Brother Kogyo Kabushiki-kaisha

Naoki Hagai

Masashi Ueda

Masaki Kondo

Masashi Kuno

Masahiro Nishihara

Hiroaki Sugiyama

Kan Ishimoto

Hironori Harada

A server receives parameter-related data and sheet information from a first terminal device, determines a printing parameter based on the parameter-related data, registers, in a storage device, the printing parameter in association with registration-sheet information indicative of a sheet indicated by the sheet information received from the first terminal device, transmits, to a second terminal device, a list of sheets indicated by registration-sheet information registered in the storage device, receives a print command from the second terminal device, generates print data by using: the image data included in the print command; and a printing parameter associated with target sheet information, and transmits the print data to a printing device. The target sheet information is registration-sheet information indicative of a sheet specified by sheet-specifying data included in the print command. The print data is used for printing an image on the sheet specified by the sheet-specifying data.

Server receiving image data from terminal device and generating print data based on image data

When executing a color conversion process, a CPU determines whether a CMYK conversion indication flag Fc has been set. If the flag Fc has been set, then the CPU reads data of an RGB-CMYK conversion table and performs a cube interpolation process by using the RGB-CMYK conversion table. On the other hand, if the flag Fc has not been set, then the CPU reads data of an RGB-RGB conversion table and performs a triangular pyramid interpolation process by using the RGB-RGB conversion table.

Color-converting device

When the input value becomes close to the medium dot relative density value (Den_M), the large dot threshold value (Thre_L) and medium dot threshold value (Thre_M) become close to each other. It is possible to prevent output values from being converged to the particular medium-dot output value. When the input value becomes close to the small dot relative density value (Den_S), the medium dot threshold value (Thre_M) and the small dot relative density value (Den_S) become close to each other. It is possible to prevent output values from being converged to the particular small-dot output value.

Multilevel value output device

An error utilization factor line, indicative of a relationship between the amount of the error utilization factor K and input data for a present pixel, is determined dependently on characteristics of the image, on the value of the threshold, on the size of the distribution matrix, or on the condition of the recording operation. The amount of the error utilization factor K is determined dependently on the input data of the present pixel and based on the error utilization factor line. The correction amount F, collected from the already-processed nearby pixel, is multiplied by the error utilization factor K, before being added to the input data of the present pixel for the halftone process.

Image processing device

A halftone-image processing device divides all the pixels for input image data into a plurality of 2&#xd7;2 recording matrices and performs a process on each of the recording matrices. The halftone-image processing device stores a threshold table indicative of a one-to-one correspondence between a plurality of threshold values and a plurality of output dot combinations of large, medium, and small output dots. The halftone-image processing device calculates the sum of density values for all the pixels in a recording matrix, compares the sum of density values to the threshold values in the threshold table, and determines an output dot combination for the subject recording matrix based on the compared results. The halftone-image processing device sets the placement of output dots for pixels of the recording matrix based on: the determined output dot combination, the magnitude of the density values for the pixels in the recording matrix, and, when more than one pixel in the recording matrix has the same density value, a random number.

Halftone-image processing device

In a halftone module, it is judged whether or not the value 'rate' for each pixel is greater than zero (0). In other words, it is judged whether or not the eight-bit input data Iin of each pixel is around a half of the relative density value for a small dot of a corresponding color. If the eight-bit input data Iin of the subject pixel is near to a half of the relative density value for a small dot, noise is added to the threshold values Ta, Tb, and Tc. The noise-added threshold values Ta', Tb&#x2032;, and Tc&#x2032; are used in the comparing process.

Image processing device and image processing program for processing a plurality of color signals formed of a plurality of color components

For each paper type, a plurality of two-dimensional excitation characteristics tables Ti are provided in one to one correspondence with a plurality of colors i. The excitation characteristics table Ti for each color i contains a plurality of sets of excitation-reflectance data Bi (&#x3bb;, &#x3bb;) in a two-dimensional matrix form, for a plurality of combinations of incident light wavelengths &#x3bb; and reflected light wavelengths &#x3bb;. The excitation-reflectance data Bi (&#x3bb;, &#x3bb;) indicates the ratio of the amount of the reflected light wavelength &#x3bb;generated in response to incidence of the incident light wavelength &#x3bb;, with respect to the amount of the incident light wavelength &#x3bb;. Using the two-dimensional excitation characteristics table Ti corresponding to the user's selected paper type and using the spectral radiation characteristics S(&#x3bb;) of the user's selected light source type, Equations (9)-(11) are calculated to create an output profile, and color conversion is performed by using the output profile.

Color converting apparatus and color converting method for converting input image data into converted image data

A plurality of color signals indicative of a plurality of color patterns are processed based on a first distribution curve to distribute the original color signals into color signals for normal ink and color signals for light ink. Then, the plurality of color patterns are printed by the color signals for normal ink and color signals for light ink. Then, the density of each color pattern is detected to produce a density curve. A second distribution curve is produced based on the detected density, the original color signals, and the first distribution curve so that the second distribution curve can attain a properly linearly-changing density curve. By preparing beforehand a plurality of first distribution curves dependently on a variety of usage conditions of the printer, it is possible to use a second distribution curve that is in conformity to the usage condition, under which the printer is desired to be driven, by selecting a distribution curve that corresponds to the usage condition.

Distribution curve generating device

After determining a CMYK-to-Lab relationship, a Lab lattice-to-CMYK relationship is determined. The Lab lattice-to-CMYK relationship defines, for each Lab lattice point, a plurality of allowable CMYK data sets. Then, for each Lab lattice point, several allowable CMYK data sets with the largest K value are first selected among the plurality of CMYK data sets. Then, one CMYK data set with the smallest color distance from the subject Lab lattice point is selected among the several allowable CMYK data sets. If the subject Lab lattice point falls within the color reproducible range for the value of K of the selected CMYK data set, the selected CMYK data set is finally determined for the subject Lab lattice point. It is possible to create a lookup table, in which each Lab lattice point falls within the color range of the K value in the corresponding CMYK data set.

Growing community of inventors

Komaki, Japan

Naoki Hagai