Patents by Inventor Yoshiyuki Akiba

Yoshiyuki Akiba 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: 9760815
    Abstract: With this invention, color shifting correction is performed first based on shifting amount information indicating a shifting amount with respect to the scanning direction on an image carrier of each image forming unit, and halftone processing is then performed, thus suppressing generation of moiré due to the color shifting correction, and forming a high-quality image. To this end, an image forming engine has color shifting amount storage units C, M, Y, and K (black) which store actual shifting amounts with respect to ideal scan directions on image carriers C, M, Y, and K in image forming units C, M, Y, and K. Color shifting correction amount arithmetic units C, M, Y, and K calculate color shifting correction amounts for respective color components on the basis of the stored color shifting amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takada, Hiroki Kitamura, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Kenzo Tojima, Takaaki Nagaoka
  • Publication number: 20150131129
    Abstract: With this invention, color shifting correction is performed first based on shifting amount information indicating a shifting amount with respect to the scanning direction on an image carrier of each image forming unit, and halftone processing is then performed, thus suppressing generation of moiré due to the color shifting correction, and forming a high-quality image. To this end, an image forming engine has color shifting amount storage units C, M, Y, and K (black) which store actual shifting amounts with respect to ideal scan directions on image carriers C, M, Y, and K in image forming units C, M, Y, and K. Color shifting correction amount arithmetic units C, M, Y, and K calculate color shifting correction amounts for respective color components on the basis of the stored color shifting amounts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takada, Hiroki Kitamura, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Kenzo Tojima, Takaaki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 8964253
    Abstract: Color shifting correction is performed first based on shifting amount information indicating a shifting amount with respect to the scanning direction on an image carrier of each image forming unit, and halftone processing is then performed, thus suppressing caused by color shifting correction, and forming a high-quality image. An image forming engine has color shifting amount storage units storing actual shifting amounts with respect to ideal scan directions on image carriers in image forming units. Color shifting correction amount arithmetic units calculate color shifting correction amounts for respective color components using stored color shifting amounts. Color shifting correction units perform color shifting correction by converting coordinates upon reading image data from bitmap memories using calculated color shifting correction amounts, and perform tone correction. Data after tone correction undergo halftone processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takada, Hiroki Kitamura, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Kenzo Tojima, Takaaki Nagaoka
  • Publication number: 20140118755
    Abstract: Color shifting correction is performed first based on shifting amount information indicating a shifting amount with respect to the scanning direction on an image carrier of each image forming unit, and halftone processing is then performed, thus suppressing caused by color shifting correction, and forming a high-quality image. An image forming engine has color shifting amount storage units storing actual shifting amounts with respect to ideal scan directions on image carriers in image forming units. Color shifting correction amount arithmetic units calculate color shifting correction amounts for respective color components using stored color shifting amounts. Color shifting correction units perform color shifting correction by converting coordinates upon reading image data from bitmap memories using calculated color shifting correction amounts, and perform tone correction. Data after tone correction undergo halftone processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takata, Hiroki Kitamura, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Kenzo Tojima, Takaaki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 8570594
    Abstract: With this invention, color shifting correction is performed first based on shifting amount information indicating a shifting amount with respect to the scanning direction on an image carrier of each image forming unit, and halftone processing is then performed, thus suppressing generation of moiré due to the color shifting correction, and forming a high-quality image. To this end, an image forming engine has color shifting amount storage units C, M, Y, and K (black) which store actual shifting amounts with respect to ideal scan directions on image carriers C, M, Y, and K in image forming units C, M, Y, and K. Color shifting correction amount arithmetic units C, M, Y, and K calculate color shifting correction amounts for respective color components on the basis of the stored color shifting amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takata, Hiroki Kitamura, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Kenzo Tojima, Takaaki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 8068259
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus of a so-called tandem type which has image forming units in correspondence with colors is provided. In the color image forming apparatus, a color discrepancy amount storage unit stores information of a color discrepancy amount of each of the image forming units, which is measured in advance. A first color discrepancy correcting unit performs color discrepancy correction in a pixel unit by performing coordinate conversion of bitmap data to be printed based on the information of the color discrepancy amount stored in the color discrepancy amount storage unit. A second color discrepancy correcting unit performs color discrepancy correction in less than a pixel unit by performing tone correction of the bitmap data corrected by the first color discrepancy correcting unit based on the information of the color discrepancy amount stored in the color discrepancy amount storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenzo Tojima, Hiroki Kitamura, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Tsutomu Takata, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Takaaki Nagaoka
  • Publication number: 20100220342
    Abstract: With this invention, color shifting correction is performed first based on shifting amount information indicating a shifting amount with respect to the scanning direction on an image carrier of each image forming unit, and halftone processing is then performed, thus suppressing generation of moiré due to the color shifting correction, and forming a high-quality image. To this end, an image forming engine has color shifting amount storage units C, M, Y, and K (black) which store actual shifting amounts with respect to ideal scan directions on image carriers C, M, Y, and K in image forming units C, M, Y, and K. Color shifting correction amount arithmetic units C, M, Y, and K calculate color shifting correction amounts for respective color components on the basis of the stored color shifting amounts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takata, Hiroki Kitamura, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Kenzo Tojima, Takaaki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 7770994
    Abstract: A shifting amount of color compensation amount is calculated based on a shifting amount of color obtained from a shifting amount of color storage unit for each image forming unit, and shifting amount of color compensation in the pixel unit is performed by executing address conversion using the calculation result. A feature of an image to be processed is detected, and color density conversion compensation for performing shifting amount of color compensation in less than the pixel unit is performed according to the detected feature. Furthermore, half-tone processing or exceptional processing is selectively executed according to the detected feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Kitamura, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Tsutomu Takada, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Kenzo Tojima, Takaaki Nagaoka
  • Publication number: 20100079820
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus of a so-called tandem type which has image forming units in correspondence with colors is provided. In the color image forming apparatus, a color discrepancy amount storage unit stores information of a color discrepancy amount of each of the image forming units, which is measured in advance. A first color discrepancy correcting unit performs color discrepancy correction in a pixel unit by performing coordinate conversion of bitmap data to be printed based on the information of the color discrepancy amount stored in the color discrepancy amount storage unit. A second color discrepancy correcting unit performs color discrepancy correction in less than a pixel unit by performing tone correction of the bitmap data corrected by the first color discrepancy correcting unit based on the information of the color discrepancy amount stored in the color discrepancy amount storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenzo Tojima, Hiroki Kitamura, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Tsutomu Takata, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Takaaki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 7684079
    Abstract: An image forming engine has color shifting amount storage units C, M, Y, and K (black) which store actual shifting amounts relative to ideal scan directions on image carriers C, M, Y, and K in image forming units C, M, Y, and K. Color shifting correction amount arithmetic units calculate color shifting correction amounts for respective color components to base on the stored color shifting amounts. Color shifting correction units C, M, Y, and K perform color shifting correction by converting coordinates upon reading out image data from bitmap memories C, M, Y, and K on the basis of the calculated color shifting correction amounts, and then perform tone correction. Data after tone correction undergo halftone processing by halftone processors. C, M, Y, and K to suppress moire. PWM processors C, M, Y, and K generate PWM signals for scanning, and output them to exposure units C, M, Y, and K of the respective image forming units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takata, Hiroki Kitamura, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Kenzo Tojima, Takaaki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 7630100
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus of a so-called tandem type which has image forming units in correspondence with colors is provided. In the color image forming apparatus, a color discrepancy amount storage unit stores information of a color discrepancy amount of each of the image forming units, which is measured in advance. A first color discrepancy correcting unit performs color discrepancy correction in a pixel unit by performing coordinate conversion of bitmap data to be printed based on the information of the color discrepancy amount stored in the color discrepancy amount storage unit. A second color discrepancy correcting unit performs color discrepancy correction in less than a pixel unit by performing tone correction of the bitmap data corrected by the first color discrepancy correcting unit based on the information of the color discrepancy amount stored in the color discrepancy amount storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenzo Tojima, Hiroki Kitamura, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Tsutomu Takata, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Takaaki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 7619775
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus. The information processing apparatus performs image generation, color conversion, and extraction of image characteristics to generate compressed data. The image forming apparatus decompresses the compressed data and determines a writing address into an image data storing unit on the basis of an amount of shift to convert the density of the image data in fractional pixel units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Kitamura, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Tsutomu Takata, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Kenzo Tojima, Takaaki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 7598971
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes a coordinate conversion part, which converts a ordinate value, for executing a misregistration correction in the unit of a pixel; a gradation conversion part, which converts a gradation level, for executing a misregistration correction in a unit less than a pixel; and a judgment part, which detects a feature of the image and judges whether or not to execute the misregistration correction in a unit less than a pixel by the gradation conversion part. The judgment part compares the gradation level in an object pixel and a pixel adjacent in a sub-scanning direction, thereby judging whether or not to execute the misregistration correction in a unit less than a pixel. Thus, the invention enables to distinguish an image to be subjected to the registration correction in a unit less than a pixel and an image not to be subjected to such correction in a simple manner and also in consideration of the image color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Tezuka, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Hiroki Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20080123145
    Abstract: A shifting amount of color compensation amount is calculated based on a shifting amount of color obtained from a shifting amount of color storage unit for each image forming unit, and shifting amount of color compensation in the pixel unit is performed by executing address conversion using the calculation result. A feature of an image to be processed is detected, and color density conversion compensation for performing shifting amount of color compensation in less than the pixel unit is performed according to the detected feature. Furthermore, half-tone processing or exceptional processing is selectively executed according to the detected feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroki Kitamura, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Tsutomu Takada, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Kenzo Tojima, Takaaki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 7344217
    Abstract: A shifting amount of color compensation amount is calculated based on a shifting amount of color obtained from a shifting amount of color storage unit for each image forming unit, and shifting amount of color compensation in the pixel unit is performed by executing address conversion using the calculation result. A feature of an image to be processed is detected, and color density conversion compensation for performing shifting amount of color compensation in less than the pixel unit is performed according to the detected feature. Furthermore, half-tone processing or exceptional processing is selectively executed according to the detected feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Kitamura, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Tsutomu Takada, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Kenzo Tojima, Takaaki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 7298399
    Abstract: A camera control apparatus provides an end user with environment to easily remote-control a video camera via a general network such as the Internet. When the camera control apparatus 1001 receives a file-transfer request described in the format of the network from an external device 1002 connected to the apparatus, it handles a characters in a character string of a file name of the request as camera-control characters. As a result, if the character string includes description corresponding to the format for camera control, the camera control apparatus 1001 controls the camera in accordance with the description to perform image sensing, and transfers the obtained video image as the content of an image file requested by the external device as the file-transfer request originator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mamoru Sato, Tadashi Yamakawa, Yoshiyuki Akiba
  • Publication number: 20070139664
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus. The information processing apparatus performs image generation, color conversion, and extraction of image characteristics to generate compressed data. The image forming apparatus decompresses the compressed data and determines a writing address into an image data storing unit on the basis of an amount of shift to convert the density of the image data in fractional pixel units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Kitamura, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Tsutomu Takata, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Kenzo Tojima, Takaaki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 7219365
    Abstract: A camera control apparatus provides an end user with environment to easily remote-control a video camera via a general network such as the Internet. When the camera control apparatus receives a file-transfer request described in the format of the network from an external device connected to the apparatus, it handles the characters in a character string of a file name of the request as a camera-control characters. As a result, if the character string includes a description corresponding to the format for camera control, the camera control apparatus controls the camera in accordance with the description to perform image sensing, and transfers the obtained video image as the content of an image file requested by the external device as the file-transfer request originator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mamoru Sato, Tadashi Yamakawa, Yoshiyuki Akiba
  • Publication number: 20060290767
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes coordinate conversion means which converts a ordinate value, for executing a misregistration correction in the unit of a pixel; gradation conversion means which converts a gradation level, for executing a misregistration correction in a unit less than a pixel; and judgment means which detects a feature of the image and judges whether or not to execute the misregistration correction in a unit less than a pixel by the gradation conversion means, wherein the judgment means compares the gradation level in an object pixel and a pixel adjacent in a sub scanning direction, thereby judging whether or not to execute the misregistration correction in a unit less than a pixel. Thus the invention enables to distinguish an image to be subjected to the registration correction less than a pixel and an image not to be subjected to such correction in a simple manner and also in consideration of the image color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Tezuka, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Hiroki Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20060232620
    Abstract: A shifting amount of color compensation amount is calculated based on a shifting amount of color obtained from a shifting amount of color storage unit for each image forming unit, and shifting amount of color compensation in the pixel unit is performed by executing address conversion using the calculation result. A feature of an image to be processed is detected, and color density conversion compensation for performing shifting amount of color compensation in less than the pixel unit is performed according to the detected feature. Furthermore, half-tone processing or exceptional processing is selectively executed according to the detected feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: HIROKI KITAMURA, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Tsutomu Takada, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Kenzo Tojima, Takaaki Nagaoka