Patent US5177532A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5177532A
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Image forming apparatus for adjusting gradation using subsidiary exposure
Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1990-04-17
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Granted: 1993-01-05
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Expires: 2010-04-17
Abstract
Abstract When to perform subsidiary exposure before or after main exposure or concurrently therewith with a quantity of light corresponding to about 1/50 to 1/100 of the quantity of light of main exposure, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention can automatically set the standard conditions of subsidiary exposure in response to setting of the standard conditions of main exposure, and can set the optimal conditions of colors and intensity of subsidiary exposure in accordance with the amount of adjustment of gradation. Therefore, even when variations arise in the characteristics and processing conditions of a light-sensitive material or any desired gradation is chosen, natural and fine images can always be formed with no color balance distorted.
Inventors
- 👤 Atsushi Takagi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:42
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/72; G03B27/727
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
An image forming apparatus in which a gradation of an image being formed on a light-sensitive material is adjusted by subsidiary exposure, said apparatus comprising: exposure means for performing subsidiary exposure on the light-sensitive material in accordance with adjustable subsidiary exposure conditions and for performing main exposure on the light-sensitive material in accordance with main exposure conditions, the adjustable subsidiary exposure conditions including color and intensity conditions; and control means for controlling said exposure means to perform the subsidiary exposure and the main exposure, and for adjusting the gradation by setting the color and intensity conditions of the subsidiary exposure in accordance with an amount of adjustment of the gradation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
An image forming apparatus in which a gradation of an image being formed on a light-sensitive material is adjusted by subsidiary exposure, said apparatus comprising: exposure means for performing subsidiary exposure on the light-sensitive material in accordance with adjustable subsidiary exposure conditions and for performing main exposure on the light-sensitive material in accordance with main exposure conditions, the adjustable subsidiary exposure conditions including color and intensity conditions; and control means for controlling said exposure means to perform the subsidiary exposure and the main exposure, and for adjusting the gradation by setting the color and intensity conditions of the subsidiary exposure in accordance with an amount of adjustment of the gradation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the amount of adjustment of the gradation is adjusted centering on standard conditions of the subsidiary exposure determined in accordance with a quantity of light of the subsidiary exposure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the subsidiary exposure conditions of the subsidiary exposure are given in combinations of amounts of correction of colors and intensity that are deviations from standard conditions of the subsidiary exposure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein changing of said gradation from the standard conditions of the subsidiary exposure is set such that the amounts of correction of the colors and intensity of the subsidiary exposure increase as deviating from the standard conditions of the subsidiary exposure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the subsidiary exposure conditions of the subsidiary exposure are set in accordance with characteristics and developing conditions of the light-sensitive material used so as to provide optimal images.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
116 words
An image forming apparatus in which gradation of an image being formed is adjusted by subsidiary exposure, said apparatus comprising: exposure means for performing the subsidiary exposure in accordance with subsidiary exposure conditions and for performing main exposure in accordance with main exposure conditions; a memory unit for storing a relationship between standard subsidiary exposure conditions of said subsidiary exposure and standard main exposure conditions of main exposure with no subsidiary exposure performed, the subsidiary exposure conditions including color and intensity conditions; and means for automatically setting the color and intensity conditions of said subsidiary exposure from the standard main exposure conditions of said main exposure in accordance with the relationship stored in said memory unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
116 words
An image forming apparatus in which gradation of an image being formed is adjusted by subsidiary exposure, said apparatus comprising: exposure means for performing the subsidiary exposure in accordance with subsidiary exposure conditions and for performing main exposure in accordance with main exposure conditions; a memory unit for storing a relationship between standard subsidiary exposure conditions of said subsidiary exposure and standard main exposure conditions of main exposure with no subsidiary exposure performed, the subsidiary exposure conditions including color and intensity conditions; and means for automatically setting the color and intensity conditions of said subsidiary exposure from the standard main exposure conditions of said main exposure in accordance with the relationship stored in said memory unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said main exposure is scanning exposure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said subsidiary exposure is performed before or after said main exposure or concurrently therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a quantity of light of said subsidiary exposure corresponds to 1/50 to 1/100 of a quantity of light of main exposure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said standard conditions of colors and intensity of the main exposure are set automatically.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, which uses a light-sensitive material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, which is a copying machine.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for forming an image on a light-=sensitive material, said method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a desired gradation for the image to be formed on the light-sensitive material; (b) automatically setting predetermined color and intensity subsidiary exposure conditions in accordance with the desired gradation; (c) performing subsidiary exposure on the light-sensitive material in accordance with the predetermined color and intensity subsidiary exposure conditions; and (d) performing main exposure on the light-sensitive material in accordance with predetermined main exposure conditions.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for forming an image on a light-=sensitive material, said method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a desired gradation for the image to be formed on the light-sensitive material; (b) automatically setting predetermined color and intensity subsidiary exposure conditions in accordance with the desired gradation; (c) performing subsidiary exposure on the light-sensitive material in accordance with the predetermined color and intensity subsidiary exposure conditions; and (d) performing main exposure on the light-sensitive material in accordance with predetermined main exposure conditions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined color and intensity subsidiary exposure conditions are dependent on characteristics and developing conditions of the light-sensitive material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the intensity condition indicates exposure light is to be reduced to 1/50 to 1/100 of the intensity used for the main exposure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-01-05 | 1996-07-06 | 1997-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-01-05 | 2000-07-06 | 2001-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-01-05 | 2004-07-06 | 2005-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |