Patents by Inventor Hironobu Murai

Hironobu Murai 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: 11790200
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus, a method of discharging liquid, and a recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the method. The liquid discharge apparatus and the method includes obtaining image data to be printed, performing dithering to achieve masking and halftone processing on the image data to generate print data, and controlling movement of a discharge head and discharge of ink based on the print data. The controlling includes increasing a ratio of a number of ink dots continuously discharged onto a recording medium in a grayscale on a shadow side to a total number of ink dots discharged onto the recording medium in one-time scanning by the discharge head in one line to be greater than a ratio of a number of ink dots continuously discharged onto the recording medium in a grayscale on a highlight side to the total number of ink dots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenta Takahashi, Daiki Marumo, Hironobu Murai
  • Publication number: 20230252255
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus, a method of discharging liquid, and a recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the method. The liquid discharge apparatus and the method includes obtaining image data to be printed, performing dithering to achieve masking and halftone processing on the image data to generate print data, and controlling movement of a discharge head and discharge of ink based on the print data. The controlling includes increasing a ratio of a number of ink dots continuously discharged onto a recording medium in a grayscale on a shadow side to a total number of ink dots discharged onto the recording medium in one-time scanning by the discharge head in one line to be greater than a ratio of a number of ink dots continuously discharged onto the recording medium in a grayscale on a highlight side to the total number of ink dots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenta Takahashi, Daiki Marumo, Hironobu Murai
  • Patent number: 10596833
    Abstract: A conveying device includes a rotator, a drier, and a conveyance direction changer. The rotator winds a web-shaped recording medium around a predetermined region of an outer peripheral surface of the rotator with one side of the web-shaped recording medium facing outward and conveys the recording medium with rotation. The drier is disposed downstream from the rotator in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium, to dry and convey the recording medium. The conveyance direction changer is disposed on a conveyance path of the recording medium between the rotator and the drier. The conveyance direction changer has an outer peripheral surface that includes an opposed region opposed to the one side of the recording medium. The opposed region has openings to blow gas toward the one side of the recording medium. The rotator and the drier are disposed at positions not overlapping with each other in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Hashimoto, Satoshi Takanashi, Genichiro Kawamichi, Hironobu Murai, Yuuji Ohmura
  • Publication number: 20190047298
    Abstract: A conveying device includes a rotator, a drier, and a conveyance direction changer. The rotator winds a web-shaped recording medium around a predetermined region of an outer peripheral surface of the rotator with one side of the web-shaped recording medium facing outward and conveys the recording medium with rotation. The drier is disposed downstream from the rotator in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium, to dry and convey the recording medium. The conveyance direction changer is disposed on a conveyance path of the recording medium between the rotator and the drier. The conveyance direction changer has an outer peripheral surface that includes an opposed region opposed to the one side of the recording medium. The opposed region has openings to blow gas toward the one side of the recording medium. The rotator and the drier are disposed at positions not overlapping with each other in a plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Hashimoto, Satoshi Takanashi, Genichiro Kawamichi, Hironobu Murai, Yuuji Ohmura
  • Patent number: 8149460
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus, including a color conversion part configured to conduct a color conversion of image data. The color conversion part extends an information amount of an output value in the color conversion based on a first minimum information amount possible to depict a gradation in a lattice point interval of an input value in a look up table used for the color conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironobu Murai, Masakazu Yoshida, Takashi Kimura, Masanori Hirano
  • Publication number: 20120002225
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus, including a color conversion part configured to conduct a color conversion of image data. The color conversion part extends an information amount of an output value in the color conversion based on a first minimum information amount possible to depict a gradation in a lattice point interval of an input value in a look up table used for the color conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Hironobu MURAI, Masakazu YOSHIDA, Takashi KIMURA, Masanori HIRANO
  • Patent number: 8040562
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus, including a color conversion part configured to conduct a color conversion of image data. The color conversion part extends an information amount of an output value in the color conversion based on a first minimum information amount possible to depict a gradation in a lattice point interval of an input value in a look up table used for the color conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironobu Murai, Masakazu Yoshida, Takashi Kimura, Masanori Hirano
  • Publication number: 20100225942
    Abstract: A color conversion apparatus, for converting input image data into output image data that is to be output from a recording apparatus using a color material of five colors or more, the color conversion apparatus, includes a color conversion table that is used in performing color conversion of the input image data directly into the output image data; and a color conversion unit that, by making use of the color conversion table, performs color conversion of the input image data directly into the output image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Hironobu MURAI, Hiroaki SAGAE, Masakazu YOSHIDA, Takashi KIMURA, Masanori HIRANO
  • Publication number: 20090147327
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus, including a color conversion part configured to conduct a color conversion of image data. The color conversion part extends an information amount of an output value in the color conversion based on a first minimum information amount possible to depict a gradation in a lattice point interval of an input value in a look up table used for the color conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Hironobu MURAI, Masakazu Yoshida, Takashi Kimura, Masanori Hirano