Processing Based On At Least Two Different Image Attributes (e.g., Character, Graphic, Photo, Line, Edge, Gray-level, Color) Patents (Class 358/2.1)
  • Patent number: 8913288
    Abstract: A method for changing physical page properties in a large format printing application on a client device, the client device having executable instructions for creating a print job for producing a printout of an image. The steps include selecting the image for the print job; selecting a logical page size for the printout of the image; dividing the logical page size into a plurality of physical pages based on a selected medium; selecting at least one physical page from the plurality of physical pages and changing at least one print property on the at least one physical page; and adjusting the at least one print property on adjacent physical pages to the selected at least one physical page to avoid a sudden change in image quality and/or image appearance of the image in the printout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Laboratory U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Isao Hayami
  • Patent number: 8913290
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to a method implementable on a computing device for determining color characteristics of an image. The method includes identifying one or more regions in the image based on a luminance value associated with pixels in the image. Each region comprises a set of pixels having a predefined range of luminance values. The set of pixels associated with the one or more regions are categorized into one or more predefined color categories corresponding to each of the one or more regions, based on a chroma value associated with each pixel in the set of pixels. The color characteristics of the image are determined based on a count of the categorized pixels in each of the one or more predefined color categories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Amal Z Malik
  • Patent number: 8913294
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus receives print data including text attribute information, and performs specific image processing defined in the print data in advance. The image processing apparatus includes a specific level detection unit for detecting a specific level defined in advance from the text attribute information; and an image processing unit for performing image processing defined in advance on the print data in the specific level detected by the specific level detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Tomaru
  • Patent number: 8913289
    Abstract: A control device according to the present invention is a control device that controls a print device that forms an image on a recording medium based on image data in which density values of multiple colors are defined every pixel, including: a stored color setting unit that sets a stored color indicating a color of which a toner amount is not restricted in each object indicating an area in which a predetermined type of image in the image data is drawn, in response to designation from a user; and a determination unit that determines density values of each of colors, in the each object, other than the stored color, such that a total sum of the density values of the colors is within a value subtracting a density value of the stored color from a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Makoto Yoshida, Hiroaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8908237
    Abstract: The invention relates to a document-processing system, which includes a device suitable for supplying consecutive recorded images as well as a background surface, comprising a step of storing a standard background surface image. The next step consists of detecting the presence of a document moving across a series of recorded images relative to the standard background surface image. The following step consists of monitoring the movement of the document within the series of images. The end of the movement of the document is then detected and the standard background surface image is updated. The movement of the document is monitored by determining document-extraction masks respectively for the recorded images, the extraction mask of a recorded image being obtained according to an entropy card of the recorded image relative to said standard background surface image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Morpho
    Inventors: Stephane Revelin, Julien Doublet, Michael Verilhac, Soufiane Jouini, William Ketchantang
  • Patent number: 8908244
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an achromatization determination portion, an achromatization processing portion, and a line designation portion. If a black pixel is present within a predetermined peripheral range from a target pixel in a sub-scanning direction, the achromatization determination portion determines whether to achromatize the target pixel, on the basis of an attribute of a background determination pixel present in an opposite direction from the target pixel with respect to the black pixel and within a range of a predetermined number of pixels from the black pixel. If no black pixel is present within the predetermined peripheral range from the target pixel in the sub-scanning direction, the achromatization determination portion determines not to achromatize the target pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masaki Miyashita
  • Patent number: 8908228
    Abstract: A method for changing physical page properties in a large format printing application on a client device, the client device having executable instructions for creating a print job for producing a printout of an image, which includes the steps of: selecting the image for the print job; selecting a logical page size for the printout of the image; dividing the logical page size into a plurality of physical pages based on a selected medium; and selecting at least one physical page from the plurality of physical pages and changing at least one print property on the at least one physical page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Laboratory U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Qian, Kenneth Young
  • Patent number: 8902470
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a multi-level unit that applies a multi-level process on binary halftone dot image data indicating a binary halftone dot image, to form multi-level image data; an acquiring unit that acquires a number of screen lines of the binary halftone dot image data; a tone correcting unit that determines a tone correction amount corresponding to the number of screen lines of the binary halftone dot image data acquired by the acquiring unit, and that applies tone correction on the multi-level image data produced by the multi-level unit, by using the determined tone correction amount; and a re-binarizing unit that binarizes the multi-level image data in which the tone is corrected by the tone correcting unit, without changing a halftone dot shape of the binary halftone dot image data, to produce re-binarized halftone dot image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Misaizu, Kenji Hara, Shigeru Arai, Kota Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8902465
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanism that more appropriately evaluates an image defect caused by a specific process in an image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus of this invention performs colorimetry of a patch image at a spatial resolution corresponding to the spatial frequency of color unevenness caused by a specific process included in an image forming process. A statistic value based on the n-th (n is an integer of 2 or more) order central moment of a specific color component of a colorimetric value obtained by performing colorimetry at the spatial resolution is compared with a reference value, thereby detecting that the color unevenness caused by the specific process has occurred in the patch image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Yokoyama, Akihito Sonoda
  • Patent number: 8902464
    Abstract: Colorimetric values for generating a color separation table, which are obtained by measuring a plurality of color patches included in a color chart, are input, and measurement values corresponding to the input plural measurement values other than supervised input measurement values are estimated using supervised measurement values. Then, color differences between the estimated measurement values and the input plural measurement values other than the supervised measurement values are calculated. Based on the color differences, it is determined whether printing of the plurality of color patches or measurement of the plurality of color patches has been performed correctly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takamasa Seto
  • Publication number: 20140347699
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed relating to the production of camouflage that include steps such as harvesting a set of objects that have a diversity of color from the environment, placing the set of objects within a scene, capturing a set of images of the scene, adjusting color in the set of images, assembling a composite image, printing the composite image, making color adjustments and reprinting the composite image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: MUDDY WATER CAMO, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Michael Maloney
  • Patent number: 8896853
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that makes it possible to suppress the scale enlargement of the electric circuit, so as to make the apparatus highly flexible. The apparatus forms an image based on image data acquired by applying a rendering operation to depiction commands and includes: a converting section to convert input data to the depiction commands; a first rendering section to apply the rendering operation to a first depiction command; a second rendering section to apply the rendering operation to a second depiction command; a reading section to read out first information from the storage section; a determining section to determine whether the first rendering section or the second rendering section should apply the rendering operation to each of the depiction commands; and a control, section to make either the first rendering section or the second rendering section apply the rendering operation to each of the depiction commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Takenori Kitada, I, Kiyoshi Takagi, Hitoshi Koyanagi, Shinya Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20140340715
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input unit that accepts input data, a detecting unit that detects line information from the input data, the line information indicating color information about a line included in the input data, color information about the background of the line, the width of the line, and a converting unit that converts the line information based on a contrast integrated value and the difference between the color information about the background and the color information about the line, the contrast integrated value being determined by the color information about the background, the color information about the line, and the width of the line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Fuse
  • Patent number: 8891132
    Abstract: By addition of a copy forgery inhibited pattern image having a lower density to an image in a saving mode, there is provided an image processing apparatus which can reduce consumption amounts of toner and ink while keeping effectiveness of the copy forgery inhibited pattern image. The present invention is an image processing apparatus having a copy forgery inhibited pattern image addition mode and a saving mode, and includes a unit configured to determine whether the copy forgery inhibited pattern image addition mode is set and a unit configured to determine whether the saving mode is set, wherein a density of the copy forgery inhibited pattern image to be added to the image in the case where the saving mode is set is lower than a density of the copy forgery inhibited pattern image to be added to the image in the case where the saving mode isn't set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Nakano
  • Publication number: 20140333968
    Abstract: A display processing apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive display information indicating whether gloss-control plane image data is displayed and whether clear plane image data is displayed. The gloss-control plane image data specifies a type of a surface effect applied to a recording medium and a glossy area to which the surface effect is to be applied, and indicates a color of the glossy area when being displayed. The clear plane image data specifies a transparent image formed on the recording medium and indicates a color of the transparent image when being displayed. The apparatus also includes a generating unit configured to synthesize color plane image data indicating a color image and one of the gloss-control plane image data and the clear plane image data that is specified to be displayed thus to generate a synthetic image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Ryonosuke MIYAZAKI, Tomoyoshi TAKEUCHI, Yasushi YAMAGUCHI, Hiroaki SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 8886567
