Image forming apparatus having a function of saving developing agent
Image data is read in through a scanner unit, and, when a toner saving mode is set, the image data having a pixel value larger than a predetermined threshold is converted into a predetermined PWM pattern, while, for the …
Original patent title: “Image forming apparatus having a function of saving developing agent”
What this patent covers
The actual claim
Image data is read in through a scanner unit, and, when a toner saving mode is set, the image data having a pixel value larger than a predetermined threshold is converted into a predetermined PWM pattern, while, for the image data having a pixel value not larger than the predetermined threshold, no output is made.
What this patent does NOT cover
The boundaries
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Patent Abstract
Patent abstract
Image data is read in through a scanner unit, and, when a toner saving mode is set, the image data having a pixel value larger than a predetermined threshold is converted into a predetermined PWM pattern, while, for the image data having a pixel value not larger than the predetermined threshold, no output is made.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
Patent Filed
2001
Patent Granted
2002 · 1yr after filing
Patent Expired
2021
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
20/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
9/20
Moderate scope
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assignee
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
The original legal language
Original claims
14 claims as filed with the patent office.
Citations
Patent lineage
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