Image processing apparatus and image processing method

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a blocking section to block multiple-valued image data by a predetermined plurality of pixels to create a pixel block;

an image block average value calculating section to calculate an average value of gradation values of pixels constituting the pixel block blocked by the blocking section;

a gradation converting section to quantize the average value of the gradation values calculated by the image block average value calculating section based on a previously determined quantization threshold value;

an edge detecting section to detect an edge portion in the pixel block based on the gradation values of the respective pixels constituting the pixel block;

a pixel output order pattern setting section to set a first pixel output order pattern of a size same as a size of the pixel block for outputting dots in a descending order of the gradation values based on the gradation values of the respective pixels constituting the pixel block;

a pixel output order pattern storage section to store a plurality of second pixel output order patterns, each being a pixel output order pattern of the same size as the size of the pixel block and including a previously determined output order of dots;

a pixel output order pattern selecting section to select the first pixel output order pattern set by the pixel output order pattern setting section when the edge detecting section detects the edge portion in the pixel block, the pixel output order pattern selecting section selecting any of the plurality of second pixel output order patterns stored in the pixel output order pattern storage section when the edge detecting section does not detect the edge portion in the pixel block;

an image data generating section to generate the image data of the pixel block in order that the dots may be output in conformity with the pixel output order pattern selected by the pixel output order pattern selecting section based on the gradation value obtained by the gradation converting section; and

an error diffusion section to diffuse errors before and after the quantization of the average value of the gradation values by the gradation converting section to surrounding pixel blocks of the pixel block subjected to the quantization processing.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pixel output order pattern selecting section randomly selects any one of the plurality of second pixel output order patterns when the edge detecting section does not detect any edge portion in the pixel block.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the edge detecting section detects the edge portion based on a relation between a difference between a gradation value of a pixel having a maximum gradation value in the pixel block and a gradation value of a pixel having a minimum gradation value in the pixel block and a predetermined edge detecting threshold value.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pixel block is composed of n (n is a natural number) pixels; and

the quantization threshold value is determined in order that the average value of the gradation values of the pixels constituting the pixel block after the quantization by the gradation converting section may be converted to be in (n+1) values.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an attribute information judging section to input therein pieces of attribute information indicating attributes of the pixels constituting the pixel block to judge the pieces of attribute information, wherein

the edge detecting section detects the edge portion in the pixel block only when the attribute information judging section judges that the pieces of attribute information indicating a character attribute are included in the pixel block.

6. An image processing method, comprising the steps of:

blocking multiple-valued image data by a predetermined plurality of pixels to create a pixel block;

calculating an average value of gradation values of pixels constituting the pixel block blocked at the step of blocking;

quantizing the average value of the gradation values calculated at the step of calculating based on a previously determined quantization threshold value;

detecting an edge portion of the pixel block based on the gradation values of the respective pixels constituting the pixel block;

setting a first pixel output order pattern of a size same as that of the pixel block for outputting dots in a descending order of the gradation values based on the gradation values of the respective pixels constituting the pixel block;

selecting the first pixel output order pattern set at the step of setting when the edge portion in the pixel block is detected at the step of detecting, and selecting any of the plurality of second pixel output order patterns stored in a pixel output order pattern storage section, the second pixel output order patterns each having a size same as that of the pixel block and a previously determined output order of dots, when the edge portion is not detected in the pixel block at the step of detecting;

generating the image data of the pixel block in order that the dots may be output in conformity with the pixel output order pattern selected at the step of selecting based on the gradation value obtained at the step of quantizing; and

diffusing errors before and after the quantization of the average value of the gradation values at the step of quantizing to surrounding pixel blocks of the pixel block subjected to the quantization processing.