Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Attribute control
Reexamination Certificate
1996-08-07
2001-06-19
Rogers, Scott (Department: 2624)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Attribute control
C358S452000, C358S447000, C358S462000, C358S001110, C382S171000, C382S176000, C382S177000, C382S286000, C382S309000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249353
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image editing apparatus for editing image data, and specifically relates to an image editing apparatus suitable for editing functions of digital copying apparatuses and the like.
Digital copying apparatuses generally have editing functions for printing edited copy images of original documents. Editing processes include, for example, image halftone processes which overlay images, e.g., overlay fine dots over text, image highlighting processes such as black/white reversal (positive
egative reversal), masking processes which erase an image within specified areas, and trimming processes which print only images within specified areas.
Methods of specifying the editing region without coordinate numerical input from an operation panel include methods of region specification using special color marker pens. Copying apparatuses set editing regions by detecting regions circumscribed by marker pens via color discrimination, and setting said discriminated areas as editing regions.
Copying apparatuses are known which are capable of recognizing regions circumscribed by frame lines within a document image as editing regions (e.g., Japanese laid-open Patent Application No. HEI 5-14703).
When editing an image recorded on a document so as to create a new image, there is demand to specify the size of the image, e.g., the size of character. Consider, for example, editing to enlarge small text for easier visibility, and highlighting text of a document header which is larger than other text. Entries made in small text are often color-highlighted or underlined.
Conventionally, it is necessary for a user to select a specific size image (e.g., character and text string) and the region containing said image by marking an area on a document using marker pen, or circumscribing a selected image with frame lines. Therefore, when specified images are scattered in multiple locations, it becomes problematic to specify the editing regions. Furthermore, different editing features cannot be performed for editing regions of different sizes, respectively.
When it is undesirable to deface an original document using the marker pen method, the document first must be copied to create a separate document which can then be defaced using a marking pen. That is, creation of two documents aggravates the problem of editing costs. In methods which specify editing regions by circumscribing a region in a document with frame lines beforehand, the image to be edited must be contained within the frame lines, which is difficult to do when creating a document using screen editing functions of word processors and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to eliminate the previously described disadvantages.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image editing apparatus capable of producing a new image for editing as an image of specific size within a document without a troublesome region specifying operation.
To accomplish the objects described above, the present invention provides an image editing apparatus, which edits image having a plurality of line image along to a predetermined direction, comprising an extraction means for extracting a line image having a predetermined size, and an editing process means for executing an editing process for said line image extracted by said extraction means.
The present invention further provides an image editing apparatus, which edits text image having a plurality of character line image along to a predetermined direction, comprising a scanner which reads text image, a histogram generating means for generating histograms expressing the distribution characteristics of said text image read by said scanner, a detection means for detecting a line direction and a column direction of said text image from said histogram and extracting first character line image having a first predetermined size and second character line image having a second predetermined size, said first predetermined size being different from said second predetermined size, and an editing process means for executing a first editing process for said first character line image and a second editing process for said second character line image, said first editing process being different from said second editing process.
The present invention further provides an image editing apparatus, which edits text image having a plurality of line image along to a predetermined direction, comprising a scanner for reading text image, a histogram generating means for generating histograms expressing the distribution characteristics of said text image read by said scanner, a detection means for detecting a line and column direction of said text image based on said histogram and extracting minimum rectangle containing a entire line image of image data having a predetermined size, and an editing process means for executing an editing process for said entire line image containing in said minimum rectangle.
The present invention further provides an image editing apparatus, which edits text image data having a plurality of character line image along to a predetermined direction, comprising, a scanner which reads a document having a plurality number of text image, a histogram generating means for generating histograms expressing the distribution characteristics of said text image read by said scanner and extracting minimum rectangles containing for each character line image, a detection means for detecting first rectangle corresponding to a first predetermined size and second rectangle corresponding to a second predetermined size, said first predetermined size being different from said second predetermined size, and an editing process means for executing a first editing process for image data in said first rectangle and a second editing process for image data in said second rectangle, said first editing process being different from said second editing process.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4727588 (1988-02-01), Fox et al.
patent: 4998285 (1991-03-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5091964 (1992-02-01), Shimomura
patent: 5159667 (1992-10-01), Borrey et al.
patent: 5265242 (1993-11-01), Fujisawa et al.
patent: 5548700 (1996-08-01), Bagley et al.
patent: 5581633 (1996-12-01), Hotta et al.
patent: 5696841 (1997-12-01), Nakatsuka
patent: 2-121462 (1990-05-01), None
patent: 2-194770 (1990-08-01), None
patent: 2-268387 (1990-11-01), None
patent: 3-186058 (1991-08-01), None
patent: 4-153787 (1992-05-01), None
Fujiwara Takao
Sawada Shigeru
Yoshida Akinori
McDermott & Will & Emery
Minolta Co. , Ltd.
Rogers Scott
LandOfFree
Image editing apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Image editing apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Image editing apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2497343