Halftone Processing Patents (Class 358/534)
  • Patent number: 11611827
    Abstract: System, method, and various embodiments for providing a speaker audio configuration system are described herein. An embodiment operates by identifying an external speaker connected to an audio device. Second capability information for the external speaker is retrieved and user input indicating a relative position of the external speaker to the internal speaker is received. An audio configuration for the external speaker is calculated based on the second capability information and the relative position of the external speaker. The calculated audio configuration is provided to the external speaker. The external speaker is configured to receive and audibly output audio from the audio device based on the audio configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Curtis, Kasper Andersen, Andrey Eltsov, Mark Janossy
  • Patent number: 11178391
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to examples of color calibration of image handling units. In an example, color settings of a flash light unit of a projector unit of a computing system may be calibrated with reference to a target calibration point. The flash light unit may function as an illumination source for an image capturing unit of the computing system. Further, based on the target calibration point and an image captured by the image capturing unit under illumination provided by the flash light unit, the color settings of the image capturing unit may be calibrated to synchronize the color settings of the image capturing unit to the color settings of the flash light unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jinman Kang, Santiago Garcia-Reyero Vinas, Robert L Mueller, Ben Wynne, Amit A Marathe
  • Patent number: 10434716
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to substructures for three-dimensional objects are described. In an example, a method comprises receiving a lattice model having a consistent dimensionality and determining a substructure model representing a three-dimensional material structure, the substructure model being based on the lattice model and specifying a variable material distribution. The substructure model may be populated with halftone threshold data to provide a three-dimensional halftone threshold matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Peter Morovic, Jan Morovic, Alejandro Manuel De Pena, Juan Manuel Garcia Reyero Vinas
  • Patent number: 9888155
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a data acquiring circuitry and an image generating circuitry. The data acquiring circuitry acquires image formation data that includes an image of a process color as a process color image and an image of a spot color as a spot color image. The image generating circuitry detects, from the image formation data acquired by the data acquiring circuitry, an overlapped region in which a region of the process color image and a region of the spot color image are overlapped with each other, and generates a first process color image from an image of the overlapped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuyoshi Yamanouchi
  • Patent number: 9827712
    Abstract: In one aspect, methods of printing a 3D article are described herein. In some embodiments, a method of printing a 3D article comprises selectively depositing a first portion of build material in a fluid state onto a substrate to form a first region of build material; selectively depositing a first portion of support material in a fluid state to form a first region of support material; and selectively depositing a second portion of build material in a fluid state to form a second region of build material, wherein the first region of support material is disposed between the first region of build material and the second region of build material in a z-direction of the article. In some cases, the first region of support material forms a grayscale pattern and/or a CMY color pattern in combination with the first region of build material and/or the second region of build material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor Snyder, Don Titterington, Chengsung Chan
  • Patent number: 9573382
    Abstract: A method of compensating for an inoperable inkjet in an inkjet printer that forms printed images with multiple drop sizes has been developed. The method includes identifying at least one neighboring pixel in a region of multi-bit halftoned image data around a pixel corresponding to the inoperable inkjet and modifying the at least one neighboring pixel to enable an inkjet that neighbors the inoperable inkjet to eject an ink drop during printing operation to compensate for the inoperable inkjet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: David J. Metcalfe
  • Patent number: 9454720
    Abstract: A method for halftone printing of an image may include receiving image data of an image to be printed. The method may also include processing the image data to generate, for each printing element of a plurality of printing elements which are designed to sharingly print a single color component of a color space, or for each pass of a single printing element which is designed to pass a plurality of passes over a single print area when printing that color component, a halftone pattern for the image for that color, that was independently generated for that printing element or for that pass. The method may further include printing, by each printing element of the plurality of printing elements or in each pass of a single printing element, the halftone pattern that was independently generated for that printing element or for that pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: David Herbert Donovan
  • Patent number: 9403391
    Abstract: A liquid-droplet ejecting apparatus including: a head configured to eject liquid onto a recording medium; a curl-amount calculating section configured to calculate a curl amount of the recording medium on the basis of a location of at least one evaluation region on the recording medium and calculated amount of the liquid and the calculated number of liquid droplets to be ejected for the at least one evaluation region; and a curl suppressing section configured to change the evaluation ejection data for the at least one evaluation region on the basis of the calculated curl amount of the recording medium so as to change the amount of the liquid and/or the number of the liquid droplets to be ejected onto at least the at least one evaluation region on the recording medium to suppress the curl of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9373063
    Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing ink usage of process channels are provided. Separation curves are generated that determine how multiple ink channels are used to render a corresponding process channel of an image. The separation curves are generated using process values and density measurements or estimations. A PVR curve is established to identify target densities. When a combination of ink channels are used, the model is accessed based on one of the ink channels to determine a contribution of the other ink channel to achieve the target density. Each ink channel has a corresponding curve and all of the curves collectively provide a smooth and predictable progression from zero coverage to full coverage for the ink channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Onyx Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Maxim Wasyl Derhak, Rohit A. Patil
  • Patent number: 9257094
    Abstract: A projection display device according to the invention includes a separating unit that assigns X separation information for identifying a type of an image to each pixel by using a characteristic amount of the input image, a luminance detecting unit that detects a luminance of a screen, a first determining unit that determines a first target region indicating a region on which halftone processing of converting the number of gradations is performed on the input image by using the X separation information, and a halftone processing unit that executes the halftone processing that varies depending on the luminance on the first target region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Inukai, Shinichi Wakahara, Naofumi Yoshimizu, Akira Murakata, Taira Matsuoka, Taro Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9211722
    Abstract: A method includes providing a sheet on which a color patch to be subjected to colorimetric measurement by a colorimetric unit and a pattern corresponding to the color patch and used for obtaining a distance from a portion where the pattern is read to a portion where the colorimetric measurement of the color patch is performed when the colorimetric unit reads the pattern are recorded, obtaining the distance from the portion where the pattern is read to the portion where the colorimetric measurement of the color patch is performed by reading the pattern on the sheet by the colorimetric unit, moving the sheet based on the obtained distance, and performing colorimetric measurement on the color patch by the colorimetric unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromasa Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 9041980
    Abstract: Subdividing a color space is described for vector error diffusion which includes obtaining color coordinates for each primary color in the color space, and comparing the color coordinates to a threshold value for each coordinate plane of the color space. In response to the comparing, each primary color is grouped into a quadrant of the color space, wherein each quadrant is defined by the threshold value for each coordinate plane. In other aspects, a mapping a color to a closet primary color is described in a color space that includes a display determining color coordinates of the color and identifying a matching quadrant of a plurality of quadrants dividing the color space, wherein the determined color coordinates fall within the matching quadrant. A representative display device searches for the closest primary color within the matching quadrant and maps the color to the closest primary color found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Huanzhao Zeng, Chong U. Lee, John H. Hong
  • Patent number: 9036941
    Abstract: Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method includes receiving illustrated content. The illustrated content includes half-tone content. The method includes blurring at least part of the illustrated content. The blurring is performed according to a blur radius. The method includes downscaling the blurred illustrated content to an output size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Hachette Book Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Doyle, Ralph Munsen, Eric Cole, James Bean
  • Patent number: 9036212
    Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes generating a Continuous Tone Image (CTI) with all pixel values same as the first gray level and an initial Half Tone Image (HTI) with all pixel values equal to minimum absorptance level, computing a change in pixel error by toggling with all the possible output states and swapping with all neighbor pixels only if the stacking constraint is satisfied, updating the HTI with the maximum error decrease operation and continue to next pixel location till the end criteria is met. Once the end criteria is met, the updated HTI is saved as a final halftone screen for that gray level and copied as the initial HTI for the next gray level along with CTI pixel values updated to the next gray level till the final gray value is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Production Print Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Kartheek Chandu, Mikel Stanich, Chai Wah Wu, Barry M. Trager
  • Patent number: 9001388
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store a rendering image having a plurality of tones, a communication interface unit configured to receive print data, a rendering unit configured to render the received print data to a bitmap image, a mergence unit configured to merge the bitmap image and the rendering image into a single mergence image, a binary coding unit configured to perform halftoning for the generated mergence image to generate binary data, and a print engine unit configured to form an image on a paper by using the generated binary data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Haeng-nan Kim
  • 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: 8976415
    Abstract: A method is provided for processing a rasterized relief image, comprising customary color channels for indicating a color of each pixel and a height channel for indicating a height of each pixel into several pass images that are printed using a printer with several colorants including a white colorant. For each pixel a relief part, a white part and a skin part are discriminated in order to combine the demands for height and color variation across the surface of the image. The skin part comprises pixels for which a colorant composition based on the color channels of the rasterized relief image is established. In order to print a color in the skin part that is independent of a height of the pixel and independent of the colorant composition of a neighboring pixels, pass images are composed that include only neighboring pass pixels that do not disturb the color forming of a pass pixel contributing to a skin part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: OCE-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Koen J. Klein Koerkamp, Jacques C. E. Pervillé
  • Patent number: 8970909
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of this invention determines a correction amount for each image signal so as to correct banding as periodic density unevenness in a sub scanning direction, corrects each pixel value of an n-bit image signal in accordance with the correction amount, generates the first corrected image signal, and quantizes, for each pixel, the first corrected image signal into a second corrected image signal of m bits smaller than n bits. This image forming apparatus diffuses, in a main scanning direction, quantization errors at the time of quantization of the first corrected image signal into the second corrected image signal so as to cancel the quantization errors within a predetermined region including a plurality of continuous pixels on a main scanning line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8947737
    Abstract: An image processing device adjusts black separately from chromatic colors and applies density adjustment capable of controlling the amount of color material according to the density. Such image processing device, capable of communicating with an image recording device, includes a color conversion unit that converts image data expressed in a first color space to color material amount data expressed in a second color space used by an image recording device; a density adjustment unit that increases or decreases the color material amount data based on a specified adjustment value; a dot breakdown unit that converts the increased or decreased color material amount data to dot quantity data expressed as a dot quantity for each of different sizes of dots formed by the image recording device; and a halftone process unit that converts the dot quantity data to data denoting whether or not the dots are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Murata
  • 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: 8928937
    Abstract: A method enables primary color values for pixel to be processed before the pixel is rendered. The method includes allocating non-black primary colors as being under black, secondary colors, or tertiary colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Mantell
  • Patent number: 8928960
    Abstract: A control device performs: acquiring an optical measured scan value; setting a measured offset using the measured scan value by reference to predetermined correlations; and determining a control value using the measured offset amount. The control value is used for controlling an amount of colorant to be ejected during printing. In the predetermined correlations, a first pair of scan values is associated with a first pair of offsets. A second pair of scan values is associated with a second pair of offsets. The first and second pair has a first and second scan difference between the scan values, respectively. The first and second pair of offsets has a first and second offset difference between the offsets, respectively. The first scan difference is different from the second scan difference. The first offset difference is same as the second offset difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Kuno
  • Patent number: 8922802
    Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes generating a set of points via energy minimization to implement halftone seed pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chai Wah Wu, Barry M. Trager, Mikel J. Stanich, Kartheek Chandu
  • Patent number: 8922834
    Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes generating a Continuous Tone Image (CTI) with all pixel values same as a first gray level, generating an initial Half Tone Image (HTI) with all pixel values equal to minimum absorptance level and computing a change in pixel error for a first pixel. The change in pixel error is computed by identifying a first pixel indicated in a valid pixel map, toggling the first pixel with all the possible output states and swapping the first pixel with all neighbor pixels only if the stacking constraint is satisfied, updating the HTI with the maximum error decrease operation and continue to next pixel location till the end criteria is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Production Print Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Kartheek Chandu, Mikel J. Stanich, Chai Wah Wu, Barry M. Trager
  • Patent number: 8922856
    Abstract: In order to form a high-quality image, upon execution of multi-pass printing using a printing head with a plurality of nozzles, an image processing apparatus calculates, using a scan duty setting unit (105), scan duty data for respective nozzles for each scan of the printing head in accordance with input image data. A halftone processor (108) generates a dot pattern to be formed by applying N-ary processing. The constraining condition information is set so that the phase of spatial frequencies of a next dot pattern to be generated has an opposite phase relationship in a low frequency region with respect to the already printed dot pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomokazu Yanai, Atsushi Ushiroda
  • Patent number: 8913298
    Abstract: Original image data obtained by reading an original is joined with watermark data associated with a watermark for copy control, which appears as a result of making a copy. The watermark generating section sets the spatial frequency of a chromatic halftone pattern of a foreground, which appears as a result of making a copy, lower than the spatial frequency of an achromatic halftone pattern of a foreground, which appears as a result of making a copy. Accordingly, it becomes more difficult to recognize a foreground in an original document when the foreground is generated using an achromatic color, while a foreground in the duplication is recognized clearly when the foreground is generated using a chromatic color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masakazu Ohira
  • Patent number: 8896894
    Abstract: A method of making structured microdots (154) for printing plate registration includes forming a first plurality of square spots (156) less than or equal to 11 microns; wherein a first group (157) of the first plurality of square spots is formed in a first pattern (158); and wherein the first pattern is less than or equal to 66 microns and comprises a first microdot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: John T. Anderson, III
  • Patent number: 8885223
    Abstract: Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method comprising forming an array comprising a plurality of microcells, each microcell of the plurality of microcells including a plurality of pixels; for each pixel in each of the plurality of microcells, assigning (i) a respective pixel offset factor that is associated with a relative position of the pixel in the respective microcell, and (ii) a respective microcell offset factor that is associated with an index of the respective microcell; and for each pixel in each of the plurality of microcells, determining a respective final offset factor that is based at least in part on the respective pixel offset factor and the respective microcell offset factor. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Douglas Gene Keithley, Roy G. Moss
  • Patent number: 8885214
    Abstract: The present invention provides a color image processing apparatus which reduces the amount of color materials consumed that are used to form a color image with reference to an index with high utility. To accomplish this, a color image forming apparatus of the present invention is a color image processing apparatus which applies image processing to image data of an input color image, and outputs the processed image data, and which changes tone values of respective colors of the color image, so that a conversion result obtained when image data of the color image are converted into amounts of color materials becomes an amount based on a reference conversion result, the reference conversion result being obtained when the image data are color-converted by a predetermined color conversion method and the converted data is further converted into an amount of a color material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Saiki
  • Patent number: 8873103
    Abstract: Uneven glossiness is effectively suppressed between areas where light inks are mainly used and areas where dark inks are mainly used. The gloss is raised in areas where dark cyan ink C is used. In other words, the application amount of second clear ink applied by after application printing is set to 32% at primary cyan (grid point 16) to equalize the gloss with areas where light cyan ink LC is used. Also, the application amount of first clear ink applied by common printing is set to 32% in a highlight portion (grid point 8) to equalize the gloss with the maximum gloss reached using dark cyan ink C. In so doing, it is possible to keep the gloss nearly constant over the entire range from white to cyan, or in other words, suppress uneven glossiness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Okinori Tsuchiya, Tohru Ikeda, Akihiko Nakatani, Yugo Mochizuki
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8860750
    Abstract: Devices and methods for dynamic dithering are provided. For example, an electronic device according to an embodiment may include image processing circuitry that operates on higher-bit-depth image data and a display panel that displays lower-bit-depth image data. To obtain the lower-bit-depth image data, the image processing circuitry may perform dynamic dithering on the higher-bit-depth image data. Such dynamic dithering may involve dithering frames of the higher-bit-depth image data based at least in part on respective rounding threshold values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brijesh Tripathi, Michael Frank
  • Patent number: 8861038
    Abstract: A method for printing an image with colour pixels is disclosed. This method optimizes the print quality for a selected level of ink usage by maximizing a dot-off-dot strategy and separating between direct binary search dot patterns for a number of selected colorants in a printer comprising black colorant. Ink usage is controlled by determining the fraction of coinciding printer colorants that may be substituted by black colorant. The perceived error between the image pixels and the image dot pattern is minimized according to a human visual system model that excludes non-homogeneous patterns that affect the quality of the halftone textures. Dots for other colorants are processed independently and added to the obtained halftone dot pattern for the selected colorants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Oce-Technologies, B.V.
    Inventors: Maria V. Ortiz Segovia, Jan P. Allebach, Nicolas P.M.F. Bonnier
  • Patent number: 8861035
    Abstract: A contone source image is processed to create halftone outputs by identifying intensity thresholds based on the coordinates of the pixels of the source image. The halftone output corresponding to a particular pixel of the contone image in a particular color plane is determined by comparing the intensity of the pixel and any previously accumulated output error to the intensity threshold corresponding to the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: James Mealy
  • Patent number: 8824014
    Abstract: A method of operating a printer includes reducing a first plurality of coverage parameters in a first continuous tone (contone) pixel by a predetermined amount if a combination of at least two of the coverage parameters is below a predetermined threshold and reducing a second plurality of coverage parameters in a second pixel by a smaller amount if the combination of coverage parameters in the second pixel is greater than the predetermined threshold. The method further includes generating half-tone image data from the first and second pixels and forming printed marks corresponding to the first and second pixels on an image receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David Robinson, Katherine Loj
  • Patent number: 8797601
    Abstract: A system and method converts pixels of continuous image data to pixels of binary image data using a halftone screen corresponding to a predetermined reduced coverage percentage; determines if a target pixel of binary image data is a non-white pixel; compares a window of pixels of binary image data with a predetermined pattern of pixels of binary image data corresponding to the predetermined reduced coverage percentage; determines that the target pixel is a non-edge pixel; and reduces the number of non-white pixels in the binary image data based upon the determination that the target pixel is a non-edge pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Meng Yao
  • Patent number: 8780412
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques and configurations for error diffusion halftoning of an image including receiving a signal that indicates selection of a first implementation or a second implementation of determining a threshold perturbation value for error diffusion halftoning of an image, and determining the threshold perturbation value using a table of programmable values according to the selected one of the first implementation or the second implementation, wherein the second implementation provides fewer threshold perturbation values for a larger region of the image than the first implementation. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Douglas Gene Keithley, Randall D. Briggs
  • Patent number: 8780413
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method comprising processing a first pixel of a continuous tone image to generate a first error, the first error representative of a difference between an input level and an output level associated with the first pixel; and in response to processing the first pixel, assigning a random error to a second pixel that is neighboring the first pixel, wherein the assigned random error is independent of the first error. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard I. Klaus, Randall D. Briggs
  • Patent number: 8767261
    Abstract: A printing apparatus which forms dots, according to dot data generated through comparison of a grayscale value of each of pixels with each of threshold values of a dither mask. The printing apparatus forms the dots through division into a plurality of pixel groups having different printing conditions and performs at least a part of the dot formation by the pixel groups in a common region. The dither mask has a second threshold value disposition, with respect to a first threshold value disposition which is each of dispositions of the respective threshold values set such that distribution of dots formed in the common region has noise characteristics having a peak on a high frequency side, in a case where a relative position of the dots between the pixel groups is formed in a target positional relationship which is a target in at least a part of a printing grayscale region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Kakutani
  • Patent number: 8760725
    Abstract: A method and system for generating a halftone image from an input image is disclosed. The method and system use error distribution and threshold perturbation that is based on the incoming tone value. A threshold bias table may be generated in real time for each incoming tone value. The values of the threshold bias tables are selected so that certain positions are forced to include a dot, in the case of light tone values, or not include a dot, in the case of dark tone values. A halftone process that uses threshold bias tables based on the incoming tone can reduce unnatural patterns in the image apparent to the casual observer, which results in a more pleasing image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas G. Keithley
  • Patent number: 8749851
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a first screen processing unit which applies screen processing to image data using a first threshold matrix; a second screen processing unit which applies screen processing to the image data using a second threshold matrix different from the first threshold matrix; an edge detection unit which detects an edge portion of an object included in the image data; and an output unit which selects and outputs image data obtained by a logical OR operation between image data obtained by the first screen processing unit and image data obtained by the second screen processing unit for a pixel detected by the edge detection unit as an edge portion, and selects and outputs the image data obtained by the first screen processing unit for a pixel other than the edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichi Kashibuchi
  • Patent number: 8730523
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, fast error diffusion processing is performed without increasing the size of an error diffusion processing circuit, even in cases where the print data to be generated is 12 colors data or similarly large data. More specifically, with quantization by error diffusion, binarized image data for 12 colors is obtained by causing an image processing circuit that executes 6 colors quantization processing to operate twice. At this point, RAM realized by DRAM with comparatively slow operating speeds, for example, is accessed for error data diffused to a first raster and error data diffused from a last raster. In contrast, an error buffer realized by SRAM inside the image processing circuit with fast operating speeds is accessed for all other error data. Thus, as a result, memory access speeds for reading out and writing error data can be improved overall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Takemura
  • Patent number: 8705137
    Abstract: To add an arbitrary recording medium as a recording medium that can be used for calibration to maintain the quality of an image to be formed, an image forming unit forms a pattern image on each of a specific recording medium that can be used for the calibration and the arbitrary recording medium. A creating unit creates second conversion setting information applied to the arbitrary recording medium to convert luminance information into density information, using first luminance information obtained from the pattern image formed on the specific recording medium, second luminance information obtained from the pattern image formed on the arbitrary recording medium, and first conversion setting information applied to the specific recording medium for converting luminance information into density information. A determining unit determines a common image formation condition applied to the specific recording medium and the arbitrary recording medium based on the second conversion setting information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Zaima
  • Patent number: 8705126
    Abstract: A printing device includes a receiving part receiving print job data, an analysis part, a memory part, an image forming part that executes a print process of image information using first and second consumable products and that includes a remaining amount detecting part, and a print control unit that controls the print process. When the remaining amount of the first consumable product is detected to be lower than a predetermined amount, the print process using the first consumable product is temporarily suspended, the memory part stores the image information and the print information of the print job data that are sequentially received by the receiving part. When the print information for another print process not using the first consumable product is stored in the memory part, the print control unit deletes information relating to the print job data of the suspended print process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Hirama
  • Patent number: 8705142
    Abstract: A computer readable storage medium stores a tint block image generation program for generating tint block image data for forming, on a print medium, a tint block image including a latent image portion which is reproduced by copying, and a background portion of which copy output density drops. The program has a latent image portion generation step of generating data of a plurality of first dots in the latent image portion based on a dot clustered screen; and a background portion generation step of generating data of a plurality of second dots and data of a plurality of third dots dispersed among the second dots and having a size smaller than the second dots. And the first dots in the latent image portion and the second dots in the background portion are arranged at positions on common displacement vectors in an area of the tint block image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8693061
    Abstract: A method of encoding data in printed halftone image features on a receiver includes providing a relief printing member; encoding first embedded data in the relief printing member by modifying surfaces of a first plurality of halftone dots; and printing the halftone image on the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Kurt M. Sanger
  • Patent number: 8693058
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a communication interface unit which receives print data, a rendering unit which converts the received print data into a bitmap image by rendering, a binarization unit which generates binary data by carrying out halftoning with respect to the bitmap image, a data combining unit which generates multi-bit data by combining a plurality of successive binary data of the generated binary data, and a print engine which forms an image on a print paper using the generated multi-bit data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyeong-man Kim
  • Patent number: 8687236
    Abstract: A method and apparatus as provided for determining, for an ink to be deposited on a substrate by a halftone inkjet printing process, a nominal coverage value (the ‘ink restriction value’), that corresponds to an amount of ink sufficient to fully cover the area of the substrate to be printed. This determination is effected by measuring the reflectance of the printed substrate for a range of nominal coverage values, and then using an automatic processing arrangement to determine, from the change of measured reflectance with nominal coverage value, the nominal coverage value at which continuous tone behavior commences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Boris Oicherman, Doron Shaked, Matty Litvak
  • Patent number: 8681381
    Abstract: A method and system for generating a halftone image from an input image is disclosed. Visible artifacts caused by the correlation of one or more colors or color planes are avoided because the halftone image analysis for one color affects the halftone image analysis for subsequent colors. A printer controller analyzes at least a part of the input image to dynamically set a sequence of the plurality of colors. Halftone image analysis is carried out in the sequence of the plurality of colors to generate the halftone image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Keithley, Randall D. Briggs
  • Patent number: 8681382
    Abstract: A contone source image is processed to create halftone outputs by identifying intensity thresholds based on the coordinates of the pixels of the source image. The halftone output corresponding to a particular pixel of the contone image in a particular color plane is determined by comparing the intensity of the pixel and any previously accumulated output error to the intensity threshold corresponding to the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: James Mealy