US5745145A — Ink jet recording apparatus and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 121 words

An ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium by depositing ink onto the recording medium in response to a recording data signal, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of recording heads for ejecting inks; moving means for relatively moving said recording heads and said recording medium; image identifying means for identifying a recording data signal corresponding to a text region which includes at least one of a part of a character and a line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and for identifying a recording data signal corresponding to a halftone region including a dot image; and recording controlling means for controlling said recording heads to perform recording twice for the text region, and once for the halftone region.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 121 words

An ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium by depositing ink onto the recording medium in response to a recording data signal, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of recording heads for ejecting inks; moving means for relatively moving said recording heads and said recording medium; image identifying means for identifying a recording data signal corresponding to a text region which includes at least one of a part of a character and a line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and for identifying a recording data signal corresponding to a halftone region including a dot image; and recording controlling means for controlling said recording heads to perform recording twice for the text region, and once for the halftone region.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 95 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image identifying means comprises: black signal generating means for generating a first black signal by suppressing chromatic components of said recording data signal; black signal binarizing means, connected to an output of said black signal generating means, for binarizing said first black signal outputted from said black signal generating means; and black image identifying means, connected to an output of said black signal generating means, for identifying said text regions, or said halftone regions on the basis of the binary first black signal.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 106 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said black signal generating means comprises: a maximum value detector for detecting a maximum value of R, G and B components of said recording data signal; a minimum value detector for detecting a minimum value of the R, G and B components of said recording data signal; a subtracter for subtracting said minimum value from said maximum value; a multiplier for multiplying an output of said subtracter by a predetermined fixed value; an adder for adding said maximum value and an output of said multiplier; and a limiter for limiting an output of said adder.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 143 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said black signal binarizing means comprises: means for producing first black signals of a pixel of interest and its neighboring pixels; averaging means for calculating an average value of said first black signals of said pixel of interest and its neighboring pixels; first comparing means for comparing said average value with the black signal of said pixel of interest to produce a second black signal of said pixel of interest representing that said pixel of interest is black; and second comparing means for comparing a difference of said average value and the first black signal of said pixel of interest with a predetermined value to produce a differential signal representative of difference between a black level of said pixel of interest and an average value of black levels of its neighboring pixels.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 151 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said black image identifying means comprises: means for producing second black signals of a pixel of interest and of its neighboring pixels by delaying said second black signal outputted from said first comparing means; means for producing an isolation indicating signal of the pixel of interest by comparing the second black signal of the pixel of interest with the second black signals of its neighboring pixels; means for producing a third black signal representing that the pixel of interest is black when said isolation indicating signal, said second black signal and said differential signal of said pixel of interest are all indicating black level, and means for producing a fourth black signal representing that the pixel of interest is a part of text region based on said third black signals of the pixel of interest and of its neighboring pixels.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 33 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising recording data signal processing means for processing said recording data signal based on an identification result by said image identifying means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 42 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said recording data signal processing means suppresses said color components of said recording data signal when said fourth black signal indicates that the pixel of interest is in a text region.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 32 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said recording controlling means controls said recording heads so that each color component of said recording data signal is directly recorded.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 115 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising subscanning means for effecting relative movement of said recording heads and said recording medium in a subscanning direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of said recording heads by said moving means, after completing a recording while moving said recording heads by said moving means, wherein said recording heads comprise four heads, each of which corresponds to each one of four colors of black, cyan, magenta and yellow, and is divided into a plurality of sections each including a plurality of orifices aligned along the subscanning direction, and said recording controlling means controls said recording heads so that selected sections sequentially eject ink.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 66 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein a first recording of said text region is performed while said recording heads are moving in a forward direction of the moving direction of said recording heads, and a second recording of said text region is performed while said recording heads are moving in a backward direction of the moving direction of said recording heads.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 29 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said recording heads generates film boiling which grows bubbles for expelling ink by using thermal energy.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recording heads include two or more recording heads for ejecting black ink.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 47 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said text region contains at least one of a part of a character and a thin line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and said halftone region contains a continuous halftone portion or a dot image portion.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 53 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said recording heads ejects ink of a predetermined color, at least one of said recording heads ejecting black ink, and said recording controlling means controls recording such that said text region is recorded by said recording head ejecting black ink.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 69 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said recording heads ejects ink of a predetermined color, at least one of said recording heads ejecting black ink, and said recording controlling means controls recording such that said text region and said halftone region are recorded by said plurality of recording heads, and said text region is recorded by said recording head ejecting black ink.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 178 words

An ink jet recording method for forming on a recording medium an image including a text region that contains at least one of a part of a character and a thin line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and a halftone region that contains a dot image by ejecting ink from recording heads in response to a recording data signal, said method comprising the steps of: identifying the text region and the halftone region of said image on the basis of said recording data signal; separating recording data associated with a plurality of colors in said halftone region into first recording data and second recording data, said first recording data and said second recording data being complementary to each other; recording in a first recording step the first recording data of said halftone region and recording data of said text region; and recording in a second recording step the second recording data of said halftone region and the recording data of said text region identical to the recording data of said text region recorded in said first recording step.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 178 words

An ink jet recording method for forming on a recording medium an image including a text region that contains at least one of a part of a character and a thin line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and a halftone region that contains a dot image by ejecting ink from recording heads in response to a recording data signal, said method comprising the steps of: identifying the text region and the halftone region of said image on the basis of said recording data signal; separating recording data associated with a plurality of colors in said halftone region into first recording data and second recording data, said first recording data and said second recording data being complementary to each other; recording in a first recording step the first recording data of said halftone region and recording data of said text region; and recording in a second recording step the second recording data of said halftone region and the recording data of said text region identical to the recording data of said text region recorded in said first recording step.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 63 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said step of identifying the text region and the halftone region comprising the steps of: generating a first black signal by suppressing chromatic components of said recording data signal; binarizing said first black signal; and identifying said text regions or said halftone regions on the basis of the binarized first black signal.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 93 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said step of generating a first black signal comprises the steps of: detecting a maximum value of R, G and B components of said recording data signal; detecting a minimum value of the R, G and B components of said recording data signal; subtracting said minimum value from said maximum value; multiplying an output of said subtracting step by a predetermined fixed value; adding said maximum value and an output of said multiplying step; and limiting an output of said adding step.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 144 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said step of binarizing said first black signal comprises: producing first black signals of a pixel of interest and its neighboring pixels; calculating an average value of said first black signals of said pixel of interest and its neighboring pixels; comparing, in a first comparing step, said average value with the black signal of said pixel of interest to produce a second black signal of said pixel of interest representing that said pixel of interest is black; and comparing, in a second comparing step, a difference of said average value and the first black signal of said pixel of interest with a predetermined value to produce a differential signal representative of a difference between a black level of said pixel of interest and an average value of black levels of its neighboring pixels.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 150 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said step of identifying said text region or said halftone region further comprises: producing second black signals of a pixel of interest and of its neighboring pixels by delaying said second black signal outputted in said first comparing step; producing an isolation indicating signal of the pixel of interest by comparing the second black signal of the pixel of interest with the second black signals of its neighboring pixels; producing a third black signal representing that the pixel of interest is black when said isolation indicating signal, said second black signal and said differential signal of said pixel of interest are all indicating black level; and producing a fourth black signal representing that the pixel of interest is a part of text region based on said third black signals of the pixel of interest and of its neighboring pixels.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 50 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first recording data is associated with a staggered pattern of said halftone region, and said second recording data is associated with a counter-staggered pattern of said halftone region, said counter-staggered pattern being a complement of said staggered pattern.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 32 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said step of separating recording data performs the separation for each color of a plurality of colors in said halftone region.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 47 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the text region contains at least one of a part of a character and a thin line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and the halftone region contains a continuous halftone portion or a dot image portion.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 54 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of said recording heads ejects ink of a predetermined color, at least one of said recording heads ejecting black ink, and further comprising the step of controlling recording such that the text region is recorded by the recording head ejecting black ink.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 70 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of the recording heads ejects ink of a predetermined color, at least one of the recording heads ejecting black ink, and further comprising the step of controlling recording such that the text region and the halftone region are recorded by the plurality of recording heads, and the text region is recorded by the recording head ejecting black ink.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 69 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein one of the first and second recording steps is performed while the recording heads are moving in a forward direction of the moving direction of the recording heads, and the other of said first and second recording steps is performed while the recording heads are moving in a backward direction of the moving direction of the recording heads.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 189 words

An ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium by depositing ink onto the recording medium in response to a recording data signal, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of recording heads for ejecting inks; moving means for causing relative movement of said recording heads and said recording medium; recording medium identifying means for identifying a type of said recording medium; image identifying means for identifying a recording data signal corresponding to a text region which includes at least one of a part of a character and a line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and for identifying a recording data signal corresponding to a halftone region including a dot image; recording data signal processing means for processing said recording data signal based on an identification result by said image identifying means; and recording controlling means for controlling, when said recording medium identifying means identifies that the recording medium is of low ink absorption, said recording heads so that said recording data signal corresponding to said halftone region is recorded once, while said recording data signal corresponding to said text region is recorded twice, on the same area.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 189 words

An ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium by depositing ink onto the recording medium in response to a recording data signal, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of recording heads for ejecting inks; moving means for causing relative movement of said recording heads and said recording medium; recording medium identifying means for identifying a type of said recording medium; image identifying means for identifying a recording data signal corresponding to a text region which includes at least one of a part of a character and a line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and for identifying a recording data signal corresponding to a halftone region including a dot image; recording data signal processing means for processing said recording data signal based on an identification result by said image identifying means; and recording controlling means for controlling, when said recording medium identifying means identifies that the recording medium is of low ink absorption, said recording heads so that said recording data signal corresponding to said halftone region is recorded once, while said recording data signal corresponding to said text region is recorded twice, on the same area.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 67 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 27, further comprising discharge volume control means for controlling the volume of ink expelled from said recording heads, wherein said recording controlling means controls, when said recording medium identifying means identifies that the recording medium is of low ink absorption, said discharge volume control means so that the volume of ink expelled from said recording heads is reduced.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 95 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said image identifying means comprises: black signal generating means for generating a first black signal by suppressing chromatic components of said recording data signal; black signal binarizing means, connected to an output of said black signal generating means, for binarizing said first black signal outputted form said black signal generating means; and black image identifying means, connected to an output of said black signal generating means, for identifying said text regions or said halftone regions on the basis of the binary first black signal.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 106 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein said black signal generating means comprises: a maximum value detector for detecting a maximum value of R, G and B components of said recording data signal; a minimum value detector for detecting a minimum value of the R, G and B components of said recording data signal; a subtracter for subtracting said minimum value from said maximum value; a multiplier for multiplying an output of said subtracter by a predetermined fixed value; an adder for adding said maximum value and an output of said multiplier; and a limiter for limiting an output of said adder.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 143 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein said black signal binarizing means comprises: means for producing first black signals of a pixel of interest and its neighboring pixels; averaging means for calculating an average value of said first black signals of said pixel of interest and its neighboring pixels; first comparing means for comparing said average value with the black signal of said pixel of interest to produce a second black signal of said pixel of interest representing that said pixel of interest is black; and second comparing means for comparing a difference of said average value and the first black signal of said pixel of interest with a predetermined value to produce a differential signal representative of a difference between a black level of said pixel of interest and an average of black levels of its neighboring pixels.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 152 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein said black image identifying means comprises: means for producing second black signals of a pixel of interest and of its neighboring pixels by delaying said second black signal outputted from said first comparing means; means for producing an isolation indicating signal of the pixel of interest by comparing the second black signal of the pixel of interest with the second black signals of its neighboring pixels; means for producing a third black signal representing that the pixel of interest is black when said isolation indicating signal, said second black signal and said differential signal of said pixel of interest are all indicating black level; and means for producing a fourth black signal representing that the pixel of interest is a part of the text region based on said third black signals of the pixel of interest and of its neighboring pixels.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 42 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein said recording data signal processing means suppresses said color components of said recording data signal when said fourth black signal indicates that the pixel of interest is in the text region.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 32 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein said recording controlling means controls said recording heads so that each color component of said recording data signal is directly recorded.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 68 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said recording heads comprise four heads, each of which corresponds to each one of four colors of black, cyan, magenta and yellow, and is divided into a plurality of sections each including a plurality of orifices aligned along a subscanning direction, and said recording controlling means controls said recording heads so that selected sections sequentially eject ink.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 29 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein each of said recording heads generates film boiling which grows bubbles for expelling ink by using thermal energy.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 24 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said recording heads comprise two or more recording heads for ejecting black ink.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 47 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said text region contains at least one of a part of a character and a thin line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and said halftone region contains a continuous halftone portion or a dot image portion.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 53 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein each of said recording heads ejects ink of a predetermined color, at least one of said recording heads ejecting black ink, and said recording controlling means controls recording such that said text region is recorded by said recording head ejecting black ink.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 69 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein each of said recording heads ejects ink of a predetermined color, at least one of said recording heads ejecting black ink, and said recording controlling means controls recording such that said text region and said halftone region are recorded by said plurality of recording heads, and said text region is recorded by said recording head ejecting black ink.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 66 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein a first recording of said text region is performed while said recording heads are moving in a forward direction of the moving direction of said recording heads, and a second recording of said text region is performed while said recording heads are moving in a backward direction of the moving direction of said recording heads.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 210 words

An ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium by depositing ink onto the recording medium in response to a recording data signal, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of recording heads for ejecting inks, each of said recording heads electing ink of a predetermined color, at least one of said recording heads ejecting black ink; moving means for relatively moving said recording heads and said recording medium; image identifying means for identifying a recording data signal corresponding to a text region which includes at least one of a part of a character and a line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and for identifying a recording data signal corresponding to a halftone region including a dot image; recording controlling means for controlling recording such that the text region is recorded by said recording head ejecting black ink; and recording medium identifying means for identifying a type of said recording medium, wherein said recording controlling means controls, when said recording medium identifying means identifies that the recording medium is a type of low ink absorption, said recording heads so that the recording data signal corresponding to the halftone region is recorded once, while the recording data signal corresponding to the text region is recorded twice on the same area.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 210 words

An ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium by depositing ink onto the recording medium in response to a recording data signal, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of recording heads for ejecting inks, each of said recording heads electing ink of a predetermined color, at least one of said recording heads ejecting black ink; moving means for relatively moving said recording heads and said recording medium; image identifying means for identifying a recording data signal corresponding to a text region which includes at least one of a part of a character and a line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and for identifying a recording data signal corresponding to a halftone region including a dot image; recording controlling means for controlling recording such that the text region is recorded by said recording head ejecting black ink; and recording medium identifying means for identifying a type of said recording medium, wherein said recording controlling means controls, when said recording medium identifying means identifies that the recording medium is a type of low ink absorption, said recording heads so that the recording data signal corresponding to the halftone region is recorded once, while the recording data signal corresponding to the text region is recorded twice on the same area.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 95 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein said image identifying means comprises: black signal generating means for generating a first black signal by suppressing chromatic components of said recording data signal; black signal binarizing means, connected to an output of said black signal generating means, for binarizing said first black signal outputted from said black signal generating means; and black signal identifying means, connected to an output of said black signal generating means, for identifying said text regions, or said halftone regions on the basis of the binary first black signal.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 107 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 43, further comprising a black signal generating means comprising: a maximum value detector for detecting a maximum value of R, G and B components of said recording data signal; a minimum value detector for detecting a minimum value of the R, G and B components of said recording data signal; a subtracter for subtracting said minimum value from said maximum value; a multiplier for multiplying an output of said subtracter by a predetermined fixed value; an adder for adding said maximum value and an output of said multiplier; and a limiter for limiting an output of said adder.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 143 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 43, wherein said black signal binarizing means comprises: means for producing first black signals of a pixel of interest and its neighboring pixels; averaging means for calculating an average value of said first black signals of said pixel of interest and its neighboring pixels; first comparing means for comparing said average value with the black signal of said pixel of interest to produce a second black signal of said pixel of interest representing that said pixel of interest is black; and second comparing means for comparing a difference of said average value and the first black signal of said pixel of interest with a predetermined value to produce a differential signal representative of difference between a black level of said pixel of interest and an average value of black levels of its neighboring pixels.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 149 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 45, wherein said black signal identifying means comprises: means for producing second black signals of a pixel of interest and its neighboring pixels by delaying said second black signal outputted from said first comparing means; means for producing an isolation indicating signal of the pixel of interest by comparing the second black signal of the pixel of interest with the second black signals of its neighboring pixels; means for producing a third black signal representing that the pixel of interest is black when said isolation indicating signal, said second black signal and said differential signal of said pixel of interest are all indicating black level, and means for producing fourth black signal representing that the pixel of interest is a part of text region based on said third black signals of the pixel of interest and of its neighboring pixels.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 33 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 46, further comprising recording data signal processing means for processing said recording data signal based on an identification result by said image identifying means.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 42 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 47, wherein said recording data signal processing means suppresses said color components of said recording data signal when said fourth black signal indicates that the pixel of interest is in a text region.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 32 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 48, wherein said recording controlling means controls said recording heads so that each color component of said recording data signal is directly recorded.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 115 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 42, further comprising subscanning means for effecting relative movement of said recording heads and said recording medium in a subscanning direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of said recording heads by said moving means, after completing a recording while moving said recording heads by said moving means, wherein said recording heads comprise four heads, each of which corresponds to each one of four colors of black, cyan, magenta and yellow, and is divided into a plurality of sections each including a plurality of orifices aligned along the subscanning direction, and said recording controlling means controls said recording heads so that selected sections sequentially eject ink.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 29 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein each of said recording heads generates film boiling which grows bubbles for expelling ink by using thermal energy.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 24 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein said recording heads include two or more recording heads for ejecting black ink.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 47 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein said text region contains at least one of a part of a character and a thin line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and said halftone region contains a continuous halftone portion or a dot image portion.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 34 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein said recording controlling means controls recording such that said text region and said halftone region are recorded by said plurality of recording heads.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 66 words

An ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein a first recording of said text region is performed while said recording heads are moving in a forward direction of the moving direction of said recording heads, and a second recording of said text region is performed while said recording heads are moving in a backward direction of the moving direction of said recording heads.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 274 words

An ink jet recording method for forming on a recording medium an image including a text region that contains at least one of a part of a character and a thin line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and a halftone region that contains a dot image by ejecting ink from recording heads in response to a recording data signal, said method comprising the steps of: identifying the text region and the halftone region of said image on the basis of said recording data signal; separating recording data associated with a plurality of colors in said halftone region into first recording data and second recording data, said first recording data and said second recording data being complementary to each other; and controlling recording so that recording of said text region is emphasized relative to recording of said halftone region, wherein said step of identifying the text region and the halftone region comprises the steps of: generating a first black signal by suppressing chromatic components of said recording data signal; binarizing said first black signal; and identifying said text regions or said halftone regions on the basis of the binarized first black signal, wherein said step of generating a first black signal comprises the steps of: detecting a maximum value of R, G and B components of said recording data signal; detecting a minimum value of the R, G and B components of said recording data signal; subtracting said minimum value from said maximum value; multiplying an output of said subtracting step by a predetermined fixed value; adding said maximum value and an output of said multiplying step; and limiting an output of said adding step.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 274 words

An ink jet recording method for forming on a recording medium an image including a text region that contains at least one of a part of a character and a thin line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and a halftone region that contains a dot image by ejecting ink from recording heads in response to a recording data signal, said method comprising the steps of: identifying the text region and the halftone region of said image on the basis of said recording data signal; separating recording data associated with a plurality of colors in said halftone region into first recording data and second recording data, said first recording data and said second recording data being complementary to each other; and controlling recording so that recording of said text region is emphasized relative to recording of said halftone region, wherein said step of identifying the text region and the halftone region comprises the steps of: generating a first black signal by suppressing chromatic components of said recording data signal; binarizing said first black signal; and identifying said text regions or said halftone regions on the basis of the binarized first black signal, wherein said step of generating a first black signal comprises the steps of: detecting a maximum value of R, G and B components of said recording data signal; detecting a minimum value of the R, G and B components of said recording data signal; subtracting said minimum value from said maximum value; multiplying an output of said subtracting step by a predetermined fixed value; adding said maximum value and an output of said multiplying step; and limiting an output of said adding step.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 144 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 56, wherein said step of binarizing said first black signal comprises: producing first black signals of a pixel of interest and its neighboring pixels; calculating an average value of said first black signals of said pixel of interest and its neighboring pixels; comparing, in a first comparing step, said average value with the black signal of said pixel of interest to produce a second black signal of said pixel of interest representing that said pixel of interest is black; and comparing, in a second comparing step, a difference of said average value and the first black signal of said pixel of interest with a predetermined value to produce a differential signal representative of a difference between a black level of said pixel of interest and an average value of black levels of its neighboring pixels.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 150 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 57, wherein said step of identifying said text region or said halftone region further comprises: producing second black signals of a pixel of interest and of its neighboring pixels by delaying said second black signal outputted in said first comparing step; producing an isolation indicating signal of the pixel of interest by comparing the second black signal of the pixel of interest with the second black signals of its neighboring pixels; producing a third black signal representing that the pixel of interest is black when said isolation indicating signal, said second black signal and said differential signal of said pixel of interest are all indicating black level; and producing a fourth black signal representing that the pixel of interest is a part of text region based on said third black signals of the pixel of interest and of its neighboring pixels.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 50 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 56, wherein said first recording data is associated with a staggered pattern of said halftone region, and said second recording data is associated with a counter-staggered pattern of said halftone region, said counter-staggered pattern being a complement of said staggered pattern.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 32 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 56, wherein said step of separating recording data performs the separation for each color of a plurality of colors in said halftone region.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 47 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 56, wherein the text region contains at least one of a part of a character and a thin line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and the halftone region contains a continuous halftone portion or a dot image portion.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 54 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 56, wherein each of the recording heads ejects ink of a predetermined color, at least one of the recording heads ejecting black ink, and further comprising the step of controlling recording such that the text region is recorded by the recording head ejecting black ink.

Claim 68

Dependent Claim 70 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 56, wherein each of the recording heads ejects ink of a predetermined color, at least one of the recording heads ejecting black ink, and further comprising the step of controlling recording such that the text region and the halftone region are recorded by the plurality of recording heads, and the text region is recorded by the recording head ejecting black ink.

Claim 69

Dependent Claim 69 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 56, wherein one of first and second recording steps is performed while the recording heads are moving in a forward direction of the moving direction of the recording heads, and the other one of the first and second recording steps is performed while the recording heads are moving in a backward direction of the moving direction of the recording heads.

Claim 70

Dependent Claim 156 words

An ink jet recording system, including an ink jet recording section having ink jet recording heads for ejecting inks, for performing recording on a recording medium by ejecting inks from the ink jet recording heads onto the recording medium, the ink jet recording system comprising: image identifying means for identifying a text region, including at least one of a character and a line, and a halftone region, of an image to be recorded in accordance with a recording data signal; determining means for determining a number of times of performing recording operations for each region of the image to be recorded in accordance with a type of region identified by said image identifying means; and recording controlling means for controlling said ink jet recording section to perform recording on the recording medium in accordance with the recording data signal and the number of times of performing recording operations for each region determined by said determining means.

Claim 71

Dependent Claim 156 words

An ink jet recording system, including an ink jet recording section having ink jet recording heads for ejecting inks, for performing recording on a recording medium by ejecting inks from the ink jet recording heads onto the recording medium, the ink jet recording system comprising: image identifying means for identifying a text region, including at least one of a character and a line, and a halftone region, of an image to be recorded in accordance with a recording data signal; determining means for determining a number of times of performing recording operations for each region of the image to be recorded in accordance with a type of region identified by said image identifying means; and recording controlling means for controlling said ink jet recording section to perform recording on the recording medium in accordance with the recording data signal and the number of times of performing recording operations for each region determined by said determining means.

Claim 72

Dependent Claim 95 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 65, wherein said image identifying means comprises: black signal generating means for generating a first black signal by suppressing color components of said recording data signal; black signal binarizing means, connected to an output of said black signal generating means, for binarizing said first black signal outputted from said black signal generating means; and black image identifying means, connected to an output of said black signal generating means, for identifying said text regions, or said halftone regions, on the basis of the binary first black signal.

Claim 73

Dependent Claim 106 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 66, wherein said black signal generating means comprises: a maximum value detector for detecting a maximum value of R, G and B components of said recording data signal; a minimum value detector for detecting a minimum value of the R, G and B components of said recording data signal; a subtracter for subtracting said minimum value from said maximum value; a multiplier for multiplying an output of said subtracter by a predetermined fixed value; an adder for adding said maximum value and an output of said multiplier; and a limiter for limiting an output of said adder.

Claim 74

Dependent Claim 144 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 66, wherein said black signal binarizing means comprises: means for producing first black signals of a pixel of interest and its neighboring pixels; averaging means for calculating an average value of said first black signals of said pixel of interest and its neighboring pixels; first comparing means for comparing said average value with the black signal of said pixel of interest to produce a second black signal of said pixel of interest representing that said pixel of interest is black; and second comparing means for comparing a difference of said average value and the first black signal of said pixel of interest with a predetermined value to produce a differential signal representative of a difference between a black level of said pixel of interest and an average value of black levels of its neighboring pixels.

Claim 75

Dependent Claim 152 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 68, wherein said black image identifying means comprises: means for producing second black signals of a pixel of interest and of its neighboring pixels by delaying said second black signal outputted from said first comparing means; means for producing an isolation indicating signal of the pixel of interest by comparing the second black signal of the pixel of interest with the second black signals of its neighboring pixels; means for producing a third black signal representing that the pixel of interest is black when said isolation indicating signal, said second black signal and said differential signal of said pixel of interest are all indicating black level; and means for producing a fourth black signal representing that the pixel of interest is a part of the text region based on said third black signals of the pixel of interest and of its neighboring pixels.

Claim 76

Dependent Claim 33 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 69, further comprising recording data signal processing means for processing said recording data signal based on an identification result by said image identifying means.

Claim 77

Dependent Claim 42 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 70, wherein said recording data signal processing means suppresses said color components of said recording data signal when said fourth black signal indicates that the pixel of interest is in a text region.

Claim 78

Dependent Claim 32 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 71, wherein said recording controlling means controls said recording heads so that each color component of said recording data signal is directly recorded.

Claim 79

Dependent Claim 115 words

An ink jet recording system claimed in claim 65, further comprising subscanning means for effecting relative movement of said recording heads and said recording medium in a subscanning direction substantially perpendicular to a moving direction of said recording heads by a moving means, after completing a recording operation while moving said recording heads by said moving means, wherein said recording heads comprise four heads, each of which corresponds to each one of four colors of black, cyan, magenta and yellow, and is divided into a plurality of sections each including a plurality of orifices aligned along the subscanning direction, and said recording controlling means controls said recording heads so that selected sections sequentially eject ink.

Claim 80

Dependent Claim 68 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 73, wherein a first recording operation of said text region is performed while said recording heads are moving in a forward direction of the moving direction of said recording heads, and a second recording operation of said text region is performed while said recording heads are moving in a backward direction of the moving direction of said recording heads.

Claim 81

Dependent Claim 29 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 65, wherein each of said recording heads generates film boiling which grows bubbles for expelling ink by using thermal energy.

Claim 82

Dependent Claim 23 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 65, wherein said recording heads include two or more heads for ejecting black ink.

Claim 83

Dependent Claim 47 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 65, wherein said text region contains at least one of a part of a character and a thin line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and said halftone region contains a continuous halftone portion or a dot image portion.

Claim 84

Dependent Claim 55 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 65, wherein each of said recording heads ejects ink of a predetermined color, at least one of said recording heads ejecting black ink, and said recording controlling means controls the recording operations such that said text region is recorded by said recording head ejecting black ink.

Claim 85

Dependent Claim 71 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 65, wherein each of said recording heads ejects ink of a predetermined color, at least one of said recording heads ejecting black ink, and said recording controlling means controls the recording operations such that said text region and said halftone region are recorded by all of said recording heads, and said text region is recorded by said recording head ejecting black ink.

Claim 86

Dependent Claim 38 words

The ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 65, wherein the number of times of performing recording operations for a text region is different from a number of times of performing recording operations for a halftone region.

Claim 87

Dependent Claim 181 words

An ink jet recording method for performing recording on a recording medium in response to a recording data signal by ejecting ink onto the recording medium from an ink jet recording section having ink jet recording heads for ejecting inks, said ink jet recording method comprising the steps of: identifying a text region including at least one of a character and a line, and a halftone region of an image to be recorded in accordance with the recording data signal corresponding to said image; determining a number of times of performing recording operations for each region of said image to be recorded, in accordance with a type of region identified in said identification step, and generating a recording number signal corresponding to the determined number of times of recording operations; transferring the recording data signal and the recording number signal for each region of said image to the ink jet recording section; and controlling the ink jet recording section to perform a recording operation on the recording medium, in accordance with the transferred recording data signal and the recording number signal.

Claim 88

Dependent Claim 181 words

An ink jet recording method for performing recording on a recording medium in response to a recording data signal by ejecting ink onto the recording medium from an ink jet recording section having ink jet recording heads for ejecting inks, said ink jet recording method comprising the steps of: identifying a text region including at least one of a character and a line, and a halftone region of an image to be recorded in accordance with the recording data signal corresponding to said image; determining a number of times of performing recording operations for each region of said image to be recorded, in accordance with a type of region identified in said identification step, and generating a recording number signal corresponding to the determined number of times of recording operations; transferring the recording data signal and the recording number signal for each region of said image to the ink jet recording section; and controlling the ink jet recording section to perform a recording operation on the recording medium, in accordance with the transferred recording data signal and the recording number signal.

Claim 89

Dependent Claim 63 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 81, wherein said step of identifying the text region and the halftone region comprises the steps of: generating a first black signal by suppressing chromatic components of said recording data signal; binarizing said first black signal; and identifying said text region or said halftone region on the basis of the binarized first black signal.

Claim 90

Dependent Claim 93 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 82, wherein said step of generating a first black signal comprises the steps of: detecting a maximum value of R, G and B components of said recording data signal; detecting a minimum value of the R, G and B components of said recording data signal; subtracting said minimum value from said maximum value; multiplying an output of said subtracting step by a predetermined fixed value; adding said maximum value and an output of said multiplying step; and limiting an output of said adding step.

Claim 91

Dependent Claim 144 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 82, wherein said step of binarizing said first black signal comprises: producing first black signals of a pixel of interest and its neighboring pixels; calculating an average value of said first black signals of said pixel of interest and its neighboring pixels; comparing, in a first comparing step, said average value with the black signal of said pixel of interest to produce a second black signal of said pixel of interest representing that said pixel of interest is black; and comparing, in a second comparing step, a difference of said average value and the first black signal of said pixel of interest with a predetermined value to produce a differential signal representative of a difference between a black level of said pixel of interest and an average value of black levels of its neighboring pixels.

Claim 92

Dependent Claim 151 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 84, wherein said step of identifying said text region and said halftone region further comprises: producing second black signals of a pixel of interest and of its neighboring pixels by delaying said second black signal outputted in said first comparing step; producing an isolation indicating signal of the pixel of interest by comparing the second black signal of the pixel of interest with the second black signals of its neighboring pixels; producing a third black signal representing that the pixel of interest is black when said isolation indicating signal, said second black signal and said differential signal of said pixel of interest are all indicating black level; and producing a fourth black signal representing that the pixel of interest is a part of a text region based on said third black signals of the pixel of interest and of its neighboring pixels.

Claim 93

Dependent Claim 90 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 81, further comprising the step of separating recording data associated with a plurality of colors in the halftone region into first recording data and second recording data, said first recording data and said second recording data being complementary to each other, wherein said first recording data is associated with a staggered pattern of said halftone region, and said second recording data is associated with a counter-staggered pattern of said halftone region, said counter-staggered pattern being a complement of said staggered pattern.

Claim 94

Dependent Claim 32 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 86, wherein said step of separating recording data performs the separation for each color of a plurality of colors in said halftone region.

Claim 95

Dependent Claim 47 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 81, wherein the text region contains at least one of a part of a character and a thin line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and the halftone region contains a continuous halftone portion or a dot image portion.

Claim 96

Dependent Claim 56 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 81, wherein each of said recording heads ejects ink of a predetermined color, at least one of said recording heads ejecting black ink, and further comprising the step of controlling a recording operation such that the text region is recorded by the recording head ejecting black ink.

Claim 97

Dependent Claim 72 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 81, wherein each of the recording heads ejects ink of a predetermined color, at least one of the recording heads ejecting black ink, and further comprising the step of controlling a recording operation such that the text region and the halftone region are recorded by all of the recording heads, and the text region is recorded by the recording head ejecting black ink.

Claim 98

Dependent Claim 42 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 81, wherein in said determining step, a number of times of performing recording operations for the text region is different from a number of times of performing recording operations for the halftone region.

Claim 99

Dependent Claim 128 words

An ink jet recording system, including an ink jet recording section having ink jet recording heads for ejecting inks, for performing recording on a recording medium by ejecting inks from the ink jet recording heads onto the recording medium, said ink jet recording system comprising: image identifying means for identifying a black portion and a color portion of data of an image to be recorded; determining means for determining a recording control operation for the data of the image to be recorded based upon an identification result from said image identifying means; and a recording controlling section for controlling the ink jet recording section to perform recording in accordance with the data of the image to be recorded and the recording control operation determined by said determining means.

Claim 100

Dependent Claim 128 words

An ink jet recording system, including an ink jet recording section having ink jet recording heads for ejecting inks, for performing recording on a recording medium by ejecting inks from the ink jet recording heads onto the recording medium, said ink jet recording system comprising: image identifying means for identifying a black portion and a color portion of data of an image to be recorded; determining means for determining a recording control operation for the data of the image to be recorded based upon an identification result from said image identifying means; and a recording controlling section for controlling the ink jet recording section to perform recording in accordance with the data of the image to be recorded and the recording control operation determined by said determining means.

Claim 101

Dependent Claim 82 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 92, wherein said controlling section controls the ink jet recording section to perform scanning during recording, and wherein said determining means determines a number of times of performing scanning to record an image in accordance with the identification result of said image identifying means, and wherein a number of times of performing scanning to record the black portion is different from a number of times of performing scanning to record the color portion.

Claim 102

Dependent Claim 115 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 92, further comprising subscanning means for effecting relative movement of the recording heads and the recording medium in a subscanning direction substantially perpendicular to a scanning direction of the recording heads by a moving means, after completing a recording while moving the recording heads by the moving means, wherein the recording heads comprise four heads, each of which corresponds to each one of four colors of black, cyan, magenta and yellow, and is divided into a plurality of sections each including a plurality of orifices aligned along the subscanning direction, and said recording controlling section controls the recording heads so that selected sections sequentially eject ink.

Claim 103

Dependent Claim 68 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 94, wherein during recording a first scanning of the black portion is performed while the recording heads are moving in a forward direction of the scanning direction of the recording heads, and a second scanning of the black portion is performed while the recording heads are moving in a backward direction of the scanning direction of the recording heads.

Claim 104

Dependent Claim 29 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 92, wherein each of the recording heads generates film boiling which grows bubbles for expelling ink by using thermal energy.

Claim 105

Dependent Claim 24 words

An ink jet recording system as claimed in claim 92, wherein the recording heads include two or more recording heads for ejecting black ink.

Claim 106

Dependent Claim 128 words

An ink jet recording method for performing recording on a recording medium by ejecting inks from an ink jet recording section having ink jet recording heads for ejecting inks, said method comprising the steps of: identifying a black portion and a color portion of data of an image to be recorded; determining a recording control operation for the data of the image to be recorded based upon an identification result from said image identifying step, and generating corresponding recording control data; transferring the data of the image to be recorded and the recording control data to the ink jet recording section; and controlling the ink jet recording section to perform recording in accordance with the transferred data of the image to be recorded and the recording control data.

Claim 107

Dependent Claim 128 words

An ink jet recording method for performing recording on a recording medium by ejecting inks from an ink jet recording section having ink jet recording heads for ejecting inks, said method comprising the steps of: identifying a black portion and a color portion of data of an image to be recorded; determining a recording control operation for the data of the image to be recorded based upon an identification result from said image identifying step, and generating corresponding recording control data; transferring the data of the image to be recorded and the recording control data to the ink jet recording section; and controlling the ink jet recording section to perform recording in accordance with the transferred data of the image to be recorded and the recording control data.

Claim 108

Dependent Claim 59 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 98, wherein, in said determining step, a number of times of performing scanning during recording of an image to be recorded is determined, and wherein a number of times of performing scanning for the black portion is different from a number of times of performing scanning for the color portion.

Claim 109

Dependent Claim 29 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 98, wherein each of the recording heads generates film boiling which grows bubbles for expelling ink by using thermal energy.

Claim 110

Dependent Claim 178 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 98, further comprising the step of relatively moving the recording heads and the recording medium in a subscanning direction substantially perpendicular to a scanning direction of the recording heads by a moving means, after completing a recording while moving the recording heads by the moving means, wherein the recording heads comprise four heads, each of which corresponds to each one of four colors of black, cyan, magenta and yellow, and is divided into a plurality of sections each including a plurality of orifices aligned along the subscanning direction, and the recording heads are controlled so that selected sections sequentially eject ink, and wherein, during controlling of the ink jet recording section to perform recording, a first scanning of the black portion is performed while the recording heads are moving in a forward direction of the scanning direction of the recording heads, and a second scanning of the black portion is performed while the recording heads are moving in a backward direction of the scanning direction of the recording heads.

Claim 111

Dependent Claim 47 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 98, wherein the black portion contains at least one of a part of a character and a thin line thinner than a predetermined thickness, and the color portion contains a continuous halftone portion or a dot image portion.

Claim 112

Dependent Claim 54 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 98, wherein each of the recording heads ejects ink of a predetermined color, at least one of the recording heads ejects black ink, and further comprising the step of controlling recording such that the black portion is scanned by the recording head ejecting black ink.

Claim 113

Dependent Claim 70 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 98, wherein each of the recording heads ejects ink of a predetermined color, at least one of the recording heads ejects black ink, and further comprising the step of controlling recording such that the black portion and the color portion are scanned by a plurality of recording heads, and the black portion is scanned by the recording head ejecting black ink.

Claim 114

Dependent Claim 92 words

An ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 98, wherein recording is performed during at least a first scanning step and a second scanning step such that one of the first scanning step and the second scanning step is performed while the recording heads are moving in a forward direction of a scanning direction of the recording heads, and the other of the first scanning step and the second scanning step is performed while the recording heads are moving in a backward direction of the scanning direction of the recording heads.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-04-27	2001-10-27	2002-04-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-04-27	2005-10-27	2006-04-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-04-27	2009-10-27	2010-04-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Ink jet recording apparatus and method

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