Patent ID: 7315399

Claim:
An image processing apparatus for subjecting an input image signal to an enlargement/reduction process on the basis of a predetermined enlargement/reduction magnification, the apparatus comprising: first discrimination means for generating a first discrimination signal by determining an attribute of each of at least one area obtained by dividing an input image on the basis of the input image signal; second discrimination means for generating a second discrimination signal by determining an attribute of each of pixels on the basis of the input image signal and the first discrimination signal from the first discrimination means; image enlargement/reduction means for subjecting the input image signal to the enlargement/reduction process on the basis of the enlargement/reduction magnification; discrimination enlargement/reduction means for generating an enlarged/reduced discrimination signal by subjecting the second discrimination signal from the second discrimination means to the enlargement/reduction process on the basis of the enlargement/reduction magnification; and image processing means for performing an image process for the enlarged/reduced image signal from the image enlargement/reduction means on the basis of the enlarged/reduced discrimination signal, wherein said discrimination enlargement/reduction means comprises: pixel division means for dividing pixel information associated with the second discrimination signal from the second discrimination means, which pixel information belongs to an object pixel range, on the basis of the enlargement/reduction magnification, and retaining the divided pixel information; a plurality of arithmetic operation means for subjecting the pixel information belonging to the object pixel range, which has been divided by the pixel division means, to predetermined arithmetic operations, thereby outputting enlarged/reduced attribute discrimination signals associated with the pixels; and selection means for selecting one of the output signals from the plural arithmetic operation means on the basis of an externally provided switching condition and the first discrimination signal from the first discrimination means.