Image analysis – Image enhancement or restoration – Intensity – brightness – contrast – or shading correction
Reexamination Certificate
1992-03-10
2001-07-10
Follansbee, John A. (Department: 2783)
Image analysis
Image enhancement or restoration
Intensity, brightness, contrast, or shading correction
C382S156000, C706S015000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259824
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an information processing apparatus in which picture quality is capable of being adjusted at user's requirements.
2. Prior Art
In information processing apparatus such as copying machines and printers, generally a variety of measures are taken in order to maintain the quality of an outputted image at a fixed level. As one example, an apparatus of the aforementioned kind may be provided with control means for directly controlling picture quality, wherein control parameters are set in the control means in appropriate fashion. In addition, the apparatus may be equipped with various sensors in order to optimize the control parameters in conformity with changes in the environment in which the apparatus is used, wherein it is possible to perform highly sophisticated control of the type in which the control parameters are automatically adjusted to appropriate values frequently in dependence upon the outputs from the sensors. For example, in the case of an electrophotographic copying apparatus, control means for so-called development bias control is provided in order to make the copy density, which is an important factor in picture quality, conform to a fixed standard. The control means is so adapted as to set the bias value to a value which is appropriate.
It has recently become possible to perform development bias control more finely. Specifically, accordingly to such control, ambient temperature, ambient humidity, the density of an original document, etc., are sensed by sensors and the appropriate bias values are calculated based upon the sensor outputs in order to stabilize picture quality.
However, in the examples of the prior art described above, ordinarily the values of the control parameters are fixed values decided at the design stage and these cannot be changed following shipment of the apparatus from the factory. Furthermore, in a case where changes in environmental conditions are sensed by a plurality of sensors and the values of the appropriate control parameters are revised, the mapping relationship between the sensor output values and the appropriate control parameter values is decided at the design stage and this relationship does not change once it has been decided.
Accordingly, in order to achieve uniformity of quality in terms of picture quality and density, etc., as the final objective using the picture-quality control methods of the kind set forth above, a mean having some latitude is taken of the demands made by all users and the mean must be adopted as being representative of the appropriate value. Consequently, since the appropriate values are merely the representative values set at the time of shipment, there will always be some users who are dissatisfied with the picture quality obtained. A similar problem arises even in control for automatic adjustment of copy density for dealing with the density of the original document. Such control is employed widely in the latest copying machines. Specifically, the problem is that when the automatic adjustment function is implemented, copies always appear somewhat faint. Consequently, even though the automatic adjustment function is intended to be convenient, there are only a few users who make the adjustment manually rather than utilize the automatic adjustment function.
Further, in the case of a copying apparatus of the electrophotographic type, the parameters which affect picture quality are highly numerous and a variation in picture quality owing to the passage of time and slight differences in the characteristics of various components are unavoidable.
Thus, the conventional image forming apparatus still possess a variety of shortcomings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus in which it is possible to set image forming conditions conforming to the state of the apparatus at use and in line with desired requirements.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is an information processing apparatus provided which comprises:
means for manually requesting change of output image quality;
detecting means for detecting a condition of the apparatus;
setting means for setting an image forming condition in accordance with the detected condition and the requested output image quality; and
control means for changing the image forming condition by learning the request previously requested from the requesting means.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus which comprises:
means for requesting change of output image quality;
detecting means for detecting environmental parameter;
determining means for determining an image forming condition by computing detected environment-parameter;
learning means for memorizing the determined image forming condition by the determining means; and
image recording initiating means for carrying out subsequent image recording utilizing the value learned.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus having image forming condition setting means for setting the desired image forming conditions and image forming means for forming the image under the set image forming conditions comprising:
satisfaction discriminating means for determining whether or not a user is satisfied with an output image by monitoring operation of the apparatus performed by the user;
environmental-parameter detecting means for detecting environmental-parameters;
control means for deciding the amount of adjustment based upon detection values outputted by said detecting means and;
a neural network provided in said image forming condition determining means for obtaining at least one image forming condition by performing computation of the environmental-parameter input adjusted by the control means;
whereby image forming conditions are adjusted so as to satisfy the user based upon the degree of satisfaction determined by said satisfaction discriminating means.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus comprising:
a neural network for processing an input information thereto on the basis of a predetermined connectivity constant and outputting processed information;
a control means for setting a connectivity constant to said neural network;
a memory means for storing a program for computing the connectivity constant to be set by said control means; and
wherein said neural network, said control means and said memory means are arranged on a single substrate.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.
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Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Follansbee John A.
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
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