Patent ID: 8208172
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: G06K,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an integration unit configured to integrate n pixels (n being a natural number that satisfies 2≦n) that include an input pixel of interest in inputted image data and that are contiguous in a sub-scanning direction, and to determine an average value of pixel values of the n pixels as a pixel value of integrated pixels; a quantization unit configured to quantize the pixel value of the integrated pixels obtained by the integration unit to N levels (N being a natural number that satisfies 3≦N); an image analysis unit configured to perform first processing for determining whether a difference between the pixel values of n input pixels that are contiguous in the sub-scanning direction exceeds a threshold value set in advance, and second processing for determining whether a direction in which the pixel values of the n input pixels becomes greater is a forward direction of the sub-scanning direction or an opposite direction to the forward direction, and to output results of the first and second processing operations; and a determination unit configured to determine n output pixels in the sub-scanning direction, based on the results of the first and the second processing operations performed by the image analysis unit, from a quantization result of the integrated pixels obtained by the quantization unit.