Abstract: A drawing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a storage, a generator, and a drawing section. The storage stores a conversion table that describes a correspondence relationship between gradation values in a leuco color space and output setting values of light sources. The generator generates, on the basis of leuco image data described in the leuco color space and the conversion table, the output setting values corresponding to the leuco image data. The drawing section performs drawing on a recording medium on the basis of the output setting values generated by the generator, the recording medium including a plurality of recording layers, the plurality of recording layers each including a leuco dye and a photothermal conversion agent.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array configured to receive a driving signal, sense a light signal reflected from an object in response to the driving signal, and generate pixel clock signals indicating delay of the driving signal; a reference clock circuit configured to generate a reference clock signal; and a time-to-analog convert circuit configured to convert delay times between the pixel clock signals and the reference clock signal into analog values.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to (i) generate a sharpened region by sharpening an original region of an image and (ii) generate edge information by detecting an edge in the original region of the image. The second circuit may be configured to (i) evaluate a current sample of the sharpened region proximate to the edge for an artifact based on the edge information and (ii) generate a final sample by adjusting the current sample in the sharpened region where the artifact is detected. The artifact may be an overshoot or an undershoot.

Abstract: First correction data for use in a first printing mode is generated by image density measurement in the first printing mode, and second correction data for use in a second printing mode, which is different from the first printing mode in peripheral speed ratio of a developing roller to a photosensitive drum, is generated by image density measurement in the second printing mode. First processing for generating first and second correction data for the first and second printing modes, respectively, by density measurement, or second processing for generating the first correction data by density measurement and generating the second correction data using the generated first correction data and a difference in image density between the first printing mode and the second printing mode is executed. The first processing is executed when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

Abstract: Methods of measuring colors, methods of calibrating printers and printing systems for implementing the methods are disclosed. Calibration maps are printed on print media. The calibration maps have intertwined contiguous printed and non-printed areas. One or more color signals are measured on contiguous printed areas. One or more noise signals are measured on non-printed areas that are adjacent to the contiguous printed areas. Clear color signals are generated by removing the one or more measured noise signals from the one or more measured color signals.

Abstract: A controller of an information processing apparatus executes the steps of: generating a display image based on a page from a server; displaying the display image; generating print data for printing the display image; identifying whether a first display image is of the first kind; and determining whether an operation for enlarging or reducing the first display image is accepted. The print data generating step includes the steps of: generating print data for printing a second display image of the second kind corresponding to the first display image, if the first display image is of the first kind, or if the first display image is not of the first kind and an operation for enlarging or reducing is not accepted; and generating print data for printing the first display image if the first display image is not of the first kind and an operation for enlarging or reducing is accepted.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a rasterizing section, a resolution converting section and a thinning section. The rasterizing section generates, by rasterization, image data having any one of standard resolution, resolution higher than the standard resolution and resolution lower than the standard resolution. The resolution converting section converts the resolution upon rasterization for the generated image data having the higher or lower resolution than the standard resolution into the standard resolution. The thinning section thins the image data having the standard resolution. When thinning the image data of which the resolution is converted higher than upon rasterization in the resolution converting section, the thinning section adjusts thinning strength to become larger upon thinning than when thinning the image data of which the resolution upon rasterization is kept as it is.

Abstract: An improved image processing system for enhancing a blurred image is described herein. According to an embodiment, a method for enhancing a blurred image provided by an image capturing device includes generating a standard gray low-resolution image by convoluting the blurred image with a Gaussian low-pass filter, extracting one or more high-frequency components from the standard gray low-resolution image, obtaining one or more higher-frequency nonlinear components by approximating the one or more high-frequency components, and adding the higher-frequency components to the blurred image.

Abstract: An optical writing device including light-emitting elements forming element arrays. The element arrays are each composed of light-emitting elements arranged in line in a main scanning direction, and reside at respective positions along a sub-scanning direction. A correction unit receives signal values in one-to-one correspondence with the light-emitting elements and performs correction to acquire corrected signal values each indicating a light amount of a corresponding light-emitting element. The correction is for eliminating a light amount difference in the main scanning direction occurring for each element array. A driving unit supplies driving currents to the light-emitting elements based on the corrected signal values, and a control unit performs a control of causing at least two element arrays to emit light for different durations within one main scanning period. The control is for eliminating a light amount difference in the sub scanning direction occurring between the at least two element arrays.

Abstract: A light deflector capable of deflecting light in a predetermined deflection direction and modulating the angle of deflection of light includes a plurality of liquid crystal deflection elements arranged in the predetermined deflection direction. In at least one pair of adjacent liquid crystal deflection elements, the dimension of one of the liquid crystal deflection elements in the predetermined deflection direction is different from the dimension of the other liquid crystal deflection element in the predetermined deflection direction.

Abstract: Density unevenness is suppressed even in an image that is formed by a multiple exposures method in which the same region on a photoreceptor is exposed multiple times with different laser light sources (light emitting elements), by adjusting the amounts of light of the respective lasers based on a density difference among test images. An image is formed for each group of light emitting elements grouped together for multiple exposures by dividing, in the main scanning direction, the region of a test image formed on a recording medium. The images formed for the respective multiple-exposure light emitting element groups are compared to one another in density, to thereby adjust the amounts of light of the respective laser light sources (light emitting elements) and reduce fluctuations in image density.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus using the laser scan method or the LED method, which is capable of reducing a variation of spot diameter with a simple mechanism, and of forming a high-quality image by adjusting the density depending on the image resolution with a low cost. The image forming apparatus forms an image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed by irradiating a charged photoconductor with light emitted from a light source with developer. A detecting unit detects a distance between an attention pixel and an adjacent image that is adjacent to an image including the attention pixel across a white background. An adjustment unit adjusts a density of the attention pixel based on the distance measured with the detecting unit and a spot diameter of the light on a surface of the photoconductor.

Abstract: A method enables primary color values for pixel to be processed before the pixel is rendered. The method includes allocating non-black primary colors as being under black, secondary colors, or tertiary colors.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising an retrieving unit configured to retrieve a first image file representing a motion image and a second image file representing a still image, a display image file generating unit configured to generate, from the first image file, a first single display image file comprising a plurality of frame images extracted from the first image file; a display control unit configured to display the first single display image file and a second single display image file adjacent to each other, the second single display image file comprising the still image represented by the second image file; a selection accepting unit configured to accept a selection of one from among the first single display image file and the second single display image; and a printing data generation unit configured to generate print data to be used for printing based upon the selection.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes; an exposure unit configured to perform, based on the image data, first exposure for a photosensitive member and second exposure for the photosensitive member exposed by the first exposure; a determination unit configured to determine a type of the image to be formed based on image data; and a control unit configured to control the exposure unit such that a difference in an exposure amount between the first exposure and the second exposure performed based on the image data when the type of the image is a character is larger than the difference in the exposure amount between the first exposure and the second exposure performed based on the image data when the type of the image is a picture.

Abstract: A substrate marking apparatus for use in combination with a substrate comprising a multi-color change diacetylene compound is disclosed. The substrate marking apparatus comprises: at least two radiation sources operable to emit radiation of different wavelengths, optical transformation elements and a control system. The control system takes digital file information and converts this to a set of emission instructions for the radiation sources. The radiation sources are then applied to the substrate in sequence and intensity determined by the control system such that the substrate is activated to change from a colorless state to any one of a range of multiple permanent colors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: a light source that emits a beam; a photoreceptor that is scanned with the beam to obtain an electrostatic latent image thereon; and a control unit that determines a light intensity of the beam to be emitted for formation of a pixel, based on a data value for the pixel in image data and data values for its surrounding pixels.

Abstract: A system for generating a differential gloss image includes a marking material having absorbing elements useful for absorbing electromagnetic radiation emitted by a laser glossing imager, and accommodating heating and resultant melting of the marking material for altering a surface of the marking material image. The absorbing element is a pigment or dye. The absorbing element is carbon black, or a pigment capable of absorbing IR light, while being transparent to visible light.

Abstract: A laser light irradiating system which irradiates a laser light onto a thermally reversible recording medium which is pasted on a face on one side of an object to be conveyed to perform one of image erasing and image recording is disclosed. The laser light irradiating system includes a conveying unit; a detecting unit; a laser light emitting unit; and a control unit, wherein the control unit conveys the object to be conveyed to a specific position and, when the thermally reversible recording medium is not detected by the detecting unit, the laser light with a power level greater than or equal to a predetermined power level is prevented from being emitted from the laser light emitting unit.

Abstract: A laser rewriting apparatus positioned on one side or the other side of a conveyance path through which a to-be-conveyed object on which a thermoreversible recording medium is affixed is conveyed in a predetermined conveyance direction. The laser rewriting apparatus emits laser light to the thermoreversible recording medium and rewrites an image. The laser writing apparatus includes an image erasing apparatus that emits laser light to the thermoreversible recording medium and erases the image from the thermoreversible recording medium; and an image recording apparatus positioned on the predetermined conveyance direction downstream side of the image erasing apparatus and records a new image by emitting laser light to the thermoreversible recording medium. The image erasing apparatus and the image recording apparatus have the respective laser light emitting parts from which the laser light is emitted at ends on the same side with respect to the predetermined conveyance direction.

Abstract: A method for reducing an amount of marking material for printing a binary image on a receiving material uses a printing process configured to apply print pixels and to associate each image pixel with at least two print pixels. A print signal is generated indicating for each print pixel whether marking material is to be applied. The print signal is filtered by a predefined mask that defines for which print pixels no marking material will be applied independent of the pixel value of the associated image pixel. The print pixels that are blocked by the mask define a regular pattern to avoid graininess in the printed image. The main effect on print quality is a reduction of the contrast in the image. By choosing one of a set of at least two masks, the user selects the amount of reduction that is realized in the print process.

Abstract: An optical writing device stores pieces of dithering information indicating dithering patterns whose densities are different, each piece of dithering information including pieces of identification information associated with pixels of the corresponding dithering pattern, and stores pieces of pixel setting information in which pieces of colored/colorless information indicating each of the pixels is colored or colorless are associated with the pieces of identification information, the pieces of colored/colorless information being set based on a resolution of a light source for forming an electrostatic latent image. The optical writing device also includes a control unit configured to arrange the same dithering patterns in a way that the dithering patterns form a pattern with a given size, and cause the light source to emit light based on information generated by setting the pixels of each of the same dithering patterns to be colored or colorless in accordance with the pixel setting information.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a density detector that detects image density, and a memory that stores information relating image density to dot size. When a dot size is specified, the image forming device automatically obtains the corresponding image density from the information in the memory, prints a test pattern, compares its density with the density corresponding to the specified dot size, and adjusts an image forming parameter until the density corresponding to the specified dot size is obtained. Dot size can be accurately adjusted in this way without the need for elaborate measuring equipment. In particular, the size of dots used to embed invisible information in images can be accurately controlled.

Abstract: A disclosed control device includes a first unit configured to generate image data of multiple images to be superposed one on the other to form a single image and transmit the image data. The second control unit transmits to the first control unit a horizontal sync reference signal for achieving synchronization of the images in a horizontal direction. Based on the horizontal sync reference signal, the first control unit transmits to the second control unit a transfer clock signal that indicates transmission timing of the image data and an effective area signal that indicates an effective area of the image data. The first control unit asserts the effective area signal for an effective-area-signal assertion period that occurs between two consecutive reference-signal assertion periods during which the horizontal sync reference signal is asserted.

Abstract: In the image forming apparatus, the partial image data for gradation adjustment is threshold conversion data of a partial image, the partial image is a part of a base pattern image with a predetermined size and does not contain any sides of the base pattern image, and the base pattern image is an image generated in an error diffusion method; and the patch image generator unit generates an image of a toner pattern by arranging the partial image of the partial image data repeatedly, and forms the toner pattern.

Abstract: A light scanning apparatus is provided in which a light source is controlled so that the total exposure energy density of when light beams are emitted to an image carrying member across light deflection scanning of a plurality of times becomes constant on the image carrying member, thereby high image quality, long lasting output images are obtained. Exposure energy density necessary when exposure is completed by light deflection scanning of one time is set to Ex1, the latent image electrical potential deepness of a latent image formed thereof is set to Vs1, total exposure energy density across light deflection scanning of a plurality of times is set to Ex_n, the latent image electrical potential deepness thereof is set to Vs_n, wherein Ex_n=Ex1??Ex and {(Vs_n/Vs1)^3?1.05}×Ex1<?Ex<{(Vs_n/Vs1)^3?0.95}×Ex1.

Abstract: A method of calibrating an electrophotographic printer (30), the printer configured with a plurality of light settings, each light setting arranged to produce a different element type, the method comprising: determining (S10) a first light level required to print a first element type by applying a proportional change to a first initial light setting; and determining (S30) a second light level required to print a second element type by applying substantially the same proportional change to a second initial light setting.

Abstract: A method is provided which includes operating a first multi-channel imaging head to direct imaging beams along a scan path to transfer a first non-contiguous feature and a second non-contiguous feature from a donor element to the receiver element by a thermal transfer process. The first and second non-contiguous features are spatially separated from one another at least in a sub-scan direction. The method also includes operating a second multi-channel imaging head to direct imaging beams to direct imaging beams to transfer a third non-contiguous feature from the donor element to the receiver element by the thermal transfer process. The third non-contiguous feature is between the first and second non-contiguous features and is spatially separated from each of the first and second non-contiguous features at least in the sub-scan direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exposing unit and a first processing component. The first processing component is configured to generate a first data and a second data. The first data causes the exposing unit to blink in accordance with image data. The second data sets a blink mode of the exposing unit. The image forming apparatus also includes a second processing component connected to the first processing component through a first signal line. The second processing component is configured to receive the first data and the second data from the first processing component and perform blink control of the exposing unit based on the first data and the second data. The exposing unit is connected to the second processing component through a second signal line. The image forming apparatus thus can remedy a defect in data communication to the exposing units.

Abstract: A print defect management device that supports job-specific print defect management automatically assesses print job pages to determine the severity of image quality defects likely to occur on one or more selected printers. Views of identified troubled pages may be rendered to include approximations of color and image quality defects based on the original page image data, and each printer's color rendition data and defect data, thereby allowing troubled pages for one or more selected printers to be viewed prior to printing. Suggested changes may be automatically or manually applied. Once satisfied with the image quality of print job pages rendered for a specific printer, a user may submit the print job to the same printer, thereby assuring that the user's image quality expectations are met in the printed product. The device may support job-specific print defect management with both local and/or remote printers via LAN, WAN and/or Internet based connectivity.

Abstract: A disclosed optical scanner includes a light source unit and a control unit configured to control the light source unit. Light emitted from the light source unit is scanned to expose a scan object surface and form an image on the scan object surface. The light source unit includes plural light sources arranged at a density equal to N (N being an integer of two or more) times higher than a density of pixels on the scan object surface. The control unit controls the light source unit such that one pixel is formed by at least two of the light sources.

Abstract: A method for determining a location on an image bearing surface of an image printing system where a toner image is to be printed is provided. The method comprises generating a first signal from a detector that is configured to detect a reference mark on the image bearing surface, and a second signal from a clock system that counts incremental movements of the image bearing surface, determining a first value that correlates the first signal and the second signal, where the first value corresponds to a value of the second signal at a start of characterization of the image bearing surface, and determining a second value using the first value, where the second value provides the location on the image bearing surface where the toner image is to be printed.

Abstract: It is determined whether a low density area in which pixels having density less than a predetermined density exist in succession is included in an image signal or not, and if the low density area exists, an image is formed by irradiating the laser light in a first condition for a pixel to be interested in each pixel area within the low density area and irradiating the laser light in a second condition being different from the first condition for other pixels in the pixel area. In this way, it is possible to improve reproducibility of a highlight area in a high resolution image and improve reproducibility of characters and line images or the like.

Abstract: A method is provided for decoupling the control of dot gain and optical density in electrophotographic based printing by varying the exposure level for each dot in an image.

Abstract: Restricting a screen line number to prevent degradation in graininess depending on the type of recording paper causes a problem in which the image quality of output matter deteriorates. An image forming apparatus according to the present invention changes an exposure area for one pixel used in image formation in accordance with recording paper in consideration of differences in the influence of the height of toner on graininess depending on recording paper.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus for executing image formation by exposing an image carrier with irradiation light emitted from a laser source on the basis of an input signal to drive the laser source includes a correction amount calculation unit configured to calculate, on the basis of a generated correction pattern, a correction amount to control the ON or OFF timing to drive the laser source, and a signal generation unit configured to generate, on the basis of image data and the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculation unit, a corrected signal obtained by correcting the input signal to drive the laser source so as to form the image data by controlling the ON or OFF timing.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a printing method that can utilize a lightly pigmented toner along with a darkly pigmented toner to improve the image quality. The method can include receiving a dataset corresponding to a printing of a printing system using a darkly pigmented toner. The printing system may have an undesirable optical density printing range for the darkly pigmented toner. Further, the method can include converting the dataset to a first dataset corresponding to a first printing of the printing system using the darkly pigmented toner, and a second dataset corresponding to a second printing of the printing system using a lightly pigmented toner. The first dataset can avoid the undesirable optical density printing range for the darkly pigmented toner, and a combination of the first printing and the second printing providing a substantially same printed optical density corresponding to the received dataset.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image data input unit, a density variation detection unit and a position/size detection unit. The image data input unit inputs image data containing original image data obtained by reading an original. The density variation detection unit detects density variation from the image data input through the image data input unit. The position/size detection unit detects a position or a size of the original image data in the image data based on the density variation detected by the density variation detection unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for calibrating a sensory array to ensure a robust cross-process registration measurement. The calibration is implemented using a calibration step that determines the signature error amount of a given image reading sensor. The signature error amount for the sensor is stored in a signature error look-up table. When the sensors are used to sense print head alignment, the correction may be implemented by accessing the signature error look-up table for the given sensor when calibrating the print heads. The signature error look-up table provides an amount of offset for each sensor that is used in determining the appropriate head position of a given print head to calibrate the print heads for the signature error associated with the given sensor.

Abstract: A print and colorimetry instructing section delivers an exclusive-use start instruction to start exclusive use of the printer prior to delivery of the printing instruction and the colorimetry instruction, the print and colorimetry instructing section delivering an exclusive-use canceling instruction to cancel the exclusive use of the printer at a predetermined time subsequent to delivery of the exclusive-use start instruction. The printer carries out only a process according to the instruction from the print and colorimetry instructing section having delivered the exclusive-use start instruction until accepting a predetermined exclusive-use canceling instruction subsequent to acceptance of the exclusive-use start instruction.

Abstract: A print and colorimetry control device includes a print control section which controls so that an image for which colorimetry is to be carried out is printed on a printing medium, based on predetermined image data, a determining section which determines a position where a colorimetry section is caused to carry out colorimetry for the image based on a printing position of the image on the printing medium, a feeding section which feeds the printing medium having finished printing, based on the determined position, a colorimetry control section which controls the colorimetry section based on the determined position so that the colorimetry section is caused to carry out colorimetry thereby to obtain a calorimetric value of the image.

Abstract: A method of measuring a relative darkness of an image recorded on a recording medium, comprising: applying first electromagnetic energy having a first wavelength to the recording medium to record an image thereon, applying second electromagnetic energy having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength to the recorded image on the recording medium, and measuring a reflection of the second electromagnetic energy from the recorded image to determine the relative darkness of the recorded image.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes a plurality of light emitting elements, a first storage unit that stores first correction values corresponding to the light emitting elements, a counting unit that counts the number of pixels whose gray-scale values designated by image data are within a predetermined range included in an image, a selection unit that selects a first mode or a second mode according to the relationship between the number counted by the counting unit and a threshold value, and a driving unit that drives the light emitting elements corresponding to the predetermined number of pixels to emit amounts of light corresponding to the first correction values when the first mode is selected by the selection unit, and drives the light emitting elements corresponding to the predetermined number of pixels to emit amounts of light corresponding to the image data when the second mode is selected by the selection unit.

Abstract: Methods are presented for calibrating or characterizing a printing system with respect to at least one color, in which a toner reproduction curve (TRC) is measured and curve-fitted according to a least squares solution using a set of spline basis functions having high spline density in regions of high TRC curvature and/or high measurement noise, with the weights of the spline functions being restricted to positive values to maintain monotonicity of the TRC.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting banding defects in a photoreceptor image forming apparatus. The method or apparatus may form one or more images using one or more laser beams to alter an electrostatic charge on a photoreceptor, check the one or more images for one or more sets of image perfections arising from electric field attenuation in the photoreceptor, and compensate for the electric field attenuation. The method or apparatus may further form a compensated image.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus previewing on a display screen ink-character information and braille information which are printed and embossed on the same process sheet, the apparatus including: an ink-character previewing device for previewing the ink-character information; a braille previewing device for previewing the braille information; and a preview switching device controlling the ink-character previewing device and the braille previewing device and capable of selectively switching a display mode among a display of only the ink-character information, that of only the braille information, and that of the ink-character information and the braille information when printing and embossing operations are performed in a manner in which the ink-character information and the braille information are at least partially overlapped with each other on the process sheet.

Abstract: A method of pixelized image formation on a photosensitive surface, comprising: providing relative motion of the photosensitive surface relative to a multiplicity of light sources, such that pixels on the surface pass a plurality of said light sources; and exposing a plurality of the pixels of the surface to one or more, but fewer than the plurality, of said light sources, such that the exposure of the exposed pixels is the same.

Abstract: A method of adjusting an exposure device suited for an electrophotographic printer, the exposure device includes a plurality of light-emitting elements. The method includes the steps of energizing selected light-emitting elements according to a selection scheme, using a pre-determined energy level for energizing each selected light-emitting element and obtaining a corresponding exposure intensity distribution from the exposure device. The method further includes the steps of predicting a toner area coverage distribution, based on the obtained exposure intensity distribution and on a pre-established transfer function, obtaining an attribute of the predicted toner area coverage distribution and determining the setting values for the energy levels for energizing each selected light-emitting element such that the obtained attribute becomes a target attribute.

Abstract: Defects in an image forming system may give rise to visible streaks, or one-dimensional defects in an image that run parallel to the process direction. One known method for compensating for streaks introduces a separate tone reproduction curve for each pixel column in the process direction. A compensation pattern according to this invention has alignment marks before and after a halftone compensation region. The alignment marks provide alignment between the printer pixel grid and a scanning pixel grid. The line width of each alignment mark and the gray level in each pixel column of each gray level portion is measured and analyzed to produce a local tone reproduction curve for each pixel column and associated line width. The line widths of the alignment marks can be remeasured to adjust the local tone reproduction curves to compensate for the streak defect when printing.

Abstract: A laser printer for Braille that obviates the need for embossing mechanisms and specialized paper. A laser printer for Braille according to the present teachings increases an amount of a toner that adheres to an area of a paper that corresponds to the Braille element. The increased amount of toner yields a printed Braille element that may be read by touch.