US5285220A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image recording apparatus with tone correction for individual recording heads
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1992-06-25
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Granted: 1994-02-08
•
Expires: 2012-06-25
Abstract
Abstract An image recording apparatus includes plural recording heads that eject ink to record an image. Different tone characteristics of the images recorded by the recording heads are corrected by individually correcting the image signal for each head to improve the overall image quality of the image provided by the plural recording heads. Non-uniform density of the image recorded by the recording heads can also be corrected before tone correction is effected.
Inventors
- 👤 Akio Suzuki
- 👤 Nobuhiko Takekoshi
- 👤 Toshimitsu Danzuka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:30
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/407
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
An image recording apparatus for recording an image using a plurality of recording heads, each recording head being capable of recording an image, having particular tone characteristics, in response to an image signal supplied to the recording head, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of tone correcting means for correcting the image signal to be supplied to a corresponding recording head in accordance with tone correcting information associated with that recording head; and tone correcting information setting means for setting the tone correcting information for each recording head in accordance with the particular tone characteristics associated with that recording head.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
An image recording apparatus for recording an image using a plurality of recording heads, each recording head being capable of recording an image, having particular tone characteristics, in response to an image signal supplied to the recording head, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of tone correcting means for correcting the image signal to be supplied to a corresponding recording head in accordance with tone correcting information associated with that recording head; and tone correcting information setting means for setting the tone correcting information for each recording head in accordance with the particular tone characteristics associated with that recording head.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tone correction information setting means includes signal generating means for generating a tone-characteristic signal corresponding to the particular tone characteristics associated with each recording head and sets the tone correcting information in accordance with the tone-characteristic signal generated by said signal generating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said signal generating means comprises a ROM mounted on each recording head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said signal generating means comprises pattern outputting means for outputting a tone-characteristic detecting pattern to be recorded by each recording head, image reading means for reading the pattern and process means for comparing an output of said reading means with predetermined tone-correcting characteristics to determine the tone characteristics associated with that recording head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tone correcting information setting means comprises pattern outputting means for outputting a tone-characteristic detecting pattern to be recorded by each recording head, image reading means for reading the pattern, process means for determining a desired tone-correcting curve for that recording head on the basis of data from said image reading means and signal outputting means for outputting the desired tone-correcting curve as the tone correcting information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each recording head comprises an ink jet recording head for ejecting ink through ejection outlets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each recording head includes thermal energy producing means disposed adjacent the ejection outlets to change the state of the ink and eject the ink through the ejection outlets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said apparatus is a facsimile machine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said apparatus is a copying machine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of recording heads comprises plural recording head elements to effect recording in different colors to form a color image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each recording head records dots and changes the tone of the image by changing a number of dots in accordance with the corrected image signal supplied thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each recording head records dots and changes the tone of the image by changing dot size in accordance with the corrected image signal supplied thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a facsimile machine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a copying machine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
144 words
An image recording apparatus for recording an image using a plurality of recording heads, each recording head having plural image recording elements and being capable of recording an image, having particular tone and density characteristics, in response to an image signal supplied to the recording head, the apparatus comprising: density non-uniformity correcting means for correcting the image signal to be supplied to the recording heads to substantially compensate for non-uniform density characteristic of the image recorded by the plural image recording elements of the recording heads; a plurality of tone correcting means for correcting the image signal to be supplied to a corresponding recording head in accordance with tone correcting information associated with that recording head; and tone correcting information setting means for setting the tone correcting information for each recording head in accordance with the particular tone characteristics associated with that recording head.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
144 words
An image recording apparatus for recording an image using a plurality of recording heads, each recording head having plural image recording elements and being capable of recording an image, having particular tone and density characteristics, in response to an image signal supplied to the recording head, the apparatus comprising: density non-uniformity correcting means for correcting the image signal to be supplied to the recording heads to substantially compensate for non-uniform density characteristic of the image recorded by the plural image recording elements of the recording heads; a plurality of tone correcting means for correcting the image signal to be supplied to a corresponding recording head in accordance with tone correcting information associated with that recording head; and tone correcting information setting means for setting the tone correcting information for each recording head in accordance with the particular tone characteristics associated with that recording head.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said tone correction information setting means includes signal generating means for generating a tone-characteristic signal corresponding to the particular tone characteristics associated with each recording head and sets the tone correcting information in accordance with the tone-characteristic signal generated by said signal generating means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said signal generating means comprises a ROM mounted on each recording head.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said signal generating means comprises pattern outputting means for outputting a tone-characteristic detecting pattern to be recorded by each recording head, image reading means for reading the pattern and process means for comparing an output of said reading means with predetermined tone-correcting characteristics to determine the tone characteristics associated with that recording head.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
74 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said tone correcting information setting means comprises pattern outputting means for outputting a tone-characteristic detecting pattern to be recorded by each recording head, image reading means for reading the pattern, process means for determining a desired tone-correcting curve for that recording head on the basis of data from said image reading means and signal outputting means for outputting the desired tone-correcting curve as the tone correcting information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each recording head comprises an ink jet recording head for ejecting ink through ejection outlets.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein each recording head includes thermal energy producing means disposed adjacent the ejection outlets to change the state of the ink and eject the ink through the ejection outlets.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said apparatus is a facsimile machine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said apparatus is a copying machine.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of recording heads comprises plural recording head elements to effect recording in different colors to form a color image.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each recording head records dots and changes the tone of the image by changing a number of dots in accordance with the corrected image signal supplied thereto.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each recording head records dots and changes the tone of the image by changing dot size in accordance with the corrected image signal supplied thereto.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said tone correcting means effects correction of the image signal after the image signal is corrected by said density non-uniformity correcting means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said density non-uniformity correcting means effects correction of the image signal for groups of the image recording elements, each group including plural image recording elements.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said density non-uniformity correcting means effects correction of the image signal for individual image recording elements.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said apparatus is a facsimile machine.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said apparatus is a copying machine.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
128 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording head having a plurality of image recording elements capable of recording an image, having particular tone and density characteristics, in response to an image signal supplied to said recording head; density non-uniformity correcting means for correcting the image signal to be supplied to said recording head to substantially compensate for non-uniform density characteristics of the image recorded by said plural recording elements; and tone correcting means for correcting the image signal to be supplied to said image recording elements in accordance with tone correcting information associated with respective groups of said image recording elements to match the image signal with the tone characteristics associated with said recording head, wherein each said group includes a predetermined number of said image recording elements.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
128 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording head having a plurality of image recording elements capable of recording an image, having particular tone and density characteristics, in response to an image signal supplied to said recording head; density non-uniformity correcting means for correcting the image signal to be supplied to said recording head to substantially compensate for non-uniform density characteristics of the image recorded by said plural recording elements; and tone correcting means for correcting the image signal to be supplied to said image recording elements in accordance with tone correcting information associated with respective groups of said image recording elements to match the image signal with the tone characteristics associated with said recording head, wherein each said group includes a predetermined number of said image recording elements.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said tone correcting means effects tone correction of the image signal for each individual said recording element.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said recording head comprises an ink jet recording head for ejecting ink through ejection outlets.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said recording head includes thermal energy producing means disposed adjacent said ejection outlets to change the state of the ink and eject the ink through said ejection outlets.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said apparatus is a facsimile machine.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said apparatus is a copying machine.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said tone correcting means effects tone correction of the image signal after the image signal is corrected by said density non-uniformity correcting means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said density non-uniformity correcting means effects correction of the image signal for groups of said image recording elements, each said group including plural said image recording elements.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said density non-uniformity correcting means effects correction of the image signal for individual said image recording elements.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said apparatus is a facsimile machine.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said apparatus is a copying machine.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said recording head comprises an ink jet recording head for ejecting ink through ejection outlets.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said recording head includes thermal energy producing means disposed adjacent said ejection outlets to change the state of the ink and eject the ink through said ejection outlets.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said apparatus is a facsimile machine.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said apparatus is a copying machine.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
94 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording head having a plurality of image recording elements capable of recording an image, having particular tone characteristics, in response to an image signal supplied to said recording head; and tone correcting means for correcting the image signal to be supplied to said image recording elements in accordance with tone correcting information associated with respective groups of said image recording elements to match the image signal with the tone characteristics associated with said recording head, wherein each said group includes a predetermined number of said image recording elements.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
94 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording head having a plurality of image recording elements capable of recording an image, having particular tone characteristics, in response to an image signal supplied to said recording head; and tone correcting means for correcting the image signal to be supplied to said image recording elements in accordance with tone correcting information associated with respective groups of said image recording elements to match the image signal with the tone characteristics associated with said recording head, wherein each said group includes a predetermined number of said image recording elements.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said recording head comprises plural recording head elements to effect recording in different colors to form a color image.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said recording head records dots and changes the tone of the image by changing a number of dots in accordance with the corrected image signal supplied thereto.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said recording head records dots and changes the tone of the image by changing dot size in accordance with the corrected image signal supplied thereto.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said apparatus is a facsimile machine.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said apparatus is a copying machine.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
87 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording head having a plurality of image recording elements capable of recording an image, having particular tone and density characteristics, in response to an image signal supplied to said recording head; non-uniformity correcting means for controlling the image signal in accordance with non-uniform density characteristics of the image recorded by said recording head; and tone correcting means for correcting the image signal for respective groups of said image recording elements in accordance with the tone characteristics associated with said recording head.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
87 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording head having a plurality of image recording elements capable of recording an image, having particular tone and density characteristics, in response to an image signal supplied to said recording head; non-uniformity correcting means for controlling the image signal in accordance with non-uniform density characteristics of the image recorded by said recording head; and tone correcting means for correcting the image signal for respective groups of said image recording elements in accordance with the tone characteristics associated with said recording head.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-02-07 | 1997-08-09 | 1998-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-07 | 2001-08-09 | 2002-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-07 | 2005-08-09 | 2006-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |