Patent EP0802504A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0802504A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method of printing and printer for inhibiting intercolor bleeding
Assignee: Lexmark International Inc
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Filing: 1997-04-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-04-17
Abstract
Abstract The invention is directed to a method of printing using an ink jet printer which jets a first color ink and a second color ink onto a print medium at locations defined by an image area having a plurality of pixels. A first array of pixels in the image area is selected, with the first array being an M x N array wherein M and N are integers. A portion of the first array is defined as a second array of pixels, with the second array being an X x Y array wherein X and Y are integers. The integers X and Y are smaller than the integers M and N, respectively. The pixels within the second array are examined. The pixels within the first array are altered if at least 50 percent of the examined pixels within the second array correspond to the first color ink. The method inhibits intercolor bleeding between the first color ink and the second color ink.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott Michael. Heydinger
- 👤 Robert Frederick Locasto
- 👤 Sandra Helton Mccain
- 👤 Ajay Kanubhai Suthar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; G06K15/102; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0082; G06K2215/0094
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of printing using an ink jet printer which jets a first color ink and a second color ink onto a print medium at locations defined by an image area having a plurality of pixels, comprising the steps of: selecting a first array of pixels in the image area, said first array comprising an M x N array with M and N being integers; defining a portion of the first array as a second array of pixels, said second array comprising an X x Y array with X and Y being integers, said integers X and Y being smaller than said integers M and N, respectively; examining said pixels within said second array; and altering said pixels within said first array if at least 50 percent of said examined pixels within said second array correspond to the first color ink.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of Claim 1, wherein said altering step is carried out if at least 75 percent of said examined pixels within said second array correspond to the first color ink.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of Claim 1, wherein said altering step is carried out if at least 90 percent of said examined pixels within said second array correspond to the first color ink.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 1, wherein said altering step is carried out if substantially all of said examined pixels within said second array correspond to the first color ink.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
23 words
The method of any preceding Claim, wherein said pixels within said first array are altered exclusive of said pixels within said second array.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
39 words
The method of any preceding Claim, wherein said altering step comprises removing a portion of available pixels within said first array on which an ink drop may be deposited, said removed available pixels being removed in a checkerboard manner.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
55 words
The method of any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein said altering step comprises removing at least a portion of available pixels within said first array on which an ink drop may be deposited, said removed available pixels comprising all of said pixels within said first array that are disposed adjacent to said second array.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
71 words
The method of any preceding Claim, comprising the further step of determining whether a predetermined percentage of said pixels within said first array, exclusive of said pixels within said second array, correspond to the second color ink, said altering step being dependent upon said determining step and only occurring if said pixels within said first array corresponding to the second color ink are greater than or equal to said predetermined percentage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of Claim 8, wherein said predetermined percentage is 50 percent.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of any preceding Claim, wherein at least one of said integers X and Y is greater than 1.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of any preceding Claim, wherein the second color ink is selected from a cyan, magenta and yellow ink.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
16 words
The method of any preceding Claim, wherein the first color ink is a true black ink.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
17 words
The method of any preceding Claim, wherein the second array is centrally located within the first array.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
49 words
The method of any preceding Claim, wherein said selecting step comprises associating said first array with a predetermined location on the image area, and comprising the further steps of: associating said first array with a different predetermined location on the image area; and repeating said examining and altering steps.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of Claim 14, wherein said second associating step comprises moving said first array a distance of one pixel in a predetermined direction.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
28 words
The method of any preceding Claim, wherein said integers M and N are between 3 and 10, and said integers X and Y are between 2 and 4.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of Claim 16, wherein said integers M and N equal 6 and said integers X and Y equal 2.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
14 words
The method of any preceding Claim, wherein said integer M equals said integer N.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
14 words
The method of any preceding Claim, wherein said integer X equals said integer Y.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
27 words
The method of any preceding Claim, wherein said altered pixels comprise pixels corresponding to locations on the print medium onto which the second color ink is jetted.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
29 words
The method of any preceding Claim, wherein said altering step is dependent upon a number of the pixels within the first array which correspond to the second color ink.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
141 words
An ink jet printer which jets a first color ink and a second color ink onto a print medium at locations defined by an image area having a plurality of pixels, comprising: means for selecting a first array of pixels in the image area, said first array comprising an M x N array with M and N being integers; means for defining a portion of the first array as a second array of pixels, said second array comprising an X x Y array with X and Y being integers, said integers X and Y being smaller than said integers M and N, respectively; means for examining said pixels within said second array; and means for altering said pixels within said first array if at least 50 percent of said examined pixels within said second array correspond to the first color ink.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The ink jet printer according to Claim 22, wherein said means for altering removes a portion of available pixels within said first array on which an ink drop may be deposited, said removed available pixels being removed in a checkerboard manner.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
The ink jet printer according to Claim 22, wherein said means for altering removes at least a portion of available pixels within said first array on which an ink drop may be deposited, said removed available pixels comprising all of said pixels within said first array that are disposed adjacent to said second array.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The ink jet printer according to Claim 22, 23 or 24, wherein said means for altering alters said pixels within said first array if substantially all of said examined pixels within said second array correspond to the first color ink.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ink jet printer according to any of Claims 21 to 25, wherein said means for altering alters said pixels within said first array exclusive of said pixels within said second array.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ink jet printer according to any of Claims 21 to 26, wherein at least one of said integers X and Y is greater than 1.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ink jet printer according to any of Claims 21 to 27, wherein the second array is centrally located within the first array.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink jet printer according to any of Claims 21 to 28, wherein the first color ink is a true black ink.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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