Patents by Inventor Hiroo Kitagawa

Hiroo Kitagawa 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: 9977391
    Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a generating unit that generates color image data based on gloss-control image data, the gloss-control image data containing a gloss control value for identifying a type of a surface effect being a visual or a tactile effect applied to the recording medium and for identifying a region to which the surface effect is applied in the recording medium, and generates clear-toner image data based on presence or absence of at least one post processing device connected to the printing device and based on a type of the post processing device; a post-processing control unit that controls the post processing device in accordance with the presence or absence of the post processing device connected to the printing device and the type of the post processing device; and an output unit that outputs the clear-toner image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Suzuki, Hiroo Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 9671740
    Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a generating unit that generates clear-toner plane data based on gloss-control plane data, which contains a gloss control value for specifying a type of a surface effect being a visual or a tactile effect applied to the recording medium and for specifying a region to which the surface effect is applied in the recording medium, and clear plane data, which contains a density value for specifying a transparent image other than the surface effect; and an outputting unit that outputs the clear-toner plane data. When a region where the gloss control value is specified in the gloss-control plane data and a region where the density value is specified in the clear plane data overlap each other, the generating unit sets a value of the clear-toner plane data to the gloss control value or the density value, based on a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshikawa, Hiroaki Suzuki, Hiroo Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 9575454
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an input unit that receives specifications of a color, a type of a surface effect that is a visual or a tactile effect, and a region to which the surface effect is applied, with respect to input image data; a generating unit that generates color data and gloss control data based on the specifications, the gloss control data being data which is used for generating clear toner data and in which a gloss control value is specified for identifying the type of the surface effect applied to the recording medium and for identifying a region to which the surface effect is applied in the recording medium; and a sending unit that sends the color data and the gloss control data to a print control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroo Kitagawa, Hiroaki Suzuki, Toshihiro Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 9508030
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: an image data generation unit that generates image data of a gloss control plane including a type of a surface effect given to at least a region of a recording medium, coordinates to identify the region, and designation to emphasize, among a first region and a second region adjacent to each other, a surface effect of the first region as compared with a surface effect of the second region; a change unit that changes the surface effect of the second region when the designation to emphasis is given to the first region; a print data generation unit that generates print data on the basis of the image data of the gloss control plane in which the surface effect of the second region has been changed by the change unit; and an output unit that outputs the print data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Habu, Hiroo Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20160246238
    Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a generating unit that generates color image data based on gloss-control image data, the gloss-control image data containing a gloss control value for identifying a type of a surface effect being a visual or a tactile effect applied to the recording medium and for identifying a region to which the surface effect is applied in the recording medium, and generates clear-toner image data based on presence or absence of at least one post processing device connected to the printing device and based on a type of the post processing device; a post-processing control unit that controls the post processing device in accordance with the presence or absence of the post processing device connected to the printing device and the type of the post processing device; and an output unit that outputs the clear-toner image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Hiroaki Suzuki, Hiroo Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20160246239
    Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a generating unit that generates clear-toner plane data based on gloss-control plane data, which contains a gloss control value for specifying a type of a surface effect being a visual or a tactile effect applied to the recording medium and for specifying a region to which the surface effect is applied in the recording medium, and clear plane data, which contains a density value for specifying a transparent image other than the surface effect; and an outputting unit that outputs the clear-toner plane data. When a region where the gloss control value is specified in the gloss-control plane data and a region where the density value is specified in the clear plane data overlap each other, the generating unit sets a value of the clear-toner plane data to the gloss control value or the density value, based on a predetermined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Takashi YOSHIKAWA, Hiroaki SUZUKI, Hiroo KITAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20160238980
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is connected to a print control apparatus for generating image data. The information processing apparatus includes a generating unit configured to generate gloss control plate data for specifying a type of a surface effect imparted to a recording medium and a region in the recording medium to which the surface effect is imparted; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the gloss control plate data to the print control apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Teruyoshi YAMAMOTO, Naoyuki Urata, Kanna Iinuma, Ken Mitsui, Yuu Yamashita, Hiroyuki Abiru, Hiroo Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 9354583
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is connected to a print control apparatus for generating image data. The information processing apparatus includes a generating unit configured to generate gloss control plate data for specifying a type of a surface effect imparted to a recording medium and a region in the recording medium to which the surface effect is imparted; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the gloss control plate data to the print control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Teruyoshi Yamamoto, Naoyuki Urata, Kanna Iinuma, Ken Mitsui, Yuu Yamashita, Hiroyuki Abiru, Hiroo Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 9354582
    Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a generating unit that generates clear-toner plane data based on gloss-control plane data, which contains a gloss control value for specifying a type of a surface effect being a visual or a tactile effect applied to the recording medium and for specifying a region to which the surface effect is applied in the recording medium, and clear plane data, which contains a density value for specifying a transparent image other than the surface effect; and an outputting unit that outputs the clear-toner plane data. When a region where the gloss control value is specified in the gloss-control plane data and a region where the density value is specified in the clear plane data overlap each other, the generating unit sets a value of the clear-toner plane data to the gloss control value or the density value, based on a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshikawa, Hiroaki Suzuki, Hiroo Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 9342027
    Abstract: A printing control apparatus includes an acquiring unit, a storing unit, a replacing unit, and a generating unit. The acquiring unit is configured to acquire apparatus configuration information of a printing apparatus that forms an image based on image data. The storing unit is configured to store therein gloss control plane data in which a type of a surface effect imparted to a recording medium and a control value for specifying an area in the recording medium, to which the surface effect is imparted, are designated. The replacing unit is configured to replace, based on the apparatus configuration information, the type of the surface effect imparted to the recording medium in the gloss control plane data with a predetermined type of a surface effect. The generating unit is configured to generate the image data based on the gloss control plane data subjected to the replacement by the replacing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuji Tokushima, Hiroaki Suzuki, Shinya Kobayashi, Hiroo Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 9342026
    Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a generating unit that generates color image data based on gloss-control image data, the gloss-control image data containing a gloss control value for identifying a type of a surface effect being a visual or a tactile effect applied to the recording medium and for identifying a region to which the surface effect is applied in the recording medium, and generates clear-toner image data based on presence or absence of at least one post processing device connected to the printing device and based on a type of the post processing device; a post-processing control unit that controls the post processing device in accordance with the presence or absence of the post processing device connected to the printing device and the type of the post processing device; and an output unit that outputs the clear-toner image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroaki Suzuki, Hiroo Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20150316886
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an input unit that receives specifications of a color, a type of a surface effect that is a visual or a tactile effect, and a region to which the surface effect is applied, with respect to input image data; a generating unit that generates color data and gloss control data based on the specifications, the gloss control data being data which is used for generating clear toner data and in which a gloss control value is specified for identifying the type of the surface effect applied to the recording medium and for identifying a region to which the surface effect is applied in the recording medium; and a sending unit that sends the color data and the gloss control data to a print control apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroo KITAGAWA, Hiroaki SUZUKI, Toshihiro MOCHIZUKI
  • Publication number: 20150261167
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is connected to a print control apparatus for generating image data. The information processing apparatus includes a generating unit configured to generate gloss control plate data for specifying a type of a surface effect imparted to a recording medium and a region in the recording medium to which the surface effect is imparted; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the gloss control plate data to the print control apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Teruyoshi YAMAMOTO, Naoyuki URATA, Kanna IINUMA, Ken MITSUI, Yuu YAMASHITA, Hiroyuki ABIRU, Hiroo KITAGAWA
  • Patent number: 9110426
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an input unit that receives specifications of a color, a type of a surface effect that is a visual or a tactile effect, and a region to which the surface effect is applied, with respect to input image data; a generating unit that generates color data and gloss control data based on the specifications, the gloss control data being data which is used for generating clear toner data and in which a gloss control value is specified for identifying the type of the surface effect applied to the recording medium and for identifying a region to which the surface effect is applied in the recording medium; and a sending unit that sends the color data and the gloss control data to a print control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroo Kitagawa, Hiroaki Suzuki, Toshihiro Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 9069319
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus for generating plate data used to generate image data in an image processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a designating unit configured to designate a rendering object; a surface-effect receiving unit configured to receive a type of a surface effect imparted to the rendering object; a plate data generating unit configured to generate the plate data so that the type of the surface effect is imparted to a region in which the rendering object is to be rendered in a recording medium and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the plate data to the print processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Teruyoshi Yamamoto, Naoyuki Urata, Kanna Iinuma, Ken Mitsui, Yuu Yamashita, Hiroyuki Abiru, Hiroo Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 9030711
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, provided is a controller that controls an image forming unit forming an image on a recording medium based on image data in which densities of a plurality of colors are specified for each pixel. The controller includes: a setting unit that sets a common representative value to a density of a specific color indicating one of the colors in each of a plurality of pixels included in a specific area indicating a specific area represented in the image data; and a determining unit that determines a density of each of the colors so that a sum of densities of the respective colors other than the specific color in the pixels included in the specific area becomes equal to or lower than a value acquired by subtracting the representative value from a reference value indicating a total amount restriction target of a total amount of toners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Makoto Yoshida, Hiroaki Suzuki, Hiroo Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20150104210
    Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a generating unit that generates clear-toner plane data based on gloss-control plane data, which contains a gloss control value for specifying a type of a surface effect being a visual or a tactile effect applied to the recording medium and for specifying a region to which the surface effect is applied in the recording medium, and clear plane data, which contains a density value for specifying a transparent image other than the surface effect; and an outputting unit that outputs the clear-toner plane data. When a region where the gloss control value is specified in the gloss-control plane data and a region where the density value is specified in the clear plane data overlap each other, the generating unit sets a value of the clear-toner plane data to the gloss control value or the density value, based on a predetermined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshikawa, Hiroaki SUZUKI, Hiroo KITAGAWA
  • Patent number: 8934827
    Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a generating unit that generates clear-toner plane data based on gloss-control plane data, which contains a gloss control value for specifying a type of a surface effect being a visual or a tactile effect applied to the recording medium and for specifying a region to which the surface effect is applied in the recording medium, and clear plane data, which contains a density value for specifying a transparent image other than the surface effect; and an outputting unit that outputs the clear-toner plane data. When a region where the gloss control value is specified in the gloss-control plane data and a region where the density value is specified in the clear plane data overlap each other, the generating unit sets a value of the clear-toner plane data to the gloss control value or the density value, based on a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshikawa, Hiroaki Suzuki, Hiroo Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 8922837
    Abstract: A print control device includes a generating unit configured to generate image data, based on gloss control plane data for specifying a type of a surface effect to be given to a recording medium and specifying a region to which the surface effect is to be given in the recording medium; and an output unit configured to output the image data. The generating unit includes a tone correcting unit configured to perform a tone correction on a region in which the surface effect is designated in the gloss control plane data, the tone correction varying with each type of surface effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Makoto Yoshida, Hiroaki Suzuki, Hiroo Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20140270879
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is connected to a print control apparatus for generating image data. The information processing apparatus includes a generating unit configured to generate gloss control plate data for specifying a type of a surface effect imparted to a recording medium and a region in the recording medium to which the surface effect is imparted; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the gloss control plate data to the print control apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Teruyoshi YAMAMOTO, Naoyuki Urata, Kanna Iinuma, Ken Mitsui, Yuu Yamashita, Hiroyuki Abiru, Hiroo Kitagawa