Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha

Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Minolta Camera Co. Kabushiki Kaisha

Tadashi Ohira

Syuzi Maruta

Masazumi Ito

Mitsuru Maeda

Kazuhiro Araki

Toshiyuki Nakagawa

Kadotaro Nishimori

Masahide Ueda

Tadafumi Shimizu

Syuji Maruta

Akira Ohhata

Keiji Yoshida

Kenzo Tanaka

A frame image of decoded image data in which an image stream generated by performing an orthogonal transformation and a lossy compression coding has been decoded is inputted so as to be stored in a frame memory for each block, and based on the stored frame image and a newly input frame image, a motion vector for each block is detected, and a motion vector variance map generator calculates a variance value map by calculating a variance value of the motion vectors. Based on the variance value map and a threshold, an outline domain included in the frame image is extracted, and a band limiting filter performs band limitation for each block in regard to the outline domain so as to accomplish removal of noise from the decoded image.

Image processing apparatus and method thereof

The intensities of horizontal and vertical edges of each block of luminance signals of an image are measured, and horizontal and vertical edge intensity data of respective blocks are stored for one frame in an edge intensity mapping memory. A noise removal flag used to specify a filtering block is calculated based on the edge intensity data, and is stored in a noise removal flag mapping memory. A filter controller controls whether or not to apply filtering processing to each block, specified by this noise removal flag, of the current frame of the image based on the horizontal and vertical edge intensity data of that block of the current frame and those of the corresponding block of the immediately preceding frame.

Image processing apparatus and method thereof for detecting and removing noise in decoded images

An image processing apparatus and method decodes interceded image data, even if reference image data is lost. The apparatus and method perform first coding that codes input image data by transforming the input image data into frequency components in units of blocks and coding the frequency components by adaptively using an intracoding mode and an interceding mode, second coding that codes frequency components obtained by limiting the frequency components for reference image data for use in the interceding mode, and outputting combined data obtained by combining the image data coded in the second coding with the image data coded by the first coding.

Image processing apparatus and method with pseudo-coded reference data

An image processing apparatus, comprising a first motion vector detecting unit for searching for a motion vector in a fixed search range on the basis of image data of the input current frame and image data of the previous frame, a second motion vector detecting unit for setting a search range for performing the motion vector search according to the previously detected motion vector and for performing a motion vector search within the set search range on the basis of the image data of the current frame and the image data of the previous frame, and a selecting unit for selecting a process with the first motion vector detecting unit and a process with the second motion vector detecting unit.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, computer-readable recording medium, and program for performing motion vector search processing

A motion vector search apparatus and method that search for inter-frame motion vectors of motion pictures are provided. The motion vector search apparatus and method involve: inputting a search target frame to be coded; inputting as a reference frame a frame on which a motion vector search has been performed; by using each of a plurality of specific blocks set within the search target frame and each corresponding one of reference blocks set within the reference frame, performing a block matching for each of the specific blocks within a predetermined range of the reference frame; determining a search pattern for a motion vector for the entire frame according to block matching results for the plurality of specific blocks; by using the search pattern determined, executing a block matching in predetermined units of blocks on the inputted search target frame to be encoded; and generating motion vectors.

Motion vector search apparatus and method

An image processing apparatus for encoding an image which contains a region to be encoded to have higher image quality than the surrounding portions, has detection means () for detecting a quantization step from a bitstream of the image encoded in a first stage, quantization step control means () for controlling the detected quantization step, and selection means () for encoding the image in a second stage using the controlled quantization step, and selecting one of the images encoded in the first and second stages.

Modification of detected quantization step size from the encoded bitstream based on a region of interest (ROI) bitmask

In an image encoding apparatus for receiving and encoding an image signal, the input image signal is encoded in units of blocks in accordance with an encoding parameter via a DCT device, quantizer, and variable-length encoder. The encoded codes are multiplexed together with information indicating the presence/absence of scrambling, authentication data, a quantization parameter used in the quantizer, and a quantization parameter obtained by converting this quantization parameter. A copyrighted image signal is scrambled upon encoding, an image decoding apparatus of an authentic viewer normally plays back, and an image decoding apparatus of an unauthentic viewer plays back an image with which the viewer can recognize its outline.

Information processing method and apparatus

An image forming apparatus communicable with a centralized control apparatus. When a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus under predetermined transmission conditions where a communication terminal electrically connected to the centralized control apparatus through a communication network has been connected to the image informing apparatus, signals indicative of both the occurring trouble and other operational states of the image forming apparatus are transmitted to the centralized control apparatus. Further, information indicative of the fact that the signals have already been transmitted to the centralized control apparatus is displayed on a display area of a control panel. When a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus where the communication terminal has been disconnected from the image forming apparatus, a method of effecting measures on the trouble is displayed on the display area of the control panel.

Image forming apparatus communicable with a centralized control apparatus

A copying machine capable of correctly counting the number of printed copying papers, more specifically, capable of interrupting the counting task when some copying papers stored in the intermediate storage unit or marking papers for classifying printed copying papers are discharged without forming any image thereon.

Copying machine capable of discharging paper without forming image

An image forming apparatus comprises an image forming portion for forming toner images on a sheet of paper, a fixing portion for fixing the toner images on the sheet of paper by heat, and a counter for counting the number of sheets on which images are fixed from the time of turning on of the power. The image forming portion forms toner images on the paper at a low speed until the counter counts a prescribed number. Since the number of sheets to be fixed is reduced at the start of operation, the temperature of the fixing portion is not very much lowered. Namely, the fixing operation can be started when the temperature of the fixing portion reaches a prescribed value. Therefore, the time required for warming up the image forming forming apparatus can be reduced.

Image forming apparatus

A data communication control system for an apparatus which may be selectively equipped with two or more functional modules each having predetermined functions, the control system having a plurality of subsidiary control units respectively in control of the functional modules, a main control unit operative to communicate with each of the subsidiary control units and a data transmission network interconnecting the main control unit and each of the subsidiary control units to allow full-duplex communication therebetween, each subsidiary control unit being operative to generate mode data designating any of the functions assigned to the particular subsidiary control unit and transmit the mode data to the main control unit, wherein, when mode data designating any function is generated by one of the subsidiary control units and is sent to the main control unit, the main control unit transmits to each subsidiary control unit data designating the function designated by the mode data if the main control unit determines that the execution of the particular function is allowable, or the function designated by the mode data received prior to the currently received mode data if the main control unit determines that the execution of the function designated by the currently received mode data is not allowable.

Data communication control system

In an image forming apparatus of the type including a plurality of functional modules each having particular functions proper to the unit, a control system having a master control unit and a plurality of subsidiary control units respectively in control of the individual functional modules wherein each of the plurality of subsidiary control units operates principally under the control of the master control unit through a communication network of the common interface bus type but is operable independently of the master control unit when required or preferred by the subsidiary control unit per se. At least one of the functional modules is provided with a standard mode of operation and a local mode of operation. The standard and local modes are incompatible with one another.

Image forming apparatus including control system provided with a master

An electrophotographic copying machine is provided with a leaf document circulation mode (LDC mode) in which an optical scanner is fixed under a light transmission part of a platen glass and an original is made to pass over the optical scanning mechanism with an automatic document feeder mounted on the platen glass. To prevent the light-fatigue of the photosensitive drum caused by the light passing through the platen glass and incident on a photosensitive drum through an optical system when the automatic document feeder mounted on the platen glass is opened in the LDC mode, the open/close condition of the automatic document feeder is detected with a sensor and when it is opened the optical scanner is moved to a position where the light incident through the platen glass does not strike upon the photosensitive drum.

Movable scanning system responsive to platen cover postion and operation

A toner supply arrangement for use in a developing apparatus which includes a plurality of toner accommodating containers provided in the developing apparatus, a toner transport device for transporting toner accommodated in each of the plurality of toner accommodating containers to the developing apparatus, a driving unit for driving the toner transport device; a first toner detecting device for detecting presence or absence of toner accommodated in each of the plurality of toner accommodating containers, a cover member for selectively opening or closing an opening for each of the plurality of toner accommodating containers, an open/close detecting device for detecting opening or closing of the cover member, and a control device for actuating the first toner detecting means upon detection of the opening or closing of the cover member so as to apply a control signal to the driving unit according to result of detection of the toner detecting device.

Toner supply arrangement

Sheet transport device with easy sheet jam handling. The device comprises a first sheet transport path which includes a feed roller rotatable in forward and reverse directions and a pair of transport rollers separable from each other, and a second sheet transport path connected to the first path which includes an openable frame. When the frame is opened, the transport rollers are separated from each other and the feed roller is driven reversely. The device further comprises a display which indicates the position where a jammed sheet is located.

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Osaka, Japan

Tadashi Ohira