US7548346B2 — Image processing apparatus and method for perform…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 237 words

An image processing apparatus for performing error diffusion processing on multivalued image data having plural density components and outputting a result of said error diffusion processing, comprising: analysis means for examining density values of a first density component and a second density component among said plural density components; and control means for exclusively or independently outputting the result of said error diffusion processing on said first density component and that of said error diffusion processing on said second density component, in accordance with a result of analysis by said analysis means, wherein if at least one of said first and second density components has an intermediate density value, said control means independently outputs the results of said error diffusion processing, while if said first and second density components do not have an intermediate density value, exclusively outputs the results of said error diffusion processing, wherein said analysis means includes: first comparison means for comparing a sum of the density values of said first and second density components among said plural density components with a predetermined threshold value; and second comparison means for comparing the density value of said first density component and the density value of said second density component with each other, wherein said control means performs printing by said error diffusion processing based on said first density component or said second density component, based on results of comparison by said first and second comparison means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 237 words

An image processing apparatus for performing error diffusion processing on multivalued image data having plural density components and outputting a result of said error diffusion processing, comprising: analysis means for examining density values of a first density component and a second density component among said plural density components; and control means for exclusively or independently outputting the result of said error diffusion processing on said first density component and that of said error diffusion processing on said second density component, in accordance with a result of analysis by said analysis means, wherein if at least one of said first and second density components has an intermediate density value, said control means independently outputs the results of said error diffusion processing, while if said first and second density components do not have an intermediate density value, exclusively outputs the results of said error diffusion processing, wherein said analysis means includes: first comparison means for comparing a sum of the density values of said first and second density components among said plural density components with a predetermined threshold value; and second comparison means for comparing the density value of said first density component and the density value of said second density component with each other, wherein said control means performs printing by said error diffusion processing based on said first density component or said second density component, based on results of comparison by said first and second comparison means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 67 words

The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising third comparison means for comparing the density value of said first density component with said predetermined threshold value, wherein said control means further determines whether or not printing by said error diffusion processing is to be performed not only based on said first density component, but also based on the result of comparison by said third comparison means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 67 words

The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising fourth comparison means for comparing the density value of said second density component with said predetermined threshold value, wherein said control means further determines whether or not printing by said error diffusion processing is to be performed not only based on said second density component, but also based on the result of comparison by said fourth comparison means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 45 words

The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said plural density components are a yellow component, a magenta component, a cyan component and a black component, and wherein said first density component is the cyan component, and said second density component is the magenta component.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said plural density components of said multivalued image data are respectively binarized by said error diffusion processing.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 165 words

An image processing apparatus for performing error diffusion processing on multivalued image data having plural density components and outputting a result of said error diffusion processing. comprising: analysis means for examining density values of a first density component and a second density component among said plural density components; and control means for exclusively or independently outputting the result of said error diffusion processing on said first density component and that of said error diffusion processing on said second density component, in accordance with a result of analysis by said analysis means, wherein if at least one of said first and second density components has an intermediate density value, said control means independently outputs the results of said error diffusion processing, while if said first and second density components do not have an intermediate density value, exclusively outputs the results of said error diffusion processing, wherein said plural density components of said multivalued image data are respectively converted by said error diffusion processing into N-ary codes.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 165 words

An image processing apparatus for performing error diffusion processing on multivalued image data having plural density components and outputting a result of said error diffusion processing. comprising: analysis means for examining density values of a first density component and a second density component among said plural density components; and control means for exclusively or independently outputting the result of said error diffusion processing on said first density component and that of said error diffusion processing on said second density component, in accordance with a result of analysis by said analysis means, wherein if at least one of said first and second density components has an intermediate density value, said control means independently outputs the results of said error diffusion processing, while if said first and second density components do not have an intermediate density value, exclusively outputs the results of said error diffusion processing, wherein said plural density components of said multivalued image data are respectively converted by said error diffusion processing into N-ary codes.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said N is a positive integer equal to or greater than 3.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising a table showing a relation between a density value and an N-ary code output value, for N-ary conversion.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said table is a common table for said first and second density components.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said table is prepared respectively for said first and second density components.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising image formation means for inputting a result of execution of said error diffusion processing and performing image formation.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said image formation means is an ink-jet printer.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said ink-jet printer has an ink-jet printhead that discharges ink by utilizing thermal energy, and wherein said ink-jet printhead has electrothermal transducers for generating the thermal energy to be supplied to the ink.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said intermediate density is higher than an approximately half level of a maximum density level.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 252 words

An image processing method for performing error diffusion processing on multivalued image data having plural density components and outputting a result of said error diffusion processing, comprising: an analysis step performed by a host device of examining density values of a first density component and a second density component among said plural density components; and a control step of exclusively or independently outputting the result of said error diffusion processing on said first density component and that of said error diffusion processing on said second density component, in accordance with a result of analysis at said analysis step, wherein at said control step, if at least one of said first and second density components has an intermediate density value, the results of said error diffusion processing are independently outputted, while if said first and second density components do not have an intermediate density value, the results of said error diffusion processing are exclusively outputted, and wherein said analysis step includes: a first comparison step of comparing a sum of the density values of said first and second density components among said plural density components with a predetermined threshold value; and a second comparison step of comparing the density value of said first density component and the density value of said second density component with each other, wherein at said control step, printing is performed by said error diffusion processing based on said first density component or said second density component, based on results of comparison at said first and second comparison steps.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 252 words

An image processing method for performing error diffusion processing on multivalued image data having plural density components and outputting a result of said error diffusion processing, comprising: an analysis step performed by a host device of examining density values of a first density component and a second density component among said plural density components; and a control step of exclusively or independently outputting the result of said error diffusion processing on said first density component and that of said error diffusion processing on said second density component, in accordance with a result of analysis at said analysis step, wherein at said control step, if at least one of said first and second density components has an intermediate density value, the results of said error diffusion processing are independently outputted, while if said first and second density components do not have an intermediate density value, the results of said error diffusion processing are exclusively outputted, and wherein said analysis step includes: a first comparison step of comparing a sum of the density values of said first and second density components among said plural density components with a predetermined threshold value; and a second comparison step of comparing the density value of said first density component and the density value of said second density component with each other, wherein at said control step, printing is performed by said error diffusion processing based on said first density component or said second density component, based on results of comparison at said first and second comparison steps.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 70 words

The method according to claim 15 , further comprising a third comparison step of comparing the density value of said first density component with said predetermined threshold value, wherein at said control step, it is further determined whether or not printing by said error diffusion processing is to be performed not only based on said first density component, but also based on result of comparison at said third comparison step.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 70 words

The apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising a fourth comparison step of comparing the density value of said second density component with said predetermined threshold value, wherein at said control step, it is further determined whether or not printing by said error diffusion processing is to be performed not only based on said second density component, but also based on result of comparison at said fourth comparison step.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method according to claim 15 , wherein said plural density components are a yellow component, a magenta component, a cyan component and a black component, and wherein said first density component is the cyan component, and said second density component is the magenta component.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method according to claim 15 , wherein said plural density components of said multivalued image data are respectively binarized by said error diffusion processing.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method according to claim 15 , wherein said intermediate density is higher than an approximately half level of a maximum density level.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 175 words

An image processing method for performing error diffusion processing on multivalued image data having plural density components and outputting a result of said error diffusion processing, comprising: an analysis step performed by a host device of examining density values of a first density component and a second density component among said plural density components; and a control step of exclusively or independently outputting the result of said error diffusion processing on said first density component and that of said error diffusion processing on said second density component, in accordance with a result of analysis at said analysis step, wherein at said control step, if at least one of said first and second density components has an intermediate density value, the results of said error diffusion processing are independently outputted, while if said first and second density components do not have an intermediate density value, the results of said error diffusion processing are exclusively outputted, wherein said plural density components of said multivalued image data are respectively converted by said error diffusion processing into N-ary codes.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 175 words

An image processing method for performing error diffusion processing on multivalued image data having plural density components and outputting a result of said error diffusion processing, comprising: an analysis step performed by a host device of examining density values of a first density component and a second density component among said plural density components; and a control step of exclusively or independently outputting the result of said error diffusion processing on said first density component and that of said error diffusion processing on said second density component, in accordance with a result of analysis at said analysis step, wherein at said control step, if at least one of said first and second density components has an intermediate density value, the results of said error diffusion processing are independently outputted, while if said first and second density components do not have an intermediate density value, the results of said error diffusion processing are exclusively outputted, wherein said plural density components of said multivalued image data are respectively converted by said error diffusion processing into N-ary codes.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method according to claim 21 , wherein said N is a positive integer equal to or greater than 3.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 29 words

A computer readable memory medium on which is stored a computer readable program for executing the image processing method according to any one of claims 15 to 20 .

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2012-06-15	2012-12-15	2013-06-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2016-06-15	2016-12-15	2017-06-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2020-06-15	2020-12-15	2021-06-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Image processing apparatus and method for performing error diffusion based on density values of different color components

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