US5727137A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printer driver architecture for reducing band memory
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
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Filing: 1995-12-15
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Granted: 1998-03-10
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Expires: 2015-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A system renders a print image while enabling reduction of the size of band memory. The printer driver includes a rendering driver comprising a driver interface, a drawing engine, an image and color library, band buffers and a color converter. The driver interface receives image data and drawing commands and transmits them to the drawing engine. The drawing engine divides the page into a series of bands, applies each drawing command for a band and renders the portion of an object in the band to a temporary buffer. To render an object, the drawing engine applies enhancement functions such as color biasing, image resolution enhancements, inverse dot gain transforms, etc. on the object and then applies a dithering function to convert intended color or gray-scale values of objects in the band to bi-level planar pixel matrices. By applying the dithering function before storing each band in band buffer memory, the size of the requisite band buffer memory is significantly reduced. The drawing engine transfers the rendered object to a band buffer. The color converter converts the band color from a band buffer color format to a printer color format and then transmits the banded image to the spooler for printing.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory A. LeClair
- 👤 Kazuo Nakamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:13
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/12; G06F3/1296; G06F3/1201; G06F3/1202; G06F3/1218; G06F3/122; G06F3/1223; G06F3/1237; G06F3/1244; G06F3/1247
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A print image processing method, comprising the steps of: receiving print image data corresponding to an image to be printed, the print image data including at least one print object; extracting a band of the received print image data defining at least a portion of the print object; storing the extracted band into a first memory, the extracted band having a first data size; color processing the extracted band stored in the first memory; dithering the color processed band; storing the dithered band into a second memory, the dithered band having a second data size less than the first data size; and rendering the dithered band stored in the second memory to generate a printable bitmap thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A print image processing method, comprising the steps of: receiving print image data corresponding to an image to be printed, the print image data including at least one print object; extracting a band of the received print image data defining at least a portion of the print object; storing the extracted band into a first memory, the extracted band having a first data size; color processing the extracted band stored in the first memory; dithering the color processed band; storing the dithered band into a second memory, the dithered band having a second data size less than the first data size; and rendering the dithered band stored in the second memory to generate a printable bitmap thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: applying an inverse dot gain transform to the color processed band stored in the first memory to compensate for printer ink oversaturation; and eliminating overlapped dots present in the printable bitmap to compensate for subtractive artifacts therein introduced by said applying step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said dithering step comprises converting a real color value for at least one pixel defined in the color processed band into a corresponding bi-level planar matrix of values corresponding to a plurality of distinct color planes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of color planes include red, green and blue color planes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said color processing step comprises applying at least one of a color biasing function, a resolution function, a contrast function and a saturation function to the extracted band stored in the first memory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
148 words
A print driver, comprising: a first memory containing print image data corresponding to an image to be printed, the print image data including at least one print object; a drawing engine in communication with said first memory, comprising: means for extracting a band of the print image data defining at least a portion of the print object; means for storing the extracted band into a second memory, the extracted band having a first data size; means for color processing the extracted band stored in the second memory; means for dithering the color processed band; and means for storing the dithered band into a third memory, the dithered band having a data size substantially less than the data size of the extracted band; and a render driver in communication with said drawing engine for rendering the dithered band stored in the third memory to generate a printable bitmap thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
148 words
A print driver, comprising: a first memory containing print image data corresponding to an image to be printed, the print image data including at least one print object; a drawing engine in communication with said first memory, comprising: means for extracting a band of the print image data defining at least a portion of the print object; means for storing the extracted band into a second memory, the extracted band having a first data size; means for color processing the extracted band stored in the second memory; means for dithering the color processed band; and means for storing the dithered band into a third memory, the dithered band having a data size substantially less than the data size of the extracted band; and a render driver in communication with said drawing engine for rendering the dithered band stored in the third memory to generate a printable bitmap thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: converting the printable bitmap to one of a CMY and CMYK color model; and transmitting the converted bitmap to a spooler for printing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The print driver of claim 6, further comprising a color converter in communication with said third memory for converting the dithered print image data from an RGB color model to one of a CMY and a CMYK model.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The print driver of claim 6, further comprising a print spooler in communication with said drawing engine and third memory for spooling dithered print image data to a printer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The print driver of claim 6, wherein said drawing engine further comprises means for applying an inverse dot gain transform to the color processed band to compensate for printer ink oversaturation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The print driver of claim 10, further comprising means communicating with said third memory for eliminating overlapped dots present in the printable bitmap to compensate for subtractive artifacts introduced by said applying means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
222 words
A computer program product for use with an image recording system comprising an information processor in communication with a printer, the computer program product comprising: a computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to receive print image data corresponding to an image to be printed on the printer of the image recording system, the print image data including at least one print object; a computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to extract a band of the received print image data defining at least a portion of the print object; a computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to store the extracted band into a first memory of the image recording system, the extracted band having a first data size; a computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to color process the extracted band stored in the first memory; a computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to dither the color processed band; a computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to store the dithered band into a second memory of the image recording system, the dithered band having a second data size substantially less than the first data size; and a computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to render the dithered band stored in the second memory to generate a printable bitmap thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
222 words
A computer program product for use with an image recording system comprising an information processor in communication with a printer, the computer program product comprising: a computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to receive print image data corresponding to an image to be printed on the printer of the image recording system, the print image data including at least one print object; a computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to extract a band of the received print image data defining at least a portion of the print object; a computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to store the extracted band into a first memory of the image recording system, the extracted band having a first data size; a computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to color process the extracted band stored in the first memory; a computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to dither the color processed band; a computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to store the dithered band into a second memory of the image recording system, the dithered band having a second data size substantially less than the first data size; and a computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to render the dithered band stored in the second memory to generate a printable bitmap thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising: a computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to apply an inverse dot gain transform to the color processed band stored in the first memory to compensate for printer ink oversaturation; and a computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to eliminate overlapped dots present in the printable bitmap to compensate for subtractive artifacts present therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to dither comprises computer readable program code to convert a real color value for at least one pixel defined in the color processed band into a corresponding bi-level planar matrix of values corresponding to a plurality of distinct color planes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the plurality of color planes include red, green and blue color planes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to color process comprises computer readable program code to apply at least one of a color biasing function, a resolution function, a contrast function and a saturation function to the extracted band stored in the first memory of the image recording system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the print image data is received from a journal file.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the print image data includes drawing commands.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising: computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to convert the printable bitmap to one of a CMY and CMYK color model; and computer useable medium defining computer readable program code to transmit the converted bitmap to a spooler for printing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
202 words
An image processing system, comprising: an information processor; a first memory in communication with said information processor, said first memory containing print image data corresponding to an image to be printed, the print image data including at least one print object; a second memory in communication with said information processor, comprising: computer readable program code causing said information processor to extract a band of the print image data contained in said first memory, the extracted band defining at least a portion of the print object; computer readable program code causing said information processor to store the extracted band into the second memory, the extracted band having a first data size; computer readable program code causing said information processor to color process the extracted band stored in the second memory; computer readable program code causing said information processor to dither the color processed band; computer readable program code causing said information processor to store the dithered band into a third memory, the dithered band having a data size substantially less than the data size of the extracted band; and computer readable program code causing said information processor to render the dithered band stored in the third memory to generate a printable bitmap thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
202 words
An image processing system, comprising: an information processor; a first memory in communication with said information processor, said first memory containing print image data corresponding to an image to be printed, the print image data including at least one print object; a second memory in communication with said information processor, comprising: computer readable program code causing said information processor to extract a band of the print image data contained in said first memory, the extracted band defining at least a portion of the print object; computer readable program code causing said information processor to store the extracted band into the second memory, the extracted band having a first data size; computer readable program code causing said information processor to color process the extracted band stored in the second memory; computer readable program code causing said information processor to dither the color processed band; computer readable program code causing said information processor to store the dithered band into a third memory, the dithered band having a data size substantially less than the data size of the extracted band; and computer readable program code causing said information processor to render the dithered band stored in the third memory to generate a printable bitmap thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 20, wherein a data size of the color processed band is at least twenty-four bits per pixel; and wherein the computer readable program code for causing the information processor to dither comprises computer readable program code to convert the color processed band into the dithered band, the data size of the dithered band not exceeding three bits per pixel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 20, wherein said second memory further comprises computer readable program code causing the information processor to convert the dithered print image data from an RGB color model to one of a CMY and a CMYK model.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 20, further comprising a print spooler in communication with said information processor and said third memory for spooling dithered print image data to a printer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 20, wherein said second memory further comprises computer readable program code causing said information processor to apply an inverse dot gain transform to the color processed band to compensate for printer ink oversaturation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 24, wherein said second memory further comprises computer readable program code causing said information processor to eliminate overlapped dots present in the printable bitmap to compensate for subtractive artifacts present therein.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 19, wherein the color processed band of print image data further comprises intended color values specifying intended colors, and the computer readable program code causing said information processor to dither comprises computer readable program code to convert the intended color values to bi-level planar pixel matrices approximating the intended colors.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 26, wherein the intended color values are real color values.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 26, wherein the intended color values are indexed gray-scale values.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
45 words
The print driver of claim 6, wherein the color processed band of print image data further comprises intended color values specifying intended colors, and the dithering means of said drawing engine converts the intended color values to bi-level planar pixel matrices approximating the intended colors.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
The print driver of claim 29, wherein said third memory comprises a band buffer having a size; and the size of the band buffer is smaller than the size of said second memory storing the extracted band.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The print driver of claim 29, wherein the intended color values are real color values.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The print driver of claim 29, wherein the intended color values are indexed gray-scale values.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the print image data is received from a journal file.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the print image data includes drawing commands.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of extracting a print image band is performed on the print image data in a top-down fashion.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
53 words
The print driver of claim 31, wherein a data size of the color processed band is at least twenty-four bits per pixel; and wherein the dithering means of said drawing engine converts the color processed band into the dithered band, the data size of the dithered band not exceeding three bits per pixel.
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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) | 2001-03-09 | 2001-09-08 | 2002-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-09 | 2005-09-08 | 2006-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-09 | 2009-09-08 | 2010-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |