Patents by Inventor Akihiko Nakatani
Akihiko Nakatani has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20110164262Abstract: In an image processing for printing a monochrome image, color deviation can be suppressed to print a favorable monochrome image. Specifically, the printing of a monochrome image is performed by using black ink in all of a color reproduction region (color gamut) including a gray axis and regions other than the gray axis. This avoids the use of C, M, and Y for the expression of the monochrome image to suppress the color deviation due to slight imbalance among amounts of three colors of inks.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akihiko Nakatani, Makoto Torigoe
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Publication number: 20110148964Abstract: When a gradation mask is used to distribute image data to be recorded by overlapping portions in an overlapping head, color unevenness is generated in an image recorded by the overlapping portions due to a displacement in impact positions caused by an assembly error. As a result, accurate colorimetric measurement of patches recorded by the overlapping portion cannot be performed. To solve such a problem, a distribution ratio by which the image data is distributed to the overlapping portions is set to be approximately constant when recording a test pattern for performing color correction, as compared to when normally recording the image.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yugo Mochizuki, Akitoshi Yamada, Fumitaka Goto, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Takashi Nakamura, Okinori Tsuchiya, Akihiko Nakatani, Mitsuhiro Ono, Ayumi Sano, Takashi Fujita, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Fumihiro Goto
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Publication number: 20110148969Abstract: In an overlapping head including a plurality of recording head chips overlapped to each other, a color shift can occur between a color recorded by an overlapping region and a color recorded by a non-overlapping region, which cannot be corrected by a density correction using head shading or the like. To correct such a color shift, a test pattern is recorded by the overlapping region and the non-overlapping region and colors of the recorded test pattern are measured. Color correction data to be used in correction of colors of an image to be recorded is generated based on a result of the measurement of the colors.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takashi Nakamura, Akitoshi Yamada, Okinori Tsuchiya, Akihiko Nakatani, Mitsuhiro Ono, Ayumi Sano, Takashi Fujita, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Yugo Mochizuki, Fumihiro Goto, Fumitaka Goto
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Publication number: 20110149305Abstract: In image processing, it is possible to suppress density fluctuation and keep graininess low as well as obtain a good balance of the processing load. More specifically, when dividing multi-valued data and generating two-pass multi-pass printing data, divided multi-valued data that is common to the two passes is generated in addition to the divided multi-valued data for each of the two passes. Moreover, quantized data of that common multi-valued data is reflected on the quantized data for each pass. Furthermore, when generating quantized data, a process of generating common data by the aforementioned data division, or a process of performing quantization first without dividing the multi-valued data and then dividing the quantized 2-pass data is selectively performed according to the printing position on printing medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takashi Fujita, Fumihiro Goto, Shigeyasu Nagoshi, Akihiko Nakatani, Okinori Tsuchiya, Ayumi Sano, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Fumitaka Goto, Rie Kajihara
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Publication number: 20110141524Abstract: When dividing multi-valued data and generating data for two-pass multi-pass printing, in addition to divided multi-valued data that are divided for each of the two passes, divided multi-valued data that is common to both of the two passes is generated. Moreover, quantized data of that common multi-valued data is reflected onto the quantized data for each pass. Furthermore, when generating quantized data, division ratios that are used when generating the common data by the multi-valued data division described above are set according to the image characteristics (whether or not the area is flesh color) of the multi-valued data. Thereby, it is possible to perform high-quality printing regardless of the image characteristics by taking a suitable balance between suppressing density unevenness and suppressing graininess.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shigeyasu Nagoshi, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Rie Kajihara, Okinori Tsuchiya, Ayumi Sano, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Takashi Fujita, Fumihiro Goto, Akihiko Nakatani, Fumitaka Goto
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Publication number: 20110141523Abstract: In image processing, it is possible to suitably reduce density unevenness and graininess according to the ink used in printing. More specifically, when dividing multi-valued data and generating data for 2-pass multi-pass printing, in addition to divided multi-valued data for each of the two passes, divided multi-valued data that is common to the two passes is also generated. Moreover, quantized data of that common multi-valued data is reflected on the quantized data for each of the passes. Furthermore, when generating the quantized data, the division ratios used when generating the common data using the aforementioned multi-valued data division are set according to the colors of ink used in printing. By doing so, it becomes possible to suitably reduce density unevenness and graininess according to the colors used in printing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Fumitaka Goto, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Rie Kajihara, Okinori Tsuchiya, Ayumi Sano, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Takashi Fujita, Fumihiro Goto, Shigeyasu Nagoshi, Akihiko Nakatani
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Publication number: 20110141176Abstract: In image processing it is possible to adequately reduce density unevenness and graininess according to the duty of the image data. More specifically, when dividing multi-valued data and generating 2-pass multi-pass printing data, in addition to the divided multi-valued data for each of the two passes, divided multi-valued data that is common to both of the two passes is also generated. Moreover, the quantized data of that common multi-valued data is reflected on the quantized data of each pass. Furthermore, when generating quantized data, the division ratio when generating common data in the division of multi-valued data is set according to the duty (gradation value) of the multi-valued data. By doing so it becomes possible to adequately reduce the density unevenness and graininess according to the duty of the image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Fumitaka Goto, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Rie Kajihara, Okinori Tsuchiya, Ayumi Sano, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Takashi Fujita, Fumihiro Goto, Shigeyasu Nagoshi, Akihiko Nakatani
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Publication number: 20110128561Abstract: When the number (M) of passes is smaller than a threshold value, a first processing mode is selected. In the first processing mode, multivalued image data is divided into pieces of multivalued data corresponding to passes and a common multivalued data for a plurality of passes, the pieces of multivalued data are individually binarized to generate pieces of binary data corresponding to the passes, and the common multivalued data is binarized to generate common binary data for these passes. On the other hand, when the number (M) of passes is equal to or larger than the threshold value, a second processing mode is selected. In the second processing mode, multivalued image data is binarized and the binary data is divided into pieces of binary data corresponding to passes with a mask.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2010Publication date: June 2, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Fumihiro Goto, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Rie Kajihara, Fumitaka Goto, Okinori Tsuchiya, Ayumi Sano, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Takashi Fujita, Shigeyasu Nagoshi, Akihiko Nakatani
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Publication number: 20110122178Abstract: Provided are an image processor and an image processing method that are capable of suppressing both density unevenness due to printing position shifts among a group of dots printed by a plurality of relative movements (or a plurality of printing element groups) and graininess. In order to accomplish this, a dot overlap rate in the printing mode in which the density unevenness stands out is made higher than the dot overlap rate in the printing mode in which other defects stand out more than the density unevenness. By doing so, it is possible to suitably adjust the dot overlap rate according to the image characteristic, and output an image having no density unevenness or graininess.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2010Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Fumihiro Goto, Akitoshi Yamada, Akihiko Nakatani, Mitsuhiro Ono, Fumitaka Goto, Okinori Tsuchiya, Takashi Fujita, Rie Kajihara, Ayumi Sano, Tomokazu Ishikawa
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Patent number: 7936481Abstract: A high-quality monochrome photographic image is formed using a high-resolution color ink-jet recording apparatus. When a monochrome mode is selected, density signals are produced such that they include at least one density signal corresponding to a chromatic color material and a density signal corresponding to an achromatic color material and having a value greater than the value of the at least one density signal corresponding to the chromatic color material. A slight recorded color deviation that can occur when the achromatic color material is recorded on a recording medium is compensated for by adding a small amount of chromatic color material having a hue which cancels out the recorded color deviation. Thus, a high-quality gray scale image is obtained without having recorded color deviation or color transition.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2005Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiko Nakatani, Makoto Torigoe
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Publication number: 20110085189Abstract: Provided is an image processor and image processing method that are capable of suppressing both density unevenness and graininess that occur due to deviation of the printing position of dots that are printed by a plurality of relative movements (or a plurality of printing element groups). In order to accomplish this, the dot overlap rate of an image characteristic in which density unevenness stands out is made higher than the dot overlap rate of an image characteristic in which other defects stand out more than the density unevenness. By doing so, it is possible to suitably adjust the dot overlap rate according to an image characteristic, and to output an image having no density unevenness or graininess.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2010Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ayumi Sano, Fumihiro Goto, Akitoshi Yamada, Akihiko Nakatani, Mitsuhiro Ono, Fumitaka Goto, Okinori Tsuchiya, Takashi Fujita, Rie Kajihara, Tomokazu Ishikawa
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Publication number: 20110085183Abstract: Inputted image data is converted to M number of multi-value data having a lower resolution than the inputted image data, and after quantization processing has been performed for each of the M number of multi-value data, an image is printed by M number of relative movements (M-pass printing) that corresponds to the M number of quantized data. By doing so, when compared with the case in which a resolution reduction process is not performed, it is possible to suppress the number of pixels that become the object of quantization processing, and it becomes possible to output an image with no fluctuation in image density or density unevenness without a decrease in the processing speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2010Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Okinori Tsuchiya, Fumihiro Goto, Akitoshi Yamada, Akihiko Nakatani, Mitsuhiro Ono, Fumitaka Goto, Takashi Fujita, Rie Kajihara, Ayumi Sano, Tomokazu Ishikawa
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Patent number: 7869092Abstract: In an image processing for printing a monochrome image, color deviation can be suppressed to print a favorable monochrome image. Specifically, the printing of a monochrome image is performed by using black ink in all of a color reproduction region (color gamut) including a gray axis and regions other than the gray axis. This avoids the use of C, M, and Y for the expression of the monochrome image to suppress the color deviation due to slight imbalance among amounts of three colors of inks.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2009Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiko Nakatani, Makoto Torigoe
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Publication number: 20100321737Abstract: When multi-pass printing is performed, the dot overlap rate (ratio of the number of dots that overlap and are to be printed in the same pixel area by the plurality of relative movements with respect to the total number of dots to be printed in a pixel area by the plurality of relative movements) in pixel areas having medium-density where density unevenness caused by density fluctuation easily stands out is made higher than the dot overlap rate in pixel areas having low-density and pixel areas having high-density. By doing so density unevenness caused by density fluctuation is suppressed. In addition, the dot overlap rate in pixel areas having low-density and pixel areas having high-density is low, so it is possible to reduce graininess in low-density areas and suppress a decrease in density in high-density areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akihiko Nakatani, Fumihiro Goto, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Okinori Tsuchiya, Fumitaka Goto, Takashi Fujita, Rie Kajihara, Ayumi Sano, Tomokazu Ishikawa
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Patent number: 7828405Abstract: In a multi-valued printer that uses discontinuous index patterns, if a tone correction table is generated using sampled density patches, a table which is different from a table to be obtained and has no inflection point is obtained, and the print density characteristics after tone correction suffer discontinuity. To solve this problem, an output gamma table used to output measurement patches is set to linearly correct the printer print characteristics. Patches are output and their densities are measured. A reverse table of a “signal value—density” table is generated, and is smoothed using a recursive curve. The smoothed reverse table is finely adjusted to generate an intermediate output gamma table. The generated table undergoes index component correction, thus generating a tone correction table.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2006Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Okinori Tsuchiya, Shigeyasu Nagoshi, Akihiko Nakatani
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Patent number: 7760590Abstract: A data recording method is disclosed which includes the steps of: firstly recording audio data onto a temporary storage medium following retrieval of the audio data from an external storage medium in response to an audio data import request; detecting whether a leading frame of the audio data held on the temporary storage medium references a preceding frame; and secondly recording the audio data held on the temporary storage medium to a storage medium in accordance with an outcome of the detecting step.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2006Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Akihiko Nakatani, Takashi Koike
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Publication number: 20100157336Abstract: An image forming apparatus sets one of a plurality of modes including a monochrome mode of forming a monochrome image, converts a multivalued luminance signal into signal values of color material amounts to be used to form the image and forms the image using color materials based on the signal values. The color materials used in the forming when the monochrome mode is set include an achromatic color material and at least two auxiliary color materials which have hues opposite to each other and a chroma larger than that of the achromatic color material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2009Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akihiko Nakatani
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Patent number: 7688489Abstract: The color of magenta using newly developed magenta ink has characteristics L*?41, a*?82, and b*?24, and has differences ?L*?4, ?a*?0, and ?b*?26 from the conventional magenta ink, i.e., the lightness value is low, and the color difference b* assumes a very small value. When the color of red is reproduced using such new magenta ink, its lightness and saturation values are low, and subdued red is reproduced, i.e., a visually favorable color cannot be obtained. Hence, when a color included in a first color gamut is input, and the input color is converted into the color of a second color gamut narrower than the first color gamut, color conversion is made using a three-dimensional lookup table having red defined by L*?45 to 50, a*?67 to 70, and b*?50 to 55.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2005Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shigeyasu Nagoshi, Rie Kajihara, Akihiko Nakatani, Minako Kato, Naoki Sumi, Takashi Nakamura, Makoto Torigoe, Okinori Tsuchiya
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Publication number: 20100046018Abstract: In an image processing for printing a monochrome image, color deviation can be suppressed to print a favorable monochrome image. Specifically, the printing of a monochrome image is performed by using black ink in all of a color reproduction region (color gamut) including a gray axis and regions other than the gray axis. This avoids the use of C, M, and Y for the expression of the monochrome image to suppress the color deviation due to slight imbalance among amounts of three colors of inks.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2009Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akihiko Nakatani, Makoto Torigoe
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Patent number: 7636178Abstract: In an image processing for printing a monochrome image, color deviation can be suppressed to print a favorable monochrome image. Specifically, the printing of a monochrome image is performed by using black ink in all of a color reproduction region (color gamut) including a gray axis and regions other than the gray axis. This avoids the use of C, M, and Y for the expression of the monochrome image to suppress the color deviation due to slight imbalance among amounts of three colors of inks.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2006Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiko Nakatani, Makoto Torigoe