US6798538B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Halftoning at multiple different resolutions
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 2000-09-08
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Granted: 2004-09-28
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Expires: 2020-09-08
Abstract
Abstract Multi-resolution halftoning to process image data by determining whether the image data corresponds to black image data or color image data, performing a halftoning process of a first resolution on the black image data, performing a halftoning process of a second resolution on the color image data, and performing a smoothing process on the black image data. The first resolution may be a low resolution and the second resolution may be a high resolution and the black image data may be expanded into high resolution data. Image data subjected to multi-resolution halftoning may be printed by a print head with black nozzles having a faster printing speed than color nozzles.
Inventors
- 👤 Akitoshi Yamada
- 👤 Masashi Kamada
- 👤 Hiromitsu Hirabayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/40068; H04N1/405
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: rasterizing image data; determining whether the image data corresponds to black image data or color image data; performing a halftoning process of a first resolution on the black image data; performing a halftoning process of a second resolution on the color image data; transferring the halftoned black image data and the halftoned color image data to a printing device; the printing device receiving the black image data and the color image data; performing a smoothing process on the black image data; and outputting an image based on the black image data and the color image data received by the printing device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: rasterizing image data; determining whether the image data corresponds to black image data or color image data; performing a halftoning process of a first resolution on the black image data; performing a halftoning process of a second resolution on the color image data; transferring the halftoned black image data and the halftoned color image data to a printing device; the printing device receiving the black image data and the color image data; performing a smoothing process on the black image data; and outputting an image based on the black image data and the color image data received by the printing device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the first resolution is a low resolution and the second resolution is a high resolution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of expanding the black image data, after the halftoning process, from the first resolution to a higher resolution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the rasterization step, the determining step, the halftoning process on the black image data, the halftoning process on the color image data and the transferring step are performed by a print driver, and wherein the receiving step, the smoothing step and the outputting step are performed by the printing device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
A print driver for processing image data, comprising: performing rasterization of the image data; determining whether the image data corresponds to black image data or color image data; performing a halftoning process of a first resolution on the black image data; performing a halftoning process of a second resolution on the color image data; and transmitting the black image data and the color image data to a printing device, together with a command for smoothing-processing of the black image data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
A print driver for processing image data, comprising: performing rasterization of the image data; determining whether the image data corresponds to black image data or color image data; performing a halftoning process of a first resolution on the black image data; performing a halftoning process of a second resolution on the color image data; and transmitting the black image data and the color image data to a printing device, together with a command for smoothing-processing of the black image data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
Computer executable process steps for processing image data, comprising the steps of: performing rasterization of the image data; determining whether the image data corresponds to black image data or color image data; performing a halftoning process of a first resolution on the black image data; performing a halftoning process of a second resolution on the color image data; and transferring the halftoned black image data and the halftoned color image data to a printing device; the printing device receiving the black image data and the color image data; performing a smoothing process on the black image data; and outputting an image based on the black image data and the color image data received by the printing device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
117 words
Computer executable process steps for processing image data, comprising the steps of: performing rasterization of the image data; determining whether the image data corresponds to black image data or color image data; performing a halftoning process of a first resolution on the black image data; performing a halftoning process of a second resolution on the color image data; and transferring the halftoned black image data and the halftoned color image data to a printing device; the printing device receiving the black image data and the color image data; performing a smoothing process on the black image data; and outputting an image based on the black image data and the color image data received by the printing device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
Computer executable process steps according to claim 6 , wherein the first resolution is a low resolution and the second resolution is a high resolution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
Computer executable process steps according to claim 6 further comprising the step of expanding the black image data, after the halftoning process, from the first resolution to a higher resolution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
Computer executable process steps according to claim 6 , wherein the rasterization step, the determining step, the halftoning process on the black image data, the halftoning process on the color image data and the transferring step are performed by a print driver, and wherein the receiving step, the smoothing step and the outputting step are performed by the printing device.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus for processing image data, comprising: a memory for storing executable process steps for processing the image data, the executable process steps comprising: (a) performing rasterization of the image data, (b) determining whether the image data corresponds to black image data or color image data, (c) performing a halftoning process of a first resolution on the black image data, (d) performing a halftoning process of a second resolution on the color image data, and (e) transferring the black image data and the color image data, together with a command for smoothing-processing of the black image data, to a printing device; and a processor for executing the executable process steps.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus for processing image data, comprising: a memory for storing executable process steps for processing the image data, the executable process steps comprising: (a) performing rasterization of the image data, (b) determining whether the image data corresponds to black image data or color image data, (c) performing a halftoning process of a first resolution on the black image data, (d) performing a halftoning process of a second resolution on the color image data, and (e) transferring the black image data and the color image data, together with a command for smoothing-processing of the black image data, to a printing device; and a processor for executing the executable process steps.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the first resolution is a low resolution and the second resolution is a high resolution.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
84 words
A printing device, comprising: a receiving device for receiving image data; an image data processing device for processing the received image data to output an image based on the received image data; and an image output device for printing an image based on the received image data, wherein, the received image data comprises black image data of a first resolution, color image data of a second resolution, and a command for the printing device to perform a smoothing process on the black image data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
A printing device, comprising: a receiving device for receiving image data; an image data processing device for processing the received image data to output an image based on the received image data; and an image output device for printing an image based on the received image data, wherein, the received image data comprises black image data of a first resolution, color image data of a second resolution, and a command for the printing device to perform a smoothing process on the black image data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A printing device according to claim 12 , wherein the first resolution is a low resolution and the second resolution is a high resolution.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A printing device according to claim 12 , wherein the image data processing device performs a process to expand the black image data from the first resolution to a higher resolution.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
165 words
A printing system, comprising: an image processing device for processing image data, the image processing device comprising a memory for storing executable process steps for processing the image data and a processor for processing the executable process steps, the executable process steps comprising (a) performing rasterization of the image data, (b) determining whether the image data corresponds to black image data or color image data, (c) performing a halftoning process of a first resolution on the black image data, (d) performing a halftoning process of a second resolution on the color image data, and (e) transferring the black image data and the color image data to a printing device, together with a command for the printing device to perform smoothing-processing on the black image data; and a printing device for receiving the image data transferred by the image processing device and processing the image data to print an image based on the received image data and to perform a smoothing-process on the black image data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
165 words
A printing system, comprising: an image processing device for processing image data, the image processing device comprising a memory for storing executable process steps for processing the image data and a processor for processing the executable process steps, the executable process steps comprising (a) performing rasterization of the image data, (b) determining whether the image data corresponds to black image data or color image data, (c) performing a halftoning process of a first resolution on the black image data, (d) performing a halftoning process of a second resolution on the color image data, and (e) transferring the black image data and the color image data to a printing device, together with a command for the printing device to perform smoothing-processing on the black image data; and a printing device for receiving the image data transferred by the image processing device and processing the image data to print an image based on the received image data and to perform a smoothing-process on the black image data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A printing system according to claim 15 , wherein the first resolution is a low resolution and the second resolution is a high resolution.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A printing system according to claim 15 , wherein the printing device performs a process to expand the black image data from the first resolution to a higher resolution.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
A printing system according to claim 15 , wherein the printing device comprises a print head having nozzles for printing the black image data and nozzles for printing the color image data, wherein the nozzles for printing the black image data have a faster printing speed than the nozzles for printing the color image data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
A printing system according to claim 15 , wherein process black ink is utilized for printing in grey-scale regions.
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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) | 2007-09-28 | 2008-03-29 | 2008-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-09-28 | 2012-03-29 | 2012-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-09-28 | 2016-03-29 | 2016-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |