Patents by Inventor Hiroyuki Kawamoto

Hiroyuki Kawamoto 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: 8059285
    Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus includes an image scanning unit configured to generate image data by converting light reflected from an optically scanned printed page into electrical signals; an interface configured to receive image data from an external apparatus; an expansion bus to which the image scanning unit and the interface are connected; a bus control unit configured to control the expansion bus; an image data storage unit configured to store the image data; at least one image processing unit connected to the expansion bus and configured to perform an image processing operation on the image data; a task management unit configured to send an image processing request to the image processing unit; and an image writing unit connected to the expansion bus and configured to print the image data on which the image processing operation has been performed by the image processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Murakata, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Toshiya Hikita, Takumi Nozawa, Satoshi Ohkawa, Toshimi Yamamura, Atsushi Togami, Takeharu Tone, Tomoyuki Yoshida, Yasunobu Shirata, Shuji Kimura, Takanori Ito, Yukihiko Tamura, Masato Ishii
  • Patent number: 8023157
    Abstract: An image data correcting device eliminates a back projection image without eliminating an image corresponding to a low-intensity halftone image. An intensity difference detection part detects an intensity difference between first image data corresponding to a part of a predetermined small area and second image data corresponding to the remaining parts of the predetermined small area. A halftone detection part determining whether the first image data corresponds to a halftone image. An intensity change part changes an intensity of the first image data to a predetermined low intensity, when the intensity difference is equal to or smaller than a first predetermined value and the first image data does not correspond to the halftone image and the intensity of the first image data is equal to or smaller than a second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Takahashi, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Hiroaki Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20110141526
    Abstract: An image-output inspection system includes a printer controller that generates output image data subjected to halftone processing in accordance with an input image forming condition specified in a printer language, an image output device that forms an image on an image output medium on the basis of the output image data, and transmits the output image data, an image reader that reads the image output medium, and generates read image data, and an image inspection apparatus that is connected to the image output device, and generates correct image data by restoring image data before subjected to the halftone processing from the output image data, and determines whether a print state of the image output medium is good or not by comparing the correct image data with the read image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 7940984
    Abstract: A determining unit extracts similar-characteristic areas in image data and determines a type of the characteristics of image data of each of the similar-characteristic areas, a first correcting unit corrects a characteristic of image data in each of the similar-characteristic areas to a predetermined data characteristic according to the type of the characteristics of image data of that similar-characteristic area thereby obtaining characteristics-corrected image data, a storage unit stores therein the image data and the characteristics-corrected image data, a second correcting unit corrects a characteristic of the image data and the characteristics-corrected image data stored in the storage unit to a destination-specific characteristic that corresponds to a destination to which image data is to be output, and an output unit outputs the image data having the destination-specific characteristic to the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Ohkawa, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Tomoyuki Yoshida, Atsushi Togami
  • Publication number: 20100165375
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus implements appropriate image processing on image data stored in a storage unit of the image processing apparatus easily and efficiently, and distributes the image data to an external apparatus. An image format conversion unit implements image processing such as resolution conversion processing, filter processing, ? correction processing, and halftone processing on image data stored in an HDD serving as an image data storage unit so that the image data conform to conditions, such as image quality and format, specified by an external client apparatus. The image-processed image data are then distributed to the external client apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Isao Miyamoto, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Hiroshi Arai, Satoshi Ohkawa, Takeharu Tone, Naoki Sugiyama, Taira Nishida, Maki Ohyama
  • Patent number: 7724986
    Abstract: An image processor includes a plurality of image processing devices that perform image processing, a storing unit that stores related data set for image data stored in the image processor, a translating unit that translates the related data to internal data, a converting unit that converts the internal data to information corresponding to a program and data used for image processing, and a downloading unit that downloads the information to the image processing devices. The image processing devices perform the image processing based on downloaded information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Akira Murataka, Hiroaki Fukuda, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Isao Miyamoto, Satoshi Ohkawa, Yasunobu Shirata, Atsushi Togami, Fumio Yoshizawa, Shuji Kimura
  • Publication number: 20100111547
    Abstract: An image-information acquiring unit acquires the image information divided at least in one of a main-scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction. A supply control unit calculates basic-supply patterns of a supply amount of toner and controls the supply amount at a supply point in a developing unit using a toner supply pattern combined with the basic-supply patterns that eliminate temporal variation in toner density of the developer, at the specific point, due to development of the latent image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Hiroyuki KAWAMOTO, Kazunari Tonami, Shuji Hirai, Hiroshi Okuda
  • Patent number: 7710599
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus implements appropriate image processing on image data stored in a storage unit of the image processing apparatus easily and efficiently, and distributes the image data to an external apparatus. An image format conversion unit implements image processing such as resolution conversion processing, filter processing, ? correction processing, and halftone processing on image data stored in an HDD serving as an image data storage unit so that the image data conform to conditions, such as image quality and format, specified by an external client apparatus. The image-processed image data are then distributed to the external client apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Miyamoto, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Hiroshi Arai, Satoshi Ohkawa, Takeharu Tone, Naoki Sugiyama, Taira Nishida, Maki Ohyama
  • Patent number: 7692816
    Abstract: When first image data, which is in a first color space, is converted into second image data, which is in a second color space corresponding to an image output unit. Upon converting the image data, if the first image data is color data, background removal process is switched OFF. Otherwise, the background removal process is switched ON. Thus, it is possible to obtain an image desired by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Atsushi Togami, Toshimi Yamamura, Satoshi Ohkawa, Yasunobu Shirata, Toshiya Hikita, Takeharu Tone, Shuji Kimura, Takumi Nozawa, Tomoyuki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7673165
    Abstract: The image processing device comprises a first function block section formed of functional blocks which require a supply of power so as to maintain the image processing device in an operating state when the power supply is on, and a second function block section formed of functional blocks which need not be supplied with the power so as to maintain the image processing device in an operating state even when the power supply is on. The supply of power to the second function block section can be stopped when desired, while continuing the supply of power to the first function block section, thereby saving the power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sugitaka Oteki, Yuji Takahashi, Yoshiyuki Namizuka, Hideto Miyazaki, Yasuyuki Nomizu, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Rie Ishii, Takeharu Tone, Hiroaki Fukuda, Shinya Miyazaki, Fumio Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 7672004
    Abstract: An image processing system connects a plurality of clients to an image processing apparatus via a network. The image processing apparatus includes a reading device that reads an image of an original document and generates a prescribed image signal, an image data generating device that applies prescribed image processing to the image signal to generate image data, and a memory that stores the image data. A format converting device is provided to convert an image format of the image data selected from the memory by one of plurality of client apparatuses into a prescribed format in accordance with a format condition designated by the client apparatus. A delivering device is provided to deliver the image data to the client apparatus in the prescribed format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Maki Ohyama, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Isao Miyamoto, Takeharu Tone, Satoshi Ohkawa, Taira Nishita, Hiroshi Arai, Naoki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7664320
    Abstract: When image data is determined to be reused, a first image-data processing unit performs a first image processing on the image data, a memory device accumulates the image data on which the first image processing is performed, and a second image-data processing unit performs second image processing on the image data accumulated in the memory device. When the image data is determined not to be reused, the first image-data processing unit performs a first image processing, and the second image-data processing unit performs a second image processing on the image data on which the first image processing is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltc.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yoshida, Toshiya Hikita, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Takeharu Tone, Shuji Kimura, Atsushi Togami, Takumi Nozawa, Toshimi Yamamura, Akira Murakata, Satoshi Ohkawa, Manabu Komatsu, Yasunobu Shirata, Yukihiko Tamura
  • Patent number: 7646504
    Abstract: In an image data processing device, correcting of input color image data, converting the input data to monochrome image, and judging whether the image expressed by the input color image data is a color image or a monochrome image, are all performed simultaneously; the corrected color image data and the converted monochrome image data are stored; and based on the judgment, any one of the color image data and the monochrome image data stored are transmitted to an external device via a communicating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 7599087
    Abstract: A programmable image processor capable of realizing a plurality of image formation operations is comprised of an SIMD type data operation processing section, RAMs, memory controllers, and memory switches. The memory controller and the memory switches selectively connect the plurality of RAMs to the data operation processing section thereby changing the memory capacity allotted to each image formation operation among a plurality of image formation operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Fukuda, Yoshiyuki Namizuka, Shinya Miyazaki, Sugitaka Oteki, Takako Satoh, Rie Ishii, Takeharu Tone, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Hideto Miyazaki, Fumio Yoshizawa, Yuji Takahashi, Yasuyuki Nomizu
