Patent Document ID: 5477335
Application ID: 07996995
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. In a reproduction apparatus for copying color information, the apparatus comprising: first means for scanning an original containing color information to be reproduced and generating signals representing plural color components of pixels of the information scanned; second means for examining a current pixel to determine if the current pixel meets a first criterion of having any neighboring pixels that meet a criterion for a white pixel; third means for examining the current pixel to determine if the current pixel meets a second criterion for a gray pixel; fourth means for testing the current pixel that meets the first criterion but not the second criterion to determine in accordance with a third criterion that the current pixel is in a region of high contrast; fifth means for substituting for the current pixel meeting the first criterion and the third criterion but not meeting the second criterion a signal indicative that the current pixel has only black color content and means, responsive to said signal, for reproducing said current pixel in black.