Patents by Inventor Kouta Murasawa

Kouta Murasawa 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: 20200104659
    Abstract: An object is to reduce a difference between a target line width and a width of a line that is printed by a printing apparatus by correcting the line width in accordance with color information indicating a color of the line in a case where an image is printed by the printing apparatus based on image data including the line based on print data. The present disclosure is an image processing apparatus having an acquisition unit configured to acquire a drawing command in which a color and a line width of a line are specified, a determination unit configured to determine a correction amount for correcting the line width specified in the drawing command based on the color of the line specified in the drawing command, and a correction unit configured to correct the line width specified in the drawing command in accordance with the correction amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Yamagata, Okinori Tsuchiya, Yugo Mochizuki, Kouta Murasawa, Kazuya Ogasawara, Toshiki Miyazaki, Masao Kato
  • Patent number: 10538107
    Abstract: From among a plurality of elements included in a printing head and arrayed in a predetermined direction, a faulty element that is unable to form dots properly on a printing medium is identified. At least one of correction processing for increasing a value of multi-valued input image data corresponding to the faulty element and correction processing for decreasing a threshold in a quantization process for the faulty element is performed. Complementary dot data is generated for the faulty element by taking the dot data generated for the identified faulty element as dot data corresponding to an element near the identified faulty element in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Abe, Yumi Yanai, Tetsuya Edamura, Junichi Nakagawa, Kouta Murasawa
  • Publication number: 20200007695
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises: an obtaining unit that obtains a luminance of an input image having a color reproduction range wider than that of a printing apparatus; a conversion unit that performs, for the input image, conversion processing of obtaining a value included in the color reproduction range of the printing apparatus and obtaining the luminance of the image after the conversion; and a correction unit that corrects the luminance of the input image, wherein the correction unit performs correction of the luminance of the input image based on a conversion characteristic between the obtained luminance and the obtained luminance such that an intensity of the correction becomes higher for a color that is not included in the color reproduction range of the printing apparatus than for a color included in the color reproduction range of the printing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Hidetsugu Kagawa, Shuhei Ogawa, Maya Yazawa, Kouta Murasawa, Tetsuya Suwa
  • Patent number: 10511744
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus processes image data to be used in a printing apparatus configured to perform forward and backward scan printing by using a print head in which nozzle arrays corresponding to multiple colors are aligned. The image processing apparatus includes: a setting unit configured to set a first control parameter in a case where image data to be processed does not include a line portion and to set a second control parameter in a case where the image data to be processed includes a line portion, the second parameter being different from the first control parameter; and a processing unit configured to perform, for the image data to be processed, processing to suppress a difference between a color printed in a forward scan and a color printed in a backward scan based on the control parameter set by the setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Okinori Tsuchiya, Tatsuhiro Yamagata, Yugo Mochizuki, Kouta Murasawa, Toshiki Miyazaki, Masao Kato
  • Publication number: 20190291460
    Abstract: From among a plurality of elements included in a printing head and arrayed in a predetermined direction, a faulty element that is unable to form dots properly on a printing medium is identified. At least one of correction processing for increasing a value of multi-valued input image data corresponding to the faulty element and correction processing for decreasing a threshold in a quantization process for the faulty element is performed. Complementary dot data is generated for the faulty element by taking the dot data generated for the identified faulty element as dot data corresponding to an element near the identified faulty element in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Seiji Abe, Yumi Yanai, Tetsuya Edamura, Junichi Nakagawa, Kouta Murasawa
  • Patent number: 10389910
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus which employs a dither method capable of printing a thin line of desired density without any break irrespective of printing conditions. The first threshold changing unit changes part of threshold values in a threshold matrix to generate a first threshold matrix so as to increase the number of dots to be printed in a specific pixel area. The second threshold changing unit changes part of threshold values in the threshold matrix to generate a second threshold matrix such that the number of dots to be printed in a specific pixel area is smaller than the case of changing a threshold value by the first threshold changing unit. A determining unit determines whether a threshold value in the threshold matrix is to be changed by the first threshold changing unit or by the second threshold changing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Yamagata, Yugo Mochizuki, Kouta Murasawa, Toshiki Miyazaki, Masao Kato, Okinori Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20190158688
    Abstract: Provided are an image processing apparatus, image processing method, and display apparatus capable of processing a printed image including a color metallic area to be printed by applying color ink containing coloring material and metallic ink containing metal particles on top of each other, into an image displayable on the display apparatus. The image processing apparatus includes: a generation unit that generates preview image data for displaying a preview image on a display apparatus, based on image data for printing a color metallic image including the color metallic area; and a control unit that controls the display apparatus such that the preview image is displayed based on the preview image data generated by the generation unit. A color that expresses the color metallic area in the preview image data is different from a color forming the color metallic area in the image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Kouta Murasawa, Yugo Mochizuki, Masao Kato
  • Publication number: 20180332191
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus which employs a dither method capable of printing a thin line of desired density without any break irrespective of printing conditions. The first threshold changing unit changes part of threshold values in a threshold matrix to generate a first threshold matrix so as to increase the number of dots to be printed in a specific pixel area. The second threshold changing unit changes part of threshold values in the threshold matrix to generate a second threshold matrix such that the number of dots to be printed in a specific pixel area is smaller than the case of changing a threshold value by the first threshold changing unit. A determining unit determines whether a threshold value in the threshold matrix is to be changed by the first threshold changing unit or by the second threshold changing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Yamagata, Yugo Mochizuki, Kouta Murasawa, Toshiki Miyazaki, Masao Kato, Okinori Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20180332193
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus processes image data to be used in a printing apparatus configured to perform forward and backward scan printing by using a print head in which nozzle arrays corresponding to multiple colors are aligned. The image processing apparatus includes: a setting unit configured to set a first control parameter in a case where image data to be processed does not include a line portion and to set a second control parameter in a case where the image data to be processed includes a line portion, the second parameter being different from the first control parameter; and a processing unit configured to perform, for the image data to be processed, processing to suppress a difference between a color printed in a forward scan and a color printed in a backward scan based on the control parameter set by the setting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Okinori Tsuchiya, Tatsuhiro Yamagata, Yugo Mochizuki, Kouta Murasawa, Toshiki Miyazaki, Masao Kato
  • Patent number: 9815274
    Abstract: A dividing unit generates, from input data, divided data corresponding to the first area and the second area to be printed by a recording head and partly overlapping each other. The dividing unit supplies the respective divided data to the first processing unit and the second processing unit which can concurrently perform processing. Each of the first and second processing units generates the recording image data from the divided data based on a characteristic of the recording head corresponding to a recording area assigned to one of the processing units and a partial area assigned to the other processing unit. Each of the first and second processing units then performs driving control on the recording head based on data, in generated recording image data, which corresponds to an area recorded by one of the processing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kouta Murasawa, Shinichi Miyazaki, Yusuke Hashii, Yugo Mochizuki, Mayuko Yamagata, Akitoshi Yamada, Masao Kato
  • Patent number: 9716809
    Abstract: In low-resolution processing (reduction processing) in which input image data is separated into character print data and image print data to generate print data of lower resolution than that of the input image data, if a plurality of pixels is simply reduction-processed to one pixel, color of a color image surrounding a character may change. In an image processing method, calculation for performing reduction processing so that the plurality of pixels in the input image data corresponds to one pixel in the print data is performed as follows. A ratio of using a pixel value of a character attribute pixel in the calculation is set to 0, or set smaller than a ratio of using a pixel value of an image attribute pixel. As a result, a change in the color of the color image surrounding the character can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouta Murasawa, Akitoshi Yamada, Nobutaka Miyake, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Shinjiro Hori, Fumitaka Goto, Ryosuke Iguchi, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Hiromitsu Akiba, Senichi Saito, Junichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9704221
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input unit to input image data. A first correction unit performs a first type of correction for the input image data, based on a result of analysis of the image data. A storage unit stores the corrected image data. A second correction unit performs a first type of manual correction for the stored image data using a correction parameter in accordance with a user instruction. A third correction unit performs a second type of correction for the input image data, based on a result of analysis of the image data in a case when a second type of correction instruction based on an image analysis is input, after the first type of manual correction is performed by the second correction unit. The second type of correction is different from the first type of correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinjiro Hori, Kouta Murasawa
  • Patent number: 9672450
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus according to this invention analyzes image data to be printed, and generates sequence information for defining the moving range of each scanning motion of a recording head and the conveyance amount of a recording medium. The apparatus divides a recording area defined by the generated sequence information into areas so that the processing amounts of a plurality of processing units capable of parallelly executing processes are equal to each other, distributes data of the divided areas to the processing units, and causes each of the processing units to generate recording image data. The apparatus performs recording by controlling driving and a scanning motion of the recording head and conveyance of the recording medium based on the recording image data obtained by the processing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Hashii, Yugo Mochizuki, Kouta Murasawa, Shinichi Miyazaki, Mayuko Yamagata, Akitoshi Yamada, Masao Kato
  • Publication number: 20170066233
    Abstract: A dividing unit generates, from input data, divided data corresponding to the first area and the second area to be printed by a recording head and partly overlapping each other. The dividing unit supplies the respective divided data to the first processing unit and the second processing unit which can concurrently perform processing. Each of the first and second processing units generates the recording image data from the divided data based on a characteristic of the recording head corresponding to a recording area assigned to one of the processing units and a partial area assigned to the other processing unit. Each of the first and second processing units then performs driving control on the recording head based on data, in generated recording image data, which corresponds to an area recorded by one of the processing units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Kouta MURASAWA, Shinichi MIYAZAKI, Yusuke HASHII, Yugo MOCHIZUKI, Mayuko YAMAGATA, Akitoshi YAMADA, Masao KATO
  • Patent number: 9533492
    Abstract: A dividing unit generates, from input data, divided data corresponding to the first area and the second area to be printed by a recording head and partly overlapping each other. The dividing unit supplies the respective divided data to the first processing unit and the second processing unit which can concurrently perform processing. Each of the first and second processing units generates the recording image data from the divided data based on a characteristic of the recording head corresponding to a recording area assigned to one of the processing units and a partial area assigned to the other processing unit. Each of the first and second processing units then performs driving control on the recording head based on data, in generated recording image data, which corresponds to an area recorded by one of the processing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kouta Murasawa, Shinichi Miyazaki, Yusuke Hashii, Yugo Mochizuki, Mayuko Yamagata, Akitoshi Yamada, Masao Kato
  • Publication number: 20160297191
    Abstract: A dividing unit generates, from input data, divided data corresponding to the first area and the second area to be printed by a recording head and partly overlapping each other. The dividing unit supplies the respective divided data to the first processing unit and the second processing unit which can concurrently perform processing. Each of the first and second processing units generates the recording image data from the divided data based on a characteristic of the recording head corresponding to a recording area assigned to one of the processing units and a partial area assigned to the other processing unit. Each of the first and second processing units then performs driving control on the recording head based on data, in generated recording image data, which corresponds to an area recorded by one of the processing units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Kouta Murasawa, Shinichi Miyazaki, Yusuke Hashii, Yugo Mochizuki, Mayuko Yamagata, Akitoshi Yamada, Masao Kato
  • Publication number: 20160275380
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus according to this invention analyzes image data to be printed, and generates sequence information for defining the moving range of each scanning motion of a recording head and the conveyance amount of a recording medium. The apparatus divides a recording area defined by the generated sequence information into areas so that the processing amounts of a plurality of processing units capable of parallelly executing processes are equal to each other, distributes data of the divided areas to the processing units, and causes each of the processing units to generate recording image data. The apparatus performs recording by controlling driving and a scanning motion of the recording head and conveyance of the recording medium based on the recording image data obtained by the processing units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Yusuke Hashii, Yugo Mochizuki, Kouta Murasawa, Shinichi Miyazaki, Mayuko Yamagata, Akitoshi Yamada, Masao Kato
  • Patent number: 9361669
    Abstract: A blurring process is performed on an addition area including a point light source area detected in an image to be processed so that the nearer to the circumference of the addition area, the higher the luminance value while an addition coefficient is being increased according to a distance from the center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouta Murasawa, Kiyoshi Umeda, Shinjiro Hori
  • Patent number: 9361674
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire an input image, an identifying unit configured to identify a distance from a reference point to a processing target pixel in the input image, a deformation unit configured to deform an image based on the distance, and a sharpening processing unit configured to perform sharpening processing on an image while changing a strength of the sharpening processing, the changing of the strength based on the distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sakai, Kouta Murasawa
  • Patent number: 9350903
    Abstract: Because the ejection state of a printing element in a printing apparatus may vary at all times, an inspection item for inspecting a printed image may be set in consideration of the ejection state of the printing element. An inspection item for inspecting a printed image may be set based on information including a temperature characteristic of a printing head and a state of ink such as an elapsed time from the last ejection. This allows image inspection that matches with variations in the ejection state of the printing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumitaka Goto, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Senichi Saito, Nobutaka Miyake, Shinjiro Hori, Akitoshi Yamada, Ryosuke Iguchi, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Kouta Murasawa, Hiromitsu Akiba, Junichi Nakagawa