A method of and apparatus for producing a composite image

Claim 3

A method according to Claim 1, wherein an image signal is identified as either a line or a graphics image by a discrimination bit added thereto.

Claim 4

A method according to Claim 1 or 2, further comprising controlling a recording head using the 85 line image signal, modified line image signal or graphics image signal corresponding to a respective pictorial element of the composite image to record the composite image on a photo sensitive medium.

Claim 5

A method according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the graphics and line image signals are read from the memory means in the order the signals would be seen if the composite image were being scanned.

Claim 6

A method according to Claim 4, wherein the corresponding pictorial elements in the preceding and succeeding scanning lines of the composite image comprise the pictorial elements adjacent the said pictorial element.

Claim 7

A method according to Claim 4 or 5, wherein the pictorial elements preceding and succeeding the said pictorial element in the same scanning line of the composite image comprise the adjacent pictorial elements.

Claim 8

A method according to Claim 4, wherein, if the image signal representing the said pictorial element is a line image signal, the method comprises determining whether the image signals representing the corresponding pictorial elements in the preceding and succeeding scanning lines of the composite image are graphics or line image signals, if one or both of the image signals representing the said corresponding elements is/are a graphics signal(s), a graphics signal is added to the line image signal while, if the image signals representing the corresponding pictorial elements are line image signals, the method further comprises determining whether the image signals of the pictorial elements preceding and succeeding the said pictorial element in the same scanning line of the composite image are graphics oIr image signals and, if one or both of the image signals of the pictorial elements preceding and succeeding the said pictorial element in the same scanning line of the composite image are graphics signals, adding a-graphics signal to the line signal.

Claim 11

Apparatus for producing a composite image containing both graphics and line images from graphics and line image signals stored in memory means, comprising identifying means for determining whether the image signal representing a pictorial element of the composite image is a line or a graphics image signal, further identifying means for determining whether the image signals representing pictorial elements adjacent the said pictorial element are graphics or line image signals and adding means controllable by the identifying means for adding a graphics image signal to the line image signal to produce a modified line image signal when the further identifying means determines that the image signal representing an adjacent pictorial element is a graphics signal.

Claim 12

Apparatus for producing a composite image containing both graphics and line images from graphics and line image signals stored in memory means, comprising identifying means for determining whether the image signal representing a pictorial element of the composite image is a line or a graphics image signal, further identifying means for determining whether the image signals representing pictorial elements adjacent the said pictorial element are graphics or line image signals and adding means controllable by the identifying means for adding a graphics image signal to the line image signal to produce a modified line image signal when the further identifying means determines that the image signal representing an adjacent pictorial element is a graphics signal.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the identifying means is arranged to check a discrimination bit of each image signal.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to Claim 9 or 10, further comprising a recording head controllable by the line image signal, modified line image signal or graphics image signal corresponding to a respective pictorial element of the composite image for recording the composite image on a photosensitive medium.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to Claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein control means are provided to read the graphics and line image signals from the memory means in the order the signals would be seen if the composite image were being scanned.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein the further identifying means is arranged to determine whether the image signals representing the corresponding pictorial elements in the preceding and succeeding scanning lines of the composite image are line or graphics image signals.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein the further identifying means is arranged to determine whether the image signals representing the pictorial elements preceding and succeeding the said pictorial element in the same scanning line of the composite image are line or graphics image signals.

Claim 18

- Apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein the further identifying means is arranged to determine whether the image signals representing the corresponding pictorial elements in the preceding and succeeding scanning lines of the composite image are graphics signals and, if neither of the image signals representing the said corresponding pictorial element is a graphics signal, to determine whether the image signals representing the pictorial elements preceding and succeeding the said pictorial element in the same scanning line of the composite image are line or graphics image signals.

Claim 19

Apparatus for providing composite image containing both graphics and line images from -i 4 p 1 GB 2 123 647 A 7 graphics and line image signals stored in memory means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

Claim 20

Apparatus for providing composite image containing both graphics and line images from -i 4 p 1 GB 2 123 647 A 7 graphics and line image signals stored in memory means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

Claim 22

Any novel feature or combination of 17. A composite image wherever produced by 10 features described herein. Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1984. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1 AY, from which copies may be obtained.

Claim 23

Any novel feature or combination of 17. A composite image wherever produced by 10 features described herein. Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1984. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1 AY, from which copies may be obtained.