US6250737B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ink jet recording method and apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1999-06-11
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Granted: 2001-06-26
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Expires: 2019-06-11
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of recording heads for ejecting inks of different colors are reciprocally moved relative to a recording medium, and printing operations are performed by executing main scans in forward and backward scans of the recording heads. In this case, an area printable in a single main scan is recorded by performing a plurality of main scans using a plurality of thinning patterns in which an m×n pixel group is defined as a unit pixel group, and the pixel groups are arranged at non-neighboring positions, and which have a complementary arrangement relationship therebetween. A high-quality color image free from time difference nonuniformity, and density nonuniformity caused by, e.g., variations of recording elements is obtained at high speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Miyuki Matsubara
- 👤 Hiromitsu Hirabayashi
- 👤 Shigeyasu Nagoshi
- 👤 Noribumi Koitabashi
- 👤 Hitoshi Sugimoto
- 👤 Fumihiro Gotoh
- 👤 Masaya Uetuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:19
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J19/00; B41J19/14; B41J19/142; B41J19/147; B41J2/135; B41J2/145; B41J29/00; B41J29/38; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; G06K15/102; G06K15/105; G06K15/107; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/04; H04N1/19; H04N1/191; H04N1/1911; H04N1/1913; H04N1/1915; H04N1/46; H04N1/50; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/0062; G06K2215/0071; G06K2215/0074; G06K2215/0082; G06K2215/0094; H04N1/12; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/04; H04N2201/0402; H04N2201/0466; H04N2201/0468
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
An ink jet recording apparatus for recording a color image by performing record scans by reciprocally moving recording means, on which a plurality of recording element arrays for ejecting inks of different colors are arranged, relative to a recording medium, comprising: selection means for selecting one of a first recording mode for performing the record scan in one of forward and backward scans, and a second recording mode for performing the record scans in both the forward and backward scans; and control means for controlling the record scans on a predetermined area on said recording medium according to the recording mode selected by said first selection means, wherein in the first and second recording modes, said control means divides the recording element arrays into a plurality of groups and performs a plurality of record scans using different groups on the predetermined area on said recording medium, thereby recording an image, and wherein in the first recording mode, said control means divides said recording element arrays into m groups and performs m record scans on the predetermined area on said recording medium using the m groups, m being an integer greater than 1; and wherein in the second recording mode, said control means divides said recording element arrays into n (<m) groups and performs n record scans on the predetermined area on said recording medium using the n groups.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
An ink jet recording apparatus for recording a color image by performing record scans by reciprocally moving recording means, on which a plurality of recording element arrays for ejecting inks of different colors are arranged, relative to a recording medium, comprising: selection means for selecting one of a first recording mode for performing the record scan in one of forward and backward scans, and a second recording mode for performing the record scans in both the forward and backward scans; and control means for controlling the record scans on a predetermined area on said recording medium according to the recording mode selected by said first selection means, wherein in the first and second recording modes, said control means divides the recording element arrays into a plurality of groups and performs a plurality of record scans using different groups on the predetermined area on said recording medium, thereby recording an image, and wherein in the first recording mode, said control means divides said recording element arrays into m groups and performs m record scans on the predetermined area on said recording medium using the m groups, m being an integer greater than 1; and wherein in the second recording mode, said control means divides said recording element arrays into n (<m) groups and performs n record scans on the predetermined area on said recording medium using the n groups.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said selection means selects one of the first and second recording modes in response to an input operation according to a type of said recording medium.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2 , wherein the recording element generates heat energy, and causes a change in state in the ink by the heat energy, thereby ejecting an ink droplet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said control means performs the recording of a specific color alone in the other one of forward and backward scans in response to an input operation for designating a specific color emphasis recording operation in the first recording mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein in response to the input operation for designating a specific color emphasis recording operation in the first recording mode, said control means performs the recording of the specific color alone in the other one of the forward and backward scans when a temperature of said recording means does not exceed a predetermined temperature and performs the additional recording of the specific color alone in said one of forward and backward scans when the temperature of said recording means exceeds the predetermined temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said specific color is black.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
219 words
An ink jet recording method for recording a color image by performing record scans by reciprocally moving recording means, on which a plurality of recording element arrays for ejecting inks of different colors are arranged, relative to a recording medium, comprising: selecting one of a first recording mode for performing the record scan in one of forward and backward scans, and a second recording mode for performing the record scans in both the forward and backward scans; and controlling the record scans on a predetermined area on said recording medium according to the recording mode selected by said first selection means, wherein in the first and second recording modes, the recording element arrays are divided into a plurality of groups and a plurality of record scans are performed using different groups on the predetermined area on said recording medium, thereby recording an image, and wherein in the first recording mode, said recording element arrays are divided into m groups and m record scans are performed on the predetermined area on said recording medium using the m groups, m being an integer greater than 1; and wherein in the second recording mode, said recording element arrays are divided into n (<m) groups and n record scans are performed on the predetermined area on said recording medium using the n groups.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
219 words
An ink jet recording method for recording a color image by performing record scans by reciprocally moving recording means, on which a plurality of recording element arrays for ejecting inks of different colors are arranged, relative to a recording medium, comprising: selecting one of a first recording mode for performing the record scan in one of forward and backward scans, and a second recording mode for performing the record scans in both the forward and backward scans; and controlling the record scans on a predetermined area on said recording medium according to the recording mode selected by said first selection means, wherein in the first and second recording modes, the recording element arrays are divided into a plurality of groups and a plurality of record scans are performed using different groups on the predetermined area on said recording medium, thereby recording an image, and wherein in the first recording mode, said recording element arrays are divided into m groups and m record scans are performed on the predetermined area on said recording medium using the m groups, m being an integer greater than 1; and wherein in the second recording mode, said recording element arrays are divided into n (<m) groups and n record scans are performed on the predetermined area on said recording medium using the n groups.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 7 , wherein the record scans are performed on the predetermined area with a specific color in the other one of forward and backward scans in response to an input operation for designating a specific color emphasis recording operation in the first recording mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein in response to the input operation for designating a specific color emphasis recording operation in the first recording mode, a specific color is recorded in the other one of the forward and backward scans when a temperature of said recording means does not exceed a predetermined temperature and the additional recording of the specific color is performed in one of said forward and backward scans when the temperature of said recording means exceeds the predetermined temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 7 , wherein said specific color is black.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-06-25 | 2004-12-25 | 2005-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-06-25 | 2008-12-25 | 2009-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-06-25 | 2012-12-25 | 2013-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |