Patents Examined by Michael Y Tzeng
  • Patent number: 8717647
    Abstract: Imaging methods, imaging device calibration methods, imaging devices, and hard imaging device sensor assemblies are described. According to one aspect, an imaging method includes forming a hard color image upon media using image data, the hard color image corresponding to the color image, and after the forming, sensing an optical characteristic of the hard color images at a plurality of different spatial locations of individual ones of the hard color images, and providing information regarding the optical characteristic at the different spatial locations of the hard color image after the sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Omer Gila, William David Holland, Eyal Shelef, Shlomo Harush
  • Patent number: 8699102
    Abstract: A reading apparatus includes a movable guide that is able to switch an attitude of a supporting surface thereof relative to a reading unit between a first attitude and a second attitude, and the second attitude is a state where a side to which the sheet is discharged is downwardly open more in the gravity direction than in the first attitude. The movable guide is set to the first attitude during reading of a test pattern by the reading unit, and to the second attitude during discharge of the sheet from below the reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Sumioka
  • Patent number: 8687242
    Abstract: In a digital multi-function peripheral, a QR code generation section generates image data of a QR code on the basis of first data for security of obtained image data. An encryption section encrypts second data for security of the image data. A micro gradation generation section generates a micro gradation (a gradation pattern) on the basis of the second data having been encrypted by the encryption section and history data, and adds the micro gradation to the image data of the QR code generated by the micro gradation QR code generation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Amagai
  • Patent number: 8681354
    Abstract: According to an information processing method of generating print data to be processed by a printing apparatus, when data is stored in a storage area, the data is transmitted to the printing apparatus by applying a printing attribute corresponding to the storage area. The printing attribute corresponding to the storage area is set, and status information representing the status of the printing apparatus is obtained. The printing attribute is changed to adapt the printing attribute to the obtained status information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masanori Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8638457
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a network system including the same and a management method of parts information of the same capable of matching specific information of an exchangeable part with specific information of the image forming apparatus when the specific information of the exchangeable part is not identical that of the image forming apparatus, is provided. It is determined whether the specific information of the image forming apparatus is identical to that of the exchangeable part. If the specific information of the image forming apparatus is not identical to that of the exchangeable part, at least one specific information of the image forming apparatus or the exchangeable part is changed such that the specific information is identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: In Hwan Cha
  • Patent number: 8634100
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, in which the index data of a document data is detected, and based on the particular index data, the contents of each index are displayed. Based on this display, an index is selected and the portion of the document data corresponding to the selected index is printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8619331
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a primary image as input data and receiving textured image data for rendering a perceived non-uniform texture on a printed output of the primary image. The primary image input data is used for determining a low coverage portion and a high coverage portion. The method then includes applying clear toner to the low coverage portion and applying colored toner at variable anisotropic orientations to the high coverage portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Mu Qiao, Marc Rene, William A. Fuss, Shen-ge Wang, Paul Conlon
  • Patent number: 8593682
    Abstract: For color conversion of image data in a L*a*b* color space, a color conversion system includes a color conversion processor to implement a first color conversion for color conversion of data positions of an image data in a reference-color representing first region covering a constant hue line at a prescribed hue angle on an a*b* plane, and a second color conversion for color conversion of data positions of the image data in a second region set outside the first region within an angular range smaller in hue angle than the prescribed hue angle on the a*b* plane, the prescribed hue angle being set up in an angular region of 0 degree or more and 90 degree or less relative to an a* axis, the color conversion processor being adapted to implement mutually different color conversion processes for the first color conversion and the second color conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Tomita
  • Patent number: 8582152
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: an operation part having a display area and operable to receive an input from a user; a first display part operable to display, in a part of the display area, (i) a first image to be visible only from a range of a first viewing angle and (ii) a second image to be visible only from a range of a second viewing angle that does not overlap with the range of the first viewing angle; an audio output part operable to output an audio explaining the first image; and a second display part operable, while the audio explaining the first image is being output, to display, in a remaining part of the display area, a notification indicating that the audio explaining the first image does not correspond to the second image, such that the notification is visible from the range of the second viewing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Eguchi, Toshikazu Higashi, Tatsuya Eguchi
  • Patent number: 8570603
    Abstract: In a job management system, a PC includes a job reception section for receiving setting of a job from a user and a job transmitting section for transmitting the job to a multifunction peripheral. The multifunction peripheral includes a job receiving section for receiving a job from the PC, a prohibition determining section for determining whether a combination of functions constituting the job is a target of a prohibition process, a controlling section for executing the job, and a prohibition information transmitting section for transmitting prohibition information indicating that the combination of functions constituting the job is the target of the prohibition process to the PC when the combination of functions is the target of the prohibition process. The PC further includes a prohibition information receiving section for receiving the prohibition information from the multifunction peripheral and a prohibition information storage for storing the prohibition information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Umenaga
  • Patent number: 8559082
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an integer-part converting unit configured to convert multi-level image data into integer image data by referring to a first conversion table, a threshold setting unit configured to generate matrix data for performing area coverage modulation by referring to the multi-level image data, a decimal-part converting unit configured to convert the multi-level image data into decimal image data by referring to a second conversion table, a level reducing unit configured to reduce levels of the decimal image data by using a threshold generated in the threshold setting unit, an adding unit configured to add the integer image data to the level-reduced decimal image data and outputting a result of addition as gamma conversion image data, and an image processing unit configured to perform image processing on the gamma conversion image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8547594
    Abstract: The present invention provides a profile calibrating device, method and program capable of performing color matching with no significant loss in precision relative to absolute color matching while preventing strange sensation in the rendered black and white colors. The profile correcting device includes a first profile acquiring unit, a second profile acquiring unit, a first connecting unit, and a second correcting unit. The first profile acquiring unit acquires a first profile representing correspondence relationship between input color values and first colorimetric values. The second profile acquiring unit acquires a second profile representing correspondence relationship between the input color values and second colon metric values. The first correcting unit corrects the second colorimetric value for the white value, and the second colon metric value for the black value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Kuno
  • Patent number: 8542381
    Abstract: A print controller and associated methods of purging a print data path are disclosed. A print controller comprises a job storage system that receives and stores print jobs, and a print data path, which includes components operable to process print jobs, from the job storage system to print engines. The control system receives registrations from the components for flush job messages, flush path messages, or both. The control system receives a request to purge the print data path, and identifies print jobs being processed in the print data path. The control system transmits flush job messages to the components registering for the flush job messages for each print job instructing the components to purge data for the print jobs. The control system also transmits a flush path message to the components registering for the flush path messages instructing the components to purge data for the print jobs being handled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Production Print Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Dennis M. Carney, Allan A. Hren, Charles D. Johnson, Lisa A. Morgan
  • Patent number: 8531718
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a power source unit, motors supplied with and driven by electric power from the power source unit, and a control device for controlling the motors' operations. A CPU in the control device monitors presence/absence of power supply from the power source unit. When power is cut off during image forming, the CPU causes regenerative braking of the motors. The regenerated power is voltage-converted by a second DC-DC converter in the power source unit and supplied to the control device for continuously driving the CPU, which in turn backs up operating information. This eliminates inconsistency between the actual life status and the backed-up information when power is off, with no need of frequent backup during image forming. It is thus possible to provide the image forming device which can reliably manage operating information even if power supply to the motors is stopped during printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunio Furukawa, Mikiyuki Aoki
  • Patent number: 8520254
    Abstract: A system and method for routing and processing print jobs within a print job set considers the setup characteristics of each print job. Each print job set may be classified as a first job processing speed set, a second job processing speed set, or another job processing speed set based on the corresponding setup characteristics. First job processing speed sets are routed to a first group of print job processing resources, while second job processing speed sets are routed to a second group of print job processing speed resources. Each resource group may include an autonomous cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Sudhendu Rai
  • Patent number: 8498003
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a storage medium readable by a computer, the storage medium storing a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a function for controlling a job log, comprising: generating a job log after execution of a job; creating a log image from an image handled in the job; and performing transfer of the job log and the log image to an external device with predetermined timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuko Kirihara, Masafumi Ono, Toshiaki Arai
  • Patent number: 8498030
    Abstract: An image sensor using three-color, e.g., R, G, and B light-emitting elements assures a period in which all the three colors are turned on and periods in each of which one light-emitting element is turned off during a scan period per pixel, and integrates and measures amounts of light of the respective periods. An amount of light based on the OFF light-emitting element is calculated based on a difference between the amounts of light during the full light-ON period and each light-OFF period to define an amount of light of the light-emitting element, and light intensity information corresponding to each light-emitting element is obtained based on a total amount of light during the entire scan period per pixel, and the amount of light of each light-emitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Shoji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8498002
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a processing unit and associated operating system (OS). The information processing apparatus further includes an application program including a driver customization unit to customize a device driver in the absence of registration of the device driver in an operable manner to the operating system. Even when a printer driver for use on a particular OS is not customizable, it is possible to produce a customized driver corresponding to the printer driver in a manner specified by a user, thereby allowing customization to be performed in a highly efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsunori Iida
  • Patent number: 8462365
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a combining unit configured to combine a document image and a coded image; a setting determining unit configured to determine whether a setting for combining a document image including a previously combined coded image and an other coded image is made when a reproduction of the document image is instructed; and a prohibiting unit configured to prohibit the combining unit from combining the document image including the previously combined coded image and the other coded image according to the setting when the result of the determination indicates that the setting is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8462368
    Abstract: A system for managing printing device related objects on a network, comprising a GUI, by first selecting a topic of interest from a category of interests; then selecting a predefined object locator, which filters objects based on associated criteria. The system enables graceful scaling, wherein the number of topics of interest in the first GUI pane and the complexity of the displayed information in the second GUI pane stay roughly constant even when the number of devices and objects in an organization increases significantly. The methods also include Static, Dynamic, Permanent, and Temporary object locators; hierarchically displayed topics and object groupings displayed in an integrated manner; defining new topics, topic actions, and object locators; and selecting an action for property and printing device related object, then displaying a topic of interest associated with the selected action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventors: Oleksandr Osadchyy, Clemens Junge