Patent ID: 7564594

Claim:
A digital multifunctional imaging apparatus capable of copying a document independently, comprising: an image sensor for irradiating light onto a document and receiving light reflected from the document so as to read image data of the document; an image processor for processing the image data read by the image sensor so as to enlarge or reduce an image; a printing mechanism for printing an image with using the image data processed by the image processor; a single CPU (Central Processing Unit) for controlling the image sensor, the image processor and the printing mechanism; and a memory memorizing operating programs of the CPU, wherein the image processing means is configured by a hardware circuit while reading the image data of the document, the image processor quickly processes the read image data for enlarging or reducing an image to be printed without increasing burden of the control means, and wherein the CPU converts an area enlargement ratio input by a user into a length enlargement ratio by firmware installed in the memory using a linear approximation to regard the length enlargement ratio as varying linearly with the area enlargement ratio as the length enlargement ratio varies by every 0.1 and the calculated length enlargement ratio is output to the image processor; for enlarging the image, the image processor calculates enlargement parameters for respective pixels or respective lines from a length enlargement ratio designated by a user and pixel numbers or line numbers of an image read by the image sensor, in which the pixel numbers or the line numbers are counted from a starting pixel or a starting line of the image reading, and supplements one image data between a respective pixel and the preceding pixel or between a respective line and the preceding line on the basis of the calculated enlargement parameter for the respective pixel or the respective line, so as to enlarge the image data; and for reducing the image, the image processing means calculates reduction parameters for respective pixels or respective lines from a length reduction ratio designated by a user and pixel numbers or line numbers of an image read by the image sensor, in which the pixel numbers or the line numbers are counted from a starting pixel or a starting line of the image reading, and removes image data on the basis of the calculated reduction parameter for the respective pixel or the respective line, so as to reduce the image data.