Size, Resolution, Or Scale Control Patents (Class 358/1.2)
  • Patent number: 8824021
    Abstract: A method for reproducing a document is provided. The method includes the following steps: scanning a front side and a back side of an original and accordingly producing a front side image and a back side image; determining a size of the original; comparing the size of the original with a page size; and if the size of the original is determined smaller than one half of the page size, producing one-page image data representing the front side image and the back side image on one single page. An apparatus for reproducing the document is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Po-Sheng Shih
  • Patent number: 8824002
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image rotation processor and an image combination unit. The image rotation processor is configured to: rotate the form image such that the direction of the upper edge of the document image on the first page matches a direction of an upper edge of a form image if the direction of the upper edge of the document image on the first page differs from the direction of the upper edge of the form image based on the form image data; and rotate a document image on each page of the second page and the subsequent pages such that the direction of the upper edge of the document image on the first page matches a direction of an upper edges of the document image on each page of the second page and the subsequent pages in a similar case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Nitta
  • Publication number: 20140240723
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a storage unit for storing setting information including at least a size of a substitute recording medium, and a processing unit for executing a print instruction by automatically changing a size of a recording medium to be used to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information stored in the storage means, when the size of the recording medium specified by the print instruction is not available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Nozomi SAWADA
  • Publication number: 20140240722
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an image receiving unit, an aggregate printing process unit, a size receiving unit, a size judgment unit, and an aggregate sheet number determination unit. In the case where the size judgment unit judges that an aggregate printing process is executable in such a manner that the smallest size (aggregate smallest size) of characters included in an aggregate print image formed on a sheet by the aggregate printing process is not smaller than the lower limit value (lower limit size) of the size of characters included in the aggregate print image received by the size receiving unit, the aggregate sheet number determination unit determines the aggregate sheet number in such a manner that the aggregate smallest size is not smaller than the lower limit size, and the aggregate printing process unit executes the aggregate printing process using the aggregate sheet number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Koji Kuroda
  • Patent number: 8817327
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Kamijima
  • Patent number: 8817321
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller that provides control in which, if image formation processing by a single unit is executed first since a density adjustment condition for adjusting a density of an image is satisfied, a density adjustment value is changed by a predetermined basic change amount, and a first image is formed in a corresponding image formed region with a density that is adjusted in accordance with the changed density adjustment value, and control in which, if a single image other than the first image is formed in the corresponding image formed region, the current density adjustment value is changed by a predetermined fine change amount that is smaller than the basic change amount, and the single image is formed in the corresponding image formed region with a density that is adjusted in accordance with the changed density adjustment value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenjo Nagata, Toru Iwanami, Tomohisa Suzuki, Makoto Hamatsu, Wenxiang Ge, Hidefumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8817320
    Abstract: A line-head control device that controls a line head includes: a calculation unit that divides image data into a plurality of areas in sub-scanning direction and calculates a printing percentage for each of the areas; an allocation unit that allocates a total correction amount, for correcting magnification of the image data in the sub-scanning direction, to the areas according to the printing percentage for each of the areas calculated by the calculation unit; and a control unit that changes an emission period of the light emitted from the line head so as to satisfy a partial correction amount that is an allocation of the total correction amount to each of the areas, exposes the image carrier to the light emitted from the line head with the changed light emission period, thereby causing a latent image to be formed on the image carrier based on the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshinori Shirasaki, Izumi Kinoshita, Kunihiro Komai, Tatsuya Miyadera, Takeshi Shikama, Takuhei Yokoyama, Akinori Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8817318
    Abstract: A printer includes a retrieving unit, an index image generating unit, and a list printing unit. The retrieving unit retrieves a file including document data. The content acquiring unit acquires information of a table of contents of the document data from the file. The index image generating unit generates an index image depicting the table of contents of the file based on the information of the table of contents. The list printing unit prints a list image containing the index image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Tsugimura
  • Patent number: 8817328
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus implements appropriate image processing on image data stored in a storage unit of the image processing apparatus easily and efficiently, and distributes the image data to an external apparatus. An image format conversion unit implements image processing such as resolution conversion processing, filter processing, ? correction processing, and halftone processing on image data stored in an HDD serving as an image data storage unit so that the image data conform to conditions, such as image quality and format, specified by an external client apparatus. The image-processed image data are then distributed to the external client apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Miyamoto, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Hiroshi Arai, Satoshi Ohkawa, Takeharu Tone, Naoki Sugiyama, Taira Nishita, Maki Ohyama
  • Patent number: 8817322
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a change processing unit configured to execute change processing of changing a pixel-number ratio S for distortion-free image data expressing a distortion-free image to acquire distorted image data expressing a distorted image having the pixel-number ratio of p×S; and a halftone processing unit configured to execute halftone processing for generating dot data for the distorted image data having the pixel-number ratio of p×S by using a dither matrix so as to generate distorted dot data expressing a distorted dot image having the pixel-number ratio of p×S, wherein a distortion-free dot image is to be obtained by enlarging the distorted dot data in at least the first direction, the distortion-free dot image having the pixel-number ratio S, and wherein a screen angle of the dither matrix is set to be about arctan((tan ?)/p)) when a screen angle in the distortion-free dot image is ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuji Yamada
  • Patent number: 8817319
    Abstract: A multifunction device includes a controller that is configured to process data from a processor capable of executing a printing utility. The controller renders the data into a format readable by an electronic book device having a processor. A document print management system includes the multifunction device, and a port configured to transfer the data to an electronic book device when an electronic book device is in operative communication with the controller via the port. The system also includes an electronic book device in operative communication with the controller via the port. In a method for rendering a document to an electronic book device, the method includes causing a document management device to process data received from a processor capable of executing a printing utility and rendering image data into a format readable by the electronic book device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Craig W. Martin
  • Patent number: 8812952
    Abstract: In an online collage-based editor, a method for determining an effective aspect ratio for a selected project orientation that includes a group of two or more available page sizes having different aspect ratios and displaying a project page at a derived aspect ratio in the GUI during editing includes the steps (a) determining for each page size in the group, the viewable area of each page, (b) recording the aspect ratios of the viewable areas of step (a), (c) using a mathematical function, describing a total amount of error present amongst the available aspect ratios of step (b) for a given aspect ratio, (d) using a mathematical program, process, or automated calculation tool, finding the effective aspect ratio that minimizes the function and hence the error value of step (c), and (e) displaying the project page at the selected effective aspect ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Interactive Memories, Inc.
    Inventors: Aryk Erwin Grosz, Daniel Andrew Laffoon, Daniel Thanh Schultz
  • Patent number: 8810827
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus which is capable of preventing wasteful transmission of metadata. Metadata is registered in advance in association with a type of a transmission destination of an image data. When transmitting the image data, metadata associated with the type of the transmission destination of the image data is determined, and the image data and the determined metadata are transmitted to the transmission destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masakazu Kitora
  • Patent number: 8810851
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, the generating unit generates print data indicating whether a dot having one of a plurality of sizes is formed or not, by performing a halftone process on original image data. The correcting unit generates corrected print data by correcting the print data. The dividing unit divides the edge part data of the print data into a plurality of block data. The index value determining unit determines, for each block data, an index value relating to an amount of ink to be used based on the plurality of dot data included in the each block data. The changing unit changes, for each block data, the size information of at least one dot data among the plurality of dot data included in the each block data based on the index value such that the amount of ink to be used becomes reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Kuno
  • Patent number: 8810860
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a image reader unit and a controller. The controller is configured to i) execute a detection operation of calculating a correction coefficient based on reference image data obtained by applying the light from a light source to a reference unit and receiving, by a photoelectric conversion unit, the reflected light from the reference unit to perform photoelectric conversion of the received light to the reference image data, ii) correct image density variations of the image data caused by orientation variations of the light source and pixel sensitivity of the photoelectric conversion unit based on the correction coefficient, iii) form an output image to be printed on output paper in accordance with an arrangement manner, based on the corrected image data, and iv) determine an interval at which the detection operation is executed, in accordance with a characteristic of the light source and the arrangement manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Honda, Takeshi Nomura, Akihito Takada
  • Patent number: 8810849
    Abstract: A printing method that alternately repeats a transport operation that transports a continuous medium in a transport direction and an image forming operation that moves a head to form an image to thereby print out a first image and a second image, which has a smaller length in the transport direction than the first image, on the continuous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiko Matsuhashi
  • Patent number: 8810843
    Abstract: A method for generating digital imaging data for an imaging unit, in which digital imaging data are defined from a signature of input image data, in that a section of the signature corresponding to the imaging format of the imaging unit is processed (24) into a raster image by a raster image processor, the section being defined on the basis of geometric parameters of an image area of the input image data. A raster image processor for implementing the method includes a raster-image-processor program having at least one section, in which geometric parameters for defining the section to be processed, are assigned (16) to input variables for the rasterization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Hoes, Michael Kaiser
  • Patent number: 8810848
    Abstract: There is described an image processing apparatus, which makes it possible not only to eliminate the deterioration of the perceptibility, but also to determine the pages being suitable for applying the predetermined image processing. The control section determines specific pages, being suitable for applying a predetermined image processing, based on the attributes detected by the detecting section, so as to apply the predetermined image processing to the specific pages. On the other hand, the control section applies image processing, including a variable power processing, to both the partial image area and the partial character area by employing different magnification factors, so as to generate a size-changed partial image area and a size-changed partial character area, and to arrange both of them into a predetermined imaginary area being smaller than an area of the original image, so as to accommodate them within the predetermined imaginary area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nakajima, Tomohiro Iwase
  • Patent number: 8810853
    Abstract: A print data processing apparatus 4 includes a page data creating apparatus 1 and a rasterization processing apparatus 2. The page data creating apparatus 1 includes, as functional elements thereof, a common object defining unit 11, an allocating condition setting unit 12, a correction information embedding unit 13, and a page data generating unit 14. The rasterization processing apparatus 2 includes, as functional elements thereof, an analyzing unit 20 having a correction information searching unit 21 and a resolution acquiring unit 22, a correcting unit 23, and a raster data generating unit 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Kataoka, Toshio Manki, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 8810865
    Abstract: A method for image processing in which an area of a platen on which a document is placed is read and the platen image is processed includes extracting an object included in the platen image, detecting an area of the object and inclination of the area of the object with respect to the platen image, determining the minimum rectangular area which includes the area of the object, and is surrounded with four sides parallel to four sides of the platen image respectively, comparing an extent to which a pixel group constituting an edge of each area includes pixels constituting an edge of the platen image between the area of the object and the minimum rectangular area, and determining a minimum rectangular area as the area of the document if a pixel group includes a larger number of pixels based on the comparing or if the inclination is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobukazu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8810850
    Abstract: A controlling device may perform an image process on specific image data so as to generate processed image data, select a process mode from a plurality of process modes, including a first process mode and a second process mode, and perform the image process according to the selected process mode. The first process mode may be for performing the image process by performing, in order to compensate variability of discharging amounts of the liquid droplets discharged from the plurality of nozzles, a specific process on a target pixel within target image data using correction data for a target nozzle. The target nozzle may be to form a dot at a position on a print medium corresponding to the target pixel. The second process mode may be for performing the image process by performing the specific process on the target pixel within target image data without using the correction data for the target nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunari Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20140226168
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display and a display controller. The display displays an image formed by an image forming apparatus. The display controller controls the display to reduce size of at least part of an image serving as a to-be-formed image formed by the image forming apparatus and to display the size-reduced image, in accordance with content of post-processing performed on a recording medium on which the image has been formed by the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoharu ISEKI
  • Publication number: 20140226169
    Abstract: A method including providing a first image on a label printer user interface, wherein said first image is representative of at least one of at least one label to be printed and at least one object to which a label is to be applied; and providing a second image on said user interface associated with the first image, the second image representative of a dimension of the first image; enabling a user to modify a dimension of the second image; wherein as the dimension of the second image is modified, the dimension of the first image is correspondingly updated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: SANFORD, L.P.
    Inventors: Ron Jacobs, Stephen Charles Gohde, Stephen Spencer, Bram Boot, Latha Airodi, Nancy Elaine Taylor, David G. Nesfeder, JR.
  • Patent number: 8804188
    Abstract: A technique is presented for making effective use of sheets when the total number of pages to be printed on a sheet is changed after the number of pages per sheet was originally specified. In one aspect, the technique is implemented on an apparatus that accepts a specified number of pages per sheet, obtains a page group having a number of pages, determines whether the number of pages in the page group has changed, changes the specified number of pages per sheet when the number of pages in the page group has changed, and generates output data of the pages with the specified number of pages when the number of pages in the page group has not been changed, and generates the changed number of pages when the number has been changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mareyuki Murata
  • Patent number: 8804189
    Abstract: An image processing system includes: a data receiving section configured to receive data in a first format from an image processing apparatus; a convert control section configured to control a converting section to convert the data in the first format to image data in another format different from the first format; an overall-image transmitting section configured to transmit the image data to the image processing apparatus; an area-information receiving section configured to receive an area info from the image processing apparatus; a partial-image generating section configured to generate partial-image data based on the area information; and a partial-image transmitting section configured to transmit one of the partial-image data and print data generated based on the partial-image data to one of the image processing apparatus and a printing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takafumi Kai
  • Publication number: 20140218753
    Abstract: In low-resolution processing (reduction processing) in which input image data is separated into character print data and image print data to generate print data of lower resolution than that of the input image data, if a plurality of pixels is simply reduction-processed to one pixel, color of a color image surrounding a character may change. In an image processing method, calculation for performing reduction processing so that the plurality of pixels in the input image data corresponds to one pixel in the print data is performed as follows. A ratio of using a pixel value of a character attribute pixel in the calculation is set to 0, or set smaller than a ratio of using a pixel value of an image attribute pixel. As a result, a change in the color of the color image surrounding the character can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Kouta Murasawa, Akitoshi Yamada, Nobutaka Miyake, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Shinjiro Hori, Fumitaka Goto, Ryosuke Iguchi, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Hiromitsu Akiba, Senichi Saito, Junichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8798317
    Abstract: A print format adjustment system includes a receiving module, a visual condition determination module, a print format determination module, and a print control module. The receiving module receives content for printing in a first print format. The visual condition determination module establishes the sharpness of vision of a viewer in front of a display, at a predetermined view distance. The print format determination module determines a second print format based on both the first print format and the visual condition of the viewer. The print control module prints the content in the second print format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tung-Lin Wu
  • Patent number: 8797590
    Abstract: A printing control program product is disclosed, which causes a computer to function as a printer control unit; a printing conditions control processing unit; and an overall control unit which, for a printing job with a determined result of not matching, when a size of a sheet onto which printing is to be made can be generated by cutting a mounted sheet, arranges picture drawing data of a printed output in a layout suitable for the size of the sheet onto which the printing is to be made by cutting the mounted sheet, along the layout after the printing, and generating the printed output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Fukuda, Takashi Toriumi
  • Patent number: 8797562
    Abstract: A print controller and associated methods of performing recovery processes responsive to a redrive event (i.e., print setting changes/hardware errors) are disclosed. A print controller in one embodiment comprises a job storage system that receives and stores print jobs from host systems, and a print data path from the job storage system to one or more print engines. The print data path includes components operable to process print jobs for imaging on the print engine. The print controller further comprises a redrive system that detects a redrive event, and identifies the print job interrupted by the redrive event. The redrive system also identifies a target page of the identified print job from which to restart the print job, and purges the identified print job from the print data path (along with other print jobs). The redrive system then reschedules the identified print job for processing followed by other eligible jobs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Production Print Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Dennis M. Carney, Allan A. Hren, Charles D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8797600
    Abstract: Image forming apparatus (100) creates a toner pattern on intermediate transfer belt (11) as a preprocessing of gradation correction, and calculates a cycle at which density unevenness is largest. Then, a toner image for gradation correction is formed so as to cancel cyclic unevenness at a cycle at which the largest density unevenness occurs. As a result of this, it becomes possible to suppress the deterioration of density detection accuracy and perform a highly accurate gradation correction even if density unevenness of any cycle occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Harashima, Hideaki Tanaka, Katsuyuki Hirata, Toru Yamaguchi, Takaaki Kooriya
  • Patent number: 8797597
    Abstract: A method for printing on a substrate, wherein the substrate is printed upon with a plate-based printing process, particularly with an offset printing process, and with a plateless printing process, particularly with an inkjet printing process, inline with the plate-based printing process. According to the invention, a printing resolution of the plateless printing process is determined depending on a printing speed of the plate-based printing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: manroland web systems GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Schulmeister
  • Patent number: 8792144
    Abstract: An image reading device includes an arbitrating unit configured to obtain read data on a main-scan-line-by-main-scan-line basis from a first image sensor that reads one side of a document and read data on a main-scan-line-by-main-scan-line basis from a second image sensor that reads the other side of the document. The arbitrating unit transfers a piece of read data obtained from the first image sensor and the second image sensor alternately. The device also includes a reducing unit configured to perform reduction in image data including the read data in a sub-scanning direction in a way that thins on the transferred pieces of read data corresponding respectively to main scan lines; an image processing unit configured to perform image processing on the read data having undergone the thinning; and a transfer unit configured to transfer the read data having undergone the image processing to another unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Mitsuo Shinya
  • Patent number: 8792116
    Abstract: A printing controller having a printer driver configured to display a GUI using language-dependent files containing the display character strings of corresponding languages is disclosed. The printing controller includes a compressed language-dependent file into which the language-dependent files are compressed, a language selection part configured to cause one of the languages which one is used by the printer driver to be selected, and an expansion part configured to expand one of the language-dependent files related to the selected one of the languages from the compressed language-dependent file. The printer driver displays the GUI using the one of the language-dependent files expanded by the expansion part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimatani, Yuki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8792130
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing apparatus including: an operation pixel arrangement unit to arrange the operation pixels to be inserted or deleted in a staggered form from one end of the image to the other end of the image in the second direction, so as to satisfy a first condition in which a distance in the first direction between the operation pixels adjacent in the second direction is 2 pixels or more and less than the predetermined number of pixels, and a second condition in which a direction in which the operation pixels adjacent in the second direction are apart from each other is reversed at intervals of not more than 2 pixels which are consecutive in the second direction; and an image enlargement/reduction unit to enlarge or reduce the image by inserting or deleting the operation pixels arranged by the operation pixel arrangement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yuhei Kurigata
  • Patent number: 8786895
    Abstract: An image processing device that transmits print image data to an image forming portion to form a target image on at least one recording medium, includes a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the image processing device to perform steps including: generating display image data at a display scale for displaying the target image including an element of the target image on a display portion prior to formation of the target image on the at least one recording medium; and generating print image data at a print scale for forming the target image on the recording medium, such that the element of the target image to be formed on the at least one recording medium has substantially the same size as the element of the target image displayed on the display portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hironori Takasaki, Taichiro Kimoto
  • Patent number: 8786894
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus causes a printing executing section to perform a printing process using color-materials, the image processing apparatus includes: a first processing unit that performs a first image-processing by processing original image data in order to generate first processed image data; and a supplying unit, wherein the first processing unit includes: a calculating unit that calculates an index value relating an edge-intensity about a target pixel in object image data; and a correcting unit that corrects a value of the target pixel based on the index value of the edge-intensity, wherein the correcting unit corrects the value of the target pixel such that print-density of the target pixel increase if the target pixel is a first pixel, and wherein the correcting unit corrects the value of the target pixel such that print-density of the target pixel decrease if the target pixel is a second pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Kondo
  • Patent number: 8786896
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus and image processing method that are capable of outputting an image wherein seam lines caused by sudden conveyance error are difficult to notice even for a small number of multi passes printing. In order to achieve this, the number of dots that are printed in pixels is adjusted according to the density level so that the number of dots that are printed in pixels corresponding to boundary portions is larger than in pixels corresponding to areas that are not boundary portions, and so that the number of dots that are printed in pixels corresponding to boundary portions increases the higher the density level of the pixels is. As a result, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of white stripes in high-density areas without emphasizing black stripes in low-density areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Marumoto, Hitoshi Tsuboi, Takayuki Ushiyama
  • Patent number: 8783813
    Abstract: A printer includes a plurality of discharge control devices, a control data output device, a connection device, a connection control device, a processor and a memory. The processor performs starting output of specified print data, which is used to discharge the liquid by the discharge port group, from the control data output device to a specified discharge control device which is one of the plurality of discharge control devices that are each connected to one of the plurality of second connection ports and which is a target to perform processing that outputs print data, outputting subsequent print data, which relates is to a specified discharge target onto which the liquid is to be discharged by the discharge port group, to the specified discharge control device that is connected to the second connection port, based on the specified print data for which output has been started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shumei Mori, Yohei Kuno
  • Patent number: 8786903
    Abstract: Image boundary detection devices and methods include processes. Processes include setting an image recording mode to a second recording mode. First and second recording modes utilize first and second density values, respectively. Second density values are less than corresponding first density values. Processes include reducing first density values to second density values when the second recording mode is set. Processes include setting an image boundary determination threshold to one of a first and second threshold value when a respective one of the first and second recording mode is set. The second threshold value is less than the first threshold value. Processes include calculating density gradient values based on one of the first and second density value when the respective one of the first and second recording mode is set. Processes include determining whether pixels are image boundaries using density gradient values and the image boundary determination threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8780403
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus specifies as a blank area an area where a drawing object different from a latent image and a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern background image is removed from a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in a first page when printing is instructed, and lays out a drawing object of a second page in the specified blank area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryousuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8773710
    Abstract: A controlling device may be configured to generate a first type of intermediate data using the original data after accepting a print instruction for printing the original image and before accepting a setting instruction for setting a print condition from a user. The controlling device may be configured to store the first type of intermediate data within a memory. The controlling device may be configured to generate print data using the first type of intermediate data within the memory in accordance with the print condition after accepting the setting instruction. The controlling device may be configured to supply the print data to a print performing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Tsugimura
  • Patent number: 8773690
    Abstract: The invention allows an online print engine to enhance a printing quality and a user experience of an online printing system. The invention may be used for photo books, photo cards, photo calendars, and in other online print situations. One embodiment is a print engine residing on and executable from a digital medium, the print engine integrated with a graphical user interface (GUI) for creating and editing photo-based projects over a data network, the print engine including a communications link to a print server and a printer connected to the data network, a print queue for queuing printing tasks, and an effects filter size-reduction module. The print engine automatically senses via the effects filter size-reduction module if the area of a filter is greater than a pre-defined threshold, and if so produces a smaller filter embedded into a bitmap image, after which the bitmap image is scaled back up to the filters original size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Interactive Memories, Inc.
    Inventors: Aryk Erwin Grosz, Daniel Andrew Laffoon, Daniel Thanh Schultz
  • Patent number: 8773696
    Abstract: A document generation method and system using speech data, and an image forming apparatus including the document generation system. The method includes setting document editing information including at least one of document form information and sentence pattern information for editing a document when the speech data is generated as the document; converting the speech data into text; and generating the text as the document based on the document editing information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-sub Kil, Mok-hwa Lim
  • Patent number: 8773712
    Abstract: A word processing document is repurposed to save paper and ink. An indication is received that a printout of a word processing document from a printer has been requested. Further, the content is segmented into one or more regions according to a set of grouping rules, the set of grouping rules defining a region has having at least one homogeneous characteristic. In addition, one or more potential transformations are filtered for each region to generate one or more filtered potential transformations based on a set of rules that restricts a transformation according to a region type. The region type is determined by the at least one homogeneous characteristic for each region. Further, a cost function is evaluated for each of the one or more filtered potential transformations according to one or more appearance attributes for the word processing document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Harsh Vardhan Chopra, Naveen Goel, Mayur Hemani, Hemant Virmani
  • Publication number: 20140185064
    Abstract: A print-data generating section generates print data in accordance with a high-resolution raster image generated by a high-resolution rasterizing processor. A low-resolution rasterizing processor generates a low-resolution raster image having lower resolution than that of the high-resolution raster image. An overcoating-data generating section generates coating data in accordance with the low-resolution raster image. Overcoating data is handled with low resolution, resulting in less processing time for overcoating than when the overcoating-data is handled with high resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Kunio Muraji, Toru Kawada
  • Publication number: 20140185063
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus, including a driving unit, a separator unit, a conveyer unit, a reader unit, a reducer unit, a size detecting unit; and a controller is provided. The separator unit includes a drive shaft, a contact member, and a clutch. The controller manipulates the conveyer unit via the driving unit to convey the sheet at a first conveying speed when the size of the sheet detected by the size detecting unit is greater than a predetermined size. The controller manipulates the conveyer unit via the driving unit to convey the sheet at a second conveying speed, which is lower than the first conveying speed, when the size of the sheet detected by the size detecting unit is one of smaller than and equivalent to the predetermined size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori OSAKABE, Katsuro MIURA, Muneaki TAKAHATA
  • Publication number: 20140185062
    Abstract: A controller of an image forming apparatus is configured to judge whether a first sheet size of the first image data is larger than a size of an in-use sheet. When the first sheet size is larger than the in-use sheet size, it is judged whether the resizing operation is to be applied to the first image data, resize the image size of the first image data to meet the in-use sheet size by applying the resizing operation to the first image data when the resizing operation is to be applied to the first image data, and control the image forming device to form an image on the sheet based on the first image data to which the resizing operation has been applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Quanhe LI
  • Patent number: 8767250
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an acquiring unit; a resolution converting unit; a receiving unit; a position determining unit; a correcting unit; and a scaling unit. The acquiring unit acquires image data composed of a plurality of pixels; the scaling-factor determining unit determines a scaling factor of the acquired image data; the resolution converting unit converts a resolution of the acquired image data into a higher resolution than the resolution of the image data; the receiving unit receives a designation of a sub-scanning directional shift amount of a correction pixel to be corrected; a position determining unit performs a position determining process; and the scaling unit scales the image data at the determined scaling factor by causing the position determining unit and the correcting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Kaima
  • Patent number: 8767266
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus which can suppress degradation of an image quality in a recording material save mode processing and obtain an effect of consumption amount reduction of recording material desired by a user at low costs. A recording material consumption amount at the time of applying first color conversion processing unit is predicted corresponding to inputted image data. The setting of a second color conversion processing is changed from a prediction value and a target value of the recording material consumption amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Nagai
  • Patent number: 8767252
    Abstract: A method of combining digital image data from two different images in a printer enables improved precision of alignment of the image data. The method includes copying a word of first image data into a memory buffer, shifting a word of image data by a predetermined bit offset, overwriting a portion of the first image data with shifted bits from the second word of image data, and copying the shifted word of image data into the memory buffer. The printer forms a line of a printed image using the first and second image data in the memory buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Lisa Schlachter