US5949453A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mixed resolution printing for color and monochrome printers
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 1993-10-29
•
Granted: 1999-09-07
•
Expires: 2013-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A printer with mixed base resolution capabilities, having a higher resolution monochrome component such as black and lower resolution components such as cyan, magenta and yellow. The different resolution components are integrated into the same printing mechanism for composite printing of higher resolution black and lower resolution color at the same time. For increased throughput, a higher resolution black printhead has a wider swath.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald G. Harris
- 👤 Majid Azmoon
- 👤 Gary M. Nobel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:47
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17503; B41J2/17526; B41J2/135; B41J2/145; B41J2/15; B41J2/1752; B41J2/21; B41J2/2121; B41J2/2125; B41J2/2132; B41J2/485; B41J2/505; B41J2/5056; B41J2/525; B41J3/00; B41J3/54; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; G06K15/102; G06K15/105; G06K15/107; B41J2/14; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0082; G06K2215/0094
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
309 words
A mixed-resolution printer for printing images in plural colors on print media; said printer comprising: a frame for holding media in a print zone; a carriage supported on the frame adjacent to the print zone for traversing the media along a carriage-scan axis; means, supported on the frame, for establishing a media-advance axis that is fixed with respect to the frame and is substantially at right angles to the carriage-scan axis, and for providing relative motion between the media and the carriage, along the media-advance axis; first printing means, comprising a first printhead, for printing an entire first-color portion of an image and having a first print resolution, said first printing means being capable of no finer resolution, in a single print pass, than said first print resolution; said entire first-color portion being as distinguished from merely filling in unprinted space between dots printed in the same first color by other printing means; and said printer having no first-color printhead other than the first printhead of the first printing means; second printing means, comprising a second printhead, for concurrently printing an entire second-color portion of the image, said second-color portion being a different color than said first color, while the first printhead prints at the first print resolution, and having a second print resolution lower than the first print resolution; said entire second-color portion being as distinguished from merely filling in unprinted space between dots printed in the same second color by other printing means; said second printing means being capable of no finer resolution, in a single print pass, than said second resolution; and said printer having no second-color printhead other than the second printhead of the second printing means; and means for mounting the first and second printheads on the carriage for composite printing by the first and second printheads on the media in the print zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
309 words
A mixed-resolution printer for printing images in plural colors on print media; said printer comprising: a frame for holding media in a print zone; a carriage supported on the frame adjacent to the print zone for traversing the media along a carriage-scan axis; means, supported on the frame, for establishing a media-advance axis that is fixed with respect to the frame and is substantially at right angles to the carriage-scan axis, and for providing relative motion between the media and the carriage, along the media-advance axis; first printing means, comprising a first printhead, for printing an entire first-color portion of an image and having a first print resolution, said first printing means being capable of no finer resolution, in a single print pass, than said first print resolution; said entire first-color portion being as distinguished from merely filling in unprinted space between dots printed in the same first color by other printing means; and said printer having no first-color printhead other than the first printhead of the first printing means; second printing means, comprising a second printhead, for concurrently printing an entire second-color portion of the image, said second-color portion being a different color than said first color, while the first printhead prints at the first print resolution, and having a second print resolution lower than the first print resolution; said entire second-color portion being as distinguished from merely filling in unprinted space between dots printed in the same second color by other printing means; said second printing means being capable of no finer resolution, in a single print pass, than said second resolution; and said printer having no second-color printhead other than the second printhead of the second printing means; and means for mounting the first and second printheads on the carriage for composite printing by the first and second printheads on the media in the print zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mixed-resolution printer of claim 1, wherein: said first printhead includes a black printhead, which has said first resolution; and said second printhead includes a chromatic-color printhead, which has said second resolution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mixed-resolution printer of claim 2, wherein: said second printhead is for printing in at least one color selected from a group consisting of cyan, magenta, yellow, red, green and blue.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mixed-resolution printer of claim 2, wherein: said first resolution of said black printhead is higher than the aforesaid second resolution of said color print-head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The mixed-resolution printer of claim 2, wherein: said color printhead has a printing swath having a width; and said black printhead has a printing swath that is substantially wider than the printing swath of said color printhead.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The mixed resolution printer of claim 1, wherein: said first printhead has a first nozzle pitch as measured parallel to the media-advance axis; said second printhead has a second nozzle pitch as measured parallel to the media-advance axis; and said first nozzle pitch is less than said second nozzle pitch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mixed-resolution printer of claim 1, wherein: said first printhead includes a color component which is different from a color component of said second print-head.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The mixed-resolution printer of claim 1, wherein: said mounting means comprise means for mounting said first and second printheads in relative positions, along the media-advance axis, which produce at least partially overlapping print swaths from said printheads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The mixed-resolution printer of claim 1, wherein: said first printhead has a first print resolution greater than said second print resolution of said second printhead; said second printhead has a print swath having a width; and said first printhead has a print swath that is substantially wider than the print swath of said second printhead.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mixed-resolution printer of claim 9, wherein: said mounting means comprise means for mounting said second printhead in completely overlapped printing alignment with said first printhead.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mixed resolution printer of claim 9 wherein said first printhead includes a black component.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mixed resolution printer of claim 11 wherein said second printhead includes a color component selected from the group consisting of cyan, magenta, yellow, red, green, and blue.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
268 words
A mixed-resolution printer for printing images in plural colors on print media; said printer comprising: a frame including means for establishing a media-advance axis that is fixed with respect to the frame, and for advancing media along the media-advance axis through a print zone; a carriage mounted on the frame for traversing the print zone, along a carriage-scan axis that is substantially at right angles to the media-advance axis; first printing means, including a black component, for printing an entire black portion of an image at a first print resolution, said first printing means being capable of no finer resolution, in a single print pass, than said first print resolution; said entire black portion being as distinguished from merely filling in unprinted space between dots printed in black by other printing means; and said printer having no black printhead with a finest resolution different from the first print resolution; second printing means, including a chromatic-color component, for concurrently printing an entire chromatic-color portion of the image at a second print resolution lower than said first print resolution, said second printing means being capable of no finer resolution, in a single print pass, than said second resolution; said entire chromatic-color portion being as distinguished from merely filling in unprinted space between dots printed in a same said chromatic color by other printing means; and said printer having no chromatic-color printhead with a finest resolution different from the second print resolution; and means for mounting said first and second print means on said carriage for composite printing by the first and second printheads on the media in the print zone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
268 words
A mixed-resolution printer for printing images in plural colors on print media; said printer comprising: a frame including means for establishing a media-advance axis that is fixed with respect to the frame, and for advancing media along the media-advance axis through a print zone; a carriage mounted on the frame for traversing the print zone, along a carriage-scan axis that is substantially at right angles to the media-advance axis; first printing means, including a black component, for printing an entire black portion of an image at a first print resolution, said first printing means being capable of no finer resolution, in a single print pass, than said first print resolution; said entire black portion being as distinguished from merely filling in unprinted space between dots printed in black by other printing means; and said printer having no black printhead with a finest resolution different from the first print resolution; second printing means, including a chromatic-color component, for concurrently printing an entire chromatic-color portion of the image at a second print resolution lower than said first print resolution, said second printing means being capable of no finer resolution, in a single print pass, than said second resolution; said entire chromatic-color portion being as distinguished from merely filling in unprinted space between dots printed in a same said chromatic color by other printing means; and said printer having no chromatic-color printhead with a finest resolution different from the second print resolution; and means for mounting said first and second print means on said carriage for composite printing by the first and second printheads on the media in the print zone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The mixed resolution printer of claim 13 wherein said second print means includes three different color printheads.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The mixed-resolution printer of claim 13, wherein: said first printing means and second printing means are mounted on the carriage adjacent to one another, but staggered along the media-advance axis to produce at least partially overlapping printing swaths from said first printing means and second printing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
The mixed resolution printer of claim 13, wherein: said first printing means comprise a printhead having a first nozzle pitch; said second printing means comprise a printhead having a second nozzle pitch; and said first nozzle pitch is less than said second nozzle pitch as measured parallel to said media advance axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
The mixed resolution printer of claim 13, wherein: said first printing means and second print means each have respective multiple image-forming devices spaced parallel to the media-advance axis for providing said first print resolution and second print resolution respectively; said first and second print resolutions have respective values expressed in terms of pixel rows per unit distance parallel to the media advance axis; and said first print resolution is at least 20 percent higher than said second print resolution.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
77 words
the mixed-resolution printer of claim 13, wherein: said first printing means and second printing means have multiple image-forming devices spaced parallel to the media-advance axis for providing said first print resolution and second print resolution respectively; said first print resolution and second print resolution have respective values expressed in terms of pixel rows per unit distance parallel to the media-advance axis; and said first print-resolution value is at least 50 percent higher than said second print-resolution value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
77 words
The mixed-resolution printer of claim 13, wherein: said first printing means and second printing means have multiple image-forming devices spaced parallel to the media-advance axis for providing said first print resolution and second print resolution respectively; said first print resolution and second print resolution have respective values expressed in terms of pixel rows per unit distance parallel to the media-advance axis; and said first print resolution is at least 100 percent higher than said second print resolution.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The mixed-resolution printer of claim 13, wherein: said second print resolution is 7.1 pixel rows per millimeter (180 pixel rows per inch), as measured parallel to the media-advance axis.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The mixed-resolution printer of claim 13, wherein: said first print resolution is 7.9 pixel rows per millimeter (200 pixel rows per inch), as measured parallel to the media-advance axis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The mixed-resolution printer of claim 16, wherein: said first and second printing means are mounted on the carriage adjacent to one another, but staggered along the media-advance axis to produce at least partially overlapping print swaths from said printheads.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The mixed-resolution printer of claim 16, wherein: said second printing means have a printing swath having a width; and said first print means have a substantially wider print swath that said second print means have.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
70 words
The mixed-resolution printer of claim 13, wherein: said second printing means have a printing swath having a width; said first printing means have a substantially wider printing than said second print means have; and said first print means are mounted in said carriage so that said wider print swath with said black component is capable of completely overlapping a print swath of said color component of said second printing means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
The mixed resolution printer of claim 13 wherein said first printing means includes a first printing cartridge having a first electrical interconnect; said second printing means includes a second printing cartridge having a second electrical interconnect; said carriage includes means for removably mounting said first and second print cartridges on said carriage.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
66 words
The mixed resolution printer of claim 25 wherein said first electrical interconnect is different from said second electrical interconnect, and wherein said carriage further includes first resilient means for operatively engaging said first electrical interconnect when said first print cartridge is mounted on said carriage; and second resilient means for operatively engaging said second electrical interconnect when said second print cartridge is mounted on said carriage.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
The mixed resolution printer of claim 26 wherein said first resilient means includes foam means for operatively engaging said first electrical interconnect, and said second resilient means includes spring means for operatively engaging said second electrical interconnect, said spring means being different from said foam means.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
146 words
A method a mixed-resolution printing of images in plural colors, comprising the steps of: applying, with a first printing means, a first monochrome printed component, having a first resolution, to a given area on media in a print zone to produce an entire first-monochrome component being as distinguished from merely filling in unprinted space between dots printed in a same first monochrome color by other printing means; and concurrently applying, with a second printing means, a second monochrome printed component, having a different color than the first monochrome component and having a second resolution less than first resolution to produce an entire second-monochrome component of the image, said entire second-monochrome component being as distinguished from merely filling in unprinted space between dots printed in a same second monochrome color by other printing means, to said given area on the media to create composite mixed resolution printout.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
146 words
A method a mixed-resolution printing of images in plural colors, comprising the steps of: applying, with a first printing means, a first monochrome printed component, having a first resolution, to a given area on media in a print zone to produce an entire first-monochrome component being as distinguished from merely filling in unprinted space between dots printed in a same first monochrome color by other printing means; and concurrently applying, with a second printing means, a second monochrome printed component, having a different color than the first monochrome component and having a second resolution less than first resolution to produce an entire second-monochrome component of the image, said entire second-monochrome component being as distinguished from merely filling in unprinted space between dots printed in a same second monochrome color by other printing means, to said given area on the media to create composite mixed resolution printout.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said first monochrome component includes a black component, and wherein said second monochrome component includes a color component selected from the group consisting of cyan, magenta, yellow, red, green, and blue.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 28 for achieving mixed resolution printing in a swath printer, wherein both of said applying steps occur on the same swath.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 28 for achieving mixed resolution printing in an inkjet printer, wherein said first monochrome component includes a black component, and wherein said second monochrome component includes a separate cyan component, a separate magenta component, and a separate yellow component.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4511907A
Cited
JPS61104856A
Cited
US4750009A
Cited
US4709246A
Cited
JPH01208143A
Cited
JPH01216852A
Cited
US4864328A
Cited
WO1990002925A1
Cited
US5142374A
Cited
EP0401575A1
Cited
WO1991008902A1
Cited
US5012257A
Cited
EP0481829A2
Cited
US5208605A
Cited
JPH05261941A
Cited
US5376958A
Cited
US5512923A
Cited
US5412410A
Cited
US5404020A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-06 | 2003-03-08 | 2003-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-06 | 2007-03-08 | 2007-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-06 | 2011-03-08 | 2011-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |