The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 05, 1996
Filed:
Feb. 21, 1995
Kazumasa Koike, Atsugi, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image processing device in which each pixel data of a gray-scale image, which data is obtained by scanning an original, is converted into a binary image-signal. The device comprises a matrix preparing unit for preparing a 3*3 pixel matrix comprising a focus pixel positioned in the center of the matrix and bordering pixels surrounding the focus pixel, a determining unit for determining whether or not the focus pixel is an edge pixel by comparing an intensity of the focus pixel with intensities of each of three bordering pixels consecutively arranged around the focus pixel, the comparison using the focus-pixel signal and bordering pixel-signals supplied by the matrix preparing unit, and the determining unit also being for outputting a control signal indicating the determined condition of the focus pixel. The device further comprises an enhancing unit for enhancing the focus pixel signal, and a selecting unit for selecting a pixel signal, in accordance with the control signal, from among the focus pixel signal and the enhanced pixel signal.