Patents by Inventor Hidetsugu Kagawa
Hidetsugu Kagawa 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).
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Patent number: 9162477Abstract: Area information is obtained with respect to a specified color and nozzle position having color unevenness. Then, coordinate information indicating a nozzle position corresponding to the above area information is obtained in a printing head or nozzle array corresponding to an ink color relating to the specified color information. Next, the number of candidate correction values or candidate patches is obtained on the basis of nozzle coordinates obtained corresponding to the area, by referring to a table. In this table, for example, the number of candidate correction values is small at a nozzle position where an effect due to the variations of nozzle ejection characteristics such as a nozzle ejection volume is small and a change direction is constant, and the number of candidate correction values is large at a nozzle position where an effect due to variations of nozzle ejection characteristics is large.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2010Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tohru Ikeda, Ryosuke Iguchi, Nobutaka Miyake, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Fumitaka Goto, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Junichi Nakagawa, Senichi Saito
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Patent number: 9090086Abstract: In an overlapping head including a plurality of recording head chips overlapped to each other, a color shift can occur between a color recorded by an overlapping region and a color recorded by a non-overlapping region, which cannot be corrected by a density correction using head shading or the like. To correct such a color shift, a test pattern is recorded by the overlapping region and the non-overlapping region and colors of the recorded test pattern are measured. Color correction data to be used in correction of colors of an image to be recorded is generated based on a result of the measurement of the colors.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2010Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Nakamura, Akitoshi Yamada, Okinori Tsuchiya, Akihiko Nakatani, Mitsuhiro Ono, Ayumi Sano, Takashi Fujita, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Yugo Mochizuki, Fumihiro Goto, Fumitaka Goto
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Patent number: 9092720Abstract: Provided is a dither pattern generation method so that a dot arrangement having excellent dispersibility can be obtained in low-gradation areas for single colors and for mixed colors. The dither pattern generation method generates dot patterns for low-gradation areas having threshold values 1 to S so that high dispersibility is obtained in a cyan dot pattern and a magenta dot pattern, and so that in a combined dot pattern made by combining these dot patterns there are no overlapping pixels. The dither pattern generation method then sets threshold values for a cyan dither pattern and a magenta dither pattern based on these generated dot patterns.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2014Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junichi Nakagawa, Akitoshi Yamada, Nobutaka Miyake, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Shinjiro Hori, Fumitaka Goto, Ryosuke Iguchi, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Kouta Murasawa, Hiromitsu Akiba, Senichi Saito
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Patent number: 9087291Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a generation unit; wherein a first dither pattern and a second dither pattern have same threshold values that are set for same pixels in a first gradation range, and have different threshold values that are set for same pixels in a second gradation range that exceeds the first gradation range; and the generation unit sets a first threshold value for forming dots of the first dither pattern, and generates a first binary data according to whether or not a threshold value corresponding to a target pixel of the first dither pattern is included in the first threshold value, and sets a second threshold value for forming dots of the second dither pattern, and generates a second binary data according to whether or not a threshold value corresponding to a target pixel of the second dither pattern is included in the second threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2014Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shinjiro Hori, Nobutaka Miyake, Akitoshi Yamada, Fumitaka Goto, Ryosuke Iguchi, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Kouta Murasawa, Hiromitsu Akiba, Junichi Nakagawa, Senichi Saito
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Patent number: 9055252Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus that can accurately and efficiently reduce color unevenness that occurs in a color image, which is formed by color mixture of a plurality of different types of inks, due to a variation in ejection characteristic among nozzles. The inks are respectively ejected from the nozzle arrays to print patches; regions where color correction for test color images should be performed are specified; a different types of color correction processing for color signals corresponding to the color correction regions are performed to print color correction patches; a color correction patch to be used is selected; on the basis of selected color correction processing, a table parameter corresponding to a nozzle is formed; when the plurality of color correction patches are formed, only correction candidate values having larger color differences than a predetermined threshold value in a uniform color space are generated for color signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2010Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Nobutaka Miyake, Ryosuke Iguchi, Tohru Ikeda, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Fumitaka Goto, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Junichi Nakagawa, Senichi Saito
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Patent number: 9030712Abstract: Nozzles in a print head are arrayed in a density of 600 dpi. Moreover, a dither matrix has a size of 16 pixels×16 pixels in 600 dpi. The dither matrix is repeatedly used. In the meantime, each of rectangles represents an HS processing unit. WHS=3 pixels. As a consequence, the relationship of a least common multiple below is established in a nozzle array direction: 3×WD=16×WHS. In this case, the cycle of interference unevenness can be prolonged to the least common multiple between WD and WHS, that is, 48 pixels (3WD). In this manner, the size of the dither matrix is not an integral multiple of the HS processing unit width, so that the cycle of interference unevenness can be prolonged more than the size of the dither matrix. Thus, the interference unevenness can be hardly recognized.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2013Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Senichi Saito, Akitoshi Yamada, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Fumitaka Goto, Nobutaka Miyake, Mitsuhiro Ono, Ryosuke Iguchi, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Junichi Nakagawa
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Publication number: 20150124301Abstract: In an image processing apparatus for encoding image data and a method of controlling the same, whether an attribute of each of a plurality of areas in image data corresponds to an edge in an image based on the image data is determined, and one of a plurality of sub-sampling processes is selected according to the determination for each of the plurality of areas. Note that the plurality of sub-sampling processes can sub-sample color difference components of each of the plurality of areas by different processes. By the sub-sampling process selected as that corresponding to each of the plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas is sub-sampled to encode the image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2015Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventors: Yugo Mochizuki, Fumihiro Goto, Akihiko Nakatani, Okinori Tsuchiya, Takashi Nakamura, Takashi Fujita, Ayumi Sano, Mitsuhiro Ono, Hidetsugu Kagawa
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Patent number: 9007655Abstract: One dither mask having a highest spacial frequency is selected from a plurality of dither masks. Next, a granularity is obtained with reference to a table based on the selected dither mask and an ejection amount level per area. Moreover, a difference in granularity between adjacent areas is calculated with respect to all of the areas. A maximum value is obtained out of the obtained differences in granularity, and then, the maximum difference in granularity is compared with a determination threshold. When the maximum difference in granularity is the threshold or greater, it is determined whether or not a dither mask having a spacial frequency lower than that of the selected dither mask is stored in a memory. When there are dither masks having lower spacial frequencies, a dither mask having a spacial frequency lower by one level than that of the selected dither mask is selected.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryosuke Iguchi, Nobutaka Miyake, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Fumitaka Goto, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Junichi Nakagawa, Senichi Saito
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Publication number: 20150092240Abstract: Provided is a quantization processing method using dither patterns that make it possible to obtain a dot array having excellent dispersibility even in the case of a single color or mixed color inks. For this purpose, first and second dither patterns are prepared in order to respectively quantize multivalued data for a first ink to different pieces of binary data, respectively. Also, third and fourth dither patterns are prepared in order to respectively quantize multivalued data for a second ink to different pieces of binary data. Further, on the basis of a combination of the multivalued data on the first ink and the multivalued data on the second ink, a quantization unit for the first ink, and a quantization unit for the second ink are determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Nobutaka Miyake, Junichi Nakagawa, Akitoshi Yamada, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Shinjiro Hori, Fumitaka Goto, Ryosuke Iguchi, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Kouta Murasawa, Hiromitsu Akiba, Senichi Saito
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Publication number: 20150092242Abstract: Provided is a dither pattern generation method so that a dot arrangement having excellent dispersibility can be obtained in low-gradation areas for single colors and for mixed colors. The dither pattern generation method generates dot patterns for low-gradation areas having threshold values 1 to S so that high dispersibility is obtained in a cyan dot pattern and a magenta dot pattern, and so that in a combined dot pattern made by combining these dot patterns there are no overlapping pixels. The dither pattern generation method then sets threshold values for a cyan dither pattern and a magenta dither pattern based on these generated dot patterns.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Junichi Nakagawa, Akitoshi Yamada, Nobutaka Miyake, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Shinjiro Hori, Fumitaka Goto, Ryosuke Iguchi, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Kouta Murasawa, Hiromitsu Akiba, Senichi Saito
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Publication number: 20150092241Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a generation unit; wherein a first dither pattern and a second dither pattern have same threshold values that are set for same pixels in a first gradation range, and have different threshold values that are set for same pixels in a second gradation range that exceeds the first gradation range; and the generation unit sets a first threshold value for forming dots of the first dither pattern, and generates a first binary data according to whether or not a threshold value corresponding to a target pixel of the first dither pattern is included in the first threshold value, and sets a second threshold value for forming dots of the second dither pattern, and generates a second binary data according to whether or not a threshold value corresponding to a target pixel of the second dither pattern is included in the second threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Shinjiro Hori, Nobutaka Miyake, Akitoshi Yamada, Fumitaka Goto, Ryosuke Iguchi, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Kouta Murasawa, Hiromitsu Akiba, Junichi Nakagawa, Senichi Saito
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Patent number: 8965138Abstract: In an image processing apparatus for encoding image data and a method of controlling the same, whether an attribute of each of a plurality of areas in image data corresponds to an edge in an image based on the image data is determined, and one of a plurality of sub-sampling processes is selected according to the determination for each of the plurality of areas. Note that the plurality of sub-sampling processes can sub-sample color difference components of each of the plurality of areas by different processes. By the sub-sampling process selected as that corresponding to each of the plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas is sub-sampled to encode the image data.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2013Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yugo Mochizuki, Fumihiro Goto, Akihiko Nakatani, Okinori Tsuchiya, Takashi Nakamura, Takashi Fujita, Ayumi Sano, Mitsuhiro Ono, Hidetsugu Kagawa
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Patent number: 8960834Abstract: The memory size and processing time for the correction of image data carried out to reduce image deterioration caused by nozzle ejection characteristic variation in an inkjet printing apparatus can be minimized. Print heads are provided with pluralities of chips that have nozzle arrays formed from a plurality of nozzles. Overlap portions and non-overlap portions are formed on each chip. An image processing apparatus sets input image data, corresponding to nozzle regions that are defined in nozzle arrays along the alignment direction of the nozzles of the print head and that are composed of a plurality of nozzles, as processing blocks. The input image data is processed according to parameters defined for each of those processing blocks. The boundaries of the nozzle regions corresponding to the input image data of the processing blocks are established according to the boundaries of the overlap portions and the non-overlap portions.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Fumitaka Goto, Nobutaka Miyake, Tohru Ikeda, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Ryosuke Iguchi, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Junichi Nakagawa
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Patent number: 8953234Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided that is capable of very accurately and efficiently reducing uneven color caused by variation in ejection characteristics among nozzles that eject ink and that occurs in a color image that is formed by mixing a plurality of different kinds of ink. A patch is printed by ejected ink from a plurality of nozzles, a region is specified so as to perform color correction in a test color image that is printed on a printing medium, a plurality of different color correction processing is performed on color signals that correspond to a color correction region, a plurality of color correction patches are printed, a color correction patch to be used is selected from among the plurality of different color correction patches and table parameters that correspond to the nozzles are created based on the selected color correction processing.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2010Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryosuke Iguchi, Nobutaka Miyake, Tohru Ikeda, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Fumitaka Goto, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Junichi Nakagawa, Senichi Saito
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Publication number: 20150022580Abstract: Because the ejection state of a printing element in a printing apparatus may vary at all times, an inspection item for inspecting a printed image may be set in consideration of the ejection state of the printing element. An inspection item for inspecting a printed image may be set based on information including a temperature characteristic of a printing head and a state of ink such as an elapsed time from the last ejection. This allows image inspection that matches with variations in the ejection state of the printing element.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventors: Fumitaka Goto, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Senichi Saito, Nobutaka Miyake, Shinjiro Hori, Akitoshi Yamada, Ryosuke Iguchi, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Kouta Murasawa, Hiromitsu Akiba, Junichi Nakagawa
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Patent number: 8936341Abstract: In the present invention, a first calculation unit calculates, based on image data obtained by reading with a reading unit a plurality of patches formed on a printing medium by a plurality of nozzle regions constituting nozzle array of a printing head, respective color specification values of a plurality of correction regions corresponding to a plurality of nozzle regions constituting the nozzle array. Then, a target value setting unit sets, based on the calculated color specification values of the plurality of correction regions, a target color specification value of the patch. Further, a second calculation unit calculates a difference between each of the color specification values of the plurality of correction regions and the target color specification value as a correction amount. After that, based on the correction amount calculated, image data corresponding to an image printed by each of the plurality of nozzle regions are corrected.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2010Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hidetsugu Kagawa, Nobutaka Miyake, Tohru Ikeda, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Fumitaka Goto, Ryosuke Iguchi, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Junichi Nakagawa, Senichi Saito
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Publication number: 20150002902Abstract: Image ink data is generated which represents the absence of ejection of ink corresponding to pixels for which text ink data represents the ejection of ink.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventors: Hiromitsu Akiba, Nobutaka Miyake, Shinjiro Hori, Akitoshi Yamada, Fumitaka Goto, Ryosuke Iguchi, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Kouta Murasawa, Junichi Nakagawa, Senichi Saito
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Patent number: 8911048Abstract: When printing an image using a plurality of inks, color unevenness caused by variations in ejection characteristics among nozzles is corrected at suitable timings in accordance with change in the color unevenness over time, and favorable image output without noticeably color unevenness is maintained. For this purpose, parameters are prepared, for colors formed by combinations of at least two colors of ink, the parameters being determined so as to reduce differences in coloration on a print medium caused by individual variations in the ejection characteristics of a plurality of nozzles. When printing, a first color signal included in individual pixels is corrected for a second color signal by using the parameters. Information regarding the ejection volume characteristics of a plurality of nozzles is acquired as appropriate, and by estimating changes in coloration from this information, suitable timings for overwriting such parameters are determined.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2010Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akitoshi Yamada, Ryosuke Iguchi, Nobutaka Miyake, Tohru Ikeda, Mitsuhiro Ono, Fumitaka Goto, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Junichi Nakagawa, Senichi Saito
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Patent number: 8899715Abstract: Provided are an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of reducing color unevenness due to variations in ejection characteristics among a plurality of nozzles when printing an image using a plurality of inks. To that end, a first image which is made up a color with noticeable color unevenness and similar colors is printed onto a print medium. The user then specifies a color and a nozzle position where color unevenness has occurred. On the basis of these results, parameters are set for a correction table referenced by an MCS processor. In so doing, it becomes possible to address the factor causing the color unevenness, and mitigate the effects of color unevenness in a focused way without incurring increases in processor load, memory requirements, or processing time as compared to the case of calibrating all lattice points.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2013Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Senichi Saito, Ryosuke Iguchi, Nobutaka Miyake, Tohru Ikeda, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Fumitaka Goto, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Junichi Nakagawa
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Patent number: 8896883Abstract: When an input image is shifted by 640 pixels from a test pattern with reference to the position of a nozzle, the remainder is obtained by dividing 640 pixels by pixels of the dither matrix in an x direction. For example, when the size of the dither matrix in the x direction is 256 pixels, the dither matrix is shifted by 128 pixels in a direction reverse to the x direction. In this manner, the phase of the dither matrix at the time of the quantization during test pattern printing matches the phase of the dither matrix at the time of the quantization during input image printing. Consequently, unevenness of the dither matrix at a position N becomes the same in both of the test pattern and the input image. The HS correction to density unevenness caused by the unevenness of the dither matrix becomes suitable for the input image.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2013Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Fumitaka Goto, Akitoshi Yamada, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Senichi Saito, Nobutaka Miyake, Mitsuhiro Ono, Ryosuke Iguchi, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Junichi Nakagawa