Patent ID: 6577774
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus comprising:a binary data obtaining unit for receiving input multi-valued original image data and for obtaining binary data for a group of n(dot)Ã—m(line) data by executing processing for obtaining binary data for extracting characters and strings by comparing the inputted multi-valued original image data to a preset threshold value data; a template matching unit for determining whether smoothing is to be executed or not by comparing the binary data for the n(dot)Ã—m(line) data group with a template data previously prepared; a smoothing unit for interpolating and adjusting pixels determined by the template matching unit to be smoothed according to a smoothing data previously prepared to convert the pixel data to multi-valued data; a data setting unit with the threshold value data, template data, and smoothing data set therein; and a data selecting unit for receiving the multi-valued pixel data outputted from said smoothing unit and the inputted multi-valued original image data input to the binary data obtaining unit, when it is determined by said template matching unit that smoothing is to be executed for selecting and outputting the multi-valued image data having been subjected to smoothing, and when it is determined by said template matching unit that smoothing is not to be executed for selecting and outputting the inputted multi-valued original image data.