Patents by Inventor Souhei Tanaka

Souhei Tanaka 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: 11072167
    Abstract: An apparatus that transfers data to a recording head having a plurality of recording elements includes a transfer unit for transferring recording data to which a series of commands is attached in synchronization with a clock. The series of commands includes a stop command for temporarily stopping transfer of the recording data for a predetermined period in accordance with power-distribution timing of the recording elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Souhei Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20200298560
    Abstract: An apparatus that transfers data to a recording head having a plurality of recording elements includes a transfer unit for transferring recording data to which a series of commands is attached in synchronization with a clock. The series of commands includes a stop command for temporarily stopping transfer of the recording data for a predetermined period in accordance with power-distribution timing of the recording elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventor: Souhei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8724157
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to increase the transfer rate of image data from a host computer to a printing apparatus. To achieve this object, a printing apparatus which divides the printing area in the printhead scanning direction into a plurality of regions and prints in each divided region in order to print by scanning the printhead on the printing medium includes a conversion circuit which rearranges image data that is transmitted from the host computer and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the data arrangement of the printhead, into image data in the same horizontal direction as the data arrangement direction of the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Ishizaka, Masahiko Watanabe, Toru Nakayama, Takashi Kasahara, Takuji Katsu, Souhei Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20130271774
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to increase the transfer rate of image data from a host computer to a printing apparatus. To achieve this object, a printing apparatus which divides the printing area in the printhead scanning direction into a plurality of regions and prints in each divided region in order to print by scanning the printhead on the printing medium includes a conversion circuit which rearranges image data that is transmitted from the host computer and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the data arrangement of the printhead, into image data in the same horizontal direction as the data arrangement direction of the printhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Ishizaka, Masahiko Watanabe, Toru Nakayama, Takashi Kasahara, Takuji Katsu, Souhei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8520248
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to increase the transfer rate of image data from a host computer to a printing apparatus. To achieve this object, a printing apparatus which divides the printing area in the printhead scanning direction into a plurality of regions and prints in each divided region in order to print by scanning the printhead on the printing medium includes a conversion circuit which rearranges image data that is transmitted from the host computer and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the data arrangement of the printhead, into image data in the same horizontal direction as the data arrangement direction of the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Ishizaka, Masahiko Watanabe, Toru Nakayama, Takashi Kasahara, Takuji Katsu, Souhei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8328316
    Abstract: This invention is directed to provide an inkjet printhead, printing apparatus, and printing method capable of correcting a shift of the printing position caused by variations of the discharge characteristic between nozzles. To accomplish this, the inkjet printhead includes memories which hold block numbers used to time-divisionally drive nozzles. The block numbers are written in consideration of the discharge characteristics of the printhead during the manufacturing process of the printhead. When the inkjet printhead is mounted in the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus reads out block numbers corresponding to respective nozzles from the memories. Based on the numbers, the printing apparatus changes block selection signals for the respective nozzles, and transfers the changed block selection signals to the inkjet printhead to drive it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Souhei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8094349
    Abstract: A recording apparatus has a buffer for dividing a storage area into a plurality of areas in a scanning direction of a recording head to record data by allowing a carriage loaded with the recording head to scan data on a record medium, and storing the divided image data in a divided area unit, and includes: a write control unit for controlling write address information about image data in the area unit for data of each color for storage of the image data divided in an area unit in the buffer; a read control unit for controlling for data of each color read address information for a read of image data stored in the buffer; and a record data generation unit for generating record data in a unit of the divided area based on the read image data according to the read address information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Souhei Tanaka, Akira Kuronuma, Toru Nakayama, Tetsushi Kono
  • Publication number: 20110096116
    Abstract: This invention is directed to provide an inkjet printhead, printing apparatus, and printing method capable of correcting a shift of the printing position caused by variations of the discharge characteristic between nozzles. To accomplish this, the inkjet printhead includes memories which hold block numbers used to time-divisionally drive nozzles. The block numbers are written in consideration of the discharge characteristics of the printhead during the manufacturing process of the printhead. When the inkjet printhead is mounted in the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus reads out block numbers corresponding to respective nozzles from the memories. Based on the numbers, the printing apparatus changes block selection signals for the respective nozzles, and transfers the changed block selection signals to the inkjet printhead to drive it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Souhei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7556330
    Abstract: In a recording apparatus using a recording head which can eject ink droplets having different sizes, a problem in which the recording image quality is decreased or mist is generated when the recording is performed on a predetermined area of a recording medium can be prevented. In the ink droplets having the different sizes, the size of the ink droplet used for the recording is set in accordance with the recording area to perform the recording based on the setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Saito, Souhei Tanaka, Keiji Tomizawa, Mineo Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7535593
    Abstract: A serial type printing apparatus includes: a reception buffer that stores printing data of respective arrays of printing elements subjected to adjustment by a first unit concerning a relative position in a scanning direction among the respective arrays of printing elements and setting data including registration information by a second unit smaller than the first unit concerning the relative position in the scanning direction, the data being transmitted from a host apparatus connected to the printing apparatus; and a print buffer that stores printing data of the respective arrays of printing elements in association with printing positions in the scanning direction. The printing apparatus performs control to adjust storing locations of the printing data of the respective arrays of printing elements by the second unit on the basis of the registration information and store the printing data in the print buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Ishizaka, Souhei Tanaka, Masaaki Endo
  • Patent number: 7528984
    Abstract: In a printing apparatus including a reception buffer which stores setting data and printing data of printing element arrays transmitted from a connected host device, and a printing buffer which stores the printing data of the printing element arrays in association with printing positions in a scanning direction, the printing data are controlled to be stored in the printing buffer by adjusting the storage positions of the printing data of the printing element arrays on the basis of registration information which is contained in the setting data and corresponds to the relative distance between the printing element arrays in the scanning direction. Read address information for reading out the printing data stored in the printing buffer is controlled for each printing element array. Printing is performed by driving each printing element array in accordance with the printing data read out on the basis of the read address information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Ishizaka, Souhei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7500739
    Abstract: Replacement of a recording head on a recording apparatus is detected on the basis of a serial number allocated to each recording head. The recording head also carries head characteristic information such as color information, shading information and so forth. When the recording head is replaced with a new one, the head characteristic information of the newly mounted recording head is automatically stored, so that head driving conditions are automatically determined to optimize the recording conditions without requiring any manual adjustment. Recovery operation is automatically executed when replacement of the recording head is detected, so that required recording conditions are recovered without manual instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Numata, Kazuyoshi Takahashi, Yoshiaki Takayanagi, Souhei Tanaka, Hiroshi Tajika, Noribumi Koitabashi, Hitoshi Sugimoto, Miyuki Fujita
  • Patent number: 7467864
    Abstract: In a connection status output circuit for confirming the connection status with a recording apparatus via connecting terminals corresponding respectively to recording signal DATA, clock signal CLK for transferring the recording signal, and control signals LT and HE for controlling a recording operation according to the recording signal, the signals being received from the recording apparatus, when the connection status is confirmed, a signal designating the connection status is outputted, and when a recording operation is performed, the output signal does not change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Matsui, Yoshiyuki Imanaka, Souta Takeuchi, Takuya Hatsui, Takaaki Yamaguchi, Kousuke Kubo, Souhei Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20080007782
    Abstract: A recording apparatus has a buffer for dividing a storage area into a plurality of areas in a scanning direction of a recording head to record data by allowing a carriage loaded with the recording head to scan data on a record medium, and storing the divided image data in a divided area unit, and includes: a write control unit for controlling write address information about image data in the area unit for data of each color for storage of the image data divided in an area unit in the buffer; a read control unit for controlling for data of each color read address information for a read of image data stored in the buffer; and a record data generation unit for generating record data in a unit of the divided area based on the read image data according to the read address information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Souhei Tanaka, Akira Kuronuma, Toru Nakayama, Tetsushi Kono
  • Patent number: 7284811
    Abstract: A recording apparatus has a buffer for dividing a storage area into a plurality of areas in a scanning direction of a recording head to record data by allowing a carriage loaded with the recording head to scan data on a record medium, and storing the divided image data in a divided area unit, and includes: a write control unit for controlling write address information about image data in the area unit for data of each color for storage of the image data divided in an area unit in the buffer; a read control unit for controlling for data of each color read address information for a read of image data stored in the buffer; and a record data generation unit for generating record data in a unit of the divided area based on the read image data according to the read address information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Souhei Tanaka, Akira Kuronuma, Toru Nakayama, Tetsushi Kono
  • Publication number: 20070139665
    Abstract: In a printing apparatus including a reception buffer which stores setting data and printing data of printing element arrays transmitted from a connected host device, and a printing buffer which stores the printing data of the printing element arrays in association with printing positions in a scanning direction, the printing data are controlled to be stored in the printing buffer by adjusting the storage positions of the printing data of the printing element arrays on the basis of registration information which is contained in the setting data and corresponds to the relative distance between the printing element arrays in the scanning direction. Read address information for reading out the printing data stored in the printing buffer is controlled for each printing element array. Printing is performed by driving each printing element array in accordance with the printing data read out on the basis of the read address information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Ishizaka, Souhei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7198418
    Abstract: In a printing apparatus including a reception buffer which stores setting data and printing data of printing element arrays transmitted from a connected host device, and a printing buffer which stores the printing data of the printing element arrays in association with printing positions in a scanning direction, the printing data are controlled to be stored in the printing buffer by adjusting the storage positions of the printing data of the printing element arrays on the basis of registration information which is contained in the setting data and corresponds to the relative distance between the printing element arrays in the scanning direction. Read address information for reading out the printing data stored in the printing buffer is controlled for each printing element array. Printing is performed by driving each printing element array in accordance with the printing data read out on the basis of the read address information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Ishizaka, Souhei Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20070057985
    Abstract: In a recording apparatus using a recording head which can eject ink droplets having different sizes, there is a problem the recording image quality is decreased or mist is generated when the recording is performed to a predetermined area of a recording medium In the ink droplets having the different sizes, the size of the ink droplet used for the recording is set in accordance with the recording area to perform the recording based on the setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Saito, Souhei Tanaka, Keiji Tomizawa, Mineo Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20070055422
    Abstract: A vehicular data recording device enabling a driver to get to know more about his driving technique to improve it. Not only images from a monitoring camera when a shock is detected are simply recorded in a memory card, but also images from the monitoring camera when no shock is detected are always updated and recorded in an HDD successively. Accordingly, images from the monitoring camera in various situations not leading to an accident can be surely supplied to a driver. This prompts the driver to reflect the driving thereof based on the images from the monitoring camera in the various situations. This can allow the driver to figure out the driving skill thereof, and improve the driving skill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: HONDA ACCESS CORP.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Anzai, Souhei Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20070002087
    Abstract: In a connection status output circuit for confirming the connection status with a recording apparatus via connecting terminals corresponding respectively to recording signal DATA, clock signal CLK for transferring the recording signal, and control signals LT and HE for controlling a recording operation according to the recording signal, the signals being received from the recording apparatus, when the connection status is confirmed, a signal designating the connection status is outputted, and when a recording operation is performed, the output signal does not change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Matsui, Yoshiyuki Imanaka, Souta Takeuchi, Takuya Hatsui, Takaaki Yamaguchi, Kousuke Kubo, Souhei Tanaka