Patents by Inventor Haruo Shimizu

Haruo Shimizu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7680345
    Abstract: According to this invention, encoded data of a target data amount is generated by one image input operation while both lossless encoding and lossy encoding are adopted. For this purpose, a first memory stores encoded data of a shorter encode length among encoded data generated by a first encoding unit which performs lossy encoding and encoded data generated by a second encoding unit which performs lossless encoding. A second memory stores encoded data from a second encoding unit. When an encoding sequence control unit determines that the encoded data amount in the first memory has exceeded the target data amount, the encoding sequence control unit discards data in the first memory, sets a quantization parameter for a higher compression ratio for the first encoding unit, and causes the first encoding unit to execute encoding. Encoded data before the encoded data amount is determined to have exceeded the target data amount is re-encoded by a re-encoding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Ito, Hirokazu Tamura, Hiroshi Kajiwara, Yuki Matsumoto, Hidefumi Osawa, Ken-ichi Ohta, Haruo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7038707
    Abstract: In a case of recording (printing) an image including texts and thin lines, the image is printed with an intended thickness without causing a crack in the thin lines. When the CAD mode is OFF in the apparatus proposed by this invention, assuming a pixel value indicative of a printing color component is 8 bits and the maximum value is 255, the value is reduced to, e.g., 90%, before halftoning is performed, and image forming is performed in accordance with the characteristic curve 751 which specifies the relation between the halftoning-processed data and the amount of exposure light. On the contrary, when the CAD mode is ON, halftoning is performed without reducing the pixel value indicative of a printing color components, and image forming is performed in accordance with the characteristic curve 753 which specifies the relation between the halftoning-processed data and the amount of exposure light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruo Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20060045362
    Abstract: According to this invention, encoded data of a target data amount is generated by one image input operation while both lossless encoding and lossy encoding are adopted. For this purpose, a first memory stores encoded data of a shorter encode length among encoded data generated by a first encoding unit which performs lossy encoding and encoded data generated by a second encoding unit which performs lossless encoding. A second memory stores encoded data from a second encoding unit. When an encoding sequence control unit determines that the encoded data amount in the first memory has exceeded the target data amount, the encoding sequence control unit discards data in the first memory, sets a quantization parameter for a higher compression ratio for the first encoding unit, and causes the first encoding unit to execute encoding. Encoded data before the encoded data amount is determined to have exceeded the target data amount is re-encoded by a re-encoding unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Ito, Hirokazu Tamura, Hiroshi Kajiwara, Yuki Matsumoto, Hidefumi Osawa, Ken-ichi Ohta, Haruo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6879416
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an image processing system which can eliminate white gaps which are highly likely to be generated in, e.g., a non-contact color developing system by a simple arrangement, and can output a high-quality image. If it is determined that a white gap process is required, the flow advances to check if the converted data indicates a primary color (single color). Other colors undergo a gradation level reduction process, and a laser is minimally and uniformly turned on (background exposure) at a level which is imperceptible to the human eye by always setting level 1 (data of minimum, invisible level) so as to generate output information with a light amount at an invisible or non-developing level or less, thereby eliminating white gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruo Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20040165057
    Abstract: In a case of recording (printing) an image including texts and thin lines, the image is printed with an intended thickness without causing a crack in the thin lines. When the CAD mode is OFF in the apparatus proposed by this invention, assuming a pixel value indicative of a printing color component is 8 bits and the maximum value is 255, the value is reduced to, e.g., 90%, before halftoning is performed, and image forming is performed in accordance with the characteristic curve 751 which specifies the relation between the halftoning-processed data and the amount of exposure light. On the contrary, when the CAD mode is ON, halftoning is performed without reducing the pixel value indicative of a printing color components, and image forming is performed in accordance with the characteristic curve 753 which specifies the relation between the halftoning-processed data and the amount of exposure light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6751346
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing method for executing color processing on an input image and outputting processed data to an output unit. The method comprises the steps of setting color processing conditions in accordance with an instruction from users, and executing color processing in accordance with the color processing conditions set in the above step, setting of the color processing conditions being selectively made in one of an automatic mode in which the color processing is automatically executed in accordance with a preset combination of object types and the color processing conditions, a semiautomatic mode in which the same color processing is set regardless of object types, and a manual mode in which a combination of object types and the color processing conditions is set in accordance with an instruction from users. An image forming apparatus and a recording medium for implementing the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruo Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20030081255
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing method for executing color processing on an input image and outputting processed data to an output unit. The method comprises the steps of setting color processing conditions in accordance with an instruction from users, and executing color processing in accordance with the color processing conditions set in the above step, setting of the color processing conditions being selectively made in one of an automatic mode in which the color processing is automatically executed in accordance with a preset combination of object types and the color processing conditions, a semiautomatic mode in which the same color processing is set regardless of object types, and a manual mode in which a combination of object types and the color processing conditions is set in accordance with an instruction from users. An image forming apparatus and a recording medium for implementing the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventor: HARUO SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 6490055
    Abstract: A printer includes an input unit for inputting color page description information, creation means for creating intermediate information for recording by analyzing color page description information which has been input, an execution unit for executing fast hardware rendering with a hardware for the intermediate information, and a switch for switching the fast hardware rendering into a software rendering in the case of a high grade color logical drawing which cannot be supported by the hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruo Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20010055129
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an image processing system which can eliminate white gaps which are highly likely to be generated in, e.g., a non-contact color developing system by a simple arrangement, and can output a high-quality image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventor: Haruo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6323958
    Abstract: A printer comprises an input unit for inputting color page description information, creation means for creating intermediate information for recording by analyzing color page description information which has been input, an execution unit for executing fast hardware rendering with a hardware for the intermediate information, and a switch for switching the fast hardware rendering into a software rendering in the case of a high grade color logical drawing which cannot be supported by the hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6189020
    Abstract: A document processing apparatus for inputting, type-setting and displaying the document information includes a type-setting section for type-setting a document information in a batch process, by receiving it in a unit of page, and a display section for displaying the document information type-set by said type-setting section, by receiving it in a unit of a page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6052202
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus has a derivation unit which derives a usable memory size, and a controller which determines a default value of the memory to be used, according to the derived size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5987230
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus has a derivation unit which derives a usable memory size, and a controller which determines a default value of the memory to be used, according to the derived size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5943680
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a composition device for composing document data, graphic data and image data. The document data to be composed is stored in a storage device in a form that is independent of the capacity of an output device. An output control device converts, in accordance with the capacity of the output device, the stored document data upon output to the output device, and controls the output device for outputting the converted document data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruo Shimizu, Osamu Yoshizaki, Manabu Ohga
  • Patent number: 5936628
    Abstract: A three-dimensional model processing apparatus includes a three-dimensional data-format converter for converting the data format of three-dimensional data inputted by a three-dimensional data input unit, a three-dimensional data processor for processing the three-dimensional data converted by the three-dimensional data-format converter, a three-dimensional model creating unit for creating a three-dimensional model from the three-dimensional data processed by the three-dimensional processor, and a three-dimensional model editor for editing the three-dimensional model created by the three-dimensional model creating unit and applying operations to the shape data. A three-dimensional model is created and edited irrespective of the type of three-dimensional data inputted in different modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Kitamura, Haruo Shimizu, Masatoshi Okutomi, Osamu Yoshizaki, Takeo Kimura
  • Patent number: 5852679
    Abstract: An image processor realizes a gradation function and prints and records color information sent from a host computer, as a high-definition and multi-halftone level image. The processor fetches PDL data into an input buffer by interrupt processing, and interprets an input PDL command in accordance with language specifications. If the input data is a drawing command, the input data is converted into a page object format supported by a hardware renderer. Subsequently, as pre-processing for rendering the page object, a determination is made if banding rendering (banding) processing is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5657048
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of generating characters in various fonts has a replaceable first character generator and a second character generator. Frequently used characters are transferred from the former and registered in the latter, so that various fonts can be used without changing the character generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5504847
    Abstract: Plural range images having different resolutions are generated from an input range image and normal vectors are calculated for each generated range image. An edge map is formed for each of the plural range images based on the calculated normal vectors and a single edge map is formed by synthesizing the plural formed edge maps. Polygon data describing the surface shape of an object represented by the input range image are formed based on the synthesized edge map. Polygon data of high precision that represents characteristics of the surface shape of the object is thereby formed with little data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeo Kimura, Haruo Shimizu, Osamu Yoshizaki, Yoshifumi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 4866595
    Abstract: A recording apparatus is controlled by a recording information generating unit, so that the recording apparatus may be adapted to various recording information generating units. This is achieved by a signal generating unit which generates either a signal for requesting the information transmission from the recording information generating unit, or a signal for demanding the start of information recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 4786923
    Abstract: A recording apparatus is controlled by a recording information generating unit, so that the recording apparatus may be adapted to various recording information generating units. This is achieved by a signal generating unit which generates either a signal for requesting the information transmission from the recording information generating unit, or a signal for demanding the start of information recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruo Shimizu