Patents Examined by Christopher D Wait
  • Patent number: 9275312
    Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store surface-effect selection tables for respective pieces of recording medium information on a recording medium, different types of same surface effects being registered in each surface-effect selection table; an acquiring unit configured to acquire a piece of recording medium information; a table generating unit configured to generate a surface-effect selection table corresponding to the piece of recording medium information and store the surface-effect selection table in the storage unit; a determining unit configured to determine the surface-effect selection table; and an image data generating unit configured to generate image data based on the surface-effect selection table and based on gloss-control plane data in which a type of a surface effect to be applied to the recording medium and an area of the recording medium to which the surface effect is to be applied are specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Itsuo Yukie, Hiroaki Suzuki, Yuichi Habu
  • Patent number: 9264575
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing real time correlation mark images and/or gloss marks. A new font can be created with respect to a prior font, wherein the new font includes a wider foreground than that of the prior font while maintaining the spatial frequency associated with the prior font (one time per font). The new font is then modified to include an inverted modified font by inverting each glyph one time per font and providing an image having the new font. The image is then written and the current color associated with the image is set to white (or to knockout). An operation is then implemented to write on top of the image using the new font.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Edward N. Chapman
  • Patent number: 9251430
    Abstract: A character recognition apparatus may include an imaging element configured to read a character string placed on an information recording medium; an image memory configured to store image data of the character string; and a character segmenting unit configured to segment a character constituting the character string. The character segmenting unit may include a minimum intensity curve creating unit configured to detect a minimum intensity value among light intensity values, and create a minimum intensity curve of the image data according to the minimum intensity value of each pixel row; a character segmenting position detecting unit configured to calculate a space between the characters neighboring in the created minimum intensity curve, in order to detect a character segmenting position between the characters; and a character segmenting process unit configured to segment each character according to the detected character segmenting position between the characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9241085
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an obtaining unit configured to obtain a multi-value image as an obtained image; and a control device configured to: convert the obtained image into a first binary image; determine whether the first binary image is a blank paper image, on the basis of the first binary image; and output a binary image, the binary image outputting including: outputting the first binary image in a case where it is determined that the first binary image is not the blank paper image; and not outputting the first binary image in a case where it is determined that the first binary image is the blank paper image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroko Mori
  • Patent number: 9208414
    Abstract: The application discloses a method for double-sided printing with two colors. The method comprises a step of receiving two pages of original four-color page lattice according to a printing order each time, a step of extracting effective data of first and second colors in the two pages of original four-color page lattice, respectively and a step of writing the data of the first and second colors extracted respectively into data of first color, second color, third color and fourth color of a new page of four-color page lattice, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignees: Peking University Founder Group Co., Ltd., Peking University, Beijing Founder Electronics Co., Ltd., Peking University Founder R & D Center
    Inventors: Linyi Li, Weiping Huang
  • Patent number: 9208416
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus that includes a processor. The processor is configured to calculate a corrected tone value of a target pixel using a tone value of the target pixel and an error value of a previously processed pixel; determine a dot value of the target pixel by comparing the corrected tone value with a threshold value; calculate an error value of the target pixel using the corrected tone value and a first density value when the dot value indicates to form a dot and the dot to be formed is a first dot formed in isolation; and calculate an error value of the target pixel using the corrected tone value and a second density value when the dot value indicates to form a dot and the dot to be formed is a second dot formed at a particular location in consecutive dots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasunari Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9199443
    Abstract: Provided is a single-motor-driven gravure cylinder chuck mechanism that is enhanced in contact tightness of chuck cones with respect to an unprocessed plate-making roll in each processing unit of a fully automatic plate-making system. The gravure cylinder chuck mechanism is to be used for a processing unit of the fully automatic gravure plate-making processing system for manufacturing a plate-making roll by performing a series of processes on an unprocessed plate-making roll. The gravure cylinder chuck mechanism includes: a pair of chuck cones provided to be opposed to each other, for chucking both end surfaces of the unprocessed plate-making roll; chuck cone moving means for allowing the pair of chuck cones to be freely brought into contact with and separated away from both the end surfaces of the unprocessed plate-making roll; and a single motor for driving the chuck cone moving means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: THINK LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Shigeta
  • Patent number: 9179035
    Abstract: A method of editing a combined image which includes a plurality of object images. This editing method includes displaying an outline rectangle which forms outlines of one or more object images within the combined image, and when a predetermined first operation is performed on an object image selected from among the object images located within the outline rectangle, segmenting the selected object image and another object image located within the outline rectangle, and alternatively, when a predetermined second operation is performed on an object image selected from among the object images located within the outline rectangle, combining the selected object image with another object image located within an outline rectangle other than the outline rectangle. After the segmenting or combining is performed, renewing displaying of the outline rectangle according the segmenting or combining result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ilya Vasilievich Kurilin, Ho-keun Lee, Ilya Vladimirovich Safonov
  • Patent number: 9172842
    Abstract: Systems and methods convert to binary an input image having pixels defining text and background. Thresholds are determined by which pixels in the input image and a corresponding blurred image will be defined as either binary black or binary white. Thresholds derive from grouped together neighboring pixels having pixels separated out that correspond to the background. For pixels of the input image defined as binary black and having corresponding pixels in the blurred image defined as binary black relative to their thresholds, those are set to black in the binary image, else they are set white. Techniques for devising thresholds, blurring images, grouping together pixels, statistical analysis, etc., typify the embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Reed Booth, Michael Jo Phelps
  • Patent number: 9167114
    Abstract: A mediation server sequentially supplies, to the image processing device, two or more pieces of screen information for causing a display unit of the image processing device to sequentially display two or more screens including a service selection screen and a communication selection screen when a first type of request is acquired. The mediation server executes a communication for mediating supply of the first type of target data from the target service providing server to the image processing device when it is the first type of communication and executes communication for mediating supply of the second type of target data from the image processing device to the target service providing server when it is the second type of communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masafumi Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 9158485
    Abstract: An image processing device includes an image data generator generating static part data, image data of static part common to plural pages, and variable part data for each page, image data of variable part varying for each page, at specified resolution based on variable printing data, a static part data storage unit storing static part data, and a data merge unit combining static part data stored in the static part data storage unit and variable part data, and the image data generator generates, when the amount of the static part data at specified resolution exceeds the capacity of the static part data storage unit, static part data having at least part of resolution changed from the specified resolution so that the data amount does not exceed the capacity of the static part data storage unit and causes the static part data storage unit to store the generated static part data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Orikasa
  • Patent number: 9124842
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus 1 generates halftone image data regarding black, cyan, magenta, and yellow from a multi-tone color image. Magenta is a target color component that has a lower ink density than that of the other color components. In generating halftone image data regarding magenta, the sum of the sizes of black, cyan, and magenta dots formed at a target pixel position is made smaller than or equal to a threshold dot size. If the hue of the pixel of interest is within a hue range in which magenta coloration is strong, it is determined that the threshold dot size is a corrected threshold dot size larger than the reference threshold dot size. It is thus possible to suppress overlapping of dots of a plurality of color components and to thereby improve color reproduction of the target color component while suppressing poor color reproduction and cockling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Asai
  • Patent number: 9117162
    Abstract: An image processing device comprises a color conversion unit that converts image data expressed in a first color space to ink quantity data expressed in a second color space, the ink quantity data comprising ink quantity data for chromatic color and ink quantity data for black; and a density adjustment unit that increases or decreases the ink quantity data for chromatic color based on a first adjustment value specified for chromatic color and increases or decreases the ink quantity data for black based on a second adjustment value specified for black.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Murata
  • Patent number: 9113104
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing apparatus to perform screen processing for image data, and to form an image based thereon, comprising a screen processing unit to perform the screen processing by using a subcell corresponding to a plurality of pixels, and in which a first and a second threshold values are determined according to each position of the pixels, wherein the screen processing unit obtains threshold values, to output either an invariable value Dmin, an invariable value DMax, or an interpolated value of the two invariable values, and wherein the subcell is determined so that the first threshold value of a given pixel is larger than the first threshold value of a prior pixel and is smaller than the second threshold value thereof, the threshold values of the prior pixel being determined so that a dot is formed in the prior pixel earlier than in the given pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Masanori Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 9106778
    Abstract: A previewing device that includes a covering member coupled to an imaging surface and a sensing unit operatively coupled to the covering member. The sensing unit is adapted to automatically capture an image corresponding to the imaging surface upon detecting the covering member is in a closed configuration. A preview unit is operatively coupled to the sensing unit is configured to display a preview of image data corresponding to an image on the imaging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Steele Beegle, Anthony Michael King, Ronald Todd Sellers, Robert Edward Stoss
  • Patent number: 9077938
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a primary transfer part, a droplet ejecting unit and a controller. On the photosensitive drum, an electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing device forms a toner image by causing a developing agent to adhere to the electrostatic latent image. The primary transfer part transfers the toner image onto an intermediate transfer belt. The droplet ejecting unit ejects droplets onto the toner image on the photosensitive drum after forming the toner image on the photosensitive drum and before transferring the toner image to the transfer member. The controller controls an ejection area of the droplet ejecting unit in accordance with image information of the toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Saito, Hiroshi Akita, Eri Yagi, Tomohiro Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 9041976
    Abstract: A server device includes an external device information managing unit which manages external device information regarding plural external devices, and an association process flow determining unit which determines an association process flow that defines how plural processes in image processing are performed on image data by the external devices, based on the external device information. The association process flow determining unit is configured to determine plural association process flows for the image processing, and the determined association process flows include first and second association process flows such that first external devices defined in the first association process flow differ from second external devices defined in the second association process flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenta Nakao
  • Patent number: 9041980
    Abstract: Subdividing a color space is described for vector error diffusion which includes obtaining color coordinates for each primary color in the color space, and comparing the color coordinates to a threshold value for each coordinate plane of the color space. In response to the comparing, each primary color is grouped into a quadrant of the color space, wherein each quadrant is defined by the threshold value for each coordinate plane. In other aspects, a mapping a color to a closet primary color is described in a color space that includes a display determining color coordinates of the color and identifying a matching quadrant of a plurality of quadrants dividing the color space, wherein the determined color coordinates fall within the matching quadrant. A representative display device searches for the closest primary color within the matching quadrant and maps the color to the closest primary color found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Huanzhao Zeng, Chong U. Lee, John H. Hong
  • Patent number: 9036199
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store a plurality of device link profiles corresponding to a combination of color space information of an input device, a viewing condition, and a color conversion method. The image processing apparatus determines whether the stored device link profiles are to be used according to the set color conversion method. If it is determined that the device link profiles are to be used, the image processing apparatus selects one of the plurality of device link profiles according to the color space information of the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mizuki Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 9025205
    Abstract: The profile of a reference color space is acquired, and the acquired profile is converted into the profile of a uniform color appearance space which is a color space different from the reference color space. An evaluation value of color in the profile of the uniform color appearance space is calculated, and the profile of the uniform color appearance space is corrected based on the calculated evaluation value. The corrected profile is inversely converted into the profile of the reference color space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Susumu Shimbaru