Patent attributes
The image output apparatus of the invention includes a main unit group of multiple main units connected in series to perform preset series of image processing and a pass unit group of multiple pass units connected in series to be parallel with the multiple main units. The averaged data of the tone values of four pixels generated by a black/white edge processing unit are sequentially transferred through the main unit group. The standard edge data and the noise data generated by a color conversion unit are sequentially transferred through the pass unit group, synchronously with the transfer of the averaged data through the main unit group. The data transferred through the pass unit group enters an inner-block smoothing unit to go through the smoothing process. The image output apparatus of the invention has the hardware configuration that allows flexible design change according to the required series of image processing.