Patents by Inventor Shota MORIKAWA

Shota MORIKAWA 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).

  • Patent number: 10919313
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a processor sets a target printing method for printing a target image to one of a bidirectional printing method and a unidirectional printing method. In a case where the bidirectional printing method is set as the target printing method: the processor executes both a first generation process and a second generation process. The first generation process generates first partial print data by converting a set of partial image data using a first color conversion profile. The second generation process generates second partial print data by converting another set of partial image data using a second color conversion profile. In a case where the unidirectional printing method is set as the target printing method, the processor executes a third generation process generating third partial print data by converting a set of partial image data using a third color conversion profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Masashi Kuno, Shota Morikawa
  • Patent number: 10913263
    Abstract: A control device includes: a memory; and a controller. A printer includes: a head; and a carriage mounting the head thereon. The controller is configured to perform: selecting first speed information from among a plurality of pieces of speed information stored in the memory, the first speed information indicating a first speed; estimating an ink pressure related value using the first speed information, the ink pressure related value indicating an ink pressure for a first type of print printing an image by ejecting ink from the head while moving the carriage at the first speed; determining whether the ink pressure related value reaches a threshold value; executing the first type of print in response to determining that the ink pressure related value does not reach the threshold value; and executing a second type of print in response to determining that the ink pressure related value reaches the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shin Hasegawa, Masashi Kuno, Shota Morikawa, Satoru Arakane, Yoshiharu Furuhata
  • Publication number: 20210037165
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is configured to perform: acquiring target image data representing a target image made up of a plurality of partial images; determining whether a specific condition is met for each of the plurality of partial images; selecting a direction-determining method of a printing direction for each of the plurality of partial images in accordance with a determination result; determining whether the selected direction-determining method matches a correct method; and adjusting condition data for controlling a printing device so as to increase selectability of the correct method in response to determining that the selected direction-determining method differs from the correct method. The specific condition indicates that an image evaluation value be greater than or equal to a threshold. The image evaluation value represents an expected color difference between a first image printed by a first-directional partial print and a second image printed by a second-directional partial print.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventor: Shota MORIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10882327
    Abstract: A control device controls an image printing by a printing execution unit. The control device performs: determination processing of determining whether a first condition indicating that a supply of ink from an ink supply unit to a printing head is possibly delayed at a partial printing is satisfied, for each of a plurality of band images included in an image to be printed and aligned in a sub-scanning direction; first printing processing of, in a case where the first condition is not satisfied, causing the printing execution unit to print the band image by single time partial printing; and second printing processing of, in a case where the first condition is satisfied, causing the printing execution unit to print each of N partial images included in the band image and aligned in the sub-scanning direction by single time partial printing, to print the band image by N times partial printings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Masashi Kuno, Shota Morikawa, Shin Hasegawa, Yoshiharu Furuhata
  • Patent number: 10814619
    Abstract: An image processing device configured to: determine whether a specific condition indicating ink supplied from an ink supplier to a printing head may be delayed; generate dot data by using image data, including: generating first dot data when the specific condition is not satisfied; and generating second dot data when the specific condition is satisfied, a ratio of first/second type of dots included in an image based on specific second dot data generated using specific image data being greater/smaller than that included in an image based on specific first dot data generated using the specific image data, and total number of dots included in the image based on the specific second dot data being larger that included in the image based on the specific first dot data; and output printing data based on the dot data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Morikawa, Masashi Kuno, Satoru Arakane, Yoshiharu Furuhata, Shin Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 10807380
    Abstract: An image processing device causing a printing execution unit to: in a first case where a specific condition indicating that ink supply from an ink supply unit to a printing head may be delayed in partial printing is not satisfied, print a partial image by single partial printing; in a second case where the specific condition is satisfied, print the partial image by partial printings including a first partial printing and a second partial printing; in the first case, form a dot having a specific size by the single partial printing, as a dot corresponding to a specific pixel in the partial image; and in the second case, form a dot having a size smaller than the specific size by the first partial printing and form a dot having a size smaller than the specific size by the second partial printing, as the dot corresponding to the specific pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Masashi Kuno, Shota Morikawa, Shin Hasegawa, Yoshiharu Furuhata
  • Publication number: 20200293842
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs a first generation process generating first partial print data by a first color conversion process using a first profile corresponding to a first direction, and a second generation process generating second partial print data using a second color conversion process using a second profile. When a color difference is smaller than a reference, the apparatus sets a printing direction to the first direction, and outputs the first partial print data to a print execution unit for printing the first partial print data while the main scan moves in the first direction. When the color difference is larger than or equal to the reference, the apparatus sets the printing direction to the second direction, and outputs the second partial print data to the print execution unit for printing the second partial print data while the main scan moves in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Shota Morikawa, Masashi Kuno, Satoru Arakane
  • Publication number: 20200262213
    Abstract: A control device is configured to: control a main scanning device and a sub-scanning device to print partial images by single partial printing in a first case where a specific condition is not satisfied, the specific condition indicating that ink supply to a printing head may be delayed in a partial printing and determined for each of the partial image, control the main scanning device and the sub-scanning device to print the partial images by a plurality of partial printings including a first partial printing and a second partial printing in a second case where the specific condition is satisfied, and determine a first area of the partial image to be printed by the first partial printing and a second area of the partial image to be printed by the second partial printing by using a pixel value information, in the second case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Masashi KUNO, Shota MORIKAWA, Satoru ARAKANE, Shin HASEGAWA, Yoshiharu FURUHATA
  • Publication number: 20200207075
    Abstract: In a control device, a controller is configured to perform: executing a first print printing a first partial image in a first printing area and a second print printing a second partial image in a second printing area; setting a first ink pressure value for the first print; obtaining a recovery value to be recovered in a time period from completion of the first print to start of the second print; calculating a residual pressure value based on the first ink pressure value and the recovery value; setting a second ink pressure value for the second print using the residual pressure value; and determining whether the second ink pressure value reaches a threshold value. A first mode of print is performed when the second ink pressure value does not reach the threshold value. A second mode of print is performed when the second ink pressure value reaches the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Shin HASEGAWA, Masashi KUNO, Shota MORIKAWA, Satoru ARAKANE, Yoshiharu FURUHATA
  • Publication number: 20200207076
    Abstract: A control device includes: a memory; and a controller. A printer includes: a head; and a carriage mounting the head thereon. The controller is configured to perform: selecting first speed information from among a plurality of pieces of speed information stored in the memory, the first speed information indicating a first speed; estimating an ink pressure related value using the first speed information, the ink pressure related value indicating an ink pressure for a first type of print printing an image by ejecting ink from the head while moving the carriage at the first speed; determining whether the ink pressure related value reaches a threshold value; executing the first type of print in response to determining that the ink pressure related value does not reach the threshold value; and executing a second type of print in response to determining that the ink pressure related value reaches the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Shin HASEGAWA, Masashi KUNO, Shota MORIKAWA, Satoru ARAKANE, Yoshiharu FURUHATA
  • Patent number: 10685267
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs a first generation process generating first partial print data by a first color conversion process using a first profile corresponding to a first direction, and a second generation process generating second partial print data using a second color conversion process using a second profile. When a color difference is smaller than a reference, the apparatus sets a printing direction to the first direction, and outputs the first partial print data to a print execution unit for printing the first partial print data while the main scan moves in the first direction. When the color difference is larger than or equal to the reference, the apparatus sets the printing direction to the second direction, and outputs the second partial print data to the print execution unit for printing the second partial print data while the main scan moves in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Morikawa, Masashi Kuno, Satoru Arakane
  • Publication number: 20200156385
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is configured to generate a plurality of pieces of partial printing data by executing a generating process including a color conversion process. A printing execution device performs N-th and (N+1)-th partial printing. An area in which the N-th partial printing is performed includes an overlap area, and first and second non-overlap areas respectively arranged on upstream and downstream sides, in the conveying direction, with respect to the overlap area. In the overlap area, dots are formed by both the N-th and (N+1)-th partial printings. The color conversion process includes a first converting process for the first non-overlap area with reference to a first profile, a second converting process for the second non-overlap area with reference to a second profile, and a third converting process for the overlap area, the third converting process being different from both the first and second converting process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Masashi Kuno, Shota Morikawa
  • Publication number: 20200086654
    Abstract: An image processing device causing a printing execution unit to: in a first case where a specific condition indicating that ink supply from an ink supply unit to a printing head may be delayed in partial printing is not satisfied, print a partial image by single partial printing; in a second case where the specific condition is satisfied, print the partial image by partial printings including a first partial printing and a second partial printing; in the first case, form a dot having a specific size by the single partial printing, as a dot corresponding to a specific pixel in the partial image; and in the second case, form a dot having a size smaller than the specific size by the first partial printing and form a dot having a size smaller than the specific size by the second partial printing, as the dot corresponding to the specific pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Masashi Kuno, Shota Morikawa, Shin Hasegawa, Yoshiharu Furuhata
  • Publication number: 20200086639
    Abstract: An image processing device configured to: determine whether a specific condition indicating ink supplied from an ink supplier to a printing head may be delayed; generate dot data by using image data, including: generating first dot data when the specific condition is not satisfied; and generating second dot data when the specific condition is satisfied, a ratio of first/second type of dots included in an image based on specific second dot data generated using specific image data being greater/smaller than that included in an image based on specific first dot data generated using the specific image data, and total number of dots included in the image based on the specific second dot data being larger that included in the image based on the specific first dot data; and output printing data based on the dot data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Shota Morikawa, Masashi Kuno, Satoru Arakane, Yoshiharu Furuhata, Shin Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20200086667
    Abstract: A control device controls an image printing by a printing execution unit. The control device performs: determination processing of determining whether a first condition indicating that a supply of ink from an ink supply unit to a printing head is possibly delayed at a partial printing is satisfied, for each of a plurality of band images included in an image to be printed and aligned in a sub-scanning direction; first printing processing of, in a case where the first condition is not satisfied, causing the printing execution unit to print the band image by single time partial printing; and second printing processing of, in a case where the first condition is satisfied, causing the printing execution unit to print each of N partial images included in the band image and aligned in the sub-scanning direction by single time partial printing, to print the band image by N times partial printings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Masashi Kuno, Shota Morikawa, Shin Hasegawa, Yoshiharu Furuhata
  • Publication number: 20200055324
    Abstract: In an image processing device, a controller is configured to perform: selecting; generating; and outputting. The selecting selects a target partial image one by one from a plurality of partial images. The target partial image is represented by target partial image data. The generating generates partial print data for a partial print by executing an image process on the target partial image data. The partial print forms the target partial image while moving a print head in a printing direction. The partial print forms the target partial image while moving a print head in a printing direction. The image process includes a color conversion process. The color conversion process is executed on the target partial image data using one of a first profile and a second profile selected in accordance with the printing direction set for the partial print. The outputting outputs the partial print data to the printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Masashi Kuno, Shota Morikawa, Satoru Arakane
  • Publication number: 20200042841
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs a first generation process generating first partial print data by a first color conversion process using a first profile corresponding to a first direction, and a second generation process generating second partial print data using a second color conversion process using a second profile. When a color difference is smaller than a reference, the apparatus sets a printing direction to the first direction, and outputs the first partial print data to a print execution unit for printing the first partial print data while the main scan moves in the first direction. When the color difference is larger than or equal to the reference, the apparatus sets the printing direction to the second direction, and outputs the second partial print data to the print execution unit for printing the second partial print data while the main scan moves in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Shota Morikawa, Masashi Kuno, Satoru Arakane
  • Publication number: 20200039233
    Abstract: An image processing device is communicable with a printer and includes a controller. The printer is configured to repeatedly and alternately execute a partial print and a sub scan to form an image. The image is made up of a plurality of partial images arranged in a sub scanning direction. The partial print forms a target partial image while performing a main scan. The controller is configured to perform: setting; generating; and outputting. The setting sets a printing direction for the partial print to one of first and second directions. The generating generates partial print data for the partial print by executing a color conversion process on target partial image data using a color conversion profile. The color conversion profile is selected from first and second profiles respectively corresponding to the first and second directions. The outputting outputs the partial print data and direction information specifying the printing direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Masashi Kuno, Shota Morikawa
  • Publication number: 20200039234
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a processor sets a target printing method for printing a target image to one of a bidirectional printing method and a unidirectional printing method. In a case where the bidirectional printing method is set as the target printing method: the processor executes both a first generation process and a second generation process. The first generation process generates first partial print data by converting a set of partial image data using a first color conversion profile. The second generation process generates second partial print data by converting another set of partial image data using a second color conversion profile. In a case where the unidirectional printing method is set as the target printing method, the processor executes a third generation process generating third partial print data by converting a set of partial image data using a third color conversion profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Masashi Kuno, Shota Morikawa
  • Patent number: 10491781
    Abstract: A controller performs: acquiring target image data; calculating a particular value of a first end image by using the target image data, the first end image being an image to be printed in a first end region parallel to a first end of a print medium; determining print processing to be performed by using the particular value, including: when a particular condition is satisfied, determining first print processing as the print processing, the particular condition including a first condition that uniformity of the first end image is higher than or equal to a first standard; and when the particular condition is not satisfied, determining second print processing as the print processing, the first print processing being processing in which banding is less likely to occur in the first end image than the second print processing; and controlling the printer to print an image based on the target image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shota Morikawa