Patents by Inventor Sachiko Hirano

Sachiko Hirano 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: 20200389571
    Abstract: An image processing method in a system capable of forming a second image with a second color material on a sheet while forming, as a base, a first image with a first color material on the basis of print data, the method includes: acquiring color information regarding the sheet, the first image, and the second image; and enlarging or reducing an area of the second image protruding from the first image on the basis of the color information regarding the sheet, the first image, and the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Sachiko HIRANO
  • Publication number: 20200213477
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus that compares a color sample image and a document image, and performs color adjustment at a time of output of the document image, the image processing apparatus includes: storage that stores a color sample image and a document image; and a control part that compares the color sample image and the document image, and performs color adjustment, wherein the control part extracts a continuous region having a predetermined level or more of uniformity for a predetermined item, on the color sample image and the document image, compares accompanying information of each of images in the region, and selects a region of the color sample image corresponding to the region of the document image on the basis of a result of the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventor: SACHIKO HIRANO
  • Patent number: 10244148
    Abstract: A printer includes: an inline scanner which acquires an RGB value of each patch of a color chart; an inline colorimeter which acquires a colorimetric value of each patch of the color chart; a profile creation unit which creates a profile for associating the RGB value with the colorimetric value of each patch; and a color conversion unit which estimates a colorimetric value corresponding to an RGB value of input data by extrapolation calculation using four points including three points forming a plane and one supporting point in data of the profile, wherein the color conversion unit estimates the colorimetric value corresponding to the RGB value based on a set of four points remained after deleting one or a plurality of sets of four points according to a predetermined rule from a plurality of sets of four points selected for an RGB value input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kosuke Tsuji, Sachiko Hirano
  • Patent number: 10071564
    Abstract: Provided are a control apparatus, an image processing method and a non-transitory recording medium. The control apparatus includes a raster-image processor and a hardware processor that judges whether each of multi-valued pixels forming a source image is colored in one of specific colors, controls the amount of color materials to be used in printing the source image together with a white base, by reducing pixel values of the multi-valued pixels forming the source image and the white base, and converts the multi-valued pixels into two-valued pixels corresponding to colors of the color materials of the source image and two-valued white pixels. The hardware processor uses a matrix of two-valued white pixels corresponding to each of the multi-valued pixels judged as being colored in one of the specific colors, to rearrange at least one of colored two-valued white pixels at colored or uncolored pixel positions in the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Sachiko Hirano
  • Patent number: 9930219
    Abstract: The profile creation method creates a color conversion profile for a printer by causing the printer to output a color chart including patch images having colors corresponding to combinations of values of a plurality of basic colors. The method includes extracting a pair of grid points adjacent to each other from among grid points of a lookup table indicating a correspondence relationship between the values of the colors of the patch images and colorimetric values of the patch images, and performing an interpolation process according to a degree of color variation in two patch images corresponding to the pair of grid points obtained from data of colorimetric values accumulated regarding the two patch images to obtain a grid point for interpolation between the pair of grid points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Sachiko Hirano
  • Publication number: 20180065377
    Abstract: Provided are a control apparatus, an image processing method and a non-transitory recording medium. The control apparatus includes a raster-image processor and a hardware processor that judges whether each of multi-valued pixels forming a source image is colored in one of specific colors, controls the amount of color materials to be used in printing the source image together with a white base, by reducing pixel values of the multi-valued pixels forming the source image and the white base, and converts the multi-valued pixels into two-valued pixels corresponding to colors of the color materials of the source image and two-valued white pixels. The hardware processor uses a matrix of two-valued white pixels corresponding to each of the multi-valued pixels judged as being colored in one of the specific colors, to rearrange at least one of colored two-valued white pixels at colored or uncolored pixel positions in the matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Sachiko HIRANO
  • Patent number: 9894248
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a control unit, and a raster-image processor that performs color correction to correct colors of a user printing device into colors of a standard printing device by using a multidimensional LUT and performs color conversion by using a printer profile for the standard printing device and a target profile. The control unit creates the multidimensional LUT including a first LUT and a second LUT, and compares chromas of each fully saturated secondary color of the user printing device, the standard printing device and the target colors. On judging that the chroma of one fully saturated secondary color of the user printing device is greater than that of the standard printing device, the control unit instructs the raster-image processor to perform the color correction while specifying use of the first or second LUT according to a comparison result of the chromas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Sachiko Hirano
  • Publication number: 20170353630
    Abstract: A printer includes: an inline scanner which acquires an RGB value of each patch of a color chart; an inline colorimeter which acquires a colorimetric value of each patch of the color chart; a profile creation unit which creates a profile for associating the RGB value with the colorimetric value of each patch; and a color conversion unit which estimates a colorimetric value corresponding to an RGB value of input data by extrapolation calculation using four points including three points forming a plane and one supporting point in data of the profile, wherein the color conversion unit estimates the colorimetric value corresponding to the RGB value based on a set of four points remained after deleting one or a plurality of sets of four points according to a predetermined rule from a plurality of sets of four points selected for an RGB value input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kosuke TSUJI, Sachiko HIRANO
  • Patent number: 9811768
    Abstract: The profile creation method creates a color conversion profile for a printer by causing the printer to output a color chart including patch images having colors corresponding to combinations of values of a plurality of basic colors. The method includes acquiring colorimetric values of the patch images included in the color chart output from the printer; creating a color conversion profile from the acquired colorimetric values by using a calculation formula according to a degree of variation in a color of each patch image obtained from data of colorimetric values accumulated regarding the each patch image; and when the data of the colorimetric values increases by a predetermined amount, creating a new color conversion profile from the acquired colorimetric values by using a calculation formula according to the degree of the variation obtained from the data after the increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Sachiko Hirano
  • Publication number: 20170201652
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a control unit, and a raster-image processor that performs color correction to correct colors of a user printing device into colors of a standard printing device by using a multidimensional LUT and performs color conversion by using a printer profile for the standard printing device and a target profile. The control unit creates the multidimensional LUT including a first LUT and a second LUT, and compares chromas of each fully saturated secondary color of the user printing device, the standard printing device and the target colors. On judging that the chroma of one fully saturated secondary color of the user printing device is greater than that of the standard printing device, the control unit instructs the raster-image processor to perform the color correction while specifying use of the first or second LUT according to a comparison result of the chromas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Sachiko HIRANO
  • Patent number: 9602698
    Abstract: The profile creation method creates a color conversion profile for a printer by causing the printer to output a color chart including a plurality of patch images. The method acquires a colorimetric value of one patch image included in the color chart output by the printer and corrects the acquired colorimetric value of the one patch image according to the degree of variation in a color of the one patch image specified by data of the colorimetric value already accumulated regarding the one patch image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Sachiko Hirano
  • Patent number: 9291933
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an acquisition unit for independently acquiring image correction information on every page, the image correction information being independently preset for every page on which an image is to be formed; and a control unit for correcting an image forming condition for every page based on the image correction information acquired by the acquisition unit and controlling the image forming apparatus to form the image on a sheet based on the corrected image forming condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Sachiko Hirano
  • Publication number: 20150356388
    Abstract: The profile creation method creates a color conversion profile for a printer by causing the printer to output a color chart including a plurality of patch images. The method acquires a colorimetric value of one patch image included in the color chart output by the printer and corrects the acquired colorimetric value of the one patch image according to the degree of variation in a color of the one patch image specified by data of the colorimetric value already accumulated regarding the one patch image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Sachiko HIRANO
  • Publication number: 20150356387
    Abstract: The profile creation method creates a color conversion profile for a printer by causing the printer to output a color chart including patch images having colors corresponding to combinations of values of a plurality of basic colors. The method includes acquiring colorimetric values of the patch images included in the color chart output from the printer; creating a color conversion profile from the acquired colorimetric values by using a calculation formula according to a degree of variation in a color of each patch image obtained from data of colorimetric values accumulated regarding the each patch image; and when the data of the colorimetric values increases by a predetermined amount, creating a new color conversion profile from the acquired colorimetric values by using a calculation formula according to the degree of the variation obtained from the data after the increase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Sachiko HIRANO
  • Publication number: 20150358506
    Abstract: The profile creation method creates a color conversion profile for a printer by causing the printer to output a color chart including patch images having colors corresponding to combinations of values of a plurality of basic colors. The method includes extracting a pair of grid points adjacent to each other from among grid points of a lookup table indicating a correspondence relationship between the values of the colors of the patch images and colorimetric values of the patch images, and performing an interpolation process according to a degree of color variation in two patch images corresponding to the pair of grid points obtained from data of colorimetric values accumulated regarding the two patch images to obtain a grid point for interpolation between the pair of grid points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Sachiko HIRANO
  • Patent number: 8958125
    Abstract: A calibration apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes a calculation unit for calculating a color deviation by subtracting a target value from each value on the two orthogonal axes not including brightness of a color coordinate system based on a measured color value of a printed material and a display unit for displaying the color deviation with respect to each gray balance at the feedback such that the number of times of inversions of a sign of the color deviation calculated by the calculation unit and a variation width of the color deviation when the sign of the color deviation is inverted can be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Sachiko Hirano
  • Publication number: 20140376007
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an acquisition unit for independently acquiring image correction information on every page, the image correction information being independently preset for every page on which an image is to be formed; and a control unit for correcting an image forming condition for every page based on the image correction information acquired by the acquisition unit and controlling the image forming apparatus to form the image on a sheet based on the corrected image forming condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Sachiko HIRANO
  • Patent number: 8687233
    Abstract: Disclosed is a print preview apparatus including: an output control section which outputs an adjustment chart with a plurality of print color sample images formed based on a color data value of a color space depending on a print device adjusted to a color gamut reproducible by the print apparatus; a conversion section which converts each color data value of the color space depending on the print device to a color data value of a color space depending on a display device; a display section which displays a plurality of display color sample images corresponding to each of the plurality of print color sample images; and an adjustment section which presents the plurality of display color sample images displayed on the display section and which adjusts a color data value indicating a color of the presented display color sample image based on color adjustment information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Sachiko Hirano
  • Publication number: 20140085647
    Abstract: A calibration apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes a calculation unit for calculating a color deviation by subtracting a target value from each value on the two orthogonal axes not including brightness of a color coordinate system based on a measured color value of a printed material and a display unit for displaying the color deviation with respect to each gray balance at the feedback such that the number of times of inversions of a sign of the color deviation calculated by the calculation unit and a variation width of the color deviation when the sign of the color deviation is inverted can be detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Sachiko HIRANO
  • Patent number: 8508798
    Abstract: Disclosed is a recording medium recording a program for a computer to perform the following functions of: creating first corresponding information to show color value corresponding to a combination of values of black and three basic colors when a plurality of color patches are each output; creating second corresponding information to correspond the combination of values of black and three basic colors to a virtual basic color axis coordinate; creating third corresponding information to show color value corresponding to the virtual basic color axis coordinate; and obtaining virtual basic color axis coordinate corresponding to the color value, obtaining a combination of values of black and three basic colors corresponding to the obtained virtual basic color axis coordinate, and storing the obtained combination of values of black and three basic colors as a combination of values of black and three basic colors corresponding to the color value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sachiko Hirano, Toru Hoshino