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US5200831A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and arrangement for locally switching gray dot types to reproduce an image with gray level printing

Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1992-06-05
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Granted: 1993-04-06
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Expires: 2012-06-05
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Abstract

Abstract A method and arrangement for reproducing an original image scans an original image to digitize the image so as to produce a digitized image signal, and collects statistical information of dot regions from the digitized image signal. For each dot region of the digitized image signal, a dot type is selected to render that dot region in accordance with the statistical information, the dot type being either a mixed dot type or one of a fixed threshold or a partial dot type. A printer is controlled to print the digitized image signal by rendering the dot regions in accordance with the selected dot type for each dot region, so that an original image that may contain different types of image regions is satisfactorily reproduced.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hwai-Tzuu Tai

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 04:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/405; H04N1/4055; H04N1/4057; H04N1/40062; H04N1/4058

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 99 words
A method of reproducing an original image, comprising: scanning an original image to digitize the image so as to produce a digitized image signal; collect statistical information of dot regions from the digitized image signal; for each dot region of the digitized image signal, selecting a dot type to render that dot region in accordance with the statistical information, the dot type being either a mixed dot type or a fixed threshold type; and controlling a printer to print the digitized image signal by rendering the dot regions in accordance with the selected dot type for each dot region.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 99 words
A method of reproducing an original image, comprising: scanning an original image to digitize the image so as to produce a digitized image signal; collect statistical information of dot regions from the digitized image signal; for each dot region of the digitized image signal, selecting a dot type to render that dot region in accordance with the statistical information, the dot type being either a mixed dot type or a fixed threshold type; and controlling a printer to print the digitized image signal by rendering the dot regions in accordance with the selected dot type for each dot region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the statistical information collected for a dot region includes information relating to at least one of contrast, variance, variation or roughness for that dot region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 47 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the fixed threshold type is selected for dot regions in which the contrast or variance is above a specified value, and the mixed dot type is selected for dot regions in which the contrast or variance is below a specified value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 157 words
An arrangement for reproducing an original image, comprising: a scanner which scans and digitizes the original image into pixels; a controller coupled to the scanner to receive the digitized original image, and which produces a first signal corresponding to said digitized original image; and a printer coupled to the controller to receive said first signal and which produces on a recording medium a reproduction of the original image; wherein said controller includes: means for collecting statistical information of dot regions from the first signal; means for selecting for each dot region of the first signal a dot type to render that dot region in accordance with the statistical information, the dot type being either a mixed dot type or a fixed threshold type; and means for controlling a printer to print the reproduction of the original image by rendering the dot regions of the first signal in accordance with the selected dot type for each dot region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 157 words
An arrangement for reproducing an original image, comprising: a scanner which scans and digitizes the original image into pixels; a controller coupled to the scanner to receive the digitized original image, and which produces a first signal corresponding to said digitized original image; and a printer coupled to the controller to receive said first signal and which produces on a recording medium a reproduction of the original image; wherein said controller includes: means for collecting statistical information of dot regions from the first signal; means for selecting for each dot region of the first signal a dot type to render that dot region in accordance with the statistical information, the dot type being either a mixed dot type or a fixed threshold type; and means for controlling a printer to print the reproduction of the original image by rendering the dot regions of the first signal in accordance with the selected dot type for each dot region.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 99 words
A method of reproducing an original image, comprising: scanning an original image to digitize the image so as to produce a digitized image signal; collect statistical information of dot regions from the digitized image signal; for each dot region of the digitized image signal, selecting a dot type to render that dot region in accordance with the statistical information, the dot type being either a mixed dot type or a partial dot type; and controlling a printer to print the digitized image signal by rendering the dot regions in accordance with the selected dot type for each dot region.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 99 words
A method of reproducing an original image, comprising: scanning an original image to digitize the image so as to produce a digitized image signal; collect statistical information of dot regions from the digitized image signal; for each dot region of the digitized image signal, selecting a dot type to render that dot region in accordance with the statistical information, the dot type being either a mixed dot type or a partial dot type; and controlling a printer to print the digitized image signal by rendering the dot regions in accordance with the selected dot type for each dot region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the statistical information collected for a dot region includes information relating to at least one of contrast, variance, variation or roughness for that dot region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 47 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the fixed threshold type is selected for dot regions in which the contrast or variance is above a specified value, and the mixed dot type is selected for dot regions in which the contrast or variance is below a specified value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 157 words
An arrangement for reproducing an original image, comprising: a scanner which scans and digitizes the original image into pixels; a controller coupled to the scanner to receive the digitized original image, and which produces a first signal corresponding to said digitized original image; and a printer coupled to the controller to receive said first signal and which produces on a recording medium a reproduction of the original image; wherein said controller includes: means for collecting statistical information of dot regions from the first signal; means for selecting for each dot region of the first signal a dot type to render that dot region in accordance with the statistical information, the dot type being either a mixed dot type or a partial dot type; and means for controlling a printer to print the reproduction of the original image by rendering the dot regions of the first signal in accordance with the selected dot type for each dot region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 157 words
An arrangement for reproducing an original image, comprising: a scanner which scans and digitizes the original image into pixels; a controller coupled to the scanner to receive the digitized original image, and which produces a first signal corresponding to said digitized original image; and a printer coupled to the controller to receive said first signal and which produces on a recording medium a reproduction of the original image; wherein said controller includes: means for collecting statistical information of dot regions from the first signal; means for selecting for each dot region of the first signal a dot type to render that dot region in accordance with the statistical information, the dot type being either a mixed dot type or a partial dot type; and means for controlling a printer to print the reproduction of the original image by rendering the dot regions of the first signal in accordance with the selected dot type for each dot region.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4741046A Cited
US4814886A Cited
US5075780A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-04-05 1996-10-05 1997-04-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-04-05 2000-10-05 2001-04-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-04-05 2004-10-05 2005-04-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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