Tetsuya Kawanabe

US Patent:

6339480, Jan 15, 2002

Filed:

Jul 28, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/901719

Inventors:

Akitoshi Yamada - Irvine CA
Hiromitsu Hirabayashi - Irvine CA
Takao Aichi - Irvine CA
Kazuyuki Masumoto - Irvine CA
Akihiko Sukigara - Irvine CA
Tetsuya Kawanabe - Irvine CA
Masashi Kamada - Irvine CA
Osamu Hirata - Irvine CA

Assignee:

Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Tokyo

International Classification:

G06K 1510

US Classification:

358 18, 358 116, 358 19, 358502, 358524

Abstract:

A color printer driver binarizes continuous tone color print data stored in raster form and stores the binarized data directly into column form, without the intermediary of storage in horizontal raster form, for printout by a print engine having vertically-arranged print elements.

US Patent:

6341843, Jan 29, 2002

Filed:

Oct 31, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/699388

Inventors:

Makoto Takemura - Irvine CA
Tetsuya Kawanabe - Irvine CA

Assignee:

Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Tokyo

International Classification:

B41J 201

US Classification:

347 49

Abstract:

A cartridge receptacle is mounted on a carriage for releasably receiving a cartridge having a print head and at least one removable ink reservoir. The receptacle includes a pivoting lever which permits removal of the at least one ink reservoir. The lever extends over at least a portion of the at least one ink reservoir so as to prevent access to the at least one ink reservoir until such time as the lever is pivoted away from the at least one ink reservoir. When the lever is pivoted away from the at least one ink reservoir, and then the lever is pivoted over the at least a portion of the at least one ink reservoir, a signal is output which prompts cleaning of the print head.

US Patent:

6388758, May 14, 2002

Filed:

Nov 17, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/971829

Inventors:

Tetsuya Kawanabe - Irvine CA
Akihiko Sukigara - Irvine CA
Hiromitsu Hirabayashi - Irvine CA
Akitoshi Yamada - Irvine CA

Assignee:

Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Tokyo

International Classification:

G06K 1500

US Classification:

358 113, 358 115

Abstract:

A system for scheduling cleaning of an ink jet print head loaded in an ink jet printer. The system includes receiving real time/date information from an external source, storing the real time/date information in a volatile memory, storing, in a non-volatile memory, a last cleaning time for at least one print head in the ink jet printer, calculating an elapsed time by subtracting the stored real time/date information from the stored last cleaning time, comparing the calculated elapsed time to a predetermined elapsed time, and controlling the at least one print head to perform a cleaning process in the case the calculated elapsed time is greater than the predetermined elapsed time and storing, in the non-volatile memory, a latest last time for cleaning the at least one print head.

US Patent:

58069976, Sep 15, 1998

Filed:

Feb 20, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/603711

Inventors:

Tetsuya Kawanabe - Irvine CA

Assignee:

Canon Business Machines, Inc. - Costa Mesa CA

International Classification:

B41J 230

US Classification:

40012401

Abstract:

A dot matrix printing apparatus which designates an area of a memory as a print buffer and which outputs print data from the print buffer to a printer head having print elements for printing the print data. The dot matrix printing apparatus includes a memory, an area of which is designatable as a print buffer, and a processor which (1) executes an application program to generate the print data, (2) determines size data for the print data, the size data comprising a number of columns of print data and an amount of print data per each column, the amount of print data per each column being derived from a number of operable print elements on the printer head, (3) designates an area of the memory as a print buffer based on the size data, the print buffer being defined by address data, and (4) stores the print data in the print buffer. Also included in the dot matrix printing apparatus is a controller which receives the size data and the address data from the processor, and which uses the size data and the address data to output columns of print data, one column at a time, from the print buffer to the operable print elements on the printer head.

US Patent:

61081019, Aug 22, 2000

Filed:

May 15, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/857186

Inventors:

Peter L. Cheng - Newport Beach CA
Tetsuya Kawanabe - Irvine CA
Hiroyuki Ueda - Irvine CA

Assignee:

Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Tokyo

International Classification:

G06F 1500

US Classification:

358 19

Abstract:

A printing method is provided for use with a printer which reads and then outputs to a printer head a fixed number of bits at a time so as to permit the printer to use a printer head having a number of nozzles which is different than the fixed number of bits. According to this technique, bit data corresponding to an image band to be printed is obtained, the band including multiple pixel arrays, the pixels in each pixel array being arranged in a manner similar to the nozzles in a printer head. In a first loading step, bit data for m pixels of an i-th pixel array are loaded into a register in the printer head, m being a predetermined integer, and i being an arbitrary integer. In a second loading step, bit data for n pixels of an (i+1)-th pixel array are loaded into the register in the printer head, n being a predetermined integer. Finally, the printer head is caused to print an array of dots based on the contents of a register which includes the bit data loaded pursuant to the first and second loading steps, the printed array of dots corresponding to the i-th pixel array.

US Patent:

62191535, Apr 17, 2001

Filed:

Nov 17, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/972309

Inventors:

Tetsuya Kawanabe - Irvine CA
Akihiko Sukigara - Irvine CA
Kazuyuki Masumoto - Irvine CA
Hiromitsu Hirabayashi - Irvine CA
Akitoshi Yamada - Irvine CA
Takao Aichi - Irvine CA

Assignee:

Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Tokyo

International Classification:

B41B 1500
B41J 1500
B41J 2938
B41J 29393

US Classification:

358 116

Abstract:

A host system for controlling a print head of an image printing device having at least one print head. The system includes the steps of obtaining profile information of the at least one print head, storing the profile parameters in a non-volatile memory, and outputting, upon request, the profile information to a host computer connected to the image printing device, wherein the host computer utilizes the print head profile information to produce compensation parameters which compensate print information to be sent from the host computer to the print head for printing.

US Patent:

62065068, Mar 27, 2001

Filed:

Nov 17, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/972138

Inventors:

Makoto Takemura - Irvine CA
Tetsuya Kawanabe - Irvine CA

Assignee:

Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Tokyo

International Classification:

B41J2/14

US Classification:

347 49

Abstract:

A cartridge receptacle is mounted on a carriage for releasably receiving a cartridge having a print head and at least one removable ink reservoir. The receptacle includes a pivoting lever which permits removal of the at least one ink reservoir. The lever extends over at least a portion of the at least one ink reservoir so as to prevent access to the at least one ink reservoir until such time as the lever is pivoted away from the at least one ink reservoir. When the lever is pivoted away from the at least one ink reservoir, and then the lever is pivoted over the at least a portion of the at least one ink reservoir, a signal is output which prompts cleaning of the print head.