The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 12, 1995
Filed:
Dec. 29, 1994
Kenichirou Asada, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus comprises an image signal converting means. The image converting means converts a first image signal into a second image signal. The first image signal includes an n-bit digital signal indicating a tone level of an image. The second image signal includes an m-bit digital signal indicating the tone level of the image. Here, m and n are integers and m is greater than n. A predetermined relationship between 2.sup.n values expressible by the n-bit digital signal and 2.sup.n related values among 2.sup.m values expressible by the m-bit digital signal is according to a first image forming characteristic in the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus further comprises an image forming means having a second image forming characteristic. The image forming means is coupled to the image signal converting means and forms the image based on the second image signal related to a combination of the first and second image forming characteristics.