Minolta Company, Ltd.

Kenichi Morita

Junji Nishigaki

Shoji Imaizumi

Hiroshi Ootsuka

Keisuke Hashimoto

Tatsuji Nozawa

Kenichi Takahashi

Takashi Yamauchi

Kazuhiro Ishiguro

Takayuki Nabeshima

Hideyuki Hashimoto

Akinori Yoshida

Jiro Goto

Yoshiharu Kurozasa

Haisheng Liang

Munehiro Nakatani

Nobuo Kamei

Kenichi Sawada

Takeshi Minami

Kazunori Shionoya

Alan Darby

In a system for variable-length coding, when image data of a plurality of documents are compressed and stored in a compression memory, the image data is divided into a plurality of areas. Then, attributes are discriminated for each area, and the result of the attribute discrimination is written to an attribute memory. Attribute counters count the numbers of the discriminated attributes. A variable-length compression section compresses the code data with a compression method in response to the attribute data written to the attribute memory, and the compressed data is written to a compression memory.

Image processing apparatus

A data communication apparatus determines whether or not data are being transmitted, and receives the image data when data have been transmitted. Then, a plurality of address data of the sending side are obtained. Then, the obtained plurality of address data of the sending side are recorded in an address memory. Finally, the apparatus transmits its own plurality of address data to the obtained address of the sending side, and the reception process ends.

Multi-line communication apparatus and method of use

An image processing apparatus can share a function of other apparatuses when it is connected to a network. The image processing apparatus comprises function blocks such as an image reader, an image processor and a printer, interface means connected to the network, and an image bus switcher for switching buses for connecting these elements. The image bus switcher is used to transmit data, whereby an application program of the other apparatus connected to the network can be used, for example. After the image data is processed by using the application program of the other apparatus, the processed data can be also transmitted and printed. When the other apparatus is used, a power is supplied to the necessary function blocks alone, thereby starting these blocks.

Image processing apparatus connectable to network

The data communication apparatus of the present invention includes a CPU, operation panel, reading unit, image memory for storing read image data, resolution converter for converting stored image data to an optional resolution, telephone communication unit for transmitting data over a telephone line, network communication unit for transmitting data over an internet line, and a printing unit. The resolution converter converts fine detail data to low detail data and sends the low detail data to the telephone communication unit when transmitting data over the telephone line. In this way data reception reliably occurs simultaneously with data transmission. Thereafter, when fine detail request data including resolution data are received over the telephone line, the data are converted to the desired resolution, and sent to the network communication unit. In this way the apparatus attains excellent operationality since fine detail data are transmitted only as necessary.

Data communication apparatus

In a system for variable-length coding, when image data of a plurality of documents are compressed and stored in a compression memory, the image data is divided into a plurality of areas. Then, attributes are discriminated for each area, and the result of the attribute discrimination is written to an attribute memory. Attribute counters count the numbers of the discriminated attributes. A variable-length compression section compresses the code data with a compression method in response to the attribute data written to the attribute memory, and the compressed is written to a compression memory.

Adaptive variable length image coding apparatus

A bus monitor section calculates bus-occupancy rate for each of the DMA control sections to connected to a bus in accordance with bus-use permission signals ack to ack , respectively. Furthermore, a bus-use reconcilement section changes manners of bus-use reconcilement control when the sum of a plurality of bus-occupancy rate exceeds &ldquo;50&rdquo;, a predetermined threshold. Thereby, this method avoids occurrences such that a specific device occupies the bus or vice versa, a specific device cannot get access to the bus

DMA controller with dynamically variable access priority

A data communication apparatus which first searches a plurality of addresses recorded for an input transmission destination. A communication line is selected which is suited to the set mode. Then, a check is made to determine whether or not the address is present for the set communication line from among the searched plurality of transmission destination addresses, and when the address is not present, the communication line having the next prioritized ranking is set. Then, this series of processes is repeated until the applicable transmission destination is present. The data communication apparatus transmits the data to the destination address when the address of the set communication line is present.

Data communication apparatus and method of data communication

In an image processor, after the background of input image data is removed, the image data are divided into a plurality of areas, and the attribute of image is discriminated for each area. The image data after the background removal is compressed according to the result of attribute discrimination. The amount of the background removal can be controlled. Preferably, the amount of the background removal is controlled according to the discriminated attribute. Then, the background can be removed without artificial feeling in a reproduced image.

Image processor

The amount in offset of toner or the like is used to determine two points sandwiching lattice points of input data and divide the region between the two points equally in N&minus;1. The output values at the two points and each point equally dividing the region are obtained to calculate gradients m1-m8 between any two adjacent ones of the points. Then, difference values dm1-dm7 in gradient between any two adjacent ones of the straight lines are calculated and (N&minus;1) lattice points serving as dividing points are selected from the difference values in descending order. It should be noted that N is smaller than M. Then, the input and output values of the determined (N&plus;1) lattice points N0-N4 are plotted and they are bounded by straight line and thus plotted to linearly interpolate the output data for the input data. Thus, an image processing apparatus can be provided capable of precisely modifying output images with reduced memory capacity.

Image processing apparatus capable of precise color correction with reduced memory capacity

A pixel interpolating device using the IM-GPDCT method and capable of preventing noise generation divides an original image into a plurality of blocks and picks up a block to be processed as a target block. Further, an image peripheral to the target block is extracted as a peripheral image. By using the peripheral image as an extension region, DCT transform is carried out. Thereafter, the peripheral image is magnified, and the IM-GPDCT processing is carried by using the magnified image.

Pixel interpolating device capable of preventing noise generation

In an image coding apparatus for encoding and decoding multi-level image data with block truncation coding, multi-level image data is divided into second blocks (e.g., 6*6 pixels) which is larger in size than a first block (e.g., 4*4 pixels) to be coded. Average value and gradation level amplitude are calculated on a second block, and encoding and decoding are performed on a first block by using the average value and gradation level amplitude. When a pixel not adjacent to the first block is included in an end of the image or the like in a second block, data of the actual pixels are used for the pixels having no data. Thus, deterioration of the image quality can be reduced.

Image coding apparatus

An image processing unit comprises a memory for storing original image data and a print start time therefor, and a reserve print function of reading the original image data from the memory and printing the same at the print start time. The image processing unit further has a monitor for monitoring consumed times for an interruption copy, paper supply and the like, an operator for inputting print data and a desired print end time, a computing element for operating a required time for a print operation on the basis of the print data, and a setter for setting a print start time for each original on the basis of the operating situation of the image processing unit and the required and desired end times for each original for avoiding overlapping of print operations for respective originals.

Growing community of inventors

Toyohashi, Japan

Kenichi Morita