Print enhancement system for enhancing dot printer images

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enhancing the quality of images printed by dot printers or dot displays are disclosed. Image irregularities caused by quantization are smoothed by using a set of rules to transform an initial pattern into an enhanced pattern for printing. The initial pattern may consist of a matrix of bits representing an image having X dots per inch along an intended direction of printing. An intermediate pattern is formed by replicating columns of bits from the initial pattern. Image enhancement rules are applied to the intermediate pattern to invert one or more bits in the intermediate pattern to create an enhanced pattern. The enhanced pattern is printed at n*X dots per inch along the direction of printing where n≧1.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of using a dot printer to print or otherwise display a final image generated from an initial pattern of bits corresponding to an A by B matrix of bits, representing an initial image having X dots per inch along an intended direction of printing, said method comprising the steps of: forming from said initial pattern an intermediate pattern of C by D bits wherein C≧A and D≧B, and wherein C and D are each greater than or equal to two;   determining whether a bit pattern in a plurality of rows and columns in said intermediate pattern matches a rule-pattern, said rule-pattern being one of a plurality of rule-patterns;   applying at least one rule-action from a plurality of rule-actions, if said bit pattern matches a rule-pattern, one or more of said rule-actions modifying said intermediate pattern by inverting one or more first logic level bits representing dots in said intermediate pattern to create an enhanced pattern of bits, said enhanced pattern of bits corresponding to said final image, and one or more of said rule-actions modifying said intermediate pattern by inverting one or more second logic level bits representing an absence of dots in said intermediate pattern to create an enhanced pattern of bits, said enhanced pattern of bits corresponding to said final image; and   printing said final image, corresponding to said enhanced pattern, at n*X dots per inch along said direction of printing where n≧1.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein n>1. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of forming said intermediate pattern comprises duplicating one or more columns of bits in said A by B matrix of bits and wherein n=2. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 2 wherein said A by B matrix of bits comprises A rows and B columns of bits located in a first memory, and wherein said intermediate pattern duplicates one or more of said columns, said enhanced pattern comprising two or more columns of bits, said method further comprising the steps of: storing certain ones of said columns of said enhanced pattern in said first memory and storing certain other ones of said columns of said enhanced pattern in a second memory; and   multiplexing bits stored in said first memory and said second memory to recreate said enhanced pattern for printing.   
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 wherein said applying step comprises the steps of: comparing said bit pattern with a rule-pattern; and   on finding a match between said bit pattern and a rule-pattern, inverting at least one bit from said intermediate pattern, said bit being indicated by a rule-action paired with said rule-pattern.   
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5 wherein said rule-pattern comprises a matrix of bits. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1 wherein said A by B matrix of bits is a pattern of 7 bits by 3 bits. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of printing said final image comprises scanning a printhead of an inkjet printer across a recording medium at a density of n*X dots per inch along said direction of printing. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of printing said final image comprises forming said final image on a CRT at a density of n*X dots per inch along said direction of printing on a CRT screen. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 1 wherein D>B. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus comprising: an initial pattern memory means for storing an initial pattern of bits corresponding to an A by B matrix of bits, said A by B matrix of bits representing an initial image having X dots per inch along an intended direction of printing;   means for detecting said initial pattern and transforming said initial pattern into an intermediate pattern of C by D bits, wherein C≧A and D≧B, and wherein C and D are each greater than or equal to two;   means for determining whether a bit pattern in a plurality of rows and columns in said intermediate pattern matches a rule-pattern stored in a memory means along with other rule-patterns;   means for applying one of a plurality of rule-actions to said intermediate pattern to modify said intermediate pattern if said bit pattern matches a rule-pattern, one or more of said rule-actions modifying said intermediate pattern by inverting one or more first logic level bits representing dots in said intermediate pattern to create an enhanced pattern of bits, and one or more of said rule-actions modifying said intermediate pattern by inverting one or more second logic level bits representing an absence of dots in said intermediate pattern to create an enhanced pattern of bits; and   means for storing said enhanced pattern of bits in a memory means, said enhanced pattern corresponding to a dot pattern to be printed at n*X dots per inch along said direction of printing where n≧1.   
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a dot printing means for printing said dot pattern on a recording medium. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 11 wherein said initial pattern is stored in a bit-mapped memory along with a plurality of other initial patterns of bits corresponding to an A by B matrix of bits. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said A by B matrix of bits is a 7 row by 3 column matrix of bits. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein n>1. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for transforming said initial pattern into said intermediate pattern duplicates one or more columns of bits in said A by B matrix of bits, and wherein n=2. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said A by B matrix of bits comprises A rows and B columns of bit located in said initial pattern memory means, wherein said means for transforming said initial pattern into said intermediate pattern duplicates one or more of said columns, and wherein said enhanced pattern comprises two or more columns of bits, said means for storing said enhanced pattern comprising:   a means for storing certain ones of said columns of said enhanced pattern in said initial pattern memory and storing certain other ones of said columns of said enhanced pattern in a second memory means,   said apparatus further comprising:   multiplexer means for multiplexing bits stored in said initial pattern memory means and said second memory means to recreate said enhanced pattern for printing.   
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said A by B matrix of bits is a pattern of 7 bits by 3 bits. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein D>B. .Iadd. 
     
     
       20.  An electronic printing apparatus for printing an enhanced bit mapped image, comprising: a quantization arrangement for isolating from an initial pixel pattern indicative of a low resolution bit mapped image a desired portion thereof for enhancement and for generating relative to a determined binary state for each pixel in said desired portion an intermediate pixel-bit structure for enhancement; and   a smoothing arrangement for recognizing said intermediate pixel-bit structure and for modifying the recognized structure to substantially eliminate irregularities introduced therein by said quantization arrangement to facilitate printing the enhanced bit mapped image..Iaddend..Iadd.21. An electronic printing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said quantization arrangement includes:   an input memory device for storing image data indicative of an initial pixel pattern; and   an enhancement arrangement coupled to said input memory device for isolating correction window data from said initial pixel pattern and for generating an intermediate pixel pattern for image enhancement purposes..Iaddend..Iadd.22. An electronic printing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said smoothing arrangement includes:   a pixel pattern recognition circuit for generating an enhanced pixel pattern whenever said intermediate pixel pattern corresponds to at least one of a plurality of prestored rule patterns, each one of said rule patterns being indicative of a translation action for converting said intermediate pixel pattern into said enhanced pixel pattern; and   a bit map memory device responsive to said pixel pattern recognition circuit for storing bit map data indicative of said enhanced pixel pattern to facilitate the printing of the bit map image at a half dot spacing relative to said initial pixel pattern..Iaddend..Iadd.23. An electronic printing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said correction window data is arranged in a matrix array of A rows and B columns of pixels indicative of an image position to be enhanced..Iaddend..Iadd.24. An electronic printing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said enhancement arrangement includes:   a binary determination circuit for determining the binary state of each pixel in said matrix array; and   a replicating circuit responsive to said binary determination circuit for generating an enhanced output signal being indicative of said intermediate   
     
     
        pixel pattern..Iaddend..Iadd.25.  An electronic printing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said image memory device is preprogrammed with a plurality of rule template patterns arranged in another matrix array of a like number of A rows and B columns of pixels..Iaddend..Iadd.26. An electronic printing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said pattern recognition circuit compares the pattern of pixel in the intermediate pixel pattern with the pattern of pixels in each rule pattern and in response to a comparison of selected ones of the pixels in the intermediate and rule patterns generates a conversion signal to facilitate image enhancement..Iaddend..Iadd.27. An electronic printing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said conversion signal enables print image enhancement from 300 dots per inch to 600 dots per inch..Iaddend..Iadd.28. A method of image enhancement, comprising: isolating from an initial pixel pattern indicative of a low resolution bit mapped image a desired portion thereof for enhancement;   generating relative to a predetermined binary state for each pixel in said desired portion an intermediate pixel-bit structure for enhancement;   recognizing said intermediate pixel-bit structure; and   modifying the recognized structure to substantially eliminate irregularities introduced therein by said generating step to facilitate printing the enhanced bit mapped image at a half dot spacing relative to said initial pixel pattern..Iaddend..Iadd.29. A method of image enhancement according to claim 28 wherein said step of isolating includes:   storing image data indicative of said initial pixel pattern; and   isolating corrective window data from said initial pixel pattern..Iaddend..Iadd.30. A method of image enhancement according to claim 29, wherein said step of generating includes:   generating an intermediate pixel pattern in response to the corrective   
     
     
        window data..Iaddend..Iadd.31.  A method of image enhancement according to claim 30, wherein said step of modifying includes: generating an enhanced pixel pattern whenever said intermediate pixel pattern corresponds to at least one of a plurality of prestored rule patterns, each one of said rule patterns being indicative of a translation action for converting said intermediate pixel pattern into said enhanced pixel pattern; and   storing bit map data indicative of said enhanced pixel pattern in response to said intermediate pixel pattern corresponding to at least one of said plurality of prestored rule patterns to facilitate the printing of an enhanced bit image..Iaddend.