Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Attribute control
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-11
2001-11-20
Rogers, Scott (Department: 2624)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Attribute control
C358S534000, C358S441000, C358S504000, C382S286000, C382S287000, C382S289000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320673
ABSTRACT:
This application is based on Japanese application No. 09-057441, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming system. Specifically the system relates to an image forming apparatus capable of halftone correction and a half tone correction method.
2. Description Of The Related Art
Conventional image forming apparatuses are known which are capable of forming images having halftones. In such image forming apparatuses, there are occasions when halftone correction is required due to the characteristics or condition of components within the apparatus. Halftone correction is typically accomplished by applying a calculation based on two image forming steps. In one step, a predetermined halftone pattern is recorded onto a recording sheet. In another step, the predetermined pattern is read off of the recording sheet.
When correcting halftones, a user must typically operate the image forming apparatus such that a predetermined pattern is recorded onto a recording sheet. The recorded pattern is then read using an image reader which is typically incorporated into the image forming apparatus.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 8-25654 discloses an apparatus in which erroneous user-performed operations are avoided when correcting halftones. The image forming apparatus displays the various operations and sequences of halftone correction using a display unit. By displaying the halftone correction operations along with the proper sequencing steps, the apparatus assists the user's tasks.
When the predetermined pattern is printed onto a recording sheet and the sheet is subsequently placed at a predetermined position in an image reader unit to read the pattern printed thereon, a user may erroneously place the sheet at an unsuitable reading position. In conventional image forming apparatuses, the printed pattern is read regardless of whether the sheet is placed in an unsuitable reading position. Furthermore, there is no provision for safeguarding against this type of erroneous user operation. As a result, the pattern printed on the sheet must be re-read by the image reader unit after the user suitably replaces the printed sheet at the appropriate reading position.
An object of the present invention is to avoid the previously mentioned disadvantages by providing an image forming system capable of avoiding repetitive halftone corrections by a user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to overcome the various problems associated with known image forming systems, there is provided an image forming and color correcting system. The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus comprising (a) image reading unit comprising means for scanning a document image, means for converting the document image into image data, and means for transmitting the image data to a signal processing unit within the image forming apparatus; (b) image forming unit comprising means for receiving the image data from the signal processing unit and means for forming the image data onto a recording medium; (c) parameter sensing unit comprising means for sensing a parameter of the document being scanned by the image reading unit; and (d) controller device for controlling the image forming apparatus comprising color correcting means for correcting color halftones of the document image, parameter calculating means for calculating whether the parameter sensed by the parameter sensing unit is within a preset parameter, and warning means for warning when the sensed parameter of the document is outside the preset parameter.
In various preferred embodiments, the parameter sensing unit comprises means for sensing document size; the parameter sensing unit comprises means for sensing document orientation; the image reading unit comprises a document table for positioning the document to be scanned; the means for warning a user comprises a visual warning display device; the means for warning a user comprises an audio warning device; the controller device comprises communication controlling means for controlling communication between the color correcting means, the calculating means and the warning means to engage the warning means to warn that the sensed parameter is outside the preset parameter prior to engaging the color correcting means to correct the color halftones of the document image; or the communication controlling means is an I/O control unit.
In other embodiment there is included a method for correcting halftone color in an image forming system comprising, (a) providing an image forming system comprising an image reading unit, an image forming unit and a parameter sensing unit; (b) scanning a document image in the image forming unit; (c) sensing a parameter of the scanned document in the parameter sensing unit; (d) determining whether the sensed parameter is inside or outside a predetermined parameter range; and (e) correcting halftone color of the scanned document image when the sensed parameter is inside the predetermined parameter range.
In yet another embodiment there is provided a step of warning when the sensed parameter is outside the predetermined parameter range. In further preferred embodiments the parameter is document size; the parameter is document orientation; or the warning is a visual warning or an audible warning.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 4802229 (1989-01-01), Yamada
patent: 5038393 (1991-08-01), Nanba
patent: 5568281 (1996-10-01), Kochis et al.
patent: 5798773 (1998-08-01), Hiramatsu et al.
patent: 5818976 (1998-10-01), Pasco et al.
Minolta Co. , Ltd.
Morrison & Foerster / LLP
Rogers Scott
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