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EP0378759A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Bidirectional graphics printing method

Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1989-10-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-10-20
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Abstract

Abstract The invented bidirectional graphics printing method includes software which first receives (12) data describing at least part of an image to be printed, and then looks (14,18) for breaks in the image. When a break is detected, bidirectional printing (22) is allowed if such printing would increase throughput. If no break is detected, the next printhead pass is in the same direction as the previous pass.

Inventors

  • 👤 Mark D. Lund

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 13:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/22; B; B41; B41J; B41J19/00; B41J19/14; B41J19/142; B41J2/00; B41J2/485; B41J2/505; B41J2/5056; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/111

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 62 words
A method for increasing the throughput of a scanning-head printer comprising: receiving (12) data defining an image to be printed; analyzing such received data to determine when bidirectional printing could cause noticeable print misregistration between vertically adjacent parts of the image; and printing passes of the image bidirectionally when noticeable print misregistration would not occur and unidirectionally when such misregistration could occur.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 62 words
A method for increasing the throughput of a scanning-head printer comprising: receiving (12) data defining an image to be printed; analyzing such received data to determine when bidirectional printing could cause noticeable print misregistration between vertically adjacent parts of the image; and printing passes of the image bidirectionally when noticeable print misregistration would not occur and unidirectionally when such misregistration could occur.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing includes detecting dot-row or vertical alignment breaks (14,18) between vertically adjacent parts of the image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the step of printing includes printing passes of the image unidirectionally (28) when no such breaks are detected, and printing passes of the image bidirectionally (22) when there are such breaks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing includes detecting (21) solid image breaks within each printhead pass of the image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the step of printing includes printing (22) the passes of the image which immediately follow the passes in which no more than one such break is detected bidirectionally, and printing (28) other passes of the image unidirectionally.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing includes detecting dot-row breaks (14) between vertically adjacent parts of the image, and detecting solid image breaks (21) within each printhead pass of the image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 52 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the step of printing further includes printing (22) the passes of the image which immediately follow the passes in which such dot-row breaks are detected, and no more than one such solid image break is detected, bidirectionally, and printing (28) other passes of the image unidirectionally.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 75 words
A method for increasing the throughput of a scanning-head printer comprising: receiving (12) data defining at least part of an image to be printed; analyzing such received data to determine when bidirectional printing would increase throughput without causing noticeable print misregistration between vertically adjacent parts of the image; and printing passes of the image bidirectionally when throughput would be increased without causing noticeable print misregistration, and when such misregistration would occur, printing such passes unidirectionally.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 75 words
A method for increasing the throughput of a scanning-head printer comprising: receiving (12) data defining at least part of an image to be printed; analyzing such received data to determine when bidirectional printing would increase throughput without causing noticeable print misregistration between vertically adjacent parts of the image; and printing passes of the image bidirectionally when throughput would be increased without causing noticeable print misregistration, and when such misregistration would occur, printing such passes unidirectionally.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the step of analyzing includes detecting dot-row or vertical alignment breaks (14,18) between vertically adjacent parts of the image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the step of printing is performed bidirectionally (22) when such breaks are detected and unidirectionally (28) when no such breaks are detected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the step of analyzing includes detecting solid image breaks (21) within each printhead pass of the image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the step of printing (22) allows the passes immediately following the passes having only one such break to be printed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the step of analyzing includes detecting dot-row breaks (14) between vertically adjacent parts of the image, and detecting solid image breaks (21) within each printhead pass of the image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 50 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the step of printing (22), when such dot-row breaks are detected and when no more than one such solid image break is detected in a printhead pass, allows the passes immediately following the passes having only one solid image break to be printed bidirectionally.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 195 words
A method, utilizing a scanning-head printer having a printhead with a vertical array of print elements wherein each element is capable of printing a row of dots, for increasing the printer's throughput comprising: receiving (12) data defining at least part of an image to be printed; analyzing (14,18) such received data to detect any dot-­row breaks; determining (20) the location of such dot-row breaks in relation to the printhead height; detecting solid image breaks (21) within each printhead pass of the image; printing (28) the entire print pass and requiring the next print pass to be printed in the same direction as the previous print pass if no such dot-row breaks occur in the dot rows at or beyond 3/4 of the printhead height, or if more than one solid image break was detected within the previous print pass; and printing (22) the dot rows up to the break only and allowing the next print pass to be printed in the opposite direction from the previous print pass if a break occurs at or beyond 3/4 of the printhead height and no more than one solid image break was detected within the previous print pass.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 195 words
A method, utilizing a scanning-head printer having a printhead with a vertical array of print elements wherein each element is capable of printing a row of dots, for increasing the printer's throughput comprising: receiving (12) data defining at least part of an image to be printed; analyzing (14,18) such received data to detect any dot-­row breaks; determining (20) the location of such dot-row breaks in relation to the printhead height; detecting solid image breaks (21) within each printhead pass of the image; printing (28) the entire print pass and requiring the next print pass to be printed in the same direction as the previous print pass if no such dot-row breaks occur in the dot rows at or beyond 3/4 of the printhead height, or if more than one solid image break was detected within the previous print pass; and printing (22) the dot rows up to the break only and allowing the next print pass to be printed in the opposite direction from the previous print pass if a break occurs at or beyond 3/4 of the printhead height and no more than one solid image break was detected within the previous print pass.

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