Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080213021 | Print Engine Controller For A Pagewidth Printer With A Four-Stage Print Pipeline - Provided is a print engine controller for a printer having a pagewidth printhead. The controller includes a serial interface, a JPEG decoder, a fax decoder, a halftoner/compositor unit, a tag encoder, a line loader/formatter unit, and an interface to the pagewidth printhead. These components together define a print control pipeline. | 09-04-2008 |
20080219500 | SHREDDING DEVICE WITH A DECODER AND TRANSMITTER - A shredding device which includes a feed mechanism configured to feed a substrate having identity data encoded thereon, said identity data identifying information printed on said substrate. Also included are sensors arranged adjacent said feed mechanism and configured to sense the identity data, as well as a decoder and transmitter arranged in communication with the sensors and configured to respectively decode and transmit the identity data to a network system. The shredding device also includes a shredding mechanism configured to shred the substrate received from the feed mechanism on receipt of instructions from the network system. | 09-11-2008 |
20080234000 | Method For Playing A Request On A Player Device - The present invention relates to a method for playing a request on a player device. The method includes the step of transmitting a pen stroke corresponding to a first one of a number of possible applications to a server. A form is then submitted to the first application. The method further includes the step of sending, from the server and to the player device, a play request corresponding to play information borne by the submitted form so that the player device plays a request corresponding to said play request. | 09-25-2008 |
20080246790 | Printer Having Controller For Offset Nozzles Of Printhead IC - A printer is provided which has a printhead integrated circuit having a row of aligned printhead nozzles and a controller for supplying data to the printhead integrated circuit. A sequential group of the nozzles at one end of the printhead integrated circuit are offset from the other nozzles of the row. The printer controller is configured to control order and timing of the supplied data to compensate for the offset nozzles during printing. | 10-09-2008 |
20080246827 | Modular Pen-Shaped Imaging And Printing Assembly Having A Timer Module - Provided is a modular pen-shaped imaging and printing assembly, the assembly having imaging and printing modules operatively linked via a serial bus interface through male and female connectors of each module. The assembly includes a timer module having a chassis molding, an LCD mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) within the chassis molding, and a microcontroller mounted on the PCB for managing timing functions. Also included is a control button via which a user is able to instruct the microcontroller to increment of decrement timing units maintained by the controller. | 10-09-2008 |
20080246846 | IMAGE MANIPULATION CAMERA - A handheld camera comprising a sensor adapted to sense an image, a camera manager for controlling the sensing of the image, an image processing manager for manipulating the image, a print manager for controlling printing of the manipulated image, and a guillotine adapted to cut a print media on which the manipulated image is printed from a print roll. The print manager is operable to activate the guillotine upon receipt of a signal indicative of a manual attempt to pull the print media from the camera. | 10-09-2008 |
20080246983 | PRINTED PHOTOGRAPH WITH HIGH CAPACITY ENCODED AUDIO - A data structure is printed on a photograph using infra-red ink. The data structure includes a two dimensional array of data blocks. Each adjacent pair of data blocks is separated by a gap and each of the data blocks has a data region holding encoded data. Each data region is confined by clock-marks and borders to facilitate location of the data region and recovery of data from within the data region. | 10-09-2008 |
20080252732 | IMAGE MANIPULATION METHOD FOR CAMERA - A handheld camera comprises a sensor adapted to sense an image, a camera manager for controlling the sensing of the image, an image processing manager for manipulating the image, a print manager for controlling printing of the manipulated image, and a guillotine adapted to cut a print media on which the manipulated image is printed from a print roll. The print manager is operable to activate the guillotine upon receipt of a signal indicative of an attempt to dispense the print media at a rate greater than that of a print roll drive system for dispensing the print media. | 10-16-2008 |
20080252733 | CAMERA PRINTER OPERATION METHOD WITH MEDIA PULL SENSING - A method of operating a handheld camera comprises sensing an image via an image sensor, controlling the sensing of the image via a camera manager, manipulating the image via an image processing manager, and controlling printing of the manipulated image via a print manager. The step of controlling printing of the manipulated image includes causing the print manager to activate a guillotine, which guillotine is adapted to cut a print media, upon receipt of a signal indicative of an attempt to pull the print media from the camera. | 10-16-2008 |
20080252734 | CARD BASED IMAGE MANIPULATION METHOD FOR CAMERA - A method of operating a handheld camera comprises causing a sensor to sense an image, supplying predetermined data to an input of the camera via a card on which the predetermined data is disposed, and causing a processing system to obtain the image from the sensor, determine a card image in accordance with signals received from the input, rotate the card image in accordance with a skew of the card with respect to the input, and manipulate the image in accordance with the predetermined data to thereby generate a manipulated image. | 10-16-2008 |
20080252735 | CAMERA HAVING PRINTER FOR PRINTING INTERACTIVE INTERFACES - A camera is provided having a camera module, a network interface module and printing module. The camera module receives user input and captures the image with an image sensor in response to the user input. The interface module transfers the captured image to a computer system. The printing module prints an interface onto a surface including the image and coded data at least partially indicative of an identity of the image. This allows the identity of the image to be obtained from the interface. The coded data is also at least partially indicative of at least one of a plurality of locations of the interface and a region of the interface. A sensing device generates indicating data at least partially indicative of at least one of a location of the sensing device relative to the interface and an identity of the region. | 10-16-2008 |
20080252747 | VLIW IMAGE PROCESSOR - A microcontroller for an image sensing and processing apparatus is provided. The microcontroller has VLIW processor circuitry, image sensor interface circuitry connected between the VLIW processor circuitry and the image sensor, bus interface circuitry connected between the VLIW processor circuitry and a bus connectable with devices other than the image sensor, and buffer memory and queuing circuitry intermediate the image sensor and bus interface circuitry and the VLIW processor to control delivery of information to the VLIW processor. | 10-16-2008 |
20080252754 | CARD BASED IMAGE MANIPULATION METHOD WITH CARD SKEW CORRECTION - A method of operating a handheld camera comprises sensing an image via an image sensor, controlling the sensing of the image via a camera manager, receiving predetermined data in the form of a card image, the card image read from a card by a card reader, rotating the card image in accordance with a skew of the card with respect to the card reader, manipulating the image via an image processing manager, and controlling printing of the manipulated image via a print manager. | 10-16-2008 |
20080254830 | PRINT MEDIUM HAVING WEBPAGE LINKED LINEAR AND TWO-DIMENSIONAL CODED DATA - A print medium is provided which has a surface provided with first coded data in a linear pattern encoding first information and second coded data in a two-dimensional coordinate grid encoding second information. The first and second information are indicative of a print media identifier linked to a web page. The print media identifier is able to be determined using a sensor module of a mobile telecommunications device. The web page is retrievable from a database using the print media identifier. | 10-16-2008 |
20080254832 | METHOD FOR PLAYING A ROUTED REQUEST ON A PLAYER DEVICE - A method is provided for playing a routed request on a player device. The method includes the step of transmitting a pen stroke corresponding to a first one of a number of possible applications to a server. A form is submitted to the first application. The method involves sending, from the server and via at least one router, a play request corresponding to play information borne by the submitted form. The play request is routed to the player device, via said router, so that the player device plays a request corresponding to said play request. | 10-16-2008 |
20080259102 | PRINT ENGINE CONTROLLER FOR RECEIVING DOT DATA - Provided is a print engine controller for a pagewidth printhead. The controller includes contone and bi-level decompression circuitry for decompressing a contone layer of compressed page data and a bi-level layer of compressed page data, respectively. The controller also includes halftoner and compositor circuitry for halftoning the decompressed contone layer to associated bi-level versions and compositing the decompressed bi-level layer over the halftoned contone layers. Also included is printhead interface circuitry for receiving the halftoned and composited data so as to generate print data suitable for printing by the printhead. The controller further includes line loader and formatter circuitry for receiving dot data from the halftoner and compositor circuitry to store the dot data for lines to be printed in memory circuitry of the controller and to format said lines into an order required by the printhead interface circuitry. | 10-23-2008 |
20080259103 | PRINTER CONTROLLER FOR MONITORING AN INK DROP COUNT - Provided is a printer controller for a pagewidth printer having a printhead configured to print according to print quality information. The printer has a paper transport mechanism for transporting a sheet of paper along a media path through the printer. The controller includes a processor having an address, data and control bus, an expander unit and a decoder unit each coupled to the bus and configured to decompress a bi-level black layer and a continuous tone (contone) layer of a page to be printed. The controller also includes a replaceable ink cartridge arranged in the media path and having a first integrated circuit (IC) interfaced with the processor, the first IC containing the print quality information. Also included is a second IC interfaced to the processor. The processor is configured to count a number of drops of ink printed by the printhead, to update a remaining drop count of the ink cartridge using the counted drops printed and to write an updated remaining drop count to the second IC each time a page has been printed. The processor is also configured to control the paper transport mechanism during printing. | 10-23-2008 |
20080259165 | CAMERA HAVING PRINTER FOR PRINTING INTERACTIVE INTERFACES - A camera is provided having a camera module, a network interface module and printing module. The camera module receives user input and captures the image with an image sensor in response to the user input. The interface module transfers the captured image to a computer system. The printing module prints an interface onto a surface including the image and coded data at least partially indicative of an identity of the image. This allows the identity of the image to be obtained from the interface. The interface module receives response data generated by the computer system in response to performing an action, and the printing module receives the response data from the interface module, generates a second interface based at least partially on the response data, and print the second interface on the second surface. | 10-23-2008 |
20080259166 | CAMERA HAVING NETWORKED INTERACTIVE PRINTER - A camera is provided having a camera module, a network interface module and printing module. The camera module receives user input and captures the image with an image sensor in response to the user input. The interface module transfers the captured image to a computer system. The printing module prints an interface onto a surface including the image and coded data at least partially indicative of an identity of the image. This allows the identity of the image to be obtained from the interface. The interface module receives the image from the computer system and the printing module receives the image from the network interface module and print the image on a second surface. | 10-23-2008 |
20080259711 | Print Engine Having Authentication Device For Preventing Multi-Word Memory Writing Upon Power Drop - A print engine comprising at least one print controller and at least one associated authentication device is provided. Each authentication device has a processor, non-volatile memory, an input for receiving power from a power supply and a power detection unit. Each authentication device is configured to enable multi-word writes to the non-volatile memory under control of the associated print controller. The processor is configured to control and trim the amount of power supplied to the input to predetermine a threshold at which operation of the authentication device is established. The power detection unit is configured to monitor a voltage level of the power supplied to the input, and in the event the voltage level drops below the predetermined threshold, preventing subsequent words in any multi-word write currently being performed from being written to the memory. | 10-23-2008 |
20080266337 | PRINTER SYSTEM HAVING CONTROLLER WITH CORRECTION FOR NOZZLE DISPLACEMENT - A printing system is provided having a carrier, a printhead module carried by the carrier and a controller. The printhead module has at least one row of ink ejection nozzles. Each of the nozzles is configured to eject ink in response to fire signals from the controller. The controller is configured to determine erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead module relative to the carrier, determine a correction factor based on a thickness of media being printed that at least partially compensates for ink dot displacement by at least one of the nozzles, and using the correction factor, alter the output of the fire signals to the nozzles so as to alter the ejection of ink dots to at least partially compensate for the rotational displacement. | 10-30-2008 |
20080273217 | PRINT ENGINE CONTROLLER FOR A PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY - Provided is print engine controller of a printhead assembly having a plurality of printhead modules. The controller includes a memory buffer to receive rasterized page data from a computer system, a page image expander for expanding the page data to retrieve page images, and dithering means for dithering a continuous tone (“contone”) layer over the page data. The controller also includes a compositor for compositing a black bi-level layer of the contone layer, rendering means for rendering infra-red tags over the contone layer, and an output driving the printhead modules to print the composited page data. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275581 | MP3 Player Having Coded Tag Sensor - An MP3 player is provided which has a sensor for sensing coded data on or in a substrate and for generating first data, a transmitter for transmitting, to a computer system, the first data or second data based on the first data, a receiver for receiving, from the computer system, MP3 data associated with an identity derived from the first data, and an audio output device for outputting an audio signal based on the MP3 data. The coded data comprises of a plurality of coded data tags, each coded data tag including data regarding an identity of the substrate and a position of the respective coded data tag on the substrate. The sensor is configured to sense at least one of the coded data tags and to generate the first or second data representing the substrate's identity and a position of the sensed coded data tag on the substrate. | 11-06-2008 |
20080278772 | MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - Provided is a mobile telecommunications device having a printer and image capture means for printing and interacting with printed media. The device includes a mobile phone module for operatively executing a phone operating system, and a sensor module in signal communication with the phone module. The sensor module is configured for sensing tags encoded on the printed media. The device also includes a print engine controller in signal communication with the phone module, the print engine controller being configured for controlling the printer. | 11-13-2008 |
20080280643 | MODULAR MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE HAVING A PRINTER - A modular mobile telecommunications device has a printer and image capture means for printing and interacting with printed media. The device includes a mobile phone module for operatively executing a phone operating system, and a sensor module in signal communication with the phone module, the sensor module configured for sensing tags encoded on the printed media. The device also includes a print engine controller module in signal communication with the phone module, the print engine controller module configured for controlling the printer. Also included is a media transport to transport the print media through the printer. | 11-13-2008 |
20080285062 | Method Of Printing A Compressed Image Having A Bi-Level Black Layer And A Contone Layer - Provided is a method of printing a compressed image. The method includes the steps of receiving, with a printer controller, the image, having a bi-level black data layer compressed in an Edge Delta and Runlength (EDRL) compression format and a continuous tone (contone) CMYK data layer, from a computer. The method includes the steps of expanding the image by simultaneously decompressing the two data layers in parallel, and halftoning the contone CMYK data layer into bi-level CMYK data layer. Also included are the steps of compositing the bi-level black data layer over the bi-level CMYK data layer to form a composited bi-level CMYK image, transmitting the composited bi-level CMYK image to a memory buffer of pagewidth printer for printing. | 11-20-2008 |
20080297606 | DIGITAL CAMERA - Provided is a hand-held modular camera assembly with a camera module, a printer module, and a dispenser module. The assembly has a central processor which includes a RISC processor core, and a memory operatively storing operating instructions for the processor core and image data for manipulation by said core. The central processor also includes a serial bus interface for communicating with the camera module, the printer module and the dispenser module. | 12-04-2008 |
20080297619 | MODULAR DIGITAL CAMERA - Provided is a pen-shaped modular camera assembly having a plurality of modules each with at least one connector to link the modules together. The assembly includes a camera module having an image sensor for capturing an image in an RGB (red, green, blue) color space. Also included is a central processing module arranged in communication with the camera module, the central processing module having a central processing unit with program memory for storing program steps for execution by the central processing unit to operate the camera module, along with image storage memory for storing the captured image. The assembly also includes an image processing module arranged in communication with the image storage memory, the image processing module configured to dynamically convert the stored image from a L*a*b* color space to a CMY (cyan, magenta, yellow) color space. Also included is a battery module configured so that electrical energy is supplied to the respective modules via the at least one connector. | 12-04-2008 |
20080297850 | PRINTER CONTROLLER FOR A PAGEWIDTH PRINTHEAD HAVING HALFTONER AND COMPOSITOR UNIT - Provided is a printer controller for controlling a pagewidth printhead. The controller includes an interface for receiving an image having a bi-level black data layer compressed in an Edge Delta and Runlength (EDRL) compression format and a continuous tone (contone) CMYK data layer. Also included is an EDRL expander and a Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) decoder unit for expanding the image by simultaneously decompressing the two data layers in parallel, as well as a halftoner and compositor unit for halftoning the contone CMYK data layer into bi-level CMYK data layer and compositing the bi-level black data layer over the bi-level CMYK data layer to form a composited bi-level CMYK image. The controller further includes a processor and memory arrangement configured to control the interface, the expander and decoder unit, and the halftoner and compositor unit, and further configured to transmit the composited bi-level CMYK image to a memory buffer of the pagewidth printer via a printhead interface. | 12-04-2008 |
20080297855 | MOBILE PHONE HANDSET - Provided is a mobile phone handset which includes a front cover moulding with user interface buttons and a display. A chassis moulding houses telecommunication components in connection with the buttons and display. The chassis moulding has a cradle and a drive mechanism, as well as a print cartridge operatively received in the cradle. The cartridge has a printhead and an ink storage and distribution assembly. The handset also includes a rear cover molding defining an inlet and an outlet slot. The drive mechanism is configured to feed print media from the inlet slot to the outlet slot past the print cartridge for printing on the media. | 12-04-2008 |
20080302874 | OPTICAL MEDIA SENSING ARRANGEMENT FOR A MOBILE TELEPHONE HAVING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL MEDIA PATHWAYS - The invention provides for an optical sensing arrangement for use in a mobile telephone. The sensing arrangement allows the telephone to decode tags of coded data printed on media present in internal and external pathways of the telephone. The sensing arrangement includes a beam splitter configured to deflect incoming light onto an image sensor of the telephone. The arrangement also includes a first infrared LED operatively directing light onto media present in the external pathway, with a filter and lens arrangement configured to receive and direct light reflected from the external media onto the beam splitter. Also included is a second infrared LED operatively directing light onto media present in the internal pathway, with a mirror arrangement configured to direct light reflected from the internal media into the beam splitter. | 12-11-2008 |
20080316260 | PAGEWIDTH PRINTER HAVING AN ELONGATE BI-LITHIC PRINTHEAD UNIT - Provided is a pagewidth printer having an elongate bi-lithic printhead unit. The unit includes two integrated circuits laid end-to-end, each having a multitude of micro-electromechanical nozzles for operatively ejecting printing fluid, and an ink distribution plate for feeding printing fluid into apertures defined in the integrated circuits. The unit also includes an ink distribution molding defining a plurality of elongate conduits for distributing printing fluid to the plate along a length of the printhead, and an end plug configured for fitment onto an end of the distribution molding to arrange said conduits in fluid communication with ink reservoirs. The unit further includes a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to relay data signals from a printer controller to respective ends of the integrated circuits. | 12-25-2008 |
20080316508 | ONLINE ASSOCIATION OF A DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPH WITH AN INDICATOR - The present invention relates to an online method for associating an image with an indicator. The method includes the step of storing a captured image in the clipboard of a server. A selection tool selects an association operator from a number of possible operators of a printed toolbar. The method further includes the step of selecting, with the selection tool, the indicator on a printed page to associate the captured image in the clipboard with the selected indicator. | 12-25-2008 |
20080316515 | PRINT ENGINE PIPELINE SUBSYSTEM OF A PRINTER CONTROLLER - Provided is a print engine pipeline subsystem of a printer controller. The subsystem includes a print engine pipeline controller for reading and writing print engine pipeline registers, and a contone decoder unit for expanding JPEG compressed continuous tone (“contone”) layers. Also included are a lossless bi-level decoder for expanding compressed bi-level layers, a line loader unit for expanding page images for a printhead, and a printhead interface for sending dot data to the printhead and for providing line synchronization between multiple printer controllers. | 12-25-2008 |
20090002423 | METHOD OF MODULATING PEAK POWER REQUIREMENT OF MODULAR PRINTHEAD - A method of modulating a peak power requirement of a modular printhead is provided. Each module of the printhead has respective segments of each of a plurality of rows of inkjet nozzles so that each nozzle row is comprised in a respective color channel. In the method each of the modules fires a respective segment within a predetermined segment-time such that at least one of the fired segments is contained in a different color channel from at least one of the other fired segments. | 01-01-2009 |
20090002739 | METHOD OF PRINTING WITH A PERSONAL COMPUTER AND CONNECTED PRINTER - A method of printing includes the steps of rendering continuous tone (“contone”) data to a pixel level and subsequently compressing the contone data in a personal computer. The bi-level data is rendered to a dot level and subsequently compressed in said personal computer. The method also includes the steps of transmitting the contone and bi-level data and decompressing the contone data and foreground bi-level data in parallel in a printer controller. The contone data is halftoned to bi-level color data. The foreground bi-level data is composited over the bi-level color data to create composited bi-level color image data. The steps of halftoning and compositing are performed in parallel. The method further includes the step of printing the composited bi-level color image data. | 01-01-2009 |
20090009549 | PRINTHEAD HAVING GROUPED NOZZLE FIRING - A printhead having a plurality of rows of nozzles is provided. The nozzles in each row are grouped into fire groups. The printhead is configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups. | 01-08-2009 |
20090009550 | PRINTER CONTROLLER FOR PRINTHEAD PEAK WITH REDUNDANT INKJET NOZZLES - A printer controller is provided which is configured to supply dot data to an inkjet printhead so that each inkjet nozzle of at least one pair of inkjet nozzles of the printhead which are configurable to print a dot of the same colored ink onto a substantially same position on a print medium are controlled to print dots to a same specific line of printing on the print medium associated with said at least one pair of nozzles. | 01-08-2009 |
20090009786 | PRINTER CONTROLLER FOR A PAGEWIDTH PRINTER CONFIGURED TO PERFORM INK COUNTS - Provided is a printer controller for a pagewidth printer having a printhead configured to print ink supplied from an ink cartridge with print quality information. The controller includes a processor having an address, data and control bus, an expander unit and a decoder unit each coupled to the bus and configured to receive a page having a bi-level black layer and a continuous tone (“contone”) layer, to decompress the respective layers in parallel, to halftone the contone layer data to bi-level data, and to composite the bi-level black layer over the bi-level data to form an image. The controller also includes a replaceable ink cartridge comprising a first integrated circuit (IC) containing the print quality information and which is configured to be interfaced with the processor. Also included is a second IC interfaced to the processor which is configured to count a number of drops of ink printed by the printhead, to update a remaining drop count of the ink cartridge using the counted drops printed and then write an updated remaining drop count to the second IC each time a page has been printed. | 01-08-2009 |
20090014513 | METHOD OF RECORDING TRANSACTION RELATING TO PACKAGED PRODUCT - A method of recording a transaction relating to an item, said item comprising a product contained in a package, said package having an interface surface containing information relating to the item, the interface surface having disposed thereon coded data indicative of an identity of the item and of coordinates of a plurality of locations of the interface surface, the method including the steps of: marking the interface surface using an optically imaging pen having a marking nib; sensing at least some of the coded data in the vicinity of the pen; generating indicating data using at least some of the sensed coded data, said indicating data comprising data regarding the identity of the item and positions of the pen relative to the interface surface; and transmitting the indicating data to a computer system. | 01-15-2009 |
20090014515 | METHOD OF FACILITATING INTERACTION BETWEEN USER AND PACKAGED PRODUCT - A method of facilitating an interaction between a user and an item, said item comprising a product contained in a package, said package having an interface surface containing information relating to the item, the interface surface having disposed thereon coded data indicative of an identity of the item and of coordinates of a plurality of locations of the interface surface, the method including the steps of: receiving, in a computer system, indicating data from a sensing device regarding the identity of the item and at least one position of the sensing device relative to the interface surface, the sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to the interface surface, sensing at least some of the coded data in the vicinity of the sensing device and generating the indicating data using at least some of the sensed coded data; and facilitating, in the computer system and with reference to the indicating data, the interaction between the user and the item. | 01-15-2009 |
20090015613 | PRINTER CONTROLLER FOR PROVIDING DOT DATA TO A PRINTHEAD - Provided is a printer controller for providing dot data to a printhead. The controller is configured to modulate a peak power requirement of the printhead which includes a plurality of first nozzles and second nozzles supplied with a same colored ink. The nozzles are arranged in a plurality of sets, wherein each set of nozzles comprises one first nozzle and one corresponding second nozzle, each nozzle in a set being configurable to print a dot of ink onto a similar position on a print medium. The controller is configured to alternately select a first firing nozzle and a second firing nozzle from at least one set of nozzles, and to print dots onto the print medium using the selected firing nozzles. One set of nozzles is configured to print a column of same-colored dots down the print medium with each nozzle in the set contributing dots to the column. | 01-15-2009 |
20090020345 | METHOD OF PRINTED BILL PAYMENT USING OPTICALLY IMAGING PEN - A method of enabling payment of bills using an optically imaging pen is provided in which a coded tag printed on a bill is optically imaged with an image sensor of the pen, the position of the pen nib relative to the bill during the imaging is computed in the pen, and indicating data is generating in the pen and transmitted thereby to a computer system to enable bill payment. The bill has information on a requested payment and the coded tags. Each tag encodes the bill's identity and it's printed location. The nib position is computed from the tag location identified in the imaged tag, an observed perspective distortion on the imaged tag, and a known spatial relationship between the pen's physical axis containing the nib and the pen's optical axis containing the image sensor. The indicating data is indicative of the bill's identity and the computed nib position. | 01-22-2009 |
20090021547 | INKJET PRINTHEAD WITH A PRINTER CONTROLLER FOR CONTROLLING NOZZLE FIRING SEQUENCE - An inkjet printhead includes a number of printhead modules arranged end-to-end to span a width of a page, the printhead modules defining color channels also to span the width of the page. A plurality of inkjet nozzles is arranged on the modules such that rows of the nozzles span the width of the page, with at least one row of nozzles in fluid communication with respective channels, the nozzles capable of being fired to eject ink from their associated channels, the nozzles of each row on an associated module defining a segment of nozzles. A printer controller controls a firing sequence of the nozzles and is configured so that nozzles from segments associated with different color channels are fired sequentially during a predetermined time allocated for firing a line of nozzles. | 01-22-2009 |
20090030539 | INTERACTIVE SYSTEM - An interactive system for playing audio. The system comprises an article having a position-coding pattern and a plurality of different print elements printed thereon; an optical sensor for reading a portion of the position-coding pattern; a processor coupled to the optical sensor for determining a position using the read portion of the position-coding pattern; a computer system configured for identifying an audio data file using the position determined by the processor; and an audio output device for playing an audio output corresponding to the identified audio data file. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030540 | AUDIO SYSTEM FOR INTERACTING WITH ARTICLE - A system for interacting with an article having a position-coding pattern and a plurality of different print elements printed thereon. Each print element corresponds to a different audio output. The system comprises: an optical sensor for reading a portion of the position-coding pattern; a processor coupled to the optical sensor for determining a position using the read portion of the position-coding pattern; a computer system configured for identifying an audio data file using the position determined by the processor; and an audio output device for playing an audio output corresponding to the identified audio data file. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030541 | HANDHELD AUDIO PLAYBACK DEVICE WITH MEMORY AND MEANS FOR DOWNLOADING AUDIO DATA FILES TO MEMORY - A handheld audio playback device for interacting with an article having a position-coding pattern and a plurality of different print elements printed thereon. Each print element corresponds to a different audio output. The device comprises: a nib for indicating a selected print element; an optical sensor for reading a portion of the position-coding pattern when the nib is used to indicate the selected print element; a processor coupled to the optical sensor for determining a position using the read portion of the position-coding pattern; a memory storing audio data files for the different audio outputs; means for retrieving an audio data file from the memory for playback; means for downloading audio data files to the memory from a personal computer; and an audio output device for playing the audio output corresponding to the audio data file. | 01-29-2009 |
20090043708 | Method and apparatus for reducing optical emissions in an integrated circuit - A method of hindering optical detection of a pattern of data being stored, moved or processed by at least one active circuit in an integrated circuit, the active circuit including at least first and second active devices that change state within a period of time, such that each device exhibits low resistance in one state and high resistance in another state, the method comprising controlling timing of the change of state of the first active device relative to the second active device so as to prevent the devices having simultaneous intermediate resistances between the low and high resistances, thereby to reduce optical emission by the at least one active circuit compared to causing the changes of state of the two devices to happen simultaneously. | 02-12-2009 |
20090045250 | METHOD OF RECORDING MAIL TRANSACTIONS - A method of recording an interaction with a mail item. The mail item comprises a product contained in a mailing package. The mailing package comprises an interface surface containing mailing information. The interface surface has coded data indicative of a mail item identity and of coordinates of a plurality of locations of the interface surface. The method includes the steps of: receiving, in a computer system, indicating data from a sensing device regarding the mail item identity and positions of the sensing device relative to the interface surface; and identifying and recording, with reference to the indicating data, the interaction with the mail item. | 02-19-2009 |
20090046309 | Inkjet Printer With Dual Page Memory And Page Expander - An inkjet printer including a body housing a print engine configured to transport and print upon print media. The print engine includes a memory buffer of sufficient size to enable printing of one compressed page whilst receiving another compressed page. Each compressed page includes compressed contone data and compressed bi-level data. The print engine is configured to expand each compressed page during printing. A retractable cover is pivotally mounted relative to the body and is able to be pivoted to form a guide which can guide print media to the print engine for printing. | 02-19-2009 |
20090046321 | Print Medium having Coded Surface for Audio data Retrieval - A print medium is provided which has a surface provided with coded data. The coded data is indicative of a print media identifier linked to audio data which is able to be determined using a sensor module of a mobile telecommunications device. The audio data is retrievable from a database using the print media identifier. The coded data includes first coded data in a first format and second coded data in a second format. The first coded data encodes first information and the second coded data encodes second information. At least some of the first information is indicative of the print media identifier and the first format is a linear pattern. At least some of the second information is indicative of the print media identifier and of a two-dimensional coordinate grid, and the second format is a two-dimensional pattern. | 02-19-2009 |
20090058901 | PRINT ENGINE HAVING PRINTHEAD CONTROL MODES - A print engine is provided which has a printhead capable of printing a maximum of n channels of print data and a controller. Each channel is associated with rows of printing nozzles of the printhead. The controller controls the printhead to print in: a first mode, in which the printhead receives from the controller, print data for a first number of the channels; and a second mode, in which the printhead receives from the controller, print data for a second number of the channels less than the first number and dummy data for a portion of each nozzle row associated with the remaining number of the channels. The first number is less than n. | 03-05-2009 |
20090058903 | PRINTER CONTROLLER CONFIGURED TO COMPENSATE FOR DEAD PRINTHEAD NOZZLES - A printer controller for compensating for an inoperative nozzle in a printhead is provided. The printhead includes a plurality of nozzles associated with each pixel to be printed, the printer controller being operative to control one or more operative nozzles associated with the same pixel as the inoperative nozzle to increase the amount of printing substance expelled by the one or more operative nozzles. | 03-05-2009 |
20090058905 | METHOD OF PRINTING WITH PRINTHEAD HAVING REDUNDANT INKJET NOZZLES - A method is provided in which dot data is supplied to an inkjet printhead so that each inkjet nozzle of at least one pair of inkjet nozzles of the printhead which are configurable to print a dot of the same colored ink onto a substantially same position on a print medium are controlled to print dots to a same specific line of printing on the print medium associated with said at least one pair of nozzles. | 03-05-2009 |
20090058909 | PRINTHEAD MODULE HAVING OPERATION CONTROLLABLE ON BASIS OF THERMAL SENSORS - A printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink is provided. The printhead module has a plurality of thermal sensors. Each thermal sensor is configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles. The printhead module is configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a threshold. The printhead module is a thermal inkjet printhead module and each of the nozzles includes a thermal ink ejection mechanism. Each thermal sensor comprises at least part of one of the thermal inkjet mechanisms. | 03-05-2009 |
20090058966 | HAND-HELD MODULAR SYSTEM WITH PRINTER AND INTERNAL REPLACEABLE INK CARTRIDGE - A hand-held modular printer system for printing a stored image, the printer system comprising a memory module in which the image can be stored; a printer module adapted to be releasably interconnected with the memory module, the printer module including an elongate body defining a transverse print media passage and a printer which is arranged within the body so that the stored image can be printed onto print media which passes through the passage, the printer module further including a print media feed arrangement located within the body, the print media feed arrangement comprising a plurality of rollers configured to feed the print media through the passage and a motor arrangement for driving at least one of the rollers; and a pen module adapted to be releasably interconnected with the printer module and which includes a nib which can dispense ink. The printer module is housed in a substantially cylindrical housing, and the hand-held modular printer system further comprises an ink cartridge, the ink cartridge substantially extending the length of the printer module and shaped such that a major surface of the ink cartridge has a curvature substantially matching that of an internal surface of the cylindrical housing, whereby the ink cartridge is nestled against the cylindrical housing. | 03-05-2009 |
20090059032 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD IN A CAMERA MODULE FOR CONVERTING NON-LINEAR RGB IMAGE DATA TO L*A*B* IMAGE DATA - A method of image processing an image in a camera module, said method comprising the steps of capturing an image as a Color Filter Array image having non-linear RGB pixel data from an image sensor of said camera module; linearizing said image from said image sensor to generate a linearized image by using at least three lookup tables, one lookup table for each of three RGB colors, said linearizing step performed by using an address for current RGB pixel data being read to index the at least three lookup tables and incrementing the addresses for the RGB pixel data; generating at least three histograms of said linearized image data, one histogram for each of at least three RGB image color planes, and storing at least a high and a low threshold for each histogram; planarizing said linearized image by using at least the high and the low threshold to generate a planarized linear RGB image; and transforming said image from planarized linear RGB form to L*a*b* form. The step of transforming said image from planarized linear RGB form to L*a*b* form includes a step of referring to each of the histograms and applying a thresholding algorithm thereto. | 03-05-2009 |
20090059293 | PRINT ENGINE CONTROLLER FOR DOUBLE-BUFFERED PROCESSING - A print engine controller for a pagewidth inkjet printer includes an interface for connection to an input data bus to receive page data to be processed prior to printing. A data bus is connected to the interface to communicate data to various circuitry components of the controller. A memory is connected to the data bus and is configured so that as one page is loaded another previously loaded page is read from the memory to permit the controller to act in a double-buffered manner. A print engine pipeline is connected to the data bus and is configured to read the page data from the memory and process the page data into a form suitable for printing by the pagewidth inkjet printer. | 03-05-2009 |
20090066740 | PRINTER CONTROLLER FOR CONTROLLING AN INK DOT SIZE - Provided is a printer controller for an inkjet printer having a printhead with a plurality of nozzle arrangements, a paper transport mechanism, and an authentication chip. The controller has a data bus and purpose-specific functional units connected to the data bus. The controller is configured to execute software to control a dot size of ink discharged by the respective nozzles by heating the ink in a nozzle by applying at least one firing pulse of a duration less than a duration required to discharge an ink dot, sensing the temperature of the heated ink in the nozzle, and loading and updating a table having sensed values of temperature of ink in the nozzle, resistivity of an actuator heater of the nozzle and width of at least part of the actuator heater. The controller then changes the duration of a firing pulse used to discharge an ink dot in response to the updated table of sensed temperature, resistivity and width values so as to produce a uniform ink dot size. | 03-12-2009 |
20090073196 | Inkjet Printer System Having Equalised Control Of Multi-Length Printhead ICS - An inkjet printer system is provided having an pagewidth printhead and controller, The printhead has at least two integrated circuits of different lengths arranged across the pagewidth to define the pagewidth printhead having at least one row of inkjet nozzles for printing one ink color formed by adjacent inkjet nozzle rows of the adjacent integrated circuits. The controller is configured to transfer print data to each of the integrated circuits of the printhead at a rate proportional to their relative lengths so that the print data is transferred to each of the integrated circuits in equal time. | 03-19-2009 |
20090073225 | PRINTHEAD HAVING DISPLACED NOZZLE ROWS - A printhead is provided having a plurality of nozzle rows which have displaced row portions. The displaced row portions of at least some of the rows are different in length than the displaced row portions of at least some of the other rows | 03-19-2009 |
20090073231 | Print Assembly - A print assembly is disclosed. The print assembly includes a printhead for printing on a printing medium having encoded positional data thereon, a media feed assembly for feeding the medium past the printhead, a capper assembly movable between a capped position covering the printhead and an uncapped position exposing the printhead, and a print controller having a reader configured to operatively read the positional data to provide the print controller with a signal indicative of a position of the medium relative to the printhead. The controller is configured to derive a feed speed of the medium from the signal, and to correlate printing of the printhead with such feed speed. | 03-19-2009 |
20090084860 | Data Tag With A Position Detection Pattern - A two-dimensional printed data tag for detection by an optical tag reader has a position detection pattern configured so that an optical tag reader can locate the tag. Data areas are located within the confines of the position detection pattern, the data areas containing encoded data. | 04-02-2009 |
20090085941 | PRINTER CONTROLLER FOR CORRECTION OF ROTATIONALLY DISPLACED PRINTHEAD - A printer controller is provided for supplying ejection data to a printhead mounted to a carrier and having a plurality of ejection nozzles. The printer controller is configured to determine a rotational displacement of the printhead relative to the carrier, determine a correction factor at least partially based on a thickness of media being printed on so as to at least partially compensate for the determined rotational displacement, and alter the supply of the ejection data based on the correction factor. | 04-02-2009 |
20090086250 | MODULAR PEN-LIKE DEVICE HAVING CAMERA, EFFECTS AND PRINTER MODULES - A modular pen-like device is provided having a camera module for capturing images, an effects module for applying visual effects to the captured images, and a printer module for printing the captured and visually effected images. The modules have respective, generally cylindrical bodies configured to be assembled together so that the assembled body of the modular pen-like device is generally cylindrical. | 04-02-2009 |
20090088206 | MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WITH PRINTING AND SENSING MODULES - A mobile telecommunications includes a mobile phone module. A printer module is operatively connected to the mobile phone module and includes a print engine controller. A tag sensor module is operatively connected to the mobile phone module and includes an image sensor and processor. | 04-02-2009 |
20090088251 | System for Performing Games - A system for performing games based on a game participant's positioning of an optically imaging pen on a writing surface. The system comprises a pre-printed gaming form with game-related graphics and a position-coding pattern printed thereon. The position-coding pattern codes coordinate information and is spatially interrelated with the game-related graphics. An optically imaging pen detects its position on a surface of the pre-printed gaming form by optically imaging the position-coding pattern on the writing surface as the game participant positions the pen on the surface. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089061 | Audio Reader Device - An audio reader device for reading printed infrared media includes a linear sensor device sensitive to infra-red. A processor is operatively connected to the sensor device and is configured to read and decode infra-red audio data on the media. A memory is operatively connected to the processor for storing the audio data. A sound processing integrated circuit and speaker arrangement is operatively connected to the memory for playback of the audio data. A roller arrangement feeds the media past the linear sensor device. | 04-02-2009 |
20090090768 | METHOD FOR INITIATING PAYMENT OF BILL - A method for initiating payment of a bill via a printed billing form. The form contains information relating to a payment and coded data printed as a collection of tags. Each tag identifies a bill identity and a location of the tag on the bill. The method comprises the steps of: (i) interacting with the printed billing form by operatively positioning an optically imaging pen relative to the form; (ii) imaging a tag on the form; (iii) generating indicating data regarding the identity of the form and a position of the pen relative to the form; and (iv) transmitting the indicating data to a computer system. Payment of the bill is initiated in the computer system using a payment parameter identified from the indicating data. | 04-09-2009 |
20090091627 | Camera System With Real-Time Dithering And Printing Capabilities - A camera system includes an image sensor configured to capture an image. A memory is coupled to the image sensor and is configured to store the captured image. A printhead interface is coupled to the memory, and is configured to take a planarized linear image obtained from the stored image and produce a dithered image in real-time. A printhead is coupled to, and controlled by, the printhead interface to print the dithered image. An ink supply is provided in fluid communication with the printhead and supplies a plurality of coloured inks to the printhead for printing. | 04-09-2009 |
20090091639 | PEN-SHAPED MODULAR CAMERA ASSEMBLY HAVING AN EFFECTS MODULE - Provided is a pen-shaped modular camera assembly. The assembly includes a camera module having an image sensor for capturing an image in an RGB (red, green, blue) color space. The assembly also includes a central processing module arranged in communication with the camera module. The central processing module includes a central processor that includes a RISC processor core and a memory for storing operating instructions to operate the camera module and image data for manipulation by the processor core. The assembly also includes an effects module having a choose actuator which enables a user to choose between a number of different types of effects to be applied to a stored image; a select actuator which enables the user to select one of the effects, and an apply actuator which enables the user to apply the effect to the stored image. | 04-09-2009 |
20090093897 | METHOD OF RETRIEVING AUDIO DATA VIA CODED MEDIUM - A method of retrieving audio data using a coded medium is provided in which first and second coded data printed on the coded medium is sensed using an image sensor, the first coded data being printed in a linear pattern and encoding a medium identifier linked to the audio data and the second coded data being printed in a two-dimensional pattern and encoding the medium identifier and data on a two-dimensional coordinate grid, the medium identifier is determined from the sensed first and second coded data using a processor in communication with the image sensor, and the audio data is retrieved using the determined medium identifier and the processor. | 04-09-2009 |
20090093898 | AUDIO PLAYER FOR DOWNLOAD AND PLAYBACK OF AUDIO FILES - Provided is an audio player for download and playback of audio files. The audio player includes at least one sensor device capable of sensing an image, a decoder for extracting data from the sensed image data, and a transceiver for transmitting the decoded data to a computer system and for receiving one or more audio files associated with the decoded data from the computer system. The device also includes at least one audio output device for outputting an audio signal corresponding to the audio file, and a controller configured to control operation of the sensor device, the decoder, the transceiver and the output device. | 04-09-2009 |
20090096822 | Printer With Rotated Ejection Nozzle Correction - A printer is provided having a printhead and controller. The printhead has a plurality of printhead modules each having a plurality of ejection nozzles. The nozzles of at least one of the printhead modules is rotationally displaced relative to the other printhead modules. The controller communicates ejection data to the ejection nozzles in accordance with a cumulative correction factor for each printhead module, including printhead modules having non-rotationally displaced nozzles, to at least partially compensate for the rotational displacement. | 04-16-2009 |
20090096832 | PRINTHEAD HAVING DISPLACED NOZZLE ROWS - An inkjet printhead that has a support member for mounting it into a printer body adjacent a media feed path. A plurality of printhead IC's are mounted contiguously adjacent each other along the support member. Each of the printhead IC's has an array of nozzles, the array of nozzles on each printhead IC being identical and arranged into a series of nozzle rows such that most nozzles in each nozzle row are co-linear with the corresponding nozzle row in an adjacent printhead IC. The array of nozzles on each printhead IC is elongate and has an end portion of the array with the nozzles displaced downstream from the remainder of the array with respect to the media feed path | 04-16-2009 |
20090098909 | Printing Educational Material Using A Mobile Device - A system for printing educational information on a print medium, the system comprising: a mobile phone telecommunications device which comprises: a printer module to print the educational material on the print medium, wherein the print medium is provided with first coded data in a first format on a first side of the print medium and second coded data in a second format on an opposing side of the print medium, the first and second coded data encoding first and second information respectively, the first and second information being indicative of a print media identifier of the print medium; and a sensor module to sense the print media identifier of the print medium. | 04-16-2009 |
20090122091 | INKJET PRINTER HAVING PRINTHEAD WITH MULTIPLE CONTROLLERS - An inkjet printer is provided having a printhead having inkjet nozzles and a plurality of controllers configured to process print data for printing and to output the processed data to the printhead. The plurality of controllers are connected to a common input of the printhead. | 05-14-2009 |
20090122103 | MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WITH PRINTHEAD CAPPING ASSEMBLY - A mobile telecommunications device comprises an inkjet printhead for printing to a media substrate printed with encoded data; a media feed assembly for feeding the media substrate along a media feed path past the printhead; a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; a position sensor for optically reading the encoded data to provide the print engine controller with a signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead; and a capper assembly movable between a capped position covering the printhead nozzles and an uncapped position spaced from the printhead nozzles, the capper assembly comprising at least one actuator arm protruding into the media feed path. The at least one actuator arm is adapted to be engaged by the media substrate fed along the media feed path so as to maintain the capper assembly in an uncapped position. | 05-14-2009 |
20090122114 | PRINTHEAD ARRANGEMENT HAVING OVERLAPPING PRINT REGIONS - Provided is a printhead arrangement having a number of printhead segments arranged to have overlapping print regions, and a printer controller. The controller includes a sensor for sensing a temperature of the respective segments, said temperature indicative of an extent of the overlapping print regions. The controller is configured to supply the segments with half tone patterns for the regions by means of a dither matrix with an interpolation function, such that V | 05-14-2009 |
20090125720 | System Having Secure Access Between IC Entities - A system is provided having first and second integrated circuits. The first integrated circuit implements a first entity which stores an encryption or decryption function, one or more secret keys for use with the function, and an identity of each of the secret keys which are each indicative of an access permission to the first entity associated with each of the secret keys. The second integrated circuit implements a second entity which stores the function and is programmed and configured to issue a request to the first integrated circuit for one or more of the access permissions and associated key identities for one or more of the secret keys stored in the first entity. The first integrated circuit being programmed and configured to respond to the request by outputting the access permissions and key identities to the second entity for use with the function without outputting the secret keys. | 05-14-2009 |
20090126030 | Tamper detection line circuitry for use in authenticating an integrated circuit - Provided is tamper detection line circuitry for an authentication integrated circuit for use in authenticating an integrated circuit. The tamper detection line circuitry includes a source of pseudo-random bits, and an XOR gate with two inputs and an output in signal communication with flash memory erase and reset circuits. A complete erasure of the memory is triggered by a 0 from the XOR gate. The circuitry also includes first and second paths arranging the source and XOR gate in signal communication with each other, as well as a number of triggers connected to the respective paths, each trigger configured to detect a physical attack on the authentication integrated circuit, said triggers configured to pull a respective path to 0 if a physical attack is detected. | 05-14-2009 |
20090135215 | CAMERA DEVICE INCORPORATING A COLOR PRINTER WITH INK VALIDATION APPARATUS - A camera device includes a replaceable print roll. The print roll includes an ink reservoir section storing respective types of ink. A validation apparatus is configured to validate the replaceable print roll. A printer is configured to print an image on print media upon validation of the print roll. The printer includes an ink supply unit defining a channel from which ink supply passages extend. The printer is configured to receive the ink within the ink supply passages. An ink ejection printhead is located in the channel and includes sets of ink inlets with each set being configured to receive a respective type of ink from the ink supply passages. A roller assembly is arranged to transport the print media in register with the printhead during printing of the image. | 05-28-2009 |
20090135232 | PRINT ROLL FOR A CAMERA HAVING AN INTERNAL PRINTER - The invention provides for a print roll for a camera having an internal printer. The print roll includes an ink reservoir section with a core portion configured to house ink for the printer, and a paper roll section positioned about the ink reservoir section, said paper roll section operatively locating paper for the printer. The print roll also includes an outer casing having two sections each locating a pinch roller to form a pinch roller assembly when the two sections are fitted together about the paper roll section, the pinch roller assembly configured to operatively feed paper from the paper roll to the printer. | 05-28-2009 |
20090153608 | PRINTER CONTROLLER FOR MODULATING PRINTHEAD PEAK POWER REQUIREMENT USING OUT-OF-PHASE FIRING - A printer controller for supplying dot data to an inkjet printhead is provided. The printhead comprises a plurality of transversely aligned color channels. Each color channel comprises at least one nozzle row extending longitudinally along the printhead with each nozzle in a color channel ejecting the same colored ink. The printhead is comprised of a plurality of printhead modules with each printhead module comprising a respective segment of each nozzle row. The printer controller is programmed to supply dot data such that each of the printhead modules fires a respective segment within a predetermined segment-time, wherein at least one of the fired segments is contained in a different color channel from at least one other of the fired segments. | 06-18-2009 |
20090195587 | Method Of Generating Halftone Print Data For Overlapping Consecutive Printhead Segments - A method of generating halftone print data for overlapping end portions of a pair of consecutive printhead segments in an array of two or more printhead segments. Generally an end portion of a first printhead segment overlaps an end portion of a second printhead segment, in which each printhead segment includes a plurality of ink ejection nozzles. The method includes generating a dither value from a dither matrix, and then combining the dither value with an overlap signal, which represents an extent of overlap of the end portions, to produce an output value. A mathematical operation is then performed on continuous tone print data using a comparator, based on the output value, to produce the half tone data. | 08-06-2009 |
20090195630 | Modular Printer System and Print Media Dispenser - A hand-held modular printer system for printing a stored image. The printer system comprises a memory module in which the image is stored; a printer module releasably interconnected with the memory module; and a print media dispenser module defining a print media outlet at one end thereof. The printer module has an elongate body defining an entry slot along one longitudinal side thereof and an exit slot along an opposite longitudinal side thereof. The printer module further comprises a print media passage extending transversely through the elongate body, and a printer arranged across the print media passage. The print media dispenser is adapted to be releasably interconnected with the printer module along a longitudinal side thereof so that the print media outlet is in register with the entry slot, the dispenser module being configured to store a stack of sheets of print media and comprising a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a sheet of print media through the outlet and into the passage for printing. The print media dispenser is provided, adjacent the print media outlet and parallel thereto, with a channel-shaped socket. The channel-shaped socket adapted to releasably receive the elongate body of the printer module therein. | 08-06-2009 |
20090195661 | INTERCONNECTED CAMERA MODULE AND PRINTER MODULE - A camera module for a compact printer system. The camera module includes a CMOS image sensor that captures an RGB image when a take button is actuated. The RGB image is transformed to a suitable format, such as L*a*b*, for transfer directly to a printer module. The camera module incorporates a camera portion pivotally connected to a base portion, where by the camera portion is pivotal between a first position where it is aligned with on a common axis on the base portion and a second position where there is no alignment. The base portion has a connector that connects directly to a corresponding connector on the printer module, providing both a physical connection and a logical connection. The logical connection is a serial bus that communicates power and data. | 08-06-2009 |
20090195805 | Digital Photograph Duplication Apparatus - An apparatus for reproducing a visible image depicted in a photograph carrying digitally encoded data printed in invisible ink. The digitally encoded data having pixel values for all pixels in the visible image. The apparatus comprises an illuminating means for illuminating the photograph with invisible radiation; a sensing means for receiving the invisible radiation illuminated on and reflected from the photograph by the illuminating means, the sensing means adapted to detect an interaction of the invisible radiation with the digitally encoded data carried on the photograph; a top substrate in which the illuminating means and the sensing means are encased, the top substrate being transparent to the invisible radiation and having a semi circular cross section in the vicinity of the illuminating means, the top substrate further having a elongated recess for receiving therein the sensing means; means for processing the invisible radiation received by the sensing means, the means for processing operable to decode the digitally encoded data; and an inkjet printer for receiving data from the means for processing data to print a copy of the visible image depicted in the photograph, the data used to print the visible image being generated from the digitally encoded data. The top substrate, in the vicinity of the sensing means, is shaped to define an array of microlenses for focusing the invisible radiation reflected from the photograph onto the sensing means. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198894 | Method Of Updating IC Instruction And Data Cache - A method of updating a cache in an integrated circuit is provided. The integrated circuit incorporates the cache, memory and a memory interface connected to the cache and memory. Following a cache miss, the method fetches, using the memory interface, first data associated with the cache miss and second data from the memory, where the second data is stored in the memory adjacent the first data, and updates the cache with the fetched first and second data via the memory interface. The cache includes instruction and data cache, the method performing arbitration between instruction cache misses and data cache misses such that the fetching and updating are performed for data cache misses before instruction cache misses. | 08-06-2009 |
20090201327 | Printer Having Sequenced Printhead Nozzle Firing - A printer is provided having a printhead having a plurality of sets of n adjacent printing nozzles in at least one nozzle row, and a controller for supplying fire signals to said nozzles, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal is provided by the controller in accordance with the sequence: nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n−1), . . . , nozzle position x. | 08-13-2009 |
20090201524 | Printer Printing Composited Print Image Planes - A printer is provided having a receiver for receiving compressed print data, a first decoder for decoding continuous tone image planes in the received compressed print data to produce first decoded data, a second decoder for decoding bi-level image planes in the received compressed print data to produce second decoded data, a ditherer for dithering separate image color planes of the first decoded data to produce dithered data, a compositor for compositing the second decoded data with the dithered data to produce composited data, and a printhead for printing the composited data. | 08-13-2009 |
20090207452 | PRINTER HAVING A CONTROLLER METHOD OF PRINTING WITH LOW AND HIGH SPEED NOZZLE FIRING MODES - A method of page expansion and printing of image data received by a printer from a computer includes the steps of receiving the image data from the computer, the data having a bi-level black layer compressed in an EDRL (Edge Delta and Runlength) format and a continuous tone (“contone”) layer, and decompressing the respective layers in parallel. The method also includes the steps of halftoning contone layer data to a bi-level data and compositing the bi-level black layer over the bi-level data to form an image, and transmitting the image to the printhead having staggered nozzles designed to match a flow of paper through the printer. The method further includes the step of operating the printhead according to one of a low-speed nozzle firing mode and a high-speed firing mode to print the image on the paper, the low-speed firing mode having a firing rate half that of the high-speed firing mode. | 08-20-2009 |
20090213154 | PRINTHEAD CONTROLLER FOR NOZZLE FAULT CORRECTION - A printhead controller is provided for supplying print data to a printhead having first and second rows of inkjet nozzles configured to print ink of a similar color. The controller is configured to supply the print data to the printhead such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed. | 08-27-2009 |
20090213155 | PRINTHEAD HAVING SEQUENCED NOZZLE FIRING ON INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A printhead is provided having an integrated circuit having at least one row comprising a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to fire signals, and a controller for supplying the fire signals to the integrated circuit such that (a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of nozzles, then (b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set, then in the event n is an even number, (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles in each set has been fired, or in the event n is an odd number, (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in each set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired. | 08-27-2009 |
20090213427 | Resource Entity using Resource Request Entity for Verification - A first entity is provided having a first bit-pattern, resource data, a first base key, and a first variant key which is the result of applying a one way function to a second base key and the first bit-pattern. The first entity is configured to receive a request from a second entity to perform an operation on the resource data, where the second entity has a second bit-pattern and a second variant key which is the result of applying a one way function to the first base key and the second bit-pattern, perform the operation in the request to generate a response, digitally sign the response using the first base key to generate a digital signature, and send the response and the digital signature to the second entity so the second entity can verify the response using the second variant key. | 08-27-2009 |
20090213432 | PRINTER CONTROLLER HAVING JPEG AND EDRL CIRCUITRY - A printer controller is provided having page data input circuitry for receiving compressed and encoded page data for expansion processing, JPEG decoding circuitry for decompressing contone data in the received page data, EDRL expansion circuitry for decompressing EDRL-compressed bi-level image data in the received page data, halftoning and compositing circuitry for halftoning and compositing the decompressed contone and bi-level data, and a printhead interface for receiving the compositing data and for writing corresponding print data to a printhead of the printer | 08-27-2009 |
20090216355 | AUDIO RECORDING AND PLAYBACK SYSTEM - A handheld electronic pen having an audio recording mode and an audio playback mode. In the audio recording mode, the pen is configured to activate a microphone for recording audio, determine a position on an encoded substrate during interaction with the substrate associate said the position with the recorded audio. In the audio playback mode, the pen is configured to: determine a position on the encoded substrate, retrieve recorded audio associated with the position, and playback the recorded audio via an audio output device. | 08-27-2009 |
20090222120 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC PEN WITH RECORDING AND PLAYBACK MODES - A handheld electronic pen having an audio recording mode and an audio playback mode. In the audio recording mode, the pen is configured to activate a microphone for recording audio, determine a position on an encoded substrate during interaction with the substrate associate said the position with the recorded audio. In the audio playback mode, the pen is configured to: determine a position on the encoded substrate, retrieve recorded audio associated with the position, and playback the recorded audio via an audio output device. | 09-03-2009 |
20090231443 | CAMERA HAVING NETWORKED PRINTER - A camera for capturing and printing images is provided having an image sensor for capturing images, a network interface for transferring the captured images to a computer system and for receiving identities uniquely assigned to each transferred image by the computer system, and a printing mechanism for printing the images and coded data at least partially indicative of the assigned identities onto print media. | 09-17-2009 |
20090237514 | Method Of Printing From Digital Camera System - A method of printing from a digital camera system. The method includes the steps of: retrieving a planarized linear image from a memory of the camera system; producing a dithered image in real-time from the retrieved planarized linear image; and printing the dithered image using a printhead supplied with colored inks. | 09-24-2009 |
20090242638 | DEVICE THAT READS DATA ENCODED AS DOTS - A system is disclosed for reading data encoded as a series of invisible dots carried on a substrate. The system has a detector that detects the dots on the substrate and outputs a first signal; a decoder interconnected to the detector that decodes the first signal to produce an output signal; and an output device interconnected to the processor that receives the output signal and creates a corresponding human readable output. The dots may be infrared absorbing and the encoding can include Reed-Solomon encoding of the prerecorded audio. The system can include a wand-like arm having a slot through which the photograph is inserted. | 10-01-2009 |
20090244162 | Printhead Controller For Controlling Printhead On Basis Of Thermal Sensors - A printhead controller is provided for supplying dot data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink. The printhead module includes a plurality of thermal sensors. Each of the thermal sensors is configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles. The printhead controller is configured to modify operation of at least some of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold. The printhead module is a thermal inkjet printhead module and each of the nozzles includes a thermal ink ejection mechanism. Each thermal sensor comprises at least part of one of the thermal inkjet mechanisms. | 10-01-2009 |
20090244215 | PRINT HEAD UNIT WITH PRINTHEAD AND TRANSPORT ROLLERS - A print head unit has an elongate print head integrated circuit. An ink supply unit defines an elongate print head slot in which the print head integrated circuit is received. Ink supply vias supply ink to the print head slot. Longitudinally extending channels are in fluid communication with the print head integrated circuit through the vias and longitudinally extending aperture slots provide for the snap-in insertion of rollers for the transport of print media operatively with respect to the print head integrated circuit during printing. | 10-01-2009 |
20090247221 | Sending A Message To A Number Via A Coded Surface - A method of sensing a message to a number using a print medium is disclosed. The method starts by sensing coded data on a surface of the print medium using a sensor module of a mobile telecommunications device. From the coded information a print media identifier and a position of the sensor module relative to the print medium are determined. Next, using the print media identifier and the position, the number is obtained from a database. Finally, a message editor is opened in the mobile telecommunications device, with a current message being addressed to the number. | 10-01-2009 |
20090247226 | Printing Content using a Mobile Device - A mobile telecommunications device for printing bill data on a print medium is disclosed. The mobile telecommunications device includes a sensor module for sensing data encoded on a surface of the print medium. A print media identifier is determined from the sensed data and bill data associated with the print media identifier is retrieved from a storage medium. A printer module is also provided for printing the bill data on the print medium. | 10-01-2009 |
20090251502 | Printing System Having Contolled Multi-Length Printhead ICS - printing system is provided which has a plurality of printhead integrated circuits of different lengths and a controller configured to supply print data to the printhead integrated circuits. The printhead integrated circuits are arranged to define a pagewidth printhead having rows of nozzles formed by adjacent nozzle rows of the adjacent printhead integrated circuits. The nozzle rows of the printhead are configured so that there is at least one row for printing each ink color of a plurality of ink colors. The controller supplies the print data at a rate which is proportional to a ratio of the different lengths of the printhead integrated circuits. | 10-08-2009 |
20090251711 | PRINTHEAD DRIVEN BY MULTIPLE PRINT ENGINE CONTROLLERS - A print engine controller configured to be coupled with others to drive an ink drop printhead comprising: an interface at which to receive compressed page data; image decoders to decode compressed image planes in the received compressed page data; a half-toner/compositer to composite respective strips of the decoded image planes; and a printhead interface to output the composite strip to a printhead, the printhead interface including: a multi-segment printhead interface outputting printhead formatted data; and a synchronization signal generator outputting a synchronization signal to couple print engine controllers to synchronize their respective strips at the printhead. | 10-08-2009 |
20090256888 | Printhead Having Ejection Nozzle Integrated Circuits - A printhead is provided having a support member for mounting the printhead in a printer, and a plurality of integrated circuits supported by the support member. Each integrated circuit has ejection nozzles defined on a substrate to eject fluid from an ejection side of the substrate and the support member is configured to supply the fluid to a supply side of the substrate. The ejection and supply sides being opposite sides of the substrate. | 10-15-2009 |
20090262929 | METHOD FOR SECURE STORAGE OF PLURAL KEYS IN DEVICE - A method for securely storing a plurality of keys in a device. The method comprises assigning the device with a random number, the random number being substantially unique to the device; generating an encryption key for encrypting each of the plurality of keys, the encryption key being generated by applying a one way function to the random number; encrypting one of the plurality of keys using the generated encryption key; securing the encrypted key by applying an XOR function to the encrypted key using the generated encryption key; storing the secured encrypted key in the device; and repeating the generating, encrypting, and securing steps for each of the remaining plurality of keys. | 10-22-2009 |
20090267983 | Print Engine Controller For Image Processing Page Data - A print engine controller is provided for an inkjet printhead. The print engine controller receives page data representing a page to be printed, the page data having a bi-level black layer in a compressed format and a contone layer in a compressed format. The processor is configured to decompress the bi-level black layer and the contone layer of the page data, halftone the decompressed contone layer to form a bi-level cyan, yellow, magenta, and black (CYMK) layer, composite the decompressed bi-level black layer over the bi-level CYMK layer to form a bi-level CYMK image of the page to be printed and carry out processing operations for printing the CMYK image. | 10-29-2009 |
20090267991 | PRINTHEAD MODULE FOR WIDE FORMAT PAGEWIDTH INKJET PRINTER - A printhead module for a wide format pagewidth inkjet printer comprises a carrier mountable on a chassis, said carrier being configured for abutment with a carrier of an adjacent printhead module; at least one printhead integrated circuit mounted on the carrier, said at least one printhead integrated circuit including a plurality of ink ejection nozzles and drive circuitry for driving actuators in the ink ejection nozzles; and a connection zone defined in the carrier for electrically connecting said at least one printhead integrated circuit to control circuitry. The ink ejection nozzles are supplied with ink from an ink distribution arrangement, and the printhead module is removably mounted to the ink distribution arrangement. | 10-29-2009 |
20090268246 | Method of Enabling or Disabling Verification Process - A method is provided of enabling or disabling a verification process of a first entity in response to a predetermined event. The first entity has at least one associated bit-pattern and at least one variant key. Each variant key has been generated by applying a one way function to: a base key; and one or more of the at least one bit-patterns, respectively; or one or more alternative bit patterns. Each alternative bit-pattern is based on one of the at least one bit-patterns. In the method, it is determined that the predetermined event has happened, and at least one of the first variant keys is enabled or disabled in response to the predetermined event. | 10-29-2009 |
20090273389 | Integrated Circuit Having Temperature Based Clock Filter - An integrated circuit is provided having a system clock and a clock filter. The clock filter has a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the integrated circuit and for causing the clock filter to block output of the system clock if the sensed temperature is below or above a predetermined temperature. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276633 | Retrieving Content Via A Coded Surface - A method of retrieving a content using a print medium is disclosed. The method starts by determining a print media identifier from the print medium using a sensor module of a mobile telecommunications device. The print media identifier is linked to the content. The method then retrieves, using the mobile telecommunications device, the content. | 11-05-2009 |
20090277698 | PEN SYSTEM FOR RECORDING HANDWRITTEN INFORMATION - A pen system for recording a track of handwritten information. The system includes a handheld pen device having an image sensor, a processor and a first memory unit. The pen device generates digital ink by interacting with a coded surface and transmits the digital ink to a second memory unit located in an external data storage device. The pen device and the second memory unit are connected in such a way that transmission of the digital ink is caused to occur automatically from the pen device to the second memory unit. Receipt of the digital ink by the second memory unit causes the second memory unit to associate the track of handwritten information with a stored description of the surface. The stored description corresponds to the surface identity. | 11-12-2009 |
20090277956 | Archiving Printed Content - A system for printing a greeting card on a print medium, the system comprising: a mobile telecommunications device which comprises: a printer module to print the greeting card on the print medium; and, a sensor module to sense a print media identifier of the print medium. | 11-12-2009 |
20090278944 | Camera Module - An image processor for a camera module having an image sensor that captures an image for transfer to a printer module of a compact printer system including a capture unit that captures the image from the image sensor and transforms it to planarized linear RGB form. The image processor also includes one or more interface units communicating with components of said camera module under control of the central processing unit and image processing units, being an application specific integrated circuits, in communication with said image storage memory to transform said image for transmission. A Serial Bus interface communicates with the Serial Bus of a compact printer system to transfer data and power between modules. In one application, the camera module captures an image, which is transferred to the image storage memory of a printer module for printing by a printhead. | 11-12-2009 |
20090280793 | Method Of Controlling A Communications Device - A method of enabling at least one function of a telephone to be controlled is provided. The telephone is operative to perform the function in response to a command from a computer system. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a control interface containing information relating to the function, the control interface including coded data indicative of at least one operation relating to the command; (b) receiving, in the computer system and from the sensing device, indicating data regarding the operation and movement data regarding movement of the sensing device relative to the control interface, the sensing device, when moved relative to the control interface, generating the indicating data using at least some of the coded data and generating the movement data; and (c) effecting, in the computer system and from the indicating data and the movement data, the at least one operation. | 11-12-2009 |
20090280864 | CONTROL OF A DEVICE - A method is provided of enabling a function(s) of a telephone to be controlled. The telephone is operative to perform the function(s) in response to command(s) from a printer. The method includes providing a control interface which contains information relating to the function(s) and has coded data on an identity and a reference point(s) of the control interface, receiving, in the printer, indicating data from a sensing device regarding the control interface identity and a position and/or movement of the sensing device relative thereto, and effecting, in the printer and from the indicating data, an operation(s) relating to the command(s). The coded data incorporates substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions. The sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to the control interface, generates the indicating data using at least some of the coded data. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281646 | Imaging Encoded Medium And Recording Audio For Playback - A method of integrating audio and an encoded medium using a handheld interactive apparatus. The method comprises activating an audio recording mode of the interactive apparatus, the handheld interactive apparatus having a housing containing an optical image sensor, an audio input device, and an audio output device; and imaging the encoded medium with the optical sensor to create a playback-enabling audio annotation corresponding to the recorded audio. The encoded medium comprises a printed coded data pattern enabling identification of the encoded medium and of a location on the encoded medium during the imaging. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281647 | Electronic Pen Configured For Audio Playback - An interactive apparatus is disclosed. The interactive apparatus has an audio recording mode and an audio playback mode. Further, the interactive apparatus includes a writing tool for manually writing on an encoded writing medium, an audio input device for recording audio, an audio output device for playing the recorded audio. Moreover, the interactive apparatus has an optical unit for reading coded data on the encoded writing medium and for determining a position on the encoded writing medium of the writing tool. Activation of the audio recording mode enables synchronous creation of writing on said encoded writing medium and recording of audio, and recognition of a playback-enabling graphical element on the encoded writing medium activates the audio playback mode and enables playback of the recorded audio. | 11-12-2009 |
20090284279 | Integrated Circuit Having Inverse Bit Storage Test - An integrated circuit is provided having a memory storing first and second strings of bit values, each bit value in the second string being the logical inverse of a bit value at a corresponding bit position in the first string, and a processor configured to test whether the bit values of the second string are the inverse of the bit values at respective corresponding bit positions of the first string by combining the corresponding bits of the first and second strings. | 11-19-2009 |
20090289991 | Printer Module With Capping Mechanism - A printer module includes an elongate body. A motor assembly is operatively mounted to an end of the body. A quartet of rollers is rotationally mounted with respect to the body and extends along the inside of the body. The rollers include a pair of driven rollers coupled to the motor assembly and a pair of free rotation neutral rollers. The rollers are arranged in pinching pairs with each pair including a respective driven and neutral roller. An elongate printhead is operatively mounted to extend along the body, and is configured to print ink upon print media passing through the body and between the pairs of rollers. | 11-26-2009 |
20090294544 | Surface Having Optically Readable Printed Tags - A surface having an optically readable pattern of dots printed thereon. The pattern comprises an arbitrarily shaped constant background pattern of dots and/or blanks. The constant background pattern defines discrete areas of coded data represented by a plurality of dots positioned according to an encoding scheme. Each discrete area contains orientation information for enabling an optical reader to determine an orientation relative to the pattern of dots. | 12-03-2009 |
20090295855 | Printer Having Nozzle Displacement Correction - A printer is provided having a carrier, a printhead having a plurality of nozzles, at least one of the nozzles being rotationally displaced relative to the carrier, and a controller for determining and communicating print data to the nozzles. The controller is configured to determine the rotational displacement, determine a correction factor for compensating for a printing error caused by the determined rotational displacement, and alter the print data based on the correction factor to at least partially compensate for the rotational displacement. The correction factor is at least partially based on a thickness of media being printed on. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299507 | Audio Playback Selection Using Printed Coded Data - An interactive apparatus is disclosed. The interactive apparatus has an audio recording mode and an audio playback mode. Further, the interactive apparatus includes a writing tool for manually writing on an encoded writing medium, an audio input device for recording audio, an audio output device for playing the recorded audio. Moreover, the interactive apparatus has an optical unit for reading coded data on the encoded writing medium and for determining a position on the encoded writing medium of the writing tool. Activation of the audio recording mode enables synchronous creation of writing on said encoded writing medium and recording of audio, and recognition of a playback-enabling graphical element on the encoded writing medium activates the audio playback mode and enables playback of the recorded audio. | 12-03-2009 |
20090319802 | Key Genaration In An Integrated Circuit - A method of manufacturing a series of integrated circuits having related functionality, the method including the steps of: (a) determining an identifier; (b) permanently storing the identifier on one of the integrated circuits; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for each integrated circuit in the series; and wherein the identifiers for the series are determined in such a way that knowing the identifier of one of the integrated circuits does not improve the ability of an attacker to determine the identifier of any of the other integrated circuits. | 12-24-2009 |
20100001884 | METHOD OF RECORDING INFORMATION USING FIRST AND SECOND POSITION CODES - A method for recording information from a surface of a substrate. The substrate is provided with a first position code and a second position code. The method comprises: (i) obtaining an image of the surface of the substrate using an optically imaging pen; (ii) determining whether the first position code or the second position code is present in the image; and (iii) determining the location of the pen. If the first position code is detected in the image, then the location is interpreted as handwritten input on the surface. Alternatively, if the second position code is detected in the image, then the location is used to determine if the pen is in a particular zone of the surface and a predetermined function associated with the zone is performed. | 01-07-2010 |
20100002034 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING PRINTHEAD - A method is provided of controlling a printhead having nozzles which discharge ink by application of a firing pulse to respective actuators. The actuators are connected in groups to a power source which applies the firing pulses. In the method firing pulses are applied to each group of the actuators in turn to discharge ink from the nozzles in each group. The firing pulses are applied to the subsequent groups so that the fired nozzles are physically separated in the printhead as far as possible from the nozzles fired in the immediately prior group and the immediately subsequent group. | 01-07-2010 |
20100002937 | SENSING DEVICE FOR SENSING CODED TAGS - A sensing device is provided having an image sensor for sensing and capturing images of tags on a surface, a processor and a transmitter. Each tag encodes data on an identity associated with the surface and a location and orientation of that tag on the surface. The processor identifies the tags from the captured images, determines an orientation, within the captured images, of the identified coded tags, decodes the data encoded by the tags at the determined orientation, and generates indicating data from the decoded data to include the identity and data regarding a position and/or movement of the sensing device relative to the surface. The transmitter transmits the indicating data to a computer system. | 01-07-2010 |
20100010767 | Method Of Controlling Clock Signal - A method of controlling a clock signal with a print controller is provided. In response to receiving an external signal, the print controller determines the number of cycles of a clock signal generated by a ring oscillator of the print controller during a predetermined number of cycles of the external signal or the number of cycles of the external signal during a predetermined number of cycles of the clock signal and outputs the determined number of cycles to an external circuit. In response to receiving a trim value from clock trim circuitry of the print controller which trims the frequency of the clock signal based on the determined number of cycles from the external circuit, the trim value is stored in memory of the print controller. The clock trim circuitry is controlled to trim the frequency of the clock signal generated by the ring oscillator using the trim value. | 01-14-2010 |
20100012716 | Audio-Playing System - An audio-playing system includes a surface having a printed position-coding pattern. The position-coding pattern identifies a surface identity and positions on the surface, the surface identity distinguishing the surface from other surfaces of the same type. A handheld sensing device having a housing is configured for reading the position-coding pattern and audio playback. The housing contains: (i) an optical sensor for reading codes from the position-coding pattern; (ii) a processor coupled to the optical sensor for determining the surface identity and a position of the sensing device using the read code; (iii) a memory unit comprising data for different audio outputs corresponding to different positions on the surface, and (iv) an audio output device coupled to the processor. The sensing device provides different audio outputs to a user in response to optically sensing different positions of the position-coding pattern. | 01-21-2010 |
20100013892 | PRINTER MODULE LOGICALLY AND PHYSICALLY CONNECTABLE TO FURTHER MODULES - A printer module having an elongate cylindrical body is disclosed. The printer module includes modular connectors arranged on longitudinal ends of the body to permit at least an image processing module to be attached to the body. A communications bus associated with the modular connectors interconnects the printing module and other modules, including the image processing module to facilitate communication between the printing mechanism and the image processing module for receiving print data. A pagewidth printing mechanism positioned in the body and adjacent a media feed path prints the print data onto print media in the media feed path. | 01-21-2010 |
20100013900 | Device With A Printhead And Media Drive Shaft - A mobile telecommunications device is disclosed having an inkjet printhead, a drive shaft for feeding a substrate past the printhead, and a capper assembly. The capper assembly moves between a capped position covering nozzles of the printhead and an uncapped position spaced from the nozzles. The capper assembly is adapted for engagement a leading edge of the substrate to move the capper from the capped position and towards the uncapped position. The drive shaft disengages a trailing edge of the substrate before the trailing edge is printed. The trailing edge is projected past the printhead by momentum and the capper assembly grips the substrate after the substrate has been printed so that the substrate partially extends from the mobile telecommunications device in readiness for manual collection. | 01-21-2010 |
20100020195 | Method Of Operating Camera Timing Module - A method of operating a timer module includes the steps of querying a non-volatile memory module to determine available digital image storage locations, each storage location having assigned thereto an image number; receiving a selection selecting one of the available digital image storage location as a starting location, and assigning an image number corresponding to the starting location as a starting image number; determining a number of image storage locations having an image number equal to or greater than the starting image number; instructing the image capture module to capture images a number of times equal to the number of image storage locations having an image number equal to or greater than the starting image number; transferring an image to the memory module each time the image capture module captures an image, the image being transferred into the memory module at a storage location corresponding to the starting image number; and updating the starting image number to correspond to a consecutively subsequent storage location. When a plurality of non-volatile memory modules are provided, a memory module physically closest to the image capture module is completely filled first before a memory module that is next closest to the image capture module is filled. | 01-28-2010 |
20100020359 | Method For Playing Audio Signals Provided On A Photograph - A method of decoding coded data provided on a photograph using a reader. The coded data is at least partially indicative of an audio signal and is provided on a photograph substrate in the same area as an image. The method includes steps of scanning the image using a scanner; locating within the image a first target boundary that is spatially displaced from the coded data; locating within the image a second target boundary that is spatially displaced from the coded data and downstream of the first target boundary in a direction in which the image is fed past the scanner; reading the coded data located between the first and second target boundaries; decoding the coded data read by the scanner to obtain an audio signal; and, playing the audio signal through an output. | 01-28-2010 |
20100021087 | Device For Reading Encoded Data Interspersed In A Printed Image - An apparatus for reading data encoded as an array of dots printed on a substrate together with an image. The dots of the array are substantially invisible to an average unaided human eye. The apparatus includes a light source for illuminating the substrate; a detector for receiving the illumination from the light source reflected off the substrate, the detector outputting a first signal representative of the array of dots, the detector extending a distance that is less than a width of the substrate; a decoder interconnected to said detector for receiving and decoding said first signal to obtain the data encoded by the array of dots; and a top substrate covering the detector and the light source. The top substrate has an emission portion and a reception portion. The emission portion is shaped with a semicircular cross section adapted to focus illumination from the light source onto the substrate. The reception portion is shaped to define a series of microlenses adapted to focus illumination reflected off the substrate into the detector. | 01-28-2010 |
20100031064 | Tamper Detection Line Circuitry For An Authentication Integrated Circuit - The invention provides for tamper detection line circuitry for an authentication integrated circuit for use in authenticating an integrated circuit. The tamper detection line circuitry includes a source of pseudo-random bits, and an XOR gate with two inputs and an output in signal communication with flash memory erase and reset circuits, where a complete erasure is triggered by a 0 from the XOR gate. The circuitry also includes first and second paths arranging the source and XOR gate in signal communication with each other, the first path connected to one input of the XOR gate and the second path having an inverter and connected to a second input of the XOR gate. Also included are a number of triggers connected to the respective paths, each trigger configured to detect a physical attack on the authentication integrated circuit. | 02-04-2010 |
20100033539 | Printhead With Individual Nozzle Firing Frequency At Least Once Per Decap Time - An inkjet printhead has nozzles and respective heater elements. A print engine controller actuates the heater elements to eject ink through the corresponding nozzle. During use, the print engine controller actuates each of the heater elements at least once every decap time. The decap time is a predetermined time period in which the viscosity of the ejectable liquid at the nozzle increases to a threshold, at which ejection fails and the nozzle clogs. | 02-11-2010 |
20100039467 | INKJET PRINTER SYSTEM HAVING EQUALISED CONTROL OF DIFFERENT NOZZLE COUNT PRINTHEAD ICS - An inkjet printer system is provided having a printhead and controller. The printhead has a row of inkjet nozzles for printing one ink color formed by adjacent inkjet nozzle rows of adjacent integrated circuits. Each integrated circuit has a different number of inkjet nozzles in the respective inkjet nozzle row. The controller is configured to transfer print data to each of the integrated circuits at a rate proportional to the relative number of inkjet nozzles so that the print data is transferred to each of the integrated circuits in equal time. | 02-18-2010 |
20100039471 | Inkjet Printhead with Overlapping Segments - An inkjet printhead has a pair of adjacent printhead segments having overlapping ink ejection nozzles. A degree of overlap of the printhead segments is determined, and a half toning of a continuous tone image is provided. The half toning is provided by a dither matrix outputting a dither value to an adder, the adder having an overlap input signal which varies depending on the degree of overlap between the adjacent printhead segments. The half toning is adjusted in a region of overlap between the adjacent printhead segments to reduce artifacts between the adjacent printhead segments. | 02-18-2010 |
20100045717 | Print Engine For Rotated Ejection Nozzle Correction - A print engine is provided having printhead modules and a controller. Each printhead module has a plurality of ejection nozzles. The nozzles of at least one of the printhead modules is rotationally displaced relative to the other printhead modules. The controller communicates ejection data to the ejection nozzles in accordance with a cumulative correction factor for each printhead module, including printhead modules having non-rotationally displaced nozzles, to at least partially compensate for the rotational displacement. | 02-25-2010 |
20100045803 | Camera Module Outputting Images In Device Independent Color Space - A camera module is disclosed including an image capture portion, a base portion, and a pivot assembly. The image capture portion has a lens system, an imaging sensor and an image processor. The image sensor captures an image in a first color space. The image processor receives the image in the first color space and converts the image to a second color space which is a device independent color space. The base portion has electrical contacts for connecting to a peripheral device in order to transfer the image in the second color space to the peripheral device. The pivot assembly connects the image capture portion to the base portion and allows the image capture portion to be movable about the pivot assembly. | 02-25-2010 |
20100046030 | Method of Performing an Action Using a Printed Medium - A method of performing an action is disclosed. The method starts by sensing a print medium to obtain data encoded on a surface of the print medium. The data encodes at least a print media identifier. The print media identifier is determined from the data and a digital copy of a document is retrieved, the digital copy being associated with the print media identifier and including one or more hyperlinks. The digital copy of the document is displayed and a selection of one of the hyperlinks is received from a user. A predefined action designated by the selected hyperlink is then performed. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049983 | METHOD OF AUTHENTICATING DIGITAL SIGNATURE - A method of authenticating a digital signature is provided. The method includes sending a request from a first entity to a second entity, at least some of the request being digitally signed with a base key by the first entity, receiving, at the first entity, a digital signature and a bit-pattern from the second entity, the digital signature having been generated by the second entity using a variant key to digitally sign at least part of data indicative of a value stored in the second entity which is to be authenticated, the variant key being based on the result of applying a one way function to the base key and the bit-pattern, receiving the data at the first entity, generating, at the first entity, the variant key from the bit-pattern and the base key, and authenticating, at the first entity, the digital signature using the generated variant key. Only the first entity includes the base key and the second entity includes the variant key and the bit-pattern. | 02-25-2010 |
20100060744 | Camera For Capturing And Printing Images - A camera for capturing and printing an images is provided. The camer has an image sensor for capturing an image, and a printer for printing onto a page of media an interface comprising the captured image and coded data. Each page has an associated identity. The coded data is printed on the page to be indicative of the identity of that page and an identity of the image printed on that page. | 03-11-2010 |
20100069116 | PRINTING SYSTEM USING A CELLULAR TELEPHONE - A printing system is provided having a cellular telephone which has an input at which a print medium is loaded into the telephone, a printer, and a sensor for sensing an identifier of the loaded print medium. The cellular telephone uses the sensed identifier to determine whether or not the loaded print medium is a valid print medium on which printing can be performed by the printer. If the loaded print medium is determined to be valid, the cellular telephone controls the printer to print on the loaded print medium. If the loaded print medium is determined to not be valid, the cellular telephone ejects the loaded print medium at the input. | 03-18-2010 |
20100072274 | Method And System For Associating A Sticker And An Object In A Computer System - A method is provided for associating a sticker and an object in a computer system. The object is stored in an object repository in the computer system and the object is of a type selected from a range of object types. The sticker has coded data indicative of a sticker identity and the object type. The method provides a sensing device for sensing the coded data when placed in an operative position relative to the sticker and generating indicating data that is indicative of the identity of the sticker and the object type. The indicating data is received in the computer system from the sensing device. The sticker, the object type and the object are identified so that an association between the sticker identity and the object is generated. When the object repository is empty, the computer system indicates that the association cannot be generated. The computer system is configured to initiate an action regarding the object in response to the sensing device being placed in an operative position relative to the sticker. | 03-25-2010 |
20100073696 | Page Expansion And Printing Method - A page expansion and printing method includes the steps of receiving a first page description into a first memory buffer, the first page description having a bio-level black layer and a contone CMYK layer; decompressing the bi-level black layer and the contone CMYK layer in parallel; half-toning the contone CMYK layer to bi-level CMYK; compositing the bi-level black layer over the bi-level CMYK layer to form a printable image; and transmitting the printable image to a second memory buffer for printing by the pagewidth printer. The step of transmitting the printable image to a second memory buffer is performed simultaneously with receiving a subsequent page description in the first memory buffer. | 03-25-2010 |
20100081472 | Performing an Action in a Mobile Telecommunication Device - A method of performing an action in mobile telecommunications device is disclosed. A sensor module of the mobile telecommunications device senses coded data on a document. The document has disposed thereon an image and the coded data. The coded data encodes at least an identifier. The identifier is then extracted from the coded data, and an electronic copy of the image is retrieved from a storage device, the electronic copy of the image being associated with the identifier. The electronic copy of the image is displayed on a display device of the mobile telecommunications device, together with a plurality of hyperlinks. A selection of one of the hyperlinks is received from a user, and an action associated with the selected hyperlink is performed. | 04-01-2010 |
20100091116 | Utilisation of Image Illumination Effects in Photographs - A camera for the output of an image sensed by the camera. The camera includes a sensor for sensing an image and a synthetic light generator for adding lighting to the sensed image to produce an illuminated image which simulates the effect of light sources projected at the sensed image. The camera also includes a printer device for printing the illuminated image. | 04-15-2010 |
20100091117 | Camera With Printhead For Printing Images With Encoded Audio Data - A handheld camera comprises a housing containing an image sensor for generating image data; an audio sensor for generating audio data; a processor for generating coded data using the audio data and a pagewidth inkjet printhead. The printhead is configured for printing the image onto a face of a substrate using the image data and at the same time printing the coded data onto the same face of the substrate in the same area as the image. | 04-15-2010 |
20100097652 | Method Of Printing A Compressed Image Having Bi-Level Black Contone Data Layers - A method of printing a compressed image includes the steps of receiving the image, having a bi-level black data layer and a continuous tone (contone) CMYK data layer, from an image host; expanding the image by decompressing the two data layers in parallel; halftoning the contone CMYK data layer into bi-level CMYK data layer; compositing the bi-level black data layer over the bi-level CMYK data layer to form a composited bi-level CMYK image; separating the color planes of the composited bi-level CMYK image, and separating each color plane into even and odd pixels; storing the odd and even pixels of each color plane in respective odd and even FIFOs for each color; and printing the composited bi-level CMYK image with a pagewidth printhead onto a print medium. | 04-22-2010 |
20100097660 | Print Engine Controller Utilizing On And Off Chip Memory For Dot Data Formatting - A print engine controller for a pagewidth printhead includes contone and bi-level decompression circuitry for decompressing a contone layer of compressed page data and a bi-level layer of compressed page data, respectively; halftoner and compositor circuitry for halftoning the decompressed contone layer to associated bi-level versions and compositing the decompressed bi-level layer over the halftoned contone layers; printhead interface circuitry for receiving the halftoned and composited data, and to generate therefrom print data suitable for printing by the printhead; and line loader and formatter circuitry for receiving dot data from the halftoner and compositor circuitry, loading dot data for a given print line into buffer storages, and formatting the dots of the given print line into an order required by the printhead interface circuitry. The line loader and formatter circuitry loads the dot data into a combination of on integrated circuit and external storage buffers. | 04-22-2010 |
20100099459 | Mobile Telephone For Printing A Business Card - A mobile telephone is provided for printing a business card on a print medium. The print medium has coded data indicative of a print medium identifier and the mobile telephone has an inbuilt printer module to print the business card on the print medium such that the print medium shows at least one contact detail relevant to a business. The mobile telephone also has an interface for connection to a remote server, a sensor module to sense a print media identifier of the print medium and, a processor to generate an association between the print medium identifier and the at least one contact detail. Sensing the coded data with the sensor module to derive the print medium identifier, allows the processor to perform an action in relation to the contact detail. | 04-22-2010 |
20100106273 | Audio Data Associated With A Surface And A Position On The Surface - A method of playing audio data by a portable device is disclosed. The method starts with an optical sensor of the portable device sensing a tag on a surface. The tag encodes an identity of the surface and a location of the tag on the surface. Audio data is recorded by an audio system of the portable device. A processor of the portable device determines the identity of the surface and the location of the tag sensed by the optical sensing device on the surface. The portable device communicates the audio data, the identity of the surface and the location of the tag to a computer system where the audio data is associated with the identity of the surface and the location of the tag. Upon subsequent sensing of the tag by the optical sensor, the portable device communicates the identity of the surface and the location of the tag to the computer system, where the audio data associated with the identity of the surface and the location of the tag is retrieved and communicated to the portable device. The audio data retrieved by the portable device is then played back by the portable device. | 04-29-2010 |
20100110141 | Inkjet Printhead With Matched Number Of Color Channels And Printhead Modules - An inkjet printhead having a plurality of color channels extending longitudinally along a length of the printhead. Each color channel comprises at least one row of nozzles and each nozzle in a same color channel ejects the same colored ink. The printhead has a plurality of printhead modules and the number of color channels is equal to the number of printhead modules. | 05-06-2010 |
20100115270 | Authentication of a Consumable - A method authenticating a consumable is disclosed. The consumable includes a first integrated circuit operative to receive data and return the data encrypted. The method receives a random number from a trusted second integrated circuit. The random number is communicated to the first integrated circuit, and in response a first message containing the random number encrypted by the first integrated circuit is received from the first integrated circuit. Also, a second message containing the random number encrypted by the trusted integrated circuit is received from the trusted second integrated circuit. By comparing the first and second messages it is determined that the consumable is authentic when the first and second messages are the same. | 05-06-2010 |
20100116892 | REUSABLE STICKER - An encoded, reusable sticker is provided for temporary adhesion to a support surface. The sticker has coded data that is indicative of a sticker identity that is recorded in a computer system. The coded data is a two dimensional pattern and has an interactive element and a generation element. The interactive element is an area of the two dimensional pattern in which the coded data is also indicative of an action to be performed by the computer system. The generation interactive element is an area of the two dimensional pattern that is also indicative of an instruction for the computer system to generate an association between the sticker identity and an object stored in an object repository in the computer system. The sticker also has a visual representation of the action to be performed by the computer system and a visual representation of the generation of an association between the sticker identity and an object. The sticker allows the use of a sensing device for sensing the coded data and transmitting to the computer system to initiate the association between the sticker identity and the object by holding the sensing device in an operative position relative to the interactive element, and initiate the action performed by the computer system by holding the sensing device in an operative position relative to the interactive element. | 05-13-2010 |
20100118354 | Sensing Device - A sensing device is disclosed. The sensing device interacts with a surface having coded data thereon. The coded data is made up from tags. Each tag encodes a unique identity of the surface, and the location of that tag on the surface. The sensing device has an optical sensor for capturing images of the coded data on the surface when the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the surface. The sensing device also has a processor for processing the captured images to determine the unique identity of the surface and the operative position of the sensing device on the surface. A movement sensor for generating movement data is also included in the sensing device. A transmitter of the sensing device transmits indicating data to a computer system. The indicating data includes data regarding the identity of the surface, data regarding the operative position of the sensing device and said movement data. | 05-13-2010 |
20100119159 | METHOD OF SENSING CODED DATA ON A SURFACE - A method of sensing coded data on a surface is disclosed. Images of the coded data on the surface are captured using a sensor of a sensing device. The coded data is formed from tags, with each tag encoding a unique identity of a region of the surface and the position of the tag within the region. A perspective distortion of the coded data is estimated and compensated for when detecting data elements in the tags. The unique identity of the region from the images is determined, and the position of the sensing device within the region from the position of at least one tag in at least one image captured by the sensor is determined. | 05-13-2010 |
20100134541 | SECURE UPDATING OF INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - A method of attempting a write to an entity to cause performance of an action is provided in which a first message is sent to the entity which causes performance of the action and adjustment of initial values in respective security fields of the entity to respective first adjusted values, and a second message is sent to the entity which causes adjustment of the initial values to respective second adjusted values. The security fields have write restrictions which prevent values in the security fields being adjusted, in accordance with the first message, if the initial values have been adjusted in accordance with the second message, and vice versa. The action is only performed when the initial values have been adjusted in accordance with the first message. The respective first adjusted values are different than the respective second adjusted values. | 06-03-2010 |
20100134815 | Printing a List on a Print Medium - A system for printing a list on a print medium is disclosed. The system has a device which has a sensor module for sensing a print media identifier coded on a surface of the print medium, and a printer module for printing the list on the print medium. The system further has a means for storing the list in association with the print medium identifier in a database. The list is retrievable from the database using the print media identifier. | 06-03-2010 |
20100134843 | Printing Content on a Print Medium - A method of printing content on a print medium is disclosed. The method starts by receiving the print medium in a media feed path. The media feed path includes a sensor module and a printer module. A print media identifier is read from a surface of the print medium using the sensor module. The print medium identifier uniquely identifies the print medium. The content is then on the print medium using the printer module and the content is stored in association with the print medium identifier in a database. The content is retrievable from the database using the print media identifier. | 06-03-2010 |
20100148930 | PRODUCT ITEM HAVING LOCATION-INDICATING CODED DATA AND RFID TAG - An object comprising first coded data disposed on or in a surface thereof and an RFID tag is provided. The first coded data identifies a plurality of locations on the surface and the RFID tag identifies a unique identity of the object. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153729 | METHOD OF AUTHENTICATING PRINTER CONSUMABLE - A method for authenticating a printer consumable in which an encrypted random number and its first signature are passed from a printer authentication chip to a consumable authentication chip, in the consumable chip: the encrypted random number and first signature are decrypted; a second signature of the random number is calculated and compared with the first signature to produce a match at which a first number produced by encrypting the random number and a memory vector is passed to the printer chip, and in the printer chip, a second number is produced by encrypting the random number and memory vector and compared with the first number to produce a match and valid consumable chip, or a mismatch and invalid consumable chip. The memory vector comprises updatable consumable state data whose manner of updating is protected by requiring clearing of the memory vector when change of the updating manner is attempted. | 06-17-2010 |
20100165141 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD FOR CONVERTING NON-LINEAR RGB IMAGE DATA TO L*A*B* IMAGE DATA - An image processing method includes the steps of linearizing a Color Filter Array image having non-linear RGB pixel data to generate a linearized image, the step of linearizing using at least one lookup table for each of the three RGB colors, the step of linearizing further performed using an address for current RGB pixel data being read to index the lookup tables and incrementing the addresses for the RGB pixel data; generating a histogram for each of three RGB image color planes of the linearized image data, and storing at least a high and a low threshold for each histogram; planarizing the linearized image using the high and the low thresholds to generate a planarized linear RGB image; and transforming the planarized linear RGB image from planarized linear RGB form to L*a*b* form. The step of transforming the planarized linear RGB image from planarized linear RGB form to L*a*b* form performs additional steps of white balancing, range expansion, resampling, color conversion, and sharpening. The additional steps read and write to a plurality of buffers such that the additional steps are performed in parallel. | 07-01-2010 |
20100165401 | MOBILE DEVICE FOR PRINTING A SECURITY IDENTIFICATION - A mobile telecommunications device is disclosed. The mobile telecommunications device has a media feed path, a sensor module in the media feed path for sensing data encoded on a surface of a print medium, the data encoding at least a print media identifier, a print medium identifier identifying the print medium, processor for determining the print media identifier from the data, communication means for communicating a request to a remote server, the request including the print media identifier, and for receiving a security identification associated with the print media identifier from the remote server, and a printer module in the media feed path for printing the security identification on the print medium. | 07-01-2010 |
20100181375 | Sticker including a first and second region - A method of associating an electronic object with a sticker placed on a surface is disclosed. The sticker has first and second regions. The first region has disposed thereon coded data encoding an identity of the sticker. The second region exposes a position on the surface. The position on the surface has disposed thereon coded data which encodes an identity of the surface and data identifying the position on the surface. A sensing device senses the coded data on the first region and, through the second region, the coded data on the surface, and then generates indicating data from the sensed coded data. The indicating data is indicative of the identity of the sticker, the identity of the surface and the position on the surface exposed by the second region. The method receives the indicating data from the sensing device, and identifies, using the indicating data, the identity of the sticker, the identity of the surface and the position on the surface exposed by the second region. The electronic object is also identified. Finally, the electronic object is associated with the identity of the sticker, the identity of the surface, and the position on the surface exposed by the second region. | 07-22-2010 |
20100188703 | Associating an Electronic Document with a Print Medium - A method of printing an electronic document using a mobile telecommunications device is disclosed. The electronic document is first identified using the mobile telecommunications device. The electronic document is then printed on a print medium in a media feed path of a printer module of the mobile telecommunications device. Coded data encoded on the print medium is also sensed using a sensor module in the media feed path of the printer module. A print media identifier which identifies the print medium is identified from the coded data, and an association between the print media identifier and the electronic document is formed. The electronic document is retrievable using the print media identifier. | 07-29-2010 |
20100190525 | PRINT ONTO A PRINT MEDIUM TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE ORIENTATION OF PREVIOUSLY PRINTED CONTENT - A method is describe in which an orientation indicator on a print medium inserted into a printer is sensed, the orientation indicator identifying the orientation of content previously printed on the print medium, the orientation of the content previously printed on the print medium is determined, and print data is rotated prior to printing the print data onto the print medium by the printer to take into account the orientation of the content previously printed on the print medium. | 07-29-2010 |
20100199110 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT HAVING OBSCURED STATE CHANGE CIRCUITRY - An integrated circuit is provided having first and second circuitry which are configured to emit light when undergoing changes in state. The first and second circuitry being operated to change state at the same time so as to hinder optical detection of the light emitted by the first circuitry. | 08-05-2010 |
20100206950 | Link Software Object to Sticker - A system for generating an association between a software object and a sticker on a surface, and then retrieving the software object, is disclosed. The sticker has disposed thereon coded data indicative of a sticker identity. A sensing device is provided for sensing the coded data in order to determine the sticker identity, and to generate indicating data at least partially indicative of the sticker identity. A computer system receives the indicating data from the sensing device, stores object data indicative of each of a plurality of software objects in an object repository, orders the object data stored in the object repository according to when the software object data was stored in the object repository, determines, using the order of the object data in the object repository, the software object which has been most recently stored in the object repository, generates the association based at least partially on the most recently stored software object and the sticker identity, receives further indicating data from the sensing device, the indicating data being at least partially indicative of the sticker identity, and retrieves the software object associated with the sticker identity. | 08-19-2010 |
20100207977 | Printer Incorporating Multiple Synchronizing Printer Controllers - A printer includes a printhead having first and second elongate printhead modules; and first and second printer controllers receiving print data and processing the print data to output dot data to the printhead, the first printer controller outputting dot data to the first printhead module and the second printer controller outputting dot data to the second printhead module. The first elongate printhead module is informationally isolated from the second elongate printhead module, whereby no dot data passes therebetween. The first printer controller and the second printer controller communicate therebetween a synchronization signal to effect synchronization therebetween. | 08-19-2010 |
20100213878 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING OPTICAL EMISSIONS IN AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - An integrated circuit is provided with first circuitry having first and second transistors which emit light during a change in state between states of low and high resistance and second circuitry having third transistors which emit light during a change in state. The third transistors are disposed near at least one of the first and second transistors so that light emissions from the third transistors hinder optical detection of a pattern of light emitted by the first and second transistors. | 08-26-2010 |
20100214358 | Inkjet Printer Incorporating Capping Mechanism Actuated By Flexible Arm - An inkjet printer includes a printhead assembly for ejecting ink upon print media; a capping molding for engaging a face of the printhead assembly; and an actuator for actuating the capping molding against and away from the printhead assembly. The actuator includes a flexible arm attached at one end to the capping molding and at the other end to slip and drive wheels. The slip and drive wheels facilitating actuation of the capping molding via the flexible arm. The flexible arm facilitates conformation of the capping molding against the printhead assembly. | 08-26-2010 |
20100219239 | METHOD OF INTERACTING WITH PRINTED SUBSTRATE - A method of interacting with a printed substrate. The comprises the steps of: interacting with the substrate using an optically imaging pen having a nib; optically imaging target elements and coded data; calculating a position of the nib; and generating digital ink in the pen, the digital ink being indicative of the identity of the substrate and the position of the nib relative to the substrate; and sending the digital ink to a computer system such that the computer system can identify the interaction with the substrate. The position of the nib is calculated using the coded data, a perspective transform and a known spatial relationship between an optical axis of the pen and the nib. The perspective transform is determined using the imaged target elements which are perspective-distorted due to a tilt of the pen. | 09-02-2010 |
20100222103 | Printing Content on a Print Medium based upon the Authenticity of the Print Medium - A mobile telecommunications device having a printer module and sensor module in a media feed path is disclosed. A drive means transports a print medium through the media feed path. The sensor module senses data encoded on a surface of the print medium in the media feed path. The data encodes a print media identifier which uniquely identifies the print medium and at least part of the digital signature of the print media identifier. The print media identifier and at least part of the digital signature are determined from the data, and it is determined whether the digital signature is authentic. The printer module prints content on the print medium in the media feed path if the digital signature is authentic. | 09-02-2010 |
20100223453 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT FOR VALIDATING AND DECRYPTING SOFTWARE DATA - An integrated circuit is provided. The IC runs a boot program that verifies programs before the programs can be loaded onto, or run by, the IC by verifying whether the programs are signed with a boot key, verifies, with the boot program, a developmental boot program signed with the boot key which verifies developmental programs before the developmental programs can be loaded onto, or run by, the IC by verifying whether the IC has a predetermined identifier, and loads the verified developmental boot program and run the loaded developmental booth program thereby enabling loading or running of the developmental programs on the IC if the IC has the predetermined identifier. The IC is programmed with program code configured to receive encrypted software data, decrypt the software data, and validate the software data. The decrypted software is executed only when the validation is successful. | 09-02-2010 |
20100231624 | PRINTHEAD SYSTEM FOR MODULATING PRINTHEAD PEAK POWER REQUIREMENT USING REDUNDANT NOZZLES - A printhead system comprising an inkjet printhead and a printer controller for supplying dot data to the printhead is provided. The printhead comprises a plurality of first nozzles and a plurality of second nozzles supplied with a same colored ink. The first nozzles and second nozzles are configured in a plurality of sets, wherein each set of nozzles comprises one first nozzle and one corresponding second nozzle. Each nozzle in a set is configurable by the printer controller to print a dot of the ink onto a substantially same position on a print medium. The printer controller is programmed to supply dot data such that the first nozzles and the second nozzles each contribute dots to a line of printing. | 09-16-2010 |
20100231625 | PRINTHEAD HAVING CONTROLLED NOZZLE FIRING GROUPING - A printhead is provided having a plurality of rows of nozzles, with the nozzles in each row being grouped into fire groups, and a controller configured to fire the nozzles of each fire group by outputting firing pulses to the nozzles. The controller sets the number of fire groups in each row based on the width of the firing pulses and a predetermined length of time for firing all of the nozzles of that row. | 09-16-2010 |
20100231678 | PRINT MEDIUM HAVING CODED DATA AND AN ORIENTATION INDICATOR - Provided is a print medium for use in a printer. The print medium has a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces. The print medium further has coded data distributed as a two dimensional pattern across a print area of the print medium. The two dimensional pattern comprises pattern elements, each pattern element encoding the two dimensional position of that pattern element in the print area. The print medium further has an orientation indicator indicative of an orientation of the two dimensional pattern. | 09-16-2010 |
20100232730 | PEN SYSTEM FOR RECORDING HANDWRITTEN INFORMATION - A pen system for recording a track of handwritten information created by a handheld electronic pen. The pen system includes the handheld electronic pen and a second memory unit located in an external data storage device. The electronic pen has an image sensor for optically imaging a position-coding pattern printed on a surface, a processor for recording the handwritten information as digital ink and a first memory unit for storing the digital ink. The first and second memory units are connected in such a way that a transmission of digital ink is caused to occur automatically from the first memory unit to the second memory unit. Receipt of the digital ink by the second memory unit causes the second memory unit to associate the track of handwritten information with a stored description of the surface. | 09-16-2010 |
20100234052 | MESSAGING USING A CODED SURFACE - A method of sending a message using a print medium is disclosed. A tag on a surface of the print medium is sensed using a sensor module. The surface includes a plurality of tags with each tag encoding an identifier which uniquely identifies the surface and a position with respect to the surface. From the tag sensed by the sensor module the identifier and the position with respect to the surface of the tag sensed by the sensor module are determined. A communications address is obtained, using the identifier and the position, from a database where the communications address is indexed by the identifier and the position. A message editor in a communications device is then opened, with a current message being addressed to the communications address. | 09-16-2010 |
20100234069 | METHOD OF LINKING OBJECT TO STICKER PRINT MEDIUM - A method of linking an object to a sticker print medium is provided which includes submitting a request to associate the object with a print media identifier of the sticker print medium, submission of the request facilitating identification of the object and the print media identifier, recording the requested association of the object and the print media identifier in a database, the object being retrievable from the database using the print media identifier, once the requested association is recorded attaching the sticker print medium to a physical representation of the object, receiving the sticker print medium in a media feed path of the mobile telecommunications device, and reading the print media identifier from the sticker print medium using the sensor module of the mobile telecommunications device. | 09-16-2010 |
20100238213 | METHOD FOR DEAD NOZZLE REMAPPING - A method of accounting for dead nozzle remapping in a multi-nozzle printhead includes defining a first fixative plane and a second fixative plane; determining a first color plane requiring the fixative; determining if fixative is present in the first color plane; determining if the first color plane is dead; and adding fixative to a second color plane when it is determined that the first color plane is dead. | 09-23-2010 |
20100243727 | METHOD OF RECORDING RECEIPT OF SHIPPED ITEM - A method of recording receipt of an item, the item comprising a product contained in a package, the package comprising an interface surface having disposed thereon coded data indicative of an identity of the item and of coordinates of a plurality of locations of the interface surface. The method includes the steps of: marking the interface surface using an optically imaging pen having a marking nib; sensing the coded data in the vicinity of the pen; generating indicating data using the sensed coded data, the indicating data including data regarding the identity of the item and positions of the pen relative to the interface surface; and transmitting the indicating data to a computer system. | 09-30-2010 |
20100245429 | PRINT ENGINE CONTROLLER EMPLOYING ACCUMULATIVE CORRECTION FACTOR IN PAGEWIDTH PRINTHEAD - A print engine controller for a pagewidth inkjet printhead having a plurality of abutting printhead modules mounted on a carrier. The print engine controller is configured to: (a) receive data identifying a rotational yaw displacement of an erroneously displaced printhead module; (b) determine a correction factor that compensates for ink dot displacement by nozzles in the erroneously displaced printhead module; (c) use the correction factor to determine an accumulative Y-offset for each printhead module in the printhead; and (d) alter the output of the ink dots from nozzles in each printhead module having a non-zero accumulative Y-offset to compensate for the rotational yaw displacement of the erroneously displaced printhead module. | 09-30-2010 |
20100245505 | INK USAGE TRACKING IN A PRINT CARTRIDGE - A print cartridge is disclosed. The print cartridge has at least one ink reservoir, a storage means configured to store information indicative of an amount of printing achievable by the cartridge based on the amount of ink in the at least one ink reservoir, the information being stored in the form of a plurality of bits, the storage means including a plurality of first fusible links, each of the first fusible links storing one of the bits, an information changing mechanism for changing a value of the information by selectively blow one or more of the first fusible links each time a predetermined amount of ink is consumed, and a printhead having a second fusible link which destructs the printhead in response to the value of the information reaching a predetermined threshold. | 09-30-2010 |
20100248781 | MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WITH IMAGE SENSOR DIRECTED INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY - The invention provides for a mobile telecommunications device that decodes tags of coded data printed on media present at points internal and external of the device. The device has an image sensor and a beam splitter for deflecting incoming light onto the image sensor. The device also includes a first infrared LED operatively directing light onto external media at the external point, with an infrared filter configured to receive light reflected from the external media onto the beam splitter. Also included is a second infrared LED operatively directing light onto media present in the internal pathway, with a mirror arrangement configured to direct light reflected from the internal media into the beam splitter. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250942 | SYSTEM FOR ENABLING AUTHENTICATED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ENTITIES - A system for enabling authenticated communication between a first entity and at least one other entity is provided. The system has a second entity and a processor. The first entity and the second entity share transport keys. The second entity has at least one variant key configured to be transported from the second entity to the first entity using the transport keys under control of the processor. The variant key is generated by applying a one way function to a base key and a first bit-pattern in the at least one other entity and is usable to enable the authenticated communication by the first entity with the at least one other entity. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250971 | PRINTER CONSUMABLE COMPRISING INTEGRATED CIRCUIT PROTECTED FROM POWER SUPPLY ATTACKS - A printer consumable includes an integrated circuit for authentication of the consumable. The integrated circuit has a non-volatile memory for storing secret information and an indicator, as well as a detection unit for preventing a power supply attack on the secret information. The detection unit includes a comparator having reference voltage and power supply line inputs; and an output connected into a reset line of the integrated circuit. The output provides a reset signal to first delete, overwrite, or otherwise render unreadable the indicator and then delete, overwrite, or otherwise render unreadable the secret information in the memory when a detection signal is output by the comparator. The reset signal is provided when the power supply voltage drops below a predetermined limit due to a power-down of the integrated circuit. | 09-30-2010 |
20100253719 | PRINTER CONTROLLER FOR MONITORING AN INK DROP COUNT - Provided is a printer controller for a pagewidth printer having a printhead configured to print according to print quality information. The printer has a paper transport mechanism for transporting a sheet of paper along a media path through the printer. The controller includes a processor having an address, data and control bus, an expander unit and a decoder unit each coupled to the bus and configured to decompress a bi-level black layer and a continuous tone (contone) layer of a page to be printed. The controller also includes a replaceable ink cartridge arranged in the media path and having a first integrated circuit (IC) interfaced with the processor, the first IC containing the print quality information. Also included is a second IC interfaced to the processor. The processor is configured to count a number of drops of ink printed by the printhead, to update a remaining drop count of the ink cartridge using the counted drops printed and to write an updated remaining drop count to the second IC each time a page has been printed. The processor is also configured to control the paper transport mechanism during printing. | 10-07-2010 |
20100253730 | GENERATING HALFTONE PRINT DATA FOR OVERLAPPING CONSECUTIVE PRINTHEAD SEGMENTS - A method of generating halftone print data for overlapping end portions of a pair of consecutive printhead segments in an array of two or more printhead segments is disclosed. Generally an end portion of a first printhead segment overlaps an end portion of a second printhead segment, in which each printhead segment includes a plurality of ink ejection nozzles. The method includes generating a dither value from a dither matrix, and then combining the dither value with an overlap signal, which represents an extent of overlap of the end portions, to produce an output value. A mathematical operation is then performed on continuous tone print data using a comparator, based on the output value, to produce the half tone data. | 10-07-2010 |
20100253966 | PRINTING SYSTEM FOR VALIDATING PRINTING CONSUMABLE - A printer system includes a printer and a printing consumable detachably mounted on the printer. The printer has a first integrated circuit which generates a random number, reference information using the random number and a secret key. The printing consumable has a second integrated circuit which generates validation information using the random number and the secret key received from the first integrated circuit. The printer also has processing circuitry configured for receiving the reference information from the first integrated circuit; receiving the validation information from the second integrated circuit; and comparing the reference information and validation information so as to validate the printing consumable device for use with the printer. | 10-07-2010 |
20100273525 | LINK OBJECT TO POSITION ON SURFACE - A method of generating an association between a software object and a position on a surface is disclosed. The method starts by sensing, by a sensing device placed on the position on the surface coded data at the position on the surface. The coded data at the position on the surface encodes an identity of the surface and the position of the coded data relative to the surface. The sensing device then generates indicating data using the sensed coded data. The indicating data is indicative of the identity of the surface and the position of the sensed coded data relative to the surface. Upon receiving the indicating data from the sensing device by a computer system, the computer system identifies, using the indicating data, the identity of the surface and the position of the sensed coded data relative to the surface. The computer system also identifies the software object, and then generates an association between the identity of the surface, the position of the sensed coded data relative to the surface, and the software object. | 10-28-2010 |
20100273527 | MOBILE PHONE SYSTEM FOR PRINTING WEBPAGE AND RETRIEVING CONTENT - A system for printing a webpage and retrieving content via the printed webpage. The system includes a print medium provided with first and second coded data encoding a print media identifier in different formats, and a mobile telecommunications device. The mobile telecommunications device includes: a media feed path; a printer positioned in the media feed path for printing the webpage onto the print medium; an optical encoder for reading the first coded data; a transceiver; and a sensor module for sensing at the second coded data. The processor determines a print media identifier from the first coded data, initiates linking of the webpage to the print media identifier, determines the print media identifier and a coordinate location from the second coded data, and initiates retrieval of the content using the print media identifier and the coordinate location. | 10-28-2010 |
20100275063 | METHOD OF TESTING VALIDITY OF AUTHENTICATION IC - A method in which a test function is called in a system's internal authentication IC multiple times with a known incorrect value such that, if the internal IC is invalid, an expected invalid response is not generated and, otherwise, the internal IC generates a secret random number and its signature and encrypts these using a first secret key, an external authentication IC connected to the system calls a read function which decrypts the encrypted random number and signature using the first key, calculates the decrypted random number's signature, compares the signatures and upon a match encrypts the decrypted random number and a message of the external IC using a second secret key, the internal IC calls the test function which encrypts the random number and message using the second key, compares the encrypted random numbers and messages, validates the external IC if they match and invalidates the external IC otherwise. | 10-28-2010 |
20100276481 | SYSTEM FOR RECORDING RECORDATION OF PACKAGED ITEM - A system for recording a transaction of a packaged item. The system includes the item having a product contained in a package and an optically imaging pen. The package has a printed interface surface containing information relating to the item and coded data indicative of an identity of the item and of coordinates of a plurality of locations on the interface surface. The pen has a marking nib for marking the interface surface; an image sensor for optically imaging the coded data when said marking nib is used to mark the interface surface; a processor for generating indicating data indicative of the identity of the item and of a position of the sensing device relative to the interface surface; and a transceiver for communicating the indicating data to a computer system so as to initiate recordation of the transaction. | 11-04-2010 |
20100277527 | PRINTER HAVING PRINTHEAD WITH MULTIPLE CONTROLLERS - A printer is provided having a printhead having ejection nozzles and a plurality of controllers configured to process print data for printing and to output the processed data to the printhead. The plurality of controllers are connected to a common input of the printhead. | 11-04-2010 |
20100295951 | MODULAR CAMERA AND PRINTER - A modular camera and printer is disclosed. A camera module is provided having an image sensor for capturing an image in a RGB format. The camera module also has a central processing unit with program memory for storing program steps for execution by the central processing unit to operate the camera module, and an image storage memory for storing the captured image in the RGB format. An image processing unit of the camera module is in communication with the image storage memory and transforms image data in the image storage memory into a L*a*b* format. The camera module also has a serial bus for outputting transformed image data in the L*a*b* format. A printer module is provided also having a serial bus in communication with the serial bus of the camera module. The printer module receives the image data from the camera module in the L*a*b* format, converts the image data to a color space of the printer module, and then prints the image data on a printhead. | 11-25-2010 |
20100296116 | Multi-Module Device including a Printer Module - A multi-module device having first and second modules is disclosed. The first and second modules communicate through a serial bus. The first module has a memory for storing image data in a RGB format and a processing unit for converting the image data from the RGB format to a L*a*b* format, before outputting image data in the L*a*b* format through the serial bus. The second module receives the image data in the L*a*b* format, converts the image data to a CMY format and prints the image data in the CMY format. | 11-25-2010 |
20100296125 | CONTROL OF A COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A method of controlling a communications device is disclosed. A printer prints on a surface visual information relating to at least one operation of the communications device and coded data portions. Each coded data portion encodes a region identifier which uniquely identifies a region on the surface, and a portion identifier which uniquely identifies the coded data portion. A sensing device placed in an operative position relative to the coded data portions, generate indicating data regarding the region identifier and the portion identifier. A computer system receives the indicating data and determines an operation associated with the region identifier and the portion identifier. Finally, the computer system sends one or more commands to the communications device, thereby effecting the at least one operation. | 11-25-2010 |
20100302591 | CONTROL OF A DEVICE - A method is disclosed of controlling a function of a device. The device is operative to perform the function in response to a command from a printer. The method starts by printing a control interface containing information relating to the function and coded data. The coded data is indicative of an identity of the control interface and of at least one reference point of the control interface. Next, indicating data is received by the printer from a sensing device. The indicating data contains the identity of the control interface and at least one position of the sensing device relative to the control interface. The sensing device forms the indicating data when placed in an operative position relative to the control interface using the coded data. Finally, the printer issues the command relating to the function to the device. | 12-02-2010 |
20100315516 | CAMERA UNIT INCOPORATING PROGRAM SCRIPT SCANNER - A camera unit includes a display for displaying an image to be captured; an image sensor for digitally capturing the displayed image; a card reader having a linear scanner for scanning a surface of a removable card to sense a plurality of dots printed on the surface of the removable card, the plurality of dots representing a bit pattern encoding a program script; a card interface for receiving a signal from the card reader indicative of the sensed plurality of dots printed on the surface of the card, and decoding the sensed plurality of dots into the program script; and a printer configured to print a distorted image on print media, the distorted image being a version of the captured image distorted in accordance with the program script. | 12-16-2010 |
20100328701 | Performing an Action Using a Printed Medium - A method of performing an action is disclosed. The method starts by sensing a print medium to obtain data encoded on a surface of the print medium. The data encodes at least a print media identifier. The print medium has a representation of a document printed thereon. The print media identifier is determined from the data and a digital copy of the document corresponding to the representation is retrieved. The digital copy is associated with the print media identifier and includes one or more hyperlinks. The digital copy of the document is displayed and a selection of one of the hyperlinks is received from a user. A predefined action designated by the selected hyperlink is then performed. | 12-30-2010 |
20110059770 | MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR PRINTING A COMPETITION FORM - A mobile telecommunications device is shown for printing a competition entry form on print media with coded data encoding a print media identifier. The mobile telecommunications device has an inbuilt printer module to print the competition entry form on the print medium such that the print medium displays at least one entry form detail, a media feed path along which the print media moves during printing by the inbuilt printer module, an interface to a remote server, and a sensor module adjacent the media feed path for reading the print media identifier on one of the print media whilst in the feed path and generating an association between the print media identifier and the at least one entry for detail. During use, the sensor module transmits the association and the user interaction to the remote server via the interface such that user interaction with the at least one entry form detail and subsequent submission of the interaction and the print media identifier to the remote server is a competition entry. | 03-10-2011 |
20110069351 | CREATING DATA ASSOCIATING A SURFACE WITH INFORMATION PRINTED ON THE SURFACE - A system is disclosed for creating association data associating document information with a surface of a print medium the document information is printed upon. The system has a printer for printing the document information onto the surface of the print medium. The print medium has tags on respective surfaces of the print medium. Each tag encodes an identity unique to the surface. The system further has at least one sensor for sensing the tags of the print medium in a media feed path of the printer, and a computer system for creating association data associating the document information printed onto the surface of the print medium with the identity of the surface. | 03-24-2011 |
20110074850 | CONTROLLER FOR PRINTHEAD HAVING ARBITRARILY JOINED NOZZLE ROWS - A controller for a printhead is provided. The printhead has rows of printing nozzles with each nozzle row formed by adjacent sub-rows of printing nozzles of adjacently disposed printhead modules. Each nozzle row us arranged such that the join of the respective adjacent sub-rows is arbitrarily located relative to the other nozzle rows thereby forming an arbitrarily shaped join region. The controller being configured to determine the arbitrary shape of the join region and to supply dot data to the printhead which compensates for the determined arbitrary shape. | 03-31-2011 |
20110081092 | METHOD OF STORING DATA ON A PHOTOGRAPH - A method of storing data on a photograph containing an image includes the steps of: delimiting a plurality of data block regions on the photograph; compressing data representing the image contained in the photograph with a compression technique; redundantly encoding the compressed data using Reed-Solomon encoding techniques; shuffling the redundantly encoded compressed data in a deterministic manner to reduce potential effects of localized encoded data damage to the image of said photograph; and printing the shuffled data as dots within the data block regions on the photograph. The printing of the shuffled data is performed simultaneously with a printing out of the image of the photograph. | 04-07-2011 |
20110085006 | Printhead having Mirrored Rows of Print Nozzles - A printhead having at least first and second rows of print nozzles. Each nozzle has first circuitry of a first type arranged asymmetrically to second circuitry of a second type. The respective positions of the first and second circuitry of each nozzle of the first row are arranged mirrored with respect to the first and second circuitry of each nozzle of the second row. | 04-14-2011 |
20110096930 | Method of Storing Secret Information in Distributed Device - A method of storing a function result of a secret key in memory of a device for distribution is provided. The method involves applying a first, one way function to a random number stored in the memory of the device, thereby generating a first result, applying a second function to the first result and the secret key, thereby generating a second result, storing the second result in the memory of the device, and distributing the device with the random number and second result stored in the memory and the secret key not stored in the memory. | 04-28-2011 |
20110122431 | CONTROL OF A COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A system for controlling a communications device is disclosed. A printer prints on a surface visual information relating to at least one operation of the communications device and coded data portions. Each coded data portion encodes a region identifier which uniquely identifies a region on the surface, and a portion identifier which uniquely identifies the coded data portion. A sensing device placed in an operative position relative to the coded data portions, generate indicating data regarding the region identifier and the portion identifier. A computer system receives the indicating data and determines an operation associated with the region identifier and the portion identifier. Finally, the computer system sends one or more commands to the communications device, thereby effecting the at least one operation. | 05-26-2011 |
20110151905 | MESSAGING USING A CODED SURFACE - A method of sending a message using a print medium is disclosed. Coded data on a surface of the business card is sensed by a sensor module in a media feed path of a communications device. The coded data encodes an identifier which uniquely identifies the surface. The identifier is determined from sensed coded data, and a representation of the business card is retrieved using the identifier. The representation of the business card is displayed on display of the communications device, with the representation including fields, with one of the fields being a messaging field. Upon receiving a selection of the messaging field, a communications address is retrieved from a database where the communications address is indexed by the identifier. A message editor is opened in the communications device, with a current message being addressed to the communications address. | 06-23-2011 |
20110164264 | Linking an Object to a Position on a Surface - A method of generating an association between a software object and a position on a surface is disclosed. The method starts by sensing, by a sensing device placed on the position on the surface coded data at the position on the surface. The coded data at the position on the surface encodes an identity of the surface and the position of the coded data relative to the surface. The sensing device then generates indicating data using the sensed coded data. The indicating data is indicative of the identity of the surface and the position of the sensed coded data relative to the surface. Upon receiving the indicating data from the sensing device by a computer system, the computer system identifies, using the indicating data, the identity of the surface and the position of the sensed coded data relative to the surface. The computer system also identifies the software object, and then generates an association between the identity of the surface, the position of the sensed coded data relative to the surface, and the software object. | 07-07-2011 |
20110164286 | METHOD OF PRINTING DITHERED IMAGES - A method of printing a dithered image is provided which includes retrieving a planarized linear image from a memory, interpolating, with a processor, the resolution of said retrieved planarized linear image to an intermediate resolution in dependence of the color planes of said retrieved planarized linear image, interpolating, with the processor, the intermediate resolution to a print resolution, producing, with the processor, a dithered image in real-time from said interpolated image at the print resolution, and printing the dithered image using a printhead. | 07-07-2011 |
20110216369 | METHOD OF STORING DATA ON A PHOTOGRAPH - A method of storing data on a photograph includes delimiting a plurality of data block regions on the photograph, the plurality of data block regions superposing a region of the photograph delimited for the printing of a photographic image; compressing data representing the image contained in the photograph with a compression technique; redundantly encoding the compressed data using Reed-Solomon encoding techniques; shuffling the redundantly encoded compressed data in a deterministic manner to reduce potential effects of localized encoded data caused by damage to the photograph; and printing the shuffled data as dots within the data block regions on the photograph. The printing of the shuffled data is performed simultaneously with a printing of the image of the photograph. | 09-08-2011 |
20110227977 | METHOD OF MODULATING PEAK POWER FLUCTUATIONS IN MULTI-COLORED PRINTHEAD HAVING RESPECTIVE POWER SUPPLY - A method of printing from a single multi-colored pagewidth inkjet printhead powered by a respective power supply. The printhead has transversely aligned color channels with first nozzles contained in a first color channel and second nozzles contained in a second channel supplied with a same colored ink as the first color channel. The first and second nozzles are configured in sets, such that each nozzle in a set is configurable to print a dot of ink onto a same position on a print medium. The method includes the steps of: (i) providing power sequentially to each nozzle row of the printhead from the power supply; and (ii) printing a line of dots across the print medium such some of the first nozzles and some of the second nozzles each contribute dots to the line. | 09-22-2011 |
20110227981 | PRINT CONTROL METHOD - A print control method performed by a print controller of an inkjet printer includes steps of heating the ink in a nozzle of the printer by applying a firing pulse of a duration less than a duration required to discharge an ink dot; sensing the temperature of the heated ink in the nozzle; sensing a voltage at an actuator heater of the nozzle; loading and updating a table listing (i) sensed values of ink temperature in the nozzle, (ii) resistivity of an actuator heater of the nozzle, and (iii) a width of the actuator heater; and changing the duration of a firing pulse used to discharge an ink dot in reference to the sensed voltage and the updated table of sensed temperature, resistivity and width values so as to produce a uniform ink dot size. | 09-22-2011 |
20110228288 | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPH REPRODUCTION METHOD - A photo reproduction method includes scanning redundantly encoded data from a photograph, the redundantly encoded data being scanned from out of the photographic image; decoding the redundantly encoded data to obtain a digital representation of the photographic image from which the redundantly encoded data was scanned; and printing the digital representation of the photographic image to obtain a copy of the photographic image. | 09-22-2011 |
20110230233 | TELEPHONE FOR PRINTING ENCODED FORM - A telephone for printing an encoded form on print media is provided having a printer for printing the form encoded with region data on the print media, a transport path along which the print media is transported during printing, an interface to a remote server, and a sensor on the transport path for sensing identifiers encoded on the print media and generating an association between the sensed identifiers and the region data. The generated association is transmitted to the remote server via the interface such that user interaction with the regions of the identified printed form communicated to the remote server provide selection of the region data. | 09-22-2011 |
20110278355 | CAMERA UNIT INCOPORATING PROGRAM SCRIPT SCANNER - A camera unit includes a display for displaying an image to be captured; an image sensor for digitally capturing the displayed image; a card reader having a linear scanner for scanning a surface of a removable card to sense a plurality of dots printed on the surface of the removable card, the plurality of dots representing a bit pattern encoding a program script; a card interface for receiving a signal from the card reader indicative of the sensed plurality of dots printed on the surface of the card, and decoding the sensed plurality of dots into the program script; and a printer configured to print a distorted image on print media, the distorted image being a version of the captured image distorted in accordance with the program script. The card reader comprises a moulding housing therewithin a plurality of light sources, the moulding being transparent to light from the light sources and shaped to focus the light on the removable card | 11-17-2011 |
20110284644 | SURFACE HAVING OPTICALLY READABLE PRINTED TAGS - A surface having an optically readable pattern of dots printed thereon. Each tag has a background pattern defining discrete areas. The background pattern is common to all tags. Each tag further has coded data positioned within the discrete areas. The coded data is represented by a plurality of optically readable marks positioned according to an encoding scheme. The background pattern is also distinguishable from the coded data. | 11-24-2011 |
20110287809 | MOBILE PHONE FOR PRINTING AND INTERACTING WITH WEBPAGES - A mobile telecommunications device for printing a webpage and retrieving content via a printed webpage. The device includes a media feed for receiving an encoded print medium; a printer positioned in the media feed path; an optical encoder for reading a linear pattern on the print medium during printing; a processor configured for determining a print media identifier by decoding the read linear pattern; a transceiver for communicating the print media identifier to a computer system; and a sensor module for sensing a two-dimensional pattern on the print medium. | 11-24-2011 |
20110310720 | METHOD OF RECORDING AND PLAYING BACK AUDIO USING HANDHELD ELECTRONIC PEN - A method of recording and playing back audio using a handheld electronic pen. The method includes the steps of method comprising the steps of: recording audio via a microphone whilst interacting with an encoded substrate using the pen; and playing back the recorded audio by subsequently interacting with the encoded substrate and retrieving the recorded audio which is associated with the identity of the substrate and a position on the substrate. | 12-22-2011 |
20110312346 | Printing a List on a Print Medium - A system for printing a list on a print medium is disclosed. The system includes a mobile device able to determine a current geographical location of the mobile device. The mobile device determines a list of destination locations using the current geographical location of the mobile device, and then prints the list of destination locations on the print medium using a printer module of the mobile device. The print medium has coded data printed on a surface thereof, with the coded data encoding an identity of the print medium and positions on the surface. The mobile device also has a sensor module for sensing the coded data on the surface of the print medium. The system further includes a computer system for storing in a database each entry in the list of destination locations in association with the identity of the print medium and the position of the entry on the surface. The entry is retrievable from the database using the print media identifier and the position of the entry on the surface. | 12-22-2011 |
20110312378 | TELEPHONE HAVING PRINTER AND SENSOR - A telephone is provided having an input at which a print medium is loaded, a sensor for sensing an identifier of the loaded print medium, and a printer for determining whether or not the loaded print medium is a valid print medium on which printing can be performed. If the loaded print medium is determined to be valid, the printer prints on the loaded print medium. If the loaded print medium is determined to not be valid, the loaded print medium is ejected at the input. | 12-22-2011 |
20120004921 | METHOD FOR RETRIEVING AUDIO SIGNAL STORED ON PHOTOGRAPH - A method of decoding coded data provided on a photograph using a reader includes steps of irradiating an image-side of the photograph from a first end thereof to an opposing second end thereof with infra-red illumination; receiving infra-red illumination reflected from the image; processing the reflected infra-red illumination to locate within the photograph a first target boundary; processing the reflected infra-red illumination received after location of the first target boundary to obtain audio data; storing the audio data in a memory; processing the reflected infra-red illumination to locate within the image a second target boundary downstream of the first target boundary; ceasing the processing of the reflected infra-red illumination to obtain coded data upon location of the second target boundary; and decoding the audio data stored in the memory to obtain an audio signal. | 01-05-2012 |
20120038730 | METHOD OF STORING DATA ON A PHOTOGRAPH - A method of storing data on a photograph includes delimiting a plurality of data block regions on the photograph, the plurality of data block regions superposing a region of the photograph delimited for the printing of a photographic image; compressing data representing the image contained in the photograph with a compression technique; redundantly encoding the compressed data using Reed-Solomon encoding techniques; shuffling the redundantly encoded compressed data in a deterministic manner to reduce potential effects of localized encoded data caused by damage to the photograph; and printing the shuffled data as dots within the data block regions on the photograph. Each of the plurality of data blocks is printed on a first side with a first column of orientation dots, and on a second side with a second column of orientation dots. | 02-16-2012 |
20120069074 | GENERATING HALF TONE PRINT DATA FOR OVERLAPPING CONSECUTIVE PRINTHEAD SEGMENTS - A method of generating half tone print data is disclosed. The method starts by determining an extent of overlap caused by temperature variations of overlapping end portions of a pair of consecutive printhead segments. A dither value is also generated from a dither matrix, and the dither value is combined with the extent of overlap to produce an output value. A mathematical operation is performed on continuous tone print data based on the output value, to produce the half tone print data. | 03-22-2012 |
20120083252 | MESSAGING VIA A CODED BUSINESS CARD AND MOBILE TELEPHONE - A method of sending a message using a business card with data encoded on a surface, and a mobile phone. The data includes an identifier which uniquely identifies the surface and the mobile telephone senses the coded data to determine the identifier. Using the identifier, the phone retrieves a representation of the business card, which has a plurality of fields, one of which being a messaging field. The business card is displayed on the phone such that the messaging field can be user selected, a message generated and transmitted to a communications address retrieved from a database. | 04-05-2012 |
20120086748 | PRINTHEAD HAVING MIRRORED ROWS OF PRINT NOZZLES - A printhead having at least first and second rows of print nozzle cells. Each each nozzle cell has an ink chamber, control circuitry and drive circuitry. Each nozzle cell in the first row has a corresponding nozzle cell in the second row. The drive circuitry of each nozzle cell of the first row is arranged adjacent the drive circuitry of the corresponding nozzle cell in the second row and distant the control circuitry of the corresponding nozzle cell in the first row. | 04-12-2012 |
20120113445 | METHOD OF PRINTING GRAPHIC CONTENT WITH POSITION TAGS - A method of printing graphic content with position tags. The method includes the steps of: obtaining a first representation of the graphic content in a CMYK color space; translating a K color plane of the CMYK color space into CMY color planes, thereby generating a second representation of the graphic content in a CMY color space; obtaining a representation of the position tags; generating output content by compositing the representation of the position tags over the second representation of the graphic content; and printing the output content using a printer. | 05-10-2012 |
20120273567 | MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR RETRIEVING AUDIO DATA VIA CODED MEDIUM - A mobile telecommunications device retrieves audio data using a coded medium with coded data. The coded data is encoded in a linear pattern and a two-dimensional pattern on the coded medium. The linear pattern and the two-dimensional pattern encode a medium identifier linked to the audio data, and the two-dimensional pattern also encodes a two-dimensional coordinate grid. The mobile telecommunications device has a first image sensor for sensing the coded data printed in the linear pattern on the coded medium, a second image sensor for sensing the coded data printed in the two-dimensional pattern and, a processor for determining the medium identifier from the coded data printed in a linear pattern and the coded data printed in a two dimensional pattern, and retrieving the audio data using the determined medium identifier. | 11-01-2012 |
20130100297 | Method of enabling association of object with surface - A method is provided of enabling association of an object with a surface. In the method a server receives an image of the surface captured with an image sensor of a mobile device networked with the server, receives a request to associate a selected object with the captured image, receives specification of a location on the surface with which the selected object is to be associated, and associates the selected object with the specified location of the captured image of the surface. | 04-25-2013 |
20130186953 | CAMERA UNIT INCOPORATING PROGRAM SCRIPT SCANNER - A camera unit includes a display for displaying an image to be captured; an image sensor for digitally capturing the displayed image; a card reader having a linear scanner for scanning a surface of a removable card to sense a plurality of dots printed on the surface of the removable card, the plurality of dots representing a bit pattern encoding a program script; a card interface for receiving a signal from the card reader indicative of the sensed plurality of dots printed on the surface of the card, and decoding the sensed plurality of dots into the program script; and a printer configured to print a distorted image on print media, the distorted image being a version of the captured image distorted in accordance with the program script. The card reader comprises a moulding housing therewithin a plurality of light sources, the moulding being transparent to light from the light sources and shaped to focus the light on the removable card. | 07-25-2013 |