Abstract: A sensor device includes a detector portion, plural metal terminals that transmit a detection signal from the detector portion, and a housing portion, which integrally supports the detector portion and metal terminals, formed from resin, leading end portions of the plural metal terminals configuring connector terminals, and the plural metal terminals being disposed with at least one portion thereof aligned when seen from the axial direction of the connector terminals, wherein protruding portions protruding in a direction differing from the axial direction of the connector terminals are provided on the metal terminals.

Abstract: A magnetic detection apparatus comprises: a magnetic detection section which is obtained by pressing a base including a magnetic detection device, and magnetic field generation means fixed to the base, into a cap so as to integrate the base, the magnetic field generation means, and the cap; and a secondary molding section including an attachment section for attaching the magnetic detection section, and a connector section for extracting a signal detected by the magnetic detection section.

Abstract: Adequate correction processing is performed on image data based on the degree of ink concentration that occurs even. An image processing apparatus having: acquisition unit for acquiring multi-value image data and a first parameter related to the degree of concentration of ink; first generation unit for generating corrected data by correcting the multi-value data that is to be printed for the first pixel based on the multi-value data that is to printed in the first pixel and a first parameter; and second generation unit for generating the first parameter and a second parameter that indicates the degree of ink concentration of the plurality of nozzles when printing a second pixel that is printed by the nozzles next to the first pixel.

Abstract: When the width of a recording head is greater than the width of a recording medium having a maximum conveyable width, a recorded image corresponding to ejecting ports in the entire area of the recording head cannot be corrected. Multiple correction test patterns are recorded using ejecting ports in part of the recording head, and correction data for correcting an image corresponding to ejecting ports in the entire area of the recording head on the basis of the colorimetric result of the test patterns. In this way, image data to be recorded by the ejecting ports in the entire area of the recording head is corrected.

Abstract: In order to eliminate image deterioration based on the characteristics of an output device upon execution of edge emphasis processing, an image processing apparatus includes a setting unit which sets a print characteristic on the print medium, a region setting unit which sets a region, a brightness value derivation unit which derives brightness values, a first derivative derivation which derives first derivatives of the brightness values, an edge direction determination unit which determines an edge direction of brightness, an emphasis level determination unit which determines an emphasis level of a pixel value based on the first derivatives, and a replacement unit which calculates second derivatives of brightness values and replaces a pixel value of a pixel of interest based on the sign of the second derivative.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a printing method are provided which, even if a print position misalignment occurs between a plurality of print scans during a multipass printing, can minimize density variations in a unit area reliably and stably, thus producing an image without density unevenness. For this purpose, multi-grayscale-level image data is converted into a plurality of dot arrangement patterns that determine individual subpixels either to be printed or not to be printed with a dot. Then, these dot arrangement patterns are printed overlappingly on a print medium in different print scans of the print head. At this time, the plurality of dot arrangement patterns are so arranged that, if these dot arrangement patterns are shifted from one another, a change in the dot-overlapping area ratio will be smaller than when the dots are arranged separately so that they do not overlap one another.

Abstract: There is provided an ink jet recording apparatus capable of shortening the recording duration even when an image to be recorded includes a high-duty area having a large amount of ink to be discharged in the case of two-sided recording on a recording medium. The ink jet recording apparatus, which reverses the recording medium to enable two-sided recording, performs dividing the image to be recorded on a high-duty area having a large amount of ink to be discharged into two (first and second) planes, first plane recording involving a unit area to be subjected to an ink discharge amount below a predetermined amount, reversing the recording medium, and recording on the rear surface, and reversing the recording medium again, and second plane recording.

Abstract: A transfer method for transferring data between a digital still camera and a printer in direct communication with each other. The digital still camera stores an image file of an input image and a conversion file including conversion information for carrying out color conversion in a preset color space common to both the digital still camera and the printer. The method includes a first transfer step of transferring from the digital still camera to the printer the conversion file and a second transfer step of transferring the image file from the digital still camera to the printer. The printer carries out color conversion of and outputs the image of the image file transferred in the second transfer step using the conversion information included in the conversion file transferred in the first transfer step.

Abstract: In order to eliminate image deterioration based on the characteristics of an output device upon execution of edge emphasis processing, an image processing apparatus includes a setting unit which sets a print characteristic on the print medium, a region setting unit which sets a region, a brightness value derivation unit which derives brightness values, a first derivative derivation which derives first derivatives of the brightness values, an edge direction determination unit which determines an edge direction of brightness, an emphasis level determination unit which determines an emphasis level of a pixel value based on the first derivatives, and a replacement unit which calculates second derivatives of brightness values and replaces a pixel value of a pixel of interest based on the sign of the second derivative.

Abstract: An adapter capable of communicating with an image supply device and an image output device and allowing direct printing even when a plurality of images are transferred at the same time from image supply devices. The adapter transmits a print request associated with a first image to the image output device. If acquisition of a second image is completed before acquisition of the first image completed, the adapter transfers the second image instead of the first image as the image to be printed.

Abstract: When the width of a recording head is greater than the width of a recording medium having a maximum conveyable width, a recorded image corresponding to ejecting ports in the entire area of the recording head cannot be corrected. Multiple correction test patterns are recorded using ejecting ports in part of the recording head, and correction data for correcting an image corresponding to ejecting ports in the entire area of the recording head on the basis of the colorimetric result of the test patterns. In this way, image data to be recorded by the ejecting ports in the entire area of the recording head is corrected.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image searching device that searches a print target image adapted for a printable area only by setting a template for the printable area and a search condition necessary to search the print target image. The image searching device inputs shape information on the printable area. Then, the image searching device sets the image search condition. Then, the image searching device searches the print target image from a plurality of images on the basis of the shape information on the printable area, and the image search condition. According to the image searching device, upon printing of an image in a specially-shaped printable area, a print target image adapted for the printable area can be automatically searched only by setting a shape of the printable area, and an image search condition, resulting in improvement of searching efficiency.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image processing apparatus which determines an attribute of an image including a pixel to be processed. An image area having a predetermined size including the pixel to be processed is extracted (S701). A variation related to the image area is calculated based on pixel values included in the image area (S705). Pixels in the image area are converted into N-ary data (ternary data or higher) in accordance with the calculated variation (S709). The attribute of the pixel to be processed is determined by analyzing the N-ary data as a result of the N-ary conversion (S711).

Abstract: Provided are an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of reducing color unevenness due to variations in ejection characteristics among a plurality of nozzles when printing an image using a plurality of inks. To that end, a first image which is made up a color with noticeable color unevenness and similar colors is printed onto a print medium. The user then specifies a color and a nozzle position where color unevenness has occurred. On the basis of these results, parameters are set for a correction table referenced by are MCS processor. In so doing, it becomes possible to address the factor causing the color unevenness, and mitigate the effects of color unevenness in a focused way without incurring increases in processor load, memory requirements, or processing time as compared to the case of calibrating all lattice points.

Abstract: When printing an image using a plurality of inks, color unevenness caused by variations in ejection characteristics among nozzles is corrected at suitable timings in accordance with change in the color unevenness over time, and favorable image output without noticeably color unevenness is maintained. For this purpose, parameters are prepared, for colors formed by combinations of at least two colors of ink, the parameters being determined so as to reduce differences in coloration on a print medium caused by individual variations in the ejection characteristics of a plurality of nozzles. When printing, a first color signal included in individual pixels is corrected for a second color signal by using the parameters. Information regarding the ejection volume characteristics of a plurality of nozzles is acquired as appropriate, and by estimating changes in coloration from this information, suitable timings for overwriting such parameters are determined.

Abstract: In the present invention, joint sections and non-joint sections are formed in nozzle arrays of a plurality of chips arranged in a print head. Correction values for correcting input image data are calculated for reducing color difference caused by variation in the ejection characteristics of the nozzles. In this calculation of correction values, first a first correction value corresponding to first nozzles that form a color measurement area is calculated based on the color measurement value obtained by measuring the color of a discrete color measurement area included in a patch formed by a nozzle array. Next, a second correction value for correcting input image data corresponding to second nozzles of the nozzle array is calculated based on the first correction value. Different complementary processing is used when calculating the second correction value corresponding to a non-joint section, and when calculating the second correction value corresponding to a joint section.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided that is capable of very accurately and efficiently reducing uneven color caused by variation in ejection characteristics among nozzles that eject ink and that occurs in a color image that is formed by mixing a plurality of different kinds of ink. A patch is printed by ejected ink from a plurality of nozzles, a region is specified so as to perform color correction in a test color image that is printed on a printing medium, a plurality of different color correction processing is performed on color signals that correspond to a color correction region, a plurality of color correction patches are printed, a color correction patch to be used is selected from among the plurality of different color correction patches and table parameters that correspond to the nozzles are created based on the selected color correction processing.

Abstract: Area information is obtained with respect to a specified color and nozzle position having color unevenness. Then, coordinate information indicating a nozzle position corresponding to the above area information is obtained in a printing head or nozzle array corresponding to an ink color relating to the specified color information. Next, the number of candidate correction values or candidate patches is obtained on the basis of nozzle coordinates obtained corresponding to the area, by referring to a table. In this table, for example, the number of candidate correction values is small at a nozzle position where an effect due to the variations of nozzle ejection characteristics such as a nozzle ejection volume is small and a change direction is constant, and the number of candidate correction values is large at a nozzle position where an effect due to variations of nozzle ejection characteristics is large.

Abstract: The invention decreases the enlargement of memory and processing time for the correction of image data carried out to reduce image deterioration caused by nozzle ejection characteristic variation in an inkjet printing apparatus. Print heads are provided with pluralities of chips that have nozzle arrays formed from a plurality of nozzles. Coupled portions and non-overlap portions are formed on each chip. An image processing apparatus sets input image data, which correspond to nozzle regions that are defined in nozzle arrays along the alignment direction of the nozzles of the print head and that are composed of a plurality of nozzles, as processing blocks. The input image data is processed according to parameters defined for each of those processing blocks. The boundaries of the nozzle regions corresponding to the input image data of the processing blocks are established according to the boundaries of the overlap portions and the non-overlap portions.

Abstract: In the present invention, a first calculation unit calculates, based on image data obtained by reading with a reading unit a plurality of patches formed on a printing medium by a plurality of nozzle regions constituting nozzle array of a printing head, respective color specification values of a plurality of correction regions corresponding to a plurality of nozzle regions constituting the nozzle array. Then, a target value setting unit sets, based on the calculated color specification values of the plurality of correction regions, a target color specification value of the patch. Further, a second calculation unit calculates a difference between each of the color specification values of the plurality of correction regions and the target color specification value as a correction amount. After that, based on the correction amount calculated, image data corresponding to an image printed by each of the plurality of nozzle regions are corrected.