Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

Sharp Kabuskiki Kaisha

Tatsuya Tanaka

Kyosuke Taka

Makio Gotoh

Takashi Kitagawa

Yoshinori Murakami

Makio Goto

Tomoe Matsuoka

Yoshiyuki Nakai

Katsuhiro Nagayama

Yasushi Adachi

Michiko Fujiwara

Masayuki Otsuka

Masanori Minami

Mihoko Tanimura

Motohiro Hayashi

Takeshi Ohwaku

Norihide Yasuoka

Toshio Takehara

Tsuyoshi Takeno

The image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a bit number correction process section for converting tones of binary image data into a maximum tone and a minimum tone of multilevel image data; a spatial filter section for performing a smoothing process on image data resulting from the bit number conversion; and an enlarging/reducing section for performing an interpolation process on the image data subjected to the smoothing process so that smoothness of tones of the image data is maintained, the image data subjected to the interpolation process being supplied to the image display device. This allows an image display device for displaying multilevel image data to display a preview image of binary image data without deteriorating the quality of image data.

Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable storage medium containing image processing program

An image processing apparatus includes: a document type automatic classification section which determines whether input image data is image data for a text document or not; a newspaper document classification section which determines whether the input image data is image data for a newspaper document or not; a segmentation process section which identifies a page-background region in the input image data; and a color correction section for, if the input image data is classified as the text document and but not the newspaper document and if a page-background removal process is to be performed to the input image data, performing a first page-background removal process to the image data, but if the input image data is classified as the text document and the newspaper document, not performing the first page-background removal process to the image data. This makes it possible to prevent deterioration of visual sharpness of the text in the document image printed on the newspaper.

Image processing apparatus and method including page-background process capability, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for causing computer to function as the same

An image forming apparatus and a toner replenishment control method according to the present invention are configured such that a concentration of toner in a developer detected by a toner concentration detection sensor is measured and the measured toner concentration value is stored. These are configured such that regions of image data corresponding to an electrostatic latent image on an image bearing member to be developed by the developer are specified and an amount of toner to be consumed in the developer is predicted based on the image data of the specified regions, then a post-development concentration value of toner in the developer is estimated based on the measured toner concentration value and the predicted toner consumption amount, and control of replenishment of toner to the developer is carried out based on the estimated post-development toner concentration value and a toner setting concentration value that has been set in advance.

Image forming apparatus and toner replenishment control method

A pixel count section calculates a coverage rate corresponding to toner consumption. A control coefficient value setting section determines, based on the coverage rate, a stop threshold value representing reference concentration for toner replenishment and replenishment extension time. A magnetic permeability sensor measures permeability representing toner concentration in a housing portion. A toner concentration control section starts toner replenishment when an output value from the magnetic permeability sensor varies from a value less than a start threshold value to the start threshold value or above, and stops toner replenishment after lapse of replenishment extension time from the time at which an output value varied from a value greater than the stop threshold value to the stop threshold value.

Toner replenishing method, toner replenishing apparatus, and computer readable recording medium

A digital color copier includes: a toner concentration storage which stores a detected toner concentration of each developer block of multiple developer blocks across an image forming width; a toner consumption predictor for predicting a first predicted toner consumption of toner consumed from developer of every developer block during a first circulation; a toner concentration estimator for estimating, for every developer block, a toner supply point estimate as the toner concentration at a point where toner is supplied, by subtracting the first predicted toner consumption from the associated detected toner concentration and setting up a toner supply target value of the toner to be supplied from a toner supply device to a developing device in accordance with the predicted toner consumption during a second circulation of the developer inside the developing device that follows the first circulation.

Image forming apparatus and toner supply control program for the same

An image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a signal correction means which corrects, in an RGB color space, RGB tone data which is RGB image data; and a comparison section which compares (i) a tonal value of a white point which is neither an origin nor maximum tonal values of R, G, and B in the RGB color space, and where tonal values of R, G, and B are identical to one another, with (ii) respective tonal values of R, G, B of the RGB tone data. (A) In case where the tonal values of R, G, and B are determined to be larger than the white point, the signal correction means corrects the tonal values of R, G, and B to be close to the white point. (B) In case where the tonal values of R, G, and B of the RGB tone data is determined to be smaller than the white point, the signal correction section corrects they tonal values of R, G, and B of the RGB tone data to be away from the white point. As a result, undercolor processing is precisely executed while the color reproducibility in a highlight is maintained.

Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, control program, and computer-readable recording medium

In a color conversion section, a mode judging sectionjudges a mode in effect: a copy mode or a printer mode, according to a mode judging signal. When the copy mode is identified, the mode judging sectionsupplied RGB data to a first color conversion process section, and the first color conversion sectioncarries out a first color conversion process in which a transitional color conversion value, which is color-transited from a precise color conversion value and a memory color conversion value, is set as a color conversion value with respect to memory color corresponding data. When the printer mode is identified, the mode judging sectionsupplies the RGB data to a second color conversion process section, and the second color conversion process sectioncarries out a second color conversion process in which the memory color conversion value is set as a color conversion value with respect to the memory color corresponding data.

Image processing method and image apparatus, and image forming apparatus, program, and storage medium

A color image processing device includes color conversion means for outputting color adjusted signals having been chromatically adjusted in accordance with the input of separated color signals obtained from a scanner and a variable factor signal other than color signals. The color conversion means includes a memory device for discretely storing only the color adjusted signals that correspond to predetermined separated color signals and a predetermined variable factor signal, and color adjusting means for, when the inputted separated color signal or the inputted variable factor signal directly corresponds to none of the color adjusted signals stored in the memory means, outputting color adjusted signals having been interpolated in accordance with the known color adjusted signals found in a neighborhood of the inputted separated color signals and variable factor signal.

Color image processing device

A color image processing apparatus of the present invention includes (1) first lattice for dividing a color separation signal space in the form of a lattice so as to store in a table coordinates of lattice points of the color separation signal space thus divided and (2) second lattice for further dividing a specific unit cube of the lattice in the form of a lattice so as to additionally store in the table coordinates of lattice points of the specific unit cube thus divided. Depending on whether or not inputted image data of image information belong to the specific unit cube of the lattice, color correction method having different conversion accuracy is adopted, thereby permitting to provide a color image processing apparatus which reduce the occurrence of an error when color-correcting a color requiring accurate color correction, and prevent the continuity of an image from being not kept.

Color image processing apparatus

In an image processing apparatus of the present invention, a chromaticity data converting device converts chromaticity data of an original image into chromaticity data which can be outputted from an image output device based on chromaticity data obtained from a color signal of a color sample stored in a first storage device and chromaticity data obtained from a color signal of an input image stored in an original data storage device. Then, a second color converting device converts the chromaticity data converted by the chromaticity data converting device into a signal which can be outputted from the image output device based on data stored in a third storage device. As a result, the chromaticity data of a color signal is converted for each input image individually, thereby making it possible to reproduce colors faithfully to the original image.

Image processing apparatus

A gradation control method in a color thermal transfer printer is adapted to express one pixel by a dot matrix with two rows and two coles, control a density value of one dot with a time for energizing a heating element of a thermal head, and carry out mask patterning for plotting only one of four dots when the gradation of each color for one pixel is not more than a prescribed value while plotting only two of the four dots when the gradation is in excess of the prescribed value. At this time, employed is a mask pattern of necessarily plotting cyan and magenta on dots which are different from each other. A picture quality improving method in a staggered printing system is adapted to plot a noted dot when at least one of such conditions that density data of the noted dot is in excess of a prescribed density value and that density data of any of four dots most approximate to the noted dot is not more than a prescribed low density value is satisfied, even if the noted dot corresponds to that to be masked.

Growing community of inventors

Yamatokoriyama, Japan

Tatsuya Tanaka