Abstract: A dividing unit generates, from input data, divided data corresponding to the first area and the second area to be printed by a recording head and partly overlapping each other. The dividing unit supplies the respective divided data to the first processing unit and the second processing unit which can concurrently perform processing. Each of the first and second processing units generates the recording image data from the divided data based on a characteristic of the recording head corresponding to a recording area assigned to one of the processing units and a partial area assigned to the other processing unit. Each of the first and second processing units then performs driving control on the recording head based on data, in generated recording image data, which corresponds to an area recorded by one of the processing units.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus use environment with higher flexibility and convenience. To achieve this, based on information acquired by an apparatus on which a program including a first program layer with an instruction set to be interpreted and executed by a processor and a second program layer with an instruction set compiled in advance by a unit other than the processor operates, display contents of a display screen for using a function of the apparatus, which are displayed in the first program layer, are controlled.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus according to this invention analyzes image data to be printed, and generates sequence information for defining the moving range of each scanning motion of a recording head and the conveyance amount of a recording medium. The apparatus divides a recording area defined by the generated sequence information into areas so that the processing amounts of a plurality of processing units capable of parallelly executing processes are equal to each other, distributes data of the divided areas to the processing units, and causes each of the processing units to generate recording image data. The apparatus performs recording by controlling driving and a scanning motion of the recording head and conveyance of the recording medium based on the recording image data obtained by the processing units.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has a determination unit that determines a print operation to be performed and a generation unit that generates quantized data for printing a dot by comparing a threshold value and the multi-valued data. In a case of performing a first print operation, dot arrangement of the multiple types of inks printed on the print medium by the print unit on a basis of pieces of quantized data generated by the generation unit is higher in exclusiveness and dispersibility between or among dots of the multiple types of inks and lower in an overlap rate between or among the dots of the multiple types of inks than dot arrangement of the multiple types of inks printed on the print medium by the print unit on a basis of the pieces of quantized data generated by the generation unit in the case of performing the second print operation.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus converts multi-valued data into multi-valued quantized data having fewer levels than the multi-valued data. The apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires threshold values, a provisional quantization unit that sets a provisional quantized value with respect to the multi-valued data, and a quantization unit that decides a quantized value with respect to the multi-valued data based on a result of comparing comparative multi-valued data for the multi-valued data to the threshold value. The quantization unit decides the quantized value so that in a case where the multi-valued data is the same intermediate value, pixels having the value larger than provisional quantized value increase, pixels having the provisional quantized value do not change in number, and pixels having the value smaller than the provisional quantized value decrease in a designated pixel area as the value of the multi-valued data rises.

Abstract: A coolant application device includes a nozzle which spouts coolant and a motor which adjusts the rotation angle of the nozzle. The coolant application device also includes a housing, a hollow shaft rotatively and fluid-tightly inserted into the housing, a coolant passage formed in the hollow shaft, a port arranged at a lateral wall of the hollow shaft and communicating with the coolant passage, and an inlet passage arranged in the housing and communicating with the coolant passage through the port. The nozzle is connected to the hollow shaft and communicates with the coolant passage. The hollow shaft is coaxially arranged and directly connected to an output shaft of the motor.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has an acquisition unit configured to acquire first multi-valued data corresponding to a first colored ink to be precedently applied to a same area of the print medium, and second multi-valued data corresponding to a second colored ink to be applied to the print medium succeedingly to the first colored ink; and a quantization unit configured to convert the first multi-valued data to first quantized data designating printing or non-printing of dot using the first colored ink, and converts the second multi-valued data to second quantized data designating printing or non-printing of dot using the second colored data. The quantization unit quantizes the first multi-valued data and the second multi-valued data so as to, on the print medium, make dispersibility of dots to be printed based on the first quantized data higher than dispersibility of dots to be printed based on the second quantized data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has a data acquisition unit that acquires first multi-valued data for a first ink that is not black ink and second multi-valued data for a second ink that is black ink; a threshold value acquisition unit that acquires a threshold value from a threshold value matrix; an offsetting unit that offsets at least one of the threshold value and the second multi-valued data; and a generating unit that generates first quantized data for the first ink by comparing the first multi-valued data and the threshold value, and generate second quantized data for the second ink by comparing the second multi-valued data and the threshold value with offset by the offsetting unit. Dispersibility of dots printed at positions corresponding to threshold values from a minimum value to a predetermined value is higher than that corresponding to threshold values except from the minimum value to the predetermined value.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has a first quantization configured to quantize multi-valued data corresponding to the first ink to generate the first quantized data, the multi-valued data indicating intermediate density; and a second quantization unit configured to quantize multi-valued data corresponding to the second ink to generate the second quantized data, the multi-valued data indicating intermediate density. In a case where a satellite of the first ink is more conspicuous than a satellite of the second ink on the print medium, a first dot pattern printed on the print medium based on the first quantized data has higher dispersibility than a second dot pattern printed on the print medium based on the second quantized data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium by using a printing unit that ejects a first ink in accordance with first quantized data and ejects a second ink in accordance with second quantized data, the image printing apparatus has a first quantization configured to quantize multi-valued data corresponding to the first ink to generate the first quantized data, the multi-valued data indicating intermediate density; and a second quantization unit configured to quantize multi-valued data corresponding to the second ink to generate the second quantized data, the multi-valued data indicating intermediate density. Surface tension of the first ink is larger than surface tension of the second ink, and a first dot pattern printed on the print medium in accordance with the first quantized data has higher dispersibility than a second dot pattern printed on the print medium in accordance with the second quantized data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that generates a halftone image by quantizing an input image includes: a holding unit configured to hold a threshold value matrix in which different threshold values are arranged; a pixel position determination unit configured to determine a candidate of a pixel position whose threshold value is to be rewritten based on each pixel value of a plurality of pixels included in a predetermined area for the predetermined area in the input image; and a threshold value determination unit configured to determine a threshold value of the pixel position determined to be the candidate by using at least one threshold value of a plurality of threshold values corresponding to the predetermined area.

Abstract: Because the spectral characteristics of an original of a printing sheet and those of an original of a photographic image are different, in the case where the same color conversion table is applied at the time of color conversion processing, a deviation occurs in color reproducibility. By determining the sheet type with accuracy based on the feature of fiber that occurs in manufacture of paper and by applying color conversion processing in accordance with the determination result, a highly accurate color reproduction method of an image is implemented.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus use environment with higher flexibility and convenience. To achieve this, based on information acquired by an apparatus on which a program including a first program layer with an instruction set to be interpreted and executed by a processor and a second program layer with an instruction set compiled in advance by a unit other than the processor operates, display contents of a display screen for using a function of the apparatus, which are displayed in the first program layer, are controlled.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus use environment with higher flexibility and convenience. To achieve this, in a program including the first program layer with an instruction set to be interpreted and executed by a processor and the second program layer with an instruction set compiled in advance by a unit other than the processor, this invention controls to perform communication between an external device and the first program layer via the second program layer. Based on information about the external device received from the external device via communication, display contents of a display screen for using a function of the external device, which are displayed in the first program layer, are controlled.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for processing image data obtained by reading a document and a background image outside the document, and method of controlling the apparatus. The apparatus determines a degree of similarity between a color of the background image and a color of a marginal region of the document from the image data, sets a region extraction parameter based on the determined degree of similarity, and determines a document region by using the region extraction parameter from the image data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus executes color conversion so that when printing is performed based on image data compressed and decompressed with a lossy compression method, the image data reproduces expected colors of the image data before compression. More specifically, a range of a signal value of a black image affected by compression of image data, such as black character to be printed with black ink, is obtained, and a color separation table is generated such that color ink is not used but black ink is used within this range. This allows the image data to reproduce expected colors of the image data before compression when printing is performed based on the image data compressed and decompressed with a lossy compression method.

Abstract: A first humidified gas is supplied through a first supply port to a sheet. A second humidified gas is supplied to a space where nozzles of an inkjet recording head are exposed through a second supply port located at a position closer to the recording heads than the first supply port, to increase atmosphere humidity in the space. The sheet portion having a moisture content increased by the humidification in advance is advanced into the space having the increased atmosphere humidity, to record on the sheet using the inkjet recording head. An amount of humidification with the first humidified gas is set according to at least one recording condition.

Abstract: To provide an inkjet printing apparatus that suppresses occurrence of image deterioration, such as a texture, a moire, and a streak in a printing result. In order for this to be achieved, a level is set up to a overlapping portion of a chip of a print head depending on dot impact accuracy, and a print data distribution rate of each chip in the overlapping portion is determined according to the level.

Abstract: A control method includes the steps of: (a) monitoring an electrooculogram signal of a user using an electrooculogram sensor for monitoring the electrooculogram signal of the user; (b) determining whether or not a sleep state of the user is a non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep state, based on the electrooculogram signal monitored in step (a); and (c) performing a control operation to cause an element capable of warming the eye area of the user to warm an eye area of the user when the sleep state of the user is determined not to be the non-REM sleep state in step (b).

Abstract: A first humidified gas is supplied through a first supply port to a sheet. A second humidified gas is supplied to a space where nozzles of an inkjet recording head are exposed through a second supply port located at a position closer to the recording heads than the first supply port, to increase atmosphere humidity in the space. The sheet portion having a moisture content increased by the humidification in advance is advanced into the space having the increased atmosphere humidity, to record on the sheet using the inkjet recording head. An amount of humidification with the first humidified gas is set according to at least one recording condition.