Image processing apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having tone correction based on status

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10613463-B2
Application number	US-201916239974-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2019
Priority date	Mar 14, 2018
Publication date	Apr 7, 2020
Grant date	Apr 7, 2020

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a memory and circuitry. The memory is configured to store a status of the image forming apparatus and a first detected density value obtained in a first tone correction based on a dither pattern. The circuitry is configured to calculate a difference between the status of the image forming apparatus upon the first tone correction and the status of the image forming apparatus upon a second tone correction following the first tone correction. The circuitry is further configured to calculate a correction value according to the difference in the status of the image forming apparatus, based on the first detected density value and a second detected density value obtained in the second tone correction based on a reference pattern.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a memory configured to store a status of the image forming apparatus and a first detected density value obtained in a first tone correction based on a dither pattern; and
circuitry configured to:
determine a difference between the status of the image forming apparatus for the first tone correction and a status of the image forming apparatus for a second tone correction, subsequent to the first tone correction; and

determine a correction value according to the status difference determined, based on the first detected density value and a second detected density value, obtained in the second tone correction based on a reference pattern, wherein the circuitry is further configured to change, according to the difference in status, respective correction percentages of the first detected density value and the second detected density value in the correction value.

2. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the memory is configured to store, for each of a plurality of dither patterns, a respective status of the image forming apparatus and a respective first detected density value obtained in the first tone correction.

3. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a photoconductor,
wherein the difference in status of the image forming apparatus includes at least one of a difference of execution times of the first tone correction and the second tone correction, a distance traveled by the photoconductor, and difference of an internal temperature of the image forming apparatus.

4. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the circuitry is configured not to reflect the second detected density value in the correction value in response to the difference determined being relatively smaller than a threshold.

5. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the circuitry is configured to set a relatively greater reflection ratio of the second detected density value in the correction value as the difference determined is relatively greater.

6. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the circuitry is configured to change, for each dither pattern, at least one of the respective correction percentages of the first detected density value and the second detected density value.

7. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to determine, according to the status difference, respective correction percentages such that upon the status difference being relatively small, the first detected density value is reflected in a relatively greater percentage than the second detected density value.

8. An image forming method comprising:
storing, in a memory, a status of an image forming apparatus and a first detected density value obtained in a first tone correction based on, a dither pattern;
determining a difference in the status of the image forming apparatus for the first tone correction and a status of the image forming apparatus for a second tone correction, subsequent to the first tone correction; and
determining a correction value according to the status difference determined, based on the first detected density value and a second detected density value, obtained in the second tone correction based on a reference pattern, wherein, according to the status difference, respective correction percentages of the first detected density value and the second detected density value in the correction value are changed.

9. The image forming method of claim 8 , wherein the storing includes storing, for each of a plurality of dither patterns, a respective status of the image forming apparatus and a respective first detected density value obtained in the first tone correction.

10. The image forming method of claim 8 , wherein the determining of the status difference includes determining at least one of a difference of execution times of the first tone correction and the second tone correction, a distance traveled by the photoconductor, and difference of an internal temperature of the image forming apparatus.

11. The image forming method of claim 8 , wherein the determining, according to the status difference, includes determining respective correction percentages such that upon the status difference being relatively small, the first detected density value is reflected in a relatively greater percentage than the second detected density value.

12. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable program code that causes a computer to perform an image forming method, the method comprising:
storing, in a memory, a status of an image forming apparatus and a first detected density value obtained in a first tone correction based on a dither pattern;
determining a difference in the status of the image forming apparatus for the first tone correction and a status of the image forming apparatus for a second tone correction, subsequent to the first tone correction; and
determining a correction value according to the status difference determined, based on the first detected density value and a second detected density value, obtained in the second tone correction based on a reference pattern, wherein, according to the status difference, respective correction percentages of the first detected density value and the second detected density value in the correction value are changed.

13. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , storing computer-readable program code that causes a computer to perform the image forming method, wherein the storing of the includes storing, for each of a plurality of dither patterns, a respective status of the image forming apparatus and a respective first detected density value obtained in the first tone correction.

14. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , storing computer-readable program code that causes a computer to perform the image forming method, wherein the determining of the status difference includes determining at least one of a difference of execution times of the first tone correction and the second tone correction, a distance traveled by the photoconductor, and difference of an internal temperature of the image forming apparatus.

15. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , storing computer-readable program code that causes a computer to perform the image forming method, wherein the determining, according to the status difference, includes determining respective correction percentages such that upon the status difference being relatively small, the first detected density value is reflected in a relatively greater percentage than the second detected density value.

Assignees

• Hamashoji Hiroki
• Yoshida Atsushi
• Kano Hayato
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hamashoji Hiroki
• Yoshida Atsushi
• Kano Hayato

Classifications

• G03G15/556 Primary

  for toner consumption, e.g. pixel counting, toner coverage detection or toner density measurement · CPC title

• G03G15/5058

  using a test patch · CPC title

• G06K15/027

  Test patterns and calibration (arrangements for controlling or analysing printing mechanisms of typewriters or selective printing units B41J29/393 takes precedence; colour correction using test pattern analysis in general H04N1/6033) · CPC title

• G03G2215/00037

  Toner image detection · CPC title

• G03G15/5041 Primary

  Detecting a toner image, e.g. density, toner coverage, using a test patch (G03G15/553 takes precedence) · CPC title