Importance

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Abstract

A mapping system is provided for mapping a first contone image and a second bi-level higher resolution image to an output image space for an electrophotographic marking engine, utilized as a printer. A bi-modal hardware device (22) is provided for receiving the information for the two images and then mapping it to the output image space in the marking engine (10). The pixel data associated with the high resolution image is stored in a FIFO (164) and then count values stored in a FIFO (158) associated with the portion of the line in the output image space that is associated with the high resolution image. The pixel data for the portion of the line associated with the low resolution image is stored in a FIFO (182) with a corresponding count value stored in a FIFO (178). A counter is then operable to determine how many pixels of the high resolution image are to be mapped in the output image space. A multiplexer (174) is controlled to select between the high resolution image and the low resolution image for output to the marking engine (10). Counter and control logic blocks (160) and (180) are operable to control the operations of the high resolution image and the low resolution image portions, respectively. Therefore, only the information required to be transferred to the printer for that portion of the high resolution or low resolution image associated with the output image space need be transferred to the printer, thus increasing throughput and decreasing memory requirements. Further, two different resolutions can be accommodated.

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First Claim