
Furthermore, as is shown in
Furthermore, in the examples described above, the system had level values of “0” to “255” as input tone values; furthermore, the example of output tone values also had level values of “0” to “255”. Besides this, however, various types of level values such as “0” to “127” or the like might also be used as both input and output values. Generally, in cases where the input tone values have N types of level values (N is an integer), it is sufficient if the output tone values have M types of level values (M is also an integer, M≧N).
Furthermore, in the examples described above, in regard to the pixels contained in the cells, processing was described in which the coordinate positions of these pixels were listed; besides this, however, it would also be possible (for example) to perform processing based on a matrix in which cell numbers indicating the numbers of the cells to which the pixels in respective positions belong is recorded. For example, such a matrix is stored in the ROM 25 or the like, the cell in which each pixel is contained is ascertained by the CPU 24 by superimposing this matrix and the input data, and processing is performed by calculating the position of the center of gravity in each cell. Exactly the same effect can also be obtained in this case.
Furthermore, as examples of the image processing device 20, besides the abovementioned printer, exactly the same effect can also be obtained in the case of a facsimile device or copier, or a so-called composite machine that has both of these functions. Moreover, the host computer 10 may be a personal computer, portable telephone, PDA (personal digital assistant), digital camera or other portable information terminal.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2004-137326 | May 2004 | JP | national |
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2005/008342, filed on May 6, 2005, now pending, herein incorporated by reference. Further, this application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-137326, filed on May 6, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP05/08342 | May 2005 | US |
Child | 11553363 | Oct 2006 | US |