Apparatus and method for segmenting an input image in one of a plurality of modes

Claim 2

A printing apparatus for processing image data represented by a plurality of pixels corresponding with a plurality of image-related signals, respectively, a selected one of the image-related signals corresponding with a first image type and being processed, in parallel, with means for determining the image type of selected ones of the image-related signals, a first image processing module and a second image processing module, the first image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of the first image type and the second image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of a second type, the processed image data being transmitted to and outputted with an output device, comprising: a memory section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module and the second image processing module, for buffering the plurality of image-related signals; an output section, communicating with the output device, for receiving image-related signals processed with a selected one of the first image processing module and the second image processing module, the image-related signals being used to control the output device; and a control section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module, the second image processing module and said output section, said control section including a segmentation controller adapted to cause the output signal from the second image processing module to be transmitted to said output section when image-related signals of the first image type are transmitted, in parallel, to both the first image processing module and the second image processing module.

Claim 3

The printing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a scanner for generating the image data with said memory section being operatively associated with said scanner.

Claim 4

The printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises means for marking a representation of the image data on a substrate.

Claim 5

A printing apparatus for processing image data represented by a plurality of pixels corresponding with a plurality of image-related signals, respectively, a selected one of the image-related signals corresponding with a first image type and being processed, in parallel, with means for determining the image type of selected ones of the image-related signals, a first image processing module and a second image processing module, the first image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of the first image type and the second image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of a second type, the processed image data being transmitted to and outputted with an output device, comprising: a first memory section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module and the second image processing module, for buffering the plurality of image-related signals; an output section, communicating with the output device, for receiving image-related signals processed with the second image processing module, the image-related signals being used to control the output device; and a control section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module, the second image processing module and said output section, said control section causing the output signal from the second image processing module to be transmitted to said output section when the selected image-related signal is of the first image type, wherein said control section includes a look-up table, said control section causing the output signal to be transmitted from the second image processing module to said output section with said look-up table.

Claim 6

A printing apparatus for processing image data represented by a plurality of pixels corresponding with a plurality of image-related signals, respectively, a selected one of the image-related signals corresponding with a first image type and being processed, in parallel, with means for determining the image type of selected ones of the image-related signals, a first image processing module and a second image processing module, the first image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of the first image type and the second image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of a second type, the processed image data being transmitted to and outputted with an output device, comprising: a first memory section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module and the second image processing module, for buffering the plurality of image-related signals; an output section, communicating with the output device, for receiving image-related signals processed with the second image processing module, the image-related signals being used to control the output device; and a control section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module, the second image processing module and said output section, said control section causing the output signal from the second image processing module to be transmitted to said output section when the selected image-related signal is of the first image type, wherein said control section includes a look-up table, said control section causing the output signal to be transmitted from the second image processing module to said output section with said look-up table.

Claim 7

The printing apparatus of claim 4, wherein said look-up table includes a first control signal and a second control signal mapped with the first image type and the second image type, respectively.

Claim 8

The printing apparatus of claim 5, wherein said control section causes the output signal to be transmitted from the second image processing module to said output section when the second control signal is transmitted to said output section.

Claim 9

A multi-mode image processing apparatus for processing image data represented by a plurality of pixels corresponding with a plurality of image-related signals, respectively, a selected one of the image-related signals corresponding with a first image type and being processed, in parallel, with means for determining the image type of selected ones of the image-related signals, a first image processing module and a second image processing module, the first image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of the first image type and the second image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of a second type, comprising: a memory section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module and the second image processing module, for buffering the plurality of the image-related signals; an output section for receiving image-related signals processed with the first image processing module and the second image processing module; and a control section communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module, the second image processing module and said memory section, said control section including programmable means for directing said output section to receive the selected image-related signal from a selected one of the first image processing module and the second image processing module, said programmable directing means operating in one of a first mode in which the output signal from the first image processing module is received by said output section when image-related signals of the first image type are transmitted, in parallel, to both the first image processing module and the second image processing module, and a second mode in which the output signal from the second image processing module is received by said output section when image-related signals of the first image type are transmitted, in parallel, to both the first image processing module and the second image processing module.

Claim 10

A multi-mode image processing apparatus for processing image data represented by a plurality of pixels corresponding with a plurality of image-related signals, respectively, a selected one of the image-related signals corresponding with a first image type and being processed, in parallel, with means for determining the image type of selected ones of the image-related signals, a first image processing module and a second image processing module, the first image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of the first image type and the second image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of a second type, comprising: a memory section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module and the second image processing module, for buffering the plurality of the image-related signals; an output section for receiving image-related signals processed with the first image processing module and the second image processing module; and a control section communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module, the second image processing module and said memory section, said control section including programmable means for directing said output section to receive the selected image-related signal from a selected one of the first image processing module and the second image processing module, said programmable directing means operating in one of a first mode in which the output signal from the first image processing module is received by said output section when image-related signals of the first image type are transmitted, in parallel, to both the first image processing module and the second image processing module, and a second mode in which the output signal from the second image processing module is received by said output section when image-related signals of the first image type are transmitted, in parallel, to both the first image processing module and the second image processing module.

Claim 11

The multi-mode image processing apparatus of claim 7, further comprising means for disposing the programmable directing means into a selected one of the first mode and the second mode.

Claim 12

The multi-mode image processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein said disposing means disposes said programmable directing means into the selected one of the first mode and the second mode automatically.

Claim 13

A multi-mode image processing apparatus for processing image data represented by a plurality of pixels corresponding with a plurality of image-related signals, respectively, a selected one of the image-related signals corresponding with a first image type and being processed, in parallel, with means for determining the image type of selected ones of the image-related signals, a first image processing module and a second image processing module, the first image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of the first image type and the second image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of a second type, comprising: a memory section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module and the second image processing module, for buffering the plurality of the image-related signals; an output section for receiving image-related signals processed with the first image processing module and the second image processing module; and a control section communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module, the second image processing module and said memory section, said control section including programmable means for directing said output section to receive the selected image-related signal from a selected one of the first image processing module and the second image processing module, said programmable directing means operating in one of a first mode in which the output signal from the first image processing module is received by said output section when the selected image-related signal is of the first image type and a second mode in which the output signal from the second image processing module is received by said output section when the selected image-related signal is of the first image type, wherein said programmable means includes a first switch for disposing the first mode into an on position or an off position and a second switch for disposing the second mode into an on position or an off position.

Claim 14

A multi-mode image processing apparatus for processing image data represented by a plurality of pixels corresponding with a plurality of image-related signals, respectively, a selected one of the image-related signals corresponding with a first image type and being processed, in parallel, with means for determining the image type of selected ones of the image-related signals, a first image processing module and a second image processing module, the first image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of the first image type and the second image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of a second type, comprising: a memory section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module and the second image processing module, for buffering the plurality of the image-related signals; an output section for receiving image-related signals processed with the first image processing module and the second image processing module; and a control section communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module, the second image processing module and said memory section, said control section including programmable means for directing said output section to receive the selected image-related signal from a selected one of the first image processing module and the second image processing module, said programmable directing means operating in one of a first mode in which the output signal from the first image processing module is received by said output section when the selected image-related signal is of the first image type and a second mode in which the output signal from the second image processing module is received by said output section when the selected image-related signal is of the first image type, wherein said programmable means includes a first switch for disposing the first mode into an on position or an off position and a second switch for disposing the second mode into an on position or an off position.

Claim 15

The multi-mode image processing apparatus of claim 10, wherein a selected one of said first and second switches is disposed in the on position manually.

Claim 16

The multi-mode image processing apparatus of claim 9, wherein said programmable directing means is automatically disposed in the selected one of the first mode and the second mode by determining all of the image types present in the image data and setting the mode with the determined image types.

Claim 17

An image processing apparatus for processing an image represented by a plurality of pixels corresponding with a plurality of image-related signals, respectively, a selected one of the image-related signals corresponding with a first image type and being processed, in parallel, with means for determining the image type of selected ones of the image-related signals, a first image processing module and a second image processing module, the first image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of the first image type and the second image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of a second type, comprising: a first memory section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module and the second image processing module, for buffering the plurality of the image-related signals; a second memory section for receiving image-related signals processed with the first image processing module and the second image processing module; and a control section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module, the second image processing module and said second memory section, said control section including a segmentation controller adapted to cause the output signal from the second image processing module to be received by said second memory section when image-related signals of the first image type are transmitted, in parallel, to the first image processing module and the second image processing module.

Claim 18

An image processing apparatus for processing an image represented by a plurality of pixels corresponding with a plurality of image-related signals, respectively, a selected one of the image-related signals corresponding with a first image type and being processed, in parallel, with means for determining the image type of selected ones of the image-related signals, a first image processing module and a second image processing module, the first image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of the first image type and the second image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of a second type, comprising: a first memory section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module and the second image processing module, for buffering the plurality of the image-related signals; a second memory section for receiving image-related signals processed with the first image processing module and the second image processing module; and a control section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module, the second image processing module and said second memory section, said control section including a segmentation controller adapted to cause the output signal from the second image processing module to be received by said second memory section when image-related signals of the first image type are transmitted, in parallel, to the first image processing module and the second image processing module.

Claim 19

The image processing apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a selector, communicating with said control section, the first image processing module, the second image processing module and the second memory section, for managing the flow of the output signal between the first image processing module, the second image processing module and said second memory section.

Claim 20

An image processing apparatus for processing an image represented by a plurality of pixels corresponding with a plurality of image-related signals, respectively, a selected one of the image-related signals corresponding with a first image type and being processed, in parallel, with means for determining the image type of selected ones of the image-related signals, a first image processing module and a second image processing module, the first image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of the first image type and the second image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of a second type, comprising: a first memory section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module and the second image processing module, for buffering the plurality of the image-related signals; a second memory section for receiving image-related signals processed with the first image processing module and the second image processing module; and a control section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module, the second image-processing module and said second memory section, said control section causing the output signal from the second image processing module to be received by said second memory section when the selected image-related signal is of the first image type, wherein said control section causes the output signal from the second image processing module to be transmitted from the second image processing module to said second memory section by transmitting a control signal to said selector.

Claim 21

An image processing apparatus for processing an image represented by a plurality of pixels corresponding with a plurality of image-related signals, respectively, a selected one of the image-related signals corresponding with a first image type and being processed, in parallel, with means for determining the image type of selected ones of the image-related signals, a first image processing module and a second image processing module, the first image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of the first image type and the second image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of a second type, comprising: a first memory section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module and the second image processing module, for buffering the plurality of the image-related signals; a second memory section for receiving image-related signals processed with the first image processing module and the second image processing module; and a control section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module, the second image-processing module and said second memory section, said control section causing the output signal from the second image processing module to be received by said second memory section when the selected image-related signal is of the first image type, wherein said control section causes the output signal from the second image processing module to be transmitted from the second image processing module to said second memory section by transmitting a control signal to said selector.

Claim 22

The image processing apparatus of claim 15, in which said selector includes a plurality of inputs corresponding with the respective outputs of said image processing modules and an output, wherein said selector includes means for coupling the input of the second image processing module with the selector output in response to receiving the control signal.

Claim 23

The image processing apparatus of claim 14, wherein said control section includes progammable means for directing said selector to receive the output signal from the second image processing module when the determining means determines that the selected image related signal is of either the first or second image type.

Claim 24

An image processing apparatus for processing an image represented by a plurality of pixels corresponding with a plurality of image-related signals, respectively, a selected one of the image-related signals corresponding with a first image type and being processed, in parallel, with means for determining the image type of selected ones of the image-related signals, a first image processing module and a second image processing module, the first image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of the first image type and the second image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of a second type, comprising: a first memory section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module and the second image processing module, for buffering the plurality of the image-related signals; a second memory section for receiving image-related signals processed with the first image processing module and the second image processing module; and a control section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module, the second image processing module and said second memory section, said control section causing the output signal from the second image processing module to be received by said second memory section when the selected image-related signal is of the first image type, wherein said control section includes programmable means for directing said selector to receive the output signal from the second image processing module when the determining means determines that the selected image-related signal is of either the first or second image type and said programmable means includes a programmable look-up table which maps the first and second image types to a first control signal and a second control signal, respectively.

Claim 25

An image processing apparatus for processing an image represented by a plurality of pixels corresponding with a plurality of image-related signals, respectively, a selected one of the image-related signals corresponding with a first image type and being processed, in parallel, with means for determining the image type of selected ones of the image-related signals, a first image processing module and a second image processing module, the first image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of the first image type and the second image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of a second type, comprising: a first memory section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module and the second image processing module, for buffering the plurality of the image-related signals; a second memory section for receiving image-related signals processed with the first image processing module and the second image processing module; and a control section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module, the second image processing module and said second memory section, said control section causing the output signal from the second image processing module to be received by said second memory section when the selected image-related signal is of the first image type, wherein said control section includes programmable means for directing said selector to receive the output signal from the second image processing module when the determining means determines that the selected image-related signal is of either the first or second image type and said programmable means includes a programmable look-up table which maps the first and second image types to a first control signal and a second control signal, respectively.

Claim 26

An image processing apparatus for processing an image represented by a plurality of pixels corresponding with a plurality of image-related signals., respectively, a selected one of the image-related signals corresponding with a first image type and being processed, in parallel, with means for determining the image type of selected ones of the image-related signals, a first image processing module and a second image processing module, the first image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of the first image type and the second image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of a second type, comprising: a first memory section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module and the second image processing module, for buffering the plurality of the image-related signals; a second memory section for receiving image-related signals processed with the first image processing module and the second image processing module; a control section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module, the second image processing module and said second memory section, said control section causing the output signal from the second image processing module to be received by said second memory section when the selected image-related signal is of the first image type; and a third image processing module adapted to process image-related signals of a third image type, the third image processing module communicating with said first memory section, said control section and said second memory section, said control section causing the output signal from the second image processing module to be received by said second memory section when the selected image-related signal is of the third image type.

Claim 27

An image processing apparatus for processing an image represented by a plurality of pixels corresponding with a plurality of image-related signals., respectively, a selected one of the image-related signals corresponding with a first image type and being processed, in parallel, with means for determining the image type of selected ones of the image-related signals, a first image processing module and a second image processing module, the first image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of the first image type and the second image processing module having an output and being adapted to process images of a second type, comprising: a first memory section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module and the second image processing module, for buffering the plurality of the image-related signals; a second memory section for receiving image-related signals processed with the first image processing module and the second image processing module; a control section, communicating with the determining means, the first image processing module, the second image processing module and said second memory section, said control section causing the output signal from the second image processing module to be received by said second memory section when the selected image-related signal is of the first image type; and a third image processing module adapted to process image-related signals of a third image type, the third image processing module communicating with said first memory section, said control section and said second memory section, said control section causing the output signal from the second image processing module to be received by said second memory section when the selected image-related signal is of the third image type.

Claim 30

The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of performing the causing step in one of two modes, wherein in the first mode the output of the second image processing module is received by the output section when the selected image related signal is of the first image type and wherein in the second mode the output of the first image processing module is received by the output section when the selected image related signal is of the first image type.

Claim 31

The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of determining the mode in which the method is to be performed.

Claim 32

The method of claim 22, wherein said determining step comprises determining the mode automatically.

Claim 33

The method of claim 20, wherein said causing step includes transmitting a control signal to the output section to cause the selected image-related signal to be received at the output section.

Claim 34

The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of scanning the image to generate the plurality of image related signals.

Claim 35

The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of producing a print with the image related signals.