US8654393B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 4.1 years remaining
Image processor and image processing method
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 2010-12-07
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Granted: 2014-02-18
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Expires: 2030-12-07
Abstract
Abstract An image processor and an image processing method are provided which can suppress both a bronzing phenomenon and a color rolling in an inkjet printing apparatus and produce high-quality monochrome pictures. To that end, a monochrome image is processed by generating the multivalued density data for a chromatic ink having a hue component opposite that of the achromatic ink in a low to medium density region and, in a high density region, generating the multivalued density data for a chromatic ink having a reflection light with a hue component opposite that of a reflection light of the achromatic ink. With this arrangement, a high-quality monochrome image can be produced which has hardly noticeable hue deviations and bronzing phenomenon in the entire density grayscale or density range.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuki Narumi
- 👤 Takumi Kaneko
- 👤 Rie Takekoshi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:59
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/21; B41J2/2107; B41J2/205; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/54; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/6075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
An image processing method for printing a monochrome image on a print medium, the image processing method comprising: an obtaining step for obtaining density levels indicated by the monochrome image; and a determining step for determining an amount of an achromatic ink to be applied and an amount of a chromatic ink to be applied according to the density levels obtained by the obtaining step, wherein, in an a*−b* plane, a sign indicating plus or minus of b* component of a first measurement result that is obtained by measuring specular reflected light of an image for which only the achromatic ink is applied at a predetermined duty, is opposite from the sign indicating plus or minus of b* component of a second measurement result that is obtained by measuring specular reflected light of an image for which only the chromatic ink is applied at the predetermined duty.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
An image processing method for printing a monochrome image on a print medium, the image processing method comprising: an obtaining step for obtaining density levels indicated by the monochrome image; and a determining step for determining an amount of an achromatic ink to be applied and an amount of a chromatic ink to be applied according to the density levels obtained by the obtaining step, wherein, in an a*−b* plane, a sign indicating plus or minus of b* component of a first measurement result that is obtained by measuring specular reflected light of an image for which only the achromatic ink is applied at a predetermined duty, is opposite from the sign indicating plus or minus of b* component of a second measurement result that is obtained by measuring specular reflected light of an image for which only the chromatic ink is applied at the predetermined duty.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image processing method according to claim 1 , wherein the achromatic ink and the chromatic inks include a pigment as a coloring material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image processing method according to claim 1 , wherein the chromatic ink is a green ink.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image processing method according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of achromatic inks with different densities of a coloring material contained are able to be used as the achromatic ink.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image processing method according to claim 1 , wherein the sign of b* component of the first measurement result is plus and the sign of b* component of the second measurement result is minus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
An image processing method according to claim 1 , wherein in the determining step, the amount of the achromatic ink to be applied and the amount of the chromatic ink to be applied are determined according to data that relates the density levels obtained by the obtaining step to the amount of the achromatic ink to be applied and the amount of the chromatic ink to be applied.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An image processing method according claim 1 , wherein, in the determining step, the amount of the chromatic ink to be applied is determined such that the density levels are higher the amount of the chromatic ink to be applied is larger.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
An image processing method according claim 1 , wherein, in a case where the density levels obtained by the obtaining step is a predetermined level, in the determining step, the amount of a second chromatic ink having a different hue from the chromatic ink to be applied, is determined to be larger than zero; and wherein, in an a*−b* plane, an absolute value of b* component of the second measurement result is larger than an absolute value of b* component of a third measurement result that is obtained by measuring specular reflected light of an image for which only the second chromatic ink is applied at the predetermined duty.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
An image processing method according claim 8 , wherein, in a case where the density levels obtained by the obtaining step is the predetermined level, the determining is performed such that the amount of the chromatic ink to be applied is smaller than the amount of the second chromatic ink to be applied.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
An image processing method according claim 8 , wherein, in a case where the density levels obtained by the obtaining step is the predetermined level, the determining is performed such that the amount of the chromatic ink to be applied is zero and amount of the achromatic ink to be applied and the amount of the second chromatic ink to be applied is larger than zero.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image processing method according claim 8 , wherein the second chromatic ink is cyan ink.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
An image processing method according to claim 11 , wherein, in a case where the density levels obtained by the obtaining step is the predetermined level, the determining is performed such that an amount of a third chromatic ink, having a different hue from the chromatic ink and the second chromatic ink, to be applied is larger than zero.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image processing method according to claim 12 , wherein the third chromatic ink is a magenta ink.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image processing method according claim 8 , wherein a hue indicated by the third measurement result is closer to a hue indicated by the first measurement result than a hue indicated by the second measurement result.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image processing method according to claim 14 , wherein the sign of b* component of the fourth measurement result is plus and the sign of b* component of the fifth and sixth measurement results are minus.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
142 words
An image processing method according to claim 8 , wherein, in the a*−b* plane, a sign of b* component of a fourth measurement result that is obtained by using a spectral irradiance meter to measure an image for which only the achromatic ink is applied at a predetermined duty, is opposite from the sign of b* component of a fifth measurement result that is obtained by using the spectral irradiance meter to measure an image for which only the chromatic ink is applied at the predetermined duty, and wherein, in the a*−b* plane, a sign of b* component of a sixth measurement result that is obtained by using the spectral irradiance meter to measure an image for which only the second chromatic ink is applied at a predetermined duty, is opposite from the sign of b* component of the fourth measurement result.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
144 words
An image processor for printing a monochrome image on a print medium comprising: an obtaining unit configured to obtain density levels indicated by the monochrome image; and a determining unit configured to determine an amount of an achromatic ink to be applied and an amount of a chromatic ink to be applied according to the density levels obtained by the obtaining unit, wherein, in an a*−b* plane, a sign indicating plus or minus of b* component of a first measurement result that is obtained by measuring specular reflected light of an image for which only the achromatic ink is applied at a predetermined duty, is opposite from the sign indicating plus or minus of b* component of a second measurement result that is obtained by measuring specular reflected light of an image for which only the chromatic ink is applied at the predetermined duty.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
144 words
An image processor for printing a monochrome image on a print medium comprising: an obtaining unit configured to obtain density levels indicated by the monochrome image; and a determining unit configured to determine an amount of an achromatic ink to be applied and an amount of a chromatic ink to be applied according to the density levels obtained by the obtaining unit, wherein, in an a*−b* plane, a sign indicating plus or minus of b* component of a first measurement result that is obtained by measuring specular reflected light of an image for which only the achromatic ink is applied at a predetermined duty, is opposite from the sign indicating plus or minus of b* component of a second measurement result that is obtained by measuring specular reflected light of an image for which only the chromatic ink is applied at the predetermined duty.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing programs for causing computers to execute the image processing method of claim 1 .
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2017-02-17 | 2017-08-19 | 2018-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2021-02-17 | 2021-08-19 | 2022-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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