Patents Examined by Madeleine A Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7715044
    Abstract: A method of gray component replacement receives a current pixel color value. A highlight likelihood and color neutrality is determined for the current pixel color value. An output pixel color value depending upon the color neutrality and the highlight likelihood is generated. The input pixel color value is obtained from an image acquisition system and the output color pixel value is used by an output engine to render the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Zhen He
  • Patent number: 7715049
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing module for a pen-shaped page-width printer which prints business card-sized media. The module has at least one connector, having a four wire serial bus to connect the module to additional modules of the pen-shaped printer; and an image processor. The processor is configured to dynamically convert an image from an L*a*b* color space to a CMY color space whilst printing said media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Simon Robert Walmsley
  • Patent number: 7710607
    Abstract: The generation of an N-dimension look-up table used (N?2) in conversion processing of input image data includes acquiring a value of the input image data for every channel corresponding to a respective dimension of the N-dimension look-up table by analyzing the input image data to be processed, determining an input value range of each dimension of the N-dimension look-up table based upon the acquired value, arranging a predetermined number of grid points in the determined input value range with regard to each dimension of the N-dimension look-up table, and setting an output value of each arranged grid point based upon desired image conversion processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masatoshi Ishii
  • Patent number: 7701626
    Abstract: An image print system for printing a picture from an image file having additional information, which enables high-quality image printing to be achieved using various types of image data and their additional information. Image data obtained by taking subjects are sent, together with their additional information, to an image reproduction system in a photographic laboratory. The image reproduction system carries out processing of the image data in accordance with the additional information, and produces its resultant images in the form of image prints. The additional information includes post-processing information for temporally or spatially correlating a series of images to combine them or to select some of them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Masafumi Inuiya
  • Patent number: 7688467
    Abstract: This communicator makes it possible for the user to do telephone, facsimile, and data communication at any location. On a pen input device, a space eye 2, a telephone control system, a facsimile control system, and a data transmission system are mounted. All of them are operated by an input pen 55 or the space eye 2. The pen input device is connected to a wireless telephone equipment 7, and can be connected to a desired party through the public communication channel. In order to make the most of the equipment of a GPS user, the GPS user device 8 is connected to the pen input device 3. The current location of the GPS user is found through the GPS user device 8, and the data on the current location is transmitted to the party. Further, to make this communicator usable in any country, it is provided with means to connect it to a wireless telephone network of an individual service area of the country.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: ADC Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Toshiharu Enmei
  • Patent number: 7688488
    Abstract: An image reading device including a plurality of image sensors configured to read image data of an original document, each of which having a reading range overlapping in a main scanning direction with an adjacent image sensor among the plurality of image sensors, and a gamma correction mechanism configured to conduct gamma correction to correct linearity of respective output characteristics of the plurality of image sensors, based on gamma correction data produced according to an output characteristic of a reference image sensor selected from the plurality of image sensors. The reference image sensor and the adjacent image sensor read identical input data, and the gamma correction mechanism compares the results, obtains a difference between the results, and adjusts the output characteristic of the adjacent image sensor to the output characteristic of the reference image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7684068
    Abstract: According to the present invention, an automatic archiving system that makes document archiving largely transparent to the user. In one embodiment, documents scanned in or printed during the course of office equipment operation are automatically archived. For example, an office local area network (LAN) may interconnect a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a document management workstation. Whenever, a document is copied, printed, or faxed, a document image is archived by the document management workstation without further user intervention. A single user command results in the document being copied and archived, printed and archived, or faxed and archived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Hull, Kurt Piersol, Mark Peairs, John Cullen, Michael Baxter
  • Patent number: 7684096
    Abstract: Automatic color correction is applied to a scene or clip, including a sequence of images, in a motion picture by selecting a representative image of the scene, analyzing the image and adjusting parameters of a color correction operation that is performed on the sequence of images included in the scene. This operation can be repeated automatically for all scenes or for selected scenes in the motion picture. The parameters may be adjusted to automatically color balance the image while maintaining substantially constant contrast. Analysis of the representative image may include identifying an offset of a peak in a two-dimensional histogram of the colors in the representative image from a white point. Parameters of a color correction operation are adjusted according to this offset. Separate histograms and offsets may be determined for shadows, midtones and highlight regions of the representative image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Avid Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Gonsalves
  • Patent number: 7679779
    Abstract: A method of digitally processing data for use in representing an image, comprising scaling edge data relating to edges in at least one colour-adjusted component of the image using unadjusted data relating to a colour-unadjusted component of the image, and a device operable in accordance with the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen B. Pollard, Andrew Arthur Hunter
  • Patent number: 7667881
    Abstract: An original color image is read to generate color image data. The color image data is converted into coordinate data including values associated with a first coordinate value and a second coordinate value in a color space. The first coordinate value is indicative of brightness. It is acquired correction data including values corresponding to the second coordinate value which are determined in accordance with the values included in the coordinate data and associated with the first coordinate value. The coordinate data is corrected with the correction data. A color image is printed with the corrected coordinate data, thereby obtaining a copied image of the original color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumi Yamada
  • Patent number: 7663788
    Abstract: Fed image data is used, to respectively calculate two color correction values in two correction value calculating circuits. Further, a target skin color chromaticity value and significance levels indicating which of the two color correction values should be attached importance to are inputted from an input device. Respective confidence levels for the two color correction values are calculated on the basis of the two color correction values and the inputted target skin color chromaticity value. On the basis of the calculated confidence levels, the inputted significance levels, and the two color correction values, both of the confidence levels and the significance levels are reflected, to calculate a new color correction value in a color correction value calculating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu Kameyama
  • Patent number: 7649656
    Abstract: An image reading device capable of detecting foreign particles on a transparent member by including the transparent member, a conveyance unit that conveys an original document to the transparent member, a reading unit that reads via the transparent member an image of the original document being conveyed on the transparent member at multiple reading positions that exist with a prescribed distance therebetween along an original document conveyance direction, an output unit that outputs signals for different color components corresponding to each of the reading positions, a transparent member moving unit that moves the transparent member in a prescribed direction such that the original document slides over the transparent member while being conveyed to the reading positions during image reading, and a detector that detects noise components caused by foreign particles on the transparent member based on the output signals from the output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Noritoshi Maruchi, Hiroshi Nishikawa, Kazuhiro Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 7646517
    Abstract: An image forming system is provided and includes an access unit, a reductive color processing unit, an order sheet print control unit, a composition unit, and a composite print control unit. The access unit accesses a user image stored in a recording medium, the processing unit forms a background image by reducing a color gamut of the user image, and the order sheet print control unit causes a printer unit to create an order sheet on which the background image is printed in a free rendering area. Also, the composition unit separates an area of a subject recorded by a user in the free rendering area from an image of the free rendering area read by a scan unit based on a color gamut of the background image and superimposing the area of the subject on the user image to thereby form a composite image. Finally, the composite print control unit causes the printer unit to print the composite image. A method that the system performs is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Maki, Hideyuki Narusawa, Goro Ishida, Shoji Kojima, Makoto Oyanagi, Masaya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7639393
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for printing a spot ink. The spot ink may be prepared before the time of printing. The spot ink may be adjusted by half-toning or supplemental CMYK colors at the time of printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Paul M Butterfield, Martin S Maltz
  • Patent number: 7626723
    Abstract: A color-conversion-table creating method includes (a) defining a color gamut in a first color space defined for a first device, the color gamut having a surface, an internal space surrounded by the surface, surface grid points positioned on the surface, and internal grid points positioned in the internal space, and determining a correspondence relationship between the surface grid points in the first color space and parameters in a second color space defined for a second device, (b) determining, based on the correspondence relationship determined in step (a), a correspondence relationship between the internal grid points in the first color space and parameters in the second color space, and (c) creating a color conversion table indicative of a correspondence relationship between all grid points in the first color space and parameters in the second color space based on both the correspondence relationship determined in step (a) and the correspondence relationship determined in step (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuji Yamada, Masaki Kondo, Yasunari Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7623278
    Abstract: A Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) based Fabry-Perot array may be used as a spectral filter to light sensing array, such as a CCD or CMOS photodetector. Applying different voltages to the electrodes of individual Fabry-Perot cells within the array allows a gradient in the Fabry-Perot air gap across the Fabry-Perot array. In this manner the MEMS Fabry-Perot array serves as a spectral filter of light passing through the Fabry-Perot array to the photodetector array. Embodiments of the disclosed sensor, used with LEDs that emit light outside the photosensitivity range of a photoreceptor belt, may be used to measure spectral information from toned patches placed upon a photoreceptor belt within a marking system. Other embodiments of the disclosed sensor, used with LEDs that emit light of any wavelength, may be used to measure spectral information from toned patches placed by a marking system upon a non-photosensitive output substrate, such as an intermediate belt or paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Lalit K. Mestha, Peter M. Gulvin, Pinyen Lin, Yao Rong Wang
  • Patent number: 7616359
    Abstract: In an image reading apparatus for reading a color document as a monochrome image, an image forming apparatus of the invention includes a composite light source that irradiates the color document and includes plural light sources different in spectral distribution, a sensor to detect the intensity of a reflected light from the color document, a light emission ratio setting unit to changeably set light emission ratios different for the respective light sources, and a light source control unit to control effective light amounts of the plural light sources with the set light emission ratios. According to the image forming apparatus of the invention, when the color document is monochromatically read, the reading is performed with the brightness close to the human visual sensitivity, the user can changeably set color sensitivity, and uneven density can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Sekizawa, Akihiko Someya, Yusuke Hashizume
  • Patent number: 7616360
    Abstract: When color materials of more than four colors are used, a signal for the amount of toner used within a range appropriate for the apparatus and toner characteristic is generated using a color separation table. However, a printer receives print data of various formats, such as image data separated into signal values of more than four colors, or image data of a special format to which a six-color separation table cannot be applied. Hence, an image signal representing a combination of colors is input. The sum of the signal values of colors in each pixel of the image signal is calculated and compared with a limit value. When the sum exceeds the limit value, the signal values of base colors are replaced with that of a spot color based on a replacement table for replacing the signal values of the base colors with that of the spot color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ritsuko Otake, Shinichi Kato, Tsutomu Sakaue, Yoko Sato, Yoichi Kashibuchi
  • Patent number: 7612927
    Abstract: An image data generator generates first image data consisting of a plurality of color data and being an image information for each pixel. An image processor including a color converter applies image processing such as color conversion on the first image data. An image display unit displays an image using image data consisting of second color data. An image data output unit outputs the first image data to the outside. The image display unit performs image display using the image data having received image-processing such as color conversion, while the image data output unit and outputs to the outside the image data before receiving the image processing. It is possible to obtain an image processing device capable of realizing an “exact color reproduction” or a “preferred color reproduction” on an image display image display unit, and outputting, to the outside, image data in the form of a standard image data, without reflecting the characteristics of the image display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Kagawa, Hiroaki Sugiura, Hideyuki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7609425
    Abstract: Processing for printing image data is speeded up while color gamut is widened and tonality enhanced. An image data processing apparatus for achieving this includes a print-quality acquisition unit adapted to acquire information relating to print quality, and a selection unit adapted to select a combination of a color space and bit precision to which the image data to be printed will be converted, based upon the acquired information relating to print quality. The image data is converted to the color space and bit precision selected by the selection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Hanamoto