Dithering (e.g., Spatial Distribution Of Print Elements By Threshold Matrix) Patents (Class 358/3.13)
  • Patent number: 11407232
    Abstract: A method comprises printing an image using a printhead cartridge including a number of dies, each die comprising a nozzle array, the printing comprising: determining a drop parameter of fluid drops ejected from nozzles of the nozzle array of at least one die; comparing the drop parameter to a threshold value; and determining an image characteristic of an image to be printed; and if the image characteristic meets a defined criterion and if the drop parameter exceeds the threshold value, applying a second print mask for printing the image; and if the image characteristic does not meet the defined criterion or if the drop parameter does not exceed the threshold value, applying a first print mask for printing the image, wherein the second print mask uses less nozzles of the nozzle arrays than the first print mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Li Qian, Javier Castro Soriano, Ruben Recasens Oros
  • Patent number: 11275534
    Abstract: An image forming device forms images of a plurality of pages on a continuous sheet, and the image forming device includes: a hardware processor that: stores the images to be formed on the sheet in a page unit; writes image data to be stored to the hardware processor from the images of the plurality of pages in the hardware processor as pieces of information on a plurality of pixels arrayed in a first direction and a second direction; reads the image data written in the hardware processor; and acquires a correction amount to correct a deviation between a conveying direction of conveying the sheet to an image former and the second direction of the image data; and the image former that forms the images on the sheet based on the image data read by the hardware processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Masato Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11148414
    Abstract: An image based correction system compensates for the image quality artifacts induced by thermal ghosting. With thermal ghosting directly tied to previous image content, a feed forward control system predicts the thermal ghosting artifact based on the images previous printed and generates an open loop, 2-D correction to the gray-level image that mitigates the undesirable ghosting artifacts. For example, the correction system compensates for the thermal ghosting by making the current digital image “lighter” in areas that will be imaged onto warmer blanket regions, thereby cancelling out TRC differences between different temperature regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jack T. Lestrange, Palghat S. Ramesh, Joseph C. Sheflin
  • Patent number: 10884710
    Abstract: A system and method for intelligently and automatically generating deployable code for target platforms and frameworks based on images or other graphical inputs is disclosed. The system and method leverage artificial intelligence to automatically identify and classify elements of a design as feature patterns. Identification is performed using convolutional neural networks, while classification is done using a Softmax classifier. The intelligent system can then automatically generate code for target platforms and frameworks that reproduce the feature patterns. Target platforms may include web platforms, mobile platforms (such as mobile phones), wearable platforms (such as smart watches), and extended reality platforms (which includes augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and/or combinations of AR/VR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Accenture Global Solutions Limited
    Inventors: Badrinath Bahadur, Marin Grace Mercylawrence, Parikshit Maniar, Shridhar Rajgopalan
  • Patent number: 10834291
    Abstract: From a statistical distribution of different color states in an image subdivided in pixels, pixel color states are selected by performing comparisons between predetermined values and values associated to per-pixel state probabilities. Errors (based on drifts between selected color states and per-pixel state probabilities) are diffused to per-pixel state probabilities of subsequent pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Javier Maestro Garcia, Jan Morovic, Peter Morovic
  • Patent number: 10819844
    Abstract: A method of setting a mode of an intelligent electronic device is disclosed. The method includes collecting a plurality of sensing information through a plurality of sensors, obtaining surrounding situation information based on the plurality of collected sensing information, extracting a feature value from the obtained surrounding situation information and determining a surrounding environment based on the extracted feature value, and selecting a disturbance interruption mode corresponding to the determined result. The intelligent robot device may be associated with an artificial intelligence module, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a robot, an augmented reality (AR) device, a virtual reality (VR) device, devices related to 5G services, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Taehyun Kim, Jichan Maeng, Wonho Shin
  • Patent number: 10685468
    Abstract: Systems, processes, and computer program products for creating visual designs and arrangements that originate from an image or images are provided. In particular, the present subject matter relates to systems, processes, and computer program products for taking captured images of an intended operating environment and creating visual designs that create visual confusion that can be utilized to disguise a recognizable form of a person or an object by breaking up its outline using portions, magnifications and distortions of a single captured image, portions, magnifications and distortions of multiple captured images, and/or disruptive patterns that can projected on an image screen or can be printed on a material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Scientiam Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: K. Dominic Cincotti, Cathlena Ann Spencer
  • Patent number: 10609401
    Abstract: An image compression device includes: a first compression processing circuit configured to generate a first compressed image data by performing a first block compression process on an image data and a dither value generator circuit. When the first compressed image data associated with a compression target block is generated, the dither value generator circuit is configured to generate at least one dither value in response to block coordinates indicating a position of the compression target block in an image and the first compression processing circuit is configured to perform a quantization process using the at least one dither value in the first block compression process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Synaptics Japan GK
    Inventors: Hirobumi Furihata, Masao Orio
  • Patent number: 10529058
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs: classifying a plurality of pixels including a plurality of first and second pixels into respective ones of first and second types, the plurality of first pixels constituting an edge; and smoothing a target pixel, the smoothing including: designating the target pixel from the plurality of second pixels; and changing a target pixel value to a smoothed target pixel value using at least one of a plurality of peripheral pixel values. In the smoothing, a first contribution of a first specific peripheral pixel to a first smoothed target pixel value is smaller than a second contribution of a second specific peripheral pixel to a second smoothed target pixel value, the first and second specific peripheral pixels being classified into respective ones of the first and second types and being positioned at a specific position relative to respective ones of first and second target pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuya Shimahashi
  • Patent number: 10516804
    Abstract: A technique capable of keeping image quality and speeding up a halftone process is provided. An image processing device performs the halftone process on image data in which a pixel has a pixel value conforming to a bit count N. Bits conforming to the bit count N include higher H bits (where H is an integer satisfying an inequality of 1?H<N) and lower L bits following the higher H bits (where L is an integer satisfying an inequality of 1?L?N?H). The image processing device includes a first halftone processing unit configured to generate dot data indicative of a formation state of a dot, with respect to a first pixel allowing a determination of a formation state of a dot, based on the higher H bits in the pixel value and higher H bits in a dither mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kohei Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 10509340
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image former to print on a printing paper a plurality of lines that are arranged at intervals in a main scanning direction and are vertical to the main scanning direction using different photosensitive drums, a scanner is to scan the printing paper on which the plurality of lines are printed to obtain a scanned image usable in a color registration correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: HP PRINTING KOREA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youn-jae Kim, Ki-youn Lee
  • Patent number: 10506131
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs: acquiring target image data representing a target image including a plurality of pixels, the target image data including a plurality of sets of component image data representing respective ones of a plurality of component images; smoothing the plurality of component images to generate respective sets of a plurality of sets of smoothed component image data representing respective ones of a plurality of smoothed component images; enhancing an edge in each of the plurality of smoothed component images to generate corresponding one set of a plurality of sets of enhanced component image data; generating single-component image data including one type of component value corresponding to each of the plurality of pixels by using the plurality of sets of enhanced component image data; and specifying a plurality of edge pixels using the single-component image data, the plurality of edge pixels constituting an edge in the target image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryuji Yamada
  • Patent number: 10404892
    Abstract: An image forming method being configured to execute halftone processing using a dithering matrix on input image, output a halftone image, perform correction on the halftone image to shift a pixel at a correction position, and generate an image with a converted lower resolution based on the corrected image, wherein the matrix includes a plural sub-matrices, wherein an arrangement of a threshold in a first sub-matrix is configured to form a first halftone dot having a first line shape for an input image with a predetermined density, wherein an arrangement of a threshold in a second sub-matrix is configured to form a second halftone dot with the same angle as the first line shape and having a center position different from the first halftone dot for the input image with the predetermined density, and wherein the first and second halftone dot form a line shape with a predetermined screen angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoichi Kashibuchi
  • Patent number: 10368070
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a buffer for receiving encoded image data, and a processor to execute instructions that cause the processor to: decode the encoded image data from the buffer to generate quantized transform coefficient data; inversely quantize the quantized transform coefficient data using a 32×32 quantization matrix to generate predicted error data, the 32×32 quantization matrix includes a duplicate of at least one of two elements adjacent to each other from an 8×8 quantization matrix; and combine the predicted error data with a predicted image to generate decoded image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Velos Media, LLC
    Inventor: Kazushi Sato
  • Patent number: 10252513
    Abstract: Certain examples described herein relate to the use of three-dimensional threshold matrices in the production of three-dimensional objects. In one case, data values for a three-dimensional matrix for use in halftoning are assigned based on a structural volume coverage representation. In certain described cases, the structural volume coverage representation defines a probabilistic distribution of at least two different structures available for the production of the three-dimensional object. A convex combination of the at least two different structures is determined, based on data values of the structure volume coverage representation. A data value may be assigned to the three-dimensional matrix based on the convex combination determined. The resultant three-dimensional matrix is used in a halftoning operation to control a structure distribution in the three-dimensional object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Peter Morovic, Jan Morovic
  • Patent number: 10114310
    Abstract: An optical writing device driving a light-emitting element array, modulating light according to a screening pattern that expresses a dithered image, and performing optical writing by focusing light emitted from the light-emitting element array through a lens array onto a photoreceptor. The optical writing device includes an acquisition unit that acquires a write start position for writing to the photoreceptor in a main scanning direction and a control unit that performs a control when the write start position corresponds to an i-th light-emitting element from a reference position that corresponds to a first light-emitting element in the main scanning direction, i being a positive integer greater than 1, wherein the control unit supplies pixel values to the i-th light-emitting element onwards, the pixel values being assigned from pixels of the screening pattern from an i-th pixel onwards, from a leading pixel of the screening pattern in the main scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takahiro Matsuo, So Yano, Masayuki Iijima, Takaki Uemura, Akira Taniyama
  • Patent number: 9978302
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal panel comprising a plurality of pixel areas, each having a plurality of pixels; and a signal controller configured to receive an original image signal and to generate a target image signal corresponding to the original image signal by using a kickback voltage at each gray level in the original image signal, wherein the signal controller comprises a dithering unit configured to generate a corrected image signal based on dithering patterns corresponding to the target image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gi Geun Kim, Hyun Sik Hwang, Won Sik Oh, Nam Gon Choi, Yong Jun Jang
  • Patent number: 9973652
    Abstract: The dither mask generation method includes: a process of setting a nozzle pattern indicating correspondence relation between individual pixels of the dither mask and the nozzles in charge of recording of respective pixel positions; a process of setting dot priority pixels to be candidates of a pixel to set a threshold among the pixels of the dither mask, based on the nozzle pattern; a process of setting the threshold to the pixel belonging to the dot priority pixels; and a process of changing the dot priority pixels before the threshold is set to all the dot priority pixels tentatively set by the dot priority pixel setting process regarding at least some thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kimito Katsuyama
  • Patent number: 9936099
    Abstract: Provided is a print control apparatus that dispenses ink of a plurality of colors through corresponding nozzles according to print data, to print an image on a printing medium. The print control apparatus includes a print data generation unit that generates, according to the image, the print data defining on/off setting of dots in each of pixels with respect to the ink of each of the plurality of colors. The print data generation unit generates the print data for the ink of a specific color having highest brightness among the plurality of colors through first gray scale conversion using a dither mask, and generates the print data for the ink of the plurality of colors except for the color subjected to the first gray scale conversion, through second gray scale conversion using a line screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonaga Hasegawa, Satoshi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9930214
    Abstract: A correction method for an image forming apparatus including a light source including a plurality of light emitting points, a photosensitive member configured to rotate in a first direction so that a latent image is formed thereon with light beams emitted from the light source, and a deflecting unit configured to deflect the light beams emitted from the light source in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction to form scanning lines, the correction method including a correction step of correcting sparseness and denseness of density in the first direction caused by deviation of the scanning lines in the first direction by moving a predetermined pixel in the first direction in accordance with the deviation of the scanning lines and causing a pixel value of the predetermined pixel to be output in accordance with a movement of the predetermined pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasutomo Furuta, Izuru Horiuchi, Ryuichi Araki
  • Patent number: 9921533
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, an optical scanner, a development device, a movable density sensor, a density sensor driver, and a processor. The optical scanner includes a light source to emit light, and irradiates a surface of the photoconductor in a main scanning direction with the light to form a latent image on the surface of the photoconductor. The development device develops the latent image into a toner image. The density sensor detects unevenness in density of the toner image in the main scanning direction. The density sensor driver moves the density sensor in the main scanning direction. The processor corrects a driving signal for the light source according to image data to reduce the unevenness in density in the main scanning direction, according to positional data of the density sensor in the main scanning direction and an output value of the density sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Mori, Shinji Kato, Masaru Kumagai
  • Patent number: 9842416
    Abstract: A system for animated painterly picture generation comprises a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to: determine a first set of brush strokes, each brush stroke being based on a two-dimensional vector; generate a first frame from the first set of brush strokes; perturb the first set of brush strokes to create additional sets of brush strokes; and generate additional frames from the additional sets of brush strokes, wherein the first frame and the additional frames form a sequence of frames that are time-coherent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Ivan Neulander
  • Patent number: 9818214
    Abstract: Systems, processes, and computer program products for creating visual designs and arrangements that originate from an image or images are provided. In particular, the present subject matter relates to systems, processes, and computer program products for taking captured images of an intended operating environment and creating visual designs that create visual confusion that can be utilized to disguise a recognizable form of a person or an object by breaking up its outline using portions, magnifications and distortions of a single captured image, portions, magnifications and distortions of multiple captured images, and/or disruptive patterns that can projected on an image screen or can be printed on a material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Military Wraps Research & Development, Inc.
    Inventors: K. Dominic Cincotti, Cathlena Ann Spencer
  • Patent number: 9767582
    Abstract: A system for generating painterly pictures comprises a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to receive an input image; add a base layer of brush strokes based on a sampling of underlying pixel values in the input image, the base layer comprising coarse large brush strokes that are well-distributed in a uniform pattern; add a uniform layer of brush strokes iteratively based on a sampling of underlying pixel values in the input image and directionally based on a gradient of the input image; and add a detail layer of brush strokes based on a determined saliency map. The disclosure also includes similar methods and computer program products for generating painterly pictures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Ivan Neulander
  • Patent number: 9754180
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for computing ridges and valleys of a height field includes a computing platform receiving a plurality of sample points associated with a dataset and an indication of an orientation for referencing the plurality of sample points and applying an interpolation function to the plurality of sample points to determine the height field. The computing platform selects a plurality of seed points associated with the height field and calculates a Hessian matrix of the height field. The Hessian matrix is used by the computing platform to trace (a) one or more ridge curves associated with the height field and (b) one or more valley curves associated with the height field using the plurality of seed points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
    Inventors: Suraj Ravi Musuvathy, Livio Dalloro
  • Patent number: 9727400
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for timeout monitoring of concurrent commands or parallel communication channels comprising assigning or de-assigning each one of the commands or communication channels to a corresponding one of a plurality of timeout timers when corresponding commands are to be transmitted or command acknowledges are received respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Ag
    Inventors: Karl Herz, Ljudmil Anastasov, Harald Zweck
  • Patent number: 9704074
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus has an acquisition unit configured to acquire first multi-valued data corresponding to a first colored ink to be precedently applied to a same area of the print medium, and second multi-valued data corresponding to a second colored ink to be applied to the print medium succeedingly to the first colored ink; and a quantization unit configured to convert the first multi-valued data to first quantized data designating printing or non-printing of dot using the first colored ink, and converts the second multi-valued data to second quantized data designating printing or non-printing of dot using the second colored data. The quantization unit quantizes the first multi-valued data and the second multi-valued data so as to, on the print medium, make dispersibility of dots to be printed based on the first quantized data higher than dispersibility of dots to be printed based on the second quantized data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minako Kato, Masao Kato, Yumi Yanai
  • Patent number: 9531914
    Abstract: We propose new methods for creating color varying prints with classical cyan, magenta, yellow inks on a metallic substrate. We use a special crossline halftone with optimized surface coverages of the inks to create color prints on a metallic surface whose colors change when rotating the print in-plane under specular reflection. These prints enable viewing on the same metallic print a first image with a first set of colors and upon in-plane rotation, the same image with parts colored with a different set of colors. They also enable viewing a first color image and upon rotation a second independent color image. Applications comprise counterfeit prevention, art, advertisement exhibitions and amusement parks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
    Inventor: Roger D. Hersch
  • Patent number: 9509885
    Abstract: In a case where dither processing is performed as image forming processing, a reference position of a dither matrix to be used is changed in units of predetermined printing execution. Such a change prevents continuous lighting of a light emitting element and fixation of a lighting position, and suppresses speed of deterioration in the light emitting element with time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9342910
    Abstract: Systems, processes, and computer program products for creating visual designs and arrangements that originate from an image or images are provided. In particular, the present subject matter relates to systems, processes, and computer program products for taking captured images of an intended operating environment and creating visual designs that create visual confusion that can be utilized to disguise a recognizable form of a person or an object by breaking up its outline using portions, magnifications and distortions of a single captured image, portions, magnifications and distortions of multiple captured images, and/or disruptive patterns that can projected on an image screen or can be printed on a material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Military Wraps Research & Development, Inc.
    Inventor: James B. Angell
  • Patent number: 9186887
    Abstract: A method compensates for malfunctioning ejectors in inkjet printers and three-dimensional object printers. Multi-level tone data corresponding to a malfunctioning inkjet or ejector is detected and used to modify multi-level tone data surrounding the multi-level tone data corresponding to the malfunctioning ejector and decrement the datum corresponding to a malfunctioning ejector as each surrounding datum is modified. The modification of the surrounding multi-level tone data continues with reference to a datum corresponding to a malfunctioning ejector until the datum corresponding to the malfunctioning ejector falls below a predetermined threshold. The modified multi-level tone data is then used to operate the printer to form an ink image or three-dimensional object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Mantell
  • Patent number: 9114630
    Abstract: A printing control apparatus includes a dither halftone component configured to convert printing data into a multi-value dot pattern. A reference pattern is a pattern that includes a first dot row in which two or more dots are arranged side by side in a main scanning direction and a second dot or second dot row that is arranged side by side in the main scanning direction, the second dot or second dot row having a number of dots not greater than a number of dots of the first dot row including a dot adjacent in an oblique direction with respect to the main scanning direction to a predetermined dot included in the first dot row. The dither halftone component carries out halftoning by using a mask pattern with which a probability that the reference pattern occurs in a dot pattern that is generated is substantially high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takuma Hayashi, Tomonaga Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9107640
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for controlling the field of view in imaging systems are provided. For example, in one embodiment an imaging system includes a flexible elongate member sized and shaped for use within an internal structure of a patient, an imaging transducer positioned within the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, an imaging marker positioned to be detectable within a field of view of the imaging transducer, and a controller in communication with the flexible elongate member and configured to adjust a control signal of the flexible elongate member based on the detection of the imaging marker in data received from the flexible elongate member in order to achieve a desired field of view for the imaging transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: Dietrich Ho, Elizabeth Begin, Oren Levy, Jason Sproul
  • Patent number: 9102165
    Abstract: In an image recording apparatus, only small ink droplets are ejected toward a recording medium in the range of tone values less than a second tone value. In the range of tone values greater than or equal to the second tone value and less than a first tone value, large and small droplets are ejected toward the recording medium. The first tone value is less than or equal to a 50% tone value, and the total ejection rate at the first tone value is less than 50%. In the range of tone values greater than or equal to the first tone value, only large droplets are ejected toward the recording medium. Thus, the occurrence of streaking can be suppressed while reducing the degree of instability of the landing positions of fine droplets of ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Asai
  • Patent number: 9092720
    Abstract: Provided is a dither pattern generation method so that a dot arrangement having excellent dispersibility can be obtained in low-gradation areas for single colors and for mixed colors. The dither pattern generation method generates dot patterns for low-gradation areas having threshold values 1 to S so that high dispersibility is obtained in a cyan dot pattern and a magenta dot pattern, and so that in a combined dot pattern made by combining these dot patterns there are no overlapping pixels. The dither pattern generation method then sets threshold values for a cyan dither pattern and a magenta dither pattern based on these generated dot patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Nakagawa, Akitoshi Yamada, Nobutaka Miyake, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Shinjiro Hori, Fumitaka Goto, Ryosuke Iguchi, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Kouta Murasawa, Hiromitsu Akiba, Senichi Saito
  • Patent number: 9055914
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for controlling the field of view in imaging systems are provided. For example, in one embodiment an imaging system includes a flexible elongate member sized and shaped for use within an internal structure of a patient, an imaging transducer positioned within the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, an imaging marker positioned to be detectable within a field of view of the imaging transducer, and a controller in communication with the flexible elongate member and configured to adjust a control signal of the flexible elongate member based on the detection of the imaging marker in data received from the flexible elongate member in order to achieve a desired field of view for the imaging transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: Dietrich Ho, Elizabeth Begin, Oren Levy, Jason Sproul
  • Patent number: 9036214
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dither matrix generating method in which halftone dots are formed by growing corresponding dots. The dither matrix generating method includes a first generating step of generating first threshold values of a dither matrix, so that the dots are grown until a predetermined halftone dot area ratio is achieved, wherein, when the predetermined halftone dot area ratio is achieved, the halftone dots contact each other; and a second generating step of generating second threshold values of the dither matrix, so that the dots grow beyond the predetermined halftone dot area ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuuki Sagimori
  • Patent number: 9030714
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for generating dot data to form an image by forming dots on a recording medium includes a receiving unit, a first, second, and third generating unit, and a correcting unit. The receiving unit receives first and second image data included in image data. The first generating unit generates, per the first image data, first ink color data representing a multi-valued signal value corresponding to an ink color. The second generating unit generates, per the second image data, second ink color data representing a multi-valued signal value corresponding to an ink color. The correcting unit corrects the signal value represented by the generated first and second ink color data. The third generating unit generates, per the first and second ink color data of which the signal values have been corrected, the dot data representing existence of formation of dots to form an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Nakagawa, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Ryosuke Iguchi, Hitoshi Nishikori, Norihiro Kawatoko, Fumiko Suzuki, Atsuhiko Masuyama
  • Patent number: 9030712
    Abstract: Nozzles in a print head are arrayed in a density of 600 dpi. Moreover, a dither matrix has a size of 16 pixels×16 pixels in 600 dpi. The dither matrix is repeatedly used. In the meantime, each of rectangles represents an HS processing unit. WHS=3 pixels. As a consequence, the relationship of a least common multiple below is established in a nozzle array direction: 3×WD=16×WHS. In this case, the cycle of interference unevenness can be prolonged to the least common multiple between WD and WHS, that is, 48 pixels (3WD). In this manner, the size of the dither matrix is not an integral multiple of the HS processing unit width, so that the cycle of interference unevenness can be prolonged more than the size of the dither matrix. Thus, the interference unevenness can be hardly recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Senichi Saito, Akitoshi Yamada, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Fumitaka Goto, Nobutaka Miyake, Mitsuhiro Ono, Ryosuke Iguchi, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Junichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9024966
    Abstract: A display system combines a graphic plane and a video overlay plane using color keys in the graphics plane. By time-averaging patterns of color keys in successive frames of the graphics plane, individual pixels of the graphics plane can be made to appear partially transparent. Using this technique, regions in the graphics plane (e.g., a menu) can be partially transparent with respect to the video overlay, and aliasing can be reduced by making selected pixels in the graphics plane partially transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Pieter van der Meulen
  • Patent number: 9007655
    Abstract: One dither mask having a highest spacial frequency is selected from a plurality of dither masks. Next, a granularity is obtained with reference to a table based on the selected dither mask and an ejection amount level per area. Moreover, a difference in granularity between adjacent areas is calculated with respect to all of the areas. A maximum value is obtained out of the obtained differences in granularity, and then, the maximum difference in granularity is compared with a determination threshold. When the maximum difference in granularity is the threshold or greater, it is determined whether or not a dither mask having a spacial frequency lower than that of the selected dither mask is stored in a memory. When there are dither masks having lower spacial frequencies, a dither mask having a spacial frequency lower by one level than that of the selected dither mask is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryosuke Iguchi, Nobutaka Miyake, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Fumitaka Goto, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Junichi Nakagawa, Senichi Saito
  • Patent number: 9001379
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an input part for receiving image data; an image processor for image-processing the input image data; an output part for outputting data processed at the image processor; and a controller for controlling the image processor to process the image using one of a plurality of image processing modes having a toner consumption lower than a toner density to use when the toner density to use for outputting the input image data exceeds a preset reference density. The plurality of the image processing modes includes a boundary image processing mode which outputs only boundaries of objects in the image data. Thus, the toner used for the image forming can be saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ho-Keun Lee
  • Patent number: 8976417
    Abstract: An optical scanning device performs sequential scanning passes. Individual pixels are scanned in response to a clock whose frequency is dithered in repeatable cycles to reduce electro-magnetic interference, and scanning passes are coordinated with the repeatable cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas G. Keithley
  • Patent number: 8941901
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image output device includes an image processor to receive input image data, and a line screen to represent halftone images and have multiple screen angles respectively allocated to different colors including yellow, magenta, and cyan. The line screen satisfies requirements of (A) a predetermined difference is secured between adjacent two of the multiple screen angles; (B) zero is not allocated to any of the multiple screen angles; and (C) among the multiple screen angles determined by the requirements (A) and (B), a screen angle closest to 90 degrees is allocated to yellow among yellow, magenta, and cyan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Igawa, Hideki Kamaji
  • Patent number: 8934142
    Abstract: A halftone screen may be used to transform a continuous tone image into a halftone image. Determining the halftone screen may include determining a first halftone tile for a first gray level, selecting pixel locations and increasing the intensity of pixels at the locations to activate the pixels to form a second halftone tile for a subsequent gray level. A filtered image may be generated from the second halftone tile, and pixels from the filtered image may be used to generate the halftone screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Tamar Kashti, Tal Frank, Oren Haik
  • Patent number: 8913296
    Abstract: A dither matrix creating device acquires a basic dither matrix and modifies the basic dither matrix to provide a modified dither matrix including a plurality of sets of threshold value. Each threshold value set includes N threshold values (N?2. An image processing device can perform both dither method and error diffusion method for converting an input image into an output image. Each pixel of the output image has an (N+1)-level output value. The modifying unit modifies the basic dither matrix by adjusting at least one of N threshold values such that the image processing device can produce a first output image by using the modified dither matrix according to the dither method. The first output image is more similar to an output image produced based on the input image according to the error diffusion method than an output image to be produced by using the basic dither matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunari Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8907955
    Abstract: A vector image drawing device has the following configuration. A contour generation unit (104), based on vector data, generates contour data that represents the starting pixels on a scan line in a drawing area where fill-in starts, and the ending pixels where fill-in ends. An outline buffer (106) stores the number of starting or ending pixels in the contour data for fill-in for each drawn pixel. An error judgment unit (2), when storing the contour data in the outline buffer (106), determines in which pixel there is overflow in the outline buffer of contour data. A pixel position transfer unit (3) adds the numerical value of the overflow portion of a pixel that the error judgment unit (2) determined to have overflow to the numerical value of contour data that corresponds to a pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignees: NEC Soft, Ltd., NEC Solution Innovators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Fujiwara
  • 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: 8896883
    Abstract: When an input image is shifted by 640 pixels from a test pattern with reference to the position of a nozzle, the remainder is obtained by dividing 640 pixels by pixels of the dither matrix in an x direction. For example, when the size of the dither matrix in the x direction is 256 pixels, the dither matrix is shifted by 128 pixels in a direction reverse to the x direction. In this manner, the phase of the dither matrix at the time of the quantization during test pattern printing matches the phase of the dither matrix at the time of the quantization during input image printing. Consequently, unevenness of the dither matrix at a position N becomes the same in both of the test pattern and the input image. The HS correction to density unevenness caused by the unevenness of the dither matrix becomes suitable for the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumitaka Goto, Akitoshi Yamada, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Senichi Saito, Nobutaka Miyake, Mitsuhiro Ono, Ryosuke Iguchi, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Junichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8872841
    Abstract: A method of producing a bit-map including rendering a bit-map of a first image using a first stochastic half-tone screen set, rendering a bit-map of a second image using a second stochastic half-tone screen set, wherein the first half-tone screen set and the second half-tone screen set have respectively associated stochastic half-tone screens, and wherein each half-tone screen of the second half-tone screen set is less than 100 percent correlated with, and not an inverse of, the associated half-tone screen of the first half-tone screen set; and merging the bit-map of the first image with the bit-map of the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Meng Yao