Patents Assigned to Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7738710
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for creating one or more compressed image tiles based on a compressed file that describes a digital image. In particular, the compressed image tiles are created without fully decompressing the compressed file. Each compressed image tile includes data corresponding to a portion of the digital image, and is independent of other compressed image tiles (i.e., may be decompressed without decompressing any other tile). In response to requests to display a desired portion of the digital image at a specific resolution, the compressed image tiles corresponding to the desired portion and the specified resolution are communicated via a band limited communication channel. In this regard, the portions of the digital image may be quickly communicated and displayed, without having to wait for the entire compressed file to be communicated over the band limited channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Kliorin, Jonathan B. Marsden
  • Patent number: 7729014
    Abstract: Color processing methods and apparatus are provided that blend the gray component replacement (“GCR”) level of arbitrarily-specified input color data with an estimate of the GCR level of an output profile, and then converts processed device-independent data to output CMYK data that has a GCR level that substantially matches the GCR level of the input CMYK data. Methods and apparatus in accordance with this invention may be used to receive CMYK data that approximates a spot color, and provide tints of spot colors using an output profile that has a GCR level that differs from the GCR level of the input color data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics For Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Falk, Jonathan B. Marsden
  • Patent number: 7724392
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for calibrating a digital color imaging device to a printing press by determining a total colorant limit, per-channel colorant limits, and channel linearization tables using calorimetric and/or spectrophotometric techniques. In addition, for digital color imaging devices that use multi-hue colorants, methods and apparatus are provided for determining distribution functions for the multi-hue colorants as a function of input values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Kühn, Samer Mady
  • Patent number: 7706015
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for processing a print job including a plurality of raster image processed pages. A tab page is created that includes a tab image located at a predetermined position in the tab page, the predetermined position associated with a tab position on tab stock. The tab page is raster image processed, and the rasterized tab page is inserted at a selected position in the print job. The tab image is detected on the rasterized tab page at the predetermined location, and then the rasterized tab image is positioned at the associated tab position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Barry, Carlos A. Espinosa, Kevin M. Hoffman, Robert Gregory Pennington, Michael D. Raines
  • Patent number: 7688486
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a color profile for a color output device including a plurality of colorants, the methods and apparatus printing a plurality of color patches on an output medium, measuring a spectral or colorimetric response for each of the printed patches and for the output medium, calculating spectral or colorimetric responses for overprint combinations of the colorants based on the measured spectral or colorimetric responses, calculating colorimetric values in a profiling target based on the calculated and measured responses, and providing the calculated colorimetric values to profiling software for generation of the color profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Markus Gieβelmann
  • Patent number: 7688458
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for processing a print job through a copy of a workflow, modifying the copied workflow and reprocessing the print job only through the modified portion of the copied workflow. In addition, methods and apparatus in accordance with this invention are provided for modifying or inserting additional print files into a print job that has already been processed through a workflow, and processing only the modified or inserted print files through the workflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Puneet Goel, Shailesh Kunnath Venugopal, Jaekil Lee
  • Patent number: 7684085
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reconstructing digitized images are provided that include an image reconstruction path that receives a digitized image and provides a processed RGB or CMYK image that may be printed or stored in memory. The image reconstruction path is configured to operate in either a multiple scan or single scan environment if the source of the digitized image is a scanner. A plurality of optional functional units in the reconstruction path can be controlled by user or internal controls. These functional units perform preliminary color adjustment, automatic deskew, background and dust removal, descreen, text detection and enhancement, color conversion, scaling, and color manipulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics For Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Ron J. Karidi
  • Patent number: 7673965
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for wide format inkjet printing using conventional piezoelectric inkjet print heads that each print at a native resolution. A plurality of inkjet print heads are disposed in a print head array to print an image on the substrate at the native resolution across an entire width of the substrate without scanning across the width of the substrate. The print head array may be shifted in a direction parallel to the width of the substrate, and the print head array may be used to print images on the substrate in multiple passes to form a composite image having a resolution equal to a multiple of the native resolution. Alternatively, a plurality of print head arrays may be provided, with adjacent print head arrays spaced apart to provide a composite print resolution equal to a multiple of the native resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics For Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Mills, Paul A. Duncanson
  • Patent number: 7669096
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for debugging an integrated circuit. Local multiplexer circuits are provided near first and second circuit blocks in the integrated circuit. Each multiplexer circuit includes input nodes, a control node, and an output node. A first input node of the first multiplexer circuit is coupled to an internal node of the first circuit block, a first input node of the second multiplexer circuit is coupled to an internal node of the second circuit block, second input nodes of the first and second multiplexer circuits are coupled to logical 0, and the control signal nodes of the first and second multiplexer circuits are coupled to a control signal. An OR gate is provided that includes an input node coupled to the output node of the first multiplexer circuit, another input node coupled to the output node of the second multiplexer circuit, and an output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Manoj Kumar Agarwal
  • Patent number: 7653683
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods are described for providing information access to network devices. A directory server registers identification information about a first network device coupled to a first network. The first network and the directory server may be coupled to a second network, which may include a wide area network, public network, or the Internet. The identification information may include a network address of the first network device on the first network, or a network address of the first network on the second network. The directory server may receive and process requests for identification information about registered network devices, and may selectively reply to the requests based on status information of the first network device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics For Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: John Armstrong, Ofer Tenenbaum, Victor Thu
  • Patent number: 7648293
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for specifying media in cluster printing systems that include printers that use device-specific media selection techniques, such as paper catalogs, media tray pulldown menus and media attribute pulldown menus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics For Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Lermant, Nick Hartzel
  • Patent number: 7636180
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to smooth a jagged outline of a reconstructed text generated through any of a variety of systems, such as, for example, an image scanner. Given the reconstructed text with a jagged outline, the methods smooth the outline of the text first through location of horizontal and vertical edges, and subsequent gray scale reconstruction of the edge ink level from a one-bit or a low number of bits edge pattern. The methods then provide identification of the local text outline pattern and corresponding ink level adjustment of the center pixel. The methods produce text having very smooth horizontal and vertical edges. The methods then smooth slanted edges, mend holes in the text, and remove isolated pixels of ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron J. Karidi, Lai Chee Man
  • Patent number: 7630106
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for calibrating a digital color imaging device to a printing press by determining a total colorant limit, per-channel colorant limits, and channel linearization tables using colorimetric and/or spectrophotometric techniques. In addition, for digital color imaging devices that use multi-hue colorants, methods and apparatus are provided for determining distribution functions for the multi-hue colorants as a function of input values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Kühn, Samer Mady
  • Patent number: 7600867
    Abstract: A printing system that includes a source which emits UV radiation to polymerize a fluid that is deposited onto a substrate by one or more print heads. The source emits low energy UV radiation sufficient to set the fluid to a quasi-fluid, non-hardened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Mills, Michael D. Mills, Adam C. Lahut, Arthur L. Cleary, Joseph A. Lahut
  • Patent number: 7598964
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for editing color profiles. In particular, apparatus and methods in accordance with this invention receive an output color including a first hue, identify from the color profile a plurality of output color values that have a hue substantially equal to the first hue, provide a user interface that allows a user to create an edited output color including a second hue, and shift the hue of the identified plurality of output color values from the first hue to the second hue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Thor A. Olson
  • Patent number: 7587468
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for providing printing services over a communications network. In particular, the present invention enables a user to obtain print jobs at an unspecified location which may be remote from the source of the print job. A spooling server is used to store a print job received via the network from a print job source. A printer polling device is capable of polling the spooling server via the network to identify whether any print jobs associated with the printer polling device are available for printing at an associated printing device. The printing device may be assigned a unique identification number enabling a print job to be forwarded directly from a facsimile machine to a printing device, without a computer in between the printing device and facsimile machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Ofer Tenenbaum
  • Patent number: 7587336
    Abstract: A series of iterative customer submissions and vendor responses are used to collect sufficient information concerning a custom manufacturing project so as to produce a sufficiently constrained job request as to allow at least one of the vendors to submit a quote for the project. The submissions and responses are preferably made through Web forms and, in one example, the custom manufacturing project is a print job. The collection process is preferably computer assisted so as to incrementally add constraints to an initially under-constrained job request to produce the sufficiently constrained job request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Anders R. Wallgren, Pravin S. Kothari, Elizabeth A. Cleary, Philip C. Nelson, Brett E. Battles
  • Patent number: 7579388
    Abstract: Radiation curable ink compositions that include a curable component having a functionality that is greater than two, is present in the ink composition in an amount greater than 30 percent by weight, and has a molecular weight in the range of about 400 g/mole to about 10,000 g/mole; a component that has a functionality that is less than or equal to 2; and an initiator component. A solvent component, pigment, a surface tension modifier and other materials also can be included. The radiation curable inks are employed in ink jet printers and are particularly suited for use in printing on large-scale substrates. The printed images described herein have good adhesion to polymeric substrates such as styrene-based, polycarbonates, polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalate glycol ester, acrylic and others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Laura A. Kiefer
  • Patent number: 7574545
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for controlling a document output device. A control request for controlling the document output device is forwarded from a client device to a server via a network. The control request is stored at the server and communicated to the designated document output device in response to a polling request received via the network from a polling device associated with the designated document output device. Once received, the control request may be carried out at the designated document output device. The control request may include a request for the status of the document output device. The control request may also enable the control of a software function of the document output device, or the updating of firmware and software of the document output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Keeney, Philip A. Lodwick, Farhad Nourbakhsh, Loren Schoenzeit
  • Patent number: 7574546
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for requesting and receiving print jobs over a communications network. In particular, the present invention enables a user to obtain print jobs at a location which may be unspecified, and which may be remote from the source of the print job. A spooling server is used to store a print job received via the network from a print job source. A printer polling device, which may be used at a location remote from the client device, is capable of polling the spooling server via the network to identify whether any print jobs associated with the printer polling device are available for printing at a printer currently associated with the polling device. The spooling server need not initiate contact with the printer through a firewall, since it is polled by the printer polling device. Thus, network security is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Keeney, Philip A. Lodwick, Farhad Nourbakhsh, Loren Schoenzeit, Ofer Tenenbaum