US5485180A — Inking for color-inkjet printers, using non-integ…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 222 words

A method of printing color images by binary construction from individual ink drops deposited in pixel arrays; said method comprising the steps of: establishing at least one certain primary or secondary chromatic color that is binary-printed as a predetermined, fixed number of drops of ink which exceeds two drops per pixel, said at least one primary or secondary chromatic color being fewer than all primary and secondary colors that are printed; receiving information about a given desired image to be printed on a given printing medium; determining for each particular pixel, in the given desired image on the given printing medium, a specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color; if the specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color is one which said establishing step has established is printed as more than two drops of ink per pixel, then applying to that particular pixel or one or more closely associated pixels said predetermined, fixed number of drops which exceeds two drops of ink per pixel; and if the specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color is not one which the establishing step has established is printed as more than two drops of ink per pixel, then applying to that particular pixel no more than one drop of ink for a primary chromatic color, or two drops of ink for a secondary chromatic color.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 222 words

A method of printing color images by binary construction from individual ink drops deposited in pixel arrays; said method comprising the steps of: establishing at least one certain primary or secondary chromatic color that is binary-printed as a predetermined, fixed number of drops of ink which exceeds two drops per pixel, said at least one primary or secondary chromatic color being fewer than all primary and secondary colors that are printed; receiving information about a given desired image to be printed on a given printing medium; determining for each particular pixel, in the given desired image on the given printing medium, a specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color; if the specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color is one which said establishing step has established is printed as more than two drops of ink per pixel, then applying to that particular pixel or one or more closely associated pixels said predetermined, fixed number of drops which exceeds two drops of ink per pixel; and if the specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color is not one which the establishing step has established is printed as more than two drops of ink per pixel, then applying to that particular pixel no more than one drop of ink for a primary chromatic color, or two drops of ink for a secondary chromatic color.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 85 words

The method of claim 1, particularly for use in a three-bit-binary color-reproduction system using said binary construction for each of three independent chromatic inks, and wherein: the determining step comprises resolving chromatic information about the given desired image at said particular pixel into said three-bit-color system, incorporating influence from other pixels nearby, and selecting exactly one single primary or secondary color for printing at said particular pixel; and said applying step is exclusive of printing any other primary or secondary color at that particular pixel.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 2, wherein: said predetermined, fixed number of drops is three; and the applying step comprises applying three drops of ink in that particular pixel.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 3, wherein: the establishing step establishes that red is printed as more than two drops of ink; and the applying step comprises printing red as one drop of yellow ink and two drops of magenta ink.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 208 words

A method of printing chromatic color images by binary construction from individual ink drops deposited in pixel arrays, particularly for use in a three-bit-binary color-reproduction system using said binary construction for each of three independent chromatic inks; said method comprising the steps of: establishing at least one certain primary or secondary chromatic color that is binary-printed as a predetermined, fixed number of drops of ink which exceeds two drops per pixel; receiving information about a given desired image to be printed on a given printing medium; determining for each particular pixel, in the given desired image on the given printing medium, a specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color; and if the specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color is one which the establishing step has established is printed as more than two drops of ink per pixel, then applying to that particular pixel or one or more closely associated pixels said predetermined, fixed number of drops which exceeds two drops of ink per pixel; and wherein: said predetermined, fixed number of drops is nonintegral; and the applying step comprises applying a nonintegral number of drops of ink, on the average, over a cluster of pixels associated with that particular pixel; said nonintegral number being larger than two.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 208 words

A method of printing chromatic color images by binary construction from individual ink drops deposited in pixel arrays, particularly for use in a three-bit-binary color-reproduction system using said binary construction for each of three independent chromatic inks; said method comprising the steps of: establishing at least one certain primary or secondary chromatic color that is binary-printed as a predetermined, fixed number of drops of ink which exceeds two drops per pixel; receiving information about a given desired image to be printed on a given printing medium; determining for each particular pixel, in the given desired image on the given printing medium, a specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color; and if the specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color is one which the establishing step has established is printed as more than two drops of ink per pixel, then applying to that particular pixel or one or more closely associated pixels said predetermined, fixed number of drops which exceeds two drops of ink per pixel; and wherein: said predetermined, fixed number of drops is nonintegral; and the applying step comprises applying a nonintegral number of drops of ink, on the average, over a cluster of pixels associated with that particular pixel; said nonintegral number being larger than two.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 211 words

A method of printing chromatic color images on different printing media by construction from individual ink drops deposited in pixel arrays; said different printing media having the property of producing respective different color appearances in response to application of ink, even when ink of the same colors is applied in the same quantities; said method comprising the steps of: establishing at least one certain primary or secondary chromatic color, but no other hue, that receives postrendition superpixel treatment for at least one printing medium; receiving information about a given desired image to be printed on a given printing medium; through a rendition process determining for each particular pixel, in the given desired image on the given printing medium, a specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color, but no other hue; and if the specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color is one which the establishing step has established receives postrendition superpixel treatment for the given printing medium, then: defining a superpixel that consists of a plurality of pixels associated with said particular pixel, and applying to each of the pixels in that superpixel, on the given printing medium, a respective number of drops of ink predetermined for the desired primary or secondary chromatic color in conjunction with the given printing medium.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 211 words

A method of printing chromatic color images on different printing media by construction from individual ink drops deposited in pixel arrays; said different printing media having the property of producing respective different color appearances in response to application of ink, even when ink of the same colors is applied in the same quantities; said method comprising the steps of: establishing at least one certain primary or secondary chromatic color, but no other hue, that receives postrendition superpixel treatment for at least one printing medium; receiving information about a given desired image to be printed on a given printing medium; through a rendition process determining for each particular pixel, in the given desired image on the given printing medium, a specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color, but no other hue; and if the specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color is one which the establishing step has established receives postrendition superpixel treatment for the given printing medium, then: defining a superpixel that consists of a plurality of pixels associated with said particular pixel, and applying to each of the pixels in that superpixel, on the given printing medium, a respective number of drops of ink predetermined for the desired primary or secondary chromatic color in conjunction with the given printing medium.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 6, further comprising: determining, for each medium to be used, whether the specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color is one which receives superpixel treatment.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 6, wherein the superpixel consists of: said particular pixel; and at least one other nearby pixel.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 6, wherein the superpixel consists of: said particular pixel; and three other adjacent pixels.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 9, wherein: the superpixel is a two-by-two cluster of pixels.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 10, wherein: the number of ink drops applied in pixels at opposite corners of the cluster is the same, for both opposite corner pairs; and all four pixels in each cluster are inked.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 106 words

The method of claim 11, wherein: the specific desired primary or secondary color is a secondary color; each of two opposite corners of the cluster receives one drop of ink of a first primary color and one drop of ink of a second primary color; and each of two other opposite corners of the cluster receives one drop of ink of the first primary color and two drops of ink of said second primary color; whereby for the superpixel considered as a unit the average quantity of said second primary color applied is 1.5 drops, and the average quantity of all colors applied is 2.5 drops.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 95 words

The method of claim 12, wherein: if the given printing medium is a nontransparent glossy medium, then said first primary color is yellow and said at least one color that receives superpixel treatment is red and said second primary color is magenta; and if the given printing medium is transparency film, then said at least one color that receives superpixel treatment comprises: green, for which said first primary color is yellow and said second primary color is cyan, and blue, for which said first primary color is magenta and said second primary color is cyan.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 124 words

The method of claim 6, wherein: each of at least one pixel of the superpixel receives a predetermined quantity of ink of a first primary color and at least the same quantity of ink of a second primary color; and each of at least one other pixel of the cluster receives substantially the same quantity of ink of the first primary color and substantially at least twice that same quantity of ink of said second primary color; wherein for the superpixel considered as a unit the average quantity of said second primary color applied is substantially at least 1.2 times said predetermined quantity of ink, and the average quantity of all colors applied is substantially at least 2.2 times said predetermined quantity of ink.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 96 words

The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of: establishing at least one certain primary or secondary color that does not receive superpixel treatment for at least one printing medium; and if the specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color is one which it has been established does not receive superpixel treatment for said given printing medium, then applying to that particular pixel individually, in the given image on the given printing medium, a number of drops of ink predetermined for the desired primary or secondary chromatic color in conjunction with the given printing medium.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 145 words

A method of printing chromatic color images by construction from individual ink drops deposited in pixel arrays; said method comprising the steps of: establishing at least one certain primary or secondary chromatic color that is printed as, in effect, a nonintegral number of ink drops, said nonintegral number being greater than one; receiving information about a given desired image to be printed on a given printing medium; determining for each particular pixel, in the given desired image, a specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color; and if the specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color is one which the establishing step has established is printed by, in effect, a number of drops that is nonintegral and greater than one, then applying to that particular pixel effectively a nonintegral number, greater than one, of drops of ink predetermined for the desired primary or secondary chromatic color.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 145 words

A method of printing chromatic color images by construction from individual ink drops deposited in pixel arrays; said method comprising the steps of: establishing at least one certain primary or secondary chromatic color that is printed as, in effect, a nonintegral number of ink drops, said nonintegral number being greater than one; receiving information about a given desired image to be printed on a given printing medium; determining for each particular pixel, in the given desired image, a specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color; and if the specific desired primary or secondary chromatic color is one which the establishing step has established is printed by, in effect, a number of drops that is nonintegral and greater than one, then applying to that particular pixel effectively a nonintegral number, greater than one, of drops of ink predetermined for the desired primary or secondary chromatic color.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 72 words

The method of claim 16, wherein: the applying step comprises applying a respective integral number of drops of ink to each pixel in a plurality of pixels associated with that particular pixel, said respective integral number being: at least one for each pixel, and at least two, for at least one pixel of the plurality; whereby, over the plurality of pixels, the average number of drops is greater than one and nonintegral.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 17, wherein: the plurality of pixels further comprises at least one pixel that is nearby the particular pixel.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 17, wherein: the plurality of pixels further comprises at least one pixel that is adjacent to the particular pixel.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 17, wherein the superpixel consists of: said particular pixel; and three other adjacent pixels.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 17, wherein: the superpixel is a two-by-two cluster of pixels.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 21, wherein: the number of drops applied in pixels at opposite corners of the cluster is the same.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 119 words

The method of claim 21, wherein: the specific desired primary or secondary color is a secondary color; each of two opposite corners of the cluster receives a predetermined quantity of ink of a first primary color and substantially the same quantity of ink of a second primary color; and each of two other opposite corners of the cluster receives substantially the same quantity of ink of the first primary color and substantially twice that quantity of ink of said second primary color; whereby for the superpixel considered as a unit the average quantity of said second primary color applied is 1.5 times said predetermined quantity, and the average quantity of all colors applied is 2.5 times said predetermined quantity.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 123 words

The method of claim 17, wherein: the specific desired primary or secondary color is a secondary color; each of two pixels of the plurality of pixels receives a predetermined quantity of ink of a first primary color and substantially the same quantity of a second primary color; and each of two other pixels of the plurality of pixels receives substantially the same quantity of ink of the first primary color and substantially twice that quantity of ink of said second primary color; whereby for the plurality of pixels considered as a unit the average quantity of said second primary color applied is substantially 1.5 times said predetermined quantity, and the average quantity of all colors applied is substantially 2.5 times said predetermined quantity.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-01-15	1999-07-17	2000-01-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-01-15	2003-07-17	2004-01-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-01-15	2007-07-17	2008-01-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Inking for color-inkjet printers, using non-integral drop averages, media varying inking, or more than two drops per pixel

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