Patents by Inventor Hirokazu Kasahara

Hirokazu Kasahara 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: 20110141178
    Abstract: A printing apparatus which prints a print image onto a printing medium based on image data, includes a plurality of nozzles which discharge ink onto the printing medium based on the image data while relatively moving with respect to the printing medium, an intensity detector which irradiates the printing medium with irradiation light to detect a light intensity for detection which is an intensity of light through the printing medium based on the irradiation light, and a defective nozzle detector which detects a bias of a distribution of dots with the ink formed on the printing medium based on the light intensity for detection to judge whether a defective nozzle is caused based on the bias of the distribution of the dots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kawai, Tsuneo Kasai, Hirokazu Kasahara
  • Publication number: 20110138608
    Abstract: A dither mask is used in a halftone process that is performed by the printer that includes the preceding and following heads. The dither mask includes preceding and following head storage regions. The preceding head storage region is used for a printing portion of the preceding head. The following head storage region is used for a printing portion of the following head. The dither mask is generated by determining, using comprehensive evaluation values, storage elements in which thresholds are to be stored under the condition that dots are permitted to be formed by the preceding and following heads at the same position in the region corresponding the overlapping regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Tanase, Toru Miyamoto, Toru Takahashi, Hirokazu Kasahara
  • Publication number: 20100201726
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a fluid ejecting apparatus includes: forming first and second test patterns by ejecting fluid from first and second nozzle rows which intersect with a relative movement direction of a medium, wherein the first nozzle row forms the first test pattern by ejecting the fluid in accordance with a first driving pulse and the second nozzle row forms the second test pattern by ejecting the fluid in accordance with a second driving pulse; measuring the density of the first test pattern and the density of the second test pattern; and correcting a parameter of the first driving pulse and a parameter of the second driving pulse such that the density of the first test pattern and the density of the second test pattern become a common target density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takamitsu Kondo, Toru Takahashi, Toru Miyamoto, Hirokazu Kasahara
  • Publication number: 20100060691
    Abstract: [Task] To achieve reduction of the number of correction value tables. [Means for Resolution] A printing method includes: printing a test pattern, in which a plurality of pixel rows including a plurality of pixels arranged in a predetermined direction are arranged in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction, on a kind of medium; reading the test pattern printed on the kind of medium by using a reading unit; obtaining a density correction value for each pixel row on the basis of the read result of the test pattern, and creating a correction value table in which each pixel row is associated with each correction value; performing correction on each pixel row using the correction value table when the printing is performed on the kind of medium; and performing correction on each pixel row using the correction value table for the kind of medium when the printing is performed on another kind of printing target medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Tanase, Toru Takahashi, Toru Miyamoto, Hirokazu Kasahara
  • Publication number: 20100053246
    Abstract: The first head includes first nozzle rows each having a nozzle for ejecting a fluid of a first color and a nozzle for ejecting a fluid of a second color lined up in a color order in a cross direction. The second head includes second nozzle rows each having the two nozzles lined up in a color order in the cross direction. The controller controls a nozzle to dispose a plurality of color-overlapped dots to form a raster line, such that a ratio of A1 to “A1+A2” is larger than a ratio of B1 to “B1+B2” to form the raster line, where A1 and A2 donate amounts of a fluid of the first color from the first and second nozzle rows, respectively, and B1 and B2 donate amounts of a fluid of the second color from the first and second nozzle rows, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu KASAHARA, Toru TAKAHASHI, Toru MIYAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20100039466
    Abstract: A printing device includes a first nozzle column in which nozzles discharging liquid to a medium are arranged in a line in a predetermined direction, a second nozzle column in which nozzles discharging liquid to the medium are arranged in the predetermined direction, in which the first and second nozzle columns are arranged in a line in an intersecting direction with respect to the predetermined direction, a control portion which causes the first nozzle column and the second nozzle column to discharge the liquid to the medium while moving the first and second nozzle columns and the medium relatively to each other in a moving direction, in which the control portion forms a certain correction pattern composed of a first pattern formed by the first nozzle column and positioned on one side in the intersecting direction with respect to the moving direction and a second pattern formed by the second nozzle column and positioned on the other side in the intersecting direction with respect to the moving direction in p
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru TAKAHASHI, Toru MIYAMOTO, Hirokazu KASAHARA, Hideaki KASAHARA
  • Publication number: 20100039468
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a print apparatus includes: a first nozzle array configured of nozzles which are aligned in a predetermined direction to eject a liquid to a medium; a second nozzle array configured of nozzles which are aligned in the predetermined direction to eject a liquid to a medium; a base plate on which the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array are disposed on positions shifted in a direction cross to the predetermined direction; and a moving mechanism which moves the base plate and a medium relative to each other in a moving direction, wherein a first pattern is formed by the first nozzle array, and a second pattern is formed by the second nozzle array so as to be adjacent to the first pattern in a direction cross to the moving direction, and wherein an inclination of the base plate with respect to the moving direction is adjusted on the basis of an interval between the first pattern and the second pattern in a direction cross to the moving direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toru MIYAMOTO, Toru TAKAHASHI, Hirokazu KASAHARA, Hideaki KASAHARA
  • Publication number: 20100026747
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a first nozzle array with nozzles aligned in a predetermined direction for ejecting liquid on a medium; a second nozzle array with nozzles aligned in the predetermined direction for ejecting liquid on the medium, the second nozzle array being aligned in a direction cross to the predetermined direction of the first nozzle array; and a moving mechanism for relatively moving the first nozzle array, the second nozzle array, and the medium in the moving direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Toru Miyamoto, Toru Takahashi, Hirokazu Kasahara, Hideaki Kasahara
  • Patent number: 7618113
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus. Each of a plurality of first nozzle rows includes a plurality of nozzles disposed in a predetermined direction that discharge cyan or magenta liquid. Each of a plurality of second nozzle rows includes a plurality of nozzles disposed in the predetermined direction that discharge yellow liquid. The number of second nozzle rows is smaller than the number of first nozzle rows. The first nozzle rows form cyan or magenta dots at pixels on a medium. The second nozzle rows form yellow dots at pixels whose number is smaller than the number of pixels at which the first dots are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Fukasawa, Tsuneo Kasai, Hirokazu Kasahara
  • Publication number: 20090262373
    Abstract: A method of calculating a correction value includes forming a correction pattern on a medium in a yellow color, acquiring blue color information by reading out the correction pattern, and calculating a correction value of the density of the yellow color based on the blue color information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toru TAKAHASHI, Toru MYAMOTO, Hirokazu KASAHARA
  • Publication number: 20090237740
    Abstract: A method for obtaining correction values, includes: forming, on a medium, a correction pattern in which a plurality of dot rows extending along a predetermined direction are lined up in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction; obtaining a correction-pattern reading density of each of the dot rows of the correction pattern together with a standard-pattern reading density of a standard pattern, by reading the correction pattern together with the standard pattern; and obtaining a density correction value that is used in correcting a density of an image, for each of the dot rows, based on the correction-pattern reading density, with respect to a target density that is set based on the standard-pattern reading density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu KASAHARA
  • Publication number: 20090092312
    Abstract: An identification processing that matches a preference of a user is carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kasahara, Tsuneo Kasai
  • Publication number: 20090016616
    Abstract: A category classification apparatus includes: an overall classifier that classifies a category to which an image belongs, based on an overall characteristic amount that is obtained from image data, the overall characteristic amount indicating an overall characteristic of the image represented by the image data; and a partial classifier that classifies a category to which the image belongs, based on partial characteristic amounts that are obtained from partial image data included in the image data, the partial characteristic amounts indicating characteristics of portions of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu KASAHARA
  • Publication number: 20080316238
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus. Each of a plurality of first nozzle rows includes a plurality of nozzles disposed in a predetermined direction that discharge cyan or magenta liquid. Each of a plurality of second nozzle rows includes a plurality of nozzles disposed in the predetermined direction that discharge yellow liquid. The number of second nozzle rows is smaller than the number of first nozzle rows. The first nozzle rows form cyan or magenta dots at pixels on a medium. The second nozzle rows form yellow dots at pixels whose number is smaller than the number of pixels at which the first dots are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji FUKASAWA, Tsuneo KASAI, Hirokazu KASAHARA
  • Publication number: 20080292181
    Abstract: An information processing method includes: for image data of each of a plurality of images, obtaining scene information concerning the image data from supplemental data that is appended to the image data, classifying a scene of an image represented by the image data, based on the image data, comparing the classified scene with a scene indicated by the scene information; and if there is a mismatch image for which the classified scene does not match the scene indicated by the scene information, displaying information concerning the mismatch image on a confirmation screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuneo KASAI, Kaori MATSUMOTO, Hirokazu KASAHARA, Kenji FUKASAWA, Naoki KUWATA
  • Publication number: 20080279460
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with: a scene classification apparatus, that includes: a first partial classifier that determines that a classification target image pertains to a first scene, according to an evaluation result indicating that a partial image pertains to the first scene, by carrying out an evaluation as to whether or not the partial image pertains to the first scene, based on a partial characteristic amount indicating a characteristic of the partial image that constitutes a part of the classification target image; and a second partial classifier that determines that the classification target image pertains to a second scene having a characteristic different from that of the first scene, based on the partial characteristic amount, in the case where it is not determined that the classification target image pertains to the first scene with the first partial classifier; wherein the first partial classifier determines that, in the case where it is not determined that the classification target imag
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu KASAHARA, Tsuneo KASAI, Kaori SATO
  • Publication number: 20080279456
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with: a characteristic amount obtaining section that obtains a partial characteristic amount indicating a characteristic of a partial image that constitutes a part of a classification target image; a partial evaluation section that carries out an evaluation based on the partial characteristic amount obtained by the characteristic amount obtaining section as to whether or not the partial image pertains to a specific scene; and a determining section that determines whether or not the classification target image pertains to the specific scene by using an evaluation result of the partial evaluation section for only the partial images corresponding respectively to a predetermined M number of partial areas among an N number of the partial areas (M<N) obtained by dividing an image overall area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu KASAHARA, Tsuneo KASAI, Kaori SATO
  • Publication number: 20080259372
    Abstract: A printing method includes obtaining scene information concerning image data from supplemental data that is appended to the image data; classifying a scene of an image represented by the image data, based on the image data; comparing the classified scene with a scene indicated by the scene information; and printing a printout that is used to urge a user to make a continuation when a mismatch between the classified scene and the scene indicated by the scene information exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuneo KASAI, Kaori MATSUMOTO, Hirokazu KASAHARA, Kenji FUKASAWA, Naoki KUWATA
  • Publication number: 20080232696
    Abstract: A scene classification apparatus includes: a characteristic amount obtaining section that obtains a partial characteristic amount indicating a characteristic of a partial image that is a portion of a classification-target image; a partial classification section that classifies, based on the partial characteristic amount, whether or not the partial image belongs to a predetermined scene; a detection section that detects the number of the partial images classified as belonging to the predetermined scene; and a decision section that decides, according to the number of the partial images detected by the detection section, whether or not the classification-target image belongs to the predetermined scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu KASAHARA, Tsuneo KASAI, Kaori MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20080199079
    Abstract: An information processing method of the present invention includes acquiring scene information of image data from supplemental data appended to the image data, identifying a scene of an image represented by the image data based on the image data, and storing the identified scene in the supplemental data when there is a mismatch between a scene indicated by the scene information and the identified scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuneo Kasai, Naoki Kuwata, Hirokazu Kasahara