Patent US3017025A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6042212A
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US
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Ink-jet recording apparatus and method using asynchronous masks
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1998-06-25
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Granted: 2000-03-28
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Expires: 2018-06-25
Abstract
Abstract Random masks each having a given size and defining a random array of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations are placed in association with record areas in mask registers. Using the placed masks, record data is thinned-out and supplied to a recording head. An image is then recorded. Thus, since thinning-out masks do not have periodicity, any inherent density nonuniformity loses periodicity. Consequently, high-definition images can be produced.
Inventors
- 👤 Kiichiro Takahashi
- 👤 Naoji Otsuka
- 👤 Kazuhiro Nakata
- 👤 Atsushi Arai
- 👤 Kentaro Yano
- 👤 Osamu Iwasaki
- 👤 Daigoro Kanematsu
- 👤 Masao Sasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:12
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; G06K15/102; G06K15/105; G06K15/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A recording apparatus for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said apparatus comprising: scan controlling means for controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times; creating means for creating masks each having a predetermined size and defining an array of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; expanding means for expanding said masks created by said creating means; thinning-out means for thinning out record data using said masks expanded by said expanding means, said masks being utilized as thinning-out masks for each record area; and record controlling means for forming thinned-out images by recording the record data thinned out by said thinning-out means, during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A recording apparatus for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said apparatus comprising: scan controlling means for controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times; creating means for creating masks each having a predetermined size and defining an array of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; expanding means for expanding said masks created by said creating means; thinning-out means for thinning out record data using said masks expanded by said expanding means, said masks being utilized as thinning-out masks for each record area; and record controlling means for forming thinned-out images by recording the record data thinned out by said thinning-out means, during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said creating means creates said masks independently for each recording scan.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said expanding means determines a quantity of expansion for each recording scan.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising identifying means for identifying a type of print data, wherein said expanding means determines a quantity of expansion according to the type of print data identified by said identifying means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said expanding means determines a quantity of expansion according to a type of recording medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the recording head, wherein said recording head discharges ink from a plurality of ink-jet nozzles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said recording head discharges the ink by way of heat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a copying machine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a facsimile machine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a computer terminal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
163 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus for recording using a recording head having a plurality of ink-jet nozzles for discharging ink, said recording apparatus being operable in a normal recording mode and a thinning-out recording mode, said apparatus comprising: scan controlling means for controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium once in the normal recording mode, while controlling said recording head to scan the same record area of the recording medium a plurality of times in the thinning-out recording mode; record controlling means for controlling complete recording of an image by recording record data during one scan in the normal recording mode, and by recording thinned-out images using said created thinning-out masks during respective scans in the thinning-out recording mode; and thinning-out controlling means for selecting the thinning-out recording mode and for setting masks resulting from thinning-out based on pseudo-random numbers in said record controlling means when a recording medium used for recording is of a predetermined type.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
163 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus for recording using a recording head having a plurality of ink-jet nozzles for discharging ink, said recording apparatus being operable in a normal recording mode and a thinning-out recording mode, said apparatus comprising: scan controlling means for controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium once in the normal recording mode, while controlling said recording head to scan the same record area of the recording medium a plurality of times in the thinning-out recording mode; record controlling means for controlling complete recording of an image by recording record data during one scan in the normal recording mode, and by recording thinned-out images using said created thinning-out masks during respective scans in the thinning-out recording mode; and thinning-out controlling means for selecting the thinning-out recording mode and for setting masks resulting from thinning-out based on pseudo-random numbers in said record controlling means when a recording medium used for recording is of a predetermined type.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising identifying means for identifying a type of recording medium to be recorded.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined type of recording medium comprises a type prone to beading.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined type of recording medium comprises media other than coated paper and plain paper.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined type of recording medium comprises transparent film.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said thinning-out controlling means sets said masks for respective divided areas of the recording head.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said masks comprise a plurality of complementary masks produced from a single mask.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said record controlling means varies a quantity of discharged ink depending on an ambient temperature or humidity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said record controlling means varies a quantity of discharged ink for each record area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said record controlling means varies a quantity of discharged ink for each ink-jet nozzle of the recording head.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising said recording head, wherein said recording head discharges ink by way of heat.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a copying machine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a facsimile machine.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said recording apparatus is incorporated in a computer terminal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
98 words
A recording method for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said method comprising the steps of: creating masks each having a predetermined size and defining an array of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; expanding the created masks; thinning out record data using the expanded masks, the masks being utilized as thinning-out masks for each record area; and controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times, forming thinned-out images by recording thinned-out record data during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
98 words
A recording method for recording using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said method comprising the steps of: creating masks each having a predetermined size and defining an array of non-record pixel locations and record pixel locations; expanding the created masks; thinning out record data using the expanded masks, the masks being utilized as thinning-out masks for each record area; and controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium a plurality of times, forming thinned-out images by recording thinned-out record data during respective scans, and thus completing an image.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
A recording method according to claim 25, wherein during image forming, the recording head discharges ink from a plurality of ink-jet nozzles.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
A recording method according to claim 26, wherein the recording head discharges the ink by way of heat.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
154 words
An ink-jet recording method for recording using a recording head having a plurality of ink-jet nozzles for discharging ink, said recording method being operable in a normal recording mode and a thinning-out recording mode, said method comprising the steps of: controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium once in the normal recording mode, while controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of the recording medium a plurality of times in the thinning-out recording mode; and controlling complete recording of an image by recording record data during one scan in the normal recording mode, and by recording thinned-out images using created thinning-out masks during respective scans in the thinning-out recording mode, wherein when a recording medium used for recording is of a predetermined type, the thinning-out recording mode is selected and masks resulting from thinning-out based on pseudo-random numbers are utilized as the thinning-out masks.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
154 words
An ink-jet recording method for recording using a recording head having a plurality of ink-jet nozzles for discharging ink, said recording method being operable in a normal recording mode and a thinning-out recording mode, said method comprising the steps of: controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of a recording medium once in the normal recording mode, while controlling the recording head to scan the same record area of the recording medium a plurality of times in the thinning-out recording mode; and controlling complete recording of an image by recording record data during one scan in the normal recording mode, and by recording thinned-out images using created thinning-out masks during respective scans in the thinning-out recording mode, wherein when a recording medium used for recording is of a predetermined type, the thinning-out recording mode is selected and masks resulting from thinning-out based on pseudo-random numbers are utilized as the thinning-out masks.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
An ink-jet recording method according to claim 28, wherein during recording the recording head discharges ink by way of heat.
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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) | 2003-03-28 | 2003-09-27 | 2004-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-28 | 2007-09-27 | 2008-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-28 | 2011-09-27 | 2012-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |