Patent ID: 7218420
Filing Date: 2007-05-15
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for processing input image data, the method comprising the steps of: receiving image data that includes data representing a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel of the plurality of pixels is associated with a location and one of at least three intensities; accessing data in a memory, the data representing a screen, the screen including a plurality of planes, each plane of the plurality of planes including a plurality of cells, wherein each cell of the plurality of cells is associated with one of at least three microdot densities, the microdot densities being representative of a particular dot size capable of being printed by a gray-level printer; for each pixel (“current pixel”) of the plurality of pixels: determining the intensity and the location of the current pixel, selecting one of the plurality of planes based at least upon the current pixel's intensity, and associating one of the plurality of microdot densities in the selected plane with the current pixel based at least upon the current pixel's location; outputting the microdot densities associated with the plurality of pixels as first gray-level data; blending the first gray-level data with second gray-level data resulting in blended-gray-level data, wherein the blending weights the first gray-level data and the second gray-level data depending upon characteristics of the image data; performing edge enhancement on portions of the blended-gray-level data that include text or high-contrast-edge data, thereby resulting in enhanced-blended-gray-level data; and outputting the enhanced-blended-gray-level data.