Xerox Corporation

Michael L Davidson

Francis Kapo Tse

Brian C Hawkins

Ramesh Nagarajan

Aron Nacman

Richard M Dastin

Anthony Michael Frumusa

Timothy M Hunter

Harry L Parker

Richard S Trembulak

Bonnie R Coonan

A high addressable multibit screening device and method for use in a PDL interpreter environment achieve improved printing resolution and quality. A PDL interpreter receives a PDL document from a host source, which identifies one or more objects that can be fully toned (black) or partially toned (line art or images). Each of these objects can be processed differently. Fully toned objects are processed within the interpreter and directly output in a predetermined output. Partially toned objects are sent to a high addressable screening module within the interpreter for processing prior to outputting in a desired output format. The high addressable screening module screens the partially toned objects to obtain multibit screened data for output. This can be achieved by converting an array of single threshold values to an array of three or more sub-threshold values in a way that preserves the pattern specified by the original threshold array (one bit per pixel image), but improves the quality of the rendered image relative to the quality of a one bit per pixel (per colorant) image. The partially toned data is then output with the fully toned objects for subsequent printing. This achieves an increase in available tints and spatial frequency for a given halftone pattern while reducing memory requirements.

Multibit screening of print documents in a PDL environment

An image forming device includes a toner saving mode that converts embedded pixels to a lighter density based on an embedded pixel template and an embedded pixel image data value. An embedded pixel is a pixel surrounded by a number of neighboring pixels that have the same image data value as the surrounded pixel. The embedded image data value can be predetermined or selectable. The image data value preferably corresponds to a black pixel. The image data value of the identified embedded pixels is altered to an output image data value corresponding to a lower density. The altered image data value preferably corresponds to a white pixel. The template used to identify the embedded pixel preferably includes a center pixel of interest and the four edge-adjacent neighboring pixels. The image forming device, when in the toner save mode, thus prints embedded pixel areas originally having a density at least equal to the embedded image data value at the lower density output image data value. Thus, less toner is used in the toner save mode.

Image forming device having a reduced toner consumption mode

The present invention is a method and apparatus for tuning the appearance and controlling dot growth of bitmap images rendered on a printing system. The invention operates to recognize those pixels with a bitmap image that are appropriate for alteration and, in response to downloadable output values, adjusts the identified pixels so as to ensure a desired output.

Multifunctional apparatus for appearance tuning and resolution

A system and process prints a high resolution image on a high addressable image output terminal by converting an image at one resolution to an image having a lower resolution in a fast-scan direction and a higher resolution in a pixel depth direction. The converted image is then processed and binarized prior to being printed on a high addressable printer. The system or process utilizes a conversion circuit which includes a two-bit per pixel packing circuit, a scanline buffer circuit, a logic circuit, and a look-up table. The conversion circuit initially converts the image into an image having a lower resolution in the fast-scan direction and a higher pixel depth resolution. Thereafter, the image is further converted to an image having a lower resolution in the slow-scan direction and a higher pixel depth resolution. This conversion of a high resolution image to a lower resolution is carried without any substantial lost to the image content data.

System and method for providing a high addressable printing system

A quick and efficient method of testing the color registration on a multi-color electronic reprographic system includes the generation a latent image of a repeated basic test pattern across and down an photoconductive surface. Several images of this repeated test pattern are generated, one for each color in the reprographic system. Each test pattern is shifted a fixed amount so that the final output page displays a set of output figures. A figure of one color will be surrounded by at least one figure of each of the remaining colors of the reprographic system. Using this system a field technician can determine the level of misregistration between all of the colors.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Michael L Davidson