Patents by Inventor Koji Washio
Koji Washio 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: 11822987Abstract: A processing device including a hardware processor that: determines a dot position at which a dot is to be generated by multiple recording elements arranged in a first direction on a medium which moves relative to the recording elements in a second direction crossing the first direction, based on tone data for each pixel of an image to be formed; determines a corrected dot number that is a number of a dot position by a malfunctioning recording element to which an offset number is added, wherein the malfunctioning recording element is set as a recording element by which a dot is not generated normally among the recording elements; and determines the corrected dot number of a dot position within a dot generation possible range by a recording element other than the malfunctioning recording element.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Masahiro Kouzaki, Koji Washio
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Publication number: 20230153558Abstract: A processing device including a hardware processor that: determines a dot position at which a dot is to be generated by multiple recording elements arranged in a first direction on a medium which moves relative to the recording elements in a second direction crossing the first direction, based on tone data for each pixel of an image to be formed; determines a corrected dot number that is a number of a dot position by a malfunctioning recording element to which an offset number is added, wherein the malfunctioning recording element is set as a recording element by which a dot is not generated normally among the recording elements; and determines the corrected dot number of a dot position within a dot generation possible range by a recording element other than the malfunctioning recording element.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2022Publication date: May 18, 2023Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Masahiro KOUZAKI, Koji WASHIO
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Publication number: 20210027124Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image former that includes ink dischargers of two or more colors and that forms an image on a recording medium; and a hardware processor that generates, in each of the ink dischargers, at least a first dot pattern of a first color with uniform density and a second dot pattern in a second color with uniform density. When the first dot pattern is combined with the second dot pattern, the hardware processor adjusts the second dot pattern based on a positional relationship of each dot in the first dot pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Koji Washio, Toshiyuki Mizutani
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Patent number: 10497101Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an extractor that divides image data in block units and extracts a maximum value and a minimum value of each block from the compressed image data; an edge detector that detects an edge at a front end or a rear end of an image; a correction value calculator that corrects the maximum value, or the maximum value and the minimum value of each block positioned in a certain range from the front end or the rear end and calculates a maximum value and a minimum value after the correction; and a converter that determines a conversion formula of a pixel value by using the maximum value and the minimum value before the correction and the maximum value and the minimum value after the correction and converts each pixel value of the image data obtained by decompressing the compressed data so as to apply sweeping correction.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2018Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Koji Washio
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Patent number: 10237446Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a pipeline processor that inputs image data shifted 1 pixel at a time in a sub-scanning direction; a detector that inputs and holds each pixel of the image data, compares each pixel value of the held plurality of pixels, and detects an edge of a front end or a rear end of an object; a counter that counts a number of pixels that each pixel of the image data shifted in the sub-scanning direction; a distance coefficient determiner that uses a count value of the counter to determine a distance coefficient; a correction value calculator that calculates a correction value; a corrector that adds the correction value of each pixel to the pixel value of each pixel of the image data; and a position where the correction value is added is a position shifted at least N+1 pixels.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2017Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Koji Washio
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Publication number: 20180225809Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an extractor that divides image data in block units and extracts a maximum value and a minimum value of each block from the compressed image data; an edge detector that detects an edge at a front end or a rear end of an image; a correction value calculator that corrects the maximum value, or the maximum value and the minimum value of each block positioned in a certain range from the front end or the rear end and calculates a maximum value and a minimum value after the correction; and a converter that determines a conversion formula of a pixel value by using the maximum value and the minimum value before the correction and the maximum value and the minimum value after the correction and converts each pixel value of the image data obtained by decompressing the compressed data so as to apply sweeping correction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2018Publication date: August 9, 2018Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Koji WASHIO
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Publication number: 20180063370Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a pipeline processor that inputs image data shifted 1 pixel at a time in a sub-scanning direction; a detector that inputs and holds each pixel of the image data, compares each pixel value of the held plurality of pixels, and detects an edge of a front end or a rear end of an object; a counter that counts a number of pixels that each pixel of the image data shifted in the sub-scanning direction; a distance coefficient determiner that uses a count value of the counter to determine a distance coefficient; a correction value calculator that calculates a correction value; a corrector that adds the correction value of each pixel to the pixel value of each pixel of the image data; and a position where the correction value is added is a position shifted at least N+1 pixels.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2017Publication date: March 1, 2018Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Koji Washio
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Patent number: 9008456Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a smoothing processing unit which performs smoothing processing, a thinning processing unit which performs thinning processing, an edge direction determination unit which determines an edge direction with respect to each pixel of the image data and a blending processing unit which decides a pixel value of each pixel of when the thinning processing and the smoothing processing are realized at same time. In the image processing apparatus, the blending processing unit decides a pixel value of a target pixel of when the thinning processing and the smoothing processing are realized at the same time depending on a combination of whether the thinning processing is performed or not and whether the smoothing processing is performed or not on the target pixel.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Koji Washio
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Patent number: 8837838Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first edge extraction unit, an edge processing unit, a second edge extraction unit, a third edge extraction unit and a gradation processing unit. The gradation processing unit performs gradation processing on image data on which edge processing has been performed by the edge processing unit, and switches contents of the gradation processing on the basis of whether a pixel of the image data is a third edge pixel or a no-third edge pixel to enhance a third edge region as compared with another region. The third edge extracted by the third edge extraction unit is constituted of a first edge extracted by the first edge extraction unit as an edge pixel of an object and a second edge extracted by the second edge extraction unit as a pixel having a pixel value changed by the edge processing.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Koji Washio
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Patent number: 8761536Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a thinning processing unit which performs thinning processing on image data and a smoothing processing unit which performs smoothing processing on the image data. The image processing apparatus further includes an edge direction determination unit which determines an edge direction with respect to each pixel of the image data, a blending processing unit which decides a pixel value of a target pixel of when the smoothing processing and the thinning processing are realized at the same time, and a thinning adjustment unit which determines whether a thinned pixel becomes isolated, and the thinning adjustment unit resets the change amount in pixel value due to the thinning processing of the thinned pixel to a value of zero, if the thinned pixel is determined to be isolated.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2012Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Koji Washio
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Patent number: 8570597Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a color converter for converting cyan, magenta and yellow components of a first image signal to equivalent neutral density, calculating a first gray component from cyan, magenta and yellow components of equivalent neutral density, subtracting the first gray component from each of the cyan, magenta and yellow components of equivalent neutral density, subjecting each of the cyan, magenta and yellow components of equivalent neutral density from which the first gray component is subtracted to an inverse conversion of the equivalent neutral density conversion, and outputting a second image signal comprising cyan, magenta and yellow components which are obtained by carrying out the inverse conversion to the cyan, magenta and yellow components of equivalent neutral density from which the first gray component is subtracted, the first black component and the first gray component; an image forming section for forming an image on a paper based on the second image signalType: GrantFiled: February 23, 2011Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kaori Soeda, Koji Washio, Hidemasa Sawada
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Patent number: 8565548Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method is provided which performs anti-aliasing on input image data. The apparatus and method may be utilized to improve resolution of, for example, images formed by a group of dots and lines, such as characters and marks. The apparatus and method disclosed herein can perform anti-aliasing with a lighter processing load than previously disclosed methods.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Koji Washio
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Publication number: 20130216137Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first edge extraction unit, an edge processing unit, a second edge extraction unit, a third edge extraction unit and a gradation processing unit. The gradation processing unit performs gradation processing on image data on which edge processing has been performed by the edge processing unit, and switches contents of the gradation processing on the basis of whether a pixel of the image data is a third edge pixel or a no-third edge pixel to enhance a third edge region as compared with another region. The third edge extracted by the third edge extraction unit is constituted of a first edge extracted by the first edge extraction unit as an edge pixel of an object and a second edge extracted by the second edge extraction unit as a pixel having a pixel value changed by the edge processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2013Publication date: August 22, 2013Inventor: Koji WASHIO
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Patent number: 8432576Abstract: Disclosed is a threshold matrix generating device including a basic dot pattern generating unit for obtaining a basic dot pattern by carrying out a filter process by a convolution filter to an initial dot pattern in which dots are arbitrarily arranged, by obtaining a dot density of the dots included in the initial dot pattern and by repeating a process of moving dots to a pixel in which the dot density is smallest from a pixel in which the dot density is greatest and a threshold setting unit for generating a threshold matrix of a FM screen by increasing or decreasing dots from the basic dot pattern and by repeating a process of setting a threshold to a pixel in which the dots are increased or decreased, and the threshold matrix has a shape which is to be arranged in an oblique direction by having an angle.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2010Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Koji Washio
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Publication number: 20130004099Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a smoothing processing unit which performs smoothing processing, a thinning processing unit which performs thinning processing, an edge direction determination unit which determines an edge direction with respect to each pixel of the image data and a blending processing unit which decides a pixel value of each pixel of when the thinning processing and the smoothing processing are realized at same time. In the image processing apparatus, the blending processing unit decides a pixel value of a target pixel of when the thinning processing and the smoothing processing are realized at the same time depending on a combination of whether the thinning processing is performed or not and whether the smoothing processing is performed or not on the target pixel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Koji WASHIO
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Publication number: 20130004098Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a thinning processing unit which performs thinning processing on image data and a smoothing processing unit which performs smoothing processing on the image data. The image processing apparatus further includes an edge direction determination unit which determines an edge direction with respect to each pixel of the image data, a blending processing unit which decides a pixel value of a target pixel of when the smoothing processing and the thinning processing are realized at the same time, and a thinning adjustment unit which determines whether a thinned pixel becomes isolated, and the thinning adjustment unit resets the change amount in pixel value due to the thinning processing of the thinned pixel to a value of zero, if the thinned pixel is determined to be isolated.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Koji WASHIO
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Patent number: 8295592Abstract: An apparatus and method provide logic for processing images. In one implementation, an image processing apparatus includes an edge extraction section, a judgment section, and an edge processing section. The edge extraction section extracts an edge of an object of a character or a line drawing included in an image. The judgment section judges a possibility that the object is an image including a plurality of colors, or that the object is a black object having a pixel value of an image of each color being not less than a certain value. The edge processing section adjusts the pixel value of the extracted edge of the object according to a result obtained by the judgment section.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2008Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Koji Washio
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Publication number: 20120163730Abstract: Disclosed in an image processing apparatus for performing anti-aliasing on input image data including a viewing window setting section which sets a viewing window of a predetermined size which includes a focused pixel, a difference determination section which extracts a plurality of combinations of two predetermined adjacent pixels in the viewing window and determines a difference between input pixel values of the two extracted pixels for each combination, a determination information obtaining section which obtains combination determination information based on a combination of determination results, and a pixel value calculation section which obtains an output pixel value of the focused pixel by carrying out a weighted addition of an input pixel value of the focused pixel and an input pixel value of a predetermined neighboring pixel which is adjacent to the focused pixel based on the combination determination information.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Inventor: Koji WASHIO
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Publication number: 20120099802Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing method for processing image data having pixels consecutively arranged in two directions orthogonal to each other including setting a first pixel area configured by a first and a second predetermined numbers of pixels, summing up the individual pixel values of the first predetermined number of pixels in a column-wise manner with respect to first pixel columns arranged in one direction summing up the individual pixel values of the second predetermined number of pixels in a column-wise manner with respect to second pixel columns arranged in the other direction, identifying a count of stairs given by differences among the pixel values of the individual pixels in the first pixel area, respectively for one direction and for the other direction, and determining a pixel value of a predetermined pixel contained in the first pixel area.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2011Publication date: April 26, 2012Inventor: Koji WASHIO
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Publication number: 20110216381Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a color converter for converting cyan, magenta and yellow components of a first image signal to equivalent neutral density, calculating a first gray component from cyan, magenta and yellow components of equivalent neutral density, subtracting the first gray component from each of the cyan, magenta and yellow components of equivalent neutral density, subjecting each of the cyan, magenta and yellow components of equivalent neutral density from which the first gray component is subtracted to an inverse conversion of the equivalent neutral density conversion, and outputting a second image signal comprising cyan, magenta and yellow components which are obtained by carrying out the inverse conversion to the cyan, magenta and yellow components of equivalent neutral density from which the first gray component is subtracted, the first black component and the first gray component; an image forming section for forming an image on a paper based on the second image signalType: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2011Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Kaori SOEDA, Koji WASHIO, Hidemasa SAWADA