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:
Aug. 27, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 10, 1999
Kazumasa Matsumoto, Yokohama, JP;
Hidehiko Saito, Utsunomiya, JP;
Hidehito Takayama, Chigasaki, JP;
Hirokazu Sada, Utsunomiya, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A plurality of ink-jet head units, each having ink with different density in a color, are prepared. Superimposed print information of a plurality of the types of ink, each having different density, is stored as an ink type distribution table in correspondence with the density of image data. An increase in ink density in each nozzle is predicted on the basis of a continuous ink non-discharging count (non-discharging time) stored in an ink density characteristics change table. Binary data for determining an optimal ink type distribution for recording the image data, i.e., ink-jet head units to be used for printing, are generated by referring to the predicted value and the ink type distribution table. Printing is then performed. In addition, the density value of the target pixel to be printed is predicted. The error between the predicted density value and the density value of the original pixel is distributed to the pixels around the target pixel to convert the image data, thereby printing an image on the basis of the resultant image data.