Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Masami Kurata

Takashi Ohmori

Hiroyuki Saitoh

Fujio Moriguchi

Toshiharu Inui

Haruhiko Moriguchi

Tomio Murayama

Takashi Omori

Noriyoshi Ishikawa

Hiroshi Sekine

Masao Morita

Hiroyuki Kawano

Hitoshi Funato

Svay Leng

Hisao Nakajima

Takeshi Kunimasa

Takanobu Otsubo

Toru Hada

Yozo Yamaguchi

Tadashi Yamamoto

Kenichi Ishida

Masakane Matsuda

Haruhiko Takahashi

Yasuo Katou

Masanori Satake

Yoshiki Kikuchi

Shin Ohtake

Naoyuki Enomoto

Katsuo Makino

Norihiko Koizumi

Harukiko Moriguchi

Yasuo Katoh

Disclosed is an image processing device capable of recognizing a specific image such as an image which is prohibited from printing at high speed and, moreover, without being influenced by an image forming process. A drawing command analysis unit analyzes a drawing command received by a drawing command input unit and sends an analysis result to both an output image data generation unit and a recognition image data generation unit. The output image data generation unit generates output image data adapted to an image formation device in accordance with the drawing command. In parallel with the operation, the recognition image data generation unit generates recognition image data adapted to a recognition unit in accordance with the drawing command. The recognition unit performs a process of recognizing a specific image by using the recognition image data. The recognition image data may have a data format, resolution, a color space, and the number of bits per pixel which are different from those of the output image data. When the specific image is recognized by the recognition unit, the output image data generation unit stops outputting the output image data.

Recognizing a print inhibit image pattern using image data converted for fast recognition

The present invention provides an image processor and an image processing method wherein a specific image such as an image of which the printing is prohibited can be recognized at high speed and in addition, with high precision. A rendering command analysis unit passes a rendering object to any of a recognition unit for a raster image, a recognition unit for graphics and a recognition unit for a character according to the type of the rendering object in the rendering command and tries to recognize a specific image. The result of recognition by each recognition unit is passed to a recognition determination unit and it is synthetically determined based upon these results of recognition whether the specific image exists or not. Even if the specific image is formed by dividing into plural types of rendering objects, the specific image can be recognized by such recognition processing. Also, processing for generating output image data by an output image data generation unit according to a rendering command and outputting it is executed in parallel with such recognition processing so as to speed up processing.

Image processor, image processing method and storage medium

An image processing system 1 (information processing system) includes a plurality of input interfaces 11, 12, and 13 for inputting image data output from a plurality of host systems C, PC1, and PC2, an input buffer 41 for storing the image data input through the input interfaces, determination mechanism for determining the upper limit value of the storage amount of the image data stored in the input buffer 41 for at least one of the input interfaces 11-13, and mechanism for storing image data in the input buffer in a scattering manner so as not to exceed the upper limit value determined by the determination mechanism.

Image processing system and information processing system

There are provided a plurality of light sources emitting different color lights, and switch means for selectively lighting either one or all of the light sources. The lights reflected by a multicolor manuscript are converted into electric outputs by an image sensor. The output of the image sensor of the portion of the manuscript having the same color as the lighted light source is caused to exceed a predetermined binarizing level, whereby that portion of the manuscript is prevented from being read.

Method and apparatus for reading multicolor manuscripts

A copying machine records an image on a recording sheet through the use of an ink donor sheet with thermally transferable ink. The copying machine includes a platen of glass for supporting an original to be copied, a scanner unit movable reciprocally relative to the platen for reading a series of lines on the original and for generating an image signal for each line, a thermal head having a heating region for selectively generating thermal pulses in response to the image signal from the scanner unit, an ink donor sheet supply assembly for supplying the thermal head with an ink donor sheet coated with thermally transferable ink which can be fluidized or sublimable upon being heated, a recording sheet supply assembly for supplying a recording sheet in the vicinity of the thermal head, a contacting assembly for bringing the supplied recording sheet into intimate contact with a heating region of the thermal head with the ink donor sheet interposed between the thermal head and the recording sheet, and a recording sheet discharging assembly for discharging the recording sheet peeled off the ink donor sheet after the image has been recorded on the recording sheet.

Copying machine

A two-color copying machine records an image on a recording sheet in two colors such as red and black by using thermally transferable red and black inks on ink donor sheets. The two-color copying machine includes a platen for supporting an original to be copied, a scanner unit movable reciprocally with respect to the platen for reading the original and for generating an image signal for each line which is separated into two single color image signals, each corresponding to one of the two colors, a pair of thermal heads each for selectively generating thermal pulses in response to the image signal from the scanner unit, an ink donor sheet supply assembly for supplying the thermal heads with respective ink donor sheets coated with thermally transferable inks of different colors, respectively, which can be fluidized or sublimated upon being heated, a recording sheet supply assembly for supplying a recording sheet in the vicinity of the thermal heads, a recording sheet contacting assembly for bringing the supplied recording sheet into intimate contact with a heating region of each of the thermal heads with the ink donor sheet interposed between a thermal head and an ink donor sheet, a recording sheet peeling assembly for peeling the recording sheet off the ink donor sheets after the image has been recorded on the recording sheet, and a discharge assembly for discharging the peeled recording sheet.

Two-color copying machine

In a method and an apparatus for reading a color image wherein the color image is illuminated and scanned by light from a plurality of light sources having different spectral properties to read the color image on the basis of the reflected light therefrom, at least one light source of the light sources is kept turned on during the scanning operation of the color image, thereby eliminating any problems resulting from its after-glow; and at least one light source of the light sources other than that kept turned on is repeatedly turned on and off with a period corresponding to the period of the scanning operation so as to project the light from the single and plural light sources selected from the light sources, at least once respectively, upon the scanned portions of the color image. The color image is read by detecting colors on the scanned portions of the color image on the basis of levels of the light reflected from the color image. A variety of colors may be detected by the present invention including red, blue, black and cyan. In addition, the present invention also teaches the use of color filters to eliminate the potential after-glow effect of color fluorescent lamps.

Method and apparatus for reading color images using a plurality of color

A copier capable of producing both color images and monochrome images is disclosed, which comprises a platen for mounting thereon a manuscript, a scanner unit adapted to reciprocate relative to the platen and generate image signals divided in three primary colors by reading the manuscript for each line or for each set of a plurality of lines, four thermal heads for receiving image signals and, in response thereto, selectively actuating heat generation elements, means for supplying the thermal heads with ink donor films of four colors including black, and means for effecting thermal transfer printing on record paper.

Color copier

In an apparatus for reading a color image on an original wherein the color image is illuminated and scanned by light from a plurality of light sources each having different spectrum to discriminate color of the color image on the basis of the reflected light from the original, these plurality of light sources are driven by a driving signal which is produced in synchronism with original read scanning.

Apparatus for reading color image

A shading correction device has a variable attenuator which is provided in the transmission line of the picture signal after photoelectric conversion by the original reader. For example, at the time of reading all white surface of the original at the beginning of the original scan the information level of each bit of the picture signal, i.e., the level of each picture element, is sequentially attenuated by the variable attenuator. In order to make the level of each picture element uniform, a data on how much attenuation is required, is generated for each picture element and loaded in a memory. The variable attenuator is adapted to be driven and controlled based on the data loaded in the memory at the time of reading the original in the subsequent scan.

Shading correction device

In a method of controlling the sub-scanning of a document reading apparatus the speed, acceleration or deceleration of the reading section is controlled according to the amount of information stored in a buffer memory which temporarily stores information read by the reading section. The values of the movement speeds, accelerations and decelerations are predetermined according to the stored information amount of the buffer memory and at the time of controlling the reading section, one of these values is selected according to the currently stored information amount of the buffer memory. Whereby any vibration in a reading section is prevented to eliminate the irregularity in the sub-scanning of the reading section.

Method for controlling sub-scanning of document reading apparatus

A thermal head drive circuit for use with a thermal head comprising multiple heat generating elements for data recording comprising a heat accumulation calculating unit (36) for calculating the heat residual from prior recording steps and a pulse width calculating unit (38) for calculating the pulse widths of voltage to be applied to an element dependent on the calculated residual heat and the pulse width of the prior recording step.

Thermal head drive circuit

The area detection method detects an area on an original enclosed with a mark of specific color by the steps of scanning the original by a photosensor, judging whether the number of the mark segment detected by the photosensor in a single scan line is an even or odd number for each scan and detecting the area based on the output of the photosensor in the scan period for which the judgement is made that the number of the detected mark segment is an even number.

Area detection method of an original for use in copying machines

A copying machine includes an optical sensor of the line scanning type for converting an image into electrical signals, a thermal recording head controlled in accordance with the image signals, and a heat-sensitive paper web on which the image is formed by heat generated from the thermal recording head. The platen moves with respect to the read unit and the read unit will read in both forward and reverse directions of the platen, and the magnification value can be varied. The total width of energized heating elements and the movement length and speed of the platen may be controlled in accordance with the size of the original. The total number of heating elements energized at any one time is limited, and the machine includes input and output terminals for sending image information externally and for receiving and recording image information other than directly from the read unit.

Reproducing machine

A reading device having two different reading elements for scanning the same portion of an original in different wavelength ranges. A color separating circuit comprises a signal level adjusting circuit for adjusting the levels of picture signals provided by the reading elements so that the levels are equal to each other when white picture data is read. An arithmetic unit obtains a level difference between the picture signals which have been subjected to level adjustment by the signal level adjusting circuit. A/D converters are used for digitizing an output signal of the arithmetic unit and the picture signals provided by the reading elements. A color separation logic circuit subjects three different picture signals outputted by the A/D converters to logic operation for color separation.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Masami Kurata