    Abstract: A picture image extracting section extracts a picture image from an image shown by image data stored in an image memory. A document image creating section executes a processing of superimposing a special dot pattern and a pattern image onto the image from which the picture image is extracted. After that, the picture image is put over the image to which the special dot pattern is superimposed, so that an image is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuya Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8885219
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, apparatus and systems of characterizing a color rendering performance of a printing system. According to one exemplary method, a user operated UI provides instructions to a printing system to automatically execute a color validation swatch process during the execution of a print job. The user provided instructions provide the parameters necessary to configure the execution of the color validation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph St. Martin, Barry K. Ayash, Adam Andrzej Gierczak
  • Patent number: 8885185
    Abstract: An image forming system comprising: a controller, provided with a list creation means to create a display list by analyzing PDL data, a decompression means to decompress compressed image data, a drawing means to execute drawing based on the image data, and a print data creation means to create the print data based on the image data, for sending the print data to a printer; and a rasterization accelerator, provided with a second drawing means to execute drawing processing based on the display list, and a compression means to compress the image data drawn by the second drawing unit, for sending the image data to the controller, wherein the rasterization accelerator comprises a determination means for determining, based on the information of the display list, whether to execute or not the compression of the image data, and a compression method in case of executing the compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinya Fujisawa, Kiyoshi Takagi, Takenori Kitada, Hitoshi Koyanagi
  • Patent number: 8885220
    Abstract: A method detects the floating amount of an original from an original table based on image information read by an image reading apparatus having the original table on which the original is placed, a line sensor, and a lens array arranged in a direction of arrangement of pixels of the line sensor. The method includes obtaining image information of the original as line image information by performing scanning in the direction of arrangement of pixels of the line sensor, extracting a distinguishing portion from the line image information, detecting a characteristic frequency by frequency analysis of image information of the distinguishing portion, and determining the floating amount of the original from the characteristic frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadao Hayashide
  • Patent number: 8879125
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus of the present disclosure includes: a step detecting unit which detects a first step pixel and a second step pixel in the binary image and step directions of the first step pixel and the second step pixel; and an enlargement processing unit which inverts pixel values of pixels from the first pixel value to the second pixel value in a pixel area corresponding to the first step pixel in the enlarged image, and inverts pixel values of pixels from the second pixel value to the first pixel value in a pixel area corresponding to the second step pixel. The pixels of which pixel values are inverted are located at positions corresponding to its step direction. The number of the pixels of which pixel values are inverted corresponds to its step length in the binary image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Seiki Satomi, Toshiaki Mutsuo
  • Patent number: 8879084
    Abstract: A printing system includes a first module, a second module, a third module, a system configuration controller, and a display controller. The first module receives job data and controls a printing processing process. The second module converts the job data into image data. The third module converts the image data into data in an appropriate format. The printer receives the data from the third module and performs printing. The system configuration controller is used to share system configuration information among the first, second, and third modules. The display controller displays a state of the printing system and receives an instruction for adding or an instruction for removing at least one of the second and third modules from a user. The system configuration controller executes addition or removal of a certain module in accordance with the addition or removal instruction received by the display controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Fukasawa
  • Publication number: 20140320927
    Abstract: A method for determining color separation image data for printing for an ink jet printer. Target colors are determined as a function of location in accordance with the image data, and color separation image data is determined specifying amounts of a fluorescent ink and one or more non-fluorescent reflective inks to be combined to form the target colors when printed on an ink receiver. For target colors having a specified hue angle the amount of the fluorescent ink is decreased as a density of the target color increases beyond a threshold density level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Chung-Hui Kuo, Dinesh Tyagi
  • Patent number: 8873104
    Abstract: A component of a color printing system, such as lookup tables for converting requested marking-agent coverages to corresponding half-tone screen sizes, is calibrated. The calibration can be effected off an arbitrary image and involves making reflectance spectrum measures of the printed image at multiple locations. Expected reflectance measures for each measurement location are computed based on the requested coverage value for each of the marking agents printed there. The computed measures may be dependent on a parameter. A value of the parameter is determined that minimizes the aggregate differences between the sensed and expected reflectance-spectrum measures, and this value is then used in calibrating the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Hila Nachlieli, Michal Aharon, Doron Shaked
  • Patent number: 8873105
    Abstract: A method of signaling or indicating a coloration condition upon a change of an operating condition in a printing press having a control unit, includes the steps of specifying a target ink density for a print job, storing the specified target ink density in the control unit, calculating an actual ink density using the control unit based on an actual operating condition of the printing press, comparing the actual ink density to the target ink density in the control unit, and emitting a first signal using the control unit when the actual ink density is within a range of tolerance about the target ink density stored in the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peter Elter, Alexander Knabe, Nikolaus Pfeiffer, Wolfgang Schoenberger
  • Patent number: 8873107
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first attribute image generation unit; a second attribute image generation unit; and a foreground image generation unit. The first attribute image generation unit is configured to determine a first attribute value from an input image to generate a first attribute image. The second attribute image generation unit is configured to determine a second attribute value from the input image to generate a second attribute image. The foreground image generation unit is configured to generate a foreground image expressing color information in the specific region according to the input image, the first attribute image, and the second attribute image. Further, the foreground image generation unit is configured to switch a method of determining a pixel value of a target pixel of the foreground image according to contents of the first attribute image and the second attribute image in a reference region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuaki Kuwano
  • Patent number: 8873106
    Abstract: A method for enabling halftoning of an image based on its color separation content is provided. The method provides better image quality and includes: analyzing image data to determine whether one or more pixels of a plurality of input pixels are separation overlay pixels having colorant requests from multiple contone planes; and halftoning the pages of the color image to produce an output color image based on the following: if a page of the color image includes more than a threshold amount of separation overlay pixels and if a property of the separation overlay pixels exceeds a predetermined threshold value, then a first halftoning model of the image printing device is used to halftone that page of the color image, else a second halftoning model, which includes an adjustment of a property of a halftone dot in the output image, is used to halftone that page of the color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: David Robinson
  • Patent number: 8867098
    Abstract: When executed by a controller of recording apparatus, the instructions causes the recording apparatus to perform: calculating at least one of a first recording ratio and a second recording ratio based on an image data of an image recorded on a recording medium; controlling a depositing device of recording apparatus to perform a concealment process when at least one condition is satisfied, the at least one condition including a condition that the at least one of the first recording ratio and the second recording ratio is smaller than a threshold value; and controlling the depositing device not to perform the concealment process when the at least one of the first recording ratio and the second recording ratio is greater than or equal to the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Kitajima
  • Patent number: 8861031
    Abstract: When a color selected for use in printing an additional image is not included in colors selected for normal printing, the color for the additional image is changed to an appropriate color, and an increase in cost is avoided. In the color deciding process, a controller examines a color mode at step (S702), and, in this case, identifies the color mode as a two-color mode (S703). When at step (S710), the controller determines that application of an additional image has been designated, at step S711 the controller examines two-color detailed settings. Thereafter, when at step (S720) the controller determines mode 1 is the designated two-color detailed setting, and at step (S721) determines the color selected for an additional image is not black, the processing advances to step (S722), and the controller changes the color for the additional image to black.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masanori Aritomi
  • Patent number: 8861021
    Abstract: An installation method, an installation program and a computer-readable record medium are supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Kanai
  • Publication number: 20140300933
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including: an image data acquiring unit that acquires image data of an image formed on a sheet; an identification information acquiring unit that acquires identification information that identifies the sheet on which the image is formed; an image forming unit that forms an image based on the image data on the sheet with a decolorable colorant which becomes colorless by a predetermined chemical reaction and that forms an identification information image based on the identification information on the sheet with a non-decolorable colorant which does not become colorless by the chemical reaction; and a storage control unit that stores the identification information and the image data of the image to be formed on the sheet, on which the identification information image corresponding to the identification information is formed, in a predetermined storage region in a correlated manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minoru Yoshida, Yoshi Kaneko, Osamu Takagi, Takahito Kabai, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Ken Iguchi, Hiroshi Hashidume, Makoto Tani, Takahisa Hirano
  • Patent number: 8854691
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus extracts a line segment included in an image, and includes a density gradient direction determining section that determines a direction, in which density changes, of each processing unit composed of a predetermined number of pixels of an image, and an line segment extracting section that regards a couple of processing units whose density gradient direction are opposite each other as a processing unit pair and extracts a processing unit group including a plurality of processing unit pairs allocated in a row in a direction perpendicular to the density gradient directions as a line segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Machinery Ltd.
    Inventor: Nariyasu Kan
  • Patent number: 8854688
    Abstract: A system comprising a host processor and a raster image processor (RIP). The host processor is to determine whether each page in a multi-page document contains color, partition a print job into a plurality of print sub-jobs, and determine a separate configuration for the RIP for each print sub-job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Donald Abel, Tasha T. Zahnd, Richard L. Hilton
  • Patent number: 8848245
    Abstract: There is provided a print data generating device which generates print data for printing using plural kinds of color material. The device includes a processor, and a memory storing computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the device to perform acquiring pixel data including grayscale values of plural color components corresponding to the plural kinds of color material, acquiring plural limitation values which are determined for the plural color components in the pixel data, respectively, and according to fixing characteristics of color material of the respective color components, to a print medium, determining a total allowable amount in printing a color represented by the pixel data based on the limitation values, correcting the pixel data such that a total amount of color material for the pixel data does not exceed the total allowable amount if needed, and generating the print data based on the corrected pixel data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhide Sawada
  • Patent number: 8848247
    Abstract: Provided is photo retouching software which is easy for photo studio personnel to use. Upon opening photo image(s), special photo retoucher converts photo image data thereof to working color space image data. At such time(s), if working ICC profile(s) is/are set which is/are different from ICC profile(s) previously embedded in such photo image file(s), color perceptual matching is carried out on the photo image data thereof based on such embedded ICC profile(s) and working ICC profile(s) when such photo image file(s) is/are opened. Furthermore, when such photo image(s) is/are displayed at monitor(s), such image data is converted to monitor color space image data through color matching using working ICC profile(s) and monitor ICC profile(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Takabayashi, Masaru Hoshino, Atsushi Hatta
  • Patent number: 8848215
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a system for facilitating document printing from a portable device. During operation, the system receives a document at a server. Next, the system generates a document optical code corresponding to the document. Subsequently, the system communicates the document optical code to the portable device, thereby allowing the portable device to display the document optical code to a scanning mechanism associated with a printer, Next, the system receives a request, indicating the optical code, from the printer. Subsequently, the system retrieves the document in response to the request, and sends the document to the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Kurt E. Partridge, James M. A. Begole, Diana K. Smetters
  • Patent number: 8848243
    Abstract: A plurality of preview images in case of color printing performed to an area selected by a user and monochrome printing performed to an area not selected by the user are generated based on a plurality of parameters, and then the generated preview images are displayed. Further, preview images in case of color printing performed to a specific area and monochrome printing performed to another area are generated respectively to a plurality of patterns, and then the generated preview images are displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoto Yamada
  • Patent number: 8848246
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus generates black, cyan, magenta, and yellow halftone image data from a multi-tone color image. When the cyan halftone image data is generated, the size of a cyan dot to be formed at a target pixel position is provisionally determined and added to the size of a black dot to obtain a total dot size. When the total dot size is less than or equal to a first threshold dot size, the cyan dot size is determined to be the provisionally determined size, and when the total dot size is greater than the first threshold dot size, the cyan dot size is determined to be the largest dot size within the range of a difference between the first threshold dot size and the black dot size. It is possible to prevent excessive overlapping of black and cyan dots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Asai
  • Patent number: 8842333
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus not having a spot color printing function and connected a network cannot print out a proper image from image data which is already processed for spot color and stored in an image forming apparatus having a spot color printing function. When the image data subjected to the spot color process is stored in the image forming apparatus having the spot color printing function, difference information is stored together with the image data subjected to the spot color process. In order to print the data by a four-color output type of image forming apparatus not having the spot color printing function, the data is restored into four-color image data on the basis of the difference information, and the four-color image data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus not having the spot color printing function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Iinuma
  • Patent number: 8842337
    Abstract: A printing apparatus, which performs printing using a cyan ink, a magenta ink, a yellow ink, and two kinds of black inks, includes an image data acquisition section configured to acquire image data representing an image targeted for printing; a black line specification section configured to specify a black line included in the image on the basis of the image data; a printing control section configured to perform control so as to, along with performing printing of the black line by using the two kinds of black inks, perform printing with respect to pixels forming at least one portion of the black line so as to overlap the two kinds of black colors, and perform printing of a portion other than the black line by using at least one of the cyan ink, the magenta ink, the yellow ink, and the two kinds of black inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kohei Okuda
  • Patent number: 8842938
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing resolution expansion with high quality edge enhancement capability utilizing an edge detector and a color estimator. An edge tag with respect to an input image can be detected via an edge detector and an edge detection approach. A resolution expansion can be separately applied to the edge tag and a binary output generated by other processing functions. Multiple output lines corresponding to the input image from the color estimator with different threshold array values for an edge pixel can be generated by a halftoning module. A binary domain resolution expansion can be applied for a non-edge pixel. A final output for each pixel can be selected from a resolution expanded result and/or from the result of the halftoning for the edge based on the edge tag with respect to that pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Xing Li, David Metcalfe, Barbara Lynn Farrell
  • Patent number: 8842327
    Abstract: A print control apparatus may include a determination unit and a print data generation unit to process variable data. The determination unit determines an imposition method used for defining layout of the variable data including a plurality of pages where stationary content used for a plurality of records and variable content that differs for each record are arranged on one physical page. The print data generation unit generates print data used for arranging the layout of the plurality pages and performs printing. The print data generation unit acquires information for identifying a physical page on which each page of each record included in the variable data is printed based on the variable data and the imposition method determined by the determination unit and generates the print data including the acquired information used for identifying the physical page on which each page of each record is printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadanori Nakatsuka
  • Patent number: 8837021
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus which converts input image data into a designated color, the apparatus comprises a designation unit which accepts a designated color from a user; a holding unit which holds a representation color of a block, a color layout of pixels included in the block, and an other color contained in the block except for the representation color, the block being generated by compression and including a predetermined number of pixels that form the image data; and a color conversion unit which mono-colorizes the block into the designated color by converting at least one of the representation color and the other color into the designated color designated with the designation unit in accordance with the color layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takaya Tsujii
  • Patent number: 8837003
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus determines whether a color image is formed by reading an original with a reading unit or input from an external apparatus, and sets a conversion method for converting the color image into a monochrome image such that when an image obtained by monochrome converting the color image is output onto a recording medium, security information included in the color image is difficult to be discriminated by human eyes, if the color image is formed by reading an original. If the color image is input from the external apparatus, the image processing apparatus sets a monochrome conversion method selected by a user. The apparatus then converts the color image into a monochrome image by the set monochrome conversion method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Yabe
  • Patent number: 8837000
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a total amount control unit that applies a total amount controlling process to perform correction such that a sum of density values of all pixels composing the color plane data and clear plane data becomes not larger than a certain value; a clear toner plane generating unit that generates clear toner plane data based on gloss control plane data, the clear plane data and the color plane data; a difference calculating unit that calculates a difference between the density value of a pixel of the clear toner plane data and the density value of the pixel of the clear toner plane data to which the total amount controlling process is applied, for each pixel; and a display unit that displays an inconsistent region composed of a pixel in which the difference is not smaller than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryonosuke Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20140253975
    Abstract: A method for enabling halftoning of an image based on its color separation content is provided. The method provides better image quality and includes: analyzing image data to determine whether one or more pixels of a plurality of input pixels are separation overlay pixels having colorant requests from multiple contone planes; and halftoning the pages of the color image to produce an output color image based on the following: if a page of the color image includes more than a threshold amount of separation overlay pixels and if a property of the separation overlay pixels exceeds a predetermined threshold value, then a first halftoning model of the image printing device is used to halftone that page of the color image, else a second halftoning model, which includes an adjustment of a property of a halftone dot in the output image, is used to halftone that page of the color image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: David Robinson
  • Patent number: 8830545
    Abstract: A document image processing system includes an extraction portion, an estimation portion, a calculation portion, a substitution portion, and a generation portion. The extraction portion extracts first and second document elements of an inputted document image and a preprint data. The estimation portion estimates first and second representative colors due to first and second document elements in a color space, respectively. The calculation portion calculates first and second planes to separate the color space into first and second sub-spaces which each includes each of the first and second representative colors, respectively. The substitution portion substitutes a color of a first pixel of the first document elements with the first representative color and a color of a second pixel of the second document elements with the second representative color. The generation portion subtracts each of the substituted first pixel from each of the substituted second pixel to generate a difference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Naoaki Kodaira
  • Patent number: 8830529
    Abstract: An image forming device performs functions including: dividing the image into a plurality of band images each including at least one sub-region; creating region data used to identify each sub-region included in the band image; updating the region data such that the region data identifies both first and second uniform sub-regions as a single uniform region of the image when the first uniform sub-region abuts the second uniform sub-region, the first and second uniform sub-regions being included in the first and second band image and classified as the uniform sub-region, respectively; and updating the region data such that the region data identifies both first and second nonuniform sub-regions as a single nonuniform region of the image when the first nonuniform sub-region abuts the second nonuniform sub-region, the first and second nonuniform sub-regions being included in the first and second band image and classified as the nonuniform sub-region, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryohei Ozawa, Masaki Kondo
  • Patent number: 8830528
    Abstract: The blocking unit generates first block property data having a first value if all pixels in the block image do not have a color of the color plane, and generates first block property data having a second value if at least one pixel in the block image has the color. The gamma correction unit performs gamma correction for the block image having the second value and does not perform gamma correction for the block image having the first value. The screen process unit generates a block dot image by performing a screen process for the block image after the gamma correction. The toner adhesion amount calculating unit identifies values of the first block property data of block images adjacent to an objective block image, and identifies the toner adhesion amount of the object block as a value changed correspondingly to the identified values of the first block property data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 8830487
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiment relates to system and method for separating background image from foreground text in one or more electronic pages. The one or more electronic pages are compared to check whether the background image in each of the one or more electronic pages are same. If it found that the one or more electronic pages have common background image, the common background image is subtracted from each of the one or more pages. The foreground text from each of the one or more electronic pages is recognized using an OCR. Finally, the recognized foreground text from each of the one or more electronic pages is consolidated in a file. The consolidated file can be printed or send to one or more recipients over an email.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Ying Gao
  • Patent number: RE45267
    Abstract: There is disclosed an image processing apparatus which applies an adjusting process to an image that includes a pixel to be processed. The image processing apparatus extracts an image area with a predetermined size including the pixel to be processed. The apparatus calculates a variation associated with the pixel to be processed from signal values of pixels included in the image area. The apparatus calculates a variation time count in the image area from the signal values of the pixels included in the image area. The apparatus calculates adjusting levels Fz1, Fz2, and Fe from the variation time count and the variation using a definition unit which defines correspondence among the variation time count, the variation, and the adjusting levels, and applies an adjusting process to a signal value of the pixel to be processed by the calculated adjusting levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumitaka Goto, Kentaro Yano, Fumihiro Goto, Masao Kato, Akitoshi Yamada, Tetsuya Suwa, Mitsuhiro Ono, Arata Miyagi, Yusuke Hashii