Tone Marking Patents (Class 347/240)
  • Patent number: 7885518
    Abstract: A recording control device records a program to be reserved for recording on the basis of reservation information including recording start time information indicating a time, at which recording starts, and recording end time information indicating a time, at which recording ends. The recording control device includes a setting unit that, when it is judged that the program is not recorded after recording is reserved, sets the same time as the time, indicated by the recording start time information, at which recording starts, in the recording end time information of the reservation information for recording the program; and a recording control unit that, when the time, indicated by the recording start time information, at which recording starts, is the same as the time, indicated by the recording end time information, at which recording ends, controls recording of the program such that recording of the program is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Fujita
  • Patent number: 7872663
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a plurality of light emitting elements, a first storage unit that stores first correction values corresponding to the light emitting elements, a counting unit that counts the number of pixels whose gray-scale values designated by image data are within a predetermined range included in an image, a selection unit that selects a first mode or a second mode according to the relationship between the number counted by the counting unit and a threshold value, and a driving unit that drives the light emitting elements corresponding to the predetermined number of pixels to emit amounts of light corresponding to the first correction values when the first mode is selected by the selection unit, and drives the light emitting elements corresponding to the predetermined number of pixels to emit amounts of light corresponding to the image data when the second mode is selected by the selection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Taketo Chino
  • Patent number: 7834900
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting banding defects in a photoreceptor image forming apparatus. The method or apparatus may form one or more images using one or more laser beams to alter an electrostatic charge on a photoreceptor, check the one or more images for one or more sets of image perfections arising from electric field attenuation in the photoreceptor, and compensate for the electric field attenuation. The method or apparatus may further form a compensated image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Palghat S. Ramesh, Robert J. Kleckner
  • Patent number: 7812979
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus previewing on a display screen ink-character information and braille information which are printed and embossed on the same process sheet, the apparatus including: an ink-character previewing device for previewing the ink-character information; a braille previewing device for previewing the braille information; and a preview switching device controlling the ink-character previewing device and the braille previewing device and capable of selectively switching a display mode among a display of only the ink-character information, that of only the braille information, and that of the ink-character information and the braille information when printing and embossing operations are performed in a manner in which the ink-character information and the braille information are at least partially overlapped with each other on the process sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, King Jim Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Takada, Seiji Tanaka, Takayuki Uehara
  • Patent number: 7791630
    Abstract: A method of adjusting an exposure device suited for an electrophotographic printer, the exposure device includes a plurality of light-emitting elements. The method includes the steps of energizing selected light-emitting elements according to a selection scheme, using a pre-determined energy level for energizing each selected light-emitting element and obtaining a corresponding exposure intensity distribution from the exposure device. The method further includes the steps of predicting a toner area coverage distribution, based on the obtained exposure intensity distribution and on a pre-established transfer function, obtaining an attribute of the predicted toner area coverage distribution and determining the setting values for the energy levels for energizing each selected light-emitting element such that the obtained attribute becomes a target attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Oce-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrik J. Stolk, Martijn C. H. Van Hoorn, Lambertus W. Ogink, Reinier J. Ramekers
  • Patent number: 7787006
    Abstract: Differing ratios of the amount of light from light source LD2 to the amount of light from light source LD1 are provided. An image pattern for adjustment that includes, for each color, an area made up of isolated dots by light source LD1 and an area made up of isolated dots by light source LD2, is printed for each ratio. In a copier, a density of each area is detected, a ratio at which a difference between the density of an area of isolated dots by light source LD1 and the density of an area of isolated dots by light source LD2 is smallest is decided as an adjustment ratio, and control is performed such that light sources LD1 and LD2 emit light at the adjusted ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sakai, Hironori Akashi
  • Patent number: 7777773
    Abstract: Image quality assessment test charts and objective image quality measurement systems may be used to evaluate the printer sub-system health before artifacts become objectionable to human observers. Diagnostic images may be printed to allow measurement of a number of system performance attributes, such as: density, banding, streak, granularity, mottle, color, gloss, gloss uniformity, edge gradient, raggedness, sharpness, background, registration, line width, and satellite measurements. By comparing these measurements to historical values or ideal values of the same measurements, preventive maintenance suggestions may be generated to avoid both unnecessary maintenance and objectionable print quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Yee S. Ng, Eric K. Zeise
  • Patent number: 7777768
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capable of printing half-toned images of high quality. The image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive body and a light emitting element array. A plurality of light emitting elements is aligned in the light emitting element array. Each light emitting element array emits light to form an electrostatic latent image of a pixel on the photoconductive drum. A controller controllably drives the plurality of light emitting elements to form the electrostatic latent image, each pixel being formed by a combination of a total of N (N>1) light emitting elements. Each element of the N light emitting elements is driven with a different amount of energy from remainders of the N light emitting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Nakasendo
  • Publication number: 20100194842
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting banding defects in a photoreceptor image forming apparatus. The method or apparatus may form one or more images using one or more laser beams to alter an electrostatic charge on a photoreceptor, check the one or more images for one or more sets of image perfections arising from electric field attenuation in the photoreceptor, and compensate for the electric field attenuation. The method or apparatus may further form a compensated image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Palghat S. RAMESH, Robert J. KLECKNER
  • Patent number: 7742067
    Abstract: In an early-middle stage of a photosensitive drum life cycle, an image forming apparatus uses only a second semiconductor laser having an oscillation wavelength 660 nm to perform writing of an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum surface. In a middle-late stage of the photosensitive drum life cycle, the image forming apparatus starts using a first semiconductor laser having an oscillation wavelength of 440 nm in addition to the second semiconductor laser to perform writing of an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum surface with a combined exposure spot formed at the same position. An exposure control unit gradually increases an output rate of the first semiconductor laser according to an increase in total output of the first and second semiconductor lasers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiteru Gomi, Ryuta Ai
  • Patent number: 7705870
    Abstract: A laser marking device that irradiates a laser beam on a workpiece (W) to transform a portion inside the workpiece at a focal point of the laser beam, thus putting a dot in each predetermined area. The laser marking device includes acquiring mechanism (10, 20) that acquires, as information on the dot, at least two-dimensional position information of an exposed section of the workpiece (W), and density information of the dot, coordinate setting mechanism (30) that calculates, for each dot according to the density information, dot depth information showing the distance from the surface of the workpiece (W) to the dot in the thickness direction of the workpiece (W), and sets three-dimensional coordinates for each dot based on a position specified by the dot depth information and the two-dimensional position information, and laser marking mechanism (40) that performs marking with the three-dimensional coordinates as a laser beam focal point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Arai Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Sato
  • Patent number: 7692675
    Abstract: A print head driving method controls a gradation of a print head employing an array light source of a lower resolution and an array light source of a higher resolution based on image data represented by 2n bits, wherein n is zero or a positive integer, and both of the array light sources are gradation-controlled by combining a pulse weight-application method and a pulse accumulation method. Further, a image formation apparatus controls a gradation of a print head employing an array light source of a lower resolution and an array light source of a higher resolution based on image data represented by 2n bits, wherein n is 0 or a positive integer, and both of the array light sources are controlled by a gradation control method employing a simple combination of a pulse weight-application method and a pulse accumulation method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Futaba Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Hiraga, Yukihiko Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7671880
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a disk labeling system is configured to use calibration indicia to produce calibration data. A disk is then marked using a laser in a first position. The laser is then deflected from the first position into a second position, by applying an input according to the calibration data. The disk is then marked using the laser in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David Pettigrew, Andrew Koll, Darwin Mitchel Hanks
  • Publication number: 20090262179
    Abstract: Before image data are screened for the subsequent exposure of a printing form, files needed for the screening step are changed in such a way that the values of individual elements in the data fields are changed. The number of elements whose values are changed is determined by evaluating contiguous regions within the data fields. These can be, for example, threshold value matrices in which individual matrix elements are set to a value corresponding to the color white, or which, for the half-tones, are calibrated to a reduced value of the full-tone density. In the latter case, the full-tone image points are screened with a frequency-modulated screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Dietrich Blum, Andreas Gembe
  • Patent number: 7586507
    Abstract: A method for forming a pixel (20) having a predetermined density onto a sensitized recording medium moving in a length direction energizes a pixel exposure source (14) to begin exposure at the leading edge (34) of a pixel (20) and for a first predetermined time interval. The pixel exposure source (14) is de-energized for a period depending on the predetermined density and on media transport speed, then re-energized at the termination of the period. The pixel exposure source (14) is then de-energized at the end of a second predetermined time interval to terminate exposure at the trailing edge (36) of the pixel (20), whereby spatial dimensions of each pixel (20) are maintained at variable transport speed or density of pixel (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Scott P. MacKenzie, Nelson A. Blish
  • Patent number: 7586510
    Abstract: Image forming units each form an image of one color, which are superimposed to form a color image, and a pattern used for correcting deviation of the image. A first detector positioned at an image writing starting side, and a second and a third detector each detects the pattern. A first and a second correcting unit having different precisions correct a deviation of an image writing position based on detection by the first, second, and third detectors. A third and a fourth correcting unit having different precisions correct a total-width magnification error based on detections by the first and the third detectors. The fourth correcting unit further corrects a partial magnification error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Maeda
  • Publication number: 20090002473
    Abstract: A light-emitting device has a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in one direction, each of the plurality of pixel circuits having a light-emitting element that emits light according to the amount of driving current, a driving transistor that supplies the driving current to the light-emitting element, a holding transistor that supplies a data signal supplied via a data line to the driving transistor, and a connecting line that connects the driving transistor to the holding transistor. The holding transistor, the light-emitting element, and the driving transistor are arranged in a direction crossing the arrangement direction of the plurality of pixel circuits. The light-emitting element is provided between the holding transistor and the driving transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayuki KITAZAWA
  • Patent number: 7400339
    Abstract: A system that extends the operational effectiveness of an image reproduction machine without requiring downtime for service by personnel includes a detection subsystem that monitors components of an image reproduction system for detecting a banding defect in the image reproduction system and an automated compensation subsystem for modifying operation of the image reproduction system to compensate for the detected banding defect so that the image reproduction system continues to generate images at an acceptable quality level. The automated compensation subsystem adjusts components and/or data used by image reproduction system to compensate for the identified banding defect without requiring immediate operator or service personnel intervention. This compensation may successfully attenuate the banding defect so that the image reproduction system continues to produce acceptable images without downtime while awaiting service by personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Meera Sampath, Howard A. Mizes, Susan Zoltner
  • Patent number: 7397491
    Abstract: A light-emitting device has a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in one direction, each of the plurality of pixel circuits having a light-emitting element that emits light according to the amount of driving current, a driving transistor that supplies the driving current to the light-emitting element, a holding transistor that supplies a data signal supplied via a data line to the driving transistor, and a connecting line that connects the driving transistor to the holding transistor. The holding transistor, the light-emitting element, and the driving transistor are arranged in a direction crossing the arrangement direction of the plurality of pixel circuits. The light-emitting element is provided between the holding transistor and the driving transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Kitazawa
  • Patent number: 7375740
    Abstract: In a printing system, a method is used for adjusting currents to LEDs in an LED printbar to achieve uniformity of the print. The line test pattern and halftone strips test pattern are printed. The test patterns are scanned. An LED line metric of each LED test pattern line and reflectance uniformity of each halftone test strip are measured. A line uniformity difference profile and a set of halftone strips uniformity difference profiles are concurrently calculated. A current value supplied to each LED associated with the test patterns is adjusted to simultaneously optimize the uniformity in the lines test pattern and the halftone strips test pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Howard A. Mizes
  • Patent number: 7369150
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system and program product for performing multiple-pel print quality enhancement (PQE) using amplitude modulation. A determination is made of an adjusted peak amplitudes value of each pel of an image. At least two adjacent pels are then grouped together and a determination is made of a peak amplitudes value that will serve as a gray amplitude value for each pel in the pel group. Also determined is position information indicating the alignment of the peak amplitudes within the combined area. The combined peak amplitudes and position information is sent as input to an amplitude modulator operating at a speed equal to the video data rate of the printer divided by the number of pels for which the peak amplitudes data is combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Infoprint Solutions Company, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Mason Ernst, John Charles Wilson
  • Patent number: 7324131
    Abstract: A method sets up a device for image reproduction on printing plates. The fastening of image reproduction members, their orientation and tolerances, and also tolerances in the positioning of the image reproduction members on a guide or a spindle, lead to mis-positions of the image reproduction members in relation to one another. Offsets of two adjacent image parts may occur. In the method, the printing plate has reproduced on it in the X-direction at least one first pattern which overlaps with the first pattern of an adjacent image reproduction member and/or the printing plate, in each case with a right and a left column, has reproduced on it in the Y-direction in each case at least three spaced-apart second patterns, such that in each case the right column of an image part is at least contiguous to the left column of an adjacent image part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Norbert Liebig, Rainer Müllenhagen, Stefan Schmidt, Gerhard Vogler
  • Patent number: 7315315
    Abstract: A halftone processing method for correcting the variation in light intensity on a photoconductive drum and an apparatus using the same, wherein the method includes the steps of preparing a plurality of dithering functions, detecting the position where image data for forming an electrostatic latent image is scanned on the photoconductive drum, selecting one of the plurality of dithering functions according to the detected scanning position, and halftone-processing the image data using the selected dithering function. Accordingly, the halftone processing method improves print quality by increasing light intensity at the edges of a photoconductive drum by permitting the laser printer to be halftone-processed using dithering functions whose critical values are different for the center and the edges of the photoconductive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Beom-ro Lee, Je-man Seo, Myong-hun Cho
  • Patent number: 7310107
    Abstract: A method for monitoring and adjusting the calibration for an image processing apparatus entails imaging a calibration target to create an image using the image processing apparatus and scanning the image into host software to create an exposure calibration curve. Control strips are imaged to create control strip images on order to obtain a calibrated density history for the control strips using the control strip images. The control strip images are scanned into the host software to obtain a scanned density history for each control strip and thereby form a density history for the control strips. A deviation history is calculated by comparing the scanned density history to the calibrated density history for each control strip. The deviation history is monitored to ensure that the deviation history is within the operating specifications for the image processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Craig Iannazzi
  • Publication number: 20070273747
    Abstract: A first optical scanning device for scanning image data of colors (yellow, magenta, cyan and black) which serve as the basic for formation of color image employs an optical system having optical characteristic stable to changes in temperature in common, the optical system being incorporated in a single optical box. Inexpensive resin material is employed for its lens in a second optical scanning device for scanning image data of pale color or a special color having a large tolerance amount to color deviation or spot diameter. Further, an inexpensive second optical scanning device saving space is formed by reducing the optical path length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Haruhiko Nakatsu
  • Patent number: 7283150
    Abstract: A flexible media magnetic printing system provides for data storage within flexible media imprinted with magnetic ink. In a particular embodiment, the printing system includes at least one reservoir of magnetic ink with magnetic particles capable of supporting high density data, and at least one reservoir of visible ink. The reservoirs are coupled to a print head including one or more ink-ejecting nozzles, which is removably or fixedly coupled to at least one magnetic read/write device. The magnetic read/write device tracks above the magnetic ink applied by the ink-ejecting nozzles to the flexible media. The magnetic read/write device writes to the magnetic ink by providing a magnetic field of sufficient intensity to re-orient the magnetic alignment within the ink to a known direction. The magnetic read/write device also reads data from flexible media, for example, paper or cloth that is imprinted with data-embedded magnetic ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Manish Sharma, Frederick A. Perner
  • Patent number: 7283149
    Abstract: Image data is inputted from a data processing device 23 into storage means 24 formed on a light-emitting element (yellow) line head 28 so that light emitting elements in one line 28a expose pixels on an image carrier in response to output signal from a shift resistor 24a. As the image carrier is moved in the direction of X to bring said pixels to reach the position corresponding to light emitting elements in the next line 28b, the image data is transmitted to a shift resistor 24b so that the shift resistor 24b outputs the image data to light emitting elements in the line 28b, whereby the pixels are exposed to light again. The movement of the image carrier and the transmission of the image data to the respective shift resistors are sequentially conducted, thereby conducting multiple exposure of each same pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Nomura, Mitsukazu Kurose, Kiyoshi Tsujino
  • Patent number: 7256910
    Abstract: A method is described for overcoming the adverse visual effect of misregistered ink planes in multiple ink color prints. Color separations are initially made in a normal fashion. The separation carrying the greatest object detail is then chosen as a luminance or achromatic channel. This may be used as is or preferably it is sharpened using a high pass filter. Normally this separation will be black. However, it may be a surrogate color for black, particularly if only two or three separations are made. Object detail in all other separations (chrominance separations) is degraded, usually by a low pass filter such as a Gaussian blur. The printed image formed when the separations are recombined in a conventional manner is remarkably visually tolerant of misregistration of the various ink planes in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventor: David L. Lee
  • Patent number: 7215353
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a modulation data storage, a pulse width modulator, and an optical writing mechanism. The modulation data storage stores different gray-scale pulse sets. Each set includes gray-scale pulses having pulse widths different from each other in steps of a predetermined value corresponding to gray-scale information possibly contained in image data to be input. Each gray-scale pulse includes at least two pulses including at least one of left-positioned and right-positioned pulses. The pulse width modulator selects a gray-scale pulse set from among the different gray-scale sets in accordance with gray-scale information and performs a pulse width modulation to control a light beam on and off at a density twice or more than twice a density of the input image data by using the gray-scale pulse set selected. The optical writing mechanism causes the light beam to scan a photosensitive member to form a latent image thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Maeda
  • Patent number: 7190483
    Abstract: An illumination lens applies a laser beam emitted from a laser light source onto a light valve. The laser beam divided into a number of beams and modulated in the light valve is reflected by a total internal reflection prism so that the optical path thereof is bent, and thereafter passes through a zoom lens to be focused on a recording medium mounted on the surface of a drum. At this time, an image of a single pixel is recorded with a plurality of adjacent laser beams in a subscanning direction (direction of arrangement of the laser beams). The image can be recorded on the recording medium with sufficient power density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Tamaki, Takahide Hirawa
  • Patent number: 7177048
    Abstract: A number of lasers (402) used to image a bitmap file (630) of a halftone screen is comprised of generating a first bitmap file (630) for a first color. A first image (710) is printed with the first bitmap file for the first color with n lasers. A second image (720) is printed with the first bitmap file for the first color with n?1 lasers. An optimum number of lasers is selected for printing the first bitmap file based on the image with the least number of defects (700).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Kurt M. Sanger
  • Patent number: 7123282
    Abstract: A method of minimizing visual artifacts resulting from a laser scan process in an electrophotographic machine, the electrophotographic machine including a photoconductive device having an image forming surface. The method including the steps of obtaining correction data relative to a bowed image and offsetting at least a portion of non-bowed image data dependent upon the correction data, and additionally dependent upon halftone cell growth of a halftone cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Fields, Craig E. Hadady, Christopher D. Jones, Philip J. Heink
  • Patent number: 7081913
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes a data buffer unit that buffers input binary data, the resolution of which is 2/n (n: an odd integer greater than or equal to 3) times a print resolution, a data transform unit that transforms the input binary data into output multi-level data of the print resolution, and a light beam modulation unit that modulates radiant energy of a light beam in accordance with the output multi-level data. Accordingly, an image of the print resolution printed by the image forming apparatus based on the input binary data looks as if the resolution of the image is that of the input binary data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Ono
  • Patent number: 7006119
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms on a photoconductive body an evaluation chart including first patterns and second patterns. In the first pattern, with respect to a row of dots formed in a main scan direction by a predetermined light beam, a row of dots formed by a next light beam is shifted in the main scan direction, and in the second pattern, with respect to the row of dots formed in the main scan direction by the predetermined light beam, the row of dots formed by the next light beam is shifted in the main scan direction but in a direction opposite to a shift direction of the first pattern. The evaluation chart includes a first pattern group which is formed by the first patterns which are repeated, and a second pattern group which is formed by the second patterns which are repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Ricoh Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiro Takesue
  • Patent number: 7002614
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a printing system is described herein. The method includes imaging a test pattern. The test pattern includes a set of densities. Each density is based on a plurality of exposures which have been randomized thereby forming an imaged test pattern. The method further includes scanning the densities of the imaged test pattern thereby forming a dataset. In one embodiment, the density of the test pattern is made from a thermal dye donor. In another embodiment, the density of the test pattern comprises multiple colors. Then, the method includes analyzing the dataset to identify outlier data. The method then includes calibrating an adjustable density printing system using the polynomial calibration curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Craig Iannazzi
  • Patent number: 6965393
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that is capable of forming an image with excellent gradation quality without affected by variations in the sensitivity characteristic of the photoreceptor and the light quantity characteristic of the LED print head among individual products. A highest gradation appropriate exposure amount appropriate for the highest gradation is calculated from the sensitivity characteristic of the photoreceptor and the light quantity characteristic of the LED print head. Then, based on the highest gradation appropriate exposure amount, an appropriate lighting time of the LEDs that is appropriate for each gradation is calculated so that the increment of the exposure amount between the gradations including the first gradation, and the lighting times of the gradations are set based on the appropriate lighting times. Then, the LEDs are lit for the lighting time set in accordance with the gradation of the inputted image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Ishida, Eiji Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 6943816
    Abstract: The invention is directed to compensating for imaging aberrations that result from repeated passes by an imaging laser array. The aberrations may result from swath lines formed by thermal heating and from the ruling and screen angle of the image. The techniques described herein reduce the undesirable aberrations in thermal laser generated images by breaking up and/or reducing the swath lines. In general, the techniques provide for overlapping swaths and providing masking for one or both passes that print the overlapped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Kodak Polychrome Graphics LLC
    Inventor: Dallas K. Pierson
  • Patent number: 6940618
    Abstract: A linefeed calibration method for identifying media advancement errors utilizes plural test patterns, including both a base pattern and an overlay pattern that are printed overlying each other to form an interference pattern. A sensor detects overall alignment of the interference pattern. That overall alignment is compared to alignment of at least a second interference pattern to identify a linefeed advance error. The error is correlated to a position on a media advancement mechanism such as a roller. A processor then adjusts the media advancement mechanism to correct the identified media advancement error. Under-advance errors, over-advance errors and skew errors may be identified using the described method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Erick Kinas
  • Patent number: 6914621
    Abstract: Upon adjustment before the adjustment of a heat development recording apparatus, a continuous recording pattern is outputted. The recording density of this continuous recording pattern is measured by a recording density measuring unit. A shading correction table for each pixel is formed and the shading correction table is registered in a storing unit. On the other hand, after the heat development recording apparatus is shipped without mounting the recording density measuring unit thereon, a discrete recording pattern is outputted. The recording density of the discrete recording pattern is measured for each discrete recording position to generate a shading correction table. The shading correction table registered in the storing unit is updated. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a cost while a good shading correction function is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Kojima
  • Patent number: 6888558
    Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for compensating for imaging aberrations that result from repeated passes by an imaging laser array. The techniques provide for printing overlapping swaths and providing masking for at least one printing pass. The masks generally expand and contract the breadth of the printing swath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Kodak Polychrome Graphics, LLC
    Inventor: Dallas K. Pierson
  • Patent number: 6867791
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic developing device, a photosensitive body, a precharger for precharging the photosensitive body, and exposing units of two optical systems with different light amount distributions, which are provided for one photosensitive body for forming electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive body. The exposing units are selectively used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoko Shimmura
  • Patent number: 6836283
    Abstract: The method is for setting the line width of recorded image lines of a focused image beam in an exposer. The exposure point has a diameter and an area with a non-uniformly distributed power density. The recording material has a first exposure threshold and is exposed with an energy density near a second exposure threshold that is substantially higher than the first exposure threshold. The recording material can be a photopolymer printing plate. The line width of the recorded image lines is determined from the distribution of the power density over the area of the exposure point by integrating the time variation of the power density resulting from the exposure speed of the laser beam. The line width is set, by changing the diameter of the exposure point and/or by the laser power, such that the line width is substantially equal to the line spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Jörg-Achim Fischer
  • Patent number: 6831672
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is constructed to include an image bearing member which is rotatably supported to bear a toner image, a light beam scanning section to simultaneously scan the image bearing member by a plurality of light beams so as to form an electrostatic latent image, a developing section to develop the electrostatic latent image into the toner image, a transfer section to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, and an ON start timing adjuster to adjust an ON start timing of one of the plurality of light beams, based on an image tone of each of a plurality of patterns of an image pattern formed by the light beam scanning section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Maeda
  • Patent number: 6819352
    Abstract: A method of adjusting print uniformity in a xerographic device is provided. The method includes: a) printing a test pattern, b) transferring the printed test pattern to a scanner, c) scanning the printed test pattern and detecting line information, d) communicating the detected information to a computer, e) determining measurements from the detected line information, f) calculating the difference between the measurements and target values, and g) depending on the difference, adjusting a current supplied to an individual LED of an LED printbar associated with the measurement to reduce the difference. In one aspect, a test pattern line is associated with an individual LED. In another aspect, test pattern lines are associated with two adjacent LEDs and three adjacent LEDs. In yet another aspect, the test pattern includes dotted lines. In still another aspect, the invention includes a xerographic device with an LED printbar, a computer, and a scanner device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Howard A. Mizes, Daniel E. Viassolo
  • Patent number: 6812951
    Abstract: An image recording method includes: forming a latent image on a photothermographic imaging material by exposing a light beam from a light source thereto; and forming a visible image on the photothermographic imaging material on which the latent image is formed by thermally developing it. A wavelength characteristic of the light beam from the light source is selected on a basis of a spectral sensitivity characteristic of the photothermographic imaging material so that a first sensitivity variation of at least one of the thermally developed photothermographic imaging material and the exposed photothermographic imaging material which is before being thermally developed, the first sensitivity variation being caused by a temperature variation, and a second sensitivity variation of the photothermographic imaging material according to a wavelength variation of the light beam from the light source cause by the temperature variation are offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Toshikazu Umeda
  • Patent number: 6798439
    Abstract: An apparatus for thermal recording an image in a substantially light-insensitive thermographic material m having a burning temperature Tb, the substantially light-insensitive thermographic material m comprising a thermosensitive element having a conversion temperature Tc, a support, and at least one light-to-heat conversion agent, comprises a means for generating a radiation beam 20 including wavelengths &lgr; absorbed by the light-to-heat conversion agent and an optical means of scanning a line 40 of the substantially light-insensitive thermographic material m with the radiation beam 20 at different positions thereon along a scanning direction at each point of time in a scanning cycle; and a method for recording information, comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus for thermal recording 1, the above-mentioned substantially light-insensitive thermographic material m (5); generating a radiation beam 20 including wavelengths &lgr; absorbed by the light-to-heat conversion agent and being modulated in acco
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventor: Vanhooydonck Rudi
  • Publication number: 20040174426
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to realize a micro image forming apparatus by employing an organic EL array as a writing head thereof. The image forming apparatus comprises: at least one image forming station Y, M, C, K having an image carrier 46 and further having a charging means 47, an exposure means 1, a developing means 48, and a transfer means 45 which are arranged around the image carrier 46; wherein a toner image formed by the image forming station is transferred to a transfer medium. An organic EL array exposure head 1 is provided as the exposure means 1 and the transfer medium is an intermediate transfer belt 42. The image forming apparatus further comprises a fixing means 58 for fixing the toner image on a receiving medium P which is secondarily transferred from the intermediate transfer belt. The intermediate transfer belt 42 is located between the organic EL array exposure head 1 and the fixing means 58.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yujiro Nomura, Yoshiro Koga
  • Publication number: 20040135878
    Abstract: A method of adjusting print uniformity in a xerographic device is provided. The method includes: a) printing a test pattern, b) transferring the printed test pattern to a scanner, c) scanning the printed test pattern and detecting line information, d) communicating the detected information to a computer, e) determining measurements from the detected line information, f) calculating the difference between the measurements and target values, and g) depending on the difference, adjusting a current supplied to an individual LED of an LED printbar associated with the measurement to reduce the difference. In one aspect, a test pattern line is associated with an individual LED. In another aspect, test pattern lines are associated with two adjacent LEDs and three adjacent LEDs. In yet another aspect, the test pattern includes dotted lines. In still another aspect, the invention includes a xerographic device with an LED printbar, a computer, and a scanner device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Howard A. Mizes, Daniel E. Viassolo
  • Publication number: 20040095459
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for estimating a number of remaining pages that may be printed from a printing device using a replaceable component installed in the printing device. If less than a page count threshold has been printed using the replaceable component, then one or more default values pertaining to a consumable item contained in the replaceable component are used for the estimation. After the page count threshold number of pages has been printed using the replaceable component, actual printer usage data relating to the consumable item in the replaceable component is used to derive the estimate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Alan P. Russell, Santiago I. Rodriguez, Richard M. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6710795
    Abstract: A method of tuning a printer by printing a pattern, which beats against a component within the printer includes designing a first pattern, which has a spatial frequency, which is different from a first component spatial frequency. A first pattern is printed and banding is measured. To minimize banding a characteristic of the first component is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Kurt M. Sanger