Patent KR-20080001675-A (KR)
Title: Image processing apparatus and image processing method
Inventor: GOTO FUMITAKA
IPC: G03G15/04
Filed: 2007-06-29
Abstract: An apparatus and a method for processing images are provided to remove bad effects, caused by image adjusting processing, by changing an adjusting level based on variation and variation time count, and improve image quality by more exactly executing the image adjusting processing. A CPU(11) controls various functions of the MFP(Multi Function Printer), and executes image process programs stored in a ROM(16) in accordance with predetermined operations at an operation unit(15). By executing the programs, the CPU can select a pixel to be processed, and can extract an image area with a predetermined size including the pixel to be processed. The CPU can calculate a variation, variation time count, and variation acceleration associated with the image area based on signal values of pixels included in the image area. The ROM stores various tables and mathematical formulas used in image processes, and serves as a defining unit which defines correspondence among the variation, variation time count, and variation acceleration, and various adjusting levels. A scanning unit(14) which comprises a CCD scans a document image, and outputs red(R), green(G), and blue(B) analog luminance data. A card interface(22) loads image data, which is captured by, for example, a digital still camera and is recorded on a memory card or the like, in accordance with operations at the operation unit. An image processor(12) executes image processes such as conversion of a read signal value, an image adjusting/modification process, conversion from luminance signals into density signals, scaling, gamma conversion, error diffusion, and the like. A nonvolatile RAM(18) comprises, for example, a battery backed-up SRAM or the like, and stores data unique to the MFP or the like. A display unit(19) comprises a dot matrix type LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) unit and an LCD driver, and makes various displays under the control of the CPU. Also, the display unit displays thumbnails of image data recorded in a storage medium. A drive unit 21 includes stepping motors for driving feed and discharge rollers, gears for transmitting the driving forces of the stepping motors, a driver circuit for controlling the stepping motors, and the like in order to operate the scanning unit and print unit. A sensor unit(20) includes a print sheet width sensor, print sheet sensor, document width sensor, document sensor, print medium sensor, and the like. The CPU detects the states of a document and print sheet based on information obtained from this sensor unit. A PC interface(24) is an interface with the PC, and the MFP performs a print operation, scan operation, and the like from the PC via the PC interface. In a copy operation, image data scanned by the scanning unit undergoes a data process inside the MFP, and is printed by using a print unit(13). Upon instruction of a copy operation from the operation unit, the scanning unit scans a document set on the document table. The scanned data is sent to the image processor and undergoes the image process. Then, the processed data is sent to the print unit, thus executing a print process.