US5287209A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming device for enhancing tone reproduction by changing dot size
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1991-10-07
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Granted: 1994-02-15
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Expires: 2011-10-07
Abstract
Abstract An image forming device which perform tone reproduction of a by changing the size of dots according to input image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which has an image density. A block partitioning portion partitions the input image data into blocks, each which has a predetermined number of pixels and each of the pixels having a predetermined position within each of the blocks. A tone modulation portion determines priorities corresponding to predetermined positions of the pixels within each of the blocks and changes the size of the dots according to the image densities of the pixels within the block. The tone modulation portion increases the size of the dots corresponding to the pixels in such a manner that the size of one of the dots corresponding to one of the pixels is larger than that of another one of the dots corresponding to another one of the pixels having a lower priority than one of the pixels but having the same image density. The degradation of resolution and moire effects are avoided.
Inventors
- 👤 Seiichiro Hiratsuka
- 👤 Yuji Toyomura
- 👤 Keiichi Nakashima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/405; H04N1/4055; H04N1/4057; H04N1/407; H04N1/46; H04N1/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input image data into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input image data into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
219 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input image data into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein before the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having a predetermined priority reaches the maximum size thereof, said tone modulation processing means increases the size of a dot corresponding to another pixel having the next priority lower than the predetermined priority.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
219 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input image data into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein before the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having a predetermined priority reaches the maximum size thereof, said tone modulation processing means increases the size of a dot corresponding to another pixel having the next priority lower than the predetermined priority.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
198 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input image data into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein said tone modulation processing means limits the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having a predetermined priority to predetermined size.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
198 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input image data into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein said tone modulation processing means limits the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having a predetermined priority to predetermined size.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
214 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input image data into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein said tone modulation processing means selects the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having the lowest priority from a predetermined two kinds of a size according to the density of the pixel having the lowest priority.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
214 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input image data into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein said tone modulation processing means selects the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having the lowest priority from a predetermined two kinds of a size according to the density of the pixel having the lowest priority.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
187 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input color image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input color image data into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and corresponding to recording colors used to record the pixels and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
187 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input color image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input color image data into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and corresponding to recording colors used to record the pixels and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
231 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input color image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input color image data into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and corresponding to recording colors used to record the pixels and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein before the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having a predetermined priority reaches the maximum size thereof, said tone modulation processing means increases the size of a dot corresponding to another pixel having the next priority lower than the predetermined priority.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
231 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input color image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input color image data into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and corresponding to recording colors used to record the pixels and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein before the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having a predetermined priority reaches the maximum size thereof, said tone modulation processing means increases the size of a dot corresponding to another pixel having the next priority lower than the predetermined priority.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
210 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input color image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input color image data into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and corresponding to recording colors used to record the pixels and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein said tone modulation processing means limits the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having a predetermined priority to predetermined size.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
210 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input color image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input color image data into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and corresponding to recording colors used to record the pixels and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein said tone modulation processing means limits the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having a predetermined priority to predetermined size.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
225 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input color image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input color image data into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and corresponding to recording colors used to record the pixels and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein said tone modulation processing means limits the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having the lowest priority from a predetermined two kinds of size according to the density of the pixel having the lowest priority.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
225 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input color image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input color image data into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and corresponding to recording colors used to record the pixels and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein said tone modulation processing means limits the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having the lowest priority from a predetermined two kinds of size according to the density of the pixel having the lowest priority.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
185 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input color image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input color image data corresponding to recording colors used to record pixels into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
185 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input color image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input color image data corresponding to recording colors used to record pixels into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
229 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input color image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input color image data corresponding to recording colors used to record pixels into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein before the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having a predetermined priority reaches the maximum size thereof, said tone modulation processing means increases the size of a dot corresponding to another pixel having the next priority lower than the predetermined priority.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
229 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input color image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input color image data corresponding to recording colors used to record pixels into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein before the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having a predetermined priority reaches the maximum size thereof, said tone modulation processing means increases the size of a dot corresponding to another pixel having the next priority lower than the predetermined priority.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
218 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input color image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input color image data corresponding to recording colors used to record pixels into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and corresponding to recording colors used to record the pixels and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein said tone modulation processing means limits the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having a predetermined priority to predetermined size.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
218 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input color image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input color image data corresponding to recording colors used to record pixels into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and corresponding to recording colors used to record the pixels and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein said tone modulation processing means limits the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having a predetermined priority to predetermined size.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
234 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input color image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input color image data corresponding to recording colors used to record pixels into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and corresponding to recording colors used to record the pixels and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein said tone modulation processing means limits the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having a the lowest priority from a predetermined two kinds of size according to the density of the pixel having the lowest priority.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
234 words
An image forming device for forming an image comprising a plurality of dots from input color image data comprising a plurality of pixels, each of which having an image density, said image forming device, comprising: block partitioning means for partitioning said input color image data corresponding to recording colors used to record pixels into blocks, each of said blocks having a predetermined number of pixels, each of said pixels having a predetermined position within each of said blocks; and tone modulation processing means for determining priorities corresponding to said predetermined positions of said pixels within each of said blocks and corresponding to recording colors used to record the pixels and for changing the size of said dots according to the image densities of said pixels within said block by increasing the size of said dots corresponding to said pixels in such a manner that the size of one of said dots corresponding to one of said pixels is larger than that of another one of said dots corresponding to another one of said pixels having a lower priority that said one of said pixels and the same image density as said one of said pixels, wherein said tone modulation processing means limits the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel having a the lowest priority from a predetermined two kinds of size according to the density of the pixel having the lowest priority.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
The image forming device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said tone modulation processing means makes the size of the dot corresponding to the pixels having the predetermined priority equal to the predetermined size if the density of the pixel having the predetermined priority is equal to or more than a predetermined density.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
The image forming device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said tone modulation processing means makes the size of the dot corresponding to the pixels having the predetermined priority equal to the predetermined size if the density of the pixel having the predetermined priority is equal to or more than a predetermined density.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
54 words
The image forming device as set forth in claim 11, wherein said tone modulation processing means makes the size of the dot corresponding to the pixels having the predetermined priority equal to the predetermined size if the density of the pixel having the predetermined priority is equal to or more than a predetermined density.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
126 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input image data comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input image data into a plurality of blocks in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
126 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input image data comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input image data into a plurality of blocks in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
188 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input image data into a plurality of blocks in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to one of the characteristics having a high output level next to another specific one of the characteristics corresponding to each input image tone level, increases before the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to the specific one of the characteristics reaches the maximum size thereof.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
188 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input image data into a plurality of blocks in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to one of the characteristics having a high output level next to another specific one of the characteristics corresponding to each input image tone level, increases before the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to the specific one of the characteristics reaches the maximum size thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
154 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input image data into a plurality of blocks in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein said tone modulation processing means limits the maximum size of the dot corresponding to the pixel corresponding to the specific one of the characteristics to predetermined size.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
154 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input image data into a plurality of blocks in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein said tone modulation processing means limits the maximum size of the dot corresponding to the pixel corresponding to the specific one of the characteristics to predetermined size.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
168 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input image data into a plurality of blocks in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to one of the characteristics having the lowest output level corresponding to each input image tone level is a binary size corresponding to the density of the input image data.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
168 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input image data into a plurality of blocks in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to one of the characteristics having the lowest output level corresponding to each input image tone level is a binary size corresponding to the density of the input image data.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
140 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input color image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input color image data into a plurality of blocks in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks in such a manner that the different characteristics correspond to different colors, and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
140 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input color image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input color image data into a plurality of blocks in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks in such a manner that the different characteristics correspond to different colors, and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
202 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input color image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input color image data into a plurality of blocks in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks in such a manner that the different characteristics correspond to different colors, and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to one of the characteristics having a high output level next to another specific one of the characteristics corresponding to each input image tone level, increases before the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to the specific one of the characteristics reaches the maximum size thereof.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
202 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input color image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input color image data into a plurality of blocks in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks in such a manner that the different characteristics correspond to different colors, and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to one of the characteristics having a high output level next to another specific one of the characteristics corresponding to each input image tone level, increases before the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to the specific one of the characteristics reaches the maximum size thereof.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
168 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input color image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input color image data into a plurality of blocks in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks in such a manner that the different characteristics correspond to different colors, and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein said tone modulation processing means limits the maximum size of the dot corresponding to the pixel corresponding to the specific one of the characteristics to predetermined size.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
168 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input color image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input color image data into a plurality of blocks in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks in such a manner that the different characteristics correspond to different colors, and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein said tone modulation processing means limits the maximum size of the dot corresponding to the pixel corresponding to the specific one of the characteristics to predetermined size.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
182 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input color image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input color image data into a plurality of blocks in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks in such a manner that the different characteristics correspond to different colors, and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to one of the characteristics having a lowest output level corresponding to each input image tone level is a binary size corresponding to the density of the input image data.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
182 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input color image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input color image data into a plurality of blocks in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks in such a manner that the different characteristics correspond to different colors, and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to one of the characteristics having a lowest output level corresponding to each input image tone level is a binary size corresponding to the density of the input image data.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
147 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input color image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input color image data into a plurality of blocks in different manners corresponding to the colors in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks in such a manner that the different characteristics correspond to different colors, and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
147 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input color image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input color image data into a plurality of blocks in different manners corresponding to the colors in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks in such a manner that the different characteristics correspond to different colors, and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
209 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input color image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input color image data into a plurality of blocks in different manners corresponding to the colors in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks in such a manner that the different characteristics correspond to different colors, and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to one of the characteristics having a high output level next to another specific one of the characteristics corresponding to each input image tone level, increases before the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to the specific one of the characteristics reaches the maximum size thereof.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
209 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input color image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input color image data into a plurality of blocks in different manners corresponding to the colors in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks in such a manner that the different characteristics correspond to different colors, and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to one of the characteristics having a high output level next to another specific one of the characteristics corresponding to each input image tone level, increases before the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to the specific one of the characteristics reaches the maximum size thereof.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
175 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input color image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input color image data into a plurality of blocks in different manners corresponding to the colors in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks in such a manner that the different characteristics correspond to different colors, and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein said tone modulation processing means limits the maximum size of the dot corresponding to the pixel corresponding to the specific one of the characteristics to predetermined size.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
175 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input color image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input color image data into a plurality of blocks in different manners corresponding to the colors in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks in such a manner that the different characteristics correspond to different colors, and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein said tone modulation processing means limits the maximum size of the dot corresponding to the pixel corresponding to the specific one of the characteristics to predetermined size.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
189 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input color image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input color image data into a plurality of blocks in different manners corresponding to the colors in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks in such a manner that the different characteristics correspond to different colors, and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to one of the characteristics having the lowest output level corresponding to each input image tone level is a binary size corresponding to the density of the input image data.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
189 words
An image forming device for performing gradational recording by changing the size of each individual dot according to input color image data, comprising: a block partitioning means for partitioning the input color image data into a plurality of blocks in different manners corresponding to the colors in such a manner that each of the blocks has a plurality of pixels; and a tone modulation processing means for determining the size of dots which should be printed, by making different input-image-tone-level-to-output-level characteristics correspond to the positions of the pixels of each of the blocks in such a manner that the different characteristics correspond to different colors, and then determining an output level of a dot corresponding to each pixel of each block corresponding to an input image tone level thereof according to the corresponding characteristic and for printing the dot of each of the pixel of each block, wherein the size of a dot corresponding to a pixel which corresponds to one of the characteristics having the lowest output level corresponding to each input image tone level is a binary size corresponding to the density of the input image data.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
56 words
The image forming device as set forth in claim 18, wherein the dot, the maximum size of which is limited to the predetermined size, corresponding to the pixel which corresponds to the specific one of the characteristics has the maximum size if the density of the pixel is equal to or more than a predetermined density.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
56 words
The image forming device as set forth in claim 22, wherein the dot, the maximum size of which is limited to the predetermined size, corresponding to the pixel which corresponds to the specific one of the characteristics has the maximum size if the density of the pixel is equal to or more than a predetermined density.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
56 words
The image forming device as set forth in claim 26, wherein the dot, the maximum size of which is limited to the predetermined size, corresponding to the pixel which corresponds to the specific one of the characteristics has the maximum size if the density of the pixel is equal to or more than a predetermined density.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-14 | 2005-08-16 | 2006-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |