Patent ID: 6700682
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An image processing method comprising:a first step of changing a reading width on an original read by one main scanning line, by changing a carriage moving speed, which is defined according to a relationship with magnifications between a maximum reduction magnification and a maximum enlargement magnification, between a maximum moving speed and a minimum moving speed, to perform magnification change in a subscanning direction; and a second step of subjecting image data read by changing the reading width on the original to be read by the one main scanning line to image calculation, and thereby correcting the magnification change in the subscanning direction to a predetermined magnification, the first step comprising: setting a magnification for an original image to be processed; and when the set magnification is at least a predetermined magnification in reduction changing in accordance with the set magnification a moving speed of a carriage for reading the original image to be processed, reducing the moving speed to Â½ or less a carriage moving speed defined according to the relationship with the magnifications between the maximum reduction magnification and the maximum enlargement magnification, thereby maintaining the carriage moving speed within a range which does not reach the maximum moving speed even at the maximum reduction magnification, the second step comprising: accumulating, in a 1-line element corresponding to a main scanning direction, an electrical signal prepared by photoelectrically converting optical image information obtained by scanning the original image to be processed by the carriage in the subscanning direction; converting the electrical signal into a digital signal, storing 1-line input image data in the main scanning direction in reduction, performing average calculation for multilevel n-line data in the main scanning direction to change a subscanning magnification in reduction, and outputting 1-line output image data in the main scanning direction; and performing predetermined image data processing including processing of receiving the 1-line output image data in the main scanning direction for each pixel, and converting the image data into binary data.