Patents Examined by Scott A. Roger
  • Patent number: 11924384
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to: acquire a read image resulting from reading a recording medium where a diagnostic image to be used to diagnose an image forming apparatus is formed; acquire, from the read image, an image read portion of the recording medium from which the diagnostic image is read and one specific portion of a non-formation read portion, the non-formation read portion resulting from reading a non-formation portion of the recording medium where the diagnostic image is not formed; and output the image read portion and the one specific portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Yuki Tanaka, Shinya Miyamori, Masashi Morimoto, Shinsuke Sugi, Kyotaro Tomoda, Tomokazu Sugata
  • Patent number: 11922081
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus gives an update notification of a firmware of the image printing apparatus and an update notification of a printer driver necessary for the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus having a driver that causes the image printing apparatus to execute image printing, includes: a driver information obtaining unit configured to obtain information on firmware update of the image printing apparatus and information on a required version of the driver; an information analysis unit configured to compare a current version of the driver and the information on the required version obtained by the driver information obtaining unit; and a display controlling unit configured to display an update notification screen based on a result analyzed by the information analysis unit and the information on the firmware update obtained by the driver information obtaining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideharu Sawada
  • Patent number: 11902474
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a reader that reads an image formed on a print medium; and a backing part that is disposed at a position facing the reader and is capable of switching a color of a portion to be a background of the print medium upon reading by the reader to a plurality of colors according to a type of the print medium and/or a color read from the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Kawatsu
  • Patent number: 11902488
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires N-valued image data corresponding to an image including at least one object, and edge data indicating an edge area of the object, an image processing unit that generates M-valued (N>M?2) quantized data where each of a plurality of pixels is associated with one of a value indicating that no dot is to be recorded and a value indicating that a dot is to be recorded, based on the acquired image data, using an image processing parameter, and a changing unit that changes at least one pixel among pixels that indicate the edge area of the object in the edge data and have the value indicating that no dot is to be recorded in the quantized data so that the at least one pixel has the value indicating that the dot is to be recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hajime Nagai, Satoshi Wada, Yoshinori Nakajima, Hidehiko Kanda, Takeshi Yazawa, Shingo Nishioka, Keiji Kuriyama, Junichi Saito
  • Patent number: 11895283
    Abstract: An image analyzer includes an in-use ink information determination section that determines an ink type to be used for printing and an ink quantity to be used for printing for the ink type as in-use ink information by using image data in accordance with conditions set in advance, a printed image quality information acquisition section that acquires at least one item of printed image quality information on image quality specified in advance and provided when the image data is printed by using the determined in-use ink information, and a display section that displays at least one of the in-use ink information and the printed image quality information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Ono, Yuko Yamamoto, Takahiro Kamada, Mitsuhiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11882254
    Abstract: An optical line sensor 1 includes an illumination unit 2, a light receiving unit 3, and a pair of holding members 4 separably attached to the light receiving unit 3 at both ends in a main scanning direction. The illumination unit 2 includes fitting portions (protrusions 25) at both ends in the main scanning direction. Each of the holding members 4 includes a fitted portion (hole 41). In a state where the fitting portion and the fitted portion are fitted, the illumination unit 2 is positioned so that the irradiation optical axis of light emitted from the illumination unit 2 overlaps the light receiving optical axis at a position substantially coinciding with a reading line of the light receiving unit 3 and is integrally held with the light receiving unit 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: VIENEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuaki Ryuman
  • Patent number: 11880622
    Abstract: A non-transitory storage medium stores a supporting program executable by a computer of an information processing apparatus. The supporting program causes the information processing apparatus to execute obtaining a print setting, generating a character string for displaying indicating at least a part of the obtained print setting, obtaining image data indicating the image of a selected print job, and transmitting the print job and the generated character string for displaying in a state in which the print job and the character string for displaying are associated with each other. The job name and the character string for displaying are displayed on a display of a connected printer in the state in which the job name and the character string for displaying are associated with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshito Hosomizo
  • Patent number: 11880619
    Abstract: A non-transitory storage medium stores a supporting program configured to support a printing program of an operating system of the information processing apparatus. A print queue for each of a plurality of printers is provided in the operating system. The printing program is capable of making a request to the supporting program for processing in a state in which the print queue for any one of the plurality of printers is selected. The supporting program causes the information processing apparatus to execute identifying a printer of the plurality of printers to which processing is requested, reading setting data into which a common setting value indicating a setting value of a print setting commonly used by the plurality of printers is written, and changing a setting value of the print setting of an identified printer based on the common setting value written into the read setting data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshito Hosomizo
  • Patent number: 11876935
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium includes: an image former that forms an image on a recording medium; an image reader that reads an image formed on a recording medium; an adjuster that adjusts the image former on a basis of a reading result obtained by the image reader by reading an image formed on a recording medium by the image former; and a processor configured to output, to an external apparatus used for diagnosis of the image forming apparatus, the reading result of the image formed on the recording medium by the image former when adjustment is performed by the adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Shinya Miyamori, Yuki Tanaka, Shinsuke Sugi, Masashi Morimoto
  • Patent number: 11863723
    Abstract: A document determination system includes a server device that stores identification information in association with document information, a printer that prints a document image corresponding to the document information and a code image indicating the identification information on a print medium to generate a normal printed matter, and a scanner that reads a print image printed on a printed matter including the normal printed matter and a copied printed matter obtained by copying the normal printed matter. The printer prints the code image in a preset end region of the print medium. The server device determines whether the printed matter is the normal printed matter based on the code image included in the print image read by the scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Go Hiroike, Yoichiro Maki, Shin Miura, Masayuki Nagase, Shinji Takio, Hiroyuki Kuramoto
  • Patent number: 11856174
    Abstract: A data processing method, a system and a user interface are disclosed, for dosing ink in a digital printer with at least 6 ink channels. A forward transformation model is obtained or computed for defining a relationship between coordinates of device-dependent ink values across the ink channels and coordinates of device-independent colorimetric values in a color space. An inverse model of the forward transformation model is computed, wherein the inverse model comprises an adjustable constraint on each ink channel. One or more constraints are applied to each ink channel with predetermined and/or user-defined value(s). A target colorimetric value is input to the inverse model. An ink value is computed for each ink channel with the inverse model, wherein each computed ink value corresponds to ink dosage in its respective ink channel and the computed ink values collectively correspond substantially to the target colorimetric value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: CMA IMAGING EUROPE SA
    Inventors: Gerardo Andres Cerros Martinez, Ronald Terrazas Mallea
  • Patent number: 11856157
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a cover, a reading device including a light source and a sensor, and a control device including circuitry. The circuitry acquires first data with the light source turned off, acquires second data with the light source turned on, calculates a first evaluation value for each of plural locations of the first data, calculates a second evaluation value for each of plural locations of the second data, determines an open or closed state of the cover based on the first evaluation value and the second evaluation value, determines that the cover is open when at least one of a determination result based on the first evaluation value or a determination result based on the second evaluation value indicates the open state of the cover, and determines that the cover is closed when the two determination results both indicate the closed state of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Sasaki, Ayako Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11849095
    Abstract: A profile creation device that causes a display section to display a display screen displaying an input color space image and an output color space image, the profile creation device includes an acquisition section that acquires first color gamut data indicating a color space related to the input device and second color gamut data indicating a color space related to the output device, an image generating section configured to generate an input color space image of a three dimensional image based on the first color gamut data and an output color space image of a three dimensional image based on the second color gamut data, a display control section configured to generate screen data for displaying the display screen having an image display area for displaying the input color space image and the output color space image generated by the image generating section, and an input and output section for transmitting the screen data generated by the display control section to the display section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Shimomukai, Katsuyuki Tanaka, Takahiro Kamada, Masayuki Seko, Naoki Hagihara
  • Patent number: 11843741
