Color Correction Patents (Class 358/518)
  • Patent number: 9007666
    Abstract: Erroneous determination of an image caused by color shift is prevented. Image data is divided in a sub-scanning direction into a first region where color shift hardly occurs and a second region where color shift easily occurs. There are detected a first color line drawing extending in a main-scanning direction in the first region, a second color line drawing extending in the main-scanning direction and having a width larger than that of the first color line drawing in the second region, and a third color line drawing extending in the sub-scanning direction in the image data. On the basis of the detected first, second, and third color line drawings, it is determined whether a document is a color document or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Sato
  • Patent number: 9007392
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enhancing contrast of a color image displayed on a display system and an image processing system utilizing the same. In the present invention, the gray values of R, G, and B components of one color image are separately counted during processing the image. When calculating the corresponding output values for the gray values of R, G, and B components in each pixel, they are adapted to ratios between the gray values of R, G, and B components. Therefore, the present invention can effectively maintain the color distribution for a considerable degree and greatly enhance the image contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jian-rong Chen, Chun-chieh Chiu
  • Patent number: 9007657
    Abstract: A method for making a color transform for an output device is provided. The color transform represents a correspondence relation between a first and a second color space. Each of the two color spaces involves a number of color channels and the color channels of the second color space control the colorants in the output device. An excess relation for the color channels of the color space associated with the output device is established and only color points in the second color space wherefor a sum of the excess values related to the color point is lower than a predetermined limit, are included in the color transform. This enables to adapt the shape of a color gamut to a behavior of the colorants and enhances the flexibility in making a color transform for various print processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Oce-Technology B.V.
    Inventor: Maurice L. M. Luttmer
  • Patent number: 9002108
    Abstract: A color processing device includes a converter that converts a combination of values of N?1 colors obtained by eliminating a specific color included in N colors from an input color signal expressing a color by a combination of values of the N colors, into a corresponding combination of values of M?1 colors, N being 4 or larger, M being larger than N; and an output unit that, if a total value of the values of the M?1 colors after the conversion by the converter and a value of the specific color included in the input color signal exceeds a predetermined limit value, changes a value of at least one of M colors obtained by adding the specific color to the M?1 colors such that the total value becomes the limit value or smaller, and outputs values of the M colors as an output color signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Kubo, Toshifumi Takahira, Jun Koyatsu, Hidetoshi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 9001385
    Abstract: A printer driver and an image forming apparatus for appropriately combining additional information (such as a stamp) and an original to print the combined image data. The printer driver according to one embodiment of the present invention, relates to a printer driver connected to a printer for registering form data transmitted from the printer driver, and for combining the registered form data and contents data. The printer driver transmits transparent data as form data and a command indicating that the form data is transparent data, to the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 9001381
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a printing control terminal apparatus include an input unit to receive printing data, a rendering unit to transform the printing data into bitmap data, an image processor to determine whether the bitmap data includes a transparency pattern and if it is determined that the bitmap data includes the transparency pattern, perform smoothing processing with respect to the bitmap data; and an output unit to output the bitmap data processed by the image processor. Accordingly, an image quality of printing data including a transparency pattern can be improved. In addition, an image forming method includes receiving image data including a plurality of pixels, determining whether an area of pixels is a patterned area including a pattern, determining the patterned area is transparent when the pattern of the patterned area matches a pre-stored pattern, performing a smoothing process on the patterned area, and printing the image data after performing the smoothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hae-kee Lee
  • Patent number: 9001400
    Abstract: A method to enable modification of color characteristics of an image. In the method, an image, defined in a first color space, is transformed to a second color space; and display of the transformed image is controlled. A color characteristic of the transformed image is modified using a rule defined in the second color space in response to a user input, and display of the modified transformed image is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Marti Maria Saguer, Alejandra Terron Arregui, Miguel Angel Lopez Alvarez
  • Patent number: 9001377
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs density correction. An image forming section forms a density detection image on a belt. A light source irradiates the image with light. A light receiving section receives light reflected from the image and outputs a plurality of intensity signals of the received light. An intensity obtaining section drives the belt and the light source, thereby illuminating the image a first number of times at intervals of a first distance as the belt runs, and the light receiving section receives the light reflected from the image, the first number of times being determined by at least the first distance and a second distance in which the first distance lies. A selecting section selects a second number of levels of light intensity from the plurality of intensity signals. A density correcting section performs print density correction using the second number of levels of light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kato
  • Patent number: 8995035
    Abstract: A color gamut for each printing mode is maximally used, a color separation table is used, which includes an area (color reproduction maintaining area) for which an image having a color difference of a predetermined value or less between printing modes in a case where the same input value is input is output and an area (area other than the color reproduction maintaining area) for which an image having a color difference of a predetermined value or more between the printing modes in a case where the same input value is input is output. From this, a color matching table can be shared between the printing modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mayuko Kishino, Shinichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8995020
    Abstract: When a skewness of brightness of a print target image is a first skewness, print data is generated such that an ink amount of a metallic ink is a first amount. When the skewness of brightness is a second skewness that is larger than the first skewness, a print data is generated such that the ink amount is a second amount that is larger than the first amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Okumura, Takashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8995033
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image data acquiring portion, an image determining portion, and an image data converting portion. The image data acquiring portion is configured to acquire first image data representing a color image. The image determining portion is configured to determine whether or not the image represented by the first image data is an image mainly composed of black characters. The image data converting portion is configured to convert the first image data to second image data by converting the first image data to binary image data when the image determining portion determines that the image represented by the first image data is an image mainly composed of black characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kunihiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8995011
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus performs calibration to maintain image quality. An adding unit performs addition processing to add an arbitrary type of printing medium different from a printing medium designated in advance as a printing medium usable for the calibration. A storage unit stores characteristic information indicating characteristics of each of a plurality of arbitrary types of printing media added by the adding unit. A determination unit determines an arbitrary type of printing medium relatively approximate to the characteristics of the printing medium designated in advance by comparing the characteristic information of each of the plurality of arbitrary types of printing media with the characteristics of the printing medium designated in advance. A calibration performing unit performs the calibration using the printing medium determined by the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Sumito Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8995012
    Abstract: An automated document processing system, particularly for mobile image capture and processing of financial documents to enhance images captured on a mobile device with camera capabilities for data extraction. The systems comprise a mobile device that includes a capture device configured to capture color images of documents, and that has a processor for performing certain operations, such as color reduction, and a transmitter for sending an image from the mobile device to a server. The server is configured to optimize and enhance the image, and to apply an improved binarization algorithm using a window within a relevant document field and/or a threshold for the document field. Orientation correction may also be performed at the server by reading the MICR line on a check and comparing a MICR confidence to a threshold. A check image may also be size corrected using features of the MICR line and expected document dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: RDM Corporation
    Inventors: Graham Heit, Dhammika Botejue, Frank McGovern, Dima Shamroni
  • Patent number: 8995010
    Abstract: A digital printer is equipped with a built-in color measurement device in the form of a colorimeter or spectral photometer, as well as with color management support. The built-in color measurement device is used for control and optimization of the print output, especially for the simplification, optimization and automation of the work processes and for the verification of the output results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: X-Rite Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Senn, Francis Lamy
  • Patent number: 8995009
    Abstract: A color conversion portion generates, when fluorescent color is not included in an image of document sheet, image data according to color coordinate system of a printing device for image of the document sheet, in predetermined color conversion mode, based on image data of read image, and, when a fluorescent color is included in an image of a document sheet, generates, for colors other than the fluorescent color, image data according to the color coordinate system of a printing device for the image of the document sheet, in the predetermined color conversion mode, based on image data of a read image, and generates, for the fluorescent color, image data according to the color coordinate system of the printing device for the image of the document sheet, based on the image data of the read image, by using a color value of a color patch corresponding to the recorded fluorescent color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kazunori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8995034
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit to store a color conversion table, a user interface unit to receive a color revision initiation command, an image forming unit to print a color chart generated based on the color conversion table if the color revision initiation command is received, the color chart having a plurality of CMYK mixed colors having at least one of brightness and chroma changed, a scan unit to scan the printed color chart, and a change unit to revise the color conversion table using the scanned color chart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-ho Park, Kyeong-man Kim, Hyun-soo Oh
  • Patent number: 8988702
    Abstract: A printer and printing control method to enable print data received from a host computer to be selectively deleted without modifying the host computer or application. A data receiving unit 100 receives print data from a host computer 40. A deletion line parameter unit 81 sets the number of deletion lines that are to be deleted from the received print data. A print data deletion unit 87 deletes the print data corresponding to the deletion lines set by the deletion line parameter unit 81. A printing unit 120 then prints a receipt using the actual (i.e., corrected) print data, which is the received print data remaining after deletion of the selected deletion lines by the print data deletion unit 87.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akimasa Takagi
  • Patent number: 8988747
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus converts first color values in a first color space to second color values in a second color space for an objective color. If the objective color is not within a color reproduction space of an outputting device, the searching unit searches for a set of color values as base color values in the color reproduction space so that the set of color values minimizes a value of the color difference formula for the first color values. As the second color values, the searching unit determines a set of color values in a predetermine neighbor space of the base color values so that the determined set of color values minimizes a difference between property values on a color property of which the allowed color difference is smallest among the allowed color differences at the first color values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Mitsuko Nishiura
  • Patent number: 8988730
    Abstract: When a recording agent amount limiting process is carried out, a color reproduction range is narrowed, and therefore gradation properties of dark areas are deteriorated and information originally held by an image is sometimes undesirably lost. By obtaining (401) a colorant amount for each target pixel of input color image data, calculating (402) a colorant amount of a peripheral area of the target pixel, and correcting (400) a density range of the input color image data based on the colorant amount of the target pixel and the colorant amount of the peripheral area of the target pixel, amounts of recording agent are limited and reductions in image quality are prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 8988450
    Abstract: Effective color-aware search of a collection of content associated with one or more images is enabled. Content and/or its associated images may be automatically associated with representative palette colors in a suite of color palettes. Color palettes may be of a variety of types and have a hierarchical structure in which lower levels enable increasingly subtle distinctions between shades of color. Color palette hierarchies may be effectively presented, and appropriate portions emphasized based on associated search result sets. Search result sets may be refined and/or reordered in accordance with color palette selections and/or representative confidences of color palette selections for items at least referenced therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Max L. Kanter, Sachin B. Singh, Michel Goldstein, Carl N. Meister, David Charles Couvrette, Walter Manching Tseng, Blair L. Hotchkies, Sarah E. Williams, Sikander Saifullah, Sean P. Forde, John M. Nilles, Jason P. Patrikios, Brent Robert Mills, Alexandru I. Indrei, Paul Daniel Jaye, Daniel R. Parshall
  • Patent number: 8988746
    Abstract: In the aforementioned image scanning apparatus of this embodiment, a condensation detection patch includes pluralities of patch areas with different reflectances arranged adjacently. A data acquiring unit acquires measurement values of the condensation detection patch by an image sensor as condensation detection patch data. A condensation determining unit determines whether condensation occurs or not on the basis of the condensation detection patch data corresponding to one with a low reflectance of two patch areas arranged adjacently in the patch areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hironori Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 8982435
    Abstract: A storage medium which stores a program to cause an image forming system to execute a process includes, (a1) forming a product image, which is subjected to color correction by a product LUT being applied thereto, and a verification image, which is subjected to color correction by a verification LUT being applied thereto on same paper, (b1) subjecting said verification image that is formed in (a1) to color measurement, (c1) determining whether verification LUT is applicable to color correction of the product image based on a difference between said color measurement values of the verification image that is measured in (b1) and target values, and (d1) forming the product image and the verification image, which are respectively subjected to color correction by applying the verification LUT that is determined to be applicable, and applying another verification LUT to color correction of said verification image, on same paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Katsuji Kondo
  • Patent number: 8982287
    Abstract: Provided is a data processing apparatus including a correction circuit. In at least one embodiment, the data correction circuit acquires pixel data of a first pixel for display of a first color component and pixel data of a second pixel for display of a second color component, the second pixel being driven by a scanning signal line which drives the first pixel and being driven by a data signal line which is adjacent to the first pixel, and corrects the pixel data of the second pixel in accordance with a relationship between a value of the pixel data of the first pixel and a value of the pixel data of the second pixel. Thus, it is possible to cause a liquid crystal driving panel to perform uniform display without causing display unevenness even in a case where a halftone of a specific color component is uniformly displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshikazu Tsuchiya, Masae Kawabata, Fumikazu Shimoshikiryoh
  • Patent number: 8982408
    Abstract: An image capturing unit includes: a sensor unit that captures an image of a predetermined area including an image capture object; a reference chart portion that is disposed in the predetermined area and an image of which is captured together with an image of the image capture object by the sensor unit; an illumination light source that illuminates the image capture object and the reference chart portion; and a specular reflection preventing member that prevents that specular reflection light of light emitted from the illumination light source enters the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Suzuki, Nobuyuki Satoh, Mamoru Yorimoto, Suguru Yokozawa, Masato Kobayashi, Yuichi Sakurada, Tatsuhiko Okada, Tomokazu Kanzawa, Daisaku Horikawa, Hiroshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8983183
    Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. The method includes the steps of providing an image file depicting an image defined by image locations, in a computer memory, generating a bi-illuminant chromaticity plane in a log color space for representing the image locations of the image in a log-chromaticity representation for the image, providing a set of estimates for an orientation of the bi-illuminant chromaticity plane and calculating a single orientation for each one of the image locations as a function of the set of estimates for an orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Tandent Vision Sciencem, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Lalonde
  • Patent number: 8976413
    Abstract: A color processing apparatus includes an obtaining unit, a setting unit, and a color converting unit. The obtaining unit obtains a predetermined corresponding relationship between total amount limit information regarding limitation of a total amount of inks of colors, and a combination in which, among droplet diameters of inks of colors ejectable to satisfy the total amount limit information, droplet diameters of at least two or more inks are made uniform, and the types of droplet diameters of inks of the colors are two or fewer types. The setting unit sets the combination of droplet diameters corresponding to the accepted ink total amount limit information, on the basis of the obtained corresponding relationship. The color converting unit converts a color in an input color gamut reproducible by an input device into a color in an output color gamut in accordance with the set combination of droplet diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Iwafuchi, Hidetoshi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8976430
    Abstract: Generation of shading correction data is started before an instruction to start reading of the document is input in a case in which time to generate shading correction data corresponding to a document reading mode is longer than time since the instruction to start reading of the document is received until the document is fed to reach a reading point, and generation of shading correction data is started after an instruction to start reading of the document is input in a case in which time to generate shading correction data corresponding to a document reading mode is shorter than time since the instruction to start reading of the document is received until the document is fed to reach a reading point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Morita, Akiko Kanno, Satoshi Seki, Yohei Katto
  • Patent number: 8976252
    Abstract: The present disclosure related to acquisition of color calibration charts. In at least some examples herein, an image of a calibration color chart is processed. A lighting condition of the color calibration chart may be automatically determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kok-Wei Koh, Nathan Moroney, Ehud Chatow, Melanie M. Gottwals
  • Patent number: 8976431
    Abstract: The color of a pixel in a scanned image is represented by two color components and is adjustable by interpolating between color component values obtained from elements in a bidimensional color remap look-up table. The table is sparsely populated and may be readily implemented in most scanner circuits without adding memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas G. Keithley
  • Patent number: 8970931
    Abstract: An image reading device includes an imaging device including a plurality of imaging elements, a color measuring unit that detects color of an object at a color measurement area, a calibration plate having a surface on which a plurality of color patches is formed, and a processor that causes the color measuring unit to read the plurality of color patches while changing a relative position between the plurality of color patches and the plurality of imaging elements to output color measurement results of the plurality of color patches, and generates a set of reference values for the plurality of color patches based on the color measurement results of the plurality of colors. The set of reference values are compared with the reading results of the plurality of color patches to generate a set of correction values for correcting the reading results of the plurality of color patches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Kitai, Hitomi Kaneko, Hiroyoshi Ishizaki, Keiji Kojima, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Hideyo Makino
  • Patent number: 8970904
    Abstract: A printer apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium by providing a heat amount according to a gradation includes a first image forming unit configured to form a first image by transferring ink to the recording medium, and a second image forming unit configured to form a second image by forming concavity and convexity on the recording medium. The second image forming unit forms concavity and convexity on a surface of the recording medium by setting one of a gradation of a drawing region of the second image and a gradation of a drawing peripheral region surrounding the drawing region higher than a predetermined threshold gradation, and setting the other of the gradation of the drawing region and the gradation of the drawing peripheral region lower than the predetermined threshold gradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasushi Hozumi
  • Publication number: 20150055201
    Abstract: Because the spectral characteristics of an original of a printing sheet and those of an original of a photographic image are different, in the case where the same color conversion table is applied at the time of color conversion processing, a deviation occurs in color reproducibility. By determining a sheet type with accuracy based on the feature of fiber that occurs in manufacture of paper and by applying color conversion processing in accordance with the determination result, a highly accurate color reproduction method of an image is implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Tetsuya Suwa, Yugo Mochizuki, Masao Kato
  • Patent number: 8964253
    Abstract: Color shifting correction is performed first based on shifting amount information indicating a shifting amount with respect to the scanning direction on an image carrier of each image forming unit, and halftone processing is then performed, thus suppressing caused by color shifting correction, and forming a high-quality image. An image forming engine has color shifting amount storage units storing actual shifting amounts with respect to ideal scan directions on image carriers in image forming units. Color shifting correction amount arithmetic units calculate color shifting correction amounts for respective color components using stored color shifting amounts. Color shifting correction units perform color shifting correction by converting coordinates upon reading image data from bitmap memories using calculated color shifting correction amounts, and perform tone correction. Data after tone correction undergo halftone processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takada, Hiroki Kitamura, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Shuichi Nakamura, Yusuke Yamamoto, Masanao Motoyama, Takeshi Akiyama, Kenzo Tojima, Takaaki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 8963941
    Abstract: An image display apparatus that displays an image on the basis of input image signals corresponding to sub-pixels forming one pixel includes a shift-amount storing unit that stores shift amounts of display positions of the sub-pixels relative to given reference positions in a display image, an image-signal correcting unit that corrects the input image signals according to the shift amounts, and an image display unit that displays an image on the basis of the image signals corrected by the image-signal correcting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Aragaki, Hiroshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8964221
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus not having a measuring sensor and an image forming apparatus having a measuring sensor are arbitrarily combined with each other to thereby achieve calibration with respect to the image forming apparatus not having the sensor. A color printer obtains measuring instrument information on measurement of a color in the image forming apparatus having the measuring sensor, and generates a chart image. A measuring printer measures the chart image using measurement chart information including conditions for measuring the chart image transmitted from the color printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Sato
  • Patent number: 8958127
    Abstract: Provided are a control apparatus for controlling an image forming apparatus including an inline sensor, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program. The control apparatus includes: a data analyzing section configured to extract color information contained in an image of a certain page of a job and determine whether there is missing color information necessary for color administration of the job in the extracted color information; a color patch creating section configured to create a color patch or color patches corresponding to the missing color information and arrange the color patch or color patches in the certain page; and a control section configured to send image data of the certain page in which the color patch or color patches are arranged to the image forming apparatus so as to make the image forming apparatus perform print processing and measuring color information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Tatsuro Yamamuro
  • Patent number: 8958124
    Abstract: A color image formation apparatus includes: a containing unit containing a plurality of developers; an image formation unit for performing an image formation process using at least a part of the plurality of developers; a control unit for causing the image formation unit to perform the image formation process with color change for at least one of colors designated by a job to be processed being made such that the image formation process can be performed using a developer not restricted in use when a part of the plurality of developers is restricted in use; and a reception unit for receiving designation of a change-prohibited color, which is a color not to be changed by the control unit. The control unit causes the image formation process to be performed while prohibiting, in the color change, change of the change-prohibited color of the colors designated by the job to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroko Ono
  • Patent number: 8958125
    Abstract: A calibration apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes a calculation unit for calculating a color deviation by subtracting a target value from each value on the two orthogonal axes not including brightness of a color coordinate system based on a measured color value of a printed material and a display unit for displaying the color deviation with respect to each gray balance at the feedback such that the number of times of inversions of a sign of the color deviation calculated by the calculation unit and a variation width of the color deviation when the sign of the color deviation is inverted can be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Sachiko Hirano
  • Patent number: 8958128
    Abstract: In a color image processing apparatus in the present invention, correction values used for causing reproduction characteristics of multi-colors formed by an image forming unit to be close to target values are obtained using results of measurement of colors of multi-color patch images formed by the image forming unit using a plurality of recording materials. The color image processing apparatus includes a first processing unit configured to, when the image forming unit forms a color image, execute a correction process using the correction values, a second processing unit configured to, when the image forming unit forms the color image, execute the correction process without using at least some of the correction values or not to execute the correction process, and a control unit configured to selectively cause the first processing unit and the second processing unit to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Asako Hashizume
  • Patent number: 8958081
    Abstract: This disclosure provides spot color control methods, apparatus and systems. According to one exemplary embodiment, disclosed is a method of generating device dependent color recipes for a plurality of printing devices. The method includes generating a first device dependent recipe for a target color for rendering on a first printing device, and generating a second device dependent recipe for the target color for rendering on a second printing device, whereby the second device dependent recipe is a function of the first device dependent color recipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Alvaro Enrique Gil, Lalit Keshav Mestha
  • Patent number: 8953218
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending LCDS imaging data stream imaging capabilities. An imaging data stream can be modified to permit the imaging data stream to implement at least one full-color call for rendering full-color forms and full-color jobs via at least one rendering device within a rendering system. This can be accomplished by creating and associating at least one full-color extension with a syntax of the imaging data stream in order to implement the at least one full-color call in an extensible set of color spaces, and also compactly decoding, storing indexing and searching the at least one full-color call within a particular job. In addition, an LCDS imaging data stream can be modified to provide an image substitution pathway to permit at least one full-color image included in said LCDS imaging data stream to be substituted for monochrome images or highlight color images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: George Kenneth Hartupee, Jr., Hayley H. Yau
  • Patent number: 8953234
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided that is capable of very accurately and efficiently reducing uneven color caused by variation in ejection characteristics among nozzles that eject ink and that occurs in a color image that is formed by mixing a plurality of different kinds of ink. A patch is printed by ejected ink from a plurality of nozzles, a region is specified so as to perform color correction in a test color image that is printed on a printing medium, a plurality of different color correction processing is performed on color signals that correspond to a color correction region, a plurality of color correction patches are printed, a color correction patch to be used is selected from among the plurality of different color correction patches and table parameters that correspond to the nozzles are created based on the selected color correction processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryosuke Iguchi, Nobutaka Miyake, Tohru Ikeda, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Fumitaka Goto, Hidetsugu Kagawa, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Junichi Nakagawa, Senichi Saito
  • Patent number: 8953222
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printer engine, a storage unit, a print data interpreting unit, and a print control unit. The print data interpreting unit interprets print data and identifies both a first job type and a second job type. The first job type specifies any one of a special print job using special toner and a normal job using normal toner, and the second job type specifies a print function to be used. The print control unit makes a decision to permit or prohibit accumulation of print data in view of security based on the first job type and the second job type, accumulates the print data in the storage unit when the decision to permit the accumulation of the print data is made, and prohibits the accumulation of the print data when the decision to prohibits the accumulation of the print data is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kobayashi, Isamu Mitsuke, Takahiro Hirakawa, Saori Iura, Yuuichi Yoshida, Nobuyuki Iwata, Tomoyuki Takahira
  • Patent number: 8947741
    Abstract: An image processing unit, includes: an overlap portion detection unit that detects an overlap portion between plural objects from image data configured by objects expressed by geometrical information and color values; a color value calculation unit that for the overlap portion between the plural objects, calculates a color value of the overlap portion from the plural objects according to an overlap processing method of the overlap portion; an object producing unit that produces a new object from the overlap portion between the plural objects detected by the overlap portion detection unit, and the color value calculated by the color value calculation unit; and a control unit that controls the object produced by the object producing unit to be superimposed on the overlap portion between the plural objects with a knock-out method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Suzuki, Takuya Ohta
  • Patent number: 8947728
    Abstract: A luminance value for a second printing medium that has been obtained by reading a pattern image formed on the second printing medium different from a first printing medium is converted into a corresponding density value on the first printing medium. Calibration for the first printing medium can then be performed using the second printing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Zaima
  • Patent number: 8947731
    Abstract: An imaging unit includes a frame having an opening; a sensor unit that captures, via the opening, a subject located outside the frame; a reference chart unit that is arranged on the frame and is captured by the sensor unit together with the subject; and a cover member that covers the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Suzuki, Nobuyuki Satoh, Mamoru Yorimoto, Suguru Yokozawa, Yuichi Sakurada, Masato Kobayashi, Tatsuhiko Okada, Tomokazu Kanzawa, Daisaku Horikawa, Hiroshi Matsumoto, Ryo Honda, Makoto Moriwaki
  • Patent number: 8947739
    Abstract: Color conversion conditions corresponding to medium types belonging to the same group as a selected representative type are collectively updated based on calibration results. It is judged whether or not there is a fluctuating factor concerning color reproduction characteristics between a print medium that is used at present in the calibration and a print medium that was used in the past. If a fluctuating factor is determined to exist, then only the color converting condition corresponding to the representative type is updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Teraue
  • Patent number: 8947727
    Abstract: An image processing system comprising: a color conversion unit configured to perform color conversion from color data in a first color space into color data in a second color space by using a color profile; a correction unit configured to perform correction for the color data in the second color space by using correction data; a printing unit configured to print on a printing medium in accordance with the color data in the second color space that is corrected by the correction unit; a first changing unit configured to change the color profile; a second changing unit configured to change the correction data; and a selection unit configured to select, based on a color measurement result of a color chart for correcting a color of an image printed on the printing medium, one of processes including change of the color profile and change of the correction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukinobu Akado, Hitoshi Onoda
  • Patent number: 8947729
    Abstract: There is provided a color processing apparatus comprising: a calculation unit configured to calculate, for each of a plurality of light sources, a first colorimetric value that is obtained by measuring a color having a spectral reflectance indicated by spectral reflectance information under the light source; a mapping unit configured to obtain, for each of the plurality of light sources, a second colorimetric value by mapping the first colorimetric value of the light source within a gamut under the light source; a color separation unit configured to obtain the output information from a plurality of the second colorimetric values, by adjusting the output information such that an error between a colorimetric value obtained by measuring a color output by the image output apparatus according to the output information under each of the light sources and the second colorimetric value for the light source is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ayato Imai
  • Patent number: 8947738
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a conversion unit and a determination unit to convert image data into color material data including color material data indicating a color material amount of a chromatic color material and color material data indicating a color material amount of an achromatic color material. The conversion unit converts image data of a region of interest in an image into the color material data of the chromatic color material. The determination unit determines the color material data of the achromatic color material corresponding to the image data so that a color indicated by coloring information corresponding to the image data of the region of interest in the image approaches an achromatic color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Shibasaki, Hiromitsu Nishikawa, Takayuki Jinno, Takashi Ochiai