US 5,860,047 A · System and method for variable toner output in output devices

Abstract

A pixel matrix preferably containing nine pixels is analyzed to determine whether or not all of the image values for the pixels in the pixel matrix correspond to a full saturation level. If the image values do correspond to full saturation level, preferably the center pixel is produced using a variably reduced toner output. If all of the image values do not correspond to full saturation level, the center pixel is produced using conventional methods. The system of the preferred embodiment is comprised of an input buffer for storing the image values, a comparator for comparing the image values with a toner modification value to determine if the pixel or pixels should be produced using a variably reduced toner output. The pixels are then preferably stored temporarily in an output buffer and then sent to a memory to be produced.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method for variable toner output in an output device when the output device is producing an image, wherein the image is comprised of at least one pixel having an image value, and wherein the output device has more than one toner modification value to select from, the method comprising the steps of:

determining whether an image value for a particular pixel in the image is at a predetermined level;
if the image value for the particular pixel is not at a predetermined level, using that image value when producing the pixel;
if the image value for the particular pixel is at a predetermined level, obtaining a toner modification value;
and
determining a modified toner output value using the image value and the toner modification value.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for variable toner output in output devices

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System and method for variable toner output in output devices

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23