Patent US5686998A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5686998A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for adjusting color intensity of neighboring pixels
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1995-05-30
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Granted: 1997-11-11
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Expires: 2015-05-30
Abstract
Abstract A method of printing an image onto a substrate includes the steps of determining a difference in intended color intensity between a first pixel and a second pixel; adjusting the intended color intensity of the first pixel based on the determined difference; and depositing a colorant onto the substrate at the first pixel at the adjusted intended intensity, so as to enhance the appearance of the image on the substrate. The current system has particular utility in enhancing the appearance of fine images such as one pixel wide, vertical and diagonal lines in a printing system which utilizes printhead heating elements that are larger in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffery J. Clark
- 👤 Brian G. Crosby
- 👤 Bo Lewendal
- 👤 Gregory P. Thornton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:27
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/409; H04N1/4092
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of printing an image onto a substrate using a rectangular print head with selectively actuatable heating elements that are longer along a first axis than along a second axis, comprising the steps of: a. determining a first difference in intended color intensity between a second pixel and a first pixel in said image; b. determining a second difference in intended color intensity between the second pixel and a third pixel in said image; c. determining a third difference in intended color intensity between the second pixel and a fourth pixel in said image; d. adjusting the intended color intensity of the first pixel and the intended color intensity of the third pixel if said first, said second and said third differences in intended color intensity each exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and e. depositing a colorant onto the substrate at the first pixel at the adjusted intended color intensity of the first pixel, and depositing a colorant onto the substrate at the third pixel at the adjusted intended color intensity of the third pixel, thereby enhancing the appearance of the image on the substrate and producing an image as wide as the first axis of the selectively activated heating elements.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of printing an image onto a substrate using a rectangular print head with selectively actuatable heating elements that are longer along a first axis than along a second axis, comprising the steps of: a. determining a first difference in intended color intensity between a second pixel and a first pixel in said image; b. determining a second difference in intended color intensity between the second pixel and a third pixel in said image; c. determining a third difference in intended color intensity between the second pixel and a fourth pixel in said image; d. adjusting the intended color intensity of the first pixel and the intended color intensity of the third pixel if said first, said second and said third differences in intended color intensity each exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and e. depositing a colorant onto the substrate at the first pixel at the adjusted intended color intensity of the first pixel, and depositing a colorant onto the substrate at the third pixel at the adjusted intended color intensity of the third pixel, thereby enhancing the appearance of the image on the substrate and producing an image as wide as the first axis of the selectively activated heating elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second pixels are adjacent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein step d comprises adjusting the intensity of the first pixel to an average intensity of the first and second pixels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second pixels are near an edge of the image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein steps a through e are repeated for a plurality of colors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein step e is performed by a diffusion-type printer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said diffusion-type printer controls at least 16 levels of color intensity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the color intensity of said third pixel is adjusted to an average intensity of said second pixel and said third pixel.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
217 words
A method of printing a minute image onto a substrate using a print head element which is longer along a first axis than along a second axis, the image including a plurality of pixels; the method comprising the steps of: a. selecting a subset of adjacent pixels; b. determining if a first difference in color intensity between a second of said adjacent pixels and a first of said adjacent pixels is above a predetermined value; c. determining if a second difference in color intensity between the second of said adjacent pixels and a third of said adjacent pixels is above the predetermined value; d. determining if a third difference in color intensity between the second of said adjacent pixels and a fourth of said adjacent pixels is above the predetermined value; e. adjusting said color intensity of said first pixel and said color intensity of said third pixel if said first, said second and said third differences in color intensity is each above said predetermined value; f. repeating steps a through e until all of the plurality of pixels are examined; and g. depositing a colorant onto the substrate according to said adjusted color intensities, said colorant thereby compensating for distortion caused by the print head element and enhancing the appearance of the image on the substrate.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
217 words
A method of printing a minute image onto a substrate using a print head element which is longer along a first axis than along a second axis, the image including a plurality of pixels; the method comprising the steps of: a. selecting a subset of adjacent pixels; b. determining if a first difference in color intensity between a second of said adjacent pixels and a first of said adjacent pixels is above a predetermined value; c. determining if a second difference in color intensity between the second of said adjacent pixels and a third of said adjacent pixels is above the predetermined value; d. determining if a third difference in color intensity between the second of said adjacent pixels and a fourth of said adjacent pixels is above the predetermined value; e. adjusting said color intensity of said first pixel and said color intensity of said third pixel if said first, said second and said third differences in color intensity is each above said predetermined value; f. repeating steps a through e until all of the plurality of pixels are examined; and g. depositing a colorant onto the substrate according to said adjusted color intensities, said colorant thereby compensating for distortion caused by the print head element and enhancing the appearance of the image on the substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said subset is of horizontally adjacent pixels on the substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said subset is of pixels on the substrate which are adjacent in a direction in which the shorter edge of the print head element extends.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said determinations of color intensity includes a comparison at least between immediately adjacent pixels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of said determinations of color intensity is further between said first pixel and said second pixel which is at least two pixels away from said first pixel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the color intensity of said first pixel is adjusted to an average intensity of said first and second pixels.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said steps a through g are repeated for a plurality of colors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said step g is performed by a diffusion-type printer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said printer controls at least 16 levels of color intensity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the color intensity of said third pixel is adjusted to an average intensity of said second pixel and said third pixel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said first and said second pixels are near an edge of an image.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of operating a printing apparatus comprising a plurality of selectively actuatable heating elements that are juxtaposed to a carrier comprising a colorant for printing on a substrate, the heating elements being longer along a first axis than along a second axis, the method comprising the steps of: a. determining a first difference in color intensity between a second pixel and a first pixel; b. determining a second difference in color intensity between the second pixel and a third pixel; c. determining a third difference in color intensity between the second pixel and a fourth pixel; d. adjusting said color intensity of said first pixel and said color intensity of said third pixel if said first, said second and said third differences in color intensity each exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and e. energizing a set of said heating elements to deposit said colorant on the substrate according to said adjusted color intensity of said first pixel and said adjusted color intensity of said third pixel, said colorant enhancing the appearance of the image on the substrate by producing an image as wide as the first axis of the selectively actuatable heating elements.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of operating a printing apparatus comprising a plurality of selectively actuatable heating elements that are juxtaposed to a carrier comprising a colorant for printing on a substrate, the heating elements being longer along a first axis than along a second axis, the method comprising the steps of: a. determining a first difference in color intensity between a second pixel and a first pixel; b. determining a second difference in color intensity between the second pixel and a third pixel; c. determining a third difference in color intensity between the second pixel and a fourth pixel; d. adjusting said color intensity of said first pixel and said color intensity of said third pixel if said first, said second and said third differences in color intensity each exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and e. energizing a set of said heating elements to deposit said colorant on the substrate according to said adjusted color intensity of said first pixel and said adjusted color intensity of said third pixel, said colorant enhancing the appearance of the image on the substrate by producing an image as wide as the first axis of the selectively actuatable heating elements.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 20, wherein said first and second pixels are adjacent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 20, wherein the intensity of said first pixel is adjusted to an average intensity of said first and second pixels.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 20, wherein said first and said second pixels are near an edge of the image.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 20, wherein said steps a through e are repeated for a plurality of colors.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 20, wherein the color intensity of said third pixel is adjusted to an average intensity of said second pixel and said third pixel.
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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) | 2000-11-10 | 2001-05-12 | 2001-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-10 | 2005-05-12 | 2005-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-10 | 2009-05-12 | 2009-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |