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EP0679016A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image processing method, apparatus and controller

Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1995-04-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-04-21
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Abstract

Abstract An image forming apparatus and method in which a controller is capable of executing image processing of its own are disclosed. The controller has an RF unit for processing image information, a halftone image processor, a density corrector and a patch generator. The engine includes a modulator corresponding to the RF unit, a halftone image processor different from that of the controller, a density controller, modulator and patch generator corresponding to the halftone processor of the engine, a sensor for sensing the density of formed patches, and a control unit for controlling the density of an image on the basis of a signal from the sensor. The engine sends the controller a signal relating to density control.

Inventors

  • 👤 Akio C/O Canon K.K. Aoki
  • 👤 Katsuhiko C/O Canon K.K. Nishimura
  • 👤 Takao C/O Canon K.K. Aoki
  • 👤 Kazuro C/O Canon K.K. Yamada
  • 👤 Kaoru C/O Canon K.K. Seto
  • 👤 Seiji C/O Canon K.K. Sagara
  • 👤 Satoshi C/O Canon K.K. Shimizu

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 15:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/603; H04N1/6033; H04N1/40; H04N1/407; H04N1/4076; H04N1/4078

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 73 words
A controller unit for subjecting image data to a first correction on the basis of first correction data and transmitting the corrected image data to an image forming unit, said controller unit comprising: bidirectional communication means for bidirectional communication with the image forming unit; and first generating means for generating the first correction data on the basis of data representing first patches, formed by said image forming unit, obtained by said bidirectional communication.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 25 words
The controller unit according to claim 1, further comprising commanding means for commanding said image forming unit, using said bidirectional communication means, to form patches.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 62 words
The controller unit according to claim 1, wherein said image forming unit comprises: second correcting means for performing a second correction on the basis of second correction data; patch forming means for forming second patches used for generating the second correction data; and second generating means for generating the second correction data on the basis of data indicating the formed second data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
The controller unit according to claim 1, further comprising first patch-data generating means for generating first patch data used when the first patches are formed by said image forming unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The controller unit according to claim 3, wherein said image forming unit comprises Dmax control means for performing a Dmax correction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 89 words
An image processing apparatus having a controller unit for converting entered image information to a multivalued image signal, and an engine for forming an image on the basis of the multivalued image signal, wherein said controller unit includes: image processing means for processing the image information; and first density-control processing means for performing first density control processing automatically; and said engine includes: image forming means for forming an image on the basis of the multivalued image signal; and second density-control processing means for performing second density control processing automatically.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
The controller unit according to claim 6, further comprising bidirectional communication means for performing bidirectional communication between said engine and said controller unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 68 words
A control method for subjecting image data to a first correction on the basis of first correction data and transmitting the corrected image data to an image forming unit, said method comprising the steps of: performing bidirectional communication with the image forming unit; and generating the first correction data on the basis of data representing first patches, formed by said image forming unit, obtained by said bidirectional communication.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 81 words
An image processing method having a converting step of converting entered image information to a multivalued image signal, and an image forming step of forming an image on the basis of the multivalued image signal, wherein said converting steps includes the steps of: processing the image information; and performing first density control processing automatically; and said image forming step includes the steps of: forming an image on the basis of the multivalued image signal; and performing second density control processing automatically.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
A controller for a multicolor image forming engine wherein density control processing is performed by the controller in response to current density characteristics data transmitted from the image forming engine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 33 words
An apparatus, comprising a controller in accordance with claim 10 and an image forming engine, the engine including means for analysing a test image patch, in order to generate said density characteristics information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 45 words
An image forming apparatus wherein a controller performs a first density correction process in accordance with user instructions, while means are provided within an image forming engine for performing a further density correction process in accordance with sensed density characteristics of the image forming engine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
A controller and/or image forming apparatus having the features of any combination of the preceding claims.

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