US5852454A — Color recording device and method for receiving b…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 84 words

An apparatus for processing images, comprising: a means for receiving Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and Bk (black) binary image data; a means for recording color images by using Y, M, and C recording members; a conversion means for converting the received Bk binary image data to Y, M, and C binary image data at a given ratio; and a synthesizing means for synthesizing the converted Y, M, and C binary image data with the received Y, M, and C binary image data.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 84 words

An apparatus for processing images, comprising: a means for receiving Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and Bk (black) binary image data; a means for recording color images by using Y, M, and C recording members; a conversion means for converting the received Bk binary image data to Y, M, and C binary image data at a given ratio; and a synthesizing means for synthesizing the converted Y, M, and C binary image data with the received Y, M, and C binary image data.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 85 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a host computer comprising: a first conversion means for converting R (red), G (green), and B (blue) multi-level image data to Y, M, C, and Bk multi-level image data; a second conversion means for converting the converted Y, M, C, and Bk multi-level data to Y, M, C, and Bk binary image data with binarization; and a transfer means for transferring the converted Y, M, C, and Bk binary image data to a recording device.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conversion means performs Y, M, and C color mask processing for the Bk binary image data and converts it to Y, M, and C binary image data.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recording head detection means for detecting a recording head mounted on said color recording device.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said color recording device which forms images by ejecting ink drops from an ejection port on a recording head.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 75 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said color recording device has exchangeable recording heads such as a monochrome recording head having a configuration in which data can be recorded only with a Bk color, a recording head having a configuration in which data can be recorded with Y, M, C, and Bk colors, and a recording head having a configuration in which data can be recorded with Y, M, and C colors.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 114 words

An apparatus for processing images, comprising: an input means for entering image data having YMCBk elements of four colors, wherein Y, M, C, and Bk correspond to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively; an image forming means for forming images with YMC elements of three colors; a conversion means for converting the Bk element to respective Y, M, and C elements by masking with corresponding Y, M, and C elements created randomly for the entered image data with the Bk element; and a synthesizing means for synthesizing the converted Y, M, and C elements to the entered Bk element, said image forming means forming an image on the basis of the synthesized YMC elements.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 114 words

An apparatus for processing images, comprising: an input means for entering image data having YMCBk elements of four colors, wherein Y, M, C, and Bk correspond to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively; an image forming means for forming images with YMC elements of three colors; a conversion means for converting the Bk element to respective Y, M, and C elements by masking with corresponding Y, M, and C elements created randomly for the entered image data with the Bk element; and a synthesizing means for synthesizing the converted Y, M, and C elements to the entered Bk element, said image forming means forming an image on the basis of the synthesized YMC elements.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 36 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said mask is generated on the basis of an array with random numbers of RGB, wherein R, G, and B correspond to red, green, and blue, respectively.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 42 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said conversion means converts the Bk element to respective YMC elements by thinning out given pixels of the image data of the Bk element on the basis of each mask for YMC elements.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said synthesizing means ORs said converted YMC elements with the entered YMC elements.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said mask is set so that the total amount of the generated image data in a given area is equal to a given value or lower.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the given value is set on the basis of a concerned recording medium.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 191 words

An apparatus for processing images, comprising: an input means for entering image data having YMCBk elements of four colors, wherein Y, M, C, and Bk correspond to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively; and an image forming means for forming images with YMC elements of three colors, characterized by a first conversion means for converting the Bk element to respective Y, M, and C elements by applying a first mask with corresponding Y, M, and C elements created randomly to the entered image data with the Bk element; an edge extraction means for extracting edge parts in the entered Bk element image data; a second conversion means for converting the Bk element to respective YMC elements by applying a second mask with corresponding Y, M, and C elements for emphasizing edges for the extracted Bk element edge parts; and a synthesizing means for synthesizing the Y, M, and C elements converted by said first conversion means, the Y, M, and C elements converted by said second conversion means, and the entered Y, M, and C elements, said image forming means forming an image on the basis of the synthesized YMC elements.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 191 words

An apparatus for processing images, comprising: an input means for entering image data having YMCBk elements of four colors, wherein Y, M, C, and Bk correspond to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively; and an image forming means for forming images with YMC elements of three colors, characterized by a first conversion means for converting the Bk element to respective Y, M, and C elements by applying a first mask with corresponding Y, M, and C elements created randomly to the entered image data with the Bk element; an edge extraction means for extracting edge parts in the entered Bk element image data; a second conversion means for converting the Bk element to respective YMC elements by applying a second mask with corresponding Y, M, and C elements for emphasizing edges for the extracted Bk element edge parts; and a synthesizing means for synthesizing the Y, M, and C elements converted by said first conversion means, the Y, M, and C elements converted by said second conversion means, and the entered Y, M, and C elements, said image forming means forming an image on the basis of the synthesized YMC elements.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 24 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second mask has a lower thinning out ratio than that of the first mask.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said second mask does not thin out said extracted Bk element edge parts.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 74 words

A method of processing images, comprising the steps of: setting an arbitrary recording mode from among a plurality of recording modes; and controlling recording materials by performing mask processing using mask data corresponding to the recording mode set in said setting step, so as to suppress a total amount of the recording materials in a predetermined area of a formed image to an amount according to the recording mode set in said setting step.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 74 words

A method of processing images, comprising the steps of: setting an arbitrary recording mode from among a plurality of recording modes; and controlling recording materials by performing mask processing using mask data corresponding to the recording mode set in said setting step, so as to suppress a total amount of the recording materials in a predetermined area of a formed image to an amount according to the recording mode set in said setting step.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 20 words

An image processing method according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of recording modes correspond to kinds of recording media.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 73 words

A method of processing images, comprising the steps of: receiving Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan), and Bk (black) binary image data; recording color images by using Y, M, and C recording members; converting the received Bk binary image data to Y, M, and C binary data at a given ratio; and synthesizing the converted Y, M, and C binary image data with the received Y, M, and C binary image data.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 73 words

A method of processing images, comprising the steps of: receiving Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan), and Bk (black) binary image data; recording color images by using Y, M, and C recording members; converting the received Bk binary image data to Y, M, and C binary data at a given ratio; and synthesizing the converted Y, M, and C binary image data with the received Y, M, and C binary image data.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 103 words

A method of processing images, comprising the steps of: entering image data having YMCBk elements of four colors, wherein Y, M, C, and Bk correspond to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively; forming images with YMC elements of three colors; converting the Bk element to respective Y, M, and C elements by masking with corresponding Y, M, and C elements created randomly for the entered image data with the Bk element; and synthesizing said converted Y, M, and C elements to the entered Bk element, said image forming step in which an image is formed on the basis of the synthesized YMC elements.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 103 words

A method of processing images, comprising the steps of: entering image data having YMCBk elements of four colors, wherein Y, M, C, and Bk correspond to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively; forming images with YMC elements of three colors; converting the Bk element to respective Y, M, and C elements by masking with corresponding Y, M, and C elements created randomly for the entered image data with the Bk element; and synthesizing said converted Y, M, and C elements to the entered Bk element, said image forming step in which an image is formed on the basis of the synthesized YMC elements.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 104 words

An apparatus for processing images, comprising: an input means for entering M-level color image data with a plurality of color elements where M is a positive integer; a blacking processing means for generating black element data by blacking based on the input color image data; an N-level conversion processing means for converting the black element data to N-level notation (M>N) where N is a positive integer; and an edge detection means for detecting an edge on the basis of the black element data converted to N-level notation, said blacking processing means generating black element data according to levels of the plurality of color elements.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 104 words

An apparatus for processing images, comprising: an input means for entering M-level color image data with a plurality of color elements where M is a positive integer; a blacking processing means for generating black element data by blacking based on the input color image data; an N-level conversion processing means for converting the black element data to N-level notation (M>N) where N is a positive integer; and an edge detection means for detecting an edge on the basis of the black element data converted to N-level notation, said blacking processing means generating black element data according to levels of the plurality of color elements.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 25 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said blacking processing means generates black elements for the input color image data with high density.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 49 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising: a color conversion means for converting colors of the black element data to the plurality of color elements, said color conversion means in which different color conversion is performed for images of edge parts and those of other parts.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 27 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said color conversion means sets the plurality of color elements to on dots for said detected edge parts.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 38 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said color conversion means converts colors of the black element data to said plurality of color elements so that the other parts do not exceed a given ejection amount.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 16 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said N-level conversion processing means performs binarization.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 30 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising an under-color removal means for removing under colors to control an ejection amount for the plurality of color element data.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 30 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising an image forming means for forming images by using a recording agent corresponding to the plurality of respective color elements.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 19 words

An image processing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the plurality of color elements are Y, M, and C.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 101 words

A method of processing images, comprising steps of: entering M-level color image data with a plurality of color elements where M is a positive integer; blacking processing of generating black element data by blacking based on the input color image data; an N-level conversion processing of converting the black element data to N-level notation (M>N) where N is a positive integer; and an edge detection of detecting an edge on the basis of the black element data converted to N-level notation, said blacking processing step in which black element data is generated according to levels of the plurality of color elements.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 101 words

A method of processing images, comprising steps of: entering M-level color image data with a plurality of color elements where M is a positive integer; blacking processing of generating black element data by blacking based on the input color image data; an N-level conversion processing of converting the black element data to N-level notation (M>N) where N is a positive integer; and an edge detection of detecting an edge on the basis of the black element data converted to N-level notation, said blacking processing step in which black element data is generated according to levels of the plurality of color elements.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-12-21	2002-06-22	2002-12-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-12-21	2006-06-22	2006-12-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-12-21	2010-06-22	2010-12-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Color recording device and method for receiving binary image data and recording a corresponding color image

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