# US 8,542,406 B2 · Data processing apparatus capable of calibrating print data to reduce ink consumption

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

- Number: US 8,542,406 B2
- Document ID: US8542406B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/624,606
- Filed: 2012-09-21
- Published: 2013-01-17
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2006-01-26
- Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Masashi Ueda; Tomohiko Hasegawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542406B2

## CPC

- G06K 15/02: using printers
- H04N 1/2307: {Circuits or arrangements for the control thereof, e.g. using a programmed control device, according to a measured quantity (H04N1/27, H04N1/29 take precedence)}
- H04N 1/2323: {according to characteristics of the reproducing medium, e.g. type, size or availability}
- H04N 1/233: {according to characteristics of the data to be reproduced, e.g. number of lines}
- H04N 1/2338: {according to user specified instructions, e.g. user selection of reproduction mode}
- H04N 2201/0082: Image hardcopy reproducer (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence)
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An ink reduction rate is set in accordance with the type of image and the type of recording medium. For example, when a photograph is to be printed on a glossy paper with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 10%. When a photograph is to be printed on a plain paper with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 25%. When a document is to be printed with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 50%, irrespective of the type of recording paper.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a data processing program for controlling a computer to perform steps comprising:
a) inputting data;
b) determining an ink reduction rate based on the type of recording medium onto which the data is to be printed;
c) acquiring a lightness value and a saturation value by converting the data;
d) acquiring a saturation modification value and a lightness modification value based on the ink reduction rate;
e) modifying the lightness value into a modified saturation value based on the lightness modification value, and modifying the saturation value into a modified saturation value based on the saturation modification value; and
f) calibrating the data based on both the modified lightness value and the modified saturation value.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the data processing program further comprises g) setting the type of recording medium onto which the data is to be printed, wherein the ink reduction rate is determined in the program of b) based on the type of recording medium set in the program of g).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the data processing program further comprises g) setting a printing resolution with which the data is to be printed, wherein the ink reduction rate is determined in the program of b) based further on the printing resolution.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the data comprises a plurality of pixel values corresponding to a plurality of pixels,
wherein the acquiring c) acquires the lightness value and the saturation value for each of the plurality of pixels by converting corresponding one of the plurality of pixel values,
wherein the modifying e) modifies the lightness value for each of the plurality of pixels into a modified lightness value based on the lightness modification value, and modifies the saturation value for each of the plurality of pixels into a modified saturation value based on the saturation modification value; and
wherein the calibrating f) calibrates the data based on both the modified lightness value and the modified saturation value for each of the plurality of pixels,
wherein when the type of recording medium is a first type, the calibrating f) calibrates a specific pixel value into a calibrated specific pixel value such that the calibrated specific pixel value indicates a first type of dot to be ejected onto the recording medium,
wherein when the type of recording medium is a second type different from the first type, the calibrating f) calibrates the specific pixel value into a calibrated specific pixel value such that the calibrated specific pixel value indicates a second type of dot to be ejected onto the recording medium,
wherein the second type of dot is different from the first type of dot.

### Claim 5

A data processing device comprising:
an inputting unit configured to input data;
a determining unit configured to determine an ink reduction rate based on the type of recording medium onto which the data is to be printed;
a first acquiring unit configured to acquire a lightness value and a saturation value by converting the data;
a second acquiring unit configured to acquire a saturation modification value and a lightness modification value based on the ink reduction rate;
a modifying unit configured to modify the lightness value into a modified lightness value based on the lightness modification value and modify the saturation value into a modified saturation value based on the saturation modification value; and
a calibrating unit configured to calibrate the data based on both the modified lightness value and the modified saturation value.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The data processing device according to claim 5, further comprising a first setting unit configured to set the type of recording medium onto which the data is to be printed, wherein the determining unit determines the ink reduction rate based on the type of recording medium set by the first setting unit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The data processing device according to claim 5, further comprising a second setting unit configured to set a printing resolution with which the data is to be printed, wherein the determining unit determines the ink reduction rate based further on the printing resolution.