← Back to Patent Explorer
US6795212B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Printing method and apparatus

Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
•
Filing: 1999-09-14
•
Granted: 2004-09-21
•
Expires: 2019-09-14
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A parameter determining part determines a parameter for an automatic image correction in accordance with inputted images to be printed, and an automatic image correcting part corrects the inputted images in accordance with the determined parameter. Consequently, the printed images have desirable qualities. The parameter determining part also determines whether multiple images to be printed are a series of images or not in accordance with additional information about the inputted images read by an additional information reading part. If the parameter determining part determines that the inputted images are the series of images, it fixes the parameter for all of the inputted images. This prevents the printed images from being different in color, gradation and gray balance.

Inventors

  • 👤 Koji Ichikawa

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 19:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/407; H04N1/4072; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/18; G06K15/1801; G06K15/1822

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 133 words
A printing method, comprising the steps of: determining whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; and if the inputted images are determined as including the series of images in the determining step, calculating a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, fixing the parameter, correcting the inputted images in accordance with the fixed parameter, and printing corrected images, wherein the determining step comprises the step of reading additional information concerning the inputted images, the inputted images being determined as including the series of images if the read additional information indicates that the inputted images include the series of images and that shooting time intervals of the inputted images were no more than a preset value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 133 words
A printing method, comprising the steps of: determining whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; and if the inputted images are determined as including the series of images in the determining step, calculating a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, fixing the parameter, correcting the inputted images in accordance with the fixed parameter, and printing corrected images, wherein the determining step comprises the step of reading additional information concerning the inputted images, the inputted images being determined as including the series of images if the read additional information indicates that the inputted images include the series of images and that shooting time intervals of the inputted images were no more than a preset value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 133 words
A printing method, comprising the steps of: determining whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; and if the inputted images are determined as including the series of images in the determining step, calculating a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, fixing the parameter, correcting the inputted images in accordance with the fixed parameter, and printing corrected images, wherein the determining step comprises the step of reading additional information concerning the inputted images, the inputted images being determined as including the series of images if the read additional information indicates that shooting time intervals of the inputted images were no more than a preset value and that an exposure of the inputted images was fixed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 133 words
A printing method, comprising the steps of: determining whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; and if the inputted images are determined as including the series of images in the determining step, calculating a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, fixing the parameter, correcting the inputted images in accordance with the fixed parameter, and printing corrected images, wherein the determining step comprises the step of reading additional information concerning the inputted images, the inputted images being determined as including the series of images if the read additional information indicates that shooting time intervals of the inputted images were no more than a preset value and that an exposure of the inputted images was fixed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 142 words
A printing method, comprising the steps of: determining whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; and if the inputted images are determined as including the series of images in the determining step, calculating a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, fixing the parameter, correcting the inputted images in accordance with the fixed parameter, and printing corrected images, wherein the determining step comprises the step of reading additional information concerning the inputted images, the inputted images being determined as including the series of images if the read additional information indicates that the inputted images include the series of images, that shooting time intervals of the inputted images were no more than a preset value and that an exposure of the inputted images was fixed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 142 words
A printing method, comprising the steps of: determining whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; and if the inputted images are determined as including the series of images in the determining step, calculating a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, fixing the parameter, correcting the inputted images in accordance with the fixed parameter, and printing corrected images, wherein the determining step comprises the step of reading additional information concerning the inputted images, the inputted images being determined as including the series of images if the read additional information indicates that the inputted images include the series of images, that shooting time intervals of the inputted images were no more than a preset value and that an exposure of the inputted images was fixed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 187 words
A printing apparatus, comprising: a determination device which determines whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; a calculator which calculates a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, the calculator calculating a common parameter for automatic image correction for the inputted images if the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images; an image corrector which corrects the inputted images in accordance with the parameter calculated by the calculator; a printing device which prints images corrected by the image corrector; and a mode selector which selects one of: a mode in which the common parameter is fixed and used in the image corrector if the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images; and a mode in which respective parameters for automatic image correction are calculated in accordance with respective images of the series of images and the respective parameters are used in the image corrector even if the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 187 words
A printing apparatus, comprising: a determination device which determines whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; a calculator which calculates a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, the calculator calculating a common parameter for automatic image correction for the inputted images if the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images; an image corrector which corrects the inputted images in accordance with the parameter calculated by the calculator; a printing device which prints images corrected by the image corrector; and a mode selector which selects one of: a mode in which the common parameter is fixed and used in the image corrector if the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images; and a mode in which respective parameters for automatic image correction are calculated in accordance with respective images of the series of images and the respective parameters are used in the image corrector even if the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 160 words
A printing apparatus, comprising: a determination device which determines whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; a calculator which calculates a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, the calculator calculating a common parameter for automatic image correction for the inputted images if the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images; an image corrector which corrects the inputted images in accordance with the parameter calculated by the calculator; a printing device which prints images corrected by the image corrector; and a reader which reads additional information concerning the inputted images; wherein the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images if the read additional information indicates that the inputted images include the series of images and that shooting time intervals of the inputted images were no more than a preset value is read.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 160 words
A printing apparatus, comprising: a determination device which determines whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; a calculator which calculates a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, the calculator calculating a common parameter for automatic image correction for the inputted images if the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images; an image corrector which corrects the inputted images in accordance with the parameter calculated by the calculator; a printing device which prints images corrected by the image corrector; and a reader which reads additional information concerning the inputted images; wherein the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images if the read additional information indicates that the inputted images include the series of images and that shooting time intervals of the inputted images were no more than a preset value is read.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 160 words
A printing apparatus, comprising: a determination device which determines whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; a calculator which calculates a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, the calculator calculating a common parameter for automatic image correction for the inputted images if the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images; an image corrector which corrects the inputted images in accordance with the parameter calculated by the calculator; a printing device which prints images corrected by the image corrector; and a reader which reads additional information concerning the inputted images; wherein the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images if the read additional information indicates that shooting time intervals of the inputted images were no more than a preset value and that an exposure of the inputted images was fixed is read.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 160 words
A printing apparatus, comprising: a determination device which determines whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; a calculator which calculates a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, the calculator calculating a common parameter for automatic image correction for the inputted images if the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images; an image corrector which corrects the inputted images in accordance with the parameter calculated by the calculator; a printing device which prints images corrected by the image corrector; and a reader which reads additional information concerning the inputted images; wherein the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images if the read additional information indicates that shooting time intervals of the inputted images were no more than a preset value and that an exposure of the inputted images was fixed is read.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 169 words
A printing apparatus, comprising: a determination device which determines whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; a calculator which calculates a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, the calculator calculating a common parameter for automatic image correction for the inputted images if the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images; an image corrector which corrects the inputted images in accordance with the parameter calculated by the calculator; a printing device which prints images corrected by the image corrector; and a reader which reads additional information concerning the inputted images; wherein the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images if the read additional information indicates that the inputted images include the series of images, that shooting time intervals of the inputted images were no more than a preset value and that an exposure of the inputted images was fixed is read.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 169 words
A printing apparatus, comprising: a determination device which determines whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; a calculator which calculates a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, the calculator calculating a common parameter for automatic image correction for the inputted images if the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images; an image corrector which corrects the inputted images in accordance with the parameter calculated by the calculator; a printing device which prints images corrected by the image corrector; and a reader which reads additional information concerning the inputted images; wherein the determination device determines that the inputted images include the series of images if the read additional information indicates that the inputted images include the series of images, that shooting time intervals of the inputted images were no more than a preset value and that an exposure of the inputted images was fixed is read.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 84 words
A printing method, comprising the steps of: determining whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; and if the inputted images are determined as including the series of images in the determining step, calculating a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, fixing the parameter, correcting the inputted images in accordance with the fixed parameter, and printing corrected images, wherein the fixed conditions include predetermined time intervals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 84 words
A printing method, comprising the steps of: determining whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; and if the inputted images are determined as including the series of images in the determining step, calculating a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, fixing the parameter, correcting the inputted images in accordance with the fixed parameter, and printing corrected images, wherein the fixed conditions include predetermined time intervals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 90 words
A printing method, comprising the steps of: determining whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; and if the inputted images are determined as including the series of images in the determining step, calculating a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, fixing the parameter, correcting the inputted images in accordance with the fixed parameter, and printing corrected images, wherein the fixed conditions include shooting time intervals no more than a preset value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 90 words
A printing method, comprising the steps of: determining whether or not inputted images to be printed include a series of images captured under fixed conditions; and if the inputted images are determined as including the series of images in the determining step, calculating a parameter for automatic image correction in accordance with at least one of the inputted images, fixing the parameter, correcting the inputted images in accordance with the fixed parameter, and printing corrected images, wherein the fixed conditions include shooting time intervals no more than a preset value.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPS62274889A Cited
US5467168A Cited
US5481330A Cited
JPH0862741A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2007-09-21 2008-03-22 2008-09-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2011-09-21 2012-03-22 2012-09-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2015-09-21 2016-03-22 2016-09-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag