US6601938B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink-jet print method and apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1999-05-10
•
Granted: 2003-08-05
•
Expires: 2019-05-10
Abstract
Abstract Print codes supplied from a host computer are received and analyzed to generate print data for the individual colors, and the generated print data are stored in print buffers corresponding to the colors. The print data corresponding to yellow ink with high lightness is expressed by binary data, and is printed by one dot per pixel by a single print scan. The print data corresponding to each of the remaining high-density (thick) inks is expressed by multi-valued data having a larger number of bits than the yellow data, and is printed by a plurality of print scans.
Inventors
- 👤 Osamu Iwasaki
- 👤 Naoji Otsuka
- 👤 Kentaro Yano
- 👤 Kiichiro Takahashi
- 👤 Hitoshi Nishikori
- 👤 Daigoro Kanematsu
- 👤 Hidehiko Kanda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; G06K15/102; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0082; G06K2215/0094
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
An ink-jet printer for printing an image by ejecting ink from a plurality of print heads onto a printing medium, comprising: a plurality of print heads for ejecting inks each having a different color and lightness level from each other; data generation means for generating print data having a first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a first ink other than black, with a first lightness level and a first color, and print data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a second ink other than black, with a second lightness level lower than the first lightness level and a second color different from the first color; supply means for supplying the print data generated by said data generation means to corresponding print heads; and print means for driving said plurality of print heads on the basis of the print data supplied from said supply means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
An ink-jet printer for printing an image by ejecting ink from a plurality of print heads onto a printing medium, comprising: a plurality of print heads for ejecting inks each having a different color and lightness level from each other; data generation means for generating print data having a first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a first ink other than black, with a first lightness level and a first color, and print data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a second ink other than black, with a second lightness level lower than the first lightness level and a second color different from the first color; supply means for supplying the print data generated by said data generation means to corresponding print heads; and print means for driving said plurality of print heads on the basis of the print data supplied from said supply means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the print data having the first resolution is binary data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the print data having the second resolution is multi-valued data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the ink with the first lightness level is yellow ink.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising first storage means for storing the print data having the first resolution and second storage means for storing the print data having the second resolution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said print means prints the print data at predetermined frequencies, with the print data having the second resolution being printed at a frequency higher than a print frequency of the print data having the first resolution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the second resolution is higher than the first resolution in both a main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
212 words
An ink-jet printing apparatus for printing an image on a printing medium using a print head having a plurality of print elements for ejecting ink, said print head having a plurality of print element groups for respectively ejecting yellow, cyan, magenta, and black inks, comprising: data generation means for generating print data having a first resolution for supply to the print element group that ejects the yellow ink with high lightness level, and print data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution for supply to another one of the print element groups that ejects another ink with low lightness level; first print means for performing printing in accordance with the print data having the first resolution and expressed by binary data using the print element group for ejecting the yellow ink; first storage means for storing the print data having the first resolution and expressed by the binary data; second print means for performing printing in accordance with the print data having the second resolution higher than the first resolution and expressed by multi-valued data using the print element group other than the print element group for ejecting the yellow ink; and second storage means for storing the print data having the second resolution and expressed by the multi-valued data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
212 words
An ink-jet printing apparatus for printing an image on a printing medium using a print head having a plurality of print elements for ejecting ink, said print head having a plurality of print element groups for respectively ejecting yellow, cyan, magenta, and black inks, comprising: data generation means for generating print data having a first resolution for supply to the print element group that ejects the yellow ink with high lightness level, and print data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution for supply to another one of the print element groups that ejects another ink with low lightness level; first print means for performing printing in accordance with the print data having the first resolution and expressed by binary data using the print element group for ejecting the yellow ink; first storage means for storing the print data having the first resolution and expressed by the binary data; second print means for performing printing in accordance with the print data having the second resolution higher than the first resolution and expressed by multi-valued data using the print element group other than the print element group for ejecting the yellow ink; and second storage means for storing the print data having the second resolution and expressed by the multi-valued data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the print element group for ejecting the yellow ink is arranged on a downstream side with respect to the other print element group in a feed direction of the printing medium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
147 words
An ink-jet print method for printing an image by ejecting ink from a plurality of print heads onto a printing medium, comprising: a step of inputting data corresponding to inks each having different colors and lightness levels; a step of generating print data having a first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a first ink other than black, with a first lightness level and a first color, and print data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a second ink other than black, with a second lightness level lower than the first lightness level and a second color different from the first color, based upon the data inputted in said inputting step; and a step of performing printing by ejecting the inks having different colors and lightness levels in accordance with the print data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
147 words
An ink-jet print method for printing an image by ejecting ink from a plurality of print heads onto a printing medium, comprising: a step of inputting data corresponding to inks each having different colors and lightness levels; a step of generating print data having a first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a first ink other than black, with a first lightness level and a first color, and print data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a second ink other than black, with a second lightness level lower than the first lightness level and a second color different from the first color, based upon the data inputted in said inputting step; and a step of performing printing by ejecting the inks having different colors and lightness levels in accordance with the print data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 10 , further comprising a binary conversion step of converting the print data corresponding to the ink with the first lightness level into binary data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein the ink with the first lightness level is yellow ink.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 10 , further comprising a multi-vale conversion step of converting the print data corresponding to the ink with the second lightness level into multi-valued data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 10 , wherein printing at the second resolution is performed at a frequency higher than a print frequency of printing performed for the first resolution.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 10 , wherein the second resolution is higher than the first resolution in both a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 10 , wherein printing at the second resolution is performed using diluted ink and printing one pixel by overlapping a plurality of ink droplets.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 10 , wherein printing at the second resolution is performed using diluted ink and forming one pixel using a plurality of ink dots.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
170 words
An ink-jet print method for printing an image on a printing medium using a print head having a plurality of print elements for ejecting ink, said print head having a plurality of print element groups for respectively ejecting yellow, cyan, magenta, and black inks, comprising: a step of generating print data having a first resolution for supply to the print element group that ejects the yellow ink, and print data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution for supply to another print element group that ejects another ink based upon input data; a first print step of performing printing in accordance with the print data having the first resolution and expressed by binary data using the print element group for ejecting the yellow ink; and a second print step of performing printing in accordance with the print data having the second resolution higher than the first resolution and expressed by multi-valued data using the print element group other than the print element group for ejecting the yellow ink.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
170 words
An ink-jet print method for printing an image on a printing medium using a print head having a plurality of print elements for ejecting ink, said print head having a plurality of print element groups for respectively ejecting yellow, cyan, magenta, and black inks, comprising: a step of generating print data having a first resolution for supply to the print element group that ejects the yellow ink, and print data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution for supply to another print element group that ejects another ink based upon input data; a first print step of performing printing in accordance with the print data having the first resolution and expressed by binary data using the print element group for ejecting the yellow ink; and a second print step of performing printing in accordance with the print data having the second resolution higher than the first resolution and expressed by multi-valued data using the print element group other than the print element group for ejecting the yellow ink.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 18 , wherein the print element group for ejecting the yellow ink is arranged on a downstream side with respect to the other print element group in a feed direction of the printing medium.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 18 , wherein the second print step includes the step of printing one pixel by overlapping a plurality of ink droplets using diluted ink.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 18 , wherein the second print step includes the step of forming one pixel with a plurality of ink dots using diluted ink.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
137 words
An ink-jet printing apparatus for printing an image by ejecting ink from a print head onto a printing medium, comprising: a mount portion for exchangeably mounting print heads which eject inks each having different colors and lightness levels; data generation means for generating print data having a first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a first ink other than black, with a first lightness level and a first color, and print data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a second ink other than black, with a second lightness level lower than the first lightness level and a second color different from the first color; and print means for printing by using the ink ejected by a print head mounted on said mount portion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
137 words
An ink-jet printing apparatus for printing an image by ejecting ink from a print head onto a printing medium, comprising: a mount portion for exchangeably mounting print heads which eject inks each having different colors and lightness levels; data generation means for generating print data having a first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a first ink other than black, with a first lightness level and a first color, and print data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a second ink other than black, with a second lightness level lower than the first lightness level and a second color different from the first color; and print means for printing by using the ink ejected by a print head mounted on said mount portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
157 words
An ink-jet printing apparatus comprising: a mount portion for exchangeably mounting a first ink-jet print head for ejecting a first ink of a first color other than black with high lightness, and a second ink-jet print head for ejecting a second ink of a second, different color other than black with low lightness; driving means for providing a driving condition to an ink-jet print head mounted on said mount portion; data generation means for generating print data having a first resolution for supply to the first ink-jet print head that ejects the first ink of the color with high lightness, and print data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution for supply to the second ink-jet print head that ejects the second ink of the color with low lightness; and print means for printing a plurality of different inks having different colors and lightness ejected by the ink-jet print heads mounted on said mount portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
157 words
An ink-jet printing apparatus comprising: a mount portion for exchangeably mounting a first ink-jet print head for ejecting a first ink of a first color other than black with high lightness, and a second ink-jet print head for ejecting a second ink of a second, different color other than black with low lightness; driving means for providing a driving condition to an ink-jet print head mounted on said mount portion; data generation means for generating print data having a first resolution for supply to the first ink-jet print head that ejects the first ink of the color with high lightness, and print data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution for supply to the second ink-jet print head that ejects the second ink of the color with low lightness; and print means for printing a plurality of different inks having different colors and lightness ejected by the ink-jet print heads mounted on said mount portion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
165 words
A data generating apparatus for generating print data for printing an image by ejecting ink from a plurality of print heads onto a printing medium, the plurality of print heads for ejecting inks each having a different color and lightness level from each other, said apparatus comprising: data generation means for generating print data having a first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a first ink other than black, with a first lightness level and a first color, and print data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a second ink other than black, with a second lightness level lower than the first lightness level and a second color different from the first color; and supply means for supplying the print data generated by said data generation means to corresponding print heads, wherein the plurality of print heads are driven on the basis of the print data supplied from said supply means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
165 words
A data generating apparatus for generating print data for printing an image by ejecting ink from a plurality of print heads onto a printing medium, the plurality of print heads for ejecting inks each having a different color and lightness level from each other, said apparatus comprising: data generation means for generating print data having a first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a first ink other than black, with a first lightness level and a first color, and print data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a second ink other than black, with a second lightness level lower than the first lightness level and a second color different from the first color; and supply means for supplying the print data generated by said data generation means to corresponding print heads, wherein the plurality of print heads are driven on the basis of the print data supplied from said supply means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
162 words
A data generating process for generating print data for printing an image by ejecting ink from a plurality of print heads onto a printing medium, the plurality of print heads for ejecting inks each having a different color and lightness level from each other, said process comprising the steps of: generating print data having a first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a first ink other than black, with a first lightness level and a first color, and print data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a second ink other than black, with a second lightness level lower than the first lightness level and a second color different from the first color; and supplying the print data generated in said print data generating step, to corresponding print heads, wherein the plurality of print heads are driven on the basis of the print data supplied in said supplying step.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
162 words
A data generating process for generating print data for printing an image by ejecting ink from a plurality of print heads onto a printing medium, the plurality of print heads for ejecting inks each having a different color and lightness level from each other, said process comprising the steps of: generating print data having a first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a first ink other than black, with a first lightness level and a first color, and print data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution for supply to a print head that ejects a second ink other than black, with a second lightness level lower than the first lightness level and a second color different from the first color; and supplying the print data generated in said print data generating step, to corresponding print heads, wherein the plurality of print heads are driven on the basis of the print data supplied in said supplying step.
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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) | 2006-08-04 | 2007-02-03 | 2007-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-08-04 | 2011-02-03 | 2011-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-08-04 | 2015-02-03 | 2015-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |