An image processing apparatus is provided for enhancing the image
processing function without having to increase the circuit scale. The
image processing apparatus includes an image divider, a pixel processor,
and an image coupler. If the number of horizontal pixels on the width of
an input image is larger than a size of a line buffer, the image divider
equally divides the input image in the vertical direction so that the
resulting divided area is smaller than the number of horizontal pixels on
the width of the line buffer. Then, the image divider controls an input
data transfer circuit so that the pixel data of the input image may be
sequentially transferred to the line buffer for each of the equally
divided areas. The image processor sequentially processes the pixel data
of the input image temporarily stored in the line buffer and then sends
out the output pixel data. The image coupler controls the output data
transfer circuit so that the output pixel data sequentially outputted for
one divided area may be coupled with the output pixel for another divided
area, for generating the output image.