  • Patent number: 7551796
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus connected to an external apparatus via a network includes an selecting unit for selecting an application mode and an image quality mode, a scanning unit for scanning an original document, a scanning correction unit for generating image data from the scanned document, a storage unit for storing the image data and the process mode information, a compression unit for compressing the image data, an extension unit for extending the compressed image data, a data format converting unit for converting a data format of the image data according to the application mode and the image quality mode, and a communication unit for communicating the image data with the external apparatus. The data format converting unit receives image data having a first data format, and outputs the image data having a second data format, wherein the first and second data format are either a data format dedicated to the image processing apparatus or a general data format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Maki Ohyama, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Satoshi Ohkawa, Naoki Sugiyama, Arai Hiroshi, Yasunobu Shirata, Atsushi Togami, Takeharu Tone, Taira Nishita, Isao Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 7394577
    Abstract: The image processing apparatus comprises an image data control section and a system controller. The image data control section is connected to any one or more of a sensor board unit, an image-memory access control section, an image processor, a video data control section, and a facsimile control unit. The system controller switches, when the image data to be transmitted to the image data control section conflicts with one another, a transmission mode of the image data in conflict with one another. Further, the image-memory access control section and the image processor share jobs of performing image processing on the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Namizuka, Yuji Takahashi, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Hideto Miyazaki, Shinya Miyazaki, Takeharu Tone, Fumio Yoshizawa, Hiroaki Fukuda, Rie Ishii, Sugitaka Oteki, Yasuyuki Nomizu
  • Patent number: 7376268
    Abstract: The image data corresponding to an image is separated into areas corresponding to contents of the image. The image data in each of the area is subjected to an image processing specific to the content of the image. The image types are, for example, a character, a photograph, color, and presence of halftone. The image processing are, for example, gamma correction, color conversion, and gradation processing. The processed image data is then transferred to an external device via network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yasunobu Shirata, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Tomoyuki Yoshida, Isao Miyamoto, Maki Ohyama, Taira Nishita, Atsushi Togami, Satoshi Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 7372599
    Abstract: An image processor has a controller unit connected to at least one of functional units such as an image reading unit, detects a source of input of image data according to a network I/F or a parallel bus I/F. An image-memory access control section transmits the image data input from each of the functional units to a memory group and also transmits the image data stored in the memory group to the functional unit. A system controller controls the overall apparatus and also controls the image-memory access control section according to the input source of the image data to determine an order of transmitting the image data to the memory group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Compnay, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Namizuka, Hideto Miyazaki, Shinya Miyazaki, Sugitaka Oteki, Yuji Takahashi, Takeharu Tone, Fumio Yoshizawa, Hiroaki Fukuda, Yasuyuki Nomizu, Takako Satoh, Rie Ishii, Hiroyuki Kawamoto
  • Publication number: 20080094647
    Abstract: An image data correcting device eliminates a back projection image without eliminating an image corresponding to a low-intensity halftone image. An intensity difference detection part detects an intensity difference between first image data corresponding to a part of a predetermined small area and second image data corresponding to the remaining parts of the predetermined small area. A halftone detection part determining whether the first image data corresponds to a halftone image. An intensity change part changes an intensity of the first image data to a predetermined low intensity, when the intensity difference is equal to or smaller than a first predetermined value and the first image data does not correspond to the halftone image and the intensity of the first image data is equal to or smaller than a second predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Yuji Takahashi, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Hiroaki Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20080068671
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is disclosed. The image processing apparatus stores image data read by a document reading section and image data received from an external device. An image data synthesizing unit synthesizes first image data read by the document reading section and second image data read by the document reading section or received from the external device. An image correcting unit generates image distinctive data of the first and second image data. A synthesized image distinctive data generating unit synthesizes the image distinctive data of the first and second image data by referring to an LUT (lookup table) selected by a synthesized image distinctive generating rule selecting unit. A predetermined process is applied the synthesized image data based on the synthesized image distinctive data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yoshida, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Satoshi Ohkawa, Atsushi Togami