Patents Examined by Scott A. Rogers
  • Patent number: 11503186
    Abstract: An image processing portion of an image reading apparatus includes an extraction portion that extracts color information, a management portion that manages management color information that is an estimated value of the color information based on a control signal, a determination portion that determines whether or not the color information matches the management color information, and a writing control portion that causes the storage portion to store the pixel data when it is determined that the color information matches the management color information and that does not cause the storage portion to store the pixel data when it is determined that the color information does not match the management color information. When the color information does not match the management color information, the management portion adjusts the management color information to match the color information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshinori Matsunami
  • Patent number: 11494600
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a head which discharges liquid to a medium; and a controller. The controller obtains print data for forming an image on the medium with a dot formed by making the liquid to land on the medium, the image including a code having information; selects, in the obtained print data, dot data corresponding to the dot forming the image as selected data, determines whether a first dot pattern including the selected dot data matches a predetermined delete pattern, and determines whether a second dot pattern including the selected dot data matches a predetermined exclusion pattern; performs a correction of the print data based on results of the determinations; and discharges the liquid from the head to the medium, based on the print data after the correction, to form the image on the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazunari Matsuura, Akidi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11489973
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an output unit configured to output a printed material of a verification image in a case where a condition is satisfied, an obtainment unit configured to obtain a verification result based on a comparison between a read image of the printed material of the verification image and a correct answer image, and a control unit configured to control printing based on the verification result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori Ichikawa, Yosuke Obayashi, Minoru Kambegawa, Junichi Goda
  • Patent number: 11483452
    Abstract: A processor identifies a specific part composed of a plurality of significant pixels in a mixed-color test image. Furthermore, the processor identifies a color vector. The color vector represents a vector in a color space from one of a color of the specific part in the mixed-color test image and a color of a reference area including a periphery of the specific part to the other. Furthermore, the processor determines which of a plurality of image creating portions of an image forming device corresponding to a plurality of developing colors, is a cause of an image defect, based on the color vector identified from the mixed-color test image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Sato, Kazunori Tanaka, Takuya Miyamoto, Kanako Morimoto, Rui Hamabe
  • Patent number: 11483436
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printer engine, a sensor and a processor. The printer engine forms an image. The sensor outputs vibration information associated with a vibration of the printer engine. The processor determines whether at least one component of the printer engine has an abnormality based on the output vibration information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kiho Park, Minkeun Song, SaeJin Park, Yong-Ho You, Sungdae Kim
  • Patent number: 11477342
    Abstract: A reading device, an image forming apparatus, and a method of correction. The reading device includes a scanner configured to read an image in a first wavelength range and an image in a second wavelength range from light reflected by a surface of a recording medium, a detector configured to detect a change from a reference position in a reading-depth direction when the surface of the recording medium is read by the scanner, based on an amount of characteristic read from the image in the second wavelength range, and a corrector configured to correct the image in the first wavelength range based on the change detected by the detector. The image forming apparatus includes the reading device, and an image forming device configured to form an image corrected by the corrector of the reading device on a recording medium. The method includes reading the image in the first wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Hashimoto, Masamoto Nakazawa, Daisuke Nikaku, Yutaka Ohmiya
  • Patent number: 11470220
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas L. Schwartz, Horia Neamtu, Chung-Hui Kuo
  • Patent number: 11470221
    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 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: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas L. Schwartz, Horia Neamtu, Chung-Hui Kuo
  • Patent number: 11470205
    Abstract: Provided is an inspection system that can inspect variable printing in production printing with a plurality of apparatuses. This system is the inspection system that includes a design apparatus and an inspection apparatus for production printing. The design unit designs variable print data. The correct answer generation unit generates correct answer data for inspection when the variable print data is created by the design unit. The correct answer change unit acquires the processing information at the time of prepress and reflects it in the correct answer data generated by the correct answer generating unit. The output unit outputs the correct answer data changed by the correct answer change unit. The inspection unit inspects the printed matter based on the correct answer data generated by the design apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Taku Matsuo
  • Patent number: 11470206
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image former that executes image forming processing; a primary controller; a secondary controller that controls the image former; a sensor that detects a state of at least a unit of the image forming apparatus and transmits sensor data indicating the state to the secondary controller; a first transmission path for duplex communication between the primary and secondary controllers; and a second transmission path. The secondary controller: generates, from the sensor data, diagnostic data for failure diagnostics or life prediction, transmits data other than the diagnostic data to the primary controller via the first transmission path and transmits the diagnostic data to the diagnostic server via the second transmission path, or transmits data other than the sensor data to the primary controller via the first transmission path and transmits the sensor data to the diagnostic server via the second transmission path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Hitaka
  • Patent number: 11463592
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an anomaly detecting unit configured to detect anomalies included in a target image; and an anomaly exclusion processing unit configured to exclude a specific anomaly among the detected anomalies. Further, the anomaly exclusion processing unit excludes one of an anomaly and another anomaly among the detected anomalies, if (a) a detection area of the anomaly, a detection area of the other anomaly, and an overlapping area of the detection areas of the anomaly and the other anomaly satisfy a predetermined condition and (b) a type of the anomaly and a type of the other anomaly are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventors: Rui Hamabe, Kazunori Tanaka, Kanako Morimoto, Takuya Miyamoto, Koji Sato
  • Patent number: 11463603
    Abstract: A method of screening a continuous-tone image is configured to produce an output image to be printed on a surface. The continuous-tone image comprises a plurality of pixels having respective corresponding intended print locations. The method includes selecting a first sequence comprising a subset of the plurality of intended print locations, the first sequence being selected based on properties of the plurality of intended print locations. For each intended print location in the first sequence, the method also includes identifying the corresponding pixel in the continuous-tone image to obtain a second sequence for an error diffusion process comprising the identified corresponding pixels in the continuous-tone image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Global Inkjet Systems Limited
    Inventors: Philip D A Collins, Nicholas Campbell Geddes
  • Patent number: 11457125
    Abstract: In some examples, with respect to three-dimensional printer color management, three-dimensional printer native space coordinates of a three-dimensional printer may be mapped to three-dimensional printer printing agent space coordinates of the three-dimensional printer. The three-dimensional printer printing agent space coordinates may be mapped to color space coordinates. The color space coordinates may be mapped to two-dimensional printer printing agent space coordinates of a two-dimensional printer. The two-dimensional printer printing agent space coordinates may be mapped to two-dimensional printer native space coordinates of the two-dimensional printer. A color management protocol of the two-dimensional printer may be utilized, based on the mapping of the three-dimensional printer native space coordinates to the two-dimensional printer native space coordinates, for the three-dimensional printer to print a three-dimensional object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Miguel Angel Lopez Alvarez, Morgan T. Schramm, Xin Cheng, Jay S. Gondek
  • Patent number: 11457121
    Abstract: A reading device includes a first light source configured to emit light, a second light source configured to emit light in a wavelength of light different from a wavelength of light of the first light source, circuitry configured to instruct the first light source and the second light source to turn on and turn off, a first light-intensity adjuster configured to adjust light intensity of the first light source based on a first light intensity value, a second light-intensity adjuster configured to adjust light intensity of the second light source based on a second light intensity value, a first image sensor configured to receive the light that is emitted from the first light source and is reflected by an object, and a second image sensor configured to receive the light that is emitted from the first light source and the second light source and is reflected by the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuhei Yokoyama, Masamoto Nakazawa, Tadaaki Oyama, Ayumu Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11438483
    Abstract: In a case where a user manually selects an image to be converted into a monochrome image with distinguishability, the user is to take labor and may select an image unsuitable for conversion into a monochrome image with distinguishability. An attribute in a page of print data is analyzed for each page, and based on the attribute of the page, a distinguishability improvement method that performs conversion into gray data by using density difference or outline emphasis is switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Inoue, Tatsunori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11431856
    Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a system (100) for handling variations in a mark (110) printed by a group (105) of industrial printers (101). The system (100) obtains images of the printed mark (110) printed by each of the printers (101) in the group (105). The system (100) creates a composite image from the obtained images. The printed marks (110) appear as a repeating pattern in the composite image. The system (100) compares the printed marks (110) in the composite image to each other or to another mark. The system (100) detects variations with a first resolution in the printed marks (110) in the composite image as a result of the comparison. The system (100) creates an augmented image in which the detected variations are augmented to a second resolution. The first resolution is lower than the second resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher John Wright, Matthew John Lawrenson
  • Patent number: 11418683
    Abstract: An image processing system and method provide for receiving a digital document page to be printed. The page includes a background region for which no color is specified. A user is presented with an option to select a print medium from a set of print media of different colors and to select an option for a color of the selected print medium be used as a color of a background layer of the digital document page. When the option is selected, a background layer is inserted into the page. A print job incorporating the processed digital document page is output to an associated printer that is configured to convert the color of the background layer to colorant values that use the print media as a colorant for rendering at least a part of the background region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frederick J. Ramsey, Thomas L. Pierce, Elizabeth Crossen, Clara Cuciurean-Zapan, Deepthi Sidavanahalli Rao, Alan K. Robertson, David St. John, Jeremy Griffith
  • Patent number: 11418679
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus that is capable of preventing an additional image from being arranged at a position that overruns from a displayed base image when a user carelessly designates such a position. The image processing apparatus including an instruction unit that instructs a composition position by a user's operation at which an additional image selected by a user is combined with a base image displayed on a display, and a controller that controls so as to combine the additional image with the base image at a composition position instructed by the instruction unit. When the composition position where at least a part of the additional image overruns from the base image is instructed by the instruction unit, the controller changes the composition position so that the additional image will fit into the base image and combines the additional image at the changed composition position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hitoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11412093
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming system including a first image forming device, a second image forming device; and an image reading device. A first hardware processor of the first image forming device causes a first image former of the first image forming device to form a first reference image on a first face of a sheet. A second hardware processor of the second image forming device causes a second image former of the second image forming device to form a second reference image different from the first reference image on the first face of the sheet. A third hardware processor of the image reading device determines whether an image positional deviation is present based on the first reference image and the second reference image that are formed on the first face of the sheet and that are read by the image reading device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Tomomi Izawa
  • Patent number: 11405509
    Abstract: There is provided with an information processing apparatus. A first obtaining unit obtains data of a reference image indicating a target of printing output to be performed by a printing apparatus. A second obtaining unit obtains data of an image printed by the printing apparatus. A correcting unit corrects a local image density difference or the reference image based on a global image density difference between the reference image and the printed image. An evaluating unit evaluates quality of the printed image based on the local image density difference between the corrected reference image and the printed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kyohei Kikuta, Kosei Takahashi