US4984092A
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US
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Halftone image gradation data converted to bit-train data with data retained after thresholding converted to pulse-train data
Assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp
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Filing: 1989-04-11
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Granted: 1991-01-08
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Expires: 2009-04-11
Abstract
Abstract In an image recording apparatus capable of recording a halftone image, a gradation to bit-train converting table converts gradation data representing a gradation of tone at a picture element of an image into bit-train data whose bit pattern is based on the gradation data. For the gradation data representing a gradation in excess of a threshold gradation, the table converts the gradation data into such bit-train data that bits of the bit-train data corresponding to the gradation data are intermittently omitted after a train of bits corresponding to the threshold gradation is outputted. A bit-train to pulse-train converting section converts the bit-train derived from the gradiation to bit-train converting table into pulse-train signal of a pulse pattern analogous to that of the bit-train data. The pulse signal of such a discontinuous pulse pattern is applied to a heating element of a thermal head, which is provided corresponding to the picture element whose gradation data is under process. A heating temperature of the heating element is controlled below a predetermined temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobuhisa Kato
- 👤 Fujio Moriguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:38
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/315; B41J2/32; B41J2/35; B41J2/355; B41J2/36; B41J2/365; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/40025; H04N1/40031; H04N1/405; H04N1/4055; H04N1/4056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
An image recording apparatus for recording a halftone image by controlling a heat energy of a heating element provided corresponding to each picture element by a number of pulses based on gradation data representing a gradation within each picture element for an image, the image recording apparatus comprising: gradation to bit-train converting means for converting the gradation data into a train of bits corresponding to the gradation data and, when receiving gradation data indicative of a gradation in excess of a predetermined gradation, for converting the gradation data into a train of bits whose bit pattern is discontinuous subsequent to outputting of a train of bits corresponding to the predetermined gradation; and bit-train to pulse-train converting means for converting the converted and outputted bit-train into a train of pulses time sequentially arrayed, and applying the converted pulse train to the heating element provided corresponding to the picture element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
An image recording apparatus for recording a halftone image by controlling a heat energy of a heating element provided corresponding to each picture element by a number of pulses based on gradation data representing a gradation within each picture element for an image, the image recording apparatus comprising: gradation to bit-train converting means for converting the gradation data into a train of bits corresponding to the gradation data and, when receiving gradation data indicative of a gradation in excess of a predetermined gradation, for converting the gradation data into a train of bits whose bit pattern is discontinuous subsequent to outputting of a train of bits corresponding to the predetermined gradation; and bit-train to pulse-train converting means for converting the converted and outputted bit-train into a train of pulses time sequentially arrayed, and applying the converted pulse train to the heating element provided corresponding to the picture element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
167 words
An image recording apparatus for recording a halftone image by controlling a heat energy of a heating element provided corresponding to each picture element by a number of pulses based on gradation data representing a gradation within each picture element for an image, the image recording apparatus comprising: gradation to bit-train converting means for converting the gradation data into a train of bits corresponding to the gradation data and, when receiving gradation data indicative of a gradation in excess of a predetermined gradation, for converting the gradation data into a train of bits whose bit pattern is discontinuous subsequent to outputting of a train of bits corresponding to the predetermined gradation; and bit-train to pulse-train converting means for converting the converted and outputted bit-train into a train of pulses time sequentially arrayed, varying a time width of the pulse train signal in accordance with each gradation, and applying the pulse train signal of a varied time width to the heating element provided corresponding to the picture element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
167 words
An image recording apparatus for recording a halftone image by controlling a heat energy of a heating element provided corresponding to each picture element by a number of pulses based on gradation data representing a gradation within each picture element for an image, the image recording apparatus comprising: gradation to bit-train converting means for converting the gradation data into a train of bits corresponding to the gradation data and, when receiving gradation data indicative of a gradation in excess of a predetermined gradation, for converting the gradation data into a train of bits whose bit pattern is discontinuous subsequent to outputting of a train of bits corresponding to the predetermined gradation; and bit-train to pulse-train converting means for converting the converted and outputted bit-train into a train of pulses time sequentially arrayed, varying a time width of the pulse train signal in accordance with each gradation, and applying the pulse train signal of a varied time width to the heating element provided corresponding to the picture element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
145 words
An image recording apparatus for recording a halftone image by controlling a heat energy of a heating element provided corresponding to each picture element by a number of pulses based on gradation data representing a gradation within each picture element for an image, the image recording apparatus comprising: gradation to bit-train converting means for converting the gradation data into a train of bits corresponding to the gradation data and, when receiving gradation data indicative of a gradation in excess of a predetermined gradation, for thinning out bits in the bit-train subsequent to outputting of the train of bits corresponding to the predetermined gradation; and bit-train to pulse-train converting means for converting the converted and outputted bit-train into a train of pulses time sequentially arrayed, and applying the pulse train signal of a varied time width to the heating element provided corresponding to the picture element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
145 words
An image recording apparatus for recording a halftone image by controlling a heat energy of a heating element provided corresponding to each picture element by a number of pulses based on gradation data representing a gradation within each picture element for an image, the image recording apparatus comprising: gradation to bit-train converting means for converting the gradation data into a train of bits corresponding to the gradation data and, when receiving gradation data indicative of a gradation in excess of a predetermined gradation, for thinning out bits in the bit-train subsequent to outputting of the train of bits corresponding to the predetermined gradation; and bit-train to pulse-train converting means for converting the converted and outputted bit-train into a train of pulses time sequentially arrayed, and applying the pulse train signal of a varied time width to the heating element provided corresponding to the picture element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
159 words
An image recording apparatus for recording a halftone image by controlling a heat energy of a heating element provided corresponding to each picture element by a number of pulses based on gradation data representing a gradation within each picture element for an image, the image recording apparatus comprising: gradation to bit-train converting means for converting the gradation data into a train of bits corresponding to the gradation data and, when receiving gradation data indicative of a gradation in excess of a predetermined gradation, for thinning out bits in the bit-train subsequent to outputting of the train of bits corresponding to the predetermined gradation; and bit-train to pulse-train converting means for converting the converted and outputted bit-train into a train of pulses time sequentially arrayed, varying a time width of the pulse train signal in accordance with each gradation, and applying the pulse train signal of a varied time width to the heating element provided corresponding to the picture element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
159 words
An image recording apparatus for recording a halftone image by controlling a heat energy of a heating element provided corresponding to each picture element by a number of pulses based on gradation data representing a gradation within each picture element for an image, the image recording apparatus comprising: gradation to bit-train converting means for converting the gradation data into a train of bits corresponding to the gradation data and, when receiving gradation data indicative of a gradation in excess of a predetermined gradation, for thinning out bits in the bit-train subsequent to outputting of the train of bits corresponding to the predetermined gradation; and bit-train to pulse-train converting means for converting the converted and outputted bit-train into a train of pulses time sequentially arrayed, varying a time width of the pulse train signal in accordance with each gradation, and applying the pulse train signal of a varied time width to the heating element provided corresponding to the picture element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein when receiving the gradation data indicative of a gradation in excess of the predetermined gradation, subsequent to outputting of the train of bits corresponding to the predetermined gradation, the gradation bit-train converting means thins out bits in the bit-train except the bit-train at the last output time point.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
154 words
An image recording apparatus for recording a halftone image by controlling a heat energy of a heating element provided corresponding to each picture element by a number of pulses based on gradation data representing a gradation within each picture element for an image, the image recording apparatus comprising: gradation to bit-train converting means including data fetching means for fetching the gradation data for each predetermined amount of data, data storing means for restoring bit-train data corresponding to the gradation data, data read means for reading out the corresponding bit-train data from the data storing means, and select means for selecting data of a desired bit-train from among the bit-train data as read out; and bit-train pulse-train converting means for converting the converted and outputted bit-train into a train of pulses time sequentially arrayed, and applying the pulse train signal of a varied time width to the heating element provided corresponding to the picture element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
An image recording apparatus for recording a halftone image by controlling a heat energy of a heating element provided corresponding to each picture element by a number of pulses based on gradation data representing a gradation within each picture element for an image, the image recording apparatus comprising: gradation to bit-train converting means including data fetching means for fetching the gradation data for each predetermined amount of data, data storing means for restoring bit-train data corresponding to the gradation data, data read means for reading out the corresponding bit-train data from the data storing means, and select means for selecting data of a desired bit-train from among the bit-train data as read out; and bit-train pulse-train converting means for converting the converted and outputted bit-train into a train of pulses time sequentially arrayed, and applying the pulse train signal of a varied time width to the heating element provided corresponding to the picture element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
167 words
An image recording apparatus for recording a halftone image by controlling a heat energy of a heating element provided corresponding to each picture element by a number of pulses based on gradation data representing a gradation within each picture element for an image, the image recording apparatus comprising: gradation to bit-train converting means including data fetching means for fetching the gradation data for each predetermined amount of data, data storing means for restoring bit-train data corresponding to the gradation data, data read means for reading out the corresponding bit-train data from the data storing means, and select means for selecting data of a desired bit-train from the bit-train data as read out; and bit-train pulse-train converting means for converting the converted and outputted bit-train into a train of pulses time sequentially arrayed, varying a time width of the pulse train signal in accordance with each gradation, and applying the pulse train signal of a varied time width to the heating element provided corresponding to the picture element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
167 words
An image recording apparatus for recording a halftone image by controlling a heat energy of a heating element provided corresponding to each picture element by a number of pulses based on gradation data representing a gradation within each picture element for an image, the image recording apparatus comprising: gradation to bit-train converting means including data fetching means for fetching the gradation data for each predetermined amount of data, data storing means for restoring bit-train data corresponding to the gradation data, data read means for reading out the corresponding bit-train data from the data storing means, and select means for selecting data of a desired bit-train from the bit-train data as read out; and bit-train pulse-train converting means for converting the converted and outputted bit-train into a train of pulses time sequentially arrayed, varying a time width of the pulse train signal in accordance with each gradation, and applying the pulse train signal of a varied time width to the heating element provided corresponding to the picture element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the data fetching means includes a gate for fetching the gradation data of one raster.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein for the gradation data indicative of a gradation in excess of a predetermined gradation, the data storing means includes a gradation to bit-train converting table for storing bit-train data whose bit pattern is discontinuous subsequent to outputting of the bit-train data corresponding to the predetermined gradation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the data read means includes a control signal generator for generating a control signal to specify the data storing means, and a counter for specifying a predetermined amount of a predetermined bit-train data and reading out the specified data from the specified data storing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the counter specifies the bit-train data for each bite, and reads out the specified bit-train data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the select means includes a selector which sequentially selects data bit by bit from the bit-train data read out from the data storing means and supplies the selected data bit by bit to the bit-train to pulse-train converting means.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the bit-train to pulse-train converting means converts the bit-train data of a discontinuous bit pattern into corresponding pulse-train data of a discontinuous pulse pattern.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the bit-train to pulse-train converting means includes a shift register for converting serially incoming bit-train data into parallel data, and a latch driver for latching the parallel data from the shift register, converting the parallel data into a corresponding pulse signal, and applying the pulse signal to the heating element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein when receiving bit-train data of a discontinuous bit pattern, the latch driver applies a pulse signal train of a discontinuous pulse pattern to the heating element, thereby to hold back a heat energy of the heating element below a predetermined heating temperature of the heating element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-01-07 | 1994-07-09 | 1995-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-01-07 | 1998-07-09 | 1999-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-01-07 | 2002-07-09 | 2003-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |