Patents Examined by Kimberly Williams
  • Terminal apparatus and image forming apparatus maintenance system
    Patent number: 8395814
    Abstract: A terminal apparatus that can identify contents of work conducted to repair an image forming apparatus with its power supply turned off. A terminal apparatus can communicate with the image forming apparatus. An obtaining unit obtains information related to an error occurred in the image forming apparatus. A display unit displays work required to cancel the error. An input unit causes a user to selectively input contents of work. A control unit stores the contents of work selectively inputted through the input unit in a storage unit when the terminal apparatus stops communicating with the image forming apparatus and transmits the contents of work stored in the storage unit to the image forming apparatus when the terminal apparatus starts communicating with the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Kurahashi
  • Method, apparatus and computer program for adaptive compensation of a MTF
    Patent number: 8390887
    Abstract: A method and system for adaptively compensating for the printer MTF. The MTF compensation applied locally depends on the local mean: Several compensated High-pass images are computed for different mean values. Then locally, depending on the value of the low-pass band, one compensation high-pass value is selected for the final result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Oce-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Nicolas P. M. F. Bonnier, Albrecht J. Lindner
  • Apparatus and method for image processing, and program
    Patent number: 8390884
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a frequency information extracting unit configured to extract frequency information of an input image, a color information extracting unit configured to extract color information of the input image, a feature amount calculating unit configured to calculate a feature amount of the input image on the basis of the frequency information extracted by the frequency information extracting unit and the color information extracted by the color information extracting unit, and a scene determining unit configured to determine a scene of the input image on the basis of the feature amount calculated by the feature amount calculating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Suzuki, Shinichiro Gomi, Yusuke Nakamura, Tomonori Masuno
  • Method to retrieve a gamut mapping strategy
    Patent number: 8379267
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for retrieving a gamut mapping for a color device. A ray-based model is derived from a system estimation of either a seed profile or a seed device. The model is hard coded inside a run-time ICC profile creation algorithm. The runtime profile generation code can be optimized for a variety of gamut mapping scenarios. The generated profile is provided to an imaging system wherein out-of-gamut colors are mapped to the color gamut of the host device. The present method provides an accurate way to reproduce colors of images by retrieving the gamut mapping from profiles or from the color device that use destination profiles for rendering images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Lalit Keshav Mestha, Alvaro Enrique Gil
  • Method, apparatus and computer program for transforming digital color images
    Patent number: 8373898
    Abstract: A general framework for adaptive gamut mapping is presented in which the image is first decomposed in two bands, one containing the local means, the other the local variations. Two spatial and color adaptive gamut mapping algorithms are introduced. Based on spatial color bilateral filtering, they take into account the color properties of the neighborhood of each pixel. Their goal is to preserve both the color values of the pixels and their relations between neighbors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: OCE-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Nicolas P. M. F. Bonnier, Pamela Jeanette Schmitt
  • System, method, and apparatus for printing digital image, and computer product
    Patent number: 8368940
    Abstract: Upon reception of information on a paper size, an index print command, and at least one piece of digital image data from an external device, a printing apparatus acquires an image layout mode corresponding to the paper size from an index layout information table, selects a tray of a paper feeding unit corresponding to the paper size, and outputs an index image including an image of the image data arranged on a sheet of paper, based in acquired image layout mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Toda
  • Image forming apparatus and method of controlling same
    Patent number: 8363269
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a discrimination unit discriminates the type of printing medium conveyed to an image forming unit. A comparator compares the type of a printing medium that has been designated and the type of a printing medium that has been discriminated. A setting unit sets a second image forming condition in the image forming unit if it has been determined not to add identification information to image information in accordance with the type of printing medium designated and, moreover, the type of printing medium designated and the type of printing medium discriminated by the discrimination unit do not match. The second image forming condition is different from a first image forming condition that conforms to the type of printing medium discriminated by the discrimination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naohiro Obata
  • Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and head device
    Patent number: 8363274
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of controllers which controls a nozzle group forming an image on an image forming medium on the basis of image data; and a plurality of distribution units which is connected to one or more controllers and transmits the image data, which is used to control the nozzle group controlled by the controller, to the controller. A first distribution unit, which is the uppermost unit, to a second distribution unit, which is the lowermost unit, are connected such that upper and lower distribution units are connected to each other in a communicable way, and the first distribution unit is connected to an external apparatus in a communicable way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Sakai
  • Apparatuses and methods for automatic printing press optimization
    Patent number: 8358438
    Abstract: A method of automatically optimizing a printing apparatus based on media type of a substrate, comprising: (A) inputting a substrate into the printing apparatus; (B) determining the media type of the substrate; (C) automatically adjusting calibration settings according to at least one calibration setting preset, responsive to the determining; and, (D) performing image transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Bruce Jackson, Amiran Lavon, Ehud Chatow
  • Color processing apparatus and control method thereof
    Patent number: 8355173
    Abstract: The number of color patches is reduced to attain high-precision color estimation. Hence, the colorimetric values of a plurality of color patches of at least one primary color output by an output device are input. Based on the colorimetric value of first color patches corresponding to a part of the plurality of color patches, colorimetric values corresponding to second color patches other than the first color patches of the plurality of color patches are estimated. Errors between the input colorimetric values of the second color patches and the estimated colorimetric values corresponding to the second color patches are calculated. A plurality of color patches corresponding to the output device is determined based on the calculated errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takamasa Seto
  • Alignment compensation by printer driver
    Patent number: 8355171
    Abstract: A method of compensating for misalignment of a print engine of an image forming apparatus, which includes: (a) forwarding a request from a host computer having a printer driver to an image forming apparatus for reference data of a printable area of the print engine; (b) sending the reference data of the printable area of the print engine to the printer driver; (c) comparing the reference data of the printable area of the print engine to an ideal reference data of the printable area of a print job; and (d) if the reference data of the printable area of the print engine is different than the ideal reference data of the printable area of the print job, generating a new reference data of the printable area of the printable area to adjust for the difference in printable area between the ideal reference data of the printable area of the print job and the reference data of the printable area of the print engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Laboratory U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Cruz Soriano, Kenneth H. Young
  • Methods and systems to provide scan services to an image forming device
    Patent number: 8355170
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for scanning devices to exchange scan messages with external devices, where the scan messages comprise WS-Scan protocol message and DSM protocol messages. A determination is made if a scan message comprises a WS-Scan protocol message or a DSM protocol message. A response is made to the WS-Scan protocol message if the scan message is a WS-Scan protocol message. Further, a response is made to the DSM protocol message if the scan message is a DSM protocol message. A user interface of the scanning device hides the distinctions between WS-Scan and DSM to permit a user to seamlessly select scanning to either or both WS-Scan and DSM destinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd
    Inventor: Lifen Tian
  • Information processing apparatus, information processing method, computer-readable medium and computer data signal
    Patent number: 8351077
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a receiving unit, a search unit, a determination unit, a conversion unit and an output unit. The receiving unit receives a command for forming an image. The search unit searches for color designation information that designates specific color information and is included in the received command. The determination unit determines a type of the color information designated by the color designation information found by the search. The conversion unit converts the color designation information into information conforming to a common expression rule, based on a conversion rule that is set for each type of the color information. The output unit outputs the information obtained by the converting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Nishide
  • Print data generation apparatus and computer-readable medium storing print data generation program
    Patent number: 8345270
    Abstract: A print data generation apparatus generates print data to be used for printing a print result including a plurality of lines on a tape-shaped print medium. The print data generation apparatus includes an input device that inputs a plurality of character strings for the plurality of lines to be printed on the print medium, a storage device that stores the plurality of character strings for the plurality of lines, and a print data generation device that generates the print data in which each of the plurality of character strings are repeatedly arranged in a predetermined character size defined for each of the plurality of lines and at predetermined spacing in each of the plurality of lines until the print result reaches a predetermined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mai Fukutani, Tomoki Miyashita, Minako Ishida
  • Printer image log system for document gathering and retention
    Patent number: 8339680
    Abstract: A system and method for document image acquisition and retrieval which find application in litigation for responding to discovery requests are disclosed. The method includes automatically acquiring image data and associated records for documents being processed by a plurality of image output devices within an organization and archiving the image data and associated records as image logs for the processed documents. When a request for document production is received by the organization, the image logs (and/or information extracted therefrom) are automatically filtered through at least one classifier trained to return documents responsive to the document request, and documents corresponding to the filtered out image logs are output. One of the filters may be configured for filtering privileged from non-privileged documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Caroline Privault, Victor Ciriza, Yeriv Reave Reisler, Jean M. Ellefson
  • Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and control method thereof
    Patent number: 8339664
    Abstract: A raster image processor (RIP) can process data for one page for each of a plurality of small areas, and handles each individual small area as a display list. Each individual display list holds information required to determine a rendering resolution. The RIP renders a small area including a text object with a high resolution, and a small area which does not include any text object with a low resolution. The RIP renders the respective small areas with the designated resolutions, and temporarily holds the rendering results in a memory for respective small areas. Upon generating a page image, the RIP directly transfers the high-resolution rendering result to a page memory. The RIP transfers the low-resolution rendering result to the page memory with applying an enlarging pixel process to the rendering result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahito Yamazaki
  • System and method for color printer calibration employing measurement success feedback
    Patent number: 8335013
    Abstract: The subject application is directed to a system and method for color printer calibration employing measurement success feedback. Color input data is received corresponding to a color printout from an associated color measurement device, the color input data including M×N discrete color areas corresponding to M rows and N columns on the printout, with M and N representing integers greater than 2. A display including a color image comprised of each of the areas arranged in M rows and N columns is then generated on a display device. Color input data is tested to determine successful measurement of colors corresponding to the color areas and a row-based indicator is generated for a successful measurement of color areas within a row. Calibration data is received of a comparison of the color printout to the display and an associated color printer is calibrated based upon the calibration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tony T. Quach
  • Spot color rendering via feedback-based multi-objective optimization
    Patent number: 8335017
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a feedback control based system and method for selecting spot color recipes for improved spot color rendition while simultaneously minimizing a function of image quality attributes formed with states defined as vectors such as L*, a*, b*, mottle, graininess, etc. Color is measured with an in-line spectrophotometer or with a full/partial width array. If the sensor is not available, then a model of the print device is used to optimize the function of image quality attributes. In one example embodiment, a spot color of interest is selected along with a set of image quality attributes to be improved for the spot colors of interest. Set points for process actuators and color recipes of the color marking device are adjusted such that a function of the image quality attributes is minimized when the spot color is rendered on the device. Various workflows are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Alvaro Enrique Gil, Lalit Keshav Mestha, Wencheng Wu, Edul N. Dalal
  • Printing apparatus, data storage medium, interface device, printer control method, and interface control method
    Patent number: 8330987
    Abstract: An interface device backs up printer settings and operating history data of printer so that the settings and history data can be easily restored. A nonvolatile memory 109 in the printer 101 stores printer settings data. Commands from a host 161 are passed by the interface device 131 and received by a receiver 103 within the printer. If the command data is a print command, the print mechanism 108 prints the specified text or image. If the command data is a command for updating the settings data, the corresponding settings data in the nonvolatile memory 109 is updated and at an appropriate backup time the updated settings data is copied to a nonvolatile memory 135 in the interface device 131. The settings data backed up into the interface device 131 can then be restored back to the printer's nonvolatile memory 109 at an appropriate data restore time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiro Tsukada
  • Method for digital image adaption for printing an image on a printing apparatus
    Patent number: 8330994
    Abstract: A method for mapping source colors of an image to destination colors reproducible by an printing apparatus, the source colors and destination colors having a lightness component, wherein the transformation includes a translation and a rotation, the combination of which maps the source black point onto the destination black point and source white point onto a point on the destination lightness line, a compression which maps the rotated and translated source white point onto the destination white point and in which the destination black point is a fixed point, and a gamut mapping, which leaves the lightness component of each color unchanged and maps each compressed color onto a destination color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: OCE Technologies B.V.
    Inventor: András G. Zolnay