Patent US7086712B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7086712B2
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Halftoning method and apparatus
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 2002-07-30
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Granted: 2006-08-08
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Expires: 2022-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A method of halftoning monochrome contone image data with a color pixel processor, the processor being arranged to halftone substantially simultaneously a plurality of image data corresponding to a plurality of different colors, the method comprising the step of: halftoning substantially simultaneously a plurality of monochrome image data corresponding to a plurality of separate pixel positions of a print job.
Inventors
- 👤 Lluis Abello
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/405; H04N1/46; H04N1/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of halftoning monochrome contone image data with a colour pixel processor, said processor having a plurality of processing channels, each to halftone substantially simultaneously image data corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of different colours, said method comprising the steps of: providing monochrome image data to each processing channel, the image data in each channel corresponding to a different pixel position of a print job, the pixel positions selected in accordance with a selected halftoning method to substantially avoid halftone interdependencies between the image data corresponding to the different pixel positions; and applying the selected halftoning method to halftone the monochrome image data in each of the processing channels substantially simultaneously.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of halftoning monochrome contone image data with a colour pixel processor, said processor having a plurality of processing channels, each to halftone substantially simultaneously image data corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of different colours, said method comprising the steps of: providing monochrome image data to each processing channel, the image data in each channel corresponding to a different pixel position of a print job, the pixel positions selected in accordance with a selected halftoning method to substantially avoid halftone interdependencies between the image data corresponding to the different pixel positions; and applying the selected halftoning method to halftone the monochrome image data in each of the processing channels substantially simultaneously.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein in said halftoning step said plurality of separate pixel positions is less than or equal to said plurality of different colours.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 2 , wherein said plurality of separate pixel positions are located on a common page of monochrome contone data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein said step of halftoning is carried out using a non-row dependent or a matrix based halftoning process.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 3 , further comprising the step of storing halftone data corresponding to said plurality of separate pixel positions in planar format in a common plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein said pixel processor comprises a plurality of halftone processors corresponding to said plurality of colours, further comprising the step of reordering said monochrome contone image data prior to said step of halftoning such that each one of a plurality of groups of contone image data is halftoned by a predetermined halftone processor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 6 , wherein each of said plurality of groups of contone image data comprises one or more lines of contone image data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 6 , wherein said reordering step is carried out during a further data processing step, such as data compression, prior to said step of halftoning.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 3 , further comprising the step, prior to said step of halftoning, of selecting said halftoning method according to claim 3 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 9 , wherein said step of selecting is made by an operator input.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 9 , wherein said step of selecting is made automatically in dependence upon the number of pages of monochrome contone image data to be printed or another criterion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 2 , wherein said plurality of separate pixel positions are located on a plurality of separate pages of monochrome contone data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein said step of halftoning is carried out using a non-plane dependent halftoning process.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 12 , further comprising the step of storing halftone data corresponding to said plurality of separate pixel positions in planar format, in a plurality of separate planes corresponding to said plurality of separate pages.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein said pixel processor comprises a plurality of halftone processors corresponding to said plurality of colours, further comprising the step of reordering said monochrome contone image data prior to said step of halftoning such that each one of a plurality of groups of contone image data is halftoned by a predetermined halftone processor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 15 , wherein each of said plurality of groups of contone image data comprise one or more pages of contone image data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 15 , wherein said reordering step is carried out during a further data processing step, such as data compression, prior to said step of halftoning.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claims 12 , further comprising the step, prior to said step of halftoning, of selecting said halftoning method according to according to claim 12 .
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 18 , wherein said step of selecting is made by an operator input.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 18 , wherein said step of selecting is made automatically in dependence upon the number of pages of monochrome contone image data to be printed or another criterion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of halftoning is carried out by a processor associated with an inkjet printer system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of printing said halftone data with an inkjet printer system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer program comprising program code means for performing the method steps of claim 1 to halftone substantially simultaneously a plurality of monochrome image data corresponding to a plurality of separate pixel positions of a print job when said program is run on a processing means associated with a suitable printer system.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
A printer system including: a colour pixel processor, said processor being arranged to halftone substantially simultaneously a plurality of image data corresponding to a plurality of different colours said processor being further arranged to halftone substantially simultaneously a plurality of monochrome image data corresponding to a plurality of separate pixel positions of a print job.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
A printer system including: a colour pixel processor, said processor being arranged to halftone substantially simultaneously a plurality of image data corresponding to a plurality of different colours said processor being further arranged to halftone substantially simultaneously a plurality of monochrome image data corresponding to a plurality of separate pixel positions of a print job.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
11 words
A system according to claim 24 comprising an inkjet printer device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
74 words
A printer device arranged to print images using a plurality of colours in a first print mode and to print images using a reduced number of colours in a second print mode, the device being arranged to halftone a first colour belonging to the set of the reduced number of colours at a first speed in the first printing mode and at a second speed, faster than the first speed in the second mode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
74 words
A printer device arranged to print images using a plurality of colours in a first print mode and to print images using a reduced number of colours in a second print mode, the device being arranged to halftone a first colour belonging to the set of the reduced number of colours at a first speed in the first printing mode and at a second speed, faster than the first speed in the second mode.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of halftoning monochrome contone image data, said method comprising: (a) providing at least one colour pixel processor arranged to halftone substantially simultaneously a plurality of image data corresponding to a plurality of different colours; and (b) using said at least one colour pixel processor to halftone substantially simultaneously a plurality of monochrome image data corresponding to a plurality of separate pixel positions of a print job.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of halftoning monochrome contone image data, said method comprising: (a) providing at least one colour pixel processor arranged to halftone substantially simultaneously a plurality of image data corresponding to a plurality of different colours; and (b) using said at least one colour pixel processor to halftone substantially simultaneously a plurality of monochrome image data corresponding to a plurality of separate pixel positions of a print job.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 27 , wherein said plurality of separate pixel positions is less than or equal to said plurality of different colours.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 27 , wherein said pixel processor comprises a plurality of halftone processors corresponding to said plurality of colours, further comprising reordering said monochrome contone image data prior to halftoning such that each one of a plurality of groups of contone image data is halftoned by a predetermined halftone processor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 29 , wherein each of said plurality of groups of contone image data comprises one or more lines of contone image data.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 29 , wherein said reordering is carried out during further data processing, such as data compression, prior to halftoning.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 27 , wherein said pixel processor comprises a plurality of halftone processors corresponding to said plurality of colours, further comprising reordering said monochrome contone image data prior to halftoning such that each one of a plurality of groups of contone image data is halftoned by a predetermined halftone processor.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer program comprising program code means for performing the method steps of claim 27 to use at least one colour pixel processor to halftone substantially simultaneously a plurality of monochrome image data corresponding to a plurality of separate pixel positions of a print job when said program is run on a processing means associated with a suitable printer system.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of halftoning monochrome contone image data with a colour pixel processor, said processor having a plurality of processing channels, each to halftone substantially simultaneously image data corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of different colours, said method comprising the steps of: providing monochrome image data to each processing channel, the image data in each channel corresponding to a different pixel position of a print job; and halftoning the monochrome image data in each of the processing channels substantially simultaneously so as to generate substantially more halftone pixel values than when halftoning colour image data.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of halftoning monochrome contone image data with a colour pixel processor, said processor having a plurality of processing channels, each to halftone substantially simultaneously image data corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of different colours, said method comprising the steps of: providing monochrome image data to each processing channel, the image data in each channel corresponding to a different pixel position of a print job; and halftoning the monochrome image data in each of the processing channels substantially simultaneously so as to generate substantially more halftone pixel values than when halftoning colour image data.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 34 , wherein the generation of halftone pixel values when halftoning monochrome image data is approximately an integer multiple value higher than when halftoning colour image data.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
112 words
A printing system, comprising: a colour pixel processor having a plurality of processing channels, each to halftone substantially simultaneously image data corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of different colours; a controller for selecting different pixel positions in a print job in accordance with a preprogrammed halftoning method to substantially avoid halftone interdependencies between image data corresponding to the different pixel positions, for providing monochrome image data corresponding to a different pixel position to each processing channel, and for applying the halftoning method to halftone the monochrome image data in each of the processing channels substantially simultaneously; and a printing mechanism to print halftoned image data provided by the controller.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
112 words
A printing system, comprising: a colour pixel processor having a plurality of processing channels, each to halftone substantially simultaneously image data corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of different colours; a controller for selecting different pixel positions in a print job in accordance with a preprogrammed halftoning method to substantially avoid halftone interdependencies between image data corresponding to the different pixel positions, for providing monochrome image data corresponding to a different pixel position to each processing channel, and for applying the halftoning method to halftone the monochrome image data in each of the processing channels substantially simultaneously; and a printing mechanism to print halftoned image data provided by the controller.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
96 words
A printing system, comprising: a colour pixel processor having a plurality of processing channels, each to halftone substantially simultaneously image data corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of different colours; a controller for providing monochrome image data corresponding to a different pixel position of a print job to each processing channel, and for halftoning the monochrome image data in each of the processing channels substantially simultaneously so as to generate substantially more halftone pixel values than when halftoning colour image data; and a printing mechanism to print halftoned image data provided by the controller.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
96 words
A printing system, comprising: a colour pixel processor having a plurality of processing channels, each to halftone substantially simultaneously image data corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of different colours; a controller for providing monochrome image data corresponding to a different pixel position of a print job to each processing channel, and for halftoning the monochrome image data in each of the processing channels substantially simultaneously so as to generate substantially more halftone pixel values than when halftoning colour image data; and a printing mechanism to print halftoned image data provided by the controller.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-08-07 | 2010-02-06 | 2010-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-08-07 | 2014-02-06 | 2014-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-08-07 | 2018-02-06 | 2018-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |