Image processing method and apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing method and apparatus in which a high-quality output color image that is faithful to an input color image can be obtained by converting input multivalued color image data to output color image data based upon the algorithm of a neural network.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a color image processing method and apparatus which, by virtue of using digital circuit architecture to construct a neural network, excels in universality, ease of control and ease of integration.
According to the present invention, the foregoing objects are attained by providing an image processing apparatus comprising input means for entering a plurality of color image signals, processing means for subjecting a plurality of entered color image signal to processing based upon an algorithm of a cellular neural network, quantization means for deciding output color data based upon results of processing by the processing means, and output means for outputting a color image based upon results of quantization by the quantization means.
Further, according to the present invention, the foregoing objects are attained by providing an image processing method comprising the steps of entering a plurality of multivalued color image signals, three-dimensionally quantizing the entered plurality of multivalued color image signals using an algorithm of a cellular neural network, and converting the quantized signals to a plurality of bi-level color image signals.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.