Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Kiyoshi Kanaiwa

Kaoru Seto

Hiroshi Mano

Takashi Kawana

Tetsuo Saito

Atsushi Kashihara

Hiromichi Yamada

Michio Itoh

Hiroshi Hashimoto

Kenjiro Hori

Yukihide Ushio

Toshio Yoshimoto

Kozo Matsumoto

Hiroshi Atobe

Muneo Adachi

Sigel Ueda

Binary data (VDO) developed to a dot pattern are sequentially stored in line memories (1-9). A processing circuit (43) is constituted by a logic calculation circuit, and determines an edge portion of an image or a halftone image on the basis of 11.times.9 pixel data in shift registers (34-43). When the edge portion of an image is determined, data of a pixel of interest is converted to data that can print a smooth edge portion. Changed data (VDOM) is converted again according to the type of toner. The converted signal is supplied to a laser driver of a printer, and a printing operation is performed by scanning a laser. A resolution setting unit (1700) receives a resolution setting command from an external apparatus (1300), and sets a designated resolution in a printer (1200) according to the resolution setting command. The resolution setting unit (1700) divides one pixel into an optimal number of pixel sections on the basis of the designated resolution, and sets a logic circuit for performing optimal smoothing processing for divided data in a smoothing unit (1018). Bit map development based on code data supplied from the external apparatus (1300), and smoothing processing according to a smoothing logic, are performed.

Image smoothing using selection among plural pre-stored pixel patterns

An information processing method includes inputting bit information, temporarily storing at least part of the input bit information, and detecting whether the stored bit information coincides with one predetermined feature of plural such predetermined features. Print information for an object pixel which corresponds to a stored bit is modified in a case where coincidence is detected. Modification may include, for example, contour retention in a case where a rectangular portion is detected, line width discrimination, or white line discrimination. In addition, second feature detection can determine that a right-angled portion is not involved, in which case print information is modified only if coincidence is detected with plural predetermined features and a right-angled portion is not detected.

Modifying print information based on feature detection

An information recording apparatus capable of contour smoothing by modifying the data of an object pixel based on pixel data in a surrounding area. There is employed a wide reference area, for example 11.times.9 pixels, divided into plural reference areas, all of which are referred to in the modification of the object pixel, and the modification of the object pixel is achieved by dividing the object pixel into plural sub pixels. In this manner the contour smoothing can be achieved in a more natural manner, also in consideration of the curvature of the contour. Also the modification of the object pixel is inhibited if the original image is identified as a halftone image or certain characters, in order to avoid image blurting by such smoothing.

Recording apparatus with image modification for increased image

This image processing apparatus inputs multi-valued image data, generates first recording data based on the input data, adds together several of the multi-valued image data, generates second recording data based on the added data and selects either the first or the second recording data. The image processing apparatus selects the first recording data in areas corresponding to the several multi-valued image data when preset data are included in those multi-valued image data, and selects the second recording data in areas corresponding to the several multi-valued image data when preset data are not included in those multi-valued image data.

Image processing apparatus

A movable image bearing member is provided with marks for detecting a moving speed of the image bearing member. A sensor detects the speed of movement of the marks. The signal as a result of the detection is compared with a reference signal to determine a phase difference therebetween. A driving motor for driving the image bearing member is controlled to remove the phase difference. Thus, the actual speed of the image bearing member is directly detected, and the speed is controlled so that the moving speed of the periphery of the image bearing member concerned with the image formation is accurately controlled.

Image forming apparatus comprising an image bearing member driven at a

A laser beam printer includes: a recording medium for forming an image; a scanning unit for scanning a beam modulated by an image signal on the recording medium; a beam detector for detecting the position of the beam scanned by the scanning unit and outputting a synchro signal which defines the record start position on the recording medium; a sheet position detector for detecting the position, in the direction of scanning the beam, of a sheet to which the image formed on the recording medium is transferred; and a controller for controlling the output timing of the synchro signal in accordance with the position of a sheet detected by the sheet position detector.

Laser beam printer

In a code converting device for converting first code data of scattered code form into second code data of consecutive data form, the first code data are divided at least into a first bit group and a second bit group, and the first bit group is supplied to a first memory to obtain first output data and second output data. The first output data and the second bit group are supplied to a second memory to obtain third output data. The second output data and the third output data are processed in a data processing unit to obtain the second code data.

Device for converting code signals of one bit number into a code signal

In reading out character dot patterns corresponding to character code signals from a dot pattern store therein a number of character dot patterns representing characters, there is provided a store therein position signals representing positions whereat the character dot patterns are stored in said dot pattern store, so that the position signals are first read out from the store by the character code signals and the corresponding character dot patterns are read out from said dot pattern store by the position signals.

Information output apparatus for putting out a character dot pattern

A superposition recording apparatus comprises a first read-out unit for reading first coded recording information from a first storage medium, a first memory for storing the first recording information read by the first read-out unit, a first dot signal generator to which the first coded recording information stored in the first memory is applied to thereby produce dot signals to be recorded, a second read-out unit for reading second coded recording information from a second storage medium, a second memory for storing the second recording information read by the second read-out unit, a second dot signal generator to which the first coded recording information stored in the second memory is applied to thereby produce dot signals to be recorded, and a recording signal generator for combining together the dot signals provided from the first and second dot signal generators to form recording signals for successively controlling the recording of first and second information on a recording medium.

Growing community of inventors

Kawasaki, Japan

Kiyoshi Kanaiwa