Abstract: Systems, devices, media, and methods are presented for modeling facial representations using image segmentation with a client device. The systems and methods receive an image depicting a face, detect at least a portion of the face within the image, and identify a set of facial features within the portion of the face. The systems and methods generate a descriptor function representing the set of facial features, fit object functions of the descriptor function, identify an identification probability for each facial feature, and assign an identification to each facial feature.

Abstract: A method for optical transmission of a structure into a recording medium which can be transformed locally from a first undefined state into a second defined state by irradiating with photons from a photon source. The two states of the recording medium are manifested in different physical and/or chemical properties of the recording medium. At least one photon source having a photon flux of less than 104 photons per second is selected for the irradiation with the photons. It was recognized that with such a low photon flux especially fine structures can advantageously be transmitted into the recording medium without the irradiation having to be partially blocked by a mask. In this manner, for a given wavelength (energy) of the photons, structures can be transmitted that are considerably smaller than the width, defined by the diffraction limit, of the probability distribution for the locations at which the emitted photons are incident.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus capable of forming images of good quality over a long term on image formation target objects is provided. The image formation target object has a plurality of transfer frames, and the image formation apparatus has a control unit configured to control a formation of the image with respect to at least one of the transfer frames such that the image includes an image of a first range that is transferred and formed in a density within a first density range for which a first density is a maximum density, and an image of a second range that is transferred and formed in a second density that is higher density than the first density, after the first range.

Abstract: A high efficiency thermal printing system, comprising: a donor ribbon having donor material; a receiver medium; a test pattern to be printed on the receiver medium using the donor ribbon; a print head, a sensor, and a processor is disclosed. The present invention is adapted to print the test pattern on the receiver medium by heating the donor ribbon to cause the donor material to transfer from the donor ribbon onto the receiver medium, thereby depleting donor material on the donor ribbon. Moreover, the sensor is adapted to measure a depletion amount of the donor material on the donor ribbon after printing the test pattern, and the processor is adapted to calibrate the thermal printing system by adjusting a lookup table in response to the measured depletion amount of donor material.

Abstract: Novel methods for calibrating a thermal printer by adjusting a look up table comprising the steps of receiving a test pattern to be printed on a receiver medium, printing the test pattern on the receiver medium, using a sensor to measure a depletion amount of donor material, and using a processor to adjust the lookup table based on the measured depletion amount are disclosed.

Abstract: A printing system includes a first unit that obtains a rendering command specifying a combination of at least a thickness and a color of a line; a second unit that converts the rendering command into a converted rendering command by converting the combination specified in the rendering command so that an average darkness of a result of printing the line matches a desired average darkness of a result of printing the line using a target printer; a third unit that generates image data including the rendered line based on the converted rendering command; and a printing unit that executes printing based on the image data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a dither processing device that applies dither processing to input image data to express halftone using line screens by increasing an area rate of the input image data and a controller that decreases the number of line screens and maintains a prescribed dropout width between the neighboring line screens when the area rate of the input image data increases and the dropout width falls below a prescribed level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an image are provided that can suppress blur edges at an edge portion of a character so that sharpness and quality of the image can be improved. The apparatus comprises an inside and outside edge discrimination portion for discriminating whether a target pixel to be processed belongs to an inside edge or to an outside edge, a threshold value generating portion for selecting a threshold value from plural threshold values for error diffusion process in accordance with an area discriminated by the inside and outside edge discrimination portion to output the selected threshold value and an error diffusion process portion for performing the error diffusion process for multilevel input data concerning the target pixel by utilizing the threshold value generated by the threshold value generating portion so as to produce output data whose gradation steps are reduced.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for forming images on recording media of different sizes are provided. The image forming procedure may include reading setting information which includes the size of a substitute recording medium for each user from a memory and, when the size of the recording medium specified by the print instruction is not available, executing a print instruction by automatically changing the size of a recording medium to be used to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information. Additional computer-readable storage media storing image forming procedures are also provided.

Abstract: A multi-media printer includes an engine controller, a printhead controller, and a pulse activation table. The engine controller transmits a row of energy values. The printhead controller receives the row of energy values and transmits an activation signal. The activation signal is transmitted based on a comparison of an activating energy level for each pulse position in a pulse stream with the energy values in the row of energy values. Comparison logic performs the comparison and transmits an activation signal if the energy value for the row of energy values is greater than or equal to the activating energy level for the corresponding pulse positions.

Abstract: In a thermal printer, a first thermal head to print data on one surface of a print medium both surfaces of which are colored in different colors or a second thermal head to print data on the other surface of the print medium different from the print surface of the first thermal head is controlled, and a test image is printed on the print medium set in the thermal printer. Then, in the thermal printer, a print density of the printed test image is detected, and based on the detected print density of the test image and information stored in a density information storage section, it is determined whether the front and the back of the print medium set in the thermal printer is normal.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for multichannel sequence transmission and control comprises a DMA generator, a bus interface, a data generator, a control unit, and a strobe signal generator. The DMA generator is coupled to the bus interface and the data generator to operate with the control unit and the strobe signal generator. A step of initial setting is an external microcontroller generates a TPH shift clock and a TPH latch signal needed by a print head. A step of transmitting data is the DMA generator transmits a printing data to the data generator for being buffered and moved to a latch register in the print head and then the strobe signal generator provides the signal period of the respective strobe signal and the time spacing between the respective strobe signal to allow a multiplexer outputting the actual strobe signals, which are combined from the virtual strobe signals, to the print head. A step of heating the print head is the print head prints the assigned data until the strobe signals ending.

Abstract: A method of selecting inks for use in imaging with an imaging apparatus includes determining a maximum usage of a diluted ink for use in conjunction with a saturated ink based on visual perception characteristics relating to a combination of the diluted ink and the saturated ink; generating an initial colorant space based on the maximum usage of the diluted ink, the initial colorant space expressing an initial usage of the diluted ink and an initial usage of the saturated ink at each point in the initial colorant space; optimizing the initial usage of the diluted ink and the initial usage of the saturated ink in the initial colorant space to generate a final usage of the diluted ink and a final usage of the saturated ink in a final colorant space; and generating a color conversion lookup table based on the final colorant space.

Abstract: An image with sufficient gray-scale representation and high resolution is formed on a medium to be recorded, such as an intermediate transfer body, using a thermal printer employing thermal transfer ink. When thermal transfer ink of a thermal transfer ink ribbon 18 is thermally transferred onto an intermediate transfer body 12 by a thermal head 14, gray-scale values of pixels of a filter image having a threshold value pattern used to determine whether each of a plurality of pixels of an original image is an object to be printed, based on gray-scale values of the pixels, are compared with the gray-scale values of the pixels of the original image, and then the gray-scale values of the pixels of the original image are converted based on the result of the comparison.

Abstract: An image processing device for processing an input image so as to reproduce a halftone, includes: a matrix setting section for setting a threshold matrix having a plurality of elements arranged in M columns×N rows, at least two threshold values being stored in each of the elements; an element specifying section for specifying a corresponding element of the threshold matrix in accordance with a position of a pixel in the input image; and a multilevel signal generating section for fetching the threshold values from the specified element and for generating a multilevel signal by transforming an input pixel value to one of multiple levels in accordance with the fetched threshold values; wherein the multilevel signal generating section outputs a constant value Doutmin as the multilevel signal when a first condition that the input pixel value is smaller than or not larger than a minimum value of the threshold values, is satisfied; the multilevel signal generating section outputs a constant value Doutmax when a seco

Abstract: This invention relates to an image recording apparatus provided with a transporting unit transporting an image recording material whose shape has at a least one side in a predetermined transporting direction; an image recording position detecting unit detecting a position of the at least one side along the predetermined transporting direction, an image recording position correcting unit correcting the image recording position for the image recording material based on result of detection of the at least one side by said image recording position detecting unit; and an image forming unit forming a predesired image on the image recording material at the corrected image recording position.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which is capable of quickly performing measurements required for obtaining a proper image density. The image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming apparatuses performs an image density adjustment control process by carrying out a maximum density control process at a reference image forming speed, and carrying out a density gradation control process at each of the plurality of image forming speeds. Image forming conditions for carrying out the density gradation control process at speeds other than the reference image forming speed are determined by performing operation on image forming conditions determined by the maximum density control process carried out at the reference image forming speed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a serially connected LED lamps control circuit device, which is applicable for an integrated circuit and has the following three features: using a buffer circuit to increase the DATA and Clock lines to extend the distance between a plurality of serially connected devices, delaying half cycle of the timing of the DATA line to enhance overall system stability, and adding an internal latch signal generate circuit to simplify the requirements for external connections.

Abstract: A 2-color thermal point of sale (POS) printer includes a converter for converting full color printing commands into a commands for printing in two colors, a primary color and an alternate color. A three color image is possible when using the background color of the paper as a color.

Abstract: This invention relates to image recording method and apparatus. The apparatus has an image recording unit which records an image in a one-dimensional direction, a transfer unit which transfers the image recording unit with relative to a recording medium, which are moved in mutually perpendicular directions, and a recording control unit which controls and records a single pixel using a plurality of pulses upon recording of the image, the recording control unit performing control so that thermal patterns at neighboring pixels are shifted to perform the image recording.

Abstract: Color printheads in a color inkjet printer are in a fixed order in the scanning carriage, which causes the colors to be printed in a different order when the carriage is scanned in an opposite direction. The different print order may result in a perceptible change in hue between passes in bi-directional printing. Depleted shingle masks are substituted for the nominal ones, based on print direction, at the shingle masking stage, to compensate for print-direction-induced hue shift. A look-up table indexed by a composite color tone value providing a depletion probability and a halftoning error diffusion value are used in determining when depleted shingle masks are to be invoked.

Abstract: In a thermal printer, the print mode that has been set by the user is judged at the start of printing. When the high-speed print mode is set, the standard deviation &sgr; of the original image data is calculated. According to the standard deviation &sgr;, it is judged whether the densities are evenly distributed. When the densities are evenly distributed, a gradation conversion characteristic is selected for converting the gradation in the entire density range only by decreasing the number of gradation levels of the output image. When the densities are intensively concentrated in a specific density range, it is further judged whether the specific density range is the low, middle, or high density range. According to the judgement, the gradation values of input data are converted using a gradation conversion characteristic for decreasing the number of gradation levels of the output image and accurately reproducing the gradation in the specific density range.

Abstract: A method of color conversion includes preserving a 0% density for a particular color in the pre-conversion state to maintain a 0% density after conversion is provided via a translation table. Density gradation methods include a gradient value structure such that the highlight and shadow regions of the density are more finely represented in comparison to non-highlight and non-shadow regions. A further density correction method includes supplying an amount of energy to a non-image area when printing using a first color, wherein the amount of energy will not produce a dot in the non-image area upon application of a second color. A printer may employ one or more of the above methods in the form of a translation table or a density correction patch.

Abstract: An auto-ranging digital densitometer, for determining the optical density of a test sample, includes a photodetector and a digital logarithmic converter. Within the logarithmic converter, an amplifier circuit is adapted to produce an output signal proportional to intensity of light incident on the photodetector. The amplifier circuit has multiple gains that successively increase, one to the next, by a ratio between 2.3:1 and 5.7:1. Gain select logic selects the gain to provide good density resolution and avoid amplifier saturation. An analog-to-digital converter is adapted to convert the output signal of the amplifier circuit to digital format. A lookup table address is formed at least in part from the output of the analog-to-digital converter. The lookup table outputs at least the lower-order digits of the density value corresponding to the gain and the amplifier output. Density range is extended, resolution improved, and the requirement for a second lookup table is eliminated.

Abstract: A printer apparatus comprises a head having k (number) printing elements for printing an image data. A printing element selecting section selects a printing element driven at the time of printing among the k printing elements of the head. An image correcting section is a section for correcting the image data previous to the printing of the image data using the head, and comprises a correction data memorizing section for memorizing a correction data for a certain single tone among n (number) tones that the image data has for each of the printing elements, a tone detecting section for detecting the tone of the image data corresponding to each of the selected printing elements of the head, and a correction data generating section for generating a correction data for each of the selected printing elements, corresponding to the tone detected by the tone detecting section, by using the correction data memorized in the correction data memorizing section.

Abstract: A method for forming an image comprises the steps of dividing an inputted image into a plurality of unit areas, preparing at least five gradation conversion tables relating a density value of the density data to a dot generation energy value corresponding to a size of a dot to be printed, preparing a matrix dividing each of the unit areas into predetermined number of element areas, dividing each of the unit areas into predetermined number of the element areas by means of the matrix, assigning one of the plurality of gradation conversion tables to each of the element area in each of the unit area, and recording the dots converted from the density data, wherein the plurality of conversion tables are prepared in such a manner that there exists at least three converted energy values other than the minimum and the maximum values thereof at an arbitrary density value in halftone density, and wherein the plurality of conversion tables are prepared in such a manner that the number of element areas in which the minimu

Abstract: An auto-ranging densitometer is disclosed for determining the density of a test sample, wherein the densitometer includes a photodetector and an amplifier circuit adapted to produce an output signal proportional to intensity of light on the photodetector. The amplifier circuit has multiple gains that successively increase in an approximately 2:1 ratio increment. An analog to digital converter is adapted to convert the output signal of the amplifier circuit to digital format. A density signal generator circuit is adapted to receive the output of the analog to digital converter, whereby density resolution non-uniformity is minimized due to small gain increments such that the analog to digital converter needs deal with less extreme variations in density resolution.

Abstract: The energy amount supplied to each dot forming a pixel is determined to 8 levels. In a dot pattern of the gradation level 1, the energy amount level 1 is provided to a dot 35 of the pixel 31. In the gradation level 2, the energy level 1 is provided to the dots 35 and 36. In the gradation level 3, the energy level 1 is provided to the dots 35 to 37. Similarly, the energy levels 1 to 8 are provided successively to the dots 35 to 38 to form dot patterns of the gradation levels 3 to 31. In the gradation level 32, the energy level 8 is provided to the dots 35 to 38.

Abstract: An auto-ranging densitometer includes a photodetector and an amplifier circuit adapted to produce an output signal proportional to intensity of light on the photodetector. The amplifier circuit has multiple gains that successively increase. An analog to digital converter converts the output signal of the amplifier circuit to digital format. A gain select logic outputs a gain code used to select the gain of the amplifier. A density signal generator circuit includes two LUTs, one of the LUTs being adapted to receive the output of the analog to digital converter and produce an output density scaled to include only low order bits; and the other of the LUTs being to receive the gain code and produce an output density scaled to include only high order bits. The outputs of the two LUTs are concantenation added to produce a summation density signal.

Abstract: In a non-impact recording apparatus that includes a plurality of recording elements, there is provided a source of first data signals representing for each of plural pixels density, size or percentage of coverage for recording. A first look-up table memory is responsive to the first data signals for adjusting the density, size or percentage coverage of each of the pixels with a gamma adjustment related to density development by the apparatus and generates multibit gamma adjusted second data signals. A second look-up table memory generates a third signal related to a characteristic of the recording elements such as for nonuniformity correction. A process look-up table memory is responsive to the gamma adjusted second data signals and the third signals for generating fourth multibit signals relating to exposure on-times for recording pixels by the recording elements. The use of the three look-up table memories results in substantial saving in memory requirements.

Abstract: In the improved shading compensation method applied to thermal recording for recording on a thermal recording material by using a thermal head having a glaze in which heat-generating elements are arranged in one direction, and by relatively moving the glaze and the thermal recording material in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the heat-generating elements are arranged, with the thermal recording material being kept in contact with the glaze, a plurality of shading compensation tables corresponding to different recording densities are used and the weights of the plurality of shading compensation tables are changed in accordance with the recording densities, to thereby calculate conditions for shading compensation.

Abstract: A recording sheet is fed two times for recording of one line. Two recording operations corresponding to the respective sheet feeding operations are performed in a dispersive manner based on gradation data that are different for the respective sheet feeding operations. For example, binary data for the first and second recording operations are generated by comparing the gradation data with odd-numbered and even-numbered gradation reference values, respectively.

Abstract: A line printer including a device for receiving gradation scale values of pixels for one line to be printed, and a plurality of tables for correcting a density variation caused by common resistance unevenness. The line printer further includes a device for arithmetically obtaining a number of printing elements to be operated for each gradation scale for printing from the gradation scale values of the pixels for one line received by the receiving device, and a device for retrieving an optimal table from the plurality of tables on the basis of the number of printing elements obtained by the arithmetic device.

Abstract: A head drive waveform generation device and a head drive waveform generation method that do not require large-capacity memory during mounting on a printer are disclosed. The head drive waveform generation device generates and outputs, based on head drive waveform data consisting of a plurality of waveform data elements that comprise inclination values serving as information for specifying signal changes per unit of time, and interval widths serving as information for specifying time intervals during which the inclination values are used, head drive waveforms whose magnitude varies over time in accordance with the inclination values within the waveform data elements, during the time intervals specified by the interval widths within the waveform data elements.

Abstract: A thermal printer using a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in line, wherein the heating elements are driven for different power conduction times to record dots at different densities. According to the invention, the thermal printer is comprised of a first look-up table for converting original heating data into time data representative of a power conduction time corresponding to the original heating data; a correction circuit for correcting the time data to obtain a corrected power conduction time; a second look-up table for converting the corrected power conduction time into corrected heating data which corresponds to the corrected power conduction time; and a head driver for driving the heating elements in accordance with the corrected heating data.

Abstract: A line printer including a device for receiving gradation scale values of pixels for one line to be printed, and a plurality of tables for correcting a density variation caused by common resistance unevenness. The line printer further includes a device for arithmetically obtaining a number of printing elements to be operated for each gradation scale for printing from the gradation scale values of the pixels for one line received by the receiving device, and a device for retrieving an optimal table from the plurality of tables on the basis of the number of printing elements obtained by the arithmetic device.

Abstract: A control device which controls the supply of energy heating elements of a thermal head. The control device to a memory includes for storing multiplication results as correction energy values of combinations of influence parameters, each of the influence parameters indicating a degree of influence caused by a reference heating element on a targeted heating element, and all energy values that can be supplied to reference heating elements. The control device also includes an address generation section for specifying a reference heating element that affects the targeted heating element based on printing data and generating an address based on a combination of the influence parameter of the reference heating element and the energy value that was supplied to the reference heating element and a memory control section for reading out a correction energy value from the memory based on the generated address.

Abstract: A correction apparatus for a thermal printer includes a memory for storing the deviation quantity of each heating element of a thermal print head or a temperature correction quantity, a first computer means for adding introduced image data and the deviation quantity wherein the gradation value of the image data is reflected when the heating element for printing the introduced image data is lower than the average resistance value or the current temperature, a second computer means for subtracting the deviation quantity wherein the gradation value of image data is reflected, from the introduced image data when the heating element for printing the introduced image data is higher than the average resistance value or the current temperature. Thus, the resistance correction according to the deviation of the heating element resistance and the temperature correction are realized by a simple circuit, thus reducing the memory capacity, which decreases the amount of required hardware.

Abstract: Half-tone image data and character image data are discriminated from each other with reference to discrimination data, and are stored separately from each other. In accordance with the image to be printed, one of a character print table and a half-tone print table is selected. In accordance with the result of comparison of the character image data with comparison data read from the character print table, characters are recorded using two kinds of character dot print patterns for recording a dot in the whole area of an associated pixel and for recording no dot. Half-tone images are recorded in the area gradation method using half-tone dot print patterns in accordance with the result of comparison of the half-tone image data with comparison data read from the half-tone print table. One pixel is divided into a plurality of sub-lines. The recording of the characters is performed at intervals of N sub-lines, N is an integer. The recording of the half-tone images is performed at intervals of one sub-line.

Abstract: A high speed thermal printer including a maximum data detector for detecting maximum gradation data from the image signal of a line received from a signal input source on a line-by-line basis, a drum motor for transporting printing paper, a reel motor for transporting film containing printing dye, and a servo controller for controlling a printing speed by varying the speed of the drum motor and the reel motor in accordance with the detected maximum data value. The printer has the advantages of the drum motor and reel motor being driven at a constant speed for the duration of the maximum gradation printing, and the dye being expressed uniformly throughout the printing line. Thus, high quality printing can be achieved and the printing time decreased by the motors being driven at a constant speed to the following printing position after the maximum gradation of a line has been printed.