Patents Examined by Quang N. Vo
  • Patent number: 11972160
    Abstract: Convenience and security of an information processing apparatus including a USB host interface in a case where network connection is established via a USB-LAN adapter are improved. The information processing apparatus includes a plurality of external USB ports to which USB compatible network adapters are connected. The information processing apparatus performs a predetermined notification in response to a number of the network adapters connected to the information processing apparatus via the external USB ports having reached a predetermined upper limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryuji Nagahara
  • Patent number: 11973919
    Abstract: A printing system is disclosed. The printing system includes at least one physical memory device to store ink model estimation logic and one or more processors coupled with the at least one physical memory device to execute the ink model estimation logic to receive a first plurality of ink deposition curves each associated with one of a plurality of primary color inks of a print system, wherein the associated primary color inks in combination represent a first secondary color, receive a color space mapping profile for the print system, wherein the color space mapping profile characterizes a relationship between a first color space and a printer color space of the print system and generate a color space ink model for the first secondary color based on the first plurality of ink deposition curves and the color space mapping profile, wherein the color space ink model represents a relationship between each of a plurality of parameters of the first color space and ink deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikel Stanich, Pallavi Premkumar, James Chauvin, Nikita Gurudath
  • Patent number: 11956395
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a detachable consumable; a printer that prints an image using the consumable; and a controller that determines whether control information that is set for the consumable and that is for control of the printer exists. The controller extracts, when it is determined that the control information corresponding to the consumable does not exist, image information from an image of a predetermined test pattern printed by the printer, and acquires the control information generated based on the extracted image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Usui, Tomoki Minamikawa
  • Patent number: 11948026
    Abstract: Formed is a dither pattern that makes it possible to output an image with excellent dot dispersibility and reduced graininess regardless of controls after quantization processing. To this end, an extended pattern in which multiple divided pixels correspond to each of multiple pixels included in quantization data and one or more of the multiple divided pixels are determined as dot-arrangeable-pixels in which dots can be printed is generated. Thereafter, the thresholds of the dither pattern are set based on the extended pattern in which the dots are arranged to obtain predetermined dispersibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Nakagawa, Hirokazu Tanaka, Tsukasa Doi, Mayuko Yamagata, Satoshi Seki
  • Patent number: 11949842
    Abstract: In a color management system including a server and an image forming apparatus, the server stores information of a colorimetric sensor and paper information corresponding to the colorimetric sensor, obtains information of a colorimetric sensor mounted in the image forming apparatus, designates paper to use when executing a color adjustment process of the image forming apparatus, and, based on the stored paper information, selects a colorimetric sensor of the image forming apparatus corresponding to the designated paper. The image forming apparatus comprises causes a printer engine to print a chart on the designated paper in accordance with a color adjustment job for executing the color adjustment process, and measures a colorimetric value of the printed chart using the selected colorimetric sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazufumi Kobashi, Satoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11949841
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image former that forms a correction patch using toner; a measurer that measures a color, a density, or a deposited amount of toner of the correction patch; and a hardware processor that calculates a reference correction amount on the basis of a measurement value of the measurer so that the density of the correction patch reaches a target value, and corrects an image forming condition of the image former by a first correction amount smaller than the reference correction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Daiki Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 11936832
    Abstract: A control method for an apparatus to control print data obtains color information to be printed in a specific color from the print data, detects a specific location to be printed in the specific color based on the obtained color information, and performs first color conversion to subject the color information included in the print data in accordance with a color conversion instruction. Second color conversion is performed on image data subjected to the first color conversion to turn color information corresponding to the specific location back to color information indicating the specific color before the first color conversion is performed, and a printing unit prints on the specific location by using the second color based on the color information indicating the specific color turned back and prints on a location other than the specific location by using the first color based on color information after the first color conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke Hori
  • Patent number: 11934728
    Abstract: Printing apparatus includes a controller is configured to executes holding selection processing of allowing holding in a storage device or deletion from the storage device of a storage of a print job selected by a print job selection processing to be selected by a user's input operation received via the user interface. The print job for which holding of the storage of the print job is selected is stored in the storage device in association with a holding flag. When the holding flag is associated with the print job stored in the storage device, the print job is not deleted from the storage device at a predetermined automatic deletion timing. When the holding flag is not associated with the print job stored in the storage device, the print job is deleted from the storage device at the automatic deletion timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuki Ichikawa, Rui Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11928370
    Abstract: A USB host portion is supplied with power in a normal mode, and the power supply is stopped in a power saving mode. The USB host portion can acquire print request data from a communication device while outputting a first control signal. Power is supplied to a signal input portion and a signal output portion in both modes. The signal input portion can receive a signal from the communication device. A control portion shifts to the normal mode when a notification signal is input to the signal input portion while operating in the power saving mode. The signal output portion outputs a second control signal in both the normal mode and the power saving mode. The voltage output portion outputs a rated voltage to the communication device when at least one of the first control signal and the second control signal is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11926167
    Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for producing a handwritten appearance of input text on a marking surface, comprising the steps of: backing the marking surface with a conveyor belt of a plotter system; machine plotting the input text on the marking surface with a plotting pen having a downward force of one-half to forty ounces; feeding a new sheet to the conveyor belt from a paper feeder system, the step of feeding under control of a paper position detection system; loading a current marking surface into the plotter system; and repeating the steps of loading and emulating n times as designated by a print job, where the step of emulating changes applied vectors to the current marking surface for sub-tasks within the print job and optionally to us graphic codes on the marking surface to control work flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventor: David Wachs
  • Patent number: 11930135
    Abstract: A signal processing board includes a six-layer substrate in which six wiring layers are stacked, and a first semiconductor element and a second semiconductor element mounted on the outer surface of a first layer of the six wiring layers. A plurality of signal transmission patterns are formed in the first layer, a third layer, a fourth layer, and a sixth layer of the six wiring layers. A first ground pattern is formed in a second layer. A second ground pattern is formed in a fifth layer. A first power supply pattern is formed in one of the fourth layer, the fifth layer, and the sixth layer. A second power supply pattern is formed in one of the fourth layer, the fifth layer, and the sixth layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Ken Maruhashi
  • Patent number: 11915070
    Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to implement, at a low cost, highly accurate color calibration in a printing apparatus that performs printing using fluorescent ink. One embodiment of the present invention is an image processing apparatus that includes: a processing unit configured to perform processing relating to color calibration in a printing apparatus that prints an image on a printing medium using fluorescent printing material; and an execution unit configured to perform calibration processing of the printing apparatus based on a measured value that is obtained by measuring a patch chart for obtaining information on an amount of application of the fluorescent printing material in the printing apparatus, wherein a patch included in the patch chart is printed with the fluorescent printing material and subtractive color mixture printing material and at least one dot of the subtractive color mixture printing material covers a dot of the fluorescent printing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Abe, Naoko Baba, Kouta Murasawa, Hiromitsu Yamaguchi, Keiji Kuriyama, Yuki Igarashi, Hiroshi Mori
  • Patent number: 11904619
    Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for producing a handwritten appearance of input text on a marking surface, comprising the steps of: receiving, into a plotter system, a print job related to a first graphic code, the print job comprising a printable media requirement; scanning, with a scanner attached to the plotter system, the first graphic code, the first graphic code previously printed on the marking surface loaded into the plotter system; identifying a particular media type of the marking surface with the first graphic code; confirming the printable media requirement matches the particular media type; and emulating handwriting on the marking surface with the plotter system to yield a marked paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventors: David Wachs, Roxanne Abul-Haj
  • Patent number: 11893430
    Abstract: A method for dynamically modifying an image during a printing process. The method includes executing a digitized pre-process wherein a submitted image is prepared to be a printable image, identifying what marking options are to be applied to the printable image, and executing a real-time feed operation wherein the printable image is modified based on the marking options and applied to a printed article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: JUNO DTS, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Fields, Dirk Lavoy, Nicholas Diblabi, Mike Luttrell, Robert Wilson
  • Patent number: 11893429
    Abstract: A colorimetric device includes: a white reference portion having: a first irradiation area; and a second irradiation area different from the first irradiation area; a light emitter including: a first light source configured to emit visible light to the first irradiation area; and a second light source configured to emit ultraviolet light to the second irradiation area; a sensor configured to detect the visible light reflected from the first irradiation area and the ultraviolet light reflected from the second irradiation area; and a processor configured to: measure colorimetric information of an object; and calibrate the colorimetric information of the object based on the visible light and the ultraviolet light detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Rie Suzuki, Tatsuya Ishii
  • Patent number: 11886943
    Abstract: A printing unit that prints an inspection image, a reading unit that reads the inspection image printed by the printing unit, and an analysis unit that performs analyzation based on a reading result read by the reading unit are provided. The inspection image includes an inspection pattern of a plurality of colors, the inspection pattern including a first position detection mark printed in a first color, a second position detection mark printed in the first color, and a second color inspection pattern printed in a second color different from the first color, the printing unit prints the second color inspection pattern at a position adjacent to the first position detection mark, and the analysis unit specifies a first position of the first position detection mark in a first region, and specifies a second position of the second position detection mark in a second region smaller than the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masaya Usui
  • Patent number: 11886756
    Abstract: A non-transitory storage medium stores a supporting program executable by a computer of an information processing apparatus. When executed by the computer, the supporting program causes the information processing apparatus to execute registering, in a printing program of an operating system, image data in a predetermined file format as data in a file format for which intermediate data does not need to be generated, in a case where the intermediate data is received from the printing program, generating print data based on the received intermediate data and transmitting a print job including the generated print data to a particular printer; and, in a case where the image data in the predetermined format is received from the printing program, receiving an edit of the image indicated by the received image data and transmitting the print job including the edited image data to the particular printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshito Hosomizo, Kenju Narita
  • Patent number: 11886763
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a network interface, an operation panel including a touch panel, and a controller. The controller is configured to provide a mobile input function to a mobile terminal via the network interface. In response to accepting a first operation to the operation panel with a local operation screen not displayed on the touch panel, the controller causes the touch panel to display the local operation screen, and thereafter switches the local operation screen on the touch panel to a standby screen after waiting until a continuous time with no operation to the touch panel exceeds a first threshold time. In response to accepting a second operation to the operation panel with the local operation screen not displayed on the touch panel, the controller causes the touch panel to display the standby screen without waiting for the first threshold time to elapse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koki Izumi, Yuichiro Sakuragi, Satoshi Tanimoto, Kosuke Mori
  • Patent number: 11882258
    Abstract: Even when the number of image formers and/or the number of color management target values are large, it is possible to easily manage the color management target value associated with the image former. A color management device 1 according to one aspect of the present invention includes a management part 107 that manages information on a user who performs a color verification operation using the color management target value in association with correspondence information in which the image former and the color management target value are managed in association with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuma Maruyama
  • Patent number: 11880624
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller configured to provide a mobile input function that enables the image forming apparatus to accept input operations from a mobile terminal via a network interface. After starting to provide the mobile input function, the controller sends display data to the mobile terminal via the network interface, thereby causing the mobile terminal to display an operation screen for operating the image forming apparatus from the mobile terminal. The controller displays a standby screen including a particular operable object on a touch panel when the mobile input function is not provided. When the particular operable object is operated, the controller switches the standby screen to a local operation screen. In response to accepting an operation on the local operation screen, the controller performs a corresponding process depending on what kind of operation has been performed on the local operation screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shun Takeuchi, Kosuke Mori, Yuichiro Sakuragi, Satoshi Tanimoto