US6046820A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming device and computer which share the generation of a function for correcting image data based on an image forming condition of the image forming device
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1997-10-22
•
Granted: 2000-04-04
•
Expires: 2017-10-22
Abstract
Abstract A printer sends a calibration request to a computer upon sensing the need for calibration. Upon receiving the calibration request, the computer supplies the printer with data (logical density values) for a grayscale correction. On the basis of the grayscale correction data, the printer forms a sample image, measures the density (actual density values) of the sample image and notifies the computer of the actual density values. On the basis of the logical density values and actual density values, the computer creates a grayscale correction table (executes calibration) serving as a rule for correcting the tonality of image information. When printing is performed, the computer corrects the tonality of the image information based upon the grayscale correction table and supplies the corrected results to the printer.
Inventors
- 👤 Jun Konishi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:02
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/407; H04N1/4076; H04N1/4078
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
An image output system comprising a host computer and a printer having a printer engine and a printer controller, said host computer and said printer being connected via a communication network, said printer comprising: sensing means for sensing a change in environment; calibration request transmission means for transmitting a calibration request to said host computer in accordance with the sensed result; reception means for receiving sample image data from said host computer; sample image forming means for forming a sample image based on the received sample image data; measurement means for performing a measurement on the formed sample image; and measured data transmission means for transmitting the measured data to said host computer; and said host computer comprising; calibration request reception means for receiving the calibration request from said printer; sample image data transmitting means for transmitting the sample image data to said printer; measured data reception means for receiving the measured data from said printer; and generating means for generating grayscale correction data based on the received measured data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
An image output system comprising a host computer and a printer having a printer engine and a printer controller, said host computer and said printer being connected via a communication network, said printer comprising: sensing means for sensing a change in environment; calibration request transmission means for transmitting a calibration request to said host computer in accordance with the sensed result; reception means for receiving sample image data from said host computer; sample image forming means for forming a sample image based on the received sample image data; measurement means for performing a measurement on the formed sample image; and measured data transmission means for transmitting the measured data to said host computer; and said host computer comprising; calibration request reception means for receiving the calibration request from said printer; sample image data transmitting means for transmitting the sample image data to said printer; measured data reception means for receiving the measured data from said printer; and generating means for generating grayscale correction data based on the received measured data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
101 words
A printer having a printer engine and a printer controller, to be connected to a host computer calibrating grayscale correction data; said printer comprising: sensing means for sensing a change in environment; calibration request transmission means for transmitting a calibration request to said host computer in accordance with the sensed result; reception means for receiving sample image data from said computer; sample image forming means for forming a sample image based on the received sample image data; measurement means for performing measurement on the formed sample image; and measured data transmission means for transmitting the measured data to said host computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
A printer having a printer engine and a printer controller, to be connected to a host computer calibrating grayscale correction data; said printer comprising: sensing means for sensing a change in environment; calibration request transmission means for transmitting a calibration request to said host computer in accordance with the sensed result; reception means for receiving sample image data from said computer; sample image forming means for forming a sample image based on the received sample image data; measurement means for performing measurement on the formed sample image; and measured data transmission means for transmitting the measured data to said host computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The printer according to claim 2, wherein said calibration request transmission means transmits the calibration request to said host computer if an amount of change in the environment has exceeded a predetermined amount.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein the environment includes temperature or consumption of a component of said printer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein said printer adopts an electrophotographic method to form an image, said sample image forming means forms the sample image on a photosensitive drum, and said measurement means performs measurement on the sample image on the photosensitive drum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein said host computer further comprises: correction means for correcting input image data in accordance with the generated grayscale correction data; and image data transmission means for transmitting the corrected image data to said printer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The printer according to claim 2, wherein the environment includes temperature or consumption of a component of said printer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The printer according to claim 2, wherein said printer adopts an electrophotographic method to form an image, said sample image forming means forms the sample image on a photosensitive drum, and said measurement means performs measurement on the sample image on the photosensitive drum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
107 words
A host computer to be connected to a printer via a communication network, said printer having a printer engine and a printer controller, said host computer comprising: calibration request reception means for receiving a calibration request transmitted from said printer based on a change in environment in said printer; sample image data transmitting means for transmitting the sample image data to said printer; measured data reception means for receiving data from said printer, the data being obtained by performing measurement on a sample image formed in said printer based on the sample image data; and generating means for generating grayscale correction data based on the received data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
107 words
A host computer to be connected to a printer via a communication network, said printer having a printer engine and a printer controller, said host computer comprising: calibration request reception means for receiving a calibration request transmitted from said printer based on a change in environment in said printer; sample image data transmitting means for transmitting the sample image data to said printer; measured data reception means for receiving data from said printer, the data being obtained by performing measurement on a sample image formed in said printer based on the sample image data; and generating means for generating grayscale correction data based on the received data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The host computer according to claim 9, wherein the environment includes temperature or consumption of a component of said printer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The host computer according to claim 9, further comprising: correction means for correcting input image data in accordance with the generated grayscale correction data; and image data transmission means for transmitting the corrected image data to said printer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
125 words
A memory medium recording a program implementing an implementing an image processing method applied to a host computer to be connected to a printer via a communication network, the printer having a printer engine and a printer controller, the program comprising: a calibration request reception step of receiving the calibration request transmitted from the printer based on a change in environment in the printer; a sample image data transmitting step of transmitting the sample image data to the printer; a measured data reception step of receiving data from the printer, the data being obtained by performing measurement on a sample image formed in the printer based on the sample image data; and a generating step of generating grayscale correction data based on the received data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
125 words
A memory medium recording a program implementing an implementing an image processing method applied to a host computer to be connected to a printer via a communication network, the printer having a printer engine and a printer controller, the program comprising: a calibration request reception step of receiving the calibration request transmitted from the printer based on a change in environment in the printer; a sample image data transmitting step of transmitting the sample image data to the printer; a measured data reception step of receiving data from the printer, the data being obtained by performing measurement on a sample image formed in the printer based on the sample image data; and a generating step of generating grayscale correction data based on the received data.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
114 words
A method applied to a host computer to be connected to a printer via a communication network, the printer having a printer engine and a printer controller, the method comprising: a calibration request reception step of receiving the calibration request transmitted from the printer based on a change in environment in the printer; a sample image data transmitting step of transmitting the sample image data to the printer; a measured data reception step of receiving data from the printer, the data being obtained by performing measurement on a sample image formed in the printer based on the sample image data; and a generating step of generating grayscale correction data based on the received data.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
114 words
A method applied to a host computer to be connected to a printer via a communication network, the printer having a printer engine and a printer controller, the method comprising: a calibration request reception step of receiving the calibration request transmitted from the printer based on a change in environment in the printer; a sample image data transmitting step of transmitting the sample image data to the printer; a measured data reception step of receiving data from the printer, the data being obtained by performing measurement on a sample image formed in the printer based on the sample image data; and a generating step of generating grayscale correction data based on the received data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4710785A
Cited
US5313291A
Cited
US5378563A
Cited
US5838342A
Cited
EP0651317A2
Cited
EP0679016A2
Cited
US5835235A
Cited
EP0721279A2
Cited
US5734407A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-04-04 | 2003-10-04 | 2004-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-04 | 2007-10-04 | 2008-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-04 | 2011-10-04 | 2012-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |