Printing apparatus and method configured for re-halftone image data

• US 9,117,163 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2014
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kakutani, Toshiaki, Fujita, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, DUNG D
• Application Number:
  US14/199,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20140268241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1881 Halftoning halftoning of still images in general H04N1/405, H04N1/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40087 Multi-toning, i.e. converting a continuous-tone signal for reproduction with more than two discrete brightnesses or optical densities, e.g. dots of grey and black inks on white paper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/405 Halftoning, i.e. converting the picture signal of a continuous-tone original into a corresponding signal showing only two levels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4052 by error diffusion, i.e. transferring the binarising error to neighbouring dot decisions

Abstract

An image data processing apparatus processes previously halftoned data that has been halftoned so that a proportion of dot formation corresponding to gradation values of an image reaches a first dot generation rate, as image data representative of the image. The image data processing apparatus includes a re-halftone processing unit configured to carry out a re-halftone process by using an error diffusion technique based on first gradation values corresponding to ON-dots in the previously halftoned data, and an ON-dot gradation value setting unit configured to set second gradation values corresponding to the ON-dots in the re-halftone process using the error diffusion technique, such that the dot generation rate in the re-halftone process reaches a second dot generation rate different from the first dot generation rate.

Claims

1. An image data processing apparatus for processing previously halftoned data that has been halftoned so that a proportion of dot formation corresponding to gradation values of an image reaches a first dot generation rate, as image data representative of the image, the image data processing apparatus comprising:

a re-halftone processing unit configured to carry out a re-halftone process by using an error diffusion technique based on first gradation values corresponding to ON-dots in the previously halftoned data; and

an ON-dot gradation value setting unit configured to set second gradation values corresponding to the ON-dots in the re-halftone process using the error diffusion technique, such that the dot generation rate in the re-halftone process reaches a second dot generation rate different from the first dot generation rate,

the first gradation values being determined from a relationship between an original print apparatus for which original dot data is generated and a target print apparatus where printing is to be carried out.

2. The image data processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the first gradation values and the second gradation values are determined in accordance with a concentration per unit area to be realized on a medium by each of dots being formed.

3. The image data processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein

a relationship V2=V1/(1+DP) is achieved between an increase-decrease rate DP for a number of dots after the re-halftone process based on the previously halftoned data, and each of the first gradation values V1 and each of the second gradation values V2.

4. The image data processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the previously halftoned data is data representative of whether or not a dot is to be formed for every dot of a first type in a first print apparatus configured to form dots of the first type, and the data obtained by the re-halftone process is data representative of whether or not to form every dot that can be formed for every dot of a second type that is formed in a second print apparatus different from the first print apparatus.

5. A print apparatus comprising:

the image data processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1; and

a print part configured and arranged to carry out printing by using the dot data processed by the image data processing apparatus.

6. The print apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein

the print part is configured and arranged to form the dots of a second type different from the dots of a first type that can be formed in another print apparatus, by discharging ink droplets onto a cloth.

7. A print system for printing onto a predetermined print medium, the print system comprising:

a data storage apparatus configured to store a plurality of sets of previously halftoned data that has been halftoned so that a proportion of dot formation corresponding to gradation values of an image reaches a first dot generation rate;

a re-halftone processing apparatus for which input data is data selected from the stored plurality of sets of previously halftoned data and which is configured to re-halftone the input data using an error diffusion technique so as to reach a second dot generation rate different from the first dot generation rate; and

a target print apparatus configured and arranged to accept the previously re-halftoned data and printing by forming predetermined dots on a print medium,

the re-halftone processing apparatus being configured to set to different values the first gradation values corresponding to ON-dots in the previously halftoned data and second gradation values corresponding to the ON-dots in the re-halftone process using the error diffusion technique which are to be formed on the print medium,

the first gradation values being determined from a relationship between an original print apparatus for which original dot data is generated and the target print apparatus where printing is to be carried out.

8. A method for converting image data representative of an image, using as input data previously halftoned data that has been halftoned so that a proportion of dot formation corresponding to gradation values of the image reaches a first dot generation rate, the method comprising:

using an error diffusion technique to re-halftone the input data so as to reach a second dot generation rate different from the first dot generation rate; and

setting to different values the first gradation values corresponding to ON-dots in the previously halftoned data and second gradation values corresponding to the ON-dots in the re-halftone process using the error diffusion technique,

the first gradation values being determined from a relationship between an original print apparatus for which original dot data is generated and a target print apparatus where printing is to be carried out.