    Abstract: A document supporting portion includes a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion. The first supporting portion has a first supporting surface that supports a document. The second supporting portion has a second supporting surface that supports the document together with the first supporting surface and provided so as to be slidable between a first position at which the second supporting portion located above the first supporting portion and a second position at which the second supporting surface supports the document together with the first supporting surface. In a state where the second supporting portion is located at the first position, the second supporting surface constitutes a portion of an upper surface of the document feeding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Ono, Takayuki Fukushima, Kazuki Matsuo, Yuya Yasuda, Takuma Tachibana, Akiyuki Mitamura, Akira Matsumoto, Akira Urita, Norikazu Hishinuma, Takatsugu Nakamura, Yu Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11842107
    Abstract: A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the processor to associate a first subscription of a first user to a second subscription of a second user. The first subscription may correspond to a replaceable component of an image forming apparatus. A subscription service may enable the image forming apparatus to print a first number of pages and a second number of pages as part of the first subscription and second subscription, respectively. Further, the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium may include instructions to generate a print job including print content to be printed on the image forming apparatus, provide a user-selectable option to specify a category of the print content on a user interface, and selectively utilize the first subscription or the second subscription to execute the print job based on the specified category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Shinoj Bhaskaran
  • Patent number: 11838480
    Abstract: A method for reducing image burn-in artifacts in an electrophotographic printing system, includes receiving a print job including image data for a set of pages to be printed. The pages are analyzed to determine that the image data for a sequence of pages in the print job are similar. The similar pages are printed using a pattern of lateral translations wherein the image data is laterally translated such that it is printed at a different lateral position on the printed page. The similar pages can also be printed using a pattern of page orientations including a first page orientation and a second page orientation, wherein the image data for the second page orientation is rotated 180 degrees relative to the image data for the first page orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas L. Schwartz, Horia Neamtu, Chung-Hui Kuo
  • Patent number: 11831839
    Abstract: The technique of the present disclosure can achieve processing efficiency and prevention of improper drawing in printing a monochrome representation of color data. In performing discriminability reproducing color conversion processing, a PDL analysis unit determines whether processing involving color change that changes the original color is specified in operator information on a target object for the discriminability reproducing color conversion processing. In a case where processing that changes the original color, such as ROP or ?-blending, is specified for the target object, the discriminability reproducing color conversion processing for the page is canceled and switched to all-color uniform color conversion processing. This enables both of efficient discriminability reproducing color conversion and prevention of improper drawing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takuya Inoue
  • Patent number: 11831844
    Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system includes at least one physical memory device to store compensation logic and one or more processors coupled with the at least one physical memory device to execute the compensation logic to generate transfer functions for each of a plurality of color planes to compensate for overlapping pel forming elements of adjacent printheads, wherein the transfer functions are generated based on ink deposition functions for groups of pel forming elements including non-overlapping pel forming elements and the overlapping pel forming elements, wherein the transfer functions transform input digital counts, and wherein the ink deposition functions represent output ink amount versus input digital count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikel Stanich, Walter F. Kailey, Nikita Gurudath, Ziling Zhang, Brandon Skogen
  • Patent number: 11831834
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine a printing area and a non-printing area in image data, and an execution unit configured to execute first multiplexing processing by changing a U component in a YUV color space with respect to an area determined as a printing area in the image data and to execute second multiplexing processing by changing a Y component in a CMYK color space with respect to an area determined as a non-printing area in the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoichi Kashibuchi, Akitoshi Yamada, Hiroyasu Kunieda
  • Patent number: 11829822
    Abstract: A print data editing device is configured to perform: editing print data such that when dots constituting an input image represented by the print data are compared by units of columns before and after the editing, a coincidence is maximized when an image of each column in the input image after the editing is the same position as an image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing or is shifted by a corresponding shift amount in a sub-scanning direction relative to the image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing. An absolute value of at least one of shift amounts for columns in the input image after the editing is one dot or greater. An absolute difference value for any two neighboring columns in a main scanning direction in the input image after the editing is one dot or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Naruse, Isao Fukuchi, Mina Takechi, Akira Minami, Kohei Terada