System and method for patterned encoded halftoning
A preferred embodiment reproduces an image by receiving an input contone array of M contone data values. The contone data values may lie within a range from 1 to N. The embodiment includes comparing each contone data value to an array of M sets of pattern look-up tables to generate an array of M pattern values. M may be a number of one or more. Each pattern value in the array of M pattern values may be decoded to a corresponding K by L multi-pixel pattern of binary data. The binary data is rendered by a reprographic device.
1. A method for reproducing an image in super resolution, comprising:
receiving an input contone array of M contone data values, the contone data values being within a range from 1 to N;
comparing each contone data value to an array of M sets of pattern look-up tables to generate an array of M pattern values, wherein M is one or more and the M sets of pattern look-up tables include intensity threshold levels and corresponding super resolution codes, each lookup table corresponding to a halftone screen divided into a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a K by L multi-pixel sub-pattern comprising a halftone pattern, wherein each super resolution code is associated with one of the K by L sub-patterns of binary data of the halftone screen;
decoding each pattern value to corresponding K by L multi-pixel sub-patterns of binary data associated with the super-resolution codes to generate a halftone screen; and
reproducing the binary data using the generated halftone screen.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the K by L multi-pixel pattern is a pattern in a library of patterns.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing includes identifying a threshold level the contone data level does not exceed and an associated pattern value at each set of pattern look up tables.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the K by L multi-pixel pattern of binary data is 4 by 4.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the K by L multi-pixel pattern of binary data is 2 by 2.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the K by L multi-pixel pattern of binary data is 1 by 8.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the halftone screen is a Holladay dot.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the Holladay dot includes a size field, a height field, and a shift field.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input contone array corresponds to a pixel of the image.
10. A system for reproducing an image in super resolution, comprising:
a halftoner configured to:
receive an input contone array of M contone data values, the contone data
values being within a range from 1 to N, and
compare each contone data value to an array of M sets of pattern look-up tables to generate an array of M pattern values, wherein M is one or more and the M sets of pattern look-up tables include intensity threshold levels and corresponding super resolution codes, each lookup table corresponding to a halftone screen divided into a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a K by L multi-pixel sub-pattern comprising a halftone pattern, wherein each super resolution code is associated with one of the K by L sub-patterns of the halftone screen; and
a decoder module for decoding each pattern value to corresponding K by L multi-pixel sub-patterns of binary data associated with the super-resolution codes to generate a halftone screen.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the K by L multi-pixel pattern is a pattern in a library of patterns.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the halftoner identifies a threshold level the contone data level does not exceed and an associated pattern value at each set of pattern look up tables.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the K by L multi-pixel pattern of binary data is 4 by 4.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the K by L multi-pixel pattern of binary data is 2 by 2.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the K by L multi-pixel pattern of binary data is 1 by 8.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the halftone screen is a Holladay dot.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the Holladay dot includes a size field, a height field, and a shift field.
18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the print engine includes a photoreceptor.
19. The system of claim 10 , wherein the input contone array corresponds to a pixel of the image.
20. A computer readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions, wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by a computer, directs a computer to perform a method for reproducing an image in super resolution, the method comprising:
receiving an input contone array of M contone data values, the contone data values being within a range from 1 to N;
comparing each contone data value to an array of M sets of pattern look-up tables to generate an array of M pattern values, wherein M is one or more and the M sets of pattern look-up tables include intensity threshold levels and corresponding super resolution codes, each lookup table corresponding to a halftone screen divided into a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a K by L multi-pixel sub-pattern comprising a halftone pattern, wherein each super resolution code is associated with one of the K by L sub-patterns of binary data of the halftone screen; and
decoding each pattern value to corresponding K by L multi-pixel sub-patterns of binary data associated with the super-resolution codes to generate a halftone screen; and
reproducing the binary data using the generated halftone screen.