Serpentine columnar plotting system

Claim 2

A serpentine columnar plotting method for creating an image of a resolution on a print region of a printing medium, the print region having a length and a width, comprising the following steps: (a) positioning a row of image markers along a marker direction generally parallel to the width, the image markers extending across substantially the entire width of the print region, the image markers spaced apart in the marker direction at a chosen common interval equal to at least three times the resolution; (b) moving, from a start location, the row of image markers and the printing medium relative to one another in a columnar direction transverse to the marker direction, the columnar direction being generally parallel to the length; (c) halting the relative movement of the row of image markers and the printing medium at a stop location; (d) indexing the row of image markers and the printing medium relative to one another an index distance generally parallel to the marker direction; (e) moving the row of image markers and the printing medium relative to one another in a return direction, parallel to and opposite the columnar direction, to the start columnar location after the indexing step (d); and (f) actuating the image markers at chosen columnar positions for imaging image marks on the printing medium during the moving steps (b) and (e); (g) indexing, in the marker direction after the moving step (e), the row of image markers and the printing medium relative to one another; (h) repeating steps (b) through (g) a chosen number of times, the actuating step including: (i) receiving vector input data from a vector input source; (j) computing a first set of image mark data for each columnar position for each image marker during the movement of the image markers from a first set of start locations to a first set of stop locations; (k) writing the first set of image mark data into a first memory area; (l) computing a second set of image mark data from each columnar position for each image marker during subsequent movement of the image markers from a second set of start locations to a second set of stop locations; (m) writing the second set of image mark data into a second memory area; (n) actuating the image markers according to the image mark data in the first memory area during the computing step (l) and the wiring step (m); and (o) actuating the image markers according to the image mark data in the second memory area during the computing step (j) and the writing step (k).

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the image markers include LED's.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein the columnar direction is perpendicular to the marker direction.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the image marks have a dimension in the columnar direction substantially greater than the distance between the chosen columnar positions so the image marks overlap when chosen ones of the image markers are actuated at successive columnar positions.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein the image marks have dimensions in the marker direction substantially greater than the index distance so image marks in adjacent columns at corresponding columnar positions overlap.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein the chosen number of times is equal to one half of the result of the chosen common interval divided by the index distance.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein the index distance is equal to 0.0254 mm.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7 wherein the chosen common interval is equal to 2.54 mm.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 wherein the row of image markers move during moving step (b).

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 wherein the row of image markers move during indexing step (d).

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting the index distance to be equal to the resolution.

Claim 13

A columnar addressing method for use with a raster photoplotter to create an image on an image region on a film, the image region having a length and a width, the image having a resolution, comprising the following steps: (a) positioning a row of light sources along a light source direction generally parallel to the width and across substantially the entire width of the image region at a chosen common interval between one another, the chosen common interval being at least ten times the resolution; (b) moving, from a start location, the row of light sources over the film in a columnar direction perpendicular to the light source direction and generally parallel to the length; (c) halting the movement of the row of light sources at a stop location; (d) indexing the row of light sources an index distance parallel to the light source direction, the index distance being equal to the resolution; (e) following the indexing step (d), moving the row of light sources in a return direction, parallel to and opposite the columnar direction, to the start columnar location; (f) actuating the light sources at chosen columnar positions for creating marks on the printing medium during the moving steps (b) and (e), the marks having dimensions in the columnar and marker directions substantially greater than the index distance and the distance between the chosen columnar positions so the marks overlap when chosen ones of the light sources are actuated at successive columnar positions and at corresponding columnar positions, respectively; (g) indexing the row of light sources the index distance in the light source direction after the moving step (e); and (h) repeating steps (b) through (g) a chosen number of times, the actuating step including: (i) receiving vector input data from a vector input source; (j) computing a first set of mark data for each columnar position for each light source during the movement of the light source from a chosen one of the start and stop locations to the other of the start and stop locations; (k) writing the first set of mark data into a first memory area; (l) computing a second set of mark data for each columnar position for each light source during subsequent movement of the light sources from the other of the star and stop locations to the chosen one of the start and stop locations; (m) writing the second set of mark data into a second memory area; (n) actuating the light sources according to the mark data in the first memory area during the computing step (e) and the writing step (m); (o) actuating the light sources according to the mark data in the second memory area during the computing step (j) and the writing step (k); and (p) repeating steps (i) through (o).

Claim 14

A columnar addressing method for use with a raster photoplotter to create an image on an image region on a film, the image region having a length and a width, the image having a resolution, comprising the following steps: (a) positioning a row of light sources along a light source direction generally parallel to the width and across substantially the entire width of the image region at a chosen common interval between one another, the chosen common interval being at least ten times the resolution; (b) moving, from a start location, the row of light sources over the film in a columnar direction perpendicular to the light source direction and generally parallel to the length; (c) halting the movement of the row of light sources at a stop location; (d) indexing the row of light sources an index distance parallel to the light source direction, the index distance being equal to the resolution; (e) following the indexing step (d), moving the row of light sources in a return direction, parallel to and opposite the columnar direction, to the start columnar location; (f) actuating the light sources at chosen columnar positions for creating marks on the printing medium during the moving steps (b) and (e), the marks having dimensions in the columnar and marker directions substantially greater than the index distance and the distance between the chosen columnar positions so the marks overlap when chosen ones of the light sources are actuated at successive columnar positions and at corresponding columnar positions, respectively; (g) indexing the row of light sources the index distance in the light source direction after the moving step (e); and (h) repeating steps (b) through (g) a chosen number of times, the actuating step including: (i) receiving vector input data from a vector input source; (j) computing a first set of mark data for each columnar position for each light source during the movement of the light source from a chosen one of the start and stop locations to the other of the start and stop locations; (k) writing the first set of mark data into a first memory area; (l) computing a second set of mark data for each columnar position for each light source during subsequent movement of the light sources from the other of the star and stop locations to the chosen one of the start and stop locations; (m) writing the second set of mark data into a second memory area; (n) actuating the light sources according to the mark data in the first memory area during the computing step (e) and the writing step (m); (o) actuating the light sources according to the mark data in the second memory area during the computing step (j) and the writing step (k); and (p) repeating steps (i) through (o).

Claim 17

A serpentine columnar plotting method for creating an image on a printing medium, comprising the following steps: (a) positioning a row of image markers along a marker direction; (b) moving, from a start location, the row of image markers and the printing medium relative to one another in a columnar direction transverse to the marker direction; (c) halting the relative movement of the row of image markers and the printing medium at a stop location; (d) indexing the row of image markers and the printing medium relative to one another an index distance generally parallel to and opposite the marker direction; (e) moving, after the indexing step, the row of image markers and the printing medium relative to one another in a return direction, parallel to and opposite the columnar direction, to the start columnar location; (f) receiving vector input data from a vector input source; (g) computing a first set of image mark data for each columnar position for each image marker during the movement of the image markers from a first set of start locations to a first set of stop locations; (h) writing the first set of image mark data into a first memory area; (i) computing a second set of image mark data from each columnar position for each image marker during subsequent movement of the image markers from a second set of start locations to a second set of stop locations; (j) writing the second set of image mark data into a second memory area; (k) actuating the image markers according to the image mark data in the first memory area during the computing step (i) and the wiring step (j); (l) actuating the image markers according to the image mark data in the second memory area during the computing step (g) and the writing step (h); (m) indexing, in the marker direction after the moving step (e), the row of image markers and the printing medium relative to one another; and (n) repeating steps (b) through (m) a chosen number of times.

Claim 18

A serpentine columnar plotting method for creating an image on a printing medium, comprising the following steps: (a) positioning a row of image markers along a marker direction; (b) moving, from a start location, the row of image markers and the printing medium relative to one another in a columnar direction transverse to the marker direction; (c) halting the relative movement of the row of image markers and the printing medium at a stop location; (d) indexing the row of image markers and the printing medium relative to one another an index distance generally parallel to and opposite the marker direction; (e) moving, after the indexing step, the row of image markers and the printing medium relative to one another in a return direction, parallel to and opposite the columnar direction, to the start columnar location; (f) receiving vector input data from a vector input source; (g) computing a first set of image mark data for each columnar position for each image marker during the movement of the image markers from a first set of start locations to a first set of stop locations; (h) writing the first set of image mark data into a first memory area; (i) computing a second set of image mark data from each columnar position for each image marker during subsequent movement of the image markers from a second set of start locations to a second set of stop locations; (j) writing the second set of image mark data into a second memory area; (k) actuating the image markers according to the image mark data in the first memory area during the computing step (i) and the wiring step (j); (l) actuating the image markers according to the image mark data in the second memory area during the computing step (g) and the writing step (h); (m) indexing, in the marker direction after the moving step (e), the row of image markers and the printing medium relative to one another; and (n) repeating steps (b) through (m) a chosen number of times.

Claim 19

A columnar addressing method for use with a raster photoplotter to create an image on a film, comprising the following steps: (a) positioning a row of light sources along a light source direction at a chosen common interval between one another; (b) moving, from a start location, the row of light sources over the film in a columnar direction perpendicular to the light source direction; (c) halting the movement of the row of light sources at a stop location; (d) indexing the row of light sources an index distance parallel to the light source direction; (e) following the indexing step (d), moving the row of light sources in a return direction, parallel to and opposite the columnar direction, to the start columnar locations; (f) actuating the light sources at chosen columnar positions for creating marks on the printing medium during the moving steps (b) and (e), the marks having dimensions in the columnar and marker directions substantially greater than the index distance and the distance between the chosen columnar positions so the marks overlap when chosen ones of the light sources are actuated ar successive columnar positions and at corresponding columnar positions, respectively, the actuating step including: (g) receiving vector input data from a vector input source; (h) computing a first set of mark data for each columnar position for each light source during the movement of the light source from a first set of start locations to a first set of stop locations; (i) writing the first set of mark data into a first memory area; (j) computing a second set of mark data for each columnar position for each light source during subsequent movement of the light sources from a second set of start locations to a second set of stop locations; (k) writing the second set of mark data into a second memory area; (l) actuating the light sources according to the mark data in the first memory area during the computing step (e) and the writing step (i); (m) actuating the light sources according to the mark data in the second memory area during the computing step (h) and the writing step (i); (n) indexing the row of light sources in the light source direction after the moving step (e); and (o) repeating steps (b) through (n) a chosen number of times.

Claim 20

A columnar addressing method for use with a raster photoplotter to create an image on a film, comprising the following steps: (a) positioning a row of light sources along a light source direction at a chosen common interval between one another; (b) moving, from a start location, the row of light sources over the film in a columnar direction perpendicular to the light source direction; (c) halting the movement of the row of light sources at a stop location; (d) indexing the row of light sources an index distance parallel to the light source direction; (e) following the indexing step (d), moving the row of light sources in a return direction, parallel to and opposite the columnar direction, to the start columnar locations; (f) actuating the light sources at chosen columnar positions for creating marks on the printing medium during the moving steps (b) and (e), the marks having dimensions in the columnar and marker directions substantially greater than the index distance and the distance between the chosen columnar positions so the marks overlap when chosen ones of the light sources are actuated ar successive columnar positions and at corresponding columnar positions, respectively, the actuating step including: (g) receiving vector input data from a vector input source; (h) computing a first set of mark data for each columnar position for each light source during the movement of the light source from a first set of start locations to a first set of stop locations; (i) writing the first set of mark data into a first memory area; (j) computing a second set of mark data for each columnar position for each light source during subsequent movement of the light sources from a second set of start locations to a second set of stop locations; (k) writing the second set of mark data into a second memory area; (l) actuating the light sources according to the mark data in the first memory area during the computing step (e) and the writing step (i); (m) actuating the light sources according to the mark data in the second memory area during the computing step (h) and the writing step (i); (n) indexing the row of light sources in the light source direction after the moving step (e); and (o) repeating steps (b) through (n) a chosen number of times.