Patent ID: 6650793
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: G06K,G06T,H04N

Abstract:
An input pixel image resolution expansion method that expands to a first resolution an input pixel image having input pixel data of a lower resolution than said first resolution, wherein each pixel has associated therewith a pixel density and wherein the input pixel data may have associated therewith a gray scale of such pixel densities, a resolution being measured by a first number of pixels per inch in a first direction and a second number of pixels per inch in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the method comprising:selecting a given pixel of the input pixel image and defining a window that includes the given pixel and a set of neighboring pixels; determining whether any pixel within the window contains gray scale density data; if so then expanding the resolution of the given pixel within the defined window to produce a gray scaled output pixel image at said first resolution; if in said act of determining said any pixel has not contained therein a gray scale, then mapping the given pixel into a predefined plural-pixel of said first resolution, wherein said mapping is performed by performing logic operations on pixels within said window; and substituting for the given pixel the predefined plural-pixel of said first resolution, based on said logic operations, thereby producing an output plural-pixel of said first resolution which smoothes jagged edges, while preserving the gray scale of the given input pixel, said first resolution being asymmetric, thereby having differing numbers of pixels per inch in two substantially perpendicular directions.