Image processing apparatus for reducing visible roughness in contours

Claim 2

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying means for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means; and output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means, wherein said detecting means further comprises subdividing means for subdividing rows of the contour dots in accordance with a predetermined method.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said subdividing means subdivides the dot rows at every predetermined step portion and converts each dot row into a pattern in a dot row where the contour dots extend in a main scanning direction or in an auxiliary scanning direction.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined step is one dot.

Claim 5

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying means for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means; and output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means, wherein said identifying means further comprises matching means for matching a dot row at an arbitrary position of the contour dots and a predetermined pattern, wherein a dot row which is made to coincide with said predetermined pattern by said matching means is subjected to editing performed by said editing means.

Claim 6

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying means for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means; and output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means, wherein said identifying means further comprises matching means for matching a dot row at an arbitrary position of the contour dots and a predetermined pattern, wherein a dot row which is made to coincide with said predetermined pattern by said matching means is subjected to editing performed by said editing means.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising memory means for storing said predetermined pattern.

Claim 8

An image processing comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying means for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means; and output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means, wherein said identifying means further comprises counting means for counting a number of the contour dots extending continuously in one direction which is a main scanning direction or an auxiliary scanning direction, wherein if a predetermined step portion is found to exist while said counting means is counting in said one direction, the object of editing performed by said editing means is decided in dependence upon the number of dots in each dot row subdivided at said predetermined step portion.

Claim 9

An image processing comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying means for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means; and output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means, wherein said identifying means further comprises counting means for counting a number of the contour dots extending continuously in one direction which is a main scanning direction or an auxiliary scanning direction, wherein if a predetermined step portion is found to exist while said counting means is counting in said one direction, the object of editing performed by said editing means is decided in dependence upon the number of dots in each dot row subdivided at said predetermined step portion.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said number of dots used in deciding the object of editing is at least two.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said predetermined step portion is one dot.

Claim 12

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying means for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means; and output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means, wherein said editing means further comprises converting means for converting a dot row formed by the contour dots into another dot row.

Claim 13

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying means for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means; and output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means, wherein said editing means further comprises converting means for converting a dot row formed by the contour dots into another dot row.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said converting means further comprises adding means for adding a dot to a dot row formed by the contour dots.

Claim 15

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying means for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; decision means for deciding, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means, editing contents of the original image pattern inputted by said input means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, in accordance with the editing contents decided by said editing means; and output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means, wherein said detecting means further comprises subdividing means for subdividing rows of the contour dots in accordance with a predetermined method.

Claim 16

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying means for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; decision means for deciding, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means, editing contents of the original image pattern inputted by said input means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, in accordance with the editing contents decided by said editing means; and output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means, wherein said detecting means further comprises subdividing means for subdividing rows of the contour dots in accordance with a predetermined method.

Claim 17

The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said subdividing means subdivides the dot rows at every predetermined step portion and converts each dot row into a pattern in a dot row wherein the contour dots extend in a main scanning direction or in an auxiliary scanning direction.

Claim 18

The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said predetermined step is one dot.

Claim 19

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying means for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; decision means for deciding, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means, editing contents of the original image pattern inputted by said input means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, in accordance with the editing contents, decided by said editing means; and output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means, wherein said identifying means further comprises matching means for matching a dot row at an arbitrary comprises matching means for matching a dot row at an arbitrary position of the contour dots and a predetermined pattern, wherein a dot row which is made to coincide with said predetermined pattern by said matching means is subjected to editing performed by said editing means.

Claim 20

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying means for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; decision means for deciding, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means, editing contents of the original image pattern inputted by said input means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, in accordance with the editing contents, decided by said editing means; and output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means, wherein said identifying means further comprises matching means for matching a dot row at an arbitrary comprises matching means for matching a dot row at an arbitrary position of the contour dots and a predetermined pattern, wherein a dot row which is made to coincide with said predetermined pattern by said matching means is subjected to editing performed by said editing means.

Claim 21

The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising memory means for storing said predetermined pattern.

Claim 22

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying mans for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; decision means for deciding, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means, editing contents of the original image pattern inputted by said input means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, in accordance with the editing contents decided by said editing means; and output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means, wherein said identifying means further comprises counting means for counting a number of the contour dots extending continuously in one direction which is a main scanning direction or an auxiliary scanning direction, wherein if a predetermined step portion is found to exist while said counting means is counting in said one direction, the object of editing performed by said editing means is decided in dependence upon the number of dots in each row subdivided at said predetermined step portion.

Claim 23

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying mans for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; decision means for deciding, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means, editing contents of the original image pattern inputted by said input means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, in accordance with the editing contents decided by said editing means; and output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means, wherein said identifying means further comprises counting means for counting a number of the contour dots extending continuously in one direction which is a main scanning direction or an auxiliary scanning direction, wherein if a predetermined step portion is found to exist while said counting means is counting in said one direction, the object of editing performed by said editing means is decided in dependence upon the number of dots in each row subdivided at said predetermined step portion.

Claim 24

The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said number of dots used in deciding the object of editing is at least two.

Claim 25

The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said predetermined step portion is one dot.

Claim 26

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying means for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; decision means for deciding, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means, editing contents of the original image pattern inputted by said input means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, in accordance with the editing contents decided by said editing means; output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means; and memory means for storing said editing contents of plural types, wherein said decision means further comprises selecting means for selecting editing contents, which correspond to a pattern identified by said identifying means, from the editing contents of plural types stored in said memory means.

Claim 27

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying means for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; decision means for deciding, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means, editing contents of the original image pattern inputted by said input means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, in accordance with the editing contents decided by said editing means; output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means; and memory means for storing said editing contents of plural types, wherein said decision means further comprises selecting means for selecting editing contents, which correspond to a pattern identified by said identifying means, from the editing contents of plural types stored in said memory means.

Claim 28

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying means for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; decision means for deciding, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means, editing contents of the original image pattern inputted by said input means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, in accordance with the editing contents decided by said editing means; and output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means, wherein said editing means further comprises converting means for converting a dot row formed by the contour dots into another dot row.

Claim 29

An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting an original image pattern composed of dots; detecting means for detecting contour dots from the original image pattern inputted by said input means; identifying means for identifying a pattern of dot rows formed by the contour dots detected by said detecting means; decision means for deciding, based on the pattern identified by said identifying means, editing contents of the original image pattern inputted by said input means; editing means for editing the original image pattern, which is inputted by said input means, in accordance with the editing contents decided by said editing means; and output means for outputting results of editing performed by said editing means, wherein said editing means further comprises converting means for converting a dot row formed by the contour dots into another dot row.

Claim 30

The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said converting means further comprises: adding means for adding a dot to a dot row formed by the contour dots; and deleting means for deleting a dot from a dot row formed by the contour dots.