# US 12,008,422 B2 · Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and storage medium

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,008,422 B2
- Document ID: US12008422B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/969,788
- Filed: 2022-10-20
- Published: 2023-04-27
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-10-27
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Seijiro Imai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12008422B2

## CPC

- G06K 15/1878: {Adjusting colours (image colour correction or control for documents in general H04N1/60)}
- G03G 15/0863: {provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory}
- G03G 15/5066: {by using information from an external support, e.g. magnetic card}
- G06K 15/14: by electrographic printing, e.g. xerography; by magnetographic printing {(G06K15/12 takes precedence)}
- G06K 15/4075: {Determining remaining quantities of ink or toner}
- H04N 1/6027: {Correction or control of colour gradation or colour contrast (H04N1/6058 takes precedence)}
- H04N 1/603: {controlled by characteristics of the picture signal generator or the picture reproducer}
- G03G 2215/0697: being an electronically readable memory
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An image forming apparatus is configured to obtain information indicating the capacity of a toner container. In accordance with the obtained information, a gamma table for correcting the luminance value of a printing-target image is determined and the luminance value of the image is corrected by using the determined gamma table.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to:
obtain information regarding a capacity of a toner container set in the image forming apparatus;
determine, based on the obtained information, a gamma table for correcting a luminance value of an image; and
correct the luminance value of the image by using the determined gamma table.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the image forming apparatus is capable of mounting a cartridge in which the toner container and an image bearing member on which toner stored in the toner container is borne are provided integrally,
the cartridge comprises a memory storing the information regarding the capacity of the toner container, and
the controller is configured to read and obtain the information regarding the capacity of the toner container from the memory of the cartridge.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the toner container is one of a plurality of types of toner container classified by the capacity of the toner container,
the gamma table is determined from among a plurality of types of gamma tables, each associated with one of the plurality of types of the toner container, and
the controller is configured to specify the capacity of the toner container based on the obtained information and determine the gamma table corresponding to specified results.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the gamma table can be associated with the toner container whose capacity is unknown, and
in a case where it is not possible for the controller to obtain the information, the controller is configured to determine the gamma table associated with the toner container whose capacity is unknown.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the controller is further configured to form an image on a printing medium based on the image whose luminance value has been corrected.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the information regarding the capacity of the toner container is information indicating a type of the toner container.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the information regarding the capacity of the toner container is information regarding the number of sheets on which contents can be printed by using the toner container.

### Claim 8

An image forming method comprising:
an obtaining step of obtaining information regarding a capacity of a toner container set in an image forming apparatus;
a determination step of determining, based on the obtained information, a gamma table for correcting a luminance value of an image; and
a correction step of correcting the luminance value of the image by using the determined gamma table.

### Claim 9

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform an image forming method, the method comprising:
an obtaining step of obtaining information regarding a capacity of a toner container set in an image forming apparatus;
a determination step of determining, based on the obtained information, a gamma table for correcting a luminance value of an image; and
a correction step of correcting the luminance value of the image by using the determined gamma table.