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:
Sep. 08, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 18, 1996
Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A method of image processing includes the steps of allocating image data of a document into a plurality of blocks of a predetermined pixel matrix; determining a gradient range exponent and a mean value information for each of the blocks based on the image data contained in each of the blocks; encoding the image data of each pixel of each of the blocks into code data based on the mean value information and gradient range exponent for the respective block so that the code data defines each pixel with fewer gradation levels than the image data; determining whether or not a mutually adjoining block is related to a solid image of a same density relative to a block subject to the encoding process; and executing a run length encoding process for a batch of mean value information, gradient range exponent, and code data based on a run length of adjoining blocks discriminated as related to a solid image of the same density.