Hewlett-packard Company

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.P.

Douglas Heins

Gary Lee Vondran, Jr

Scott C Clouthier

James R Nottingham

Brian E Hoffmann

Andrea Monaci

Claudio Caldato

The invention relates to a document analysis method to detect BW/color areas comprising the following steps: getting an input image data to be split in elementary information; analysing the input data to get the colorfulness of each elementary information; creating a first and a second output layers corresponding to the BW and color elementary information respectively; applying a first set of atomic operations to the BW layer and a second different set of atomic operations to the color layer; and combining the BW and color layers in order to obtain a desired format for the output data. The invention also relates to a scanning device to acquire documents including an input that receives an input image data, and is connected to a layer creator component, which in turn outputs a first and a second layer, such layers having different data compression rate. Finally, the invention relates to a method for acquiring a document based on the analysis of the content of the document itself.

Document analysis method to detect BW/color areas and corresponding scanning device

The invention relates to an image data processing method receiving an input image data split in elementary units of information and providing an output image data with a particular image format depending on the requirements of a final device that receives such output image data by means of the following steps: identification of the final device that receives the output data; getting an input image data; from a repository of basic imaging operation, selecting a plurality of operations to be performed on the input image data; creating a sequence of operations that links and ordinate the plurality of operations; applying the sequence to the input image data to create a plurality of layers of organized data of said input image data; assembling said plurality of layers into at least an output layer which best fit the requirements of the identified final device; and sending the assembled output layer to the identified final device. The invention also relates to a configurable image processing device to read and output an image data in accord with a particular output format depending on a final device that receives the output image data.

Image data processing method and corresponding device

A method for halftoning an image to be rendered onto a media sheet includes the steps of: classifying data portions of a received data stream into one of plural image types, each image type to be subjected to a particular halftone procedure; assigning to each data portion of a common image type, a common identifier and then converting the data portions into a raster representation; subjecting segments of the raster representation to individualized halftone procedures, each segment of the raster representation that is assigned a common identifier being subjected to an identical halftone procedure; and rendering the raster representation onto a media sheet, subsequent to the halftone process. The apparatus for performing the halftone method places the halftone operation subsequent to the rasterization operation and thereby avoids anomalies which occurred in the prior art. Further, the apparatus enables halftone tables which are utilized during the halftone procedure to be altered so as to enable improvements to the halftone method.

Method and apparatus for halftoning of images in a printer

A print data processing pipeline for use in a color electrophotographic printer optimizes print quality and minimizes memory usage by separately processing lossy and lossless print data. Lossy print data may include print data or images and lossless print data may include print data for text, line art, and graphics. Partitioning print data into lossy and lossless components allows application of the print data compression operations optimized for each type of print data. High compression ratios can be achieved on lossy print data by applying visually lossless compression operations designed for the lossy print data. In addition, high compression ratios can be achieved on the lossless print data by applying lossless compression operations designed for the lossless print data. A merge unit combines the lossy and lossless print data streams after decompression to reconstruct the original image. Placement of the color space conversion operation and the halftone operation relative to the merge operation, further optimizes the print quality while minimizing memory usage. The print data processing pipeline includes a direct memory access controller which has the capability to allow print data to be selectively directed to the lossy or lossless compressor/decompressor, the color space converter, or the merge unit. Feedback paths within the print data processing pipeline allow the results of the various operations performed to be returned to the direct memory access controller for further processing or storage in system memory. Bypass paths in the color space converter and halftone unit allow print data to be selectively directed around these operations. These capabilities allow configuration of the print data processing pipeline to perform a multitude of permutations of print data processing operations optimized for the print data.

Multi-path data processing pipeline

A pixel processor, for use in conjunction with a color video monitor or an all points addressable color print engine, includes brush logic, mask logic, clip logic, and a multi-pixel logic unit to produce a page map consisting of millions of pixels, each having a color value. To portray a 2D-rasterization of overlapping objects with portions of objects being transparent, and objects shaded with colored pattern, the processor combines source S, brush T, pattern mask, source mask, and prior destination D data. Brush logic combines an RGB color setting with a pattern to provide the brush data, tiled within a source region. Mask logic ensures transparency of portions of the pattern or source as defined by pattern mask data and source mask data, respectively. Clip logic limits pixel updates in regions of the page map not within the source region. The processor includes dynamically reconfigurable bit-slice architecture, for updating multiple pixels in parallel, for example four 8-bit pixels in one color plane per operation in a 32-bit embodiment. Registers hold intermediate results of arithmetic comparisons permitting a single raster operation such as S ((S T) & (T D)) to be performed in four clock periods. The symbol ' ' represents a function that returns the absolute value of the difference of the operands. The symbol '&' represents a function that returns the arithmetic 'minimum' of, in this case, intermediate results.

Computer system with parallel processor for pixel arithmetic

A print data processing pipeline for use in a color electrophotographic printer optimizes print quality and minimizes memory usage by separately processing lossy and lossless print data. Lossy print data may include print data for images and lossless print data may include print data for text, line art, and graphics. Partitioning print data into lossy and lossless components allows application of the print data compression operations optimized for each type of print data. High compression ratios can be achieved on lossy print data by applying visually lossless compression operations designed for the lossy print data. In addition, high compression ratios can be achieved on the lossless print data by applying lossless compression operations designed for the lossless print data. A merge unit combines the lossy and lossless print data streams after decompression to reconstruct the original image. Placement of the color space conversion operation and the halftone operation relative to the merge operation, further optimizes the print quality while minimizing memory usage. The print data processing pipeline includes a direct memory access controller which has the capability to allow print data to be selectively directed to the lossy or lossless compressor/decompressor, the color space converter, or the merge unit. Feedback paths within the print data processing pipeline allow the results of the various operations performed to be returned to the direct memory access controller for further processing or storage in system memory. Bypass paths in the color space converter and halftone unit allow print data to be selectively directed around these operations. These capabilities allow configuration of the print data processing pipeline to perform a multitude of permutations of print data processing operations optimized for the print data.

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Burley, ID, United States of America

Douglas Heins