US5818474A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink-jet recording apparatus and method using asynchronous masks
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1994-06-27
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Granted: 1998-10-06
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Expires: 2014-06-27
Abstract
Abstract Random masks each having a given size and defining a random array of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations are placed in association with record areas in mask registers. Using the placed masks, record data is thinned-out and supplied to a recording head. An image is then recorded. Thus, since thinning-out masks do not have periodicity, any inherent density nonuniformity loses periodicity. Consequently, high-definition images can be produced.
Inventors
- 👤 Kiichiro Takahashi
- 👤 Naoji Otsuka
- 👤 Kazuhiro Nakata
- 👤 Atsushi Arai
- 👤 Kentaro Yano
- 👤 Osamu Iwasaki
- 👤 Daigoro Kanematsu
- 👤 Masao Sasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; G06K15/102; G06K15/105; G06K15/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A recording apparatus for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said apparatus comprising: scan controlling means for controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times; producing means for producing a plurality of random masks, each random mask having a predetermined size and defining a random arrangement of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; thinning-out means for thinning out record data using said random masks produced by said producing means, said random masks being utilized as thinning-out masks for each record area; and record controlling means for forming thinned-out images by printing the record data thinned out by said thinning-out means, during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A recording apparatus for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said apparatus comprising: scan controlling means for controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times; producing means for producing a plurality of random masks, each random mask having a predetermined size and defining a random arrangement of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; thinning-out means for thinning out record data using said random masks produced by said producing means, said random masks being utilized as thinning-out masks for each record area; and record controlling means for forming thinned-out images by printing the record data thinned out by said thinning-out means, during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said scan controlling means controls the recording head to scan the same record area of the recording medium a plurality of times by changing divided areas of the recording head.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing a plurality of random masks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: checking means for checking whether or not said random masks produced by said producing means are consistent with a predetermined mask; and prohibiting means for prohibiting certain random masks from being used as thinning-out masks when the certain random masks are consistent with said predetermined mask.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the recording head, wherein said recording head discharges ink from a plurality of ink-jet nozzles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said recording head discharges the ink by way of heat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a copying machine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a facsimile machine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a computer terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
120 words
A recording apparatus for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said apparatus comprising: scan controlling means for controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times; selecting means for randomly selecting a plurality of masks each having a predetermined size and defining an arrangement of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; thinning-out means for thinning out record data using said masks selected by said selecting means, said randomly-selected masks being utilized as thinning-out masks for each record area; and record controlling means for forming thinned-out images by recording the record data thinned out by said thinning-out means, during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
120 words
A recording apparatus for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said apparatus comprising: scan controlling means for controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times; selecting means for randomly selecting a plurality of masks each having a predetermined size and defining an arrangement of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; thinning-out means for thinning out record data using said masks selected by said selecting means, said randomly-selected masks being utilized as thinning-out masks for each record area; and record controlling means for forming thinned-out images by recording the record data thinned out by said thinning-out means, during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising the recording head, wherein said recording head discharges ink from a plurality of ink-jet nozzles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said recording head discharges the ink by way of heat.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a copying machine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a facsimile machine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a computer terminal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
183 words
A recording apparatus for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said apparatus comprising: scan controlling means for controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times; producing means for producing a plurality of random masks each having a predetermined size and defining a random array of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; selecting means for randomly selecting a plurality of masks each having a predetermined size and defining an array of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; synthesizing means for synthesizing said masks randomly selected by said selecting means with said random masks produced by said producing means so as to produce synthetic masks providing different thinning-out ratios from said random masks; thinning-out means for thinning out record data using said synthetic masks produced by said synthesizing means, said synthetic masks being utilized as thinning-out masks for each record area; and recording controlling means for forming thinned-out images by recording the record data thinned out by said thinning-out means, during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
183 words
A recording apparatus for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said apparatus comprising: scan controlling means for controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times; producing means for producing a plurality of random masks each having a predetermined size and defining a random array of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; selecting means for randomly selecting a plurality of masks each having a predetermined size and defining an array of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; synthesizing means for synthesizing said masks randomly selected by said selecting means with said random masks produced by said producing means so as to produce synthetic masks providing different thinning-out ratios from said random masks; thinning-out means for thinning out record data using said synthetic masks produced by said synthesizing means, said synthetic masks being utilized as thinning-out masks for each record area; and recording controlling means for forming thinned-out images by recording the record data thinned out by said thinning-out means, during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising the recording head, wherein said recording head discharges ink from a plurality of ink-jet nozzles.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said recording head discharges the ink by way of heat.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a copying machine.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a facsimile machine.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a computer terminal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
160 words
A recording apparatus for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said apparatus comprising: scan controlling means for controlling the recording head to scan a same record area of a plurality of record areas of a recording medium a plurality of times; specifying means for specifying a plurality of groups of different masks, each group corresponding to a record area of the plurality of record areas and each of the different masks defining an arrangement of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations, for use as thinning-out masks for a respective record area, wherein groups of masks corresponding to different record areas are different from each other; thinning-out means for thinning out record data using said different masks specified by said specifying means; and record controlling means for forming thinned-out images by recording the record data thinned out by said thinning-out means, during respective scans controlled by said scan controlling means, and thus completing an image.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
160 words
A recording apparatus for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said apparatus comprising: scan controlling means for controlling the recording head to scan a same record area of a plurality of record areas of a recording medium a plurality of times; specifying means for specifying a plurality of groups of different masks, each group corresponding to a record area of the plurality of record areas and each of the different masks defining an arrangement of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations, for use as thinning-out masks for a respective record area, wherein groups of masks corresponding to different record areas are different from each other; thinning-out means for thinning out record data using said different masks specified by said specifying means; and record controlling means for forming thinned-out images by recording the record data thinned out by said thinning-out means, during respective scans controlled by said scan controlling means, and thus completing an image.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said specifying means specifies certain ones of said masks for each record scan.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said specifying means specifies certain ones of said masks for respective divided areas of the recording head.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said specifying means varies periodicities in specifying said masks.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said specifying means produces a plurality of complementary masks using a single mask.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising the recording head, wherein said recording head discharges ink from a plurality of ink-jet nozzles.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said recording head discharges the ink by way of heat.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a copying machine.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a facsimile machine.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a computer terminal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
105 words
A recording method for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said method comprising the steps of: producing a plurality of random masks each having a predetermined size and defining a random arrangement of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; thinning out record data using the random masks produced in the producing step, the random masks being utilized as thinning-out masks for each record area; and controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times, forming thinned-out images by recording thinned-out record data during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
105 words
A recording method for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said method comprising the steps of: producing a plurality of random masks each having a predetermined size and defining a random arrangement of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; thinning out record data using the random masks produced in the producing step, the random masks being utilized as thinning-out masks for each record area; and controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times, forming thinned-out images by recording thinned-out record data during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
A recording method according to claim 32, wherein during image forming the recording head discharges ink from a plurality of ink-jet nozzles.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
A recording method according to claim 33, wherein the recording head discharges the ink by way of heat.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
103 words
A recording method for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said method comprising the steps of: randomly selecting a plurality of masks each having a predetermined size and defining an arrangement of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; thinning out record data using the masks selected in said selecting step, said random masks being utilized as thinning-out masks for each record area; and controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times, forming thinned-out images by recording thinned-out record data during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
103 words
A recording method for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said method comprising the steps of: randomly selecting a plurality of masks each having a predetermined size and defining an arrangement of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; thinning out record data using the masks selected in said selecting step, said random masks being utilized as thinning-out masks for each record area; and controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times, forming thinned-out images by recording thinned-out record data during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
A recording method according to claim 35, wherein during image forming the recording head discharges ink from a plurality of ink-jet nozzles.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
A recording method according to claim 36, wherein the recording head discharges the ink by way of heat.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
148 words
A recording method for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said method comprising the steps of: producing a plurality of random masks each having a predetermined size and defining a random arrangement of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; randomly selecting a plurality of prestored masks each having a predetermined size and defining an array of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; synthesizing the selected prestored masks with the produced random masks so as to produce synthetic masks providing different thinning-out ratios from the random masks; thinning out record data using the synthetic masks, the synthetic masks being utilized as thinning-out masks for each record area; and controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times, forming thinned-out images by recording thinned-out record data during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
148 words
A recording method for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said method comprising the steps of: producing a plurality of random masks each having a predetermined size and defining a random arrangement of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; randomly selecting a plurality of prestored masks each having a predetermined size and defining an array of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; synthesizing the selected prestored masks with the produced random masks so as to produce synthetic masks providing different thinning-out ratios from the random masks; thinning out record data using the synthetic masks, the synthetic masks being utilized as thinning-out masks for each record area; and controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times, forming thinned-out images by recording thinned-out record data during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
A recording method according to claim 38, wherein during image forming the recording head discharges ink from a plurality of ink-jet nozzles.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
18 words
A recording method according to claim 39, wherein the recording head discharges the ink by way of heat.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
127 words
A recording method for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said method comprising the steps of: specifying a plurality of groups of different masks, each group corresponding to a record area of the plurality of record areas and each of the different masks defining an arrangement of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations, for use as thinning-out masks for a respective record area, wherein groups of masks corresponding to different record areas are different from each other; thinning out record data using the specified different masks; and controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times, forming thinned-out images by recording thinned-out record data during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
127 words
A recording method for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said method comprising the steps of: specifying a plurality of groups of different masks, each group corresponding to a record area of the plurality of record areas and each of the different masks defining an arrangement of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations, for use as thinning-out masks for a respective record area, wherein groups of masks corresponding to different record areas are different from each other; thinning out record data using the specified different masks; and controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times, forming thinned-out images by recording thinned-out record data during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
22 words
A recording method according to claim 41, wherein during image forming the recording head discharges ink from a plurality of ink-jet nozzles.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
18 words
A recording method according to claim 42, wherein the recording head discharges the ink by way of heat.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
132 words
A recording apparatus for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said apparatus comprising: scan controlling means for controlling the recording head to scan a same record area of a plurality of record areas of a recording medium a plurality of times; specifying means for specifying different kinds of masks, each of which defines an arrangement of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations, for use as thinning-out masks for respective record areas, wherein said specifying means varies periodicities in specifying said masks; thinning-out means for thinning out record data using said different kinds of masks specified by said specifying means; and record controlling means for forming thinned-out images by recording the record data thinned out by said thinning-out means, during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
132 words
A recording apparatus for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said apparatus comprising: scan controlling means for controlling the recording head to scan a same record area of a plurality of record areas of a recording medium a plurality of times; specifying means for specifying different kinds of masks, each of which defines an arrangement of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations, for use as thinning-out masks for respective record areas, wherein said specifying means varies periodicities in specifying said masks; thinning-out means for thinning out record data using said different kinds of masks specified by said specifying means; and record controlling means for forming thinned-out images by recording the record data thinned out by said thinning-out means, during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
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