Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080225309 | Calibration sheet and method of calibrating a digital printer - A method of controlling a color printing apparatus takes into account variations in color quality across a sheet, perpendicular to the process direction. The apparatus outputs a print sheet forming a test print, the test print including at least one primary strip extending along a cross-process direction of the printer, and a set of test patches. The test print is read, the reading including measuring actual colors of each of a plurality of portions of the primary strip along the cross-process direction. An in-line spectrophotometer, with an array of photosensors extending across the sheet path, can be used to make measurements across the primary strip. | 09-18-2008 |
20080245979 | Gloss and differential gloss measuring system - A system is provided for measuring gloss and spatial dependence of gloss. In a first embodiment, the system comprises: a first illuminator configured to emit a first light beam at a point on a target, thereby producing a generally specular reflectance in a first direction; a second illuminator configured to emit a second light beam at the point on the target, thereby producing generally diffuse reflectance in the first direction; a linear array sensor configured to detect the generally specular reflectance and the generally diffuse reflectance in the first direction; and a processor configured to process the generally specular reflectance and the generally diffuse reflectance detected by the linear array sensor. In a second embodiment, the system comprises: an illuminator configured to emit a beam of light at a point on a target, thereby producing a generally specular reflectance in a first direction and generally diffuse reflectance in a second direction; a first linear array sensor configured to detect the generally specular reflectance in the first direction; a second linear array sensor configured to detect the generally diffuse reflectance in the second direction; and a processor configured to process the generally specular reflectance detected by the first linear array sensor and the generally diffuse reflectance detected by the second linear array sensor. | 10-09-2008 |
20090047032 | SYSTEM FOR MEASURING MARKING MATERIAL ON A SURFACE, SUCH AS IN COLOR XEROGRAPHY - A printing apparatus has a substantially shiny photoreceptor imaging surface, and a photosensor array disposed to receive specularly-reflected light from the imaging surface. A quantity of toner is placed on the imaging surface, and data is derived based on light reflected from the imaging surface. The reflected light is filtered to a color effectively complementary to the toner color. The system avoids noise caused by diffusely-reflected light from powdered toner. | 02-19-2009 |
20090196641 | USE OF CUSTOMER DOCUMENTS FOR GLOSS MEASUREMENTS - An image printing system for adjusting gloss on printed documents includes a marking engine constructed to print images, which have gloss, on a document; a gloss measurement device, includes a linear array sensor to detect a generally specular and diffuse reflectance in the first direction produced by one or more illuminators; a processor configured to receive image data relating to a content of the image to be printed on the document; to process the detected generally specular and diffuse reflectances to determine a characteristic of the gloss of the document, and to compare the gloss characteristic with the image data relating to content of the image printed on the document; and a controller configured to control at least one process controls parameter of the marking engine based on the comparison of the gloss characteristic with the image content by the processor. | 08-06-2009 |
20090206899 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A SIGNAL SLEW RATE IN A DIGITAL DEVICE - A system for controlling a slew rate of a signal, such as used in an imaging device, comprises a counter for measuring a duration that the signal drops from a maximum voltage to a predetermined reference voltage; a register for retaining a desired duration that the signal drops from the maximum voltage to the predetermined reference voltage; and a comparator for comparing the measured duration to the desired duration, the comparator being operative of a current source for the signal. An anti-oscillation circuit prevents the system from oscillating between two discrete durations. | 08-20-2009 |
20090268070 | IMAGE SENSOR AND ASSOCIATED READOUT SYSTEM - An imaging apparatus, such as useable in a digital camera or input scanner, comprises a first photodiode and a first integrating amplifier associated therewith. A first reset capacitor, selectably associated with the first photodiode, flushes charge on the first photodiode through the first integrating amplifier. A first CDS capacitor is downstream of the first integrating amplifier. A hold capacitor forms a hold node downstream of the first CDS capacitor. A pixel amplifier reads out a signal from the hold node at a predetermined time. The pixel amplifier is selectably controllable between a standby mode and a power mode. | 10-29-2009 |
20110002502 | IMAGE DATA COMPENSATION FOR OPTICAL OR SPATIAL ERROR IN AN ARRAY OF PHOTOSENSITIVE CHIPS - A method of processing image data from a multi-chip array with a plurality of photosensitive chips aligned substantially in a transverse direction, including: generating, using a processor for at least one specially programmed computer, a Δy or Δx optical error value equal to a difference in process and transverse directions, respectively, between actual and apparent locations for a first photosensor, the apparent location due to optical error; and storing, in a memory element for the specially programmed computer, respective outputs from the photosensors in the array for first and second scan lines. The actual location is included in the first scan line. The processor retrieves, for use as at least part of useful image data for the first photosensor, the stored output of: the first photosensor for the second scan line for a Δy optical error, or a second photosensor for the first line for a Δx optical error . . . . | 01-06-2011 |
20110075157 | HIGH RESOLUTION LINEAR IMAGE SENSING USING MULTI-ROW LOW RESOLUTION IMAGE SENSOR - A photosensitive chip, including: at least one set of photosensors substantially aligned in a Y direction; and a layer of non-transmissive material including a plurality of openings. Each opening in the plurality of openings includes a respective center line and overlaps only a portion of a respective photosensor so that only the portion of the respective photosensor is photosensitive. The respective center lines for openings for each set of photosensors are not collinear in the Y direction. In an example embodiment, the plurality of openings includes at least one row of openings substantially aligned in an X direction, orthogonal to the Y direction. In an example embodiment, each opening has an equal width in an X direction, orthogonal to the Y direction. | 03-31-2011 |
20110089316 | IN-LINE IMAGE SENSOR IN COMBINATION WITH LINEAR VARIABLE FILTER BASED SPECTROPHOTOMETER - A photosensitive apparatus including a full width array of photosensors and a first photosensor chip. The first photosensor chip including a linear array of photosensors having a plurality of pixels arranged in a long direction and a linear variable filter adapted to transmit at least ten unique bandwidths of wavelengths of light along a length of the linear variable filter where the linear variable filter is fixedly secured to the linear array. Each respective pixel receives a unique bandwidth of wavelengths of light as a light passes through the linear variable filter and the length is aligned with the long direction. The full width array of photosensors is arranged perpendicular to a process direction of a printing device. | 04-21-2011 |
20110147898 | METHOD FOR DICING A SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER, A CHIP DICED FROM A SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER, AND AN ARRAY OF CHIPS DICED FROM A SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER - A method for dicing a semiconductor wafer, including: cutting a reference slot in a back main surface of the wafer; cutting a back slot in the back main surface, the back slot positioned with respect to the reference slot; determining a desired location for a chip edge with respect to the reference slot; and applying radiant energy in a path such that a series of reformed regions are formed within the wafer along the path. A crystalline structure of the wafer is modified in the series of reformed regions and an alignment of an edge of the laser is with respect to the desired location for the chip edge and in alignment with the back slot. The method includes separating the wafer along the series of reformed regions to divide portions of the wafer on either side of the series of reformed regions. | 06-23-2011 |
20110200346 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MINIMIZING NON-UNIFORMITIES IN OUTPUT IMAGES USING HALFTONE CORRECTION PATCHES - Disclosed herein are a method and a printing apparatus implementing the method to minimize cross-process direction non-uniformities of color images in printed documents. When printing images on a photoreceptor, halftone test patches are generated for each color. A first halftone cell orientation (of dots) of the test patches and their corresponding color image data is determined. The halftone cells of test patches may be provided or rotated to a second orientation (or angle or degrees) for printing in an inter-document zone of the photoreceptor, while the first orientation of the color image data in the document image area of the photoreceptor remains the same. Errors or non-uniformities (e.g., with TRC correction) caused by sensor misreading of test patches at specific orientations in the cross-process direction are substantially eliminated, thereby providing output images without streaks or visible errors. | 08-18-2011 |
20110235946 | REDUCING BUFFER SIZE REQUIREMENTS IN AN ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEM - What is disclosed is a novel system and method for reducing a size of a memory buffer used by an electronic registration correction system performing an electronic registration correction on a digital image. The present method uses column address segmentation to identify blocks of scanlines within a spatially mapped array of image pixels comprising a digital image. Advantageously, the present system and method reduces scanline buffer memory by a factor of 2 | 09-29-2011 |
20120140014 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EXTENDING LIGHT EMITTING DIODE PRINTBAR LIFE OR IMPROVING IMAGE QUALITY - A device including: a photoreceptor; an LED printbar; and a computer processor for: determining how long LEDs on the printbar are energized while the device is operated to generate an image output; determining that a first plurality of LEDs has been energized less than a second plurality of LEDs; energizing the first plurality of LEDs for a correction time period as the LEDs are aligned with an inter-document zone (IDZ); and de-energizing the second plurality of LEDs during the time period. Energizing the second plurality of LEDs is unrelated to energizing the LEDs for purposes of evaluating an image. The time period is concurrent with operation of the device to generate an image output. | 06-07-2012 |
20120262508 | Using Low Pressure Assist (LPA) To Enable Printhead Maintenance System Simplification - A method of performing maintenance on printheads of an imaging device includes the detection of at least one missing or defective inkjet in a printhead. A first pressure is applied to ink in printheads in which at least one missing or defective inkjet was detected. The first pressure is configured to discharge ink from the plurality of apertures in an aperture plate of the printhead to reestablish fluid continuity through the inkjet. A second pressure is applied to all of the printheads to be wiped. The second pressure is configured to form a convex meniscus at the plurality of apertures in the aperture plate of all of the printheads to be wiped. A single actuator is then operated to move one or more wipers into engagement with the printheads to be wiped. During wiping the convex meniscus is encountered by a wiper to lubricate a printhead and prevent the printhead from being damaged by wiping. The single actuator then retracts the one or more wipers from the printheads. | 10-18-2012 |
20130201254 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REMOVAL OF INK FROM AN EXTERIOR OF A PRINTHEAD - In an inkjet printing apparatus, a heater heats a drib bib that is located below a plurality of inkjets in a printhead to a temperature that melts ink collected on a surface of the drip bib. Pressurized air is directed toward the surface of the drip bib to remove the melted ink from the surface of the drip bib. | 08-08-2013 |
20130300800 | THREE POSITION PRINTHEAD WIPER ASSEMBLY - A printhead wiper assembly includes an elongated member having a first and second wiper, a linkage, and an actuator. The linkage includes a clutch that enables the elongated member to move to a plurality of positions in response to the actuator activating a plurality of times. The sequence of positions enables first wiper and then the other wiper to contact the printhead face to remove purged ink from the face. | 11-14-2013 |
20130307909 | Solid Ink Printer with Magnetic Ink Mixing - A phase change inkjet printer is equipped with an agitator to prevent settling of metal particles in melted magnetic phase change ink. The agitator operates to agitate the melted magnetic phase change ink as the ink enters the printhead to maintain the metal particles in suspension within the melted ink. | 11-21-2013 |