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:
May. 02, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 09, 1997
Yuichi Ikeda, Tokyo, JP;
Nobuatsu Sasanuma, Yokohama, JP;
Tetsuya Atsumi, Tokyo, JP;
Tetsuya Nakamura, Kawasaki, JP;
Tsunao Honbo, Kawasaki, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image processing apparatus and method which inputs multivalued image data capable of m-level representation, performs image processing on the input data, and converts the processed data into multivalued image data capable of n-level (m<n) tonality. Upon forming an image on a print medium based on input image data, the image is formed such that the difference between an image density D(x) of the image formed on a print medium at a tonality level x and an image density D(x+1) of an image formed on the print medium at the next tonality level x+1 satisfies D(x+1) -D(x).ltoreq.A.times.D(x) (A.ltoreq.0.08) (A.ltoreq.0.08). Further, a pattern signal having a rectified sine wave having a predetermined period is generated, and a pulse-width modulated signal for generating a beam is generated by performing pulse-width modulation on the input image data based on the pattern signal.