Brian D Cooper

Author:

Brian M. Cooper

ISBN #:

0354044192

Author:

Brian Cooper

ISBN #:

0121880206

Author:

Brian Cooper

ISBN #:

0312058969

Author:

Brian Cooper

ISBN #:

0521694280

Author:

Brian Cooper

ISBN #:

0435329731

Author:

Brian Cooper

ISBN #:

0801834651

Author:

Brian Cooper

ISBN #:

0708942385

Author:

Brian Cooper

ISBN #:

0754073122

US Patent:

6356363, Mar 12, 2002

Filed:

Jan 31, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/494912

Inventors:

Brian Edward Cooper - Lexington KY
Shaun Timothy Love - Lexington KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G06K 1502

US Classification:

358 19, 358 18, 358534

Abstract:

A dispersed-dot stochastic dither array is provided for rendering halftone images having excellent visual quality. For color printing, a separate threshold array is generated for each of the color planes, however, the stochastic screens are interlocked so that the threshold arrays are generated while considering the other color threshold arrays. In this manner, a blue noise distribution may be produced by the individual arrays as well as by any combination of the individual arrays. When generating a single threshold array for a color plane, a particular criterion is used to determine where the next threshold value should be located, and the selection of a threshold location in each array considers the criterion for all the threshold arrays being generated. By using the interlocked threshold arrays approach, the overall visual affect will be improved for both individual threshold arrays and for a combination of more than one of the threshold arrays. The present invention also is used to generating a set of interlocked dot profiles which do not use a threshold array for halftoning.

US Patent:

6512597, Jan 28, 2003

Filed:

Nov 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/442211

Inventors:

Brian Edward Cooper - Lexington KY
Brian Wesley Damon - Lexington KY
Paul Athanasius Robinson - Lexington KY
Thomas Campbell Wade - Lexington KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

358 19, 358 12, 358 15, 358452

Abstract:

A printer that stores a minimal number of unadjusted stochastic threshold arrays in non-volatile memory, in which the unadjusted threshold arrays are used to generate adjusted threshold arrays at run time by use of special parameterized transfer functions. The unadjusted array for a particular color is stored in the printers ROM and preferably is stored in a packed configuration to save memory space. The parameterized transfer functions are used to convert the unadjusted threshold data into adjusted threshold data for each color and type of print media. These parameterized transfer functions are stored in the printers non-volatile memory, and take up very little memory space. In a preferred embodiment, the unadjusted threshold array comprises a 128 row by 128 column sized array, and each element of this array comprises a 10-bit number. When a parameterized transfer function is applied to this unadjusted array, the resulting numeric values for the adjusted array elements are produced as 8-bit numeric values. The greater precision in the originating unadjusted array provides more perceptual levels of intensity (i. e.

US Patent:

6624911, Sep 23, 2003

Filed:

Nov 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/441581

Inventors:

Brian Edward Cooper - Lexington KY
Brian Wesley Damon - Lexington KY
Shaun Timothy Love - Lexington KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G06K 1500

US Classification:

358 19, 358 16

Abstract:

A printer that stores a minimal number of unadjusted stochastic threshold arrays in non-volatile memory, in which the unadjusted threshold arrays are used to generate adjusted threshold arrays at run time by use of Transfer Function Tables (TFTs). The unadjusted array for a particular color is stored in the printers ROM and preferably is stored in a packed configuration to save memory space. The TFTs are used to convert the unadjusted threshold data into adjusted threshold data for each color and type of print media. In a preferred embodiment, the unadjusted threshold array comprises a 128 row by 128 column sized array, and each element of this array comprises a 10-bit number. When the TFT is applied to this unadjusted array, the resulting numeric values for the adjusted array elements are produced as 8-bit numeric values. The greater precision in the originating unadjusted array provides more perceptual levels of intensity (i. e. , color brightness), which is particularly important at the lighter shades of each color.

US Patent:

6710778, Mar 23, 2004

Filed:

Feb 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/781843

Inventors:

Brian Edward Cooper - Lexington KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G09G 336

US Classification:

345596, 345586, 345643, 345 89, 358 303, 358 304, 358 317

Abstract:

An improved method of digital halftoning using âscreensâ or dither arrays is provided, including stochastic dither arrays (e. g. , stochastic screening). The weakness of ordinary stochastic dithering is its isolated or dispersed dots and the related problems of dot gain and consistent dot formation when used with certain types of printers. However, the inconsistent formation of isolated dots causes unpredictable variations in uniformity and tone. The present invention solves this problem by grouping dots into small clusters, which may be rendered more consistently. Unlike conventional clustered-dot halftoning, however, this method arranges the dot clusters in a stochastic fashion to avoid objectionable periodic artifacts. A novel weighting function is used to generate the dot clusters, in which one function of a first extent is subtracted from another function of a second extent, thereby creating clusters of dots that center at locations where the weighting function chooses to place dots. Locations very close to an existing dot will have an increased chance of being selected; at a certain distance away from the existing dot, where the new weighting function reaches a maximum (or maxima), locations will have a smaller chance of being selected; once past this distance, the locations will have a gradually increasing chance of selection.

US Patent:

6764162, Jul 20, 2004

Filed:

Apr 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/135583

Inventors:

Mary Ellen Biddle - Lexington KY
Brian Edward Cooper - Lexington KY
Chengwu Cui - Lexington KY
Buford Rodney Goble - Georgetown KY
Ross William McFarland - Lexington KY
Steven Frank Weed - Lexington KY
Bryan Scott Willett - Lexington KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

B41J 2300

US Classification:

347 37, 347 41, 347 15

Abstract:

An improved shingle mask is provided for use on ink jet printers which use multi-pass printing (shingling) to form bitmap images. The shingle mask is derived from a shingle mask density distribution which exhibits a substantially trapezoidal shape; the shingle mask density distribution is derived from an accumulated shingle mask distribution (also referred to as a âbanding profileâ) having an overall shape of a plateau portion and a substantially smooth decreasing portion, which reduces the number of drops to be printed along the outermost edges of the mask on each swath. This shape reduces banding effects by effectively increasing a number of printed-density bands which are decreased in size, while at the same time not increasing the number of printhead passes over a given area on the print media (which otherwise would negatively impact printed throughput).

US Patent:

7079686, Jul 18, 2006

Filed:

Aug 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/224660

Inventors:

Mohamed N. Ahmed - Louisville KY, US
Brian E. Cooper - Lexington KY, US
Michael E. Lhamon - Lexington KY, US

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G06K 9/34

US Classification:

382176, 382177, 358462

Abstract:

A system can include a system processor that is programmed or adapted to classify pixels in a document image, and in some instances, to enhance the document image based upon such classification. Image data including pixels is received. For each pixel in some subset of the image data, a feature vector is generated. Each pixel in the subset is classified as text or image based upon its associated feature vector. The classifications can be outputted for storage and/or further processing. Further processing can include pixel level enhancement processing. Such enhancement processing can include application of a sharpening filter to pixels classified as text and of a smoothing filter to pixels classified as image. In some instances, background suppression can be performed upon a subset of the image data prior to classification.

US Patent:

7190490, Mar 13, 2007

Filed:

Nov 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/291302

Inventors:

Brian Edward Cooper - Lexington KY, US
Brian Wesley Damon - Lexington KY, US
Paul Athanasius Robinson - Lexington KY, US
Thomas Campbell Wade - Lexington KY, US

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

H04N 1/405

US Classification:

358 306, 358 314

Abstract:

A printer that stores a minimal number of unadjusted stochastic threshold arrays in non-volatile memory, in which the unadjusted threshold arrays are used to generate adjusted threshold arrays at run time by use of special parameterized transfer functions. The unadjusted array for a particular color is stored in the printer's ROM and preferably is stored in a packed configuration to save memory space. The parameterized transfer functions are used to convert the unadjusted threshold data into adjusted threshold data for each color and type of print media. These parameterized transfer functions are stored in the printer's non-volatile memory, and take up very little memory space. In a preferred embodiment, the unadjusted threshold array comprises a 128 row by 128 column sized array, and each element of this array comprises a 10-bit number. When a parameterized transfer function is applied to this unadjusted array, the resulting numeric values for the adjusted array elements are produced as 8-bit numeric values. The greater precision in the originating unadjusted array provides more perceptual levels of intensity (i. e.

US Patent:

7302107, Nov 27, 2007

Filed:

Dec 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/744884

Inventors:

Mohamed N. Ahmed - Louisville KY, US
Brian E. Cooper - Lexington KY, US
Michael E. Lhamon - Lexington KY, US

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G06K 9/36

US Classification:

382251, 35842614, 37524003, 3752402, 37524022, 382250

Abstract:

The invention provides a system and method for JPEG encoding an image that includes variable quantization for each block, depending upon the classification of each block, which is dependent on the classification of pixels in that block.