Patent US5044796A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5044796A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bidirectional printing method in accordance with vertical breaks
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1989-01-19
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Granted: 1991-09-03
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Expires: 2009-01-19
Abstract
Abstract The invented bidirectional graphics printing method includes software which first receives data describing at least part of an image to be printed, and then looks for breaks in the image. When a break is detected, bidirectional printing 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
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:34
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: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for increasing the throughput of a scanning-head printer comprising: receiving data defining an image to be printed; analyzing such received data to determine when bidirectional printing could cause print misregistration between vertically adjacent parts of the image, said analyzing including detecting dot-row or vertical alignment breaks; and printing passes of the image bidirectionally when there are such breaks and unidirectionally when no such breaks are detected.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for increasing the throughput of a scanning-head printer comprising: receiving data defining an image to be printed; analyzing such received data to determine when bidirectional printing could cause print misregistration between vertically adjacent parts of the image, said analyzing including detecting dot-row or vertical alignment breaks; and printing passes of the image bidirectionally when there are such breaks and unidirectionally when no such breaks are detected.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for increasing the throughout of a scanning-head printer comprising: receiving data defining an image to be printed; analyzing such received data to determine when bidirectional printing could cause print misregistration between vertically adjacent parts of the image, said analyzing including detecting solid image breaks within each printhead pass of the image; and printing passes of the image bidirectionally when print misregistration would not occur and unidirectionally when such misregistration could occur.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for increasing the throughout of a scanning-head printer comprising: receiving data defining an image to be printed; analyzing such received data to determine when bidirectional printing could cause print misregistration between vertically adjacent parts of the image, said analyzing including detecting solid image breaks within each printhead pass of the image; and printing passes of the image bidirectionally when print misregistration would not occur and unidirectionally when such misregistration could occur.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the step of printing includes printing passes of the image which immediately follow the passes in which only one such break is detected bidirectionally, and printing other passes of the image unidirectionally.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the step of analyzing further includes detecting dot-row breaks between vertically adjacent parts of the image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the step of printing further includes printing the passes of the image which immediately follow the passes in which such dot-row breaks are detected, and only one such solid image break is detected, bidirectionally, and printing other passes of the image unidirectionally.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
183 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 data defining at least part of an image to be printed; analyzing such received data to detect any dot-row breaks; determining the location of such dot-row breaks in relation to the printhead height; detecting solid image breaks within each printhead pass of the image; printing 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 two solid image breaks are detected within the printhead height; and If a dot-row break occurs at or beyond 3/4 of the printhead height and no more than two solid image breaks are detected within the printhead height, then printing the dot rows up to the dot-row break and allowing the next print pass to be printed the opposite direction.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
183 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 data defining at least part of an image to be printed; analyzing such received data to detect any dot-row breaks; determining the location of such dot-row breaks in relation to the printhead height; detecting solid image breaks within each printhead pass of the image; printing 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 two solid image breaks are detected within the printhead height; and If a dot-row break occurs at or beyond 3/4 of the printhead height and no more than two solid image breaks are detected within the printhead height, then printing the dot rows up to the dot-row break and allowing the next print pass to be printed the opposite direction.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
146 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 data defining at least part of an image to be printed; analyzing such received data to detect any dot-row breaks; determining the location of such dot-row breaks in relation to the printhead height; printing 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 print head height; and if a dot-row break occurs at or beyond 3/4 of the printhead height, then printing the dot rows up to the dot-row break and allowing the next print pass to be printed in the opposite direction.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
146 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 data defining at least part of an image to be printed; analyzing such received data to detect any dot-row breaks; determining the location of such dot-row breaks in relation to the printhead height; printing 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 print head height; and if a dot-row break occurs at or beyond 3/4 of the printhead height, then printing the dot rows up to the dot-row break and allowing the next print pass to be printed in the opposite direction.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
45 words
A method for increasing the throughput of a scanning-head printer comprising: receiving data defining at least part of an image to be printed; analyzing the data to detect dow-row breaks; and allowing passes of the image to be printed bidirectionally when dot-row breaks are detected.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
45 words
A method for increasing the throughput of a scanning-head printer comprising: receiving data defining at least part of an image to be printed; analyzing the data to detect dow-row breaks; and allowing passes of the image to be printed bidirectionally when dot-row breaks are detected.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
47 words
A method for increasing the throughput of a scanning-head printer comprising: receiving data defining at least part of an image to be printed; analyzing the data to detect vertical alignment breaks; and allowing passes of the image to be printed bidirectionally when vertical alignment breaks are detected.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
47 words
A method for increasing the throughput of a scanning-head printer comprising: receiving data defining at least part of an image to be printed; analyzing the data to detect vertical alignment breaks; and allowing passes of the image to be printed bidirectionally when vertical alignment breaks are detected.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for increasing the throughput of a scanning-head printer comprising: receiving data defining at least part of an image to be printed; analyzing the data to detect dot-row and vertical alignment breaks; and allowing passes of the image to be printed bidirectionally when either type of break is detected.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for increasing the throughput of a scanning-head printer comprising: receiving data defining at least part of an image to be printed; analyzing the data to detect dot-row and vertical alignment breaks; and allowing passes of the image to be printed bidirectionally when either type of break is detected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
113 words
For use by 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, a method for increasing the printer's throughput comprising: receiving data defining at least part of an image to be printed; analyzing the data to detect dot-row breaks; determining the location of the dot-row breaks in relation to the printhead height; analyzing the data to detect solid images within the received data; and allowing passes of the image to be printed bidirectionally when a dot-row break is detected at or beyond 3/4 of the printhead height and there is only one solid image above the dot-row break.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
113 words
For use by 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, a method for increasing the printer's throughput comprising: receiving data defining at least part of an image to be printed; analyzing the data to detect dot-row breaks; determining the location of the dot-row breaks in relation to the printhead height; analyzing the data to detect solid images within the received data; and allowing passes of the image to be printed bidirectionally when a dot-row break is detected at or beyond 3/4 of the printhead height and there is only one solid image above the dot-row break.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-02 | 1995-03-04 | 1995-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-02 | 1999-03-04 | 1999-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-02 | 2003-03-04 | 2003-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |