Patent US2692541A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0522980A2
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Method and apparatus for thermally printing large images with small dye-donor patches
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1992-06-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-06-10
Abstract
Abstract A thermal printer uses a relatively small dye-donor patches to produce images which are larger than the dye-donor patches. An image is formed by printing and merging of multiple sub-images. Each of the sub-images is smaller than one of the dye-donor patches. Merging of the sub-images is performed by generating data fields for sub-images and then distributing image data throughout overlapping segments of the sub-image data fields. A distribution of a portion of the image data is made in a first overlapping segment in a first pattern that is substantially non-linear. A second distribution of remaining image data is made in a second overlapping segment in a pattern that is complementary to the first pattern. When the overlapping segment are brought together, a merger zone between the sub-images becomes virtually undetectable to an unaided human eye.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley Ward C/O Eastman Kodak Co. Stephenson
- 👤 Marcello David c/o EASTMAN KODAK CO. Fiscella
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/315; B41J2/32; B41J2/325; G06K15/02; G06K15/028; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/0062; G06K2215/0071; G06K2215/0082; G06K2215/0094; G06K2215/111
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
Method of printing an image on a receiver comprising the steps of printing a first sub-image and a second sub-image respectively on a first and second region of said receiver, said first and second sub-images being aligned such that, after being printed, the sub-images form the desired image on the receiver, method characterized in that said first and second region of said receiver present a common portion which belongs to said first region and to said second region, the first sub-image has a complete segment and a partially complete segment, the partially complete segment of the first sub-image having its complete areas distributed throughout the segment in a substantially non-linear pattern, and the second sub-image has a complete and partially complete segment, the partially complete segment of the second sub-image having its complete areas distributed throughout the segment in a pattern that is complementary to the pattern of complete areas of the partially complete segment of the first sub-image, and the partially complete segments of the first and second sub-images overlapping each other so that the sub-images combine to produce a complete image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of printing a first sub-image comprises: printing the complete segment and the partially complete segment with a boundary between said segments; and distributing the complete areas of the partially complete segment throughout the segment in a pattern that decreases a concentration of the complete areas as a function of a distance of each of the complete areas from the boundary between the complete and partially complete segments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of printing of claim 1 wherein the distribution of complete areas in the partially complete segment of the first sub-image is random.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the distribution of the complete areas at any particular distance from the boundary between the complete and the partially complete segment is random.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus for printing an image comprising: means for printing a first sub-image on a first sub-image having a complete segment and a partially complete segment; means for printing a second sub-image with a complete and a partially complete segment; the partially complete segment of the first sub-image having its complete areas distributed throughout the segment in a substanially non-linear pattern; the partially complete segment of the second sub-image having its complete areas distributed throughout the segment in a pattern that is complementary to the pattern of complete areas of the partially complete segment of the first sub-image; and the partially complete segments of the first and second sub-images overlapping each other such that the sub-images combine to produce a complete image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for printing a first sub-image comprises: means for printing the complete segment and the partially complete segment with a boundary between said segments; and means for distributing the complete areas of the partially complete segment throughout the segment in a pattern that decreases a concentration of the complete areas as a function of a distance of each of the complete areas from the boundary between the complete and partially complete segments.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the distribution of complete areas in the partially complete segment of the first sub-image is random.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the distribution of complete areas at any particular distance from the boundary between the complete and the partially complete segment is random.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
Use of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in a thermal printer wherein: the printing of said first sub-image on said first region of the receiver is obtained by a first dye-donor patch having a length that is less than the length of the receiver; and the printing of said second sub-image on said second region of the receiver is obtained by a second dye-donor patch having a length that is less than the length of the receiver.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
Use of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in a thermal printer wherein: the printing of said first sub-image on said first region of the receiver is obtained by a first set of dye-donor patches, each patch having a length that is less than the length of the receiver; and the printing of said second sub-image on said second region of the receiver is obtained by a second set of dye-donor patches, each patch having a length that is less than the length of the receiver.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
Use according to the claims 9 to 10 wherein the common portion present a length of about 20 to 30 lines.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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