Patent ID: 6333998
Filing Date: 2001-12-25
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An image processing apparatus comprising:input means for inputting a multilevel digital image signal;binarizing means for converting the multilevel digital image signal input from said input means to a bilevel image;pattern storage means for storing predetermined reference patterns and pixel substitution patterns corresponding to the reference patterns;pattern matching means for comparing the bilevel image and the reference patterns stored in said pattern storage means; andpixel substitution means which, if the result of the comparison performed by said pattern matching means indicates that the bilevel image matches a reference pattern, outputs a pixel substitution pattern, which corresponds to this reference pattern,wherein, the reference patterns are patterns for detecting a case where a line in the bilevel image has been rendered discontinuously by one or more pixels as a result of binarization performed by said binarizing means, and the pixel substitution pattern, which has been stored in said pattern storage means, that is output by said pixel substitution means, are pixel substitution patterns for rendering continuously the line in the bilevel image.