Patents Examined by Madeleine AV Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7408670
    Abstract: A method and computer system is provided for delivery of a facsimile using an interactive document printed on a substrate provided for entry of a message using a sensing device. The document includes user information and coded data on a document identity and locations on the document. The sensing device reads the coded data when placed in an operative position relative to the document. The method and computer system allocating and recording an identifier for the document, associating the document with the identifier, causing the document to be printed on the substrate by a networked printer, receiving interaction data representing interaction of the sensing device with the coded data, electronically capturing the message using the interaction data and the recorded identifier and transmitting the message to a designated recipient address for facsimile delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7369285
    Abstract: An attentional portion to be corrected in gradation of an image is specified, and a gradation corrective function with respect to a density of the specified attentional portion is generated. Preset gradation conversion characteristics are corrected with the gradation corrective function, and the gradation of the image is converted according to the corrected gradation conversion characteristics. The gradation conversion characteristics can be corrected in the vicinity of a desired density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Seiichiro Morikawa
  • Patent number: 7342681
    Abstract: The present invention provides a calibration method and circuit for outputting an average calibration value used in an image-capture apparatus. The calibration circuit comprises difference means accepting a plurality of digital signals from capturing a pixel of a calibration chart. The difference means is for operating each digital signal with subtracting a base value, and whereby filters any aberrant digital signal. Divider means accepts the digital signals for operating each digital signal with dividing a number of scanned times, and whereby prevents an operation of any signal from overflowing. Direct average means accepts the digital signals for summing the digital signals and then divides the number of scanned times, and whereby speeds a calibration operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Transpacific IP, Ltd
    Inventor: Chui-Kuei Chiu
  • Patent number: 7336392
    Abstract: The technique of the present invention allocates a coordinate point of target image data on a color space to multiple lattice points in a color conversion table and reads data stored at the multiple lattice points. This arrangement ensures high-speed color conversion of the target image data. The procedure selects multiple lattice points and allocates a coordinate point of one target image data to the selected multiple lattice points. The procedure then specifies color-converted image data corresponding to the target image data, based on data read from the multiple lattice points. A first application allocates the target image data to the coordinate points of the multiple lattice points arbitrarily selected in the vicinity of the target image data. A second application allocates N-dimensional target image data to the coordinate points of multiple but not greater than N lattice points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Kakutani
  • Patent number: 7324240
    Abstract: A method for color correction of an image having an insignia portion in a multi-module printer (10). A first color profile is calibrated for a four-color image. A second color profile is calibrated for a four-color image with a transparent toner layer on top of the insignia portion of the four-color image. The image data is then buffered in a color input band buffer (40) and processed through the first (50) and second (60) color profiles in a color management module. The processed image data is stored in an output band buffer (70, 80) corresponding to the image data processed through each color profile. Clear toner input band data stored in a clear toner input band buffer (30) is compared with the processed image data in each output band buffer (70, 80) to select an output signal (100) on a per pixel basis to send to the multi-module printer (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Yee S. Ng
  • Patent number: 7319547
    Abstract: A method of determining substrate and ink compatibility includes providing a test pattern having a range of ink loading levels and including test features corresponding to at least one of text and graphics; identifying a substrate; identifying an ink set; printing the test pattern on the identified substrate using the identified ink set; selecting an ink loading level for at least one of the at least one of text and graphics using the test pattern; and generating a tone scale transformation for one or more ink colors of the identified ink set using the selected ink loading level for at least one of the at least one of text and graphics, the selected ink loading level for the at least one of the at least one of text and graphics being dependent on the identified substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Piatt, Terry A. Wozniak, Christopher L. Watkins
  • Patent number: 7312889
    Abstract: A facsimile machine includes a facsimile communication unit, an Internet facsimile communication unit, and a controller that sets to rotate a scanned image by 90 degrees. When the controller sets to rotate the scanned image by 90 degrees, the facsimile communication unit rotates the scanned image by 90 degrees and transmits the scanned image, and the Internet facsimile communication unit transmits the scanned image without rotating the scanned image by 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Kimoto
  • Patent number: 7265851
    Abstract: An image of a picture frame photographed on a photo film is displayed on a screen of an image input device, or is printed out as a hard copy. A graphic image is written by a user in the image of the picture frame, and graphic data of the graphic image is detected from the image of the picture frame having the graphic image written therein. The graphic data is associated with the picture frame, and is transferred from the user to a photofinisher through electronic transmission, or is recorded on a data recording medium which is forwarded to the photofinisher along with the photo film. A synthetic print containing the picture frame and the graphic image is made from the picture frame and the graphic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Naoto Kinjo
  • Patent number: 7251050
    Abstract: A method of limiting communication between an application and a user, via a sensing device interacting with machine-readable coded data printed on a surface, the method comprising the steps, performed in a computer system, of: receiving interaction data representing the interaction of the sensing device with the coded data, the interaction data enabling identification of the application; transmitting information based on at least some of the interaction data to the application; and enabling transmission of up to a predetermined number of electronic messages from the application to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook, Jacqueline Anne Lapstun, Paul Quentin Scott
  • Patent number: 7248376
    Abstract: A printer module includes a body that defines a print media feed path and a feed opening to permit print media to be positioned in the print media feed path. A pagewidth printing mechanism is positioned in the body to carry out a printing operation on the print media. At least one modular connector is arranged on the body to permit at least an image processing module to be connected to the body. A bus interconnects the printing mechanism and the image processing module to facilitate communication between the printing mechanism and the image processing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Paul Lapstun
  • Patent number: 7233413
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a computer-implemented method and program for the comparison of color gamuts. Using first and second collections of sample color points respective hulls are created in a color space. The set of all of the points disposed on the surface of the a hull or within the volume enclosed thereby represents the respective color gamut. The hulls are combined, preferably by a Boolean operation, to create a third hull in the color space representing at least one region of overlap or at least one region of exclusion between the first color gamut and the second color gamut. The volume of at least one of the hulls may be calculated and compared to the volume of the region of overlap and/or the region of exclusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: David Edward Jones, John Stephen Locke
  • Patent number: 7196828
    Abstract: A scanner having a chassis and a body, the body containing a base portion and a document lid. The body is movably connected to the chassis by a connection element, allowing the body to move from a substantially horizontal operative position to a substantially vertical rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventors: Karl Heinz Rubner, Bavo Debusschere
  • Patent number: 7161710
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product for transforming data from a source device color space to a destination device color space, wherein the source device is associated with a source device profile and the destination device is associated with a destination device profile. It includes transforming data from the source device color space to an intermediary color space associated with an intermediary color profile using the source device color profile, a source rendering intent, and the intermediary color profile, producing intermediary data; and transforming the intermediary data from the intermediary color space to the destination device color space using the intermediary color profile, a destination rendering intent, and the destination device color profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Peter S. MacLeod
  • Patent number: 7119927
    Abstract: Responsive to image data of three colors, six hue data are obtained, and then first comparison-result data and second-order terms each relating to one of the six hues, and second comparison-result data each relating to one of the six inter-hue areas are obtained. Matrix calculation is performed on the first comparison-result data, the second comparison-result data, and the second-order terms, using coefficients. By varying the coefficients, adjustment can be made to only the target hue or inter-hue area, without affecting other hues and inter-hue areas. Thus, the six hues and six inter-hue areas can be varied independently, and the large-capacity memory is not required. In addition, gray scale conversion is applied to the result of the matrix calculation, so as to compensate for the non-linearity of the output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Sugiura, Shuichi Kagawa
  • Patent number: 7106475
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided in which the frequency of undesired delay of the image output can be reduced. The image processing apparatus comprises an image processor for performing a process defined by a parameter on the image data of the received job, a decision portion for deciding a state of the image data of the received job, and a controller for setting a parameter in accordance with the state that is decided by the decision portion if an interval between the received job and the previously received job is longer than a predetermined time, and for setting the parameter that was used in the last job despite the state that is decided by the decision portion if the interval is not longer than the predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuaki Tajima, Takayuki Nabeshima, Toshio Tsuboi, Junji Nishigaki, Daisetsu Tohyama
  • Patent number: 7072072
    Abstract: A pure rendering intent is used to render text and line art in color imaging systems. A CMY image goes through a one hundred percent under color removal process creating a CMYK image. The CMYK image is processed by a set of clamping tone reproduction curves. The clamping tone reproduction curves shift nearly saturated colors to total saturation. The result is a rendering of text and line art that has improved clarity and legibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thyagarajan Balasubramanian, Reiner Eschbach
  • Patent number: 7061650
    Abstract: A method of, and an apparatus for, image conversion. The three color channels of a Bayer mosaic image are up-interpolated from input space to output space. The pixels sampled from each two-dimensional color plane of the Bayer image are convolved with a coefficient kernel for each color. To facilitate reconstruction and resampling, the color space for a dominant pixel color of the Bayer image is effectively rotated. The generation of each color value for a given pixel coordinate is carried out in parallel using an identical convolve unit and a dedicated coefficient kernel for each color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Paul Lapstun
  • Patent number: 7057765
    Abstract: A system and method for multi-dimensional color transformation apply constraints to the transformation function to preserve the presence or absence of particular color information while achieving high accuracy color match. With a constrained multi-dimensional color transformation (CMT), a destination device, such as a color proofer, can provide an accurate color match relative to a source or “target” device, such as a printing press, and preserve dot integrity. In particular, the constraints can preserve selected color information that is present in an image produced by the source device, and prevent addition of other selected color information that would not be present in the source device image. In a halftone imaging device, the constraints prevent the removal or addition of dots from and to the image produced by destination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Timothy A. Fischer, William A. Rozzi
  • Patent number: 7050197
    Abstract: An image processor (14) supporting very high-speed printing. The image processor (14) preferably has two separate connections to a source (12) of the image being printed, e.g., a printer control bus (34) and an image data bus (36). The image processor (14) preferably accepts images from the image source (12) in commonly known graphics file formats, such as the well-known 24-bit, uncompressed TIFF file format. The image processor (14) is a multiprocessor implementation. Preferably, one processor (30) coordinates or “orchestrates” control of the printing system and handshaking with the image source via the printer control bus (34) and the other processor (32) functions as a raster image processor (RIP) processor (52) and accepts and stores images into the printer environment from the image source (12) via the image data bus (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Szumla, Manh Tang, Edward A. Hauschild, Douglas W. Couwenhoven, David A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6198545
    Abstract: The present invention is related to the synthesis, display and printing of halftone images. The invention comprises a method capable of generating screen elements with sophisticated screen dot shapes such as artistic shapes, microletters and ideograms. The method can be used to generate screen elements whose screen dots are made of evolving artistic shapes at increasing intensity level. For generating screen elements at consecutive intensity levels, intermediate contours which bound the white and black parts of each screen element are obtained by interpolating between fixed predefined contours. Such interpolated contours defining screen dots may be transformed from a screen dot definition space to a screen dot rendition space before being converted into discrete screen elements by a scan conversion and filling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventors: Victor Ostromoukhov, Roger D. Hersch