Patent US4768101A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4768101A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Half-tone reproduction method employing overlapping scan lines
Assignee: FFEI Ltd
•
Filing: 1987-05-21
•
Granted: 1988-08-30
•
Expires: 2007-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A method of generating a half-tone representation of an image from digital data defining the color content of pixels arranged in a series of substantially parallel, overlapping input scan lines comprises exposing at least one record medium to an exposing beam in a series of substantially parallel, overlapping output scan lines each corresponding to a respective input scan line. The exposing beam is modulated under the control of the digital data and half-tone information. The intensity of the exposing beam, which typically includes a number of subsidiary beams, is such that an area of the record medium will only record a half-tone dot or a portion of a half-tone dot after all output scan lines passing through that area have been exposed.
Inventors
- 👤 Graham Webb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:24
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/40081; H04N1/04; H04N1/06; H04N1/0657; H04N1/0671; H04N1/0678; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/04; H04N2201/0402; H04N2201/0458
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of generating a half-tone representation of an image from digital data defining the colour content of pixels of said image arranged in a series of substantially parallel, overlapping input scan lines, the method comprising exposing at least one record medium to an exposing beam in a series of substantially parallel, overlapping output scan lines each corresponding to a respective one of said input scan lines, said exposing beam being modulated under the control of said digital data and half-tone information, and the intensity of said exposing beam and the nature of said record medium being such that an area of said record medium will only record a half-tone dot or a portion of a half-tone dot after all said output scan lines passing through the said area have been exposed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of generating a half-tone representation of an image from digital data defining the colour content of pixels of said image arranged in a series of substantially parallel, overlapping input scan lines, the method comprising exposing at least one record medium to an exposing beam in a series of substantially parallel, overlapping output scan lines each corresponding to a respective one of said input scan lines, said exposing beam being modulated under the control of said digital data and half-tone information, and the intensity of said exposing beam and the nature of said record medium being such that an area of said record medium will only record a half-tone dot or a portion of a half-tone dot after all said output scan lines passing through the said area have been exposed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said output scan lines include a first and a last output scan line, and wherein each of said output scan lines apart from said first and last output scan lines overlaps only the preceding and succeeding scan lines.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said exposing beam comprises a number of subsidiary beams which may be modulated together or separately in response to digital data and half-tone information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said digital data is generated by scanning an original image in a series of substantially parallel, overlapping input scan lines, each input scan line being defined by a plurality of pixels; determining the colour content of each said pixel; and representing the determined colour content, possibly after modification, in a digital form.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1688081A
Cited
GB321389A
Cited
FR2208257A1
Cited
US3876829A
Cited
US4025189A
Cited
US4110796A
Cited
US4363037A
Cited
US4314261A
Cited
EP0047145A2
Cited
US4628366A
Cited
EP0151353A2
Cited
US4647962A
Cited
US4623972A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-08-30 | 1992-02-29 | 1992-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-30 | 1996-02-29 | 1996-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-30 | 2000-02-29 | 2000-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |