Patents by Inventor Hidehiko Kanda

Hidehiko Kanda 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).

  • Publication number: 20070159512
    Abstract: An ink jet recording method of ejecting ink using an ink jet head substrate provided with a heat generating resistor which is coated with a protecting film, wherein the ink is ejected by a pressure produced by generation of a bubble created by film boiling of the ink caused by application of thermal energy to the ink through the protecting film, the thermal energy being generated by driving of the heat generating resistor, the improvement residing in that: there is provided a recording mode in which the ink is ejected with a maximum temperature at the surface of the protecting film which is contacted to the ink not higher than 560° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: KOROMO SHIROTA, TERUO OZAKI, MASAHIKO KUBOTA, RYUJI KATSURAGI, HIDEHIKO KANDA
  • Patent number: 7219971
    Abstract: An ink jet recording method for ejecting ink using an ink jet head substrate provided with a heat generating resistor, which is coated with a protection film, wherein the ink is ejected by a pressure produced by generation of a bubble, the bubble being created by film boiling of the ink caused by the application of thermal energy to the ink through the protection film, the thermal energy being generated by driving of the heat generating resistor, the improvement residing in that: there is provided a recording mode in which the ink is ejected with a maximum temperature at the surface of the protection film, which is contacted to the ink, not higher than 560° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koromo Shirota, Teruo Ozaki, Masahiko Kubota, Ryuji Katsuragi, Hidehiko Kanda
  • Patent number: 7201465
    Abstract: There is provided a small, low-cost, and highly reliable ink jet printing apparatus capable of performing a recovery operation smoothly and forming an image with a stabilized quality. More specifically, when a suction recovery operation for a printing head for ejecting ink is performed, an ejection port surface of the printing head is covered with a cap member, and a cap opening help operation that facilitates the cap opening operation is performed when performing a cap opening operation that separates the cap member from the ejection port surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Sakamoto, Hidehiko Kanda, Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7185964
    Abstract: A printing method and printing apparatus can print a high-quality image free from any visual graininess by reducing density unevenness and color unevenness. In printing by discharging ink from a printhead onto a printing medium, the printing apparatus executes either one of (A) a first printing operation mode in which one dot layout pattern is assigned to a plurality of pixels at the same gradation level and printing is done on the basis of the assigned dot layout pattern, or (B) a second printing operation mode in which plural types of dot layout patterns are assigned to a plurality of pixels at the same gradation level and printing is done on the basis of the assigned dot layout patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidehiko Kanda, Takeji Niikura, Tetsuya Saito
  • Publication number: 20070013732
    Abstract: The present invention can correct, when a printing position is displaced by an inclination of a printing head for example, the displacement in an easy and effective manner and also allows a user to easily recognize the displacement of the printing position to correct the displacement. To realize this, dots for forming a test pattern are formed by different scannings by a nozzle group including a plurality of nozzles positioned at one end side of a nozzle row and a nozzle group including a plurality of nozzles positioned at the other end side of the nozzle row. Depending on displacements of the printing positions of these dots, the plurality of nozzles constituting the nozzle row are divided to a plurality of divided nozzle groups. Then, the printing position is adjusted on the basis of the divided nozzle groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Sakamoto, Norihiro Kawatoko, Yuji Hamasaki, Hidehiko Kanda, Toshiyuki Chikuma, Aya Hayashi, Jiro Moriyama, Masashi Hayashi, Hirokazu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20070013726
    Abstract: Image deterioration is suppressed as much as possible which is complexly generated by variations of printing positions respectively of printing elements in a printing element row and by displacement of printing positions among printing element rows. To this end, a first adjustment value for adjusting printing positions among a plurality of printing elements included in a printing element row is obtained. Next, printing positions among a plurality of printing elements are adjusted based on the first adjustment value. Then a second adjustment value for adjusting printing positions among not less than two of the printing element rows is obtained. Thereby variations of printing positions in a discharge port row and displacement of printing positions among discharge port rows are properly adjusted in different phases, and adverse effects generated by two kinds of different causes are collectively suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Aya Hayashi, Jiro Moriyama, Hidehiko Kanda, Yuji Hamasaki, Norihiro Kawatoko, Toshiyuki Chikuma, Atsushi Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20070008363
    Abstract: A recording device drives a recording head mounted on a carriage while main-scanning by moving the carriage in a direction generally orthogonal to the sheet-feeding direction of a sheet. The recording device drives a first nozzle of the recording head at an upstream side in the sheet-feeding direction of the sheet to form a first dot pattern while scanning the carriage and drives a second nozzle at a downstream side in the sheet-feeding direction of the sheet to form a second dot pattern. The recording device feeds a region where the first dot pattern is recorded to a position facing the second nozzle. The second dot pattern is recorded in a region where the first dot pattern is not recorded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Hamasaki, Jiro Moriyama, Hidehiko Kanda, Norihiro Kawatoko, Toshiyuki Chikuma, Atsushi Sakamoto, Aya Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20070008361
    Abstract: Provided is a print position control method whereby displacement of a print position in a wide range can be corrected very accurately, without reducing a printing speed or increasing a manufacturing cost. Thus, a printing apparatus includes: a first correction unit, for correcting a print position at accuracy equal to the resolution of the printing apparatus; and a second correction unit, for correcting the print position at accuracy higher than the resolution and in the range of an area that corresponds to one pixel of the resolution. With this arrangement, the print position displacement in a wide range equal to or greater than one pixel can be corrected by the first correction unit, and a print position displacement smaller than one pixel can be corrected by the second correction unit. Therefore, correction of a print position displacement in a wide range is enabled at a higher accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norihiro Kawatoko, Yuji Hamasaki, Atsushi Sakamoto, Aya Hayashi, Hidehiko Kanda, Toshiyuki Chikuma, Jiro Moriyama
  • Publication number: 20070008370
    Abstract: A method of adjusting bidirectional registration to reduce negative effects on the image such as “banding” even if bidirectional registration includes a slight amount of displacement is provided. For that purpose, correction is applied to a first adjustment value for adjusting a bidirectional registration displacement in response to an extent of inclination of a printing head to obtain a second adjustment value. Then a bidirectional printing is performed with timing adjusted on the basis of the second adjustment value. As a result of that, even if there is a slight variation in an adjustment value of the bidirectional registration and the inclination of the printing head, the banding generated by this can be reduced as much as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihiro Kawatoko, Masashi Hayashi, Toshiyuki Chikuma, Hidehiko Kanda
  • Publication number: 20070008360
    Abstract: When bidirectional multi-pass printing is carried out by use of a printing head having an inclination, even if a bidirectional printing is somewhat displaced, an inclination of a printing position is corrected in a state where “band unevenness” is suppressed as much as possible. In order to realize the correction described above, a division number B for dividing a plurality of printing elements into a plurality of blocks, and a timing at which each of the blocks is driven, are set on the bases of inclination information on the printing head and the number of multi-passes. Thus, even if the bidirectional printing is displaced, printing widths are equally increased or reduced in the respective regions. Consequently, it is made possible to avoid the “band unevenness” which is caused by differences in the printing width among the regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi Hayashi, Norihiro Kawatoko, Toshiyuki Chikuma, Hidehiko Kanda
  • Publication number: 20070008354
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording device is capable of correcting a recording position due to a leaning of a printing head and correcting of driving timing between multiple printing heads. Each nozzle row of a printing head is classified into multiple nozzle groups, and the driving timing of the nozzle groups other than the nozzle group serving as a reference of correction of the multiple nozzle groups is adjustable to correct for any leaning of the printing head. Moreover, in the event of performing the driving timing between printing heads, the driving timing of a non-reference printing head is adjustable relative to a reference printing head employed for leaning correction of multiple printing heads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Aya Hayashi, Jiro Moriyama, Hidehiko Kanda, Yuji Hamasaki, Norihiro Kawatoko, Toshiyuki Chikuma, Atsushi Sakamoto, Hirokazu Tanaka, Masashi Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20070008561
    Abstract: This invention provides a data processing method, printing apparatus, host apparatus, and printing system capable of reducing the data transfer rate from the host apparatus to the printing apparatus, suppressing density unevenness, and reducing the cost of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidehiko Kanda, Norihiro Kawatoko, Toshiyuki Chikuma, Jiro Moriyama, Yuji Hamasaki, Atsushi Sakamoto, Aya Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20060274096
    Abstract: An image forming system includes: a computer for supplying image data; and a printer having a sub-tank for retaining ink to be supplied to a printing head and a system performing an on-demand supply of ink to the sub-tank. With the image forming system, during printing, the occurrence of a fuzzy image, due to ink in the sub-tank being exhausted, is prevented, and a reduction in the throughput of printing is also prevented. The computer counts, in advance, dots required for the printing of image data, and transmits the dot count, as well as image data, to the printer. The printer compares the amount of ink in the sub-tank with the required ink amount that based on the received dot counts. Only when it is determined that the remaining ink amount is insufficient, refilling of the sub-tank is performed, and thereafter, the printing of the image data is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidehiko Kanda, Aya Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7118190
    Abstract: In cleaning an orifice surface in which the orifices of a printhead are formed, a portion of the orifice surface that readily becomes dirty along with ink discharge from the printhead is preferentially cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Sakamoto, Hidehiko Kanda, Aya Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7101004
    Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus utilizing an inkjet head and an ink tank for supplying ink to the same, it is made possible to suppress any reduction in image quality attributable to changes in physical and chemical properties of the ink that occur during an elapsed time from the manufacture of the ink tank to the use of the same, thereby allowing images to be formed with high reliability and stability at a low running cost. The apparatus has a discharging unit for discharging the ink through a nozzle at the head and an ink detecting unit for detecting the consumption of the ink in the ink tank. The detected ink consumption is compared with a threshold for ink consumption appropriately determined based on the elapsed time, and control is performed such that the amount discharged by the discharging unit is increased when the ink has not been consumed sufficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Sakamoto, Hidehiko Kanda
  • Patent number: 7080892
    Abstract: A printing apparatus receives, from a host apparatus, main scanning/printing direction information representing the main scanning/printing direction of a printhead. The printing apparatus stores, in a print buffer, print data corresponding to the printing direction represented by the main scanning/printing direction information generated by the host apparatus. The CPU of the printing apparatus controls printing by the printhead on the basis of the main scanning/printing direction information and the print data stored in the print buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jiro Moriyama, Hidehiko Kanda
  • Patent number: 7052191
    Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus capable of printing input data in proper adaptation to plural types of printing data input units and environments of use. For this purpose, the type of an input unit is first recognized. For example, when it is recognized that a personal computer capable of causing the printing apparatus to perform a setting process for registration is connected, it is judged that the process has already been performed, and a mode for printing at a high speed is adopted. When it is recognized that a digital camera is connected, since it is likely that the process has not been performed yet, a mode for printing at a low speed is adopted to prevent any reduction in image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jiro Moriyama, Yuji Hamasaki, Hidehiko Kanda, Norihiro Kawatoko, Toshiyuki Chikuma, Atsushi Sakamoto, Aya Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7029089
    Abstract: When an image representing positional information, formed with black spot pattern and the other image formed with color inks including cyan, magenta, and yellow are recorded on the same recording medium, the gradient of color data is corrected during data preparation of colors used for recording the image other than the black spot pattern, according to the duty of the black spot pattern. Thus, even if the other image is recorded to overlap with the black spot pattern, color changes of the image can be prevented to produce a high-quality image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidehiko Kanda, Jiro Moriyama
  • Publication number: 20060071995
    Abstract: With the width in the main scanning direction of the image region of which the recording width in the main scanning direction is the shortest of all of the image regions to be recorded on the recording surface of the recording medium as X1 in the main scanning direction, the width obtained by subtracting the width of the ink discharge orifice from the width between the ink discharge orifice closet to the discharge side, of the ink discharge orifices employed for recording of an image region and the roller as Y1 in the sub scanning direction, and the period necessary for completing another image region defined by the width X1 and the width Y1 as T1, the sub scanning of the recording medium is controlled such that the one image region comes into contact with the roller after the period T1 from the point of completion thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Aya Hayashi, Hidehiko Kanda
  • Publication number: 20060038846
    Abstract: When conveying tables for conveying the printing medium are selected to perform interlace printing, the occurrence of unevenness in an image which results from switching of the tables is prevented. It is determined whether a phase of the conveying table is a transfer inhibition phase in transfer to a printing area. In the case of the transfer inhibition phase, the switching is not made to a new table, but the previously used table is used. Thus, the switching can be made to a conveying table so as not to make a shift amount +1/2N or ?1/N continue. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of unevenness in an image which is caused by 1/N deviation of a printing position in a sub-scanning direction with regard to print data at the time of transfer from a rear end area to the normal area or the normal area to the rear end area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Chikuma, Hidehiko Kanda, Norihiro Kawatoko