JPH0738754A - Image reproducing device - Google Patents

Image reproducing device

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Publication number
JPH0738754A
JPH0738754A JP5183747A JP18374793A JPH0738754A JP H0738754 A JPH0738754 A JP H0738754A JP 5183747 A JP5183747 A JP 5183747A JP 18374793 A JP18374793 A JP 18374793A JP H0738754 A JPH0738754 A JP H0738754A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
value
image
binarization
corrected
gradation value
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
JP5183747A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Other versions
JP3297502B2 (en
Inventor
Nobuhito Matsushiro
信人 松代
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Oki Electric Industry Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Oki Electric Industry Co Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
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Priority to JP18374793A priority Critical patent/JP3297502B2/en
Publication of JPH0738754A publication Critical patent/JPH0738754A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of JP3297502B2 publication Critical patent/JP3297502B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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  • Color, Gradation (AREA)
  • Image Processing (AREA)
  • Facsimile Image Signal Circuits (AREA)

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent texture generating at the time of reproducing a gradation image in terms of binary images. CONSTITUTION:A correcting gradation image 11 is outputted to a binarizing means 12 after correcting the gradation value of a picture element. The binarizing means 12 binarizes the corrected gradation value with a binarizing threshold value and outputs a binary image. Based on that binary image and the corrected gradation value, an error calculating means 13 calculates the quantization error of binarization at the binarizing means 12 and feeds it back to the correcting gradation value calculating means 11. On the other hand, a correction calculating means 15 calculates the correlative value of the quantizing error at a picture element adjacent to an attentional picture element from the corrected gradation value, and a threshold value correction amount calculating means 17 calculates the correction value of the binarization threshold from that correlation value. Based on this calculated result, the binarization threshold value is corrected.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】Detailed Description of the Invention

【0001】[0001]

【産業上の利用分野】本発明は、階調画像を2値(白及
び黒)の要素の集合としてプリンタドット或いはディス
プレイセル等で再現する画像再現装置に関するものであ
る。
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reproducing apparatus for reproducing a gradation image as a set of binary (white and black) elements by a printer dot or a display cell.

【0002】[0002]

【従来の技術】従来、このような分野の技術としては、
例えば、次のような文献に記載されるものがあった。 文献1;プロスィーディング オブ ザ エスアイディ
ー(Proceeding ofthe S.I.D.)、17/2[Second Quarte
r](1976)、R.Floyd ,L.Steinberg “An Adaptive Al
gorithm for Spatial Greyscale ”p.75-77 文献1等に開示されているように、階調画像を2値(白
及び黒)で表現する最も代表的な手法として誤差拡散法
がある。誤差拡散法では、階調画像の座標(x,y)に
おける階調値G(x,y)が、固定の2値化閾値との比
較によって2値化され、この2値化によって発生した誤
差が近傍画素の階調値に拡散される。誤差拡散法は、こ
れらの拡散誤差によって修正された階調値g(x,y)
を逐次的に2値化する方法である。2値化閾値thを最
大階調値Gmax の1/2とすると、白または黒の2値化
シンボルb(x,y)、拡散誤差Er(x,y)、及び
修正階調値g(x,y)は、次のように求められる。
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a technique in such a field,
For example, some documents were described in the following documents. Reference 1: Proceeding of the SID, 17/2 [Second Quarte
r] (1976), R. Floyd, L. Steinberg “An Adaptive Al
gorithm for Spatial Grayscale ”p.75-77 As disclosed in Reference 1 etc., the error diffusion method is the most representative method for expressing a gradation image in binary (white and black). Then, the gradation value G (x, y) at the coordinates (x, y) of the gradation image is binarized by comparison with a fixed binarization threshold value, and the error generated by this binarization is performed by the neighboring pixels. The error diffusion method uses the tone value g (x, y) corrected by these diffusion errors.
Is a method of sequentially binarizing. Assuming that the binarization threshold th is 1/2 of the maximum gradation value Gmax, the white or black binarization symbol b (x, y), the diffusion error Er (x, y), and the modified gradation value g (x , Y) is calculated as follows.

【0003】[0003]

【数1】 但し、(x+i,y+j) は、(x,y) の近傍画素のうち(x,y) よ
り前に処理した画素の座標を示している。図2は、誤差
拡散法を用いた従来の画像再現装置の機能ブロック図で
ある。この画像再現装置は、入力された階調画像中の着
目画素の階調値を修正して修正階調値g(x,y)を計
算する修正階調値計算手段1と、その修正階調値g
(x,y)を2値化閾値thとの大小比較によって2値
化して2値画像b(x,y)を出力する2値化処理手段
2と、修正階調値g(x,y)及び2値画像b(x,
y)から量子化誤差を計算する誤差計算手段3と、この
誤差計算手段3の計算結果を保持し、前記修正階調値計
算手段1へ与える誤差バッファ4とを備えている。ここ
で、着目画素とは、現在2値化を行おうとしている画素
のことである。次に、この画像再現装置の動作を説明す
る。着目画素の原階調値G(x,y)が修正階調値計算
手段1に入力されると、この修正階調値計算手段1は、
(3)式によって修正階調値g(x,y)を計算する。
修正階調値g(x,y)が2値化処理手段2へ入力さ
れ、この2値化処理手段2は修正階調値g(x,y)及
び2値化閾値thの大小を比較して白または黒の2値化
シンボルb(x,y)の画像を生成する。誤差計算手段
3は、2値化シンボルb(x,y)と修正階調値g
(x,y)から2値化に伴う量子化誤差を計算し、誤差
バッファ4は、その計算結果を前記修正階調値計算手段
1へ与えると共に、誤差計算手段3の計算結果を保持し
て次の画素の画像再現に備える。
[Equation 1] However, (x + i, y + j) indicates the coordinates of the pixel processed before (x, y) among the neighboring pixels of (x, y). FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a conventional image reproducing apparatus using the error diffusion method. This image reproducing apparatus corrects a gradation value of a pixel of interest in an input gradation image to calculate a corrected gradation value g (x, y), and a corrected gradation value calculating means 1. Value g
A binarization processing unit 2 that binarizes (x, y) by comparing with a binarization threshold th to output a binary image b (x, y), and a corrected gradation value g (x, y). And the binary image b (x,
The error calculation means 3 for calculating the quantization error from y) and the error buffer 4 for holding the calculation result of the error calculation means 3 and giving it to the corrected gradation value calculation means 1 are provided. Here, the pixel of interest is a pixel which is currently going to be binarized. Next, the operation of this image reproduction apparatus will be described. When the original gradation value G (x, y) of the pixel of interest is input to the corrected gradation value calculation means 1, the corrected gradation value calculation means 1
The corrected gradation value g (x, y) is calculated by the equation (3).
The corrected gradation value g (x, y) is input to the binarization processing unit 2, and the binarization processing unit 2 compares the corrected gradation value g (x, y) and the binarization threshold th with each other. To generate a white or black binary symbol b (x, y) image. The error calculation means 3 uses the binarized symbol b (x, y) and the corrected gradation value g.
The quantization error associated with binarization is calculated from (x, y), and the error buffer 4 gives the calculation result to the corrected gradation value calculation means 1 and holds the calculation result of the error calculation means 3. Prepare for image reproduction of the next pixel.

【0004】[0004]

【発明が解決しようとする課題】しかしながら、従来の
画像再現装置においては、次のような課題があった。2
値化に伴う量子化誤差の相関に起因して特異な縞模様
(以下テクスチャという)が、2値再現画像中に発生
し、画像品質を著しく劣化させていた。本発明は前記従
来技術が持っていた課題として、テクスチャの発生につ
いて解決をした画像再現装置を提供するものである。
However, the conventional image reproducing apparatus has the following problems. Two
A peculiar striped pattern (hereinafter referred to as a texture) was generated in the binary reproduction image due to the correlation of the quantization error associated with the binarization, and the image quality was significantly deteriorated. The present invention provides an image reproducing apparatus that solves the problem of texture generation as a problem that the above-mentioned conventional technique has.

【0005】[0005]

【課題を解決するための手段】本発明は、前記課題を解
決するために、階調画像を入力し、その階調画像中の着
目画素近傍の2値化に伴う量子化誤差に基づき、入力さ
れた階調画像中の着目画素の階調値を修正して修正階調
値を計算する修正階調値計算手段と、前記修正階調値を
2値化閾値で2値化して2値画像を出力する2値化処理
手段と、前記修正階調値及び2値画像から前記量子化誤
差を計算して前記修正階調値計算手段へ与える誤差計算
手段とを、備えた画像再現装置において、次のような手
段を講じている。即ち、本発明の画像再現装置は、前記
修正階調値に基づき前記着目画素近傍における量子化誤
差の相関値を求める相関計算手段と、前記相関値に依存
して前記2値化処理手段で用いてる前記2値化閾値の修
正量を計算して前記2値化処理手段に与える閾値修正量
計算手段とを、設けている。
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention inputs a gradation image, and inputs it based on a quantization error due to binarization in the vicinity of a pixel of interest in the gradation image. A corrected gradation value calculation means for correcting the gradation value of the pixel of interest in the generated gradation image and calculating a corrected gradation value; and a binary image obtained by binarizing the corrected gradation value with a binarization threshold value. In the image reproducing apparatus, there is provided a binarization processing unit for outputting the corrected gradation value and an error calculation unit for calculating the quantization error from the binary image and giving the error to the corrected gradation value calculation unit. The following measures are taken. That is, the image reproduction device of the present invention is used in the correlation calculation means for obtaining the correlation value of the quantization error in the vicinity of the pixel of interest based on the corrected gradation value, and in the binarization processing means depending on the correlation value. And a threshold correction amount calculation means for calculating the correction amount of the binarization threshold value and giving it to the binarization processing means.

【0006】[0006]

【作用】本発明によれば、以上のように画像再現装置を
構成したので、修正階調値計算手段は、入力した階調画
像中の画素の階調値を修正して2値化処理手段へ出力す
る。2値化処理手段は、その修正階調値を2値化閾値で
2値化し、2値画像が、この2値化処理手段から出力さ
れる。誤差計算手段は、その2値画像と修正階調値に基
づいて、2値化処理手段における2値化の量子化誤差を
計算し、その計算結果が前記修正階調値計算手段に帰還
する。修正階調値計算手段は、入力した着目画素の階調
値を前記量子化誤差に応じて修正する。また、相関計算
手段は、修正階調値から着目画素の近傍画素の2値化に
伴う量子化誤差の相関値を求め、閾値修正量計算手段
が、その相関値から2値化処理手段で用いられる2値化
閾値の修正量を計算する。この計算結果に基づき、2値
化閾値が修正される。このことによって、2値化に伴う
量子化誤差が無相関化される。従って、前記課題を解決
できるのである。
According to the present invention, since the image reproducing apparatus is configured as described above, the corrected gradation value calculating means corrects the gradation value of the pixel in the input gradation image to perform the binarization processing means. Output to. The binarization processing unit binarizes the modified gradation value with a binarization threshold value, and a binary image is output from the binarization processing unit. The error calculation means calculates the quantization error of binarization in the binarization processing means based on the binary image and the corrected gradation value, and the calculation result is fed back to the corrected gradation value calculation means. The corrected gradation value calculation means corrects the input gradation value of the pixel of interest according to the quantization error. Further, the correlation calculation means obtains the correlation value of the quantization error associated with the binarization of the pixel adjacent to the pixel of interest from the corrected gradation value, and the threshold correction amount calculation means uses the correlation value from the correlation value in the binarization processing means. The amount of correction of the binarized threshold value is calculated. The binarization threshold value is corrected based on the calculation result. As a result, the quantization error associated with binarization is made uncorrelated. Therefore, the above problem can be solved.

【0007】[0007]

【実施例】図1は、本発明の画像再現装置の機能ブロッ
ク図である。本発明の画像再現装置は、入力階調画像を
誤差拡散法を用いて2値(白及び黒)で再現する装置で
あり、例えばマイクロプロセッサで構成されている。こ
の画像再現装置は、入力された階調画像中の着目画素の
階調値G(x,y)を修正して修正階調値g(x,y)
を計算する修正階調値計算手段11と、その修正階調値
g(x,y)を2値化閾値thとの大小比較によって2
値化して2値化シンボルb(x,y)を出力する2値化
処理手段12と、修正階調値g(x,y)及び2値シン
ボルb(x,y)から量子化誤差を計算する誤差計算手
段13と、この誤差計算手段13の計算結果を保持し、
前記修正階調値計算手段11へ与える誤差バッファ14
とを備えている。この画像再現装置は、さらに、修正階
調値g(x,y)から着目画素近傍における量子化誤差
の相関値を求める相関計算手段15と、その相関値を保
持する相関バッファ16と、相関値に依存して2値化処
理手段12で用いる2値化閾値thの修正量を計算して
2値化処理手段12に与える閾値修正量計算手段17と
を、設けている。着目画素近傍における量子化誤差の相
関値を零に近付けるため、閾値修正量計算手段17及び
2値化処理手段12は、着目画素で出現が期待される2
値化シンボルの出現確率を高める方向に、2値化閾値t
hの修正する。本実施例では、(4)及び(5)式で定
義される着目画素近傍の4方向の相関値SCr0 〜SC
3 を求めている。
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image reproducing apparatus of the present invention. The image reproducing apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus which reproduces an input gradation image in binary (white and black) by using an error diffusion method, and is composed of, for example, a microprocessor. This image reproduction device corrects the gradation value G (x, y) of the pixel of interest in the input gradation image to modify the corrected gradation value g (x, y).
And the corrected gradation value g (x, y) by comparing the corrected gradation value g (x, y) with the binarization threshold value th.
Quantization error is calculated from the binarization processing means 12 that binarizes and outputs the binarized symbol b (x, y), and the corrected gradation value g (x, y) and the binary symbol b (x, y). Error calculation means 13 for holding, and the calculation result of this error calculation means 13 are held,
Error buffer 14 to be applied to the corrected gradation value calculation means 11.
It has and. The image reproducing apparatus further includes a correlation calculating unit 15 that obtains a correlation value of a quantization error in the vicinity of a pixel of interest from the corrected gradation value g (x, y), a correlation buffer 16 that holds the correlation value, and a correlation value. And a threshold correction amount calculation means 17 for calculating the correction amount of the binarization threshold th used by the binarization processing means 12 and giving it to the binarization processing means 12. In order to bring the correlation value of the quantization error near the pixel of interest close to zero, the threshold correction amount calculation means 17 and the binarization processing means 12 are expected to appear at the pixel of interest 2.
A binarization threshold t in the direction of increasing the appearance probability of the binarized symbol
Modify h. In this embodiment, the correlation values SCr 0 to SC in the four directions near the pixel of interest defined by equations (4) and (5) are used.
seeking r 3 .

【0008】[0008]

【数2】 そして、閾値修正量計算手段17及び2値化処理手段1
2は、次の(a)または(b)にしたがって2値化閾値
thの修正を行う。 (a) 相関値SCr0 <0の場合 相関値SCr0 が0になる方向に、2値化閾値thが修
正される。即ち、0≦Er(x−1,y)ならば拡散誤
差Er(x,y)が負となる(白が出現)確率を高める
ように、閾値修正量計算手段17及び2値化処理手段1
2が、2値化閾値thを減少させる。逆に、0>Er
(x−1,y)のときは、2値化閾値thが増加する方
向に修正される。 (b) SCr0 >0の場合 相関値SCr0 が0になる方向に、2値化閾値thが修
正される。即ち、0≦Er(x−1,y)ならば拡散誤
差Er(x,y)が正となる(白が出現)確率を高める
ように、閾値修正量計算手段17及び2値化処理手段1
2が、2値化閾値thを増加させる。逆に、0>Er
(x−1,y)のときは、2値化閾値thが減少する方
向に修正される。2値閾値thの増減には、相関値SC
0 の値に重み係数αを乗じた値が用いられ、相関値S
Cr0 に比例した値が、2値閾値thに加算或いは減算
される。他の3方向の相関値SCr1 ,SCr2 ,SC
r3 についても同様の処理が実施され、2値化閾値th
が修正され、量子化誤差は無相関化される。
[Equation 2] Then, the threshold correction amount calculation means 17 and the binarization processing means 1
2 corrects the binarization threshold th according to the following (a) or (b). (A) Correlation value SCr 0 <0 The binarization threshold th is corrected in the direction in which the correlation value SCr 0 becomes 0. That is, if 0 ≦ Er (x−1, y), the diffusion error Er (x, y) becomes negative (white appears), and the threshold correction amount calculation means 17 and the binarization processing means 1 are increased.
2 reduces the binarization threshold th. On the contrary, 0> Er
In the case of (x-1, y), the binarization threshold th is corrected so as to increase. (B) When SCr 0 > 0 The binarization threshold th is corrected in the direction in which the correlation value SCr 0 becomes 0. That is, if 0 ≦ Er (x−1, y), the threshold correction amount calculation means 17 and the binarization processing means 1 are increased so as to increase the probability that the diffusion error Er (x, y) becomes positive (white appears).
2 increases the binarization threshold th. On the contrary, 0> Er
In the case of (x-1, y), the binarization threshold th is corrected so as to decrease. To increase or decrease the binary threshold value th, the correlation value SC
A value obtained by multiplying the value of r 0 by the weighting factor α is used, and the correlation value S
A value proportional to Cr 0 is added to or subtracted from the binary threshold value th. Correlation values SCr1, SCr2, SC in the other three directions
Similar processing is performed for r3, and the binarization threshold th
Is corrected and the quantization error is decorrelated.

【0009】図3は、図1の画像再現装置の動作順を示
すフローチャートである。本実施例の画像再現装置の処
理フローを図4を参照しつつ説明する。画像再現装置が
スタートすると、最初のステップS1及びS2において
着目画素座標値の初期化及び誤差バッファ14と相関バ
ッファ16の零クリアが実施される。ステップS3にお
いて、修正階調値計算手段11が、(3)式によって修
正階調値g(x,y)を計算する。次に、ステップS4
において、相関計算手段15が、着目画素近傍での量子
化誤差の4方向の相関値SCr0 〜SCr3 を(5)式
によって求める。なお、近傍の画素としては、既に処理
の終了している画素のみを使用する。続くステップS5
で、2値化閾値thが初期化される。ステップS6〜S
8において、閾値修正量計算手段17と2値化閾値処理
手段12とが、相関値SCr0 から2値化閾値thの修
正量を求める。近傍画素の拡散誤差Er(x−1,y)
及び相関値SCr0 の符号に応じ、相関値SCr0 の値
が零方向に修正される確率を高めるように、2値化閾値
thが修正される。即ち、相関値SCr0 の値に重み付
け係数αを乗じた値が、設定されていた2値化閾値th
に加算或いは減算され、以降の処理の2値化閾値thと
される。各ステップS9〜S11、ステップS12〜S
14、及びステップS15〜S17において、ステップ
S6〜S8と同様に、他の各方向についての処理が実施
されて2値化閾値thが修正される。
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation sequence of the image reproducing apparatus of FIG. The processing flow of the image reproduction apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When the image reproducing apparatus starts, in the first steps S1 and S2, the pixel coordinate value of interest is initialized and the error buffer 14 and the correlation buffer 16 are cleared to zero. In step S3, the corrected gradation value calculation means 11 calculates the corrected gradation value g (x, y) by the equation (3). Next, step S4
In the above, the correlation calculation means 15 obtains the four-direction correlation values SCr 0 to SCr 3 of the quantization error in the vicinity of the pixel of interest by the equation (5). Note that only pixels that have already been processed are used as neighboring pixels. Continued Step S5
Then, the binarization threshold value th is initialized. Steps S6 to S
In 8, the threshold correction amount calculation means 17 and the binarization threshold processing means 12 obtain the correction amount of the binarization threshold th from the correlation value SCr 0 . Diffusion error Er (x-1, y) of neighboring pixels
And depending on the sign of the correlation value SCr 0, so as to increase the probability that the value of the correlation value SCr 0 is corrected to zero direction, binarization threshold value th is modified. That is, the value obtained by multiplying the value of the correlation value SCr 0 by the weighting coefficient α is the binarization threshold value th that has been set.
Is added or subtracted to obtain a binarization threshold value th for the subsequent processing. Steps S9 to S11, Steps S12 to S
In 14 and steps S15 to S17, as in steps S6 to S8, the processing for each of the other directions is performed to correct the binarization threshold th.

【0010】ステップS18〜22のフローで、修正階
調値g(x,y)と2値化閾値thから2値化シンボル
b(x,y)が2値化処理手段12で選択され、誤差計
算手段13及び誤差バッファ14は、2値化に伴う量子
化誤差を求める。ステップS23において、相関計算手
段15が、2値化処理の終了した着目画素の量子化誤差
と近傍4画素の量子化誤差の積を計算し、相関バッファ
16に格納する。ステップS24〜S28で、図1に図
示していない制御部によって着目画素の変更が実施さ
れ、結合子1を介してステップS3に戻る。以上の動作
が、すべての画素について行われて2値の画像再現が完
了する。次に、図4及び図5の再現画像を用いて計算機
シミュレーション結果を説明する。図4及び図5は同じ
8ビットの原階調画像(256階調)をそれぞれ2値画
像で再現したものである。図4は従来の画像再現装置で
のシミュレーション結果であり、図5は、本実施例の画
像再現装置でのシミュレーション結果である。なお、図
5の画像再現においては、重み付け係数αを0.016
とし、誤差拡散を行う範囲とその重み係数を着目画素に
対して図6に示すように設定している。また、相関を計
算する画素の座標(x+i,y+i)の範囲は、図7に
斜線として示されている。図5の再生画像は、図4の再
生画像に比較してテクスチャの発生が見られず、画像品
質が高いものとなっている。
In the flow of steps S18 to S22, the binarization symbol b (x, y) is selected by the binarization processing means 12 from the corrected gradation value g (x, y) and the binarization threshold th, and the error The calculation means 13 and the error buffer 14 determine the quantization error associated with binarization. In step S23, the correlation calculation means 15 calculates the product of the quantization error of the pixel of interest after the binarization processing and the quantization error of the four neighboring pixels, and stores it in the correlation buffer 16. In steps S24 to S28, the pixel of interest is changed by the control unit (not shown in FIG. 1), and the process returns to step S3 via the connector 1. The above operation is performed for all the pixels to complete the binary image reproduction. Next, the computer simulation result will be described using the reproduced images of FIGS. 4 and 5. 4 and 5 are reproductions of the same 8-bit original gradation image (256 gradations) as a binary image. FIG. 4 is a simulation result of the conventional image reproducing apparatus, and FIG. 5 is a simulation result of the image reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment. In the image reproduction of FIG. 5, the weighting coefficient α is 0.016.
The error diffusion range and its weighting coefficient are set for the pixel of interest as shown in FIG. The range of the pixel coordinates (x + i, y + i) for which the correlation is calculated is shown as a diagonal line in FIG. 7. In the reproduced image of FIG. 5, the generation of texture is not seen as compared with the reproduced image of FIG. 4, and the image quality is high.

【0011】以上のように、本実施例では、誤差拡散法
による図3の2値化処理過程において、着目画素で出現
が期待される2値化シンボルb(x,y)の出現各確率
を高める方向に、2値化閾値thが修正され、量子化誤
差の無相関化(白色化)が実施される。このことによ
り、量子化誤差のスペクトルが平坦化され、テクスチャ
の無い画像再現を実施することができる。なお、本発明
は、上記実施例に限定されず種々の変形が可能である。
その変形例としては、例えば次のようなものがある。 (1) 誤差拡散を行う範囲及び相関を計算する範囲
は、図6及び図7に限定されず、画像再現の用途に応じ
て変更が可能である。 (2) 重み付け係数αは定数としているが、相関値S
Cr0 〜SCr3 の値に応じて変化させてもよい。
As described above, in the present embodiment, in the binarization process of FIG. 3 by the error diffusion method, the probability of each occurrence of the binarized symbol b (x, y) expected to appear in the pixel of interest is calculated. The binarization threshold th is corrected in the increasing direction, and the quantization error is uncorrelated (whitened). As a result, the quantization error spectrum is flattened, and it is possible to reproduce an image without texture. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.
The following are examples of such modifications. (1) The range in which error diffusion is performed and the range in which correlation is calculated are not limited to those shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and can be changed according to the application of image reproduction. (2) The weighting coefficient α is a constant, but the correlation value S
Cr may be changed in accordance with the 0 value of ~SCr 3.

【0012】[0012]

【発明の効果】以上詳細に説明したように、本発明によ
れば、誤差拡散法を用いた画像再現装置に、修正階調値
から着目画素の近傍画素における量子化誤差の相関値を
求める相関計算手段と、その相関値から2値化処理手段
で用いられる2値化閾値の修正量を計算する閾値修正量
計算手段とを設けているので、閾値修正量計算手段の計
算結果に基づき、2値化に伴う量子化誤差が無相関化さ
れる。そのため、量子化誤差のスペクトルが平坦化さ
れ、テクスチャのない2値再現画像を生成することがで
きる。
As described in detail above, according to the present invention, an image reproducing apparatus using an error diffusion method is used to obtain a correlation value of a quantization error in a pixel adjacent to a pixel of interest from a corrected gradation value. Since the calculation means and the threshold correction amount calculation means for calculating the correction amount of the binarization threshold value used in the binarization processing means from the correlation value are provided, 2 based on the calculation result of the threshold correction amount calculation means. The quantization error associated with the binarization is uncorrelated. Therefore, the spectrum of the quantization error is flattened, and a binary reproduction image without texture can be generated.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief description of drawings]

【図1】本発明の画像再現装置の機能ブロック図であ
る。
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image reproduction device of the present invention.

【図2】従来の画像再現装置の機能ブロック図である。FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a conventional image reproduction device.

【図3】図1の動作順を示すフローチャートである。FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the order of operations in FIG.

【図4】計算機シミュレーション結果を説明する図であ
る。
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a computer simulation result.

【図5】計算機シミュレーション結果を説明する図であ
る。
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a computer simulation result.

【図6】誤差拡散範囲を示す図である。FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an error diffusion range.

【図7】相関を計算する範囲を示す図である。FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a range for calculating a correlation.

【符号の説明】[Explanation of symbols]

1,11 修正階調値計算手段 2,12 2値化処理手段 3,13 誤差計算手段 4,14 誤差バッファ 15 相関計算手段 16 相関バッファ 17 閾値修正量計算手段 1, 11 Corrected gradation value calculation means 2, 12 Binarization processing means 3, 13 Error calculation means 4, 14 Error buffer 15 Correlation calculation means 16 Correlation buffer 17 Threshold correction amount calculation means

───────────────────────────────────────────────────── フロントページの続き (51)Int.Cl.6 識別記号 庁内整理番号 FI 技術表示箇所 9191−5L G06F 15/68 320 A ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. 6 Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location 9191-5L G06F 15/68 320 A

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] 【請求項1】 階調画像を入力し、その階調画像中の着
目画素近傍の2値化に伴う量子化誤差に基づき、入力さ
れた階調画像中の着目画素の階調値を修正して修正階調
値を計算する修正階調値計算手段と、 前記修正階調値を2値化閾値で2値化して2値画像を出
力する2値化処理手段と、 前記修正階調値及び2値画像から前記量子化誤差を計算
して前記修正階調値計算手段へ与える誤差計算手段と
を、 備えた画像再現装置において、 前記修正階調値に基づき前記着目画素近傍における量子
化誤差の相関値を求める相関計算手段と、 前記相関値に依存して前記2値化処理手段で用いる前記
2値化閾値の修正量を計算して前記2値化処理手段に与
える閾値修正量計算手段とを、 設けたことを特徴とする画像再現装置。
1. A gradation image is input, and the gradation value of the pixel of interest in the input gradation image is corrected based on a quantization error associated with binarization in the vicinity of the pixel of interest in the gradation image. A corrected gradation value calculating means for calculating a corrected gradation value; a binarization processing means for binarizing the corrected gradation value with a binarization threshold value and outputting a binary image; An image reproducing apparatus comprising: an error calculation unit that calculates the quantization error from a binary image and gives the correction gradation value calculation unit to the correction gradation value calculation unit. Correlation calculation means for obtaining a correlation value, and threshold correction amount calculation means for calculating a correction amount of the binarization threshold value used in the binarization processing means depending on the correlation value and giving the correction value to the binarization processing means. An image reproduction device characterized by being provided.
JP18374793A 1993-07-26 1993-07-26 Image reproduction device Expired - Fee Related JP3297502B2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP18374793A JP3297502B2 (en) 1993-07-26 1993-07-26 Image reproduction device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP18374793A JP3297502B2 (en) 1993-07-26 1993-07-26 Image reproduction device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPH0738754A true JPH0738754A (en) 1995-02-07
JP3297502B2 JP3297502B2 (en) 2002-07-02

Family

ID=16141275

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP18374793A Expired - Fee Related JP3297502B2 (en) 1993-07-26 1993-07-26 Image reproduction device

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JP3297502B2 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8286525B2 (en) 2005-01-19 2012-10-16 Mitsuba Corporation Gear and rolling dies for forming gear
CN110039905A (en) * 2017-12-18 2019-07-23 精工爱普生株式会社 Print control, print system and printing control method

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8286525B2 (en) 2005-01-19 2012-10-16 Mitsuba Corporation Gear and rolling dies for forming gear
CN110039905A (en) * 2017-12-18 2019-07-23 精工爱普生株式会社 Print control, print system and printing control method
CN110039905B (en) * 2017-12-18 2021-08-27 精工爱普生株式会社 Printing control device, printing system, and printing control method

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