Patent · US Expired

Method for improving the quality of printing processes involving black pixel depletion

US6464334B2 · kind B2 · utility

14Cited by
7References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 8, 2001
Grant dateOct 15, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 8, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N1/52
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for improving the quality of printing processes involving black pixel depletion by printing composite ink in pixel spaces where a black pixel depletion process leaves unfilled pixel spaces. Black pixel depletion data are employed (for example, a depletion mask is inverted) to generate a composite printing mask which designates pixel spaces which are candidates for being filled in with a composite ink. In a preferred embodiment, edge pixels of black fill areas are excluded from the candidate pixels. In a preferred embodiment, the white pixel spaces are filled in by printing a plurality of different colored inks (e.g., cyan/magenta/yellow or cyan/magenta) within these unfilled pixel spaces. In a preferred embodiment, the composite printing mask additionally serves as an under/overprinting (UOP) map.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.