PRINTING APPARATUS, PRINTING DATA GENERATION APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREFOR, AND PRINTING DATA GENERATION PROGRAM
First Claim
1. A printing apparatus for printing image data representative of a predetermined image, the printing apparatus comprising:
- an input unit configured to input the image data;
a halftone processing unit configured to generate dot data representative of presence or absence of a dot formation on the basis of the image data; and
a print unit configured to use the generated dot data to print the image,the halftone processing unit includinga comparison unit configured to compare one of a plurality of threshold values and a data gradation value that is a gradation value of the inputted image data, andan error diffusion unit configured to generate the dot data by comparing the data gradation value with an error diffusion threshold value that is a threshold value used in determination of presence or absence of a dot formation in an error diffusion method,in a case where a result of comparison of the comparison unit is that the data gradation value is less than the threshold value, the error diffusion threshold value being set to a high threshold value greater than a low threshold value that is set in a case where the data gradation value is not less than the threshold value, andthe high threshold value being set to a maximum value of the data gradation value or higher where the data gradation value is a predetermined value or higher, and to a value lower than the maximum value in a predetermined gradation range not less than the predetermined value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A printing apparatus includes an input unit; a halftone processing unit; and a print unit. The halftone processing unit includes a comparison unit comparing one of a plurality of threshold values and a data gradation value, and an error diffusion unit generating dot data by comparing the data gradation value with an error diffusion threshold value. In a case where the data gradation value is less than the threshold value, the error diffusion threshold value is set to a high threshold value greater than a low threshold value. The high threshold value is set to a maximum value of the data gradation value or higher where the data gradation value is a predetermined value or higher, and to a value lower than the maximum value in a predetermined gradation range not less than the predetermined value.
9 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A printing apparatus for printing image data representative of a predetermined image, the printing apparatus comprising:
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an input unit configured to input the image data; a halftone processing unit configured to generate dot data representative of presence or absence of a dot formation on the basis of the image data; and a print unit configured to use the generated dot data to print the image, the halftone processing unit including a comparison unit configured to compare one of a plurality of threshold values and a data gradation value that is a gradation value of the inputted image data, and an error diffusion unit configured to generate the dot data by comparing the data gradation value with an error diffusion threshold value that is a threshold value used in determination of presence or absence of a dot formation in an error diffusion method, in a case where a result of comparison of the comparison unit is that the data gradation value is less than the threshold value, the error diffusion threshold value being set to a high threshold value greater than a low threshold value that is set in a case where the data gradation value is not less than the threshold value, and the high threshold value being set to a maximum value of the data gradation value or higher where the data gradation value is a predetermined value or higher, and to a value lower than the maximum value in a predetermined gradation range not less than the predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A printing data generation apparatus for generating printing data of image data representative of a predetermined image, the printing data generation apparatus comprising:
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an input unit configured to input the image data; and a halftone processing unit configured to generate dot data representative of presence or absence of a dot formation on the basis of the image data, the halftone processing unit including a comparison unit configured to compare one of a plurality of threshold values and a data gradation value that is a gradation value of the inputted image data, and an error diffusion unit configured to generate the dot data by comparing the data gradation value with an error diffusion threshold value that is a threshold value used in determination of presence or absence of a dot formation in an error diffusion method, in a case where a result of comparison of the comparison unit is that the data gradation value is less than the threshold value, the error diffusion threshold value being set to a high threshold value greater than a low threshold value that is set in a case where the data gradation value is not less than the threshold value, and the high threshold value being set to a maximum value of the data gradation value or higher where the data gradation value is a predetermined value or higher, and to a value lower than the maximum value in a predetermined gradation range not less than the predetermined value.
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11. A method for generating printing data of image data representative of a predetermined image, the method of generating printing data comprising:
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inputting the image data; comparing one of a plurality of threshold values and a data gradation value that is a gradation value of the inputted image data; in a case where a result of comparison is that the data gradation value is less than the threshold value, setting an error diffusion threshold value that is a threshold value used in determination of presence or absence of a dot formation in an error diffusion method to a high threshold value greater than a low threshold value that is set in a case where the data gradation value is not less than the threshold value; and using the set error diffusion threshold value to generate dot data representative of presence or absence of a dot formation by the error diffusion method, the high threshold value being set to a maximum value of the data gradation value or higher where the data gradation value is a predetermined value or higher, and to a value lower than the maximum value in a predetermined gradation range not less than the predetermined value.
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12. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a printing data generation program for generating printing data of image data representative of a predetermined image, the printing data generation program causing a computer to implement:
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a function for inputting the image data; a function for comparing one of a plurality of threshold values and a data gradation value that is a gradation value of the inputted image data; in a case where a result of comparison is that the data gradation value is less than the threshold value, a function for setting an error diffusion threshold value that is a threshold value used in determination of presence or absence of a dot formation in an error diffusion method to a high threshold value greater than a low threshold value that is set in a case where the data gradation value is not less than the threshold value; and a function for using the set error diffusion threshold value to generate dot data representative of presence or absence of a dot formation by the error diffusion method, the high threshold value being set to a maximum value of the data gradation value or higher where the data gradation value is a predetermined value or higher, and to a value lower than the maximum value in a predetermined gradation range not less than the predetermined value.
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Specification