Abstract: A method of detecting color deviation in a color image forming apparatus by obtaining basic color information including at least one of (A) color information of at least one of a first-color basic image, a second-color basic image, and a superposed-color basic image which is formed by the color image forming apparatus, and (B) color information of the image-formation medium which is not colored by any of the two colors; obtaining superposed-pattern color information which is color information of a pattern-superposed image formed by the color image forming apparatus such that two pattern images each provided by each of the two colors are superposed; and detecting a relative positional deviation between the two pattern images, on the basis of the basic color information and the superposed-pattern color information.

Abstract: A print method and apparatus for minimizing effects of error in repositioning during printing process may include generating successive scans of a recording head, wherein the scans may partially overlap to account for the error in repositioning. As an example, after the recording head makes one scan across the document being printed, the document (or the head) may be repositioned for the next scan so that several print elements of the recording head are aligned to lie between certain rows of dots printed in the previous scan, resulting in a higher number of rows in the overlapping portion of the scans. Additional features may include varying the row/column arrangement of dots in the overlap portion, or performing error diffusion and correction for different areas of resolution in the scans.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head including a plurality of printing elements each of which offsets at least in a auxiliary-scanning direction one another and ejects droplets toward a recording medium. The image forming apparatus further includes a main scanning unit configured to scan the recording head, relative to the recording medium, in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the auxiliary-scanning direction. The image forming apparatus still further includes a auxiliary-scanning unit configured to scan the recording head, relative to the recording medium, in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the auxiliary-scanning direction.

Abstract: When the input value becomes close to the medium dot relative density value (Den_M), the large dot threshold value (Thre_L) and medium dot threshold value (Thre_M) become close to each other. It is possible to prevent output values from being converged to the particular medium-dot output value. When the input value becomes close to the small dot relative density value (Den_S), the medium dot threshold value (Thre_M) and the small dot relative density value (Den_S) become close to each other. It is possible to prevent output values from being converged to the particular small-dot output value.

Abstract: An error utilization factor line, indicative of a relationship between the amount of the error utilization factor K and input data for a present pixel, is determined dependently on characteristics of the image, on the value of the threshold, on the size of the distribution matrix, or on the condition of the recording operation. The amount of the error utilization factor K is determined dependently on the input data of the present pixel and based on the error utilization factor line. The correction amount F, collected from the already-processed nearby pixel, is multiplied by the error utilization factor K, before being added to the input data of the present pixel for the halftone process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radiolabeled ligand which is highly selective and potent for glutamate transporters and is usable in specifically detecting the glutamate transporter. Specifically, the present invention provides a 3-[3-(benzoylamido)benzyloxy]aspartic acid having a radioactive substituent on the benzoyl group which is represented by the following formula (1), or an ester or salt thereof: wherein X represents a substituent containing a radioactive atom(s) which is selected from a straight or branched lower aliphatic alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, a straight or branched lower aliphatic alkoxy group, an amino group, a straight or branched lower aliphatic acylamido group, a halogen atom and a straight or branched lower aliphatic haloalkyl group; and R1 and R2 each represents a hydrogen atom, a straight or branched lower aliphatic alkyl group or an acetoxymethyl group.

Abstract: An actuator of a variable valve operating device includes an electric motor for varying the distance by which an intake valve of an internal combustion engine is lifted. The electric motor has a hollow cylindrical magnet assembly disposed around a hollow cylindrical holder, and a shaft rotatably supported in a housing, with a hollow region being defined between the shaft and the holder. The magnet assembly is skew-magnetized at a predetermined angle to the axis of the magnet assembly.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head having a nozzle row aligned with a plurality of nozzles and a carrying mechanism capable of carrying a record medium by a multiple of an arbitrary natural number of a unit carry amount in a direction in parallel with the nozzle row. The record medium is carried by any of quasi logical carry amounts including a natural number larger than a logical carry amount determined based on a recording resolution and a number of nozzles and represented as a multiple of the unit carry amount and a natural number smaller than the logical carry amount. The record medium is recorded at each time of carrying the record medium. A carry amount of the record medium is determined such that a difference between the logical carry amount and an actual carry amount of the record medium does not exceed a predetermined value.

Abstract: According to a hue conversion, hue angles of C, M, and Y are always set to hue angles HC, HM, and HY of C, M, and Y of a printer, hue angles of R and G are always set to hue angles HR and HG of R and G of a monitor, and the hue angle of B is always set to a value HB desired by a user. The gradation from black through a full color to white is made linear in each color of R, G, B, C, M, and Y according to the hue conversion. The user sets the hue angle HB for B. Therefore, the user can obtain blue color B which provides the user's favorite hue and gradation. Every hue can be reproduced excellently and gradations can be reproduced without color shifts.

Abstract: A method for updating profiles is provided. The method involves storing a plurality of successive profiles for an image recording device, and changing at least two of the successive profiles when characteristics of the image recording device change. The profiles are successively used to process image data that is used for recording images on a recording medium by the image recording device.

Abstract: An inkjet recording device records images by forming dots on a recording medium with droplet modulating method. The inkjet recording device includes a recording unit, a multilevel-data creating portion, and a dot-layout-data creating portion. The recording unit ejects ink droplets for forming dots at corresponding pixel positions. The recording unit is capable of changing a volume of each ink droplet to form dots with different sizes. The multilevel-data creating portion creates multilevel data based on image data. The multilevel data includes a dot size for each dot. The dot-layout-data creating portion creating dot layout data based on the multilevel data, so as to prevent the recording unit from forming dots having the same size continuously by greater than or equal to a predetermined number. The recording unit performs recording operation based on the dot layout data.

Abstract: When forming a test chart for investigating output characteristic relating to yellow color agent, a printer outputs yellow color agent in a plurality of densities that correspond to various density levels and also outputs cyan color agent in a fixed and maximum density. Patches in gradations from cyan to green are formed by overlapping the yellow color agent and the cyan color agent. The patches are formed with respect to a surrounding area that is formed by outputting the cyan color agent in the fixed and maximum density. Accordingly, the colors of the patches are easier to distinguish than when the patches are formed from yellow only. Visual calibration can be easily performed even with the yellow color agent that has a low visual sensitivity.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a feeding unit, a recording unit, and a controller. The feeding unit includes a first feeding member and a second feeding member disposed at a downstream of the first feeding member in a feeding direction. At least one of the first feeding member and the second feeding member feeds a recording medium in the feeding direction. The recording unit is disposed between the first feeding member and the second feeding member to eject a plurality of ink droplets onto the recording medium fed between the first feeding member and the second feeding member. A plurality of ink droplets ejected onto the recording medium forms a plurality of raster lines extending in a main-scanning direction orthogonal to the feeding direction.

Abstract: In a halftone module, it is judged whether or not the value “rate” for each pixel is greater than zero (0). In other words, it is judged whether or not the eight-bit input data Iin of each pixel is around a half of the relative density value for a small dot of a corresponding color. If the eight-bit input data Iin of the subject pixel is near to a half of the relative density value for a small dot, noise is added to the threshold values Ta, Tb, and Tc. The noise-added threshold values Ta?, Tb?, and Tc? are used in the comparing process.

Abstract: For each paper type, a plurality of two-dimensional excitation characteristics tables Ti are provided in one to one correspondence with a plurality of colors i. The excitation characteristics table Ti for each color i contains a plurality of sets of excitation-reflectance data Bi (?0, ?) in a two-dimensional matrix form, for a plurality of combinations of incident light wavelengths ? and reflected light wavelengths ?0. The excitation-reflectance data Bi (?0, ?) indicates the ratio of the amount of the reflected light wavelength ?0 generated in response to incidence of the incident light wavelength ?, with respect to the amount of the incident light wavelength ?. Using the two-dimensional excitation characteristics table Ti corresponding to the user's selected paper type and using the spectral radiation characteristics S(?) of the user's selected light source type, Equations (9)-(11) are calculated to create an output profile, and color conversion is performed by using the output profile.

Abstract: A plurality of color signals indicative of a plurality of color patterns are processed based on a first distribution curve to distribute the original color signals into color signals for normal ink and color signals for light ink. Then, the plurality of color patterns are printed by the color signals for normal ink and color signals for light ink. Then, the density of each color pattern is detected to produce a density curve. A second distribution curve is produced based on the detected density, the original color signals, and the first distribution curve so that the second distribution curve can attain a properly linearly-changing density curve. By preparing beforehand a plurality of first distribution curves dependently on a variety of usage conditions of the printer, it is possible to use a second distribution curve that is in conformity to the usage condition, under which the printer is desired to be driven, by selecting a distribution curve that corresponds to the usage condition.

Abstract: A method of evaluating the quality of an image includes a step of determining at least a parameter concerning a zone or a parameter concerning a distribution pattern of sampling points within the zone. This step is performed based on the image. For each zone, Fourier analysis is performed using the optical characteristic values of the respective sampling points within the zone, and the image quality of each zone is obtained. The quality of the image is then determined based on the image quality of each zone within the image. A suitable zone and distribution pattern of sampling points are employed in evaluating the quality of an image.

Abstract: An ink reduction rate is set in accordance with the type of image and the type of recording medium. For example, when a photograph is to be printed on a glossy paper with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 10%. When a photograph is to be printed on a plain paper with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 25%. When a document is to be printed with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 50%, irrespective of the type of recording paper.

Abstract: Input image data (255, 100, 50) is first converted into output image data (240, 110, 40) based on the color conversion properties of the input end device and the output device, and is subsequently converted into final output image data (255, 115, 40). The latter conversion satisfies the relationship of (240?40):(110?40)=(255?40):(115?40). By changing the highest-gradation-level color in the output image data into the maximum gradation value (255), the complementary color component is made zero in the output results of the output device, thereby reducing granularity Since the middle-gradation-level color is corrected, variations in color hue are reduced.

Abstract: After determining a CMYK-to-Lab relationship, a Lab lattice-to-CMYK relationship is determined. The Lab lattice-to-CMYK relationship defines, for each Lab lattice point, a plurality of allowable CMYK data sets. Then, for each Lab lattice point, several allowable CMYK data sets with the largest K value are first selected among the plurality of CMYK data sets. Then, one CMYK data set with the smallest color distance from the subject Lab lattice point is selected among the several allowable CMYK data sets. If the subject Lab lattice point falls within the color reproducible range for the value of K of the selected CMYK data set, the selected CMYK data set is finally determined for the subject Lab lattice point. It is possible to create a lookup table, in which each Lab lattice point falls within the color range of the K value in the corresponding CMYK data set.