US6120129A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink-jet print method and apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1997-04-22
•
Granted: 2000-09-19
•
Expires: 2017-04-22
Abstract
Abstract Print codes supplied from a host computer are received and analyzed to generate print data for the individual colors, and the generated print data are stored in print buffers corresponding to the colors. The print data corresponding to yellow ink with high lightness is expressed by binary data, and is printed by one dot per pixel by a single print scan. The print data corresponding to each of the remaining high-density (thick) inks is expressed by multi-valued data having a larger number of bits than the yellow data, and is printed by a plurality of print scans.
Inventors
- 👤 Osamu Iwasaki
- 👤 Naoji Otsuka
- 👤 Kentaro Yano
- 👤 Kiichiro Takahashi
- 👤 Hitoshi Nishikori
- 👤 Daigoro Kanematsu
- 👤 Hidehiko Kanda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 08:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; G06K15/102; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0082; G06K2215/0094
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
An ink-jet printer apparatus for printing an image on a printing medium by scanning a printhead having a plurality of print elements for ejecting ink, said printhead having a plurality of print element groups for respectively ejecting yellow, cyan, magenta, and black inks, comprising: first print means for performing printing in accordance with data having a first gradation and expressed by binary data using a first print element group, of the plurality of print element groups, for ejecting yellow ink; first storage means for storing the data having the first gradation expressed by the binary data; second print means for performing printing in accordance with data having a second gradation higher than the first gradation and expressed by multi-valued data using a second print element group, of the plurality of print element groups, other than the first print element group; and second storage means for storing the data having the second gradation and expressed by the multi-valued data, wherein the second print element group prints dots corresponding to the data having the second gradation in plural scannings, with at least portions of the dots overlapping each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
An ink-jet printer apparatus for printing an image on a printing medium by scanning a printhead having a plurality of print elements for ejecting ink, said printhead having a plurality of print element groups for respectively ejecting yellow, cyan, magenta, and black inks, comprising: first print means for performing printing in accordance with data having a first gradation and expressed by binary data using a first print element group, of the plurality of print element groups, for ejecting yellow ink; first storage means for storing the data having the first gradation expressed by the binary data; second print means for performing printing in accordance with data having a second gradation higher than the first gradation and expressed by multi-valued data using a second print element group, of the plurality of print element groups, other than the first print element group; and second storage means for storing the data having the second gradation and expressed by the multi-valued data, wherein the second print element group prints dots corresponding to the data having the second gradation in plural scannings, with at least portions of the dots overlapping each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first print element group is arranged on a downstream side with respect to the second print element group in a feed direction of the printing medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
118 words
An ink-jet print method for printing an image by ejecting ink from a printhead onto a printing medium, comprising: the step of inputting print data corresponding to inks having at least different saturation and lightness levels; and the step of performing printing, by ejecting ink from the printhead onto the printing medium to form data, at one of first and second gradations corresponding to lightness of each of the inks by ejecting the inks having at least different saturation and lightness levels in accordance with the print data, wherein in the step of performing printing, dots corresponding to data having the second gradation are printed in plural scannings, with at least portions of the dots overlapping each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
118 words
An ink-jet print method for printing an image by ejecting ink from a printhead onto a printing medium, comprising: the step of inputting print data corresponding to inks having at least different saturation and lightness levels; and the step of performing printing, by ejecting ink from the printhead onto the printing medium to form data, at one of first and second gradations corresponding to lightness of each of the inks by ejecting the inks having at least different saturation and lightness levels in accordance with the print data, wherein in the step of performing printing, dots corresponding to data having the second gradation are printed in plural scannings, with at least portions of the dots overlapping each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein the first print element group is arranged on a downstream side with respect to the second print element group in a feed direction of the printing medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
169 words
An ink-jet print method for printing an image on a printing medium using a printhead having a plurality of print elements for ejecting inks, said printhead having a plurality of print element groups for respectively ejecting yellow, cyan, magenta, and black inks, comprising: the first print step of performing printing on the printing medium in accordance with data having a first gradation and expressed by binary data using a first print element group, of the plurality of print element groups of the printhead, for ejecting yellow ink; and the second print step of performing printing on the printing medium in accordance with data having a second gradation higher than the first gradation and expressed by multi-valued data using a second print element group, of the plurality of print element groups of the printhead, other than the first print element group, wherein the second print element group prints dots corresponding to the data having the second gradation in plural scannings, with at least portions of the dots overlapping each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
169 words
An ink-jet print method for printing an image on a printing medium using a printhead having a plurality of print elements for ejecting inks, said printhead having a plurality of print element groups for respectively ejecting yellow, cyan, magenta, and black inks, comprising: the first print step of performing printing on the printing medium in accordance with data having a first gradation and expressed by binary data using a first print element group, of the plurality of print element groups of the printhead, for ejecting yellow ink; and the second print step of performing printing on the printing medium in accordance with data having a second gradation higher than the first gradation and expressed by multi-valued data using a second print element group, of the plurality of print element groups of the printhead, other than the first print element group, wherein the second print element group prints dots corresponding to the data having the second gradation in plural scannings, with at least portions of the dots overlapping each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
160 words
An ink-jet printer apparatus comprising: a mount portion exchangeably mounting a first ink-jet head for ejecting ink with high color property, and a second ink-jet head for ejecting ink with low color property; driving means for giving a driving condition to the ink-jet head mounted on said mount portion; and print means for printing by using the first and second ink-jet heads mounted on said mount portion, controlling the driving condition in accordance with a ratio of the color property of the ink ejected by said second ink-jet head to the color property of the ink ejected by said first ink-jet head, and performing printing by forming a surface density corresponding to a surface density of development by the ink ejected by said first ink-jet head using the ink ejected by said second ink-jet head, wherein the second ink-jet head forms dots corresponding to the surface density in plural scannings, with at least portions of the dots overlapping each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
160 words
An ink-jet printer apparatus comprising: a mount portion exchangeably mounting a first ink-jet head for ejecting ink with high color property, and a second ink-jet head for ejecting ink with low color property; driving means for giving a driving condition to the ink-jet head mounted on said mount portion; and print means for printing by using the first and second ink-jet heads mounted on said mount portion, controlling the driving condition in accordance with a ratio of the color property of the ink ejected by said second ink-jet head to the color property of the ink ejected by said first ink-jet head, and performing printing by forming a surface density corresponding to a surface density of development by the ink ejected by said first ink-jet head using the ink ejected by said second ink-jet head, wherein the second ink-jet head forms dots corresponding to the surface density in plural scannings, with at least portions of the dots overlapping each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
168 words
An ink-jet printer for printing an image on a printing medium by scanning a printhead having a plurality of print elements for ejecting ink, relative to the printing medium, the printhead having a plurality of print element groups for respectively ejecting at least a first ink and a second ink other than the first ink, comprising: first print means for performing printing in accordance with first print data having a first tonal value using a first print element group, of the plurality of print element groups, for ejecting the first ink; and second print means for performing printing in accordance with second print data having a second tonal value higher than the first tonal value using a second print element group of the plurality of print element groups, other than the first print element group, for ejecting the second ink, wherein the second print element group prints dots in accordance with the second print data in plural scannings, with at least protions of the dots overlapping each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
168 words
An ink-jet printer for printing an image on a printing medium by scanning a printhead having a plurality of print elements for ejecting ink, relative to the printing medium, the printhead having a plurality of print element groups for respectively ejecting at least a first ink and a second ink other than the first ink, comprising: first print means for performing printing in accordance with first print data having a first tonal value using a first print element group, of the plurality of print element groups, for ejecting the first ink; and second print means for performing printing in accordance with second print data having a second tonal value higher than the first tonal value using a second print element group of the plurality of print element groups, other than the first print element group, for ejecting the second ink, wherein the second print element group prints dots in accordance with the second print data in plural scannings, with at least protions of the dots overlapping each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ink-jet printer according to claim 7, wherein the first print data is expressed by binary data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ink-jet printer according to claim 7, wherein the second print data is expressed by multi-valued data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
112 words
An ink-jet print method for printing an image by ejecting ink from a printhead onto a printing medium, comprising: a step of inputting first and second print data corresponding to different types of inks; and a step of performing printing, by ejecting ink from the printhead onto the printing medium to form an image in accordance with the first and second print data, wherein in the step of performing printing, dots corresponding to the second print data are printed in plural scannings, with at least portions of the dots overlapping each other, and wherein the second print data has a tonal value higher than the tonal value of the first print data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
112 words
An ink-jet print method for printing an image by ejecting ink from a printhead onto a printing medium, comprising: a step of inputting first and second print data corresponding to different types of inks; and a step of performing printing, by ejecting ink from the printhead onto the printing medium to form an image in accordance with the first and second print data, wherein in the step of performing printing, dots corresponding to the second print data are printed in plural scannings, with at least portions of the dots overlapping each other, and wherein the second print data has a tonal value higher than the tonal value of the first print data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
180 words
An ink-jet print method for printing an image on a printing medium by scanning a printhead having a plurality of print elements for ejecting inks, the printhead having a plurality of print element groups for respectively ejecting at least a first ink and a second ink other than the first ink, comprising: a first print step of performing printing on the printing medium in accordance with first print data having a first tonal value using a first print element group of the plurality of print element groups of the printhead for ejecting the first ink; and a second print step of performing printing on the printing medium in accordance with second print data having a second tonal value higher than the first tonal value using a second print element group of the plurality of print element groups of the printhead, other than the first print element group, for ejecting the second ink, wherein the second print element group prints dots in accordance with the second print data in plural scannings, with at least protions of the dots overlapping each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
180 words
An ink-jet print method for printing an image on a printing medium by scanning a printhead having a plurality of print elements for ejecting inks, the printhead having a plurality of print element groups for respectively ejecting at least a first ink and a second ink other than the first ink, comprising: a first print step of performing printing on the printing medium in accordance with first print data having a first tonal value using a first print element group of the plurality of print element groups of the printhead for ejecting the first ink; and a second print step of performing printing on the printing medium in accordance with second print data having a second tonal value higher than the first tonal value using a second print element group of the plurality of print element groups of the printhead, other than the first print element group, for ejecting the second ink, wherein the second print element group prints dots in accordance with the second print data in plural scannings, with at least protions of the dots overlapping each other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ink-jet print method according to claim 11, wherein the first print data is expressed by binary data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ink-jet print method according to claim 11, wherein the second print data is expressed by multi-valued data.
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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) | 2003-09-19 | 2004-03-20 | 2004-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-19 | 2008-03-20 | 2008-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-19 | 2012-03-20 | 2012-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |