Patents Examined by Kim Yen Vu
  • Patent number: 5857038
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for adding information to image data of a multicolor image and a monochromatic image includes the performing of a dispersion conversion on the spectrum of additional information to be added to the image data by multiplying a code sequence of a PN sequence generator by the additional data which is inputted from an input terminal and converted into serial data in a P/S converter. At this time, the data sequence transmitted from an image signal processor to a printer engine 107 is converted by a scan converter to correspond to the spatial axis for dispersion. The converted data sequence is added to the output from an adder by another adder 110, and reconverted to the original scan by a scan inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuru Owada, Yoshitake Nagashima, Takeo Kimura
  • Patent number: 5857063
    Abstract: A computer product for controlling a color-reproduction process employing N colorants, where N is greater than 3, the computer program product comprises: a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of: defining a first transformation from a N-dimensional colorant-signal space associated with the color-reproduction process to a 3-dimensional colorimetric space such that each combination of N colorant signals is mapped to a visual color that would be produced by the process in response to that combination of signals; defining a second transformation for mapping from a 3-dimensional parameter space into the N-dimensional colorant-signal space for defining a particular 3-dimensional subspace of the N dimensional colorant-signal space for ultimately restricting the permitted combinations of the N colorant signals; combining the first and second transformations for defining a third transformation for transforming data directly from the 3-dimensional parameter
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert F. Poe, H. S. Gregory, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5854691
    Abstract: An improved facsimile information processing apparatus and a method of the same which are capable of overcoming the resolution difference problem between a facsimile machine, a television, and a VCR, more easily searching a desired information, and selectively printing the facsimile information displayed on the screen as a result of the search, which includes a decoder for converting a facsimile information transmitted thereto into a binary data; a frame memory for dividing the facsimile information as much as one sheet into a plurality of frames and for storing it; a converter for converting the binary data of the decoder into a parallel data of a byte unit, storing it in the frame memory, and converting the frame data read from the memory into a serial data; a switch for selectively outputting between the serial data of the converter and a luminance signal divided from a broadcast signal; a signal modulator for modulating the output of the switch to have a predetermined recording characteristic; a record/re
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: LC Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yongtaik Lim, Seyong Ro, Insung Hwang
  • Patent number: 5854693
    Abstract: An image forming system is arranged such that when a designated machine is not provided with the image processing function requested by an operator, a plurality of image forming apparatuses which are capable of performing the requested image processing function are selected. Then, the image data are respectively transferred to the selected plurality of image forming apparatuses through a transmission apparatus to be processed. When the image data has been processed with a requested image processing function, the processed image data are returned to the image forming apparatus of the requesting end. Then, the image forming apparatus of the requesting end realigns a plurality of processed image data. As a result, even if a predetermined processing function is not provided in the designated image forming apparatus, a plurality of image data are transmitted to other image forming apparatus to be processed, thereby obtaining a visible image efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Syoichiro Yoshiura, Hidetomo Nishiyama, Yasuhiro Nakai
  • Patent number: 5854694
    Abstract: A portable facsimile machine (10) for communicating image data to a remote machine, comprising an internal power source (20) and a user input device (28) for communicating with a controller (32) which controls the operation of devices within the machine including a scanner (16, 18) for inputting data representative of a scanned image into a memory (34), a display (12) for a user to view the scanned image stored in the memory and a communication system having a transducer (36) which creates a signal representative of the image data to enable communication of the image data over a telecommunication system to the remote machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Optionexist Limited
    Inventors: Simon Graham Payne, Stephen John Love
  • Patent number: 5854696
    Abstract: A single motor driving device usable in a facsimile system which uses a single motor to drive operation in one of a transmission mode, a reception mode, a copying mode, and a reception back mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-Jung Yun
  • Patent number: 5852502
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for producing series of high resolution color composite images. The digital camera has an optical assembly that directs visual images to a high resolution monochrome sensor and a lower resolution color sensor. These two sensors, which produce a succession of frames at the same rate, are encrypted with a frame number and time code and are stored in a frame buffer. The contents of the frame buffer can be transferred to a mass storage device, or a color rendering processor that produces a composite image from the monochrome frames and color frames. During the processing of the composite image, the monochrome grayscale value becomes the composite frame grayscale value, the color frame hue value becomes the composite frame hue value, and the color frame saturation value becomes the composite frame saturation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: American Digital Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: John Patrick Beckett
  • Patent number: 5847843
    Abstract: A facsimile apparatus which enables the printer section and document original reading section thereof to be used as a printer and image reader, respectively, for a personal computer. To use the reading section for reading a document original as the image reader for the personal computer, the operation mode of the facsimile apparatus is switched from an ordinary operation mode to a PC-FAX mode. When a document original is read by the reading section in the PC-FAX mode, the facsimile apparatus behaves as if it received a call-in of facsimile correspondence, and sends image data to the personal computer. Further, by operating an operation section, a printer function call number is registered for an external input printing function which enables information input to an interface to be printed out. When a call-out command designating a phone number is sent to the facsimile apparatus from the personal computer, a control section judges if the phone number agrees with the printer function call number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Shibata, Masakazu Oyama, Mitsuhiro Nakamura, Toshihiro Mori
  • Patent number: 5848194
    Abstract: Address information generated and output by an address converter for each pixel of input image data in accordance with the phase based on the position of the pixel to be coded is stored in an address storage divided into address groups which are periodically referred to. Information indicative of the occurrence probability of the pixel to be coded and phase information of the pixel are selectively output from the address storage, and an arithmetic coding is performed for the output. During the processing, update data is written in to one group while a read-out is being performed for the other group. A template is constituted by excluding a pixel which predeses one pixel, and a prediction state in each phase is divided into two parts. The template output is applied to both of the divided storage devices, and read actions are independently performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiji Ishizuka, Tsutomu Ando, Koji Aoki, Susumu Igarashi
  • Patent number: 5847841
    Abstract: A method for data compression provides for an improved digital facsimile document transmission system. The mixed mode method provides that symbols can be located both individually and as a part of a line of symbols in order to provide for efficient operation for both the symbol and graphic portions of a document to be transmitted without requiring that the symbols be organized in lines or that each location be conveyed independently of all other locations of symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: United States of America
    Inventors: Charles D. Bodson, Alan R. Deutermann
  • Patent number: 5844697
    Abstract: A scanning apparatus providing separate fixed object focal planes for transmissive and reflective original documents to be scanned, wherein a scan carriage containing illumination, sensor, and optical elements is moved together to scan an original document and to obtain a digitized representation thereof. The movable scan carriage has an illumination source disposed between the reflective and transmissive object focal planes, with the object focal plane to be used selected by changing the position of one or more optical elements within the scan carriage. A dark slide provides protection against flare during scanning, and can be closed to provide for dark current calibration as well as to seal the system from dust when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Agfa Division--Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Omvik, Joseph A. Wheeler, Mark G. Brook, Kevin J. Haded, Mark E. Tellam, Patrick Pandelaers
  • Patent number: 5845057
    Abstract: Terminals, printing apparatus, and digital copying machines are connected to one network N. A document managing portion of the printing apparatus stores document data received through the network N to a document data storing portion, and generates managing data of document data so as to be stored in a document managing table. When an error processing portion detects the occurrence of an error with reference to a table during the printing of document data, an error processing portion determines the other printing apparatus for a substitutive printing with reference to various kinds of tables, and transmits document data. A report sheet issuing portion generates a report sheet image showing a name of a substitutive printing apparatus, a current state of the apparatus having an error, measures to remove the error, etc., and a printing portion prints the report sheet image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiko Takeda, Takeshi Ogaki, Shiro Takagi
  • Patent number: 5844694
    Abstract: A facsimile apparatus comprises a first control unit for controlling communication processing of image data and an overall apparatus, a laser beam printer for feeding a record sheet through a heater mounted on a fixing unit to fix an image to the record sheet, a temperature detection unit for detecting temperatures in an area of the heater through which the record sheet is fed and an area of the heater through which the record sheet is not fed, and a second control unit for restricting the communication processing of the image data from the first control unit to the laser beam printer when the result of detection of the temperature of the area through which the record sheet is not fed by the temperature detection unit exceeds a predetermined temperature. The second control unit sends to the first control unit a flag when the result of detection of the temperature in the area through which the record sheet is not fed by the temperature detection unit exceeds a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeo Miura
  • Patent number: 5841554
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a plurality of linear sensors having color filters in which at least one of the linear sensors includes image pickup devices of a plurality of lines. Each image pickup device in the same linear sensor receives a light transmitted through the same color filter. Outputs of the plurality of image pickup devices are synthesized, thereby improving a sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shizuo Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 5841898
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing an image made up of pixels is disclosed. The apparatus in one broad configuration comprises a scanning means for inputting scanned data, storage means connected to the scanning means for storing outlines of objects and associated object color data, at least one of the objects having associated object color data defined to be a component of corresponding the input scanned data, and rendering means, connected to the storage means and the scanning means, for rendering the objects utilising the associated object color data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignees: Canon Information Systems Research Australia Pty Ltd., Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Vincenzo Liguori
  • Patent number: 5841553
    Abstract: A compact medium scanner (100) scans a surface (132) of a medium (134) with a beam of light (106). A medium transport mechanism (202, 206) advances the surface along a medium transport path through a scanning station. A light source (104) produces a collimated beam of light (106) that impinges upon a mirror plate (112) of a micromachined torsional scanner (108). A pair of coaxially aligned torsion bars (304) support the mirror plate (112) within the torsional scanner (108). A mirror-surface drive means (306, 312) rotates the mirror plate (112) about the torsion bars (304). A single reciprocation of the mirror plate (112) by the drive means (306, 312) deflects the beam of light (106) over a fan-shaped region having a virtually fixed vertex (128) on the mirror plate (112). Scanner optics (116, 122) direct the fan-shaped region beam of light (106) onto the surface (132) of the medium (134) then present in the scanning station to thereby scan across the medium (134) with the beam of light (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: XROS, Inc.
    Inventor: Armand P. Neukermans
  • Patent number: 5841897
    Abstract: A method is provided for the control of a color tone during production of a reproduced color image by tonal conversion of a light quantity of each pixel into a halftone. The method includes setting, at a position between a highlight area and a shadow area in a color original image, a color tone control point, defining adjustment conditions at the color tone control point in terms of dot percent values of desired plural color plates. The method also includes introducing a light quantity at the color tone control point, dot percent values of the plates and desired dot percent values set in advance for highlight areas and shadow areas in the plates into a tonal conversion formula to determine values .gamma. for the plates conversion formulas are provided for converting, into dot percent values, light quantities of all pixels ranging from the highlight areas to the shadow areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Yamatoya & Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Numakura, Iwao Numakura, Susumu Kitazawa
  • Patent number: 5835238
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting an input image including a plurality of input pixels each having a number of possible input levels of optical density to an output image including a plurality of output pixels each having a number of possible output levels of optical density using phantom output levels in an error diffusion technique, an automatic image enhancement technique, or other printing methods and apparatus where errors are fed back to alter an input image. The method includes generating a modified optical density value by adding an error value, if any, to the input level of one of the input pixels, generating a phantom output level as a function of the modified optical density level, determining the error value as a function of the selected phantom output level; and generating an output pixel having one of the output levels determined as a function of the modified optical density value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Mantell
  • Patent number: 5835691
    Abstract: There are provided an image input section for inputting image data at a constant time interval on a page-by-page basis, an image compression/decompression section for compressing input image data into coded data, a hard disk for storing the coded data, a code buffer for buffering a transfer of the coded data, and an overflow/underflow detection section for detecting an overflow in the code buffer. If an overflow is detected, image processing control section instructs the code buffer to discard the coded data of the overflow-occurring page and continue transferring residual coded data of a preceding page, and causes the image input section to again input image data of the overflow-occurring page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Junichi Matsunoshita
  • Patent number: 5835234
    Abstract: In a facsimile modem connectable to a terminal and equipped with a function of transmitting and receiving different types of data including facsimile data, there are provided a memory, and a controller which controls the memory so that data received from a remote communications party is stored in the memory when the terminal is not ready to receive data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Takaki