Patents by Inventor Yoshiko Hoshiyama

Yoshiko Hoshiyama 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: 8459764
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a head and a drive signal generating section. The head has an element performing operation for ejecting ink and ejects a plurality of types of inks, an amount of each ink ejected by the head being different depending on a designated tone value. The drive signal generating section generates a drive signal having a waveform section for operating the element and generates a plurality of types of the drive signals for a specific tone value, the waveform section of each of the drive signals for the specific tone value being different depending on the types of inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Hirokazu Nunokawa
  • Patent number: 8303066
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head having a nozzle; a pressure-changing unit for changing pressure of liquid in the nozzle in such a manner that the liquid is ejected from the nozzle; a first level-data setting unit for setting a selected first level data from a plurality of first level data, based on an ejecting data for a first kind of liquid; a second level-data setting unit for setting a selected second level data from a plurality of second level data, based on an ejecting data for a second kind of liquid; a driving-signal generator for generating a driving signal; and a driving-pulse generator for generating a driving pulse based on the selected first or second level data and the driving signal. The plurality of first level data and the plurality of second level data are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Hosono, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Shuji Yonekubo, Toshihisa Saruta
  • Publication number: 20110261098
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head having a nozzle; a pressure-changing unit for changing pressure of liquid in the nozzle in such a manner that the liquid is ejected from the nozzle; a first level-data setting unit for setting a selected first level data from a plurality of first level data, based on an ejecting data for a first kind of liquid; a second level-data setting unit for setting a selected second level data from a plurality of second level data, based on an ejecting data for a second kind of liquid; a driving-signal generator for generating a driving signal; and a driving-pulse generator for generating a driving pulse based on the selected first or second level data and the driving signal. The plurality of first level data and the plurality of second level data are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru HOSONO, Hirokazu NUNOKAWA, Yoshiko HOSHIYAMA, Shuji YONEKUBO, Toshihisa SARUTA
  • Patent number: 8033627
    Abstract: In printing of multi-level darkness/lightness of a certain color, which is performed with a dark ink and a light ink of the certain color, graininess is improved. A printing method includes generating a plurality of types of drive signals, and ejecting the dark ink and the light ink from a head, an amount of each ink varying for each dot tone value. In generation of a plurality of the types of the drive signals, a plurality of the types of drive signals are generated, where a waveform section that is for the dark ink of the certain color and that corresponds to a minimum dot tone value in ejection of ink is different from a waveform section that is for the light ink of the certain color and that corresponds to the minimum dot tone value, and where a waveform section that is for the dark ink of the certain color and that corresponds to a maximum dot tone value is different from a waveform section that is for the light ink of the certain color and that corresponds to the maximum dot tone value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Akito Sato
  • Patent number: 7988249
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head having a nozzle; a pressure-changing unit for changing pressure of liquid in the nozzle in such a manner that the liquid is ejected from the nozzle; a first level-data setting unit for setting a selected first level data from a plurality of first level data, based on an ejecting data for a first kind of liquid; a second level-data setting unit for setting a selected second level data from a plurality of second level data, based on an ejecting data for a second kind of liquid; a driving-signal generator for generating a driving signal; and a driving-pulse generator for generating a driving pulse based on the selected first or second level data and the driving signal. The plurality of first level data and the plurality of second level data are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Hosono, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Shuji Yonekubo, Toshihisa Saruta
  • Publication number: 20110115840
    Abstract: In printing of multi-level darkness/lightness of a certain color, which is performed with a dark ink and a light ink of the certain color, graininess is improved. A printing method includes generating a plurality of types of drive signals, and ejecting the dark ink and the light ink from a head, an amount of each ink varying for each dot tone value. In generation of a plurality of the types of the drive signals, a plurality of the types of drive signals are generated, where a waveform section that is for the dark ink of the certain color and that corresponds to a minimum dot tone value in ejection of ink is different from a waveform section that is for the light ink of the certain color and that corresponds to the minimum dot tone value, and where a waveform section that is for the dark ink of the certain color and that corresponds to a maximum dot tone value is different from a waveform section that is for the light ink of the certain color and that corresponds to the maximum dot tone value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiko HOSHIYAMA, Hirokazu NUNOKAWA, Akito SATO
  • Patent number: 7901020
    Abstract: In printing of multi-level darkness/lightness of a certain color, which is performed with a dark ink and a light ink of the certain color, graininess is improved. A printing method includes generating a plurality of types of drive signals, and ejecting the dark ink and the light ink from a head, an amount of each ink varying for each dot tone value. In generation of a plurality of the types of the drive signals, a plurality of the types of drive signals are generated, where a waveform section that is for the dark ink of the certain color and that corresponds to a minimum dot tone value in ejection of ink is different from a waveform section that is for the light ink of the certain color and that corresponds to the minimum dot tone value, and where a waveform section that is for the dark ink of the certain color and that corresponds to a maximum dot tone value is different from a waveform section that is for the light ink of the certain color and that corresponds to the maximum dot tone value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Akito Sato
  • Publication number: 20100165026
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a head and a drive signal generating section. The head has an element performing operation for ejecting ink and ejects a plurality of types of inks, an amount of each ink ejected by the head being different depending on a designated tone value. The drive signal generating section generates a drive signal having a waveform section for operating the element and generates a plurality of types of the drive signals for a specific tone value, the waveform section of each of the drive signals for the specific tone value being different depending on the types of inks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Hirokazu Nunokawa
  • Patent number: 7708363
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a head and a drive signal generating section. The head has an element performing operation for ejecting ink and ejects a plurality of types of inks, an amount of each ink ejected by the head being different depending on a designated tone value. The drive signal generating section generates a drive signal having a waveform section for operating the element and generates a plurality of types of the drive signals for a specific tone value, the waveform section of each of the drive signals for the specific tone value being different depending on the types of inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Hirokazu Nunokawa
  • Patent number: 7672015
    Abstract: The present invention provides a printing method including: (A) converting a tone value indicating a tone of a certain color to a first light tone value indicating a tone of a light color using a predetermined number of tones, and a first dark tone value indicating a tone of a dark color using a predetermined number of tones; (B) converting the first light tone value to a second light tone value indicating a tone of the light color with a smaller number of tones than the predetermined number of tones, based on a table for the light color; (C) converting the first dark tone value to a second tone value indicating a tone of the dark color with a smaller number of tones than the predetermined number of tones, based on a table for the dark color other than the table for the light color; (D) ejecting a light ink based on the second light tone value to form a light dot in the light ink on a medium, ejecting a dark ink based on the second dark tone value to form a dark dot in the dark ink on the medium, and expressi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akito Sato, Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Hirokazu Nunokawa
  • Patent number: 7661787
    Abstract: Darkness correction is carried out effectively. A printing method is provided with the following steps: A step of, when a plurality of nozzles arranged in a predetermined direction for each of a plurality of colors of ink is moved in a movement direction intersecting with the predetermined direction while ejecting ink of the plurality of different colors, correcting a darkness of only a predetermined color, of the plurality of colors, for each dot row region so as to inhibit darkness non-uniformities between dot row regions that are formed on a medium by dot rows in the movement direction of the nozzles, and a step of performing printing by moving the plurality of nozzles while ejecting ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Masahiko Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7513587
    Abstract: The invention relates to a printing method that repeats in alternation a carrying operation of carrying a medium in a carrying direction, and a formation operation of forming an image on the medium by ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles that are aligned in the carrying direction and that move in a movement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Hirokazu Nunokawa
  • Patent number: 7500726
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head having a nozzle; a pressure-changing unit for changing pressure of liquid in the nozzle in such a manner that the liquid is ejected from the nozzle; a first level-data setting unit for setting a selected first level data from a plurality of first level data, based on an ejecting data for a first kind of liquid; a second level-data setting unit for setting a selected second level data from a plurality of second level data, based on an ejecting data for a second kind of liquid; a driving-signal generator for generating a driving signal; and a driving-pulse generator for generating a driving pulse based on the selected first or second level data and the driving signal. The plurality of first level data and the plurality of second level data are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Hosono, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Shuji Yonekubo, Toshihisa Saruta
  • Patent number: 7441858
    Abstract: A plurality of ejecting nozzles include nozzles opposed to a convex portion of a support in contact with the medium and a nozzle opposed to a concave portion of the support not in contact with the medium. By controlling carrying amounts in the proper circumstances, a dot line can be formed without the nozzle opposed to a convex portion of a supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Hitomi Shibata
  • Patent number: 7401883
    Abstract: Faster printing and higher image quality are both achieved at a high level. The printing method determines between a first print mode and a second print mode, and ejects ink from a head. In the first print mode, both a dark ink and a light ink used for printing gradually dark and light of a given color are used and printing is performed with a predetermined number of types of dot gradation values, which is a plurality of types of dot gradation values, based on the sizes of the dots to be formed. In the second print mode, one of the dark ink and the light ink is used and printing is performed with the number of dot gradation values that is larger than the predetermined number, which is a plurality of types of dot gradation values, based on the size of the dots to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Hirokazu Nunokawa
  • Patent number: 7384110
    Abstract: A method for adjustment of a printing apparatus, includes the steps of: (i) receiving an instruction from a user via a user interface; (ii) forming a plurality of patterns on a medium using an ink ejecting section that ejects ink onto the medium, each of the patterns being a pattern for adjusting a different object; (iii) detecting each of the patterns with a sensor; and (iv) adjusting each of the plurality of objects based on a result of detecting each of the patterns. With this adjustment method, if the image quality of the printed image has dropped, even a user who is not well versed in an inkjet printer's functionality can achieve an appropriate image quality improvement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Hironori Endo
  • Publication number: 20070216919
    Abstract: The present invention provides a printing method including: (A) converting a tone value indicating a tone of a certain color to a first light tone value indicating a tone of a light color using a predetermined number of tones, and a first dark tone value indicating a tone of a dark color using a predetermined number of tones; (B) converting the first light tone value to a second light tone value indicating a tone of the light color with a smaller number of tones than the predetermined number of tones, based on a table for the light color; (C) converting the first dark tone value to a second tone value indicating a tone of the dark color with a smaller number of tones than the predetermined number of tones, based on a table for the dark color other than the table for the light color; (D) ejecting a light ink based on the second light tone value to form a light dot in the light ink on a medium, ejecting a dark ink based on the second dark tone value to form a dark dot in the dark ink on the medium, and expressi
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akito Sato, Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Hirokazu Nunokawa
  • Publication number: 20070182783
    Abstract: Faster printing and higher image quality are both achieved at a high level. The printing method determines between a first print mode and a second print mode, and ejects ink from a head. In the first print mode, both a dark ink and a light ink used for printing gradually dark and light of a given color are used and printing is performed with a predetermined number of types of dot gradation values, which is a plurality of types of dot gradation values, based on the sizes of the dots to be formed. In the second print mode, one of the dark ink and the light ink is used and printing is performed with the number of dot gradation values that is larger than the predetermined number, which is a plurality of types of dot gradation values, based on the size of the dots to be formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Hirokazu Nunokawa
  • Publication number: 20070182974
    Abstract: In printing of multi-level darkness/lightness of a certain color, which is performed with a dark ink and a light ink of the certain color, graininess is improved. A printing method includes generating a plurality of types of drive signals, and ejecting the dark ink and the light ink from a head, an amount of each ink varying for each dot tone value. In generation of a plurality of the types of the drive signals, a plurality of the types of drive signals are generated, where a waveform section that is for the dark ink of the certain color and that corresponds to a minimum dot tone value in ejection of ink is different from a waveform section that is for the light ink of the certain color and that corresponds to the minimum dot tone value, and where a waveform section that is for the dark ink of the certain color and that corresponds to a maximum dot tone value is different from a waveform section that is for the light ink of the certain color and that corresponds to the maximum dot tone value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Akito Sato
  • Publication number: 20070046725
    Abstract: A printing method includes setting an initial position according to a length of a medium in a carrying direction; carrying the medium to the initial position that has been set; and arranging in the carrying direction on the medium a plurality of dot rows each constituted by a plurality of dots that are aligned in a movement direction, by repeating alternately a dot forming process for forming a dot on the medium by ejecting a liquid droplet from a plurality of nozzles that move in the movement direction and a carrying process for carrying the medium in the carrying direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Yoshiko Hoshiyama, Hirokazu Nunokawa