Patents Examined by Madelein A Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9350888
    Abstract: An image-reading apparatus includes a housing having an insertion slot for inserting single medium or plural media, a conveying unit that conveys the single medium or plural media into the housing, an image capturing unit that captures an image of the single medium or plural media conveyed, a control unit that controls at least the conveying unit and the image capturing unit, and an image processor configured to generate a captured image including single medium image or plural media image, and clip a plurality of medium images that correspond respectively to media images in the plural media image off the captured image when the generated captured image includes the plural media image in a direction along a width direction of the insertion slot. The image processor outputs the plurality of medium images clipped in an order of insertion of the plural media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Shingo Kanaya
  • Patent number: 9350901
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus that is capable of reducing the printing time when printing data saved and is capable of two-color printing. A raster conversion unit generates raster image data by developing image information that shows an image expressed in arbitrary colors. A storage unit stores the raster image data converted by the raster conversion unit and a color mode that is specified from among “full color”, “single color”, and “two-color” when the raster image data is printed. A color conversion unit generates output image data by processing the raster image data according to the selected color mode. A control unit makes a printer unit print the output image data that is generated by processing the raster image data stored in the storage unit by the color conversion unit when being instructed to print the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takekazu Kumagai
  • Patent number: 9344589
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image data input unit reading an input image and acquiring input image data on a per line basis; an effective image data generation unit generating effective image data based on the input image data acquired by the image data input unit; an address generation unit generating addresses of transmission destinations of the input image data; an image data transmission unit transmitting the input image data to the transmission destinations designated by the addresses generated by the address generation unit; and an adjustment unit adjusting an operation of the image data transmission unit in a manner so that margin data can be transmitted in periods other than periods when effective image data are transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Norio Sakai
  • Patent number: 9335256
    Abstract: A test chart on which measurement images are formed is conveyed in one direction. When the measurement images pass a color sensor, they undergo pre-scanning. A color sensor accumulation time is determined for each measurement image according to the pre-scanning. The test chart is subsequently conveyed in the one direction, whereupon the conveyance direction is changed. In this way, after the color sensor has completed pre-scanning for all of the measurement images, the test chart is once again conveyed toward the color sensor. When the test chart passes the color sensor again, main scanning of the measurement images is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taichi Takemura
  • Patent number: 9332159
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus including: two image reading devices which are different from each other, read out a same surface of a same sheet after image formation on a sheet conveyance path and read out a plurality of common color patches formed in the same surface of the same sheet, one of the image reading devices being a first image reading device which reads out only a partial region in a main scanning direction and the other of the image reading devices being a second image reading device which reads out over an image formation width in the main scanning direction; and a calculation section which estimates a value equivalent to reading information of the first image reading device from reading information of the second image reading device on the basis of reading information obtained by reading out the common color patches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kazuomi Sakatani
  • Patent number: 9330347
    Abstract: An image that is robust against position shift and that has improved graininess is formed. In the embodiments, a halftone processor creates a first dot arrangement and a second dot arrangement from related weighting functions and weighting maps (S1508, S1509), evaluates the image quality when the first dot arrangement and the second dot arrangement are overlapped and combined (S1511, S1512), updates the weightings for only pixels where a dot is arranged in case where the evaluation results in the evaluating step are not within a specified range (S1513), obtains a first dot arrangement and a second dot arrangement that were recreated based on the updated weightings (S1508, S1509), and repeats steps S1508 to S1514 until it is determined that the change in image quality due to position shift when the recreated first and second dot arrangements are overlapped and combined is within a specified range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kyohei Kikuta, Hideki Kadoi
  • Patent number: 9325875
    Abstract: A reading control apparatus that causes a reading apparatus including a light source and a sensor configured to receive light reflected by an original, to read the original, executes control for changing the irradiation angle of the light source with respect to the original. The control is executed to change the irradiation angle for one light source. Read images of the original corresponding to respective changed irradiation angles are acquired based on reflected beams that correspond to the respective irradiation angles and have been received by the sensor. The region of a correction target on the original is detected based on the acquired read images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 9307098
    Abstract: There is provided a transport section configured to transport a recording medium in a first direction and a second direction which is a reverse of the first direction, a head configured to record an image on the recording medium, a first sensor arranged on a downstream side of the head in the first direction and configured to detect presence or absence of abnormality on the recording medium, and a control section configured to execute an operation where the image is recorded on the recording medium using the head while the recording medium is being transported in the first direction by the transport section and an operation where the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transport section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Seigo Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9307099
    Abstract: A multifunctional machine includes a facsimile communication portion and a control portion that makes the facsimile communication portion transfer facsimile data to a reception-side facsimile machine. When the facsimile communication portion starts to perform communication for data transfer with the reception-side facsimile machine, the facsimile communication portion receives, from the reception-side facsimile machine, a reception allowance/rejection signal in conformity with a facsimile communication protocol. When the control portion indicates the reception allowance of the transfer of the reception allowance/rejection signal, the facsimile communication portion is made to transfer the facsimile data to the reception-side facsimile machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shinya Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9307115
    Abstract: An image processing device performs: generating intermediate image data representing an intermediate image in which a first image is combined with a second image; and generating rectangular image data representing a rectangular image by executing at least one of addition of at least one pixel to the intermediate image and deletion of at least one pixel from the intermediate image such that number of pixels aligned in the first direction of the rectangular image is brought into coincidence with a third pixel number and number of pixels aligned in the second direction of the rectangular image is brought into coincidence with a fourth pixel number. A ratio of the third pixel number to the fourth pixel number is equal to a ratio of the first pixel number to the second pixel number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiko Hasegawa, Takuya Shimahashi
  • Patent number: 9300816
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a control unit configured to control execution of monochromatic calibration and multi-color calibration, and a registration unit configured to register paper types of paper to be used at time of execution of the monochromatic calibration, a monochromatic target value set for each of the paper types used for the monochromatic calibration, paper types of paper to be used at time of execution of multi-color calibration, and a multi-color target value set for each of the paper types used for the multi-color calibration. The image processing apparatus executes the multi-color calibration, after executing the monochromatic calibration, via the control unit by using paper of a paper type selected from common paper types out of the registered paper types and the monochromatic target value and the multi-color target value set for the selected paper type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Sato
  • Patent number: 9288361
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for the delivery and maintenance of faxes where the faxes may remain at a faxing system for a minimal amount of time. The faxing system may send a queued fax to a connector responsive to a request from the connector to pull or retrieve a fax. The connector is configured to send a release notification to the faxing system after the fax is received. The faxing system is configured to delete the queued fax as soon as confirmation of the delivery of the fax can be determined or when an expiration time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Open Text S.A.
    Inventors: Samuel N. Kamens, Hugh Beverly Appling, Charles J. Badaracco, Edward Theodore Pieluc, Jr., Jeffrey Alan Diehl
  • Patent number: 9282203
    Abstract: A communication apparatus comprises a modem configured to performed FAX communication, and a connection unit configured to connect a telephone apparatus. The communication apparatus detects a CNG signal, and controls, in a case where there is an incoming call in a state in which FAX communication is being performed by the modem, if the CNG signal is not detected in the detecting, so that a signal is supplied from a line to the telephone apparatus, and controls, in a case where there is an incoming call in a state in which FAX communication is not being performed by the modem, if the CNG signal is detected in the detecting, so that FAX communication by the modem is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeru Koizumi, Michio Fukushima, Eiji Ohara, Daisuke Suga
  • Patent number: 9277065
    Abstract: A facsimile apparatus includes a first interface configured to connect to a telephone line; a second interface configured to connect to a network, and a controller. The controller is configured to execute: a detection processing in which the controller detects reception of a signal indicating transmission of facsimile data, and an upload processing in which the controller transmits facsimile data, which is received from a transmission source apparatus to an upload destination server, which is an upload destination apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junji Watanabe, Naoki Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9277076
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a measurement unit configured to read a patch image for a calibration which is printed on a recorded medium by a printing apparatus and measure a density of the patch image, a reception unit configured to receive spectral reflection factor information measured by reading the patch image for the calibration printed on the recorded medium by using a measurement device capable of measuring a spectral reflection factor at every predetermined wavelengths, and a processing unit configured to perform a calibration for a printing using the recorded medium by the printing apparatus on the basis of the density measured by the measurement unit and the spectral reflection factor information received by the reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Abe, Mitsuru Uratani, Yuki Ishida, Yuki Omagari
  • Patent number: 9277099
    Abstract: Information corresponding to the degree of compression of lossy-compressed image data to be printed is acquired. Furthermore, based on the acquired information, a providing method of a recording agent when the image data to be printed is expanded and an image based on the expanded image data is printed, is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuto Kajiwara, Hiroyuki Sakai, Tetsuya Suwa, Akitoshi Yamada, Kentaro Yano
  • Patent number: 9270838
    Abstract: A document scanner (10) includes an input tray (30) for holding documents (20) and an input image capture device (40) for capturing images of the documents (20) in the input tray (30) prior to transporting the document for imaging; an output tray (150) for holding documents (20) after the documents (20) exit the scanner; an output image capture device (140) for capturing images of the output tray; an image processor for determining characteristics of the output tray or characteristic of the documents (20) before imaging and after the documents (20) exit the scanner; and scanner functions are modified based on the output tray characteristics or the document characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: KODAK ALARIS INC.
    Inventors: David M. Schaertel, Nelson A. Blish, Daniel P. Phinney
  • Patent number: 9264558
    Abstract: A system for verifying accuracy of a raster scanned image of a document (20) includes an input tray (30) that holds documents prior to imaging; an input imaging device (40) that captures an image of a document in the input tray; transmitting the captured input tray image to an image processor (100); transporting the document through a document scanner (10); a raster capture device for capturing a raster scanned image of the document with; transmitting the raster scanned image to the image processor; and verifying the accuracy of the raster scanned image by comparing the raster scanned image of the document to the input tray image of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: KODAK ALARIS INC.
    Inventors: David M. Schaertel, Nelson A. Blish, Daniel P. Phinney
  • Patent number: 9262704
    Abstract: Methods and systems render higher bit per pixel contone images to lower bit formats using multiple registers of a SIMD processor. The rendering process uses a first register to maintain contone image values of all the pixels being simultaneously processed. A second register maintains a threshold value used during the conversion process. A third register maintains one value for the print ready format pixels (e.g., those having less bits per pixel), and a fourth register maintains the other value (e.g., 0) for the print ready format pixels. Also, a fifth register maintains the conversion error amount for all the pixels being simultaneously processed. Sixth through ninth registers maintain distributed conversion error amounts produced by the diffusing process (for different pixels being simultaneously processed); and a tenth register maintains the pixels in the print-ready format produced by the conversion for all the pixels being simultaneously processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David Jon Metcalfe, Ryan David Metcalfe
  • Patent number: 9235772
    Abstract: Notebook comprising a plurality of pages (1) of paper bound together with a cover (2), in which a plurality of substantially vertical and/or substantially horizontal lines are printed on the pages (1) and are formed by a plurality of dots (5) aligned with each other, which have a maximum dimension, in particular diameter, comprised between 0.21 and 0.35 mm, the distance between two adjacent dots (5) of a same line being comprised between 0.43 and 0.7 mm and the color of the dots (5) being darker than the color of the page (1), in which the sum of the four quadrichrome CMYK values of the color of the page (1) is comprised between 0 and 20, in particular comprised between 10 and 20, with the K value less than 10, and the sum of the four CMYK values of the color of the dots (5) is comprised between 15 and 50, in particular between 25 and 40, with the value K less of 40. The present invention also relates to a method for digitizing notes by means of said notebook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Moleskine S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gabriel Zangari, Luca De Battista, Luca Mariani, Stefania Esposito