Patent Document ID: 5537495
Application ID: 08212438
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for improving the quality of an original pixel pattern comprising the steps of: providing a block of pixels having a pattern of pixels, said block of pixels comprising x rows and y columns of pixels, said block of pixels comprising one or more target pixels and their surrounding neighboring pixels; scaling said block of pixels in a vertical direction and in a horizontal direction to form a high resolution bit map having x times z rows and y times q columns, where z represents a predetermined vertical expansion factor greater than one and q represents a predetermined horizontal expansion factor greater than one; calculating a Q value representative of the vulnerability of pixels in said block to being eliminated by subsequent smoothing of a pattern of said pixels in said high resolution bit map; smoothing said pattern of pixels in said high resolution bit map in accordance with said Q value, where a higher Q value results in less smoothing being performed on said high resolution bit map, said Q value being calculated as follows: ##EQU2## where said exposed minority pixel faces is a number of faces of a minority pixel in said block facing an adjacent pixel of a different type, and where a minority pixel is a pixel of a type which is fewest in number in said block; and generating output pixels, corresponding to said one or more target pixels in said block of pixels, based on said high resolution bit map after said step of smoothing.