US5748862A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image processing apparatus and method
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1997-01-10
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Granted: 1998-05-05
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Expires: 2017-01-10
Abstract
Abstract One page is segmented into a plurality of bands (segments), and dot image data is generated on a per band basis from given information (graphic object). High-speed printing with a small-sized memory is achieved by allowing one band to be converted into dot image data and dot image data for another band to be transmitted to a printer, concurrently in parallel. When the conversion of a band to dot image data needs more time than is available for printing one band, or when the data quantity of object per page exceeds an allocated memory area, an object corresponding to a degraded image data is generated, and then the degraded image data is generated on a per band basis based on the resulting object.
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi Ohno
- 👤 Jouji Ooki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/18; G06K15/1848; G06K15/1849; G06K15/1851; G06K15/1856; G06K15/1861; G06K15/1864; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/0005; G06K2215/0011; G06K2215/0014; G06K2215/0062; G06K2215/0065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: generating means for generating image data into a band memory on a per band basis in accordance with objects; transmitting means for transmitting the per-band image data to output means in a manner such that generation of image data of one band by said generating means and transmission of image data of another band by said transmitting means are performed in parallel; and determining means for determining the grade of the image data to be generated by said generating means, wherein when the grade determined by said determining means changes, said band memory is relocated and wherein said generating means generates per band image data for an entire page at the grade determined by said determining means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: generating means for generating image data into a band memory on a per band basis in accordance with objects; transmitting means for transmitting the per-band image data to output means in a manner such that generation of image data of one band by said generating means and transmission of image data of another band by said transmitting means are performed in parallel; and determining means for determining the grade of the image data to be generated by said generating means, wherein when the grade determined by said determining means changes, said band memory is relocated and wherein said generating means generates per band image data for an entire page at the grade determined by said determining means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said generating means comprises first means for generating objects for each band in accordance with input information and second means for converting a band of objects into a band of image data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said determining means determines, as the grade of the image data to be generated, a second grade that is inferior to a first grade, when it is determined that a memory area for storing an object corresponding to image data of the first grade is not available.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for converting an object corresponding to the image data already generated at said first grade into an object corresponding to the image data at said second object when said determining means determines said second grade as the grade of the image data to be generated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein once said determining means determines said second grade as the grade for the image data to be generated, said first means generates, based on further input information, an object corresponding to the image data at said second grade.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for predicting the time required to generate image data on a per band basis, wherein said determining means determines the grade of the image data that is generated in accordance with the predicted time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said generating means comprises first means for generating objects for each band in accordance with input information, and second means for converting a band of objects into a band of image data, wherein said predicting means predicts the time required to convert a band of objects into a band of image data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for converting an object corresponding to image data already generated at said first grade into an object corresponding to image data at said second object when said determining means determines said second grade as the grade of the image data to be generated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said determining means determines, as the grade of the image data to be generated, a second grade that is inferior to a first grade, when it is determined that a memory area for storing an object corresponding to image data of the first grade is not available.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for converting an object corresponding to image data already generated at said first grade into an object corresponding to image data at said second object when said determining means determines said second grade as the grade of the image data to be generated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein once said determining means determines said second grade as the grade for the image data to be generated, said first means generates, based on further input information, an object corresponding to image data at said second grade.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the grade of the image data includes at least one of resolution and the number of levels of gradation of the image data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising output means for outputting the image data transmitted from said transmitting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said output means prints an image through an electrophotographic process.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising means for predicting the time required to generate the image data on a per band basis, and said determining means comprising means for comparing the predicted time with the time said print means requires to print one band, wherein said determining means determines the grade of the image data to be generated, based on the result of the comparison.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
116 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: generating image data into a band memory on a per band basis in accordance with objects; transmitting the per-band image data to output means in a manner such that generation of image data of one band at said generating step and transmission of image data of another band at said transmitting step are performed in parallel; and determining the grade of the image data to be generated at said generating step, wherein when the grade determined in said determining step changes, said band memory is relocated and wherein said generating step generates per band image data for an entire page at the grade determined at said determining step.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
116 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: generating image data into a band memory on a per band basis in accordance with objects; transmitting the per-band image data to output means in a manner such that generation of image data of one band at said generating step and transmission of image data of another band at said transmitting step are performed in parallel; and determining the grade of the image data to be generated at said generating step, wherein when the grade determined in said determining step changes, said band memory is relocated and wherein said generating step generates per band image data for an entire page at the grade determined at said determining step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
An image processing method according to claim 16, wherein said generating step comprises a first step for generating objects for each band in accordance with input information and a second step for converting a band of objects into a band of image data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
An image processing method according to claim 17, wherein said determining step determines, as the grade of the image data to be generated, a second grade that is inferior to a first grade, when it is determined that a memory area for storing an object corresponding to the image data of the second grade is not available.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
An image processing method according to claim 18 further comprising a step for converting an object corresponding to the image data already generated at said first grade into an object corresponding to the image data at said second object when, at said determining step, said second grade is determined as the grade of the image data to be generated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image processing method according to claim 19, wherein once said determining step determines said second grade as the grade of the image data to be generated, an object corresponding to the image data at said second grade is generated, based on further input information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
An image processing method according to claim 16, further comprising a step for predicting the time required to generate image data on a per band basis, wherein the grade of the image data that is generated in accordance with the predicted time is determined at said determining step.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
66 words
An image processing method according to claim 21, wherein said generating step comprises a first step for generating objects for each band in accordance with the input information, and a second step for converting a band of objects into a band of image data, wherein the time required to convert a band of objects into a band of image data is predicted at said predicting step.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
An image processing method according to claim 22 further comprising a step for converting an object corresponding to image data already generated at said first grade into an object corresponding to image data at said second object when said determining step determines said second grade as the grade of the image data to be generated.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
56 words
An image processing method according to claim 22, wherein said determining step determines as the grade of the image data to be generated, a second grade that is inferior to a first grade, when it is determined that a memory area for storing an object corresponding to image data of the first grade is not available.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
55 words
An image processing method according to claim 24, further comprising a step for converting an object corresponding to image data already generated at said first grade into an object corresponding to image data at said second object when said determining step determines said second grade as the grade of the image data to be generated.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image processing method according to claim 25, wherein once said determining step determines said second grade as the grade for the image data to be generated, an object corresponding to the image data at said second grade is generated, based on further input information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image processing method according to claim 16, wherein the grade of the image data includes at least one of resolution and the number of levels of gradation of the image data.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image processing method according to claim 16, further comprising an output step for outputting the image data transmitted at said transmitting step.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image processing method according to claim 28, wherein said output step is for printing an image through an electrophotographic process.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
71 words
An image processing method according to claim 29 further comprising a step for predicting the time required to generate the image data on a per band basis, and said determining step comprises a step for comparing the predicted time with the time said output step requires to print one band, wherein said determining step determines the grade of the image data to be generated, based on the result of the comparison.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5068805A
Cited
US5604846A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-04 | 2001-11-03 | 2002-05-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-04 | 2005-11-03 | 2006-05-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-04 | 2009-11-03 | 2010-05-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |