IMAGE PROCESSING UNIT

Japanese Patent JP3810817

B2

PURPOSE: To apply proper smoothing processing to image data in the case of superimposing a character onto an image part of the image data or the like. CONSTITUTION: An address generating section 10 applies pattern matching to dot patterns around a noted picture element among those of image data of a reference area stored in a shift register 5 based on various pattern conditions. Furthermore, a comparator 8 provides an output of a level 1 when the reference area satisfies the image condition. In this case, when the dot pattern satisfies a long pattern condition, smoothing processing is conducted and when the dot pattern satisfies a short pattern condition, no smoothing processing is conducted. Thus, when a character or the like (satisfying the long pattern condition) is superimposed on the image data (consecutive short patterns), smoothing processing is applied only to the latter without giving effect on the former.