CA2203451A1 - Programmable menu imaging system - Google Patents
Programmable menu imaging systemInfo
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- CA2203451A1 CA2203451A1 CA 2203451 CA2203451A CA2203451A1 CA 2203451 A1 CA2203451 A1 CA 2203451A1 CA 2203451 CA2203451 CA 2203451 CA 2203451 A CA2203451 A CA 2203451A CA 2203451 A1 CA2203451 A1 CA 2203451A1
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- image
- rendering
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- stream
- colorization
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Abstract
An programmable menu imaging system for rendering color images using a number of imaging techniques is disclosed. In one embodiment, digitized images are processed according to a plurality of data stream image object-type identifiers. Image types including text images, graphic images or bitmap images can be rendered by default or affirmative selection to be rendered according to various rendering modes.
Description
PROGRAMMABLE MENU IMAGING SYSTEM
The present invention relates to a digiti~d rendering system ~ may be used in color printing systems (such ~ in electrophotographic and inkjet printers and copiers), and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for selectively implc~ g one of a set of stored or preprog,a~ cd rçn-l~rin~ palettes so as to improve color output image 5 quality.
In the operation of a copier or printer, particularly color rn~rhin~s, it is higly desirable to have means for variably ~ces~ g and enh~nl~.ing text, grap_ical andpictorial image quality (helel~laller ,~fe..~d to ~ "image quality" or the like unless otherwise noted). Particularly in the c~e of single or multi-p~s color printers, it is 10 highly desirable that an irnage pr~ces~ing system be employed to reduce im~ging problems caused by ren-l~rin~ systems not suited to a variety of image types. Likewise, certain irnage processing systems may be more successfully employed in particular printer halJw~e situations. While the prepro~a~ l.able im~gin~ system of the present invention is quite suitable for use on the Xerox 4900 farnily of printers in which ~pects 15 of it have been tested, it may be likewise highly useful with a variety of other xerographic as well ~ non-xerographic prirting systems such ~ inkjet or other printing techniques.
~ n the process of digital electrostatographic printing, an electrostatic charge pattern or latent irnage coll~s~nding to an original or electronic docnm~nt may be produced by a raster ou~put scanner on an in~ ting mediu.ll. A viewable record is then 20 produced by developing the latent image with particles of gr~m~ e~ m~t~ri~l to form a powder image thereof. Thel~;allel, the visible powder image is fused to the in.cul~tin~
medium, or ll~fe..~d to a suitable support material and fused thereto. Development of the latent image is achieved by bringing a developer mix into contact therewith. Typical developer mixes generally comprise dyed or colored thermoplastic particles of grAm~l~ted 25 m~t~ l known in the art as toner particles, which are mixed with carrier granules, such as f~llolJ.~l,etic granules. When ~p~ "iate, toner particles are mixed with carrier granules and the toner particles are charged triboelectrically to the correct polarity. As the developer mix is brought into contact with the ele-;l,o~lalic latent image, the toner particles adhere thereto. Non-xerographic systems (such as inkjet) may be 5 more or less sl~ccec~ful iD printing high qu~lity images of varying types in and may involve capabilities and/or efficiencies unlike those found in xerographic systems.
Various systems have been employed to include those set forth in the following disclosures which may be relevant to various aspects of the prepro~l~ln~le/stored image rendering system of the present invention:
1 0 US-A-5,493,634 P;~te,~lee: Bank et al.
Issued: February 20, 1996 US-A-5,485,568 Patentee: Venable et al.
1 5 Issued: January 16, 1996 US-A-5,475,840 Patentee: Nelson et al.
Issued: Februaly 20, 1996 US-A-5,181,162 Patentee: Smith et al.
Issued: Ja~nuary 19, 1993 US-A-4,807,020 Patentee: Hirosawa et al.
Issued: February 21, 1989 US-A-4,214,276 Patentee: Pugsley et al.
Issued: July22,1980 UK App: 2 133 657 Applicant: Seizo et al.
Priority Date: January 17, 1983 EPO App: 0446008 Applicant: Hiroyuki Priority Date: March 5, 1990 1 0 EPO App: 0665675 Applicant: Naik et al.
Priority Date: December 26, 1995 EPO App.: 0665676 Applicant: Winter et al.
Priority Date: December 27, 1994 EPO App.: 0665677 Applicant: Winter et al.
Priority Date: January 27, 1994 Hewlett Packard PCL 5 Color Technical Reference Manual, pp. 2-5 to 2-17, 3-3 to 3-14, 20 4-lto4-24. (1994).
US-A-5,493,634 discloses a decomposing al,pa.alus is provided for use in a printing .~cl-;..c of the type adapted to receive a first set of information written to a printer page description language and a second set of information written in a printer page description language. The d~l~aldlus includes an ~ldllge~ for perforn~ing image 25 related operations on selected colllpo~ t~ of the first set of image related components.
US-A-S,485,568 discloses a method and device for describing a complex color raster image as a collection of objects in a hierarchical and device independent format.
The purpose of structured ima~jn~ is to expand the scope of a raster image to a collection of individually manipulable col~lpone~ objects. A structured image is a hierarchical 5 description of a single output image raster which may be used as one component of a page in a structured doc -m~nt Objects contributing to the output raster may be text, graphics, other rasters or a combination thereof.
US-A-5,475,840 discloses a method to dyn~mic~lly link a new program image and related library progTams into an ç~ec~lta~le application program image. The method 10 provides for producing a linked list of the required programs by giving the lirllcer an ~u..-ent re~e~~ g the deei~ted program image and a naming context which contains data on the associated library programs which are to be linked together. The linker finds all of the required programs, and links them together The parent maps the program images into the ~leci~ted addressed thereby completing the linking of the 15 eY~cut~ble al)plicalion prograrn.
US-A-5,181,162 discloses an object-oriented docl.m~nt management and production system in which docl.m~ntc are leplesel,led as collections of logicalcomponents, or "objects", that may be combined and physically mapped onto a page-by-page layout. Stored objects are or~ni7~.1 acces~ed and manipulated through a ~l~t~b~ce 20 management system. At a ~ ;lfi~ l, objects contain basic information-bearing con~lilue~ such ~ text, image, voice or graphics. Objects may also contain further data specifying ap~al~cc ch~le,istics, relationships to other objects and access restrictions.
US-A~,807,020 discloses an image reproduction condition data reqwsite for 25 reproducing the images of plulal originals which are stored in a memory. In the system, certain of the data are autom~tic~lly read and set up to il~ ,l,cnt circuits which process irnage data ~-~cc~s~ively for all the originals.
UK Application No. 2 133 657 discloses a color separation system compri~ . a plurality of picture inputs (for supplying a switch selected set of color 3~p~h~led picture 30 signals co~ ,onding r~ lively to color components to be subjected to color tone controls. A scanner data processor for receiving the selected set of color-separated picture signals from the plurality of picture input units and cc ..'~;..;.~g at least one set of look-up tables adapted to carry out desired color tone controls on the thus-received set of color-separated picture signals; a plurality of picture reproducing units and at least one central processing unit ~d~pte~ to control the selection of signals and the scanner data processor.
EPO Application No. 0446008 discloses an image procec~ing method comrrising the steps of discrimin~ting the color type of an input color image from an input color image signal, gene~t,llg a pattern signal in(lir~ting a predc;~"",ned graphic pattern co"- s~onding to the color type in response to said color .l;~c~ tion~ generating a density signal in accord with the input color image signal, and supplying a reproduction signal in accord with said pattern signal and said density signal to an image reproduction unit.
EPO Application No. 0665675 discloses a color printer system including an ;.~tel~cl;ve user intçrf~ce that allows a choice between one "button" automatic control of color output or multibutton control of color output, with both alltom~tic and manual options providing independent control for color halftoning and for color correction based on the types of objects to be printed. The ~,ef~.lcd form allows independent print-r~n-~nng options for text, graphics and photo image.
EPO Application No. 0665676 discloses a method of using a printer system for identifying one or more different types of color objects in a document, selecting a ,o,efc;l.ed rendering option such as halftoning and/or color m~tchin~ for each one of such different color object type, and then printing the document in accordance with the rendering options selected for each of such di~elll color object types. Blocks 54 are pro~ided for the identification of the object type of document objects. A print driver flags the object with their types at block 54. In a printing system such as an inkjet color printer coupled through a printer driver to a host colllpl,t~ l, a default halftoning technique and a default color~ lch;.~g map are incorporated into the printer system for automatic invocation whenever a particular color object type (41043) is printed.
EPO Application No. 0665677 discloses the use of different print-quality modes in a printer, such as a color inkjet printer, invoke di~ color-rendering options for a particular object to be printed - in a composite doc~n~nt having objects of different types. In an exemplary em~im~nt~ a printer control automatically invokes an error-5 diffusion halftoning technique for photograph-like images whenever a high~uality print mode is desi,~n~te~ and autom~tic~lly invokes a dither halftoning technique for photograph-like images ~ll~e~el a normal or fast print mode is design~te(l In accor~ance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided progl~llll.able image rendering system for processing a stream of data in a document 10 ploce;!~;ng system, with the stream of data including at least one image type-idçntifi~ble data portion ~esoci~t~d with a multicolor rendering data portion, programmable image ren-l~ring processing system. The system includes a menu selector for initiating the identification of a set of im~in~ menus including a plurality of image rendering modes, a controller for executing an im~ging path for ~ nn~ling the stream of data using at least 15 one image r~onderin~ mode menu selections, the controller dife~ g the stream of data acco~ g to at least one image type-i~ntifi~hle data portion; and a rendering engine, responsive to said controller, for producing an output image accol.ling to the selected image rendering and colorization modes.
In acco~d~ce with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method 20 of progr~mming an image rendering system for processing a stream of data in a document proc~cing system, with the stream of data including at least one image type-identifi~kle data portion associated with a multicolor rçnf~ring data portion. the method includes idel-liryiilg a set of menus for inilidtillg a channel for said data stream plurality including a plurality of image rel ~lering and colorization modes of image ren~orin~ and 25 colorization modes init~ ting the identification of a set of irn~in~ menus, exec~ltinE an im~ging path for channeling the stream of data using at least one image renderin~ mode menu selections by dil~cling the stream of data according to at least one image type-id~ntifi~ le data portion and producing an output image a rç~ ring according to the menu selected image rendering and colorization modes.
Other f~alu.e~ of the present invention will becoJne ap~ el,l as the following descripeion proceeds and upon ref~ ce to the drawings, in which:
Figure I is an ex~ printed output;
Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the exeu.l)la.~ default system of the present 5 invention;
Figure 3 is an image rendering mode flow~;h~l of the present invention;
Figure 4 is an exemplary flow chart of the present invention; and Figure 5 is a scke...~tic elevational view showing an exe~llplal~ color xerograpnic ~ ";ng/copying machine and networked PC inco,~vldlu~g ~alules of the present 10 inventiontherein.
While the present invention will hereinaRer be described in conne.ilion with ~,lef~ d emboriim~ntc thereof, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, it is int~n~led to cover all ~I~.e ..~lives~
modifications and equivalents, as may be included within the spirit and scope of the 15 invention as defined by the ~rp~n~ed claims.
For a general understanding of the features of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings. Figure 5 is a sck~-.Alic elevational view showing an exemplary ele~;l,opllolographic printing/copying n~rhine and a r,~lwo,Led PC which may incol~,a~e f~lules of the present invention therein. It will becolllc evident from the 20 following ~ cll~sion that the system of the present invention is equally well suited for use in a wide variety of printing and copying systems, and therefore is not lirnited in application to the particular system(s) shown and described herein. An ESS (electronic subsystem) or image procçs.~ station (both referred to as IPS), in-lic~ted generally by the I~,f~,e..ce numeral l2, contains data processing and control electronics which prepare 25 and lll~ the image data flow to a raster output scanner (ROS), indicated generally by the reference nurneral 16. A network of one or more personal col.lput~ PC), indicated generally by the lefeJ~,nce nLullc.dl 5, is shown interfacing/in communication with IPS I2.
A user interface (UI), indicated generally by the r~f~.~nce numeral 14, is also in comm~ni~ti~ n with IPS 12.
UI 14 enables an operator to control and monitor various operator adjustable functions and ~ t~ A~ce activities. The operator actuates the a~>l"opl;ate keys of UI 14 to adjust the parameters of the copy. UI 14 may be a touch screen, or any other suitable control panel, providing an c"~,~lor interface with the system. The output signal from Ul 14 is ~ ,~illed to IPS 12. UI 14 may also display elc~ nic documents on a display screen (not shown in Figure 5), as well as carry out the image r~n-l~Pnn~ selections in accordance with the present invention as described in association with Figures I through 4 below.
As further shown in Figure 5, a multiple color original doc~ nt 38 may be 10 positioned on (optional) raster input scanner (RIS), indicated generally by the l~fer~"ce numeral 10. The RIS contains ~locllTnPnt illu~fi~ ion lamps, optics, a mechanical scA-~ drive, and a charge coupled device (CCD array) or full width color SC~nnin~
array. RIS 10 cap~ ;s the entire image from original document 38 and converts it to a series of raster scan lines and moreover me~ul~s a set of p,~ color densities, i.e., 15 red, green aod blue densities, at each point of the origioal do~ enl. RIS 10 may provide data on the sc~nn~d ima~e to IPS 12, indirectly to PC 5 and/or directly to PC 5.Documents in digital or other forms may be created, screened, modified, stored and/or otherwise processed by PC 5 prior to ~ sioo/relay to IPS 12 for printin~ on printer 18. The display of PC S may show clc~ ol~c doc--.. l~ on a screen (oot shown 20 in Figure 5). IPS 12 may include the processor(s) and controller(s) (not shown in Figure 5) required to ~lrOl,l, the adaptive image rendering system ofthe present invention.
IPS 12 also may ~l~U~SLIil signals corresponding to the desired electronic or sc~rln~d image to ROS 16, which creates the output copy irnage. ROS 16 includes a laser with rotating polygon mirror blocks. The ROS illuminates, via mirror 37, the charged 25 portion of a photoconductive belt 20 of a printer or marking engine, indicated generally by the lef~lence numeral 18, at a rate of about 400 pixels per inch, to achieve a set of subtractive p"".a,~ latent images. (Other implementations may include other pixel resolutions of varying types 600 X 600 dpi, or even asymmetrical resolutions, such as 300 X1200 dpi, both configurations of which are employed in versions of the Xerox 4900 30 printer farnily.) The ROS will expose the photoconductive belt to record three or four latent images which correspond to the signals kallal~liued from IPS 12. One latent image is developed with cyan developer material. Another latent image is developed with l~age~ developer material and the third latent image is developed with yellow developer material. A black latent image may be developed in lieu of or in addition to other 5 (colored) latent images. These developed images are ~ r~"led to a copy sheet in ~u~ posed registration with one another to form a multicolored image on the copysheet. This multicolored image is then fused to the copy sheet forming a color copy.
With continued reference to Figure 5, printer or m~rking engine 18 is an ele~ hotographic printing m~ in~. Photoconductive belt 20 of m~rking engine 18 is 10 pfef~,dbly made from a photoconductive material. The photoconductive belt moves in the direction of arrow 22 to advance ~.~ccessi.le portions of the photoconductive surface sequentially through the various proces~ing stations disposed about the path of movement thereof. Photoconductive belt 20 is entrained about rollers 23 and 26, tensioning roller 28, and drive roller 30. Drive roller 30 is rotated by a motor 32 coupled thereto by 15 suitable means such as a belt drive. As roller 30 rotates, it advances belt 20 in the direction of arrow 22.
Initially, a portion of photoconductive belt 20 passes through a charging station, in-iic~ted generally by the reference numeral 33. At chalghlg station 33, a corona gen.,ldli~g device 34 charges photoconductive belt 20 to a relatively high, subst~n~i~lly 20 unifonn potential.
Next, the charged photoconductive surface is rotated to an exposure station, indicated generally by the reference nurneral 35. Exposure station 35 receives amo~ ted light beam co,l.,;",ol~ding to infonnation derived by RlS 10 having multicolored original document 38 positioned thereat. The mod~ te~ light beam 2~ irnpLnges on the surface of photoconductive belt 20. The bearn ill~ s the charged portion of the photoconductive belt to form an electrostatic latent image. The photoconductive belt is exposed three or four times to record three or four latent images thereon.
A~er the electrostatic latent irnages have been recorded on photoconductive belt30 20, the belt advances such latent images to a development station, indicated generally by the rtie.~ ce numeral 39. The development station includes four individual developer units indicated by l~;fele.~e nulnerals 40, 42, 44 and 46. The developer units are of a type generally referred to in the art as "ll~Agl~lic brush development units." Typically, a nlag,..~lic brush development system employs a ma~ able developer material 5 including ..~ . lic carrier granules having toner particles adlhering triboelectrically thereto. The developer material is colllinudlly brought lhr~)ugh a directional flux field to form a brush of developer mAt~ri~l The developer material is co~ ly moving so as to continually provide the brush with fresh developer m~teri~l Development is achieved by bringing the brush of developer I~A~ l into contact with the photoconductive surface.
10 Developer units 40, 42, and 44, le;~ye~;lively, apply toner particles of a specific color which cG~ ol~ds to the complement of the specific color separated electrostatic latent image recorded on tne photoconductive surface.
The color of each of the toner particles is adapted to absorb light within a preselected spectral region of the elecl,o...~netic wave ~ye~ . For example, an 15 electrostatic latent image formed by disch~ ,g the portions of charge on the photoconductive belt corresponding to the green regions of the original docl~m. nt will record the red and blue portions as areas of relatively high charge density on photoconductive belt 20, while the green areas will be reduced to a voltage level ineffective for development. The charged areas are then made visible by having 20 developer unit 40 apply green absorbing (magenta) toner particles onto the elecLlo~lalic latent image recorded on photoconductive belt 20. Similarly, a blue separation is developed by developer unit 42 with blue absorbing (yellow) toner particles, while the red separation is developed by developer unit 44 with red absorbing (cyan) tonerparticles. Developer unit 46 coll~ains black toner particles and may be used to develop 25 the elec~ostatic latent image folrned ~om a black and white original c~ m~ont Each of the developer units is moved into and out of an operative position. In the operative position, ~e m~n~tic brush is ~ y ~Jjal,~el-t the photoconductive belt, while in the nonoperative position, the m~ etic brush is spaced the.~r.vll~. During development of each e]~L,v~latic latent image, only one developer unit is in the operative position, the 30 ~ developer units are in the nonoperative position.
After development, the toner image is moved to a transfer station, indicated generally by the reference numeral 65. Transfer station 65 includes a ~ zone, generally indicated by reference numeral 64. In transfer zone 64, the toner image is transferred to a sheet of support material, such as plain paper amongst others. At transfer 5 station 65, a sheet ~ a~pa~aluS, in-~ic~tçd generally by the reference numeral 48, moves the sheet into contact with photoconductive belt 20. Sheet transport 48 has a pair of spaced belts 54 ~tt,~,~ted about a pair of subst~ntiz~lly cylindrical rollers 50 and 53. A
sheet gripper (not shown in Figure 5) extends between belts 54 and moves in unison lhcle~ h. A sheet 25 is advanced from a stack of sheets 56 disposed on a tray. A
10 friction retard feeder 58 advances the uppermost sheet from stack 56 onto a pre-transfer s~ll 60. Transport 60 a~lva~lces the sheet (not shown in Figure 5) to sheet Llal~lUl 48. The sheet is advanced by ~ ,o,l 60 in ~yl~chro~ l with the movement of the sheet gripper. The sheet gripper then closes securing the sheet thereto for movement therewith in a recirc~ ting path. The leading edge of the sheet (again, not shown in 15 Figure 5) is secured releasably by the sheet gripper. As belts 54 move in the direction of arrow 62, the sheet moves into contact with the photoconductive belt, in s~l,cl~lonism with the toner image de~clop~d thereon. In ~ . zone 64, a corona gel~ali~g device 66 sprays ions onto the b~çl~ci~e of the sheet so as to charge the sheet to the proper magnitude and polarity for attracting the toner image from photoconductive belt 20 20 thereto. The sheet leL~ s secured to the sheet gripper so as to move in a recirc~ ting path for three cycles. In this way, three or four ~li~.el~t color toner images are transferred to the sheet in ~ul.~ . ;...l osed registration with one another.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the sheet may move in a recirc~ tingpath for four cycles when under color black removal is used. Each of the electrostatic 25 latent images recorded on the photoconductive surface is developed with the a~pr~) iately colored toner and ~ d, in ~u~.,.in~posed .egi~L,dtion with one another, to the sheet to form the multicolored copy of the colored origin~l document.
Afler the last ll~sf~ operation, the sheet t.a~Ls~l~ system directs the sheet to a V~
conveyor 68. Vacuum conveyot 68 transports the sheet, in the ditection of arrow 70, to a 30 fusing station, indicated generally by the reference nuneral 71, where the L~ f~ d toner image is ~....~ fused to the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet is advanced by a pair of rolls 76 to a catch tray 78 for :iUI~Se~lUt~ removal thereliolll by the "~c~ operator.
The final processing station in the direction of movement of belt 20, as in-licated by arrow 22, is a photo,~,ce~)tor cle~nin~ al~tllS, indicated generally by the reference 5 nurneral 73. A rotatably mounted fibrous brush 72 may be positioned in the cleaning station and ~ t~ ed in contact with photoconductive belt 20 to remove residual toner particles ~~ after the ~ 1 operation. Therea~., lamp 82 illllmin~t~s photoconductive belt 20 to remove any residual charge r~PTn~ining thereon prior to the start of the next s~ccess;ve cycle. As mentioned above, other xerographic and non-10 xel~t;la~hic printer hardware ~l~ ;ons may be used with the hybrid imaging~y~ s of the present invention, such as in the case of versions of the Xerox 4900 printer (which employs an int~TmP~ tP transfer system) in which certain aspects of the system as outlined below have been tested.
In conjunction with Figures l through 4, the present invention will be generally be 15 described in terms of its application to a printer or copier such as described above in association with Figure S. The des~ Jtions that follow describe a embo~lim~-ntc of the present invention as may be implP n. ntefl in a print engine that accepts a description of a page to be printed in the PCLSC or a variety of other Page Desc,i~ion Languages (PDLs). (The term "PCL" is a registered tr3dem~rk of Hewlett-Packard Co,l,p~y.) 20 While a printed sheet is one output application that is col,le~ ,lated by the present invention, other forms of image renderings (such as a screen display, projected images or other il"~ nt-tions) can also be the output of images "produced" by the system of the present invention. As such, references herein to "printing and other such terms that rnig}lt otherwise be restricted to printed media applications are to be understood in the context 25 of the broad applicability of the presenl invention to one skilled in the relevant art.
Further, as shall be ~liccu~sed later, embodi~ ts of the invention which do not require that an image or docuTnent be described by a particular PDL can also be applied with embodirnents of the present invention.
The present invention allows di~rcnt printing ,orop~l lies to be assembled, stored 30 and selectively used to render different object image "types." The terrn "object" as used herein generaUy refers to image types including text, graphics and bitmaps; other classes of objects may similarly he employed. For exarnple, graphic objects often desirably may be output v~rith vivid, bold colors than other types of images, while photos generally need to have less dramatic, more natural tones applied to produce a more desirable output. In 5 addition, because of the limitations and/or char~ctçri~tics of particular print er~ines~ there may be a need to sup a number of color halftoning, and other storable "menus" ofim~ging and colorization techniques.
The present invention thus has the ability to select and implement an array of stored rendering menus so as to achieve çnh~nced quality images. Modification or10 adaptation of the various menus so that various im~ing and colorization techniques (or their ~bs~..ce, according to the paiagldph outlined above) can be quickly altered and combined, thereby allowing different halftone modes and color modes to be applied directly to text, graphic, pictorial and other irnage object types.
Figure I shows an exemplary rendered image lO0 (a print on paper or other 15 media, a screen display, image projection or the like) v~h~ the pictorial (including facial area l lO, dark (beard) area 150 and shoulder area l90) can be rendered according to selected menu halftoning and color tran~roll"ation techniques. The halftoning and color ll ~ro..l.ation menus are set (or reset) by irnage type. Background areas 120 and text line l60 of Figure l may thus also be adapted so as to use dilr~ t halftoning and 20 color ~ sr~ "ation techniques capable of irnproving if not ma~ i. g output image quality.
PCL5C i...~i.-g may be generally described as a con~ d driven language.
During the ini~i~li7~tion phase of the job, or the im~ing descli~lion of a certain object in the doc~ nt, graphic states that describe the color methods for each object type (bitrnap, 25 graphics and text) are created and stored away in the memory. During the execution phase of the job, the applo~ e graphic state is activated depending on the type of object encountered. In the PCL5C PDL, all jm~in~ is col-....And driven, and is thus notimplem~rlted by operator overloading as in PostScript Level II. (The term "Postscript" is a registered tr~dem~rk of Adobe Systems, Inc.) Operator based image type ren~l~nn~
systems (such as disclosed in U.S. App. No. entitled "Adaptable Image CA 022034F,1 1997-04-23 Rendering System", filed on May 17, 1996 ~ necl to Xerox, incorporated herein byreference.) ln PCL5C color rend~ring p~ ies may be stored in a graphic state. (See cited portions of the HP PCL 5 Color Technical Reference Manual.) The graphics state can contain the ~esçrirtion of aU the colors available to the printer and other im~ing 5 parameters, to include: color definitions for each palette entry; pen widths; color space specification; black and white ~ef~lcl~ces; number of bits per index; pixel encoding mode;
number of bits per primary; gamma correction, viewing illl..";n~.-t; color lookup tables;
and render algorithm; and others.
To set up the various im~gin~ menus, each dç~i~n~ted object type (bitrnap, 10 graphic and text for ~A~llple) is ~oci~.ed with a graphic state de~.n.l~g on the color mode and halftone selection. ~n~ 7~tion can be performed by the printer drive Sçn~in~
the ap~ pl;ate COI..l~ i to the printer with the al~plopl;ate content. Once a menu is created, it can be identified or simply retained as a default selection in memory. Du~ing the execution stage when image drawing is colllpletc, the a~lu~l;ate menu is activated 15 de~ g on a variety of criteria including those outlined above. The system includes one halftoning modes, which can autom~tic~lly lead to the selection of a colorization mode. (Figure 2).
As shown in Figure 2, in certain embo-iimen~c of the present invention, certain image object types may be rendered by default (menu C), rather than according to other 20 menus associated with specified object types (text and ~ dys~ menus A and B). Rather than requiring that each object type be identified as a particular specified object (such as with the graphic image example shown), it may be variably processed when it is identified as not being one of a set of specified objects. Alternatively, an object may be irnaged accor iillg to a default scenario, whereby unless it is identified as any one or more 25 object or Lmage area types (and thus to be rendered according to a particular set of instructions), it is processed in a variable default mode without regard to any object or image type identification that may be present. By way of fur~er exarnple, a graphic object might be might be processed in a particular fashion merely because it bears no association to a bitmap or text object, that is, it is processed as an "all other" call or as 30 "not bitmap or Text". Figure 2 shows tbe imple ..~ ion of one aspect of this embodiment, in which a default scenario governs the use of the menu to be selected for rendering bitmap, graphical and text irnages.
Irnple-n~nt~ti-)n of embodinl~,.,Ls of the menu system of the present invention can be desçril~ed as oc~ g in two stages, namely an initi~li7~tion stage and an execution 5 stage, as shown in Figure 4. In the initialization stage, a user can begin during job set-up, printer driver sends data configure co~ to printer. Each Figure 3 co~ na~d and inquiry can col,~,;",ond to im~ing (halftoning, colorization and techniques described in U.S. App. No. entitled "Adaptable Image Rendering System", relevant portions of which are incorporated by reference). Upon receiving those co.. ~ ls, printer 10 software creates menus that map input indexes to Device RGB through the video path.
These menus are then stored in a menu storage area on tne printer, PC, server, or otherwise in the system of Figure 5. Identifications are assigned to tbe menus, and they may be invoked, recalled from memory or other~ise açcessed for use.
For example, during the execution state, whenever there is an object type change, 15 the printer driver will can send the appropliate identifier (or default) to select the halftoning instruction and the colorization scheme desired (or simply replace the current menu with the desired one) as shown in Figure 3. After the halftone and/or colorization menu has been set-up, the drawing COI~IIIIA~ C are then çf~cute~l In certain embodiments of the present invention, particular menu options may be linked to other options, such that 20 the use of one autom~tic~lly or selectively calls for the use of another. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the use of a "smooth screen" halftone scheme for bi~ aps autom~tic~ly invokes ~ing according to a particular colorization technique photomode.
The system of the present invention can result in illlproved, faster more adaptable 25 user implr.-....~ ion of all available image r~n-l~nng options. Each menu can permit selection of numerous ~utom~tically i~ ntçd rendering sçll~mçs.
Figure 4 shows a printing system in which selectable palette rendering can be implçmPnted The print engine renders the image according to a selected ren~ring sc-h~m~ The selective con~bi~dlion of halftoning and colorization techniques can solve a 30 variety of image ren~l~rin~ problems such as when randomized halfloning techniques may be employed in combination with a fleshtone-friendly color table to render po~ . (See ~igure 1.) Other halftone and color modes may also include colo~ ;c~ ching, high conlr~l color mode, or other forms of color manipulation as will be farniliar to those skilled in the art. The system of the present invention thus provides for highly adaptable 5 and desirable rendering results for text, graphical and pictorial images.
While the present invention has been described in conjunction ~,vith ~,efel.ed emborlin~Pntc thereof, it is evident that many ~hem~tives~ modifications, and variations will be a~ to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is int~nd~d to embrace all such altC~ iVeS, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the 10 appended claims.
The present invention relates to a digiti~d rendering system ~ may be used in color printing systems (such ~ in electrophotographic and inkjet printers and copiers), and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for selectively implc~ g one of a set of stored or preprog,a~ cd rçn-l~rin~ palettes so as to improve color output image 5 quality.
In the operation of a copier or printer, particularly color rn~rhin~s, it is higly desirable to have means for variably ~ces~ g and enh~nl~.ing text, grap_ical andpictorial image quality (helel~laller ,~fe..~d to ~ "image quality" or the like unless otherwise noted). Particularly in the c~e of single or multi-p~s color printers, it is 10 highly desirable that an irnage pr~ces~ing system be employed to reduce im~ging problems caused by ren-l~rin~ systems not suited to a variety of image types. Likewise, certain irnage processing systems may be more successfully employed in particular printer halJw~e situations. While the prepro~a~ l.able im~gin~ system of the present invention is quite suitable for use on the Xerox 4900 farnily of printers in which ~pects 15 of it have been tested, it may be likewise highly useful with a variety of other xerographic as well ~ non-xerographic prirting systems such ~ inkjet or other printing techniques.
~ n the process of digital electrostatographic printing, an electrostatic charge pattern or latent irnage coll~s~nding to an original or electronic docnm~nt may be produced by a raster ou~put scanner on an in~ ting mediu.ll. A viewable record is then 20 produced by developing the latent image with particles of gr~m~ e~ m~t~ri~l to form a powder image thereof. Thel~;allel, the visible powder image is fused to the in.cul~tin~
medium, or ll~fe..~d to a suitable support material and fused thereto. Development of the latent image is achieved by bringing a developer mix into contact therewith. Typical developer mixes generally comprise dyed or colored thermoplastic particles of grAm~l~ted 25 m~t~ l known in the art as toner particles, which are mixed with carrier granules, such as f~llolJ.~l,etic granules. When ~p~ "iate, toner particles are mixed with carrier granules and the toner particles are charged triboelectrically to the correct polarity. As the developer mix is brought into contact with the ele-;l,o~lalic latent image, the toner particles adhere thereto. Non-xerographic systems (such as inkjet) may be 5 more or less sl~ccec~ful iD printing high qu~lity images of varying types in and may involve capabilities and/or efficiencies unlike those found in xerographic systems.
Various systems have been employed to include those set forth in the following disclosures which may be relevant to various aspects of the prepro~l~ln~le/stored image rendering system of the present invention:
1 0 US-A-5,493,634 P;~te,~lee: Bank et al.
Issued: February 20, 1996 US-A-5,485,568 Patentee: Venable et al.
1 5 Issued: January 16, 1996 US-A-5,475,840 Patentee: Nelson et al.
Issued: Februaly 20, 1996 US-A-5,181,162 Patentee: Smith et al.
Issued: Ja~nuary 19, 1993 US-A-4,807,020 Patentee: Hirosawa et al.
Issued: February 21, 1989 US-A-4,214,276 Patentee: Pugsley et al.
Issued: July22,1980 UK App: 2 133 657 Applicant: Seizo et al.
Priority Date: January 17, 1983 EPO App: 0446008 Applicant: Hiroyuki Priority Date: March 5, 1990 1 0 EPO App: 0665675 Applicant: Naik et al.
Priority Date: December 26, 1995 EPO App.: 0665676 Applicant: Winter et al.
Priority Date: December 27, 1994 EPO App.: 0665677 Applicant: Winter et al.
Priority Date: January 27, 1994 Hewlett Packard PCL 5 Color Technical Reference Manual, pp. 2-5 to 2-17, 3-3 to 3-14, 20 4-lto4-24. (1994).
US-A-5,493,634 discloses a decomposing al,pa.alus is provided for use in a printing .~cl-;..c of the type adapted to receive a first set of information written to a printer page description language and a second set of information written in a printer page description language. The d~l~aldlus includes an ~ldllge~ for perforn~ing image 25 related operations on selected colllpo~ t~ of the first set of image related components.
US-A-S,485,568 discloses a method and device for describing a complex color raster image as a collection of objects in a hierarchical and device independent format.
The purpose of structured ima~jn~ is to expand the scope of a raster image to a collection of individually manipulable col~lpone~ objects. A structured image is a hierarchical 5 description of a single output image raster which may be used as one component of a page in a structured doc -m~nt Objects contributing to the output raster may be text, graphics, other rasters or a combination thereof.
US-A-5,475,840 discloses a method to dyn~mic~lly link a new program image and related library progTams into an ç~ec~lta~le application program image. The method 10 provides for producing a linked list of the required programs by giving the lirllcer an ~u..-ent re~e~~ g the deei~ted program image and a naming context which contains data on the associated library programs which are to be linked together. The linker finds all of the required programs, and links them together The parent maps the program images into the ~leci~ted addressed thereby completing the linking of the 15 eY~cut~ble al)plicalion prograrn.
US-A-5,181,162 discloses an object-oriented docl.m~nt management and production system in which docl.m~ntc are leplesel,led as collections of logicalcomponents, or "objects", that may be combined and physically mapped onto a page-by-page layout. Stored objects are or~ni7~.1 acces~ed and manipulated through a ~l~t~b~ce 20 management system. At a ~ ;lfi~ l, objects contain basic information-bearing con~lilue~ such ~ text, image, voice or graphics. Objects may also contain further data specifying ap~al~cc ch~le,istics, relationships to other objects and access restrictions.
US-A~,807,020 discloses an image reproduction condition data reqwsite for 25 reproducing the images of plulal originals which are stored in a memory. In the system, certain of the data are autom~tic~lly read and set up to il~ ,l,cnt circuits which process irnage data ~-~cc~s~ively for all the originals.
UK Application No. 2 133 657 discloses a color separation system compri~ . a plurality of picture inputs (for supplying a switch selected set of color 3~p~h~led picture 30 signals co~ ,onding r~ lively to color components to be subjected to color tone controls. A scanner data processor for receiving the selected set of color-separated picture signals from the plurality of picture input units and cc ..'~;..;.~g at least one set of look-up tables adapted to carry out desired color tone controls on the thus-received set of color-separated picture signals; a plurality of picture reproducing units and at least one central processing unit ~d~pte~ to control the selection of signals and the scanner data processor.
EPO Application No. 0446008 discloses an image procec~ing method comrrising the steps of discrimin~ting the color type of an input color image from an input color image signal, gene~t,llg a pattern signal in(lir~ting a predc;~"",ned graphic pattern co"- s~onding to the color type in response to said color .l;~c~ tion~ generating a density signal in accord with the input color image signal, and supplying a reproduction signal in accord with said pattern signal and said density signal to an image reproduction unit.
EPO Application No. 0665675 discloses a color printer system including an ;.~tel~cl;ve user intçrf~ce that allows a choice between one "button" automatic control of color output or multibutton control of color output, with both alltom~tic and manual options providing independent control for color halftoning and for color correction based on the types of objects to be printed. The ~,ef~.lcd form allows independent print-r~n-~nng options for text, graphics and photo image.
EPO Application No. 0665676 discloses a method of using a printer system for identifying one or more different types of color objects in a document, selecting a ,o,efc;l.ed rendering option such as halftoning and/or color m~tchin~ for each one of such different color object type, and then printing the document in accordance with the rendering options selected for each of such di~elll color object types. Blocks 54 are pro~ided for the identification of the object type of document objects. A print driver flags the object with their types at block 54. In a printing system such as an inkjet color printer coupled through a printer driver to a host colllpl,t~ l, a default halftoning technique and a default color~ lch;.~g map are incorporated into the printer system for automatic invocation whenever a particular color object type (41043) is printed.
EPO Application No. 0665677 discloses the use of different print-quality modes in a printer, such as a color inkjet printer, invoke di~ color-rendering options for a particular object to be printed - in a composite doc~n~nt having objects of different types. In an exemplary em~im~nt~ a printer control automatically invokes an error-5 diffusion halftoning technique for photograph-like images whenever a high~uality print mode is desi,~n~te~ and autom~tic~lly invokes a dither halftoning technique for photograph-like images ~ll~e~el a normal or fast print mode is design~te(l In accor~ance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided progl~llll.able image rendering system for processing a stream of data in a document 10 ploce;!~;ng system, with the stream of data including at least one image type-idçntifi~ble data portion ~esoci~t~d with a multicolor rendering data portion, programmable image ren-l~ring processing system. The system includes a menu selector for initiating the identification of a set of im~in~ menus including a plurality of image rendering modes, a controller for executing an im~ging path for ~ nn~ling the stream of data using at least 15 one image r~onderin~ mode menu selections, the controller dife~ g the stream of data acco~ g to at least one image type-i~ntifi~hle data portion; and a rendering engine, responsive to said controller, for producing an output image accol.ling to the selected image rendering and colorization modes.
In acco~d~ce with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method 20 of progr~mming an image rendering system for processing a stream of data in a document proc~cing system, with the stream of data including at least one image type-identifi~kle data portion associated with a multicolor rçnf~ring data portion. the method includes idel-liryiilg a set of menus for inilidtillg a channel for said data stream plurality including a plurality of image rel ~lering and colorization modes of image ren~orin~ and 25 colorization modes init~ ting the identification of a set of irn~in~ menus, exec~ltinE an im~ging path for channeling the stream of data using at least one image renderin~ mode menu selections by dil~cling the stream of data according to at least one image type-id~ntifi~ le data portion and producing an output image a rç~ ring according to the menu selected image rendering and colorization modes.
Other f~alu.e~ of the present invention will becoJne ap~ el,l as the following descripeion proceeds and upon ref~ ce to the drawings, in which:
Figure I is an ex~ printed output;
Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the exeu.l)la.~ default system of the present 5 invention;
Figure 3 is an image rendering mode flow~;h~l of the present invention;
Figure 4 is an exemplary flow chart of the present invention; and Figure 5 is a scke...~tic elevational view showing an exe~llplal~ color xerograpnic ~ ";ng/copying machine and networked PC inco,~vldlu~g ~alules of the present 10 inventiontherein.
While the present invention will hereinaRer be described in conne.ilion with ~,lef~ d emboriim~ntc thereof, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, it is int~n~led to cover all ~I~.e ..~lives~
modifications and equivalents, as may be included within the spirit and scope of the 15 invention as defined by the ~rp~n~ed claims.
For a general understanding of the features of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings. Figure 5 is a sck~-.Alic elevational view showing an exemplary ele~;l,opllolographic printing/copying n~rhine and a r,~lwo,Led PC which may incol~,a~e f~lules of the present invention therein. It will becolllc evident from the 20 following ~ cll~sion that the system of the present invention is equally well suited for use in a wide variety of printing and copying systems, and therefore is not lirnited in application to the particular system(s) shown and described herein. An ESS (electronic subsystem) or image procçs.~ station (both referred to as IPS), in-lic~ted generally by the I~,f~,e..ce numeral l2, contains data processing and control electronics which prepare 25 and lll~ the image data flow to a raster output scanner (ROS), indicated generally by the reference nurneral 16. A network of one or more personal col.lput~ PC), indicated generally by the lefeJ~,nce nLullc.dl 5, is shown interfacing/in communication with IPS I2.
A user interface (UI), indicated generally by the r~f~.~nce numeral 14, is also in comm~ni~ti~ n with IPS 12.
UI 14 enables an operator to control and monitor various operator adjustable functions and ~ t~ A~ce activities. The operator actuates the a~>l"opl;ate keys of UI 14 to adjust the parameters of the copy. UI 14 may be a touch screen, or any other suitable control panel, providing an c"~,~lor interface with the system. The output signal from Ul 14 is ~ ,~illed to IPS 12. UI 14 may also display elc~ nic documents on a display screen (not shown in Figure 5), as well as carry out the image r~n-l~Pnn~ selections in accordance with the present invention as described in association with Figures I through 4 below.
As further shown in Figure 5, a multiple color original doc~ nt 38 may be 10 positioned on (optional) raster input scanner (RIS), indicated generally by the l~fer~"ce numeral 10. The RIS contains ~locllTnPnt illu~fi~ ion lamps, optics, a mechanical scA-~ drive, and a charge coupled device (CCD array) or full width color SC~nnin~
array. RIS 10 cap~ ;s the entire image from original document 38 and converts it to a series of raster scan lines and moreover me~ul~s a set of p,~ color densities, i.e., 15 red, green aod blue densities, at each point of the origioal do~ enl. RIS 10 may provide data on the sc~nn~d ima~e to IPS 12, indirectly to PC 5 and/or directly to PC 5.Documents in digital or other forms may be created, screened, modified, stored and/or otherwise processed by PC 5 prior to ~ sioo/relay to IPS 12 for printin~ on printer 18. The display of PC S may show clc~ ol~c doc--.. l~ on a screen (oot shown 20 in Figure 5). IPS 12 may include the processor(s) and controller(s) (not shown in Figure 5) required to ~lrOl,l, the adaptive image rendering system ofthe present invention.
IPS 12 also may ~l~U~SLIil signals corresponding to the desired electronic or sc~rln~d image to ROS 16, which creates the output copy irnage. ROS 16 includes a laser with rotating polygon mirror blocks. The ROS illuminates, via mirror 37, the charged 25 portion of a photoconductive belt 20 of a printer or marking engine, indicated generally by the lef~lence numeral 18, at a rate of about 400 pixels per inch, to achieve a set of subtractive p"".a,~ latent images. (Other implementations may include other pixel resolutions of varying types 600 X 600 dpi, or even asymmetrical resolutions, such as 300 X1200 dpi, both configurations of which are employed in versions of the Xerox 4900 30 printer farnily.) The ROS will expose the photoconductive belt to record three or four latent images which correspond to the signals kallal~liued from IPS 12. One latent image is developed with cyan developer material. Another latent image is developed with l~age~ developer material and the third latent image is developed with yellow developer material. A black latent image may be developed in lieu of or in addition to other 5 (colored) latent images. These developed images are ~ r~"led to a copy sheet in ~u~ posed registration with one another to form a multicolored image on the copysheet. This multicolored image is then fused to the copy sheet forming a color copy.
With continued reference to Figure 5, printer or m~rking engine 18 is an ele~ hotographic printing m~ in~. Photoconductive belt 20 of m~rking engine 18 is 10 pfef~,dbly made from a photoconductive material. The photoconductive belt moves in the direction of arrow 22 to advance ~.~ccessi.le portions of the photoconductive surface sequentially through the various proces~ing stations disposed about the path of movement thereof. Photoconductive belt 20 is entrained about rollers 23 and 26, tensioning roller 28, and drive roller 30. Drive roller 30 is rotated by a motor 32 coupled thereto by 15 suitable means such as a belt drive. As roller 30 rotates, it advances belt 20 in the direction of arrow 22.
Initially, a portion of photoconductive belt 20 passes through a charging station, in-iic~ted generally by the reference numeral 33. At chalghlg station 33, a corona gen.,ldli~g device 34 charges photoconductive belt 20 to a relatively high, subst~n~i~lly 20 unifonn potential.
Next, the charged photoconductive surface is rotated to an exposure station, indicated generally by the reference nurneral 35. Exposure station 35 receives amo~ ted light beam co,l.,;",ol~ding to infonnation derived by RlS 10 having multicolored original document 38 positioned thereat. The mod~ te~ light beam 2~ irnpLnges on the surface of photoconductive belt 20. The bearn ill~ s the charged portion of the photoconductive belt to form an electrostatic latent image. The photoconductive belt is exposed three or four times to record three or four latent images thereon.
A~er the electrostatic latent irnages have been recorded on photoconductive belt30 20, the belt advances such latent images to a development station, indicated generally by the rtie.~ ce numeral 39. The development station includes four individual developer units indicated by l~;fele.~e nulnerals 40, 42, 44 and 46. The developer units are of a type generally referred to in the art as "ll~Agl~lic brush development units." Typically, a nlag,..~lic brush development system employs a ma~ able developer material 5 including ..~ . lic carrier granules having toner particles adlhering triboelectrically thereto. The developer material is colllinudlly brought lhr~)ugh a directional flux field to form a brush of developer mAt~ri~l The developer material is co~ ly moving so as to continually provide the brush with fresh developer m~teri~l Development is achieved by bringing the brush of developer I~A~ l into contact with the photoconductive surface.
10 Developer units 40, 42, and 44, le;~ye~;lively, apply toner particles of a specific color which cG~ ol~ds to the complement of the specific color separated electrostatic latent image recorded on tne photoconductive surface.
The color of each of the toner particles is adapted to absorb light within a preselected spectral region of the elecl,o...~netic wave ~ye~ . For example, an 15 electrostatic latent image formed by disch~ ,g the portions of charge on the photoconductive belt corresponding to the green regions of the original docl~m. nt will record the red and blue portions as areas of relatively high charge density on photoconductive belt 20, while the green areas will be reduced to a voltage level ineffective for development. The charged areas are then made visible by having 20 developer unit 40 apply green absorbing (magenta) toner particles onto the elecLlo~lalic latent image recorded on photoconductive belt 20. Similarly, a blue separation is developed by developer unit 42 with blue absorbing (yellow) toner particles, while the red separation is developed by developer unit 44 with red absorbing (cyan) tonerparticles. Developer unit 46 coll~ains black toner particles and may be used to develop 25 the elec~ostatic latent image folrned ~om a black and white original c~ m~ont Each of the developer units is moved into and out of an operative position. In the operative position, ~e m~n~tic brush is ~ y ~Jjal,~el-t the photoconductive belt, while in the nonoperative position, the m~ etic brush is spaced the.~r.vll~. During development of each e]~L,v~latic latent image, only one developer unit is in the operative position, the 30 ~ developer units are in the nonoperative position.
After development, the toner image is moved to a transfer station, indicated generally by the reference numeral 65. Transfer station 65 includes a ~ zone, generally indicated by reference numeral 64. In transfer zone 64, the toner image is transferred to a sheet of support material, such as plain paper amongst others. At transfer 5 station 65, a sheet ~ a~pa~aluS, in-~ic~tçd generally by the reference numeral 48, moves the sheet into contact with photoconductive belt 20. Sheet transport 48 has a pair of spaced belts 54 ~tt,~,~ted about a pair of subst~ntiz~lly cylindrical rollers 50 and 53. A
sheet gripper (not shown in Figure 5) extends between belts 54 and moves in unison lhcle~ h. A sheet 25 is advanced from a stack of sheets 56 disposed on a tray. A
10 friction retard feeder 58 advances the uppermost sheet from stack 56 onto a pre-transfer s~ll 60. Transport 60 a~lva~lces the sheet (not shown in Figure 5) to sheet Llal~lUl 48. The sheet is advanced by ~ ,o,l 60 in ~yl~chro~ l with the movement of the sheet gripper. The sheet gripper then closes securing the sheet thereto for movement therewith in a recirc~ ting path. The leading edge of the sheet (again, not shown in 15 Figure 5) is secured releasably by the sheet gripper. As belts 54 move in the direction of arrow 62, the sheet moves into contact with the photoconductive belt, in s~l,cl~lonism with the toner image de~clop~d thereon. In ~ . zone 64, a corona gel~ali~g device 66 sprays ions onto the b~çl~ci~e of the sheet so as to charge the sheet to the proper magnitude and polarity for attracting the toner image from photoconductive belt 20 20 thereto. The sheet leL~ s secured to the sheet gripper so as to move in a recirc~ ting path for three cycles. In this way, three or four ~li~.el~t color toner images are transferred to the sheet in ~ul.~ . ;...l osed registration with one another.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the sheet may move in a recirc~ tingpath for four cycles when under color black removal is used. Each of the electrostatic 25 latent images recorded on the photoconductive surface is developed with the a~pr~) iately colored toner and ~ d, in ~u~.,.in~posed .egi~L,dtion with one another, to the sheet to form the multicolored copy of the colored origin~l document.
Afler the last ll~sf~ operation, the sheet t.a~Ls~l~ system directs the sheet to a V~
conveyor 68. Vacuum conveyot 68 transports the sheet, in the ditection of arrow 70, to a 30 fusing station, indicated generally by the reference nuneral 71, where the L~ f~ d toner image is ~....~ fused to the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet is advanced by a pair of rolls 76 to a catch tray 78 for :iUI~Se~lUt~ removal thereliolll by the "~c~ operator.
The final processing station in the direction of movement of belt 20, as in-licated by arrow 22, is a photo,~,ce~)tor cle~nin~ al~tllS, indicated generally by the reference 5 nurneral 73. A rotatably mounted fibrous brush 72 may be positioned in the cleaning station and ~ t~ ed in contact with photoconductive belt 20 to remove residual toner particles ~~ after the ~ 1 operation. Therea~., lamp 82 illllmin~t~s photoconductive belt 20 to remove any residual charge r~PTn~ining thereon prior to the start of the next s~ccess;ve cycle. As mentioned above, other xerographic and non-10 xel~t;la~hic printer hardware ~l~ ;ons may be used with the hybrid imaging~y~ s of the present invention, such as in the case of versions of the Xerox 4900 printer (which employs an int~TmP~ tP transfer system) in which certain aspects of the system as outlined below have been tested.
In conjunction with Figures l through 4, the present invention will be generally be 15 described in terms of its application to a printer or copier such as described above in association with Figure S. The des~ Jtions that follow describe a embo~lim~-ntc of the present invention as may be implP n. ntefl in a print engine that accepts a description of a page to be printed in the PCLSC or a variety of other Page Desc,i~ion Languages (PDLs). (The term "PCL" is a registered tr3dem~rk of Hewlett-Packard Co,l,p~y.) 20 While a printed sheet is one output application that is col,le~ ,lated by the present invention, other forms of image renderings (such as a screen display, projected images or other il"~ nt-tions) can also be the output of images "produced" by the system of the present invention. As such, references herein to "printing and other such terms that rnig}lt otherwise be restricted to printed media applications are to be understood in the context 25 of the broad applicability of the presenl invention to one skilled in the relevant art.
Further, as shall be ~liccu~sed later, embodi~ ts of the invention which do not require that an image or docuTnent be described by a particular PDL can also be applied with embodirnents of the present invention.
The present invention allows di~rcnt printing ,orop~l lies to be assembled, stored 30 and selectively used to render different object image "types." The terrn "object" as used herein generaUy refers to image types including text, graphics and bitmaps; other classes of objects may similarly he employed. For exarnple, graphic objects often desirably may be output v~rith vivid, bold colors than other types of images, while photos generally need to have less dramatic, more natural tones applied to produce a more desirable output. In 5 addition, because of the limitations and/or char~ctçri~tics of particular print er~ines~ there may be a need to sup a number of color halftoning, and other storable "menus" ofim~ging and colorization techniques.
The present invention thus has the ability to select and implement an array of stored rendering menus so as to achieve çnh~nced quality images. Modification or10 adaptation of the various menus so that various im~ing and colorization techniques (or their ~bs~..ce, according to the paiagldph outlined above) can be quickly altered and combined, thereby allowing different halftone modes and color modes to be applied directly to text, graphic, pictorial and other irnage object types.
Figure I shows an exemplary rendered image lO0 (a print on paper or other 15 media, a screen display, image projection or the like) v~h~ the pictorial (including facial area l lO, dark (beard) area 150 and shoulder area l90) can be rendered according to selected menu halftoning and color tran~roll"ation techniques. The halftoning and color ll ~ro..l.ation menus are set (or reset) by irnage type. Background areas 120 and text line l60 of Figure l may thus also be adapted so as to use dilr~ t halftoning and 20 color ~ sr~ "ation techniques capable of irnproving if not ma~ i. g output image quality.
PCL5C i...~i.-g may be generally described as a con~ d driven language.
During the ini~i~li7~tion phase of the job, or the im~ing descli~lion of a certain object in the doc~ nt, graphic states that describe the color methods for each object type (bitrnap, 25 graphics and text) are created and stored away in the memory. During the execution phase of the job, the applo~ e graphic state is activated depending on the type of object encountered. In the PCL5C PDL, all jm~in~ is col-....And driven, and is thus notimplem~rlted by operator overloading as in PostScript Level II. (The term "Postscript" is a registered tr~dem~rk of Adobe Systems, Inc.) Operator based image type ren~l~nn~
systems (such as disclosed in U.S. App. No. entitled "Adaptable Image CA 022034F,1 1997-04-23 Rendering System", filed on May 17, 1996 ~ necl to Xerox, incorporated herein byreference.) ln PCL5C color rend~ring p~ ies may be stored in a graphic state. (See cited portions of the HP PCL 5 Color Technical Reference Manual.) The graphics state can contain the ~esçrirtion of aU the colors available to the printer and other im~ing 5 parameters, to include: color definitions for each palette entry; pen widths; color space specification; black and white ~ef~lcl~ces; number of bits per index; pixel encoding mode;
number of bits per primary; gamma correction, viewing illl..";n~.-t; color lookup tables;
and render algorithm; and others.
To set up the various im~gin~ menus, each dç~i~n~ted object type (bitrnap, 10 graphic and text for ~A~llple) is ~oci~.ed with a graphic state de~.n.l~g on the color mode and halftone selection. ~n~ 7~tion can be performed by the printer drive Sçn~in~
the ap~ pl;ate COI..l~ i to the printer with the al~plopl;ate content. Once a menu is created, it can be identified or simply retained as a default selection in memory. Du~ing the execution stage when image drawing is colllpletc, the a~lu~l;ate menu is activated 15 de~ g on a variety of criteria including those outlined above. The system includes one halftoning modes, which can autom~tic~lly lead to the selection of a colorization mode. (Figure 2).
As shown in Figure 2, in certain embo-iimen~c of the present invention, certain image object types may be rendered by default (menu C), rather than according to other 20 menus associated with specified object types (text and ~ dys~ menus A and B). Rather than requiring that each object type be identified as a particular specified object (such as with the graphic image example shown), it may be variably processed when it is identified as not being one of a set of specified objects. Alternatively, an object may be irnaged accor iillg to a default scenario, whereby unless it is identified as any one or more 25 object or Lmage area types (and thus to be rendered according to a particular set of instructions), it is processed in a variable default mode without regard to any object or image type identification that may be present. By way of fur~er exarnple, a graphic object might be might be processed in a particular fashion merely because it bears no association to a bitmap or text object, that is, it is processed as an "all other" call or as 30 "not bitmap or Text". Figure 2 shows tbe imple ..~ ion of one aspect of this embodiment, in which a default scenario governs the use of the menu to be selected for rendering bitmap, graphical and text irnages.
Irnple-n~nt~ti-)n of embodinl~,.,Ls of the menu system of the present invention can be desçril~ed as oc~ g in two stages, namely an initi~li7~tion stage and an execution 5 stage, as shown in Figure 4. In the initialization stage, a user can begin during job set-up, printer driver sends data configure co~ to printer. Each Figure 3 co~ na~d and inquiry can col,~,;",ond to im~ing (halftoning, colorization and techniques described in U.S. App. No. entitled "Adaptable Image Rendering System", relevant portions of which are incorporated by reference). Upon receiving those co.. ~ ls, printer 10 software creates menus that map input indexes to Device RGB through the video path.
These menus are then stored in a menu storage area on tne printer, PC, server, or otherwise in the system of Figure 5. Identifications are assigned to tbe menus, and they may be invoked, recalled from memory or other~ise açcessed for use.
For example, during the execution state, whenever there is an object type change, 15 the printer driver will can send the appropliate identifier (or default) to select the halftoning instruction and the colorization scheme desired (or simply replace the current menu with the desired one) as shown in Figure 3. After the halftone and/or colorization menu has been set-up, the drawing COI~IIIIA~ C are then çf~cute~l In certain embodiments of the present invention, particular menu options may be linked to other options, such that 20 the use of one autom~tic~lly or selectively calls for the use of another. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the use of a "smooth screen" halftone scheme for bi~ aps autom~tic~ly invokes ~ing according to a particular colorization technique photomode.
The system of the present invention can result in illlproved, faster more adaptable 25 user implr.-....~ ion of all available image r~n-l~nng options. Each menu can permit selection of numerous ~utom~tically i~ ntçd rendering sçll~mçs.
Figure 4 shows a printing system in which selectable palette rendering can be implçmPnted The print engine renders the image according to a selected ren~ring sc-h~m~ The selective con~bi~dlion of halftoning and colorization techniques can solve a 30 variety of image ren~l~rin~ problems such as when randomized halfloning techniques may be employed in combination with a fleshtone-friendly color table to render po~ . (See ~igure 1.) Other halftone and color modes may also include colo~ ;c~ ching, high conlr~l color mode, or other forms of color manipulation as will be farniliar to those skilled in the art. The system of the present invention thus provides for highly adaptable 5 and desirable rendering results for text, graphical and pictorial images.
While the present invention has been described in conjunction ~,vith ~,efel.ed emborlin~Pntc thereof, it is evident that many ~hem~tives~ modifications, and variations will be a~ to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is int~nd~d to embrace all such altC~ iVeS, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the 10 appended claims.
Claims (16)
1. A programmable image rendering system for processing a stream of data in a document processing system, said stream of data including at least one image type-identifiable data portion associated with a multicolor rendering data portion, programmable image rendering processing system, comprising:
a menu selector for initiating the identification of a set of imaging menus including a plurality of image rendering modes;
a controller for executing an imaging path for channeling the stream of data using at least one image rendering mode menu selections, said controller directing the stream of data according to at least one image type-identifiable data portion; and a rendering engine, responsive to said controller, for producing an output imageaccording to said of image rendering and colorization modes.
a menu selector for initiating the identification of a set of imaging menus including a plurality of image rendering modes;
a controller for executing an imaging path for channeling the stream of data using at least one image rendering mode menu selections, said controller directing the stream of data according to at least one image type-identifiable data portion; and a rendering engine, responsive to said controller, for producing an output imageaccording to said of image rendering and colorization modes.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said image rendering modes include at least one halftoning mode.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one colorization mode is automatically selected according to the use of at least one halftoning mode.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein said image rendering modes include at least two halftoning options and wherein said image colorization modes includes at least two colorization options.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said rendering engine is a four color printer for producing images on a sheet.
6. The system of claim 1, including at least one type-identifiable data portion is a primary object and at least one type-identifiable data portion is secondary object, wherein said secondary objects are executed by the controller to channeling the stream of data by default to one of said image rendering mode menu selections.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein said stream of data is a PCL page description language file.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein said type-identifiable data portions include text image identifiers, graphic image identifiers and a bitmap image identifiers, image rendering engine processes a plurality of said image types including a text image, a graphic image and a bitmap image.
9. A method of programming an image rendering system for processing a stream of data in a document processing system, said stream of data including at least one image type-identifiable data portion associated with a multicolor rendering data portion, comprising:
identifying a set of menus for initiating a channel for said data stream plurality including a plurality of image rendering and colorization modes of image rendering and colorization modes initiating the identification of a set of imaging menus;
executing an imaging path for channeling the stream of data using at least one image rendering mode menu selections by directing the stream of data according to at least one image type-identifiable data portion; and producing an output image a rendering according to said menu selected image rendering and colorization modes.
identifying a set of menus for initiating a channel for said data stream plurality including a plurality of image rendering and colorization modes of image rendering and colorization modes initiating the identification of a set of imaging menus;
executing an imaging path for channeling the stream of data using at least one image rendering mode menu selections by directing the stream of data according to at least one image type-identifiable data portion; and producing an output image a rendering according to said menu selected image rendering and colorization modes.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said image rendering modes include at least one halftoning mode.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one colorization mode is automatically selected according to the use of at least one halftoning mode.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein said image rendering modes include at least two halftoning options and wherein said image colorization modes includes at least two colorization options.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein said rendering engine is a four color printerfor producing images on a sheet.
14. The method of claim 9, including at least one type-identifiable data portionprimary object and at least one type-identifiable data portion secondary object, wherein said secondary objects are executed by the controller to channeling the stream of data by default to one of said image rendering mode menu selections.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein said stream of data is a PCL page descriptionlanguage file.
16. The method of claim 9, wherein said type-identifiable data portions include text image identifiers, graphic image identifiers and a bitmap image identifiers, image rendering engine processes a plurality of said image types including a text image, a graphic image and a bitmap image.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US67156196A | 1996-06-27 | 1996-06-27 | |
| US08/671,561 | 1996-06-27 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2203451A1 true CA2203451A1 (en) | 1997-12-27 |
Family
ID=24695006
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2203451 Abandoned CA2203451A1 (en) | 1996-06-27 | 1997-04-23 | Programmable menu imaging system |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| BR (1) | BR9703746A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2203451A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108228647A (en) * | 2016-12-21 | 2018-06-29 | 伊姆西Ip控股有限责任公司 | For the method and apparatus of data copy |
-
1997
- 1997-04-23 CA CA 2203451 patent/CA2203451A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-06-27 BR BR9703746A patent/BR9703746A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108228647A (en) * | 2016-12-21 | 2018-06-29 | 伊姆西Ip控股有限责任公司 | For the method and apparatus of data copy |
| CN108228647B (en) * | 2016-12-21 | 2022-05-24 | 伊姆西Ip控股有限责任公司 | Method and apparatus for data copying |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| BR9703746A (en) | 1998-09-22 |
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