US5795082A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printing system utilizing inks of different densities, cartridge used therefor, and method of recording images
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
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Filing: 1997-06-25
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Granted: 1998-08-18
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Expires: 2017-06-25
Abstract
Abstract The present invention utilizes a high-density ink and a low-density ink with respect to a specific color ink, so as to improve the printing quality. The procedure of the present invention reads a recording ratio of deep dots by the high-density ink corresponding to input tone data from a table and determines whether or not deep dots by the high-density ink are to be formed in a target pixel. In case that deep dots are to be formed, a piezoelectric element PE on a head of the high-density ink is driven to form deep dots. In case that deep dots are not to be formed, on the other hand, the procedure determines whether or not light dots by the low-density ink are to be formed in the target pixel by referring to the table, and specifies the on/off state of the light dots in order to cause a mean recording ratio of the light dots to be equal to a predetermined value. In the table, formation of deep dots starts in the range of tone data smaller than the specific value of tone data that gives a maximum recording ratio of light dots resulting in smooth color mixture at a joint between the record with light dots and the record with deep dots. The recording ratio of light dots may be varied according to the density of another color ink at a position corresponding to the target pixel as well as the density of the target color ink.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazumichi Shimada
- 👤 Toshiaki Kakutani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:26
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/21; B41J2/2107; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/40087; H04N1/46; H04N1/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A printing system having a head, from which at least two inks of different densities are dischargeable, and recording a multi-tone image by a distribution of dots by said at least two inks of different densities, said printing system comprising: input means for inputting tone signals of said original image to be printed; definition means for defining a recording characteristic that starts formation of dots by a higher-density ink in a range of said tone signals lower than a specific tone signal which gives a maximum recording density of dots by a lower-density ink; specifying means for specifying existence and non-existence of dots by said at least two inks of different densities according to said tone signals, based on said recording characteristic; and regulating means for regulating discharge of each ink from said head, so as to realize a tone expression according to said existence and non-existence of dots by said at least two inks of different densities.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A printing system having a head, from which at least two inks of different densities are dischargeable, and recording a multi-tone image by a distribution of dots by said at least two inks of different densities, said printing system comprising: input means for inputting tone signals of said original image to be printed; definition means for defining a recording characteristic that starts formation of dots by a higher-density ink in a range of said tone signals lower than a specific tone signal which gives a maximum recording density of dots by a lower-density ink; specifying means for specifying existence and non-existence of dots by said at least two inks of different densities according to said tone signals, based on said recording characteristic; and regulating means for regulating discharge of each ink from said head, so as to realize a tone expression according to said existence and non-existence of dots by said at least two inks of different densities.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said definition means has a table for specifying the recording densities of dots by said at least two inks of different densities corresponding to said tone signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least two inks of different densities comprise a high-density ink and a low density ink and a dye density of said low-density ink is approximately one quarter a dye density of said high-density ink.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said head comprises a plurality of heads for discharging said at least two inks of different densities with respect to a plurality of color inks having different hues, said printing system further comprising a set of said definition means, said specifying means, and said regulating means corresponding to said plurality of color inks having different hues.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said plurality of color inks having different hues comprise cyan ink and magenta ink.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 4, wherein each said specifying means specifies recording densities respect to one color ink, in connection with said tone signals of another color ink.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 4, wherein each said specifing means comprises correction means for decreasing the recording density of dots by said lower-density ink in a target pixel with an increase in density of another color ink discharged to said target pixel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 4, wherein each said definiton means having a look-up table for directly specifying the recording densities of deep dots and light dots with respect to said plurality of color inks having different hues, from said tone signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said head comprises a mechanism for discharging ink particles under a pressure applied to each ink running through an ink conduit by application of a voltage to a piezoelectric element disposed in said ink conduit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said head comprises a mechanism for discharging ink particles under a pressure applied to each ink running through an ink conduit by air bubbles that are produced by a supply of electricity to a heating body disposed in said ink conduit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said head has a plurality of nozzles for spraying said ink particles with respect to each color ink of each density, said plurality of nozzles being arranged in a feeding direction of a sheet of paper, on which the multi-tone image is printed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said head has a plurality of nozzles for spraying said ink particles with respect to each color ink of each density, said plurality of nozzles being arranged in a feeding direction of a sheet of paper, on which the multi-tone image is printed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
162 words
A printing system having a head, from which at least two inks of different densities are dischargeable, and recording a multi-tone image by a distribution of dots by said at least two inks of different densities, said printing system comprising: input means for receiving tone signals of an original image to be printed; definition means for defining a recording characteristic that abruptly decreases a recording density of dots by a lower-density ink in a range of said tone signals higher than a specific tone signal which gives a maximum recording density of dots by said lower-density ink; specifying means for specifying existence and non-existence of dots by said at least two inks of different densities according to the input tone signals, based on said recording characteristic; and regulating means for regulating discharge of each ink from said head, so as to realize a tone expression according to the existence and non-existence of dots by said at least two inks of different densities.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
162 words
A printing system having a head, from which at least two inks of different densities are dischargeable, and recording a multi-tone image by a distribution of dots by said at least two inks of different densities, said printing system comprising: input means for receiving tone signals of an original image to be printed; definition means for defining a recording characteristic that abruptly decreases a recording density of dots by a lower-density ink in a range of said tone signals higher than a specific tone signal which gives a maximum recording density of dots by said lower-density ink; specifying means for specifying existence and non-existence of dots by said at least two inks of different densities according to the input tone signals, based on said recording characteristic; and regulating means for regulating discharge of each ink from said head, so as to realize a tone expression according to the existence and non-existence of dots by said at least two inks of different densities.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said definition means has a table for specifying the recording densities of dots by said at least two inks of different densities corresponding to said tone signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said at least two inks of different densities comprise a high-density ink and a low density ink and a dye density of said low-density ink is approximately one quarter a dye density of said high-density ink.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said head comprises a plurality of heads for discharging said at least two inks of different densities with respect to a plurality of color inks having different hues, said printing system further comprising a set of said definition means, said specifying means, and said regulating means corresponding to said plurality of color inks having different hues.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said plurality of color inks having different hues comprise cyan ink and magenta ink.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 16, wherein each said specifying means specifies recording densities respect to one color ink, in connection with said tone signals of another color ink.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 16, wherein each said specifing means comprises correction means for decreasing the recording density of dots by said lower-density ink in a target pixel with an increase in density of another color ink discharged to said target pixel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 16, wherein each said definiton means having a look-up table for directly specifying the recording densities of deep dots and light dots with respect to said plurality of color inks having different hues, from said tone signals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said head comprises a mechanism for discharging ink particles under a pressure applied to each ink running through an ink conduit by application of a voltage to a piezoelectric element disposed in said ink conduit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said head comprises a mechanism for discharging ink particles under a pressure applied to each ink running through an ink conduit by air bubbles that are produced by a supply of electricity to a heating body disposed in said ink conduit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 21, wherein said head has a plurality of nozzles for spraying said ink particles with respect to each color ink of each density, said plurality of nozzles being arranged in a feeding direction of a sheet of paper, on which the multi-tone image is printed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 22, wherein said head has a plurality of nozzles for spraying said ink particles with respect to each color ink of each density, said plurality of nozzles being arranged in a feeding direction of a sheet of paper, on which the multi-tone image is printed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
187 words
A printing system for regulating a distribution of dots formed by a plurality of color inks having different hues to print an image, said printing system comprising: a head for discharging said plurality of color inks having different hues as well as at least two inks of different densities with respect to one of said plurality of color inks having different hues; input means for receiving tone signals of an original image to be printed; dot frequency determination means for specifying recording densities of dots by said plurality of color inks having different hues based on said tone signals, and determining a recording density of dots formed in a target pixel by a low-density ink among said at least two inks of different densities, in connection with a density of another color ink discharged to said target pixel; and dot recording means for regulating discharge of each ink from said head, so as to record said dots by said plurality of color inks having different hues as well as deep dots and light dots by said at least two inks of different densities on a recording medium.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
187 words
A printing system for regulating a distribution of dots formed by a plurality of color inks having different hues to print an image, said printing system comprising: a head for discharging said plurality of color inks having different hues as well as at least two inks of different densities with respect to one of said plurality of color inks having different hues; input means for receiving tone signals of an original image to be printed; dot frequency determination means for specifying recording densities of dots by said plurality of color inks having different hues based on said tone signals, and determining a recording density of dots formed in a target pixel by a low-density ink among said at least two inks of different densities, in connection with a density of another color ink discharged to said target pixel; and dot recording means for regulating discharge of each ink from said head, so as to record said dots by said plurality of color inks having different hues as well as deep dots and light dots by said at least two inks of different densities on a recording medium.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
62 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 25, wherein said dot frequency determination means comprises correction means for correcting said recording density of dots formed in said target pixel by said low-density ink, based on a relationship that lowers the recording density of dots by said low-density ink with an increase in density of another color ink discharged to said target pixel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 25, wherein said dot frequency determination means comprises a look-up table for directly specifying recording densities of said deep dots and light dots with respect to said one of said plurality of color inks having different hues, from said tone signals.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
44 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 25, wherein said head comprises a mechanism for discharging ink particles under a pressure applied to each ink running through an ink conduit by application of a voltage to a piezoelectric element disposed in said ink conduit.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
50 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 25, wherein said head comprises a mechanism for discharging ink particles under a pressure applied to each ink running through an ink conduit by air bubbles that are produced by a supply of electricity to a heating body disposed in said ink conduit.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
51 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 28, wherein said head has a plurality of nozzles for spraying said ink particles with respect to each color ink of each density, said plurality of nozzles being arranged in a feeding direction of a sheet of paper, on which the image is printed.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
51 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 29, wherein said head has a plurality of nozzles for spraying said ink particles with respect to each color ink of each density, said plurality of nozzles being arranged in a feeding direction of a sheet of paper, on which the image is printed.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of controlling a head, from which at least two inks of different densities are dischargeable, and regulating a distribution of dots by said at least two inks of different densities based on tone signals of an original image to be printed, so as to record a multi-tone image, said method comprising the steps of: storing a recording characteristic that starts formation of dots by a higher-density ink in a range of tone signals lower than a specific tone signal which gives a maximum recording density of dots by a lower-density ink; inputting the tone signals of said original image to be printed; specifying existence and non-existence of dots by said at least two inks of different densities according to the input tone signals, based on said recording characteristic; and regulating discharge of each ink from said head, so as to realize a tone expression according to the existence and non-existence of dots by said at least two inks of different densities.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of controlling a head, from which at least two inks of different densities are dischargeable, and regulating a distribution of dots by said at least two inks of different densities based on tone signals of an original image to be printed, so as to record a multi-tone image, said method comprising the steps of: storing a recording characteristic that starts formation of dots by a higher-density ink in a range of tone signals lower than a specific tone signal which gives a maximum recording density of dots by a lower-density ink; inputting the tone signals of said original image to be printed; specifying existence and non-existence of dots by said at least two inks of different densities according to the input tone signals, based on said recording characteristic; and regulating discharge of each ink from said head, so as to realize a tone expression according to the existence and non-existence of dots by said at least two inks of different densities.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of controlling a head, from which at least two inks of different densities are dischargeable, and regulating a distribution of dots by said at least two inks of different densities based on tone signals of an original image to be printed, so as to record a multi-tone image, said method comprising the steps of: storing a recording characteristic that abruptly decreases a recording density of dots by a lower-density ink in a range of tone signals higher than a specific tone signal which gives a maximum recording density of dots by said lower-density ink; inputting the tone signals of said original image to be printed; specifying existence and non-existence of dots by said at least two inks of different densities according to the input tone signals, based on said recording characteristic; and regulating discharge of each ink from said head, so as to realize a tone expression according to the existence and non-existence of dots by said at least two inks of different densities.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of controlling a head, from which at least two inks of different densities are dischargeable, and regulating a distribution of dots by said at least two inks of different densities based on tone signals of an original image to be printed, so as to record a multi-tone image, said method comprising the steps of: storing a recording characteristic that abruptly decreases a recording density of dots by a lower-density ink in a range of tone signals higher than a specific tone signal which gives a maximum recording density of dots by said lower-density ink; inputting the tone signals of said original image to be printed; specifying existence and non-existence of dots by said at least two inks of different densities according to the input tone signals, based on said recording characteristic; and regulating discharge of each ink from said head, so as to realize a tone expression according to the existence and non-existence of dots by said at least two inks of different densities.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
178 words
A method of regulating a distribution of dots formed by a plurality of color inks having different hues to record an image, said method comprising the steps of: providing a head for discharging said plurality of color inks having different hues as well as at least two inks of different densities with respect to one of said plurality of color inks having different hues; inputting tone signals of an original image to be printed; specifying recording densities of dots by said plurality of color inks having different hues based on said input tone signals, and determining a recording density of dots formed in a target pixel by a low-density ink among said at least two inks of different densities, in connection with a density of another color ink discharged to said target pixel; and regulating discharge of each ink from said head, so as to record the dots by said plurality of color inks having different hues as well as deep dots and light dots by said at least two inks of different densities on a recording medium.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
178 words
A method of regulating a distribution of dots formed by a plurality of color inks having different hues to record an image, said method comprising the steps of: providing a head for discharging said plurality of color inks having different hues as well as at least two inks of different densities with respect to one of said plurality of color inks having different hues; inputting tone signals of an original image to be printed; specifying recording densities of dots by said plurality of color inks having different hues based on said input tone signals, and determining a recording density of dots formed in a target pixel by a low-density ink among said at least two inks of different densities, in connection with a density of another color ink discharged to said target pixel; and regulating discharge of each ink from said head, so as to record the dots by said plurality of color inks having different hues as well as deep dots and light dots by said at least two inks of different densities on a recording medium.
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