Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080204494 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS AND INKJET RECORDING METHOD - In an inkjet recording apparatus and an inkjet recording method, recording on a first unit region, of unit regions provided on a recording medium, is performed by scanning a recording head an even number of times over the first unit region, and recording on a second unit region adjacent to the first unit region is performed by scanning the recording head an odd number of times over the second unit region. The last of the scanning motions of the recording head over the first and second unit regions is made in a first direction. | 08-28-2008 |
20080239337 | DATA PROCESSING METHOD, DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS, MASK GENERATION METHOD, AND MASK PATTERN - The present invention provides a mask for divided printing that completes an image by plural scans using inks of different plural inks, the mask being able to suppress possible grains during printing to reduce image degradation resulting from beading. If for example, among the print permitting pixels for which the total repulsive potential is to be calculated, a print permitting pixel Do has the highest total repulsive potential, changes in repulsive potential after movement of the pixels are determined and the print permitting pixel Do is moved to a pixel having the lowest total repulsive potential after the movement. This processing is repeated to enable a reduction in the total energy of the entire plane. Consequently, the print permitting pixels are appropriately dispersed in overlapping plane masks so as to have few low frequency components. | 10-02-2008 |
20090002417 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS AND PRINTING METHOD THEREFOR - The printing elements of each printing element array are divided into blocks. A block to be driven and a block not to be driven are determined for each scanning of a printhead. The printhead is driven to print by complementing blocks to be driven by each scanning in a plurality of scanning operations. In each scanning, the printhead prints while making a printing area corresponding to at least one ink different from a printing area corresponding to another ink. | 01-01-2009 |
20090015849 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - Development of uneven gloss is reduced when printing mutually adjacent printing regions with pigment ink while overlapping boundary regions each other. A joint section and a non-joint section employ mutually different image processing such that a larger amount of ink having a relatively higher gloss level is used in the joint section as compared to the non-joint section. In this way, it is possible to uniform gloss impression between the non-joint section and the joint section and thereby to reduce uneven gloss. | 01-15-2009 |
20090040550 | DATA GENERATION APPARATUS, PRINTING APPARATUS AND DATA GENERATION METHOD - When a feeding amount for multi-pass printing is changed, the purpose related to an image quality using a binary data generation pattern can still be attained by, for example, a density pattern method. Specifically, a multi-pass printing mode is identified, and a density pattern selection matrix associated with a cycle of binary data generation is selected in accordance with the selected printing mode. That is, a density pattern selection matrix employed for binary data generation using a density pattern is changed to a size corresponding to the feeding amount designated by the selected printing mode. Thereby, a phenomenon that a unit used for image processing to gain a predetermined purpose related to an image quality does not match a unit area used for a printing operation is avoided, and an image printing purpose using a binary data generation pattern can be appropriately attained. | 02-12-2009 |
20090086231 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, PRINTING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - 17-valued data of a pixel in a multi-valued image is divided into two divisions for a two-pass printing, obtaining the division data. Next, by using an index pattern where arrangements of the numerals of 1 to 16 are dispersed, each dot data of C, M and Y in the division data is arranged. First, six dot data of C are assigned to the respective minor pixels of the numerals of 1 to 6 in accordance with a value of C | 04-02-2009 |
20090184994 | DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS, PRINTING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CREATING MASK PATTERN - The interference between the dot arrangement pattern used for binarizing an image and the mask pattern for processing the dot arrangement pattern can be reduced and the well dispersed dot arrangement can realized by using the mask pattern. Specifically, in creating the mask, repulsive potential between the mask and the plane of dots arrangement pattern is calculated. That is, when the arrangement of print permitting pixels in the mask is determined, repulsive potential between print permitting pixels and dots on the plane of the dot arrangement pattern is calculated and print permitting pixels are arranged on the position where energy is the lowest and most dispersed. This enables print permitting pixels to be well dispersed in overlapping of the dot arrangement pattern and the mask. Consequently, as to dots formed by mask-processing and each scanning, their number is not unequally high in a specific scanning and dots are well dispersed. | 07-23-2009 |
20090310150 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - A dither pattern is formed in such a manner that threshold values 1 to 16 are dispersed in regard to the order of magnitudes of the threshold values. First, there is made a calculation of multiplying each value of the image data by a ratio of 1/2. Thereby, there is produced the divided 17-valued data where every value of all pixels is “2”. Next, binarization is carried out for the divided data by using the dither pattern. As a result, binary data at the first pass is obtained. Next, there is obtained the data by a product of a ratio (1/2+1/2) obtained by adding 1/2 to the above ratio and each value of the image data. Binarization is carried out for the image data by using the dither pattern. This produces binary data. Finally, dot data for the second pass is obtained by subtracting data from the binary data. | 12-17-2009 |
20100045723 | INK-JET PRINTING APPARATUS AND INK-JET PRINTING METHOD - The print permitting ratios of the masks in the first to fourth passes of a C ink are respectively 6.2%, 37.5%, 37.5%, and 18.8%. On the other hand, the print permitting ratios of the masks in the first to fourth passes of an M ink are respectively 12.5%, 37.5%, 37.5%, and 12.5%. In this way, the respective masks are set such that a larger amount of the C ink is applied in a later pass as compared with the M ink. Thereby, it is possible to reduce an amount of the M ink to be applied later with respect to the C ink functioning to “reduce a permeation speed of an ink applied later by filling,” and it is possible to prevent a permeation speed from slowing down overall. As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of beading due to a time to complete permeation becoming longer. | 02-25-2010 |
20100315458 | DATA GENERATION APPARATUS, INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS, AND DATA GENERATION METHOD - An apparatus for generating data used to apply a plurality of inks similar in color and different in color material density, including a first ink and a second ink higher in color material density than the first ink, onto a pixel area on a recording medium with a recording head includes a generation unit configured to generate the data in such a way that out of a plurality of pixels constituting the pixel area, a number of pixels onto which dots of the first ink are applied in an overlapped manner is greater than a number of pixels onto which dots of the second ink are applied in the overlapped manner. | 12-16-2010 |
20110019208 | IMAGE DATA GENERATING APPARATUS, PRINTING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE DATA GENERATION METHOD - When error diffusion processing is applied to thinned printing, the thinned printing can be performed without spoiling the dot printing pattern, and dot data is generated so that occurrence of grain may be suppressed by the dot arrangement distributed by the error diffusion processing. Specifically, the error diffusion of the binary data is performed in consideration of permitted positions shown by a division pattern of a nozzle array. That is, the binary data is permitted to be arranged only at a pixel position indicated by black in the division pattern of the nozzle array. Next, the result of having subtracted binary data from multi-valued data is applied as correction data of a multiple value, and this correction data is added to cyan multi-valued data of the nozzle array of first pass related to second plane generation. | 01-27-2011 |
20110090518 | DATA PROCESSING METHOD, DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS, MASK GENERATION METHOD, AND MASK PATTERN - The present invention provides a mask for divided printing that completes an image by plural scans using inks of different plural inks, the mask being able to suppress possible grains during printing to reduce image degradation resulting from beading. If for example, among the print permitting pixels for which the total repulsive potential is to be calculated, a print permitting pixel Do has the highest total repulsive potential, changes in repulsive potential after movement of the pixels are determined and the print permitting pixel Do is moved to a pixel having the lowest total repulsive potential after the movement. This processing is repeated to enable a reduction in the total energy of the entire plane. Consequently, the print permitting pixels are appropriately dispersed in overlapping plane masks so as to have few low frequency components. | 04-21-2011 |
20110148959 | INK JET PRINTING APPARATUS, INK JET PRINTING METHOD, DATA GENERATING APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - The present invention provides an inkjet printing apparatus and an inkjet printing method for printing a high-definition image while improving glossiness of the image surface without causing complication and enlargement of the apparatus. A plurality of inks are ejected from first and second printing heads so that a weighted average of a printing rate for each scan regarding an ink having the highest lightness becomes the largest among the plurality of inks and so that a maximum value regarding the printing rate of the ink having the highest lightness becomes larger than those of other inks. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148970 | INK JET PRINTING SYSTEM, INK JET PRINTING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - The present invention provides an ink jet printing system and method which allows high-quality images to be printed while improving the gloss of an image surface, as well as a relevant storage medium. According to the present invention, an image is printed using a print head including multiple nozzle arrays provided for ink in respective multiple colors and in each of which multiple nozzles configured to eject ink are arranged; the print head ejects the ink in the multiple colors onto the same print area on a print medium during multiple scans. The multiple types of ink are ejected from the print head so that the connectivity of ink dots formed on the front outermost surface of a print area is higher than that of other ink dots formed in the print area. | 06-23-2011 |
20110181897 | DATA PROCESSOR, DATA PRCESSING METHOD AND PROGRAM - Provided are a data processing method and a data processor for ink jet printing, which are capable of achieving uniform and high-quality images while stabilizing density and color development in each of pixels. To this end, a mask pattern for setting permission and non-permission to print dots in each area is arranged non-periodically by using an integral multiple of m×n areas as one unit. The m×n areas allow one pixel to be expressed in half-tone. Thereby, density in the pixel is stable since a plurality of dots printed in the same pixel are printed approximately in the same event. Moreover, since each of the units (clusters) is non-periodically arranged, a uniform image can be obtained. | 07-28-2011 |
20110187775 | RECORDING APPARATUS AND RECORDING METHOD - When a number of passes of multi-pass recording has been changed, a repetitive cycle of a drive pattern is changed, depending on change of feeding amount caused by change of the number of passes. Accordingly, the drive pattern is set to a size corresponding to the changed feeding amount. | 08-04-2011 |
20110227982 | RECORDING APPARATUS AND RECORDING METHOD - In a mask pattern used in effecting multi-path recording, (A) a recording permission ratio in each pixel row of a non-boundary area of a first pattern portion corresponding to a first nozzle block is substantially a first value, and a recording permission ratio in each pixel row of a non-boundary area of a second pattern portion corresponding to a second nozzle block adjacent the first nozzle block is substantially a second value, and (B) in a boundary area including a boundary between the first pattern portion and the second pattern portion, the recording permission ratio in each pixel row is between the first value and the second value, and the recording permission ratios in each pixel line are made different depending on a position with respect to a scanning direction. By this, in addition to reducing effects of an in-band unevenness and an inter-band unevenness by (A), a reducing effect of a connecting stripe can be provided by (B). | 09-22-2011 |
20110261373 | DATA GENERATION APPARATUS, PRINTING APPARATUS AND DATA GENERATION METHOD - When a feeding amount for multi-pass printing is changed, the purpose related to an image quality using a binary data generation pattern can still be attained by, for example, a density pattern method. Specifically, a multi-pass printing mode is identified, and a density pattern selection matrix associated with a cycle of binary data generation is selected in accordance with the selected printing mode. That is, a density pattern selection matrix employed for binary data generation using a density pattern is changed to a size corresponding to the feeding amount designated by the selected printing mode. Thereby, a phenomenon that a unit used for image processing to gain a predetermined purpose related to an image quality does not match a unit area used for a printing operation is avoided, and an image printing purpose using a binary data generation pattern can be appropriately attained. | 10-27-2011 |
20120044287 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DRIVE OF NOZZLES IN INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS - An inkjet printing apparatus that prints each raster in a multi-pass printing mode by causing a printhead having a plurality of nozzles forming a nozzle array to scan in a direction intersecting with the nozzle array is provided, in which the nozzles are divided into groups, each including adjacent nozzles, one nozzle selected from each group is united into one block, drive of nozzles is controlled such that drive timings of nozzles differ among a plurality of blocks in each group, and a sequence in which nozzles are driven is determined for each scan in the multi-pass printing mode such that printed dots are most equally printed in the raster. | 02-23-2012 |
20120092404 | INK JET PRINTING APPARATUS AND INK JET PRINTING METHOD - A printing apparatus that includes nozzle arrays, formed of nozzles for ejecting ink of the first to fourth ink color groups, and that scans a print medium while moving the nozzle arrays to perform printing. For printing a unit area of a print medium, where printing is to be completed by performing a plurality of scans, the printing apparatus performs a plurality of scans, and conveys, between movements, a print medium a predetermined amount, which is equivalent to the width of the unit area. Then, to perform a plurality of scans using the nozzle arrays for the first to fourth ink color groups, print data are generated, so that for the nozzle arrays that belong to two ink color groups, the nozzle array for the first ink color group is employed to eject ink into the unit area prior to the nozzle array for the second ink color group. | 04-19-2012 |
20120188562 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - Provided is an image processing apparatus and image processing method that are capable of outputting an image wherein seam lines caused by sudden conveyance error are difficult to notice even for a small number of multi passes printing. In order to achieve this, the number of dots that are printed in pixels is adjusted according to the density level so that the number of dots that are printed in pixels corresponding to boundary portions is larger than in pixels corresponding to areas that are not boundary portions, and so that the number of dots that are printed in pixels corresponding to boundary portions increases the higher the density level of the pixels is. As a result, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of white stripes in high-density areas without emphasizing black stripes in low-density areas. | 07-26-2012 |
20120262736 | DATA PROCESSOR, DATA PROCESSING METHOD AND PROGRAM - Provided are a data processing method and a data processor for ink jet printing, which are capable of achieving uniform and high-quality images while stabilizing density and color development in each of pixels. To this end, a mask pattern for setting permission and non-permission to print dots in each area is arranged non-periodically by using an integral multiple of m×n areas as one unit. The m×n areas allow one pixel to be expressed in half-tone. Thereby, density in the pixel is stable since a plurality of dots printed in the same pixel are printed approximately in the same event. Moreover, since each of the units (clusters) is non-periodically arranged, a uniform image can be obtained. | 10-18-2012 |
20130083111 | RECORDING APPARATUS AND RECORDING METHOD - In a mask pattern used in effecting multi-path recording, (A) a recording permission ratio in each pixel row of a non-boundary area of a first pattern portion corresponding to a first nozzle block is substantially a first value, and a recording permission ratio in each pixel row of a non-boundary area of a second pattern portion corresponding to a second nozzle block adjacent the first nozzle block is substantially a second value, and (B) in a boundary area including a boundary between the first pattern portion and the second pattern portion, the recording permission ratio in each pixel row is between the first value and the second value, and the recording permission ratios in each pixel line are made different depending on a position with respect to a scanning direction. In-band and inter-band unevenness and a connecting stripe are reduced by (A) and (B), respectively. | 04-04-2013 |
20130113856 | DATA GENERATION APPARATUS, INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS, AND DATA GENERATION METHOD - An apparatus for generating data used to apply a plurality of inks similar in color and different in color material density, including a first ink and a second ink higher in color material density than the first ink, onto a pixel area on a recording medium with a recording head includes a generation unit configured to generate the data in such a way that out of a plurality of pixels constituting the pixel area, a number of pixels onto which dots of the first ink are applied in an overlapped manner is greater than a number of pixels onto which dots of the second ink are applied in the overlapped manner. | 05-09-2013 |