Patent US9769352B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US9769352B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 9.6 years remaining
Image processing apparatus and method for detecting unique portions periodically distributed in a printed image
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 2016-06-22
•
Granted: 2017-09-19
•
Expires: 2036-06-22
Abstract
Abstract An image processing apparatus for performing a process of detecting a unique portion that occurs periodically in an inspection target image, includes: a dividing unit for dividing a part area of the inspection target image into a plurality of division areas; an averaging unit for changing a phase of the plurality of division areas in the part area and averaging pixel values in each of the plurality of division areas in each of changed phases; an addition unit for adding averaged values in each of the plurality of division areas in each of changed phases; and a setting unit for, with respect to a period λ with which the unique portion of a detection target appears, setting a size S of each of the plurality of division areas in a direction in which the unique portion may appear with the period λ, so as to meet S<λ.
Inventors
- 👤 Yumi Yanai
- 👤 Shinjiro Hori
- 👤 Tetsuya Suwa
- 👤 Hidetsugu Kagawa
- 👤 Tomokazu Ishikawa
- 👤 Wakako Tanaka
- 👤 Tohru Ikeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:00
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/07; B41J2/125; B41J29/00; B41J29/38; B41J29/393; G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/10; G06T7/11; H04N1/00002; H04N1/00007; H04N1/00015; H04N1/00026; H04N1/00037; H04N1/0035; H04N1/00405; H04N1/00474; H04N1/409; B41J2/21; B41J2/2132; B41J2/2142; G01N2021/845; G01N2021/8455; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; G06K15/102; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/20; G06T2207/20212; G06T2207/20216; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30168; H04N1/401; H04N1/4015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
An image processing apparatus that performs a process of detecting a unique portion that occurs periodically in an inspection target image, the apparatus comprising: a dividing unit configured to divide a part area of the inspection target image into a plurality of division areas each having a predetermined size; an averaging unit configured to change a phase of each of the plurality of division areas in the part area and to average pixel values in each of the plurality of division areas in each of changed phases; an addition unit configured to add averaged values in each of the plurality of division areas in each of changed phases, in relation to pixel positions in the inspection target image; and a setting unit configured to, with respect to a period λ with which the unique portion of a detection target appears, set a size S of each of the plurality of division areas in a direction in which the unique portion may appear with the period λ, so as to meet S<λ.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
An image processing apparatus that performs a process of detecting a unique portion that occurs periodically in an inspection target image, the apparatus comprising: a dividing unit configured to divide a part area of the inspection target image into a plurality of division areas each having a predetermined size; an averaging unit configured to change a phase of each of the plurality of division areas in the part area and to average pixel values in each of the plurality of division areas in each of changed phases; an addition unit configured to add averaged values in each of the plurality of division areas in each of changed phases, in relation to pixel positions in the inspection target image; and a setting unit configured to, with respect to a period λ with which the unique portion of a detection target appears, set a size S of each of the plurality of division areas in a direction in which the unique portion may appear with the period λ, so as to meet S<λ.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
174 words
An image processing apparatus that performs a process of detecting a unique portion that occurs periodically in an inspection target image, the apparatus comprising: a filtering unit configured to perform a filtering process that averages pixel values in pixels consisting of a pixel of a part area of the inspection target image and peripheral pixels of the pixel of the part area of the inspection target image, which are determined according to a size of a filter, for each of pixels of the part area of the inspection target image; an addition unit configured to add values resulting from the filtering process for each of pixels of the part area of the inspection target image in relation to pixel positions in the inspection target image; and a setting unit configured to, with respect to a period λ with which the unique portion of a detection target appears, set a size S in the filtering process in a direction in which the unique portion may appear with the period λ, so as to meet S<λ.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
174 words
An image processing apparatus that performs a process of detecting a unique portion that occurs periodically in an inspection target image, the apparatus comprising: a filtering unit configured to perform a filtering process that averages pixel values in pixels consisting of a pixel of a part area of the inspection target image and peripheral pixels of the pixel of the part area of the inspection target image, which are determined according to a size of a filter, for each of pixels of the part area of the inspection target image; an addition unit configured to add values resulting from the filtering process for each of pixels of the part area of the inspection target image in relation to pixel positions in the inspection target image; and a setting unit configured to, with respect to a period λ with which the unique portion of a detection target appears, set a size S in the filtering process in a direction in which the unique portion may appear with the period λ, so as to meet S<λ.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the period λ corresponds to a length of a nozzle array in a print head used for printing the inspection target image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the period λ corresponds to a conveyance amount of one time conveyance of a print medium in printing the inspection target image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the period λ corresponds to a period caused due to driving for scanning a print head in printing the inspection target image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the period λ corresponds to a distance between respective overlap parts at which respective adjacent nozzle arrays overlap with each other in a print head used for printing the inspection target image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a quantization process is performed for printing the inspection target image using a dither process, and the period λ corresponds to a size of a dither matrix used in the dither process.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the period λ is determined based on a structure of a platen and a characteristic of a print medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a printing unit configured to perform printing on a print medium by using a print head.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a printing unit configured to perform printing on a print medium by using a print head.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
166 words
An image processing method for performing a process of detecting a unique portion that occurs periodically in an inspection target image, the method comprising: a dividing step of dividing a part area of the inspection target image into a plurality of division areas each having a predetermined size; an averaging step of changing a phase of each of the plurality of division areas in the part area and averaging pixel values in each of the plurality of division areas in each of changed phases; an addition step of adding averaged values in each of the plurality of division areas in each of changed phases, in relation to pixel positions in the inspection target image; and a setting step of, with respect to a period λ with which the unique portion of a detection target appears, setting a size S of each of the plurality of division areas in a direction in which the unique portion may appear with the period λ, so as to meet S<λ.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
166 words
An image processing method for performing a process of detecting a unique portion that occurs periodically in an inspection target image, the method comprising: a dividing step of dividing a part area of the inspection target image into a plurality of division areas each having a predetermined size; an averaging step of changing a phase of each of the plurality of division areas in the part area and averaging pixel values in each of the plurality of division areas in each of changed phases; an addition step of adding averaged values in each of the plurality of division areas in each of changed phases, in relation to pixel positions in the inspection target image; and a setting step of, with respect to a period λ with which the unique portion of a detection target appears, setting a size S of each of the plurality of division areas in a direction in which the unique portion may appear with the period λ, so as to meet S<λ.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
171 words
An image processing method for performing a process of detecting a unique portion that occurs periodically in an inspection target image, the method comprising: a filtering step of performing a filtering process that averages pixel values in pixels consisting of a pixel of a part area of the inspection target image and peripheral pixels of the pixel of the part area of the inspection target image, which are determined according to a size of a filter, for each of pixels of the part area of the inspection target image; an addition step of adding values resulting from the filtering process for each of pixels of the part area of the inspection target image in relation to pixel positions in the inspection target image; and a setting step of, with respect to a period λ with which the unique portion of a detection target appears, setting a size S in the filtering process in a direction in which the unique portion may appear with the period λ, so as to meet S<λ.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
171 words
An image processing method for performing a process of detecting a unique portion that occurs periodically in an inspection target image, the method comprising: a filtering step of performing a filtering process that averages pixel values in pixels consisting of a pixel of a part area of the inspection target image and peripheral pixels of the pixel of the part area of the inspection target image, which are determined according to a size of a filter, for each of pixels of the part area of the inspection target image; an addition step of adding values resulting from the filtering process for each of pixels of the part area of the inspection target image in relation to pixel positions in the inspection target image; and a setting step of, with respect to a period λ with which the unique portion of a detection target appears, setting a size S in the filtering process in a direction in which the unique portion may appear with the period λ, so as to meet S<λ.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The image processing method according to claim 11 , wherein the period λ corresponds to a length of a nozzle array in a print head used for printing the inspection target image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The image processing method according to claim 11 , wherein the period λ corresponds to a conveyance amount of one time conveyance of a print medium in printing the inspection target image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The image processing method according to claim 11 , wherein the period λ corresponds to a period caused due to driving for scanning a print head in printing the inspection target image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The image processing method according to claim 11 , wherein the period λ corresponds to a distance between respective overlap parts at which respective adjacent nozzle arrays overlap with each other in a print head used for printing the inspection target image.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
The image processing method according to claim 11 , wherein a quantization process is performed for printing the inspection target image using a dither process, and the period λ corresponds to a size of a dither matrix used in the dither process.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The image processing method according to claim 11 , wherein the period λ is determined based on a structure of a platen and a characteristic of a print medium.
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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) | 2020-09-18 | 2021-03-20 | 2021-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2024-09-18 | 2025-03-20 | 2025-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2028-09-18 | 2029-03-20 | 2029-09-19 | $7700.00 | Pending Window |