Method and device for processing image data

摘要

In this method, image originals are scanned by a scanning device, as a result of which a sequence of digitised picture elements is supplied which are coded in a coder with the aid of a compression method, stored in a memory and decoded in a decoder. The picture elements of arbitrarily long sequences are converted into codewords having a fixed number of bits. A sequence of arbitrary picture elements which contains similar successive picture elements below a certain number is converted into a codeword reproducing the bit pattern. In the case of a sequence of similar picture elements above the certain number, the codeword represents the length of the sequence, and when the length of the sequence of similar picture elements predetermined by the codeword is exceeded, an extension code is provided which specifies that the sequence of similar picture elements is continued in the next codeword. <IMAGE>