US6409299B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printing apparatus and printing method
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1998-12-22
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Granted: 2002-06-25
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Expires: 2018-12-22
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are a printing apparatus and method through which high-quality image printing can be performed at all times even if image data is binarized so as to perform pseudo half tone representation and the binarized image is printed by multi-pass printing. The apparatus performs printing in such a manner that the periodicity of a matrix pattern such as a dither matrix for half tone representation and the periodicity of the matrix of a mask pattern, which is used in multi-pass printing, will not coincide. In a case where printing is carried out by a printhead having a plurality of ink discharge nozzles, the printing apparatus is controlled so that printing is performed by assigning a large number of different nozzles to print the same line.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshihiko Aihara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 12:48
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/04; H04N1/19; H04N1/191; H04N1/1911; H04N1/1913; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/04; H04N2201/0402; H04N2201/0414
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium using a pattern used for representing half tone, comprising: a printhead having a plurality of printing elements; and print control means for scanning a different printing element in the plurality of printing elements of said printhead on the same area of the print medium plural times and performing complementary printing using the pattern used for representing half tone and a mask pattern by the plural times of scans of said printhead; wherein the relationship between a period of a matrix of the pattern used for representing half tone and that of a matrix of the mask pattern is relatively prime.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium using a pattern used for representing half tone, comprising: a printhead having a plurality of printing elements; and print control means for scanning a different printing element in the plurality of printing elements of said printhead on the same area of the print medium plural times and performing complementary printing using the pattern used for representing half tone and a mask pattern by the plural times of scans of said printhead; wherein the relationship between a period of a matrix of the pattern used for representing half tone and that of a matrix of the mask pattern is relatively prime.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said print control means includes thinning out means for complementarily thinning out the pattern used for representing half tone by using the mask pattern.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when a size of the matrix of the pattern used for representing half tone is N 1 ×M 1 , and that of the matrix of the mask pattern is N 2 ×M 2 , at least one of the relationship between N 1 and N 2 , and the relationship between M 1 and M 2 is relatively prime.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the relationship between N 1 and N 2 is relatively prime, and the relationship between M 1 and M 2 is relatively prime.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein N 1 and N 2 are sizes with respect to a scanning direction of said printhead, while M 1 and M 2 are sizes with respect to a direction in which the print medium is conveyed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising conversion means for inputting multi-valued image data and outputting a pattern representing half tone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said conversion means outputs the pattern representing half tone by binarizing the multi-valued image data by using a dither matrix.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said conversion means outputs the pattern representing half tone by binarizing the multi-valued image data by using a density pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising memory means for storing the pattern used for representing half tone and the matrix of the mask pattern.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said printhead has a plurality of ink discharge nozzles for discharging ink as the plurality of printing elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said printhead discharges the ink by utilizing thermal energy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
A printing method for printing an image on a print medium using a pattern used for representing half tone, comprising the steps of: scanning a different printing element in a plurality of printing elements included in a printhead on the same area of the print medium plural times; and controlling to perform complementary printing using the pattern used for representing half tone and a mask pattern by the plural times of scans of said printhead, wherein the relationship between a period of a matrix of the pattern used for representing half tone and that of a matrix of the mask pattern is relatively prime.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
104 words
A printing method for printing an image on a print medium using a pattern used for representing half tone, comprising the steps of: scanning a different printing element in a plurality of printing elements included in a printhead on the same area of the print medium plural times; and controlling to perform complementary printing using the pattern used for representing half tone and a mask pattern by the plural times of scans of said printhead, wherein the relationship between a period of a matrix of the pattern used for representing half tone and that of a matrix of the mask pattern is relatively prime.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein said controlling step includes a step of complementarily thinning out the pattern used for representing half tone by using the mask pattern.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein, when a size of the matrix of the pattern used for representing half tone is N 1 ×M 1 , and that of the matrix of the mask pattern is N 2 ×M 2 , at least one of the relationship between N 1 and N 2 , and the relationship between M 1 and M 2 is relatively prime.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 14 , wherein the relationship between N 1 and N 2 is relatively prime, and the relationship between M 1 and M 2 is relatively prime.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 15 , wherein N 1 and N 2 are sizes with respect to a scanning direction of said printhead, while M 1 and M 2 are sizes with respect to a direction in which the print medium is conveyed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 12 , further comprising a conversion step of inputting multi-valued image data and outputting a pattern representing half tone.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 17 , wherein said conversion step outputs the pattern representing half tone by binarizing the multi-valued image data by using a dither matrix.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 17 , wherein said conversion step outputs the pattern representing half tone by binarizing the multi-valued image data by using a density pattern.
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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) | 2005-06-24 | 2005-12-24 | 2006-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-24 | 2009-12-24 | 2010-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-24 | 2013-12-24 | 2014-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |