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US5859652A
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US
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Color video printer and a photo CD system with integrated printer
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1996-04-10
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Granted: 1999-01-12
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Expires: 2016-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A color video printer system comprises a video format converter which changes the video input format to a form suitable for storage in a digital frame store, a digital frame store, an optional digital image processing system, a digital halftoning unit (preferably using vector error diffusion), a data phasing unit, and a concurrent drop selection and drop separation printing mechanism using liquid ink. The system operates by capturing a single frame of a video signal. This frame is stored in a continuous tone frame store. The image may be processed to remove inter-field motion artifacts, or to provide various forms of image enhancement. When the image is ready to be printed, the digital image contained in the frame store is digitally halftoned in real-time and printed by the printing head. A PhotoCD player operates in a usual manner when viewing digitally encoded photographs on a television set or video monitor. When a photograph is to be printed, the digitally compressed and encoded data is read from the PhotoCD using a CD-ROM drive. This data is decompressed into continuous tone raster image data, which is converted to a bi-level image by digital halftoning, and stored in a bi-level image memory. The contents of the bi-level image memory can then be printed using a concurrent drop selection and drop separation printing head.
Inventors
- 👤 Kia Silverbrook
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:50
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/015; B41J2/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A color video printer using a printing head comprising: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles; (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles; (c) a pressurizing device adapted to subject ink in said body of ink to a pressure of at least 2% above ambient pressure, at least during drop selection and separation to form a meniscus with an air/ink interface; (d) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles; and (e) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A color video printer using a printing head comprising: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles; (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles; (c) a pressurizing device adapted to subject ink in said body of ink to a pressure of at least 2% above ambient pressure, at least during drop selection and separation to form a meniscus with an air/ink interface; (d) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles; and (e) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
117 words
A color video printer using a printing head comprising: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles; (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle; (c) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles; and (d) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles, said drop selection apparatus being capable of producing said difference in meniscus position in the absence of said drop separation apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
A color video printer using a printing head comprising: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles; (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle; (c) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles; and (d) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles, said drop selection apparatus being capable of producing said difference in meniscus position in the absence of said drop separation apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
A color video printer using a printing head comprising: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles; (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle and said ink exhibiting a surface tension decrease of at least 10 mN/m over a 30° C. temperature range; (c) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles; and (d) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
A color video printer using a printing head comprising: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles; (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle and said ink exhibiting a surface tension decrease of at least 10 mN/m over a 30° C. temperature range; (c) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles; and (d) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
191 words
A color video printing apparatus including: (a) a video input format conversion process; (b) a digital frame store; (c) a digital halftoning unit which converts the continuous tone image data stored in said digital frame store to bi-level image data; (d) a data distribution and timing system which provides the bi-level image data to the printing head at the correct time during a printing operation; and (e) a bi-level color printing mechanism including a printer having a print head comprising: (1) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles, (2) a body of ink associated with said nozzles; (3) a pressurizing device adapted to subject ink in said body of ink to a pressure of at least 2% above ambient pressure, at least during drop selection and separation to form a meniscus with an air/ink interface; (4) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles; and (5) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
191 words
A color video printing apparatus including: (a) a video input format conversion process; (b) a digital frame store; (c) a digital halftoning unit which converts the continuous tone image data stored in said digital frame store to bi-level image data; (d) a data distribution and timing system which provides the bi-level image data to the printing head at the correct time during a printing operation; and (e) a bi-level color printing mechanism including a printer having a print head comprising: (1) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles, (2) a body of ink associated with said nozzles; (3) a pressurizing device adapted to subject ink in said body of ink to a pressure of at least 2% above ambient pressure, at least during drop selection and separation to form a meniscus with an air/ink interface; (4) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles; and (5) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A color video printing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 where the bi-level printing mechanism is a single monolithic concurrent drop selection and drop separation printing head which can print to the full width of a photographic print.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A color video printing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 where the bi-level printing mechanism is composed of a plurality of monolithic concurrent drop selection and drop separation printing heads.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A color video printing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising apparatus adapted to receive print paper in the form of pre-cut sheets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A color video printing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising apparatus adapted to receive print paper in the form of a continuous roll, and which incorporates an automatic paper cutter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
188 words
A color video printing apparatus including: (a) a video input format conversion process; (b) a digital frame store; (c) a digital halftoning unit which converts the continuous tone image data stored in said digital frame store to bi-level image data; (d) a data distribution and timing system which provides the bi-level image data to the printing head at the correct time during a printing operation; and (e) a bi-level color printing mechanism including a printer having a print head comprising: (1) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles; (2) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle, (3) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, and (4) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles, said drop selection apparatus being capable of producing said difference in meniscus position in the absence of said drop separation apparatus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
188 words
A color video printing apparatus including: (a) a video input format conversion process; (b) a digital frame store; (c) a digital halftoning unit which converts the continuous tone image data stored in said digital frame store to bi-level image data; (d) a data distribution and timing system which provides the bi-level image data to the printing head at the correct time during a printing operation; and (e) a bi-level color printing mechanism including a printer having a print head comprising: (1) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles; (2) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle, (3) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, and (4) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles, said drop selection apparatus being capable of producing said difference in meniscus position in the absence of said drop separation apparatus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A color video printing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 where the bi-level printing mechanism is a single monolithic concurrent drop selection and drop separation printing head which can print to the full width of a photographic print.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A color video printing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 where the bi-level printing mechanism is composed of a plurality of monolithic concurrent drop selection and drop separation printing heads.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A color video printing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising apparatus adapted to receive print paper in the form of pre-cut sheets.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
A color video printing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising apparatus adapted to receive print paper in the form of a continuous roll, and which incorporates an automatic paper cutter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
186 words
A color video printing apparatus including: (a) a video input format conversion process; (b) a digital frame store; (c) a digital halftoning unit which converts the continuous tone image data stored in said digital frame store to bi-level image data; (d) a data distribution and timing system which provides the bi-level image data to the printing head at the correct time during a printing operation; and (e) a bi-level color printing mechanism including a printer having a print head comprising: (1) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles. (2) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle and said ink exhibiting a surface tension decrease of at least 10 mN/m over a 30° C. temperature range. (3) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, and (4) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
186 words
A color video printing apparatus including: (a) a video input format conversion process; (b) a digital frame store; (c) a digital halftoning unit which converts the continuous tone image data stored in said digital frame store to bi-level image data; (d) a data distribution and timing system which provides the bi-level image data to the printing head at the correct time during a printing operation; and (e) a bi-level color printing mechanism including a printer having a print head comprising: (1) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles. (2) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle and said ink exhibiting a surface tension decrease of at least 10 mN/m over a 30° C. temperature range. (3) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, and (4) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
A color video printing apparatus as claimed in claim 14 where the bi-level printing mechanism is a single monolithic concurrent drop selection and drop separation printing head which can print to the full width of a photographic print.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A color video printing apparatus as claimed in claim 14 where the bi-level printing mechanism is composed of a plurality of monolithic concurrent drop selection and drop separation printing heads.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A color video printing apparatus as claimed in claim 14 further comprising apparatus adapted to receive print paper in the form of pre-cut sheets.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
A color video printing apparatus as claimed in claim 14 further comprising apparatus adapted to receive print paper in the form of a continuous roll, and which incorporates an automatic paper cutter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
123 words
A PhotoCD player incorporating a printing mechanism using a printing head comprising: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles; (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles; (c) a pressurizing device adapted to subject ink in said body of ink to a pressure of at least 2% above ambient pressure, at least during drop selection and separation to form a meniscus with an air/ink interface; (d) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles; and (e) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
123 words
A PhotoCD player incorporating a printing mechanism using a printing head comprising: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles; (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles; (c) a pressurizing device adapted to subject ink in said body of ink to a pressure of at least 2% above ambient pressure, at least during drop selection and separation to form a meniscus with an air/ink interface; (d) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles; and (e) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
120 words
A PhotoCD player incorporating a printing mechanism using a printing head comprising: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles; (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle; (c) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles; and (d) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles, said drop selection apparatus being capable of producing said difference in meniscus position in the absence of said drop separation apparatus.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
120 words
A PhotoCD player incorporating a printing mechanism using a printing head comprising: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles; (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle; (c) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles; and (d) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles, said drop selection apparatus being capable of producing said difference in meniscus position in the absence of said drop separation apparatus.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
118 words
A PhotoCD player incorporating a printing mechanism using a printing head comprising: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles; (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle and said ink exhibiting a surface tension decrease of at least 10 mN/m over a 30° C. temperature range; (c) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles; and (d) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
118 words
A PhotoCD player incorporating a printing mechanism using a printing head comprising: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles; (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle and said ink exhibiting a surface tension decrease of at least 10 mN/m over a 30° C. temperature range; (c) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles; and (d) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
186 words
A PhotoCD player incorporating a printing apparatus including: (a) a computing element; (b) digital data storage system; (c) a CD-ROM drive; (d) an image decompression system; (e) a digital halftoning system; (f) a bi-level image memory; (g) a data distribution and timing system which provides the bi-level image data to the printing head at the correct time during a printing operation; and (h) a bi-level printing mechanism including a printer having a print head comprising: (1) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles (2) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, (3) a pressurizing device adapted to subject ink in said body of ink to a pressure of at least 2% above ambient pressure, at least during drop selection and separation to form a meniscus with an air/ink interface, (4) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, and (5) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
186 words
A PhotoCD player incorporating a printing apparatus including: (a) a computing element; (b) digital data storage system; (c) a CD-ROM drive; (d) an image decompression system; (e) a digital halftoning system; (f) a bi-level image memory; (g) a data distribution and timing system which provides the bi-level image data to the printing head at the correct time during a printing operation; and (h) a bi-level printing mechanism including a printer having a print head comprising: (1) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles (2) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, (3) a pressurizing device adapted to subject ink in said body of ink to a pressure of at least 2% above ambient pressure, at least during drop selection and separation to form a meniscus with an air/ink interface, (4) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, and (5) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
183 words
A PhotoCD player incorporating a printing apparatus including: (a) a computing element; (b) digital data storage system; (c) a CD-ROM drive; (d) an image decompression system; (e) a digital halftoning system; (f) a bi-level image memory; (g) a data distribution and timing system which provides the bi-level image data to the printing head at the correct time during a printing operation; and (h) a bi-level printing mechanism including a printer having a print head comprising: (1) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles. (2) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle, (3) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzlesL and (4) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles, said drop selection apparatus being capable of producing said difference in meniscus position in the absence of said drop separation apparatus.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
183 words
A PhotoCD player incorporating a printing apparatus including: (a) a computing element; (b) digital data storage system; (c) a CD-ROM drive; (d) an image decompression system; (e) a digital halftoning system; (f) a bi-level image memory; (g) a data distribution and timing system which provides the bi-level image data to the printing head at the correct time during a printing operation; and (h) a bi-level printing mechanism including a printer having a print head comprising: (1) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles. (2) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle, (3) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzlesL and (4) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles, said drop selection apparatus being capable of producing said difference in meniscus position in the absence of said drop separation apparatus.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
181 words
A PhotoCD player incorporating a printing apparatus including: (a) a computing element; (b) digital data storage system; (c) a CD-ROM drive; (d) an image decompression system; (e) a digital halftoning system; (f) a bi-level image memory; (g) a data distribution and timing system which provides the bi-level image data to the printing head at the correct time during a printing operation; and (h) a bi-level printing mechanism including a printer having a print head comprising: (1) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles. (2) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle and said ink exhibiting a surface tension decrease of at least 10 mN/m over a 30° C. temperature range, (3) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, and (4) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
181 words
A PhotoCD player incorporating a printing apparatus including: (a) a computing element; (b) digital data storage system; (c) a CD-ROM drive; (d) an image decompression system; (e) a digital halftoning system; (f) a bi-level image memory; (g) a data distribution and timing system which provides the bi-level image data to the printing head at the correct time during a printing operation; and (h) a bi-level printing mechanism including a printer having a print head comprising: (1) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles. (2) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle and said ink exhibiting a surface tension decrease of at least 10 mN/m over a 30° C. temperature range, (3) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, and (4) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles.
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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) | 2002-01-11 | 2002-07-13 | 2003-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-11 | 2006-07-13 | 2007-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-11 | 2010-07-13 | 2011-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |