Image forming apparatus, print data generation method and computer program for forming an image with halftone processing that uses constraint data
First Claim
1. An image forming apparatus that generates N pieces of print data representing dot patterns to be printed on the same region of a recording medium to form an image represented by image data, the apparatus comprising:
- an obtaining unit configured to obtain constraint data that specifies non-print pixels obtained from a result of halftone processing to the image data;
a division unit configured to divide each pixel value of the image data into N values to generate N pieces of input data;
a generation unit configured to generate the N pieces of print data, wherein the generation unit generates at least one of the N pieces of print data by converting the input data by halftone processing that uses the constraint data; and
an updating unit configured to update the constraint data by adding print pixels of k pieces of print data that have been already generated to the constraint data as non-print pixels when the generation unit generates k+1th piece of print data by the conversion.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An image forming apparatus that converts image data into print data is provided. The apparatus includes a conversion unit configured to generate first and second print data from the image data using an error diffusion method, each piece of second print data corresponding to one of the plurality of passes; and a printing unit configured to print the second print data. The conversion unit converts the image data into the first print data using the error diffusion method, generates constraint specifying the non-print pixels in the first print data as non-print pixels in the second print data, and converts the image data into the plurality of pieces of second print data, each piece of second print data being used in one of the plurality of passes, through an error diffusion method with the constraint. The printing unit prints the second print data in each of the plurality of passes.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. An image forming apparatus that generates N pieces of print data representing dot patterns to be printed on the same region of a recording medium to form an image represented by image data, the apparatus comprising:
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an obtaining unit configured to obtain constraint data that specifies non-print pixels obtained from a result of halftone processing to the image data; a division unit configured to divide each pixel value of the image data into N values to generate N pieces of input data; a generation unit configured to generate the N pieces of print data, wherein the generation unit generates at least one of the N pieces of print data by converting the input data by halftone processing that uses the constraint data; and an updating unit configured to update the constraint data by adding print pixels of k pieces of print data that have been already generated to the constraint data as non-print pixels when the generation unit generates k+1th piece of print data by the conversion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for generating N pieces of print data representing dot patterns to be printed on the same region of a recording medium to form an image represented by image data, the method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining constraint data that specifies non-print pixels obtained from a result of halftone processing to the image data; dividing each pixel value of the image data into N values to generate N pieces of input data; generating the N pieces of print data, wherein at least one of the N pieces of print data is generated by converting the input data by halftone processing that uses the constraint data; and updating the constraint data by adding print pixels of k pieces of print data that have been already generated to the constraint data as non-print pixels when the generation unit generates k+1th piece of print data by the conversion.
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7. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium in which is stored a computer program for causing a computer to execute a method for generating N pieces of print data representing dot patterns to be printed on the same region of a recording medium to form an image represented by image data, the method comprising:
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obtaining constraint data that specifies non-print pixels obtained from a result of halftone processing to the image data; dividing each pixel value of the image data into N values to generate N pieces of input data; generating the N pieces of print data, wherein at least one of the N pieces of print data is generated by converting the input data by halftone processing that uses the constraint data; and updating the constraint data by adding print pixels of k pieces of print data that have been already generated to the constraint data as non-print pixels when the generation unit generates k+1th piece of print data by the conversion.
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Specification