US6067405A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multipass color printmasks based on location rules to minimize hue shift, banding and coalescence
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1997-03-04
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Granted: 2000-05-23
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Expires: 2017-03-04
Abstract
Abstract Scanning printheads form a color image as inkdrops in a pixel grid on a print medium. Pixel row spacing equals nozzle pitch. Apparatus holds and provides (or creates in real time) a printmask using location rules that prevent addressing, within each scan, immediately neighboring pixels in any horizontal, vertical or diagonal direction. The mask is applied to control the heads. In other aspects of the invention, the rules also prevent addressing, in each scan, horizontally neighboring pixels within the entire width of the mask; or vertically neighboring pixels within its entire height; or immediate neighbors in any direction across a boundary--horizontal, vertical, or either--between abutting masks. Specific masks are set forth implementing these aspects. Another form of the invention yields a two-pass mask with this pass-number pattern: ##EQU1## Another form is a mask-creating-and-using method: generate a number series to define rows/columns of a pixel grid for printing in successive head passes, test the numbers against rules to minimize ink coalescence, and accumulate the numbers as an array to define a pixel grid--all automatically. Also check performance of arrays so generated, select a preferred one, and store it in a tangible medium for later automatic recall to control a printer.
Inventors
- 👤 Josep Maria Serra
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; G06K15/102; G06K15/105; G06K15/107; B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/21; B41J2/2132; B41J19/00; B41J19/14; B41J19/142; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0082; G06K2215/0097
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for printing a color image on a printing medium; said apparatus comprising: scanning inkjet printhead means for forming a color image as inkdrops in a pixel grid of multiple rows and columns on such medium, said rows being spaced apart by a row spacing; said printhead means having a nozzle pitch equal to the pixel row spacing; means for establishing a printmask wherein location rules substantially prevent addressing, within each scan, any immediately neighboring pixels in any horizontal, vertical or diagonal direction; and means for applying the printmask to control the inkjet printhead means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for printing a color image on a printing medium; said apparatus comprising: scanning inkjet printhead means for forming a color image as inkdrops in a pixel grid of multiple rows and columns on such medium, said rows being spaced apart by a row spacing; said printhead means having a nozzle pitch equal to the pixel row spacing; means for establishing a printmask wherein location rules substantially prevent addressing, within each scan, any immediately neighboring pixels in any horizontal, vertical or diagonal direction; and means for applying the printmask to control the inkjet printhead means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
119 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: full inking of each region of the printing medium requires five passes; and the printmask identifies the pass in which each pixel is addressed, by this sixteen-by-five pattern of pass numbers: ______________________________________
4 1 4 2 3 5 3 5 2 1 4 2 3 5 3 5
3 5 2 1 4 1 4 2 3 5 2 1 4 1 4 2
4 2 3 5 3 5 2 1 4 1 3 5 3 5 2 1
2 1 4 1 4 2 3 5 3 5 4 1 4 2 3 5
3 5 3 5 2 1 4 1 4 2 3 5 2 1 4 1.
______________________________________
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
199 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: full inking of each region of the printing medium requires six passes; and the printmask identifies the pass in which each pixel is addressed, by this sixteen-by-ten pattern of pass numbers: ______________________________________
1 5 3 4 2 6 1 5 3 4 2 6 1 5 4 6
4 2 6 1 5 3 4 2 6 1 5 3 4 2 1 3
1 5 3 4 2 6 1 5 3 4 2 6 1 5 4 6
4 2 6 1 5 3 4 2 6 1 5 3 4 2 1 3
5 3 4 2 6 1 5 3 4 2 6 1 5 4 6 1
2 6 1 5 3 4 2 6 1 5 3 4 2 1 3 4
5 3 4 2 6 1 5 3 4 2 6 1 5 4 6 1
2 6 1 5 3 4 2 6 1 5 3 4 2 1 3 4
3 4 2 6 1 5 3 4 2 6 1 5 4 6 1 5
6 1 5 3 4 2 6 1 5 3 4 2 1 3 4 2.
______________________________________
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the printmask-establishing means further comprise means for establishing the printmask so that: the printmask has a height; and location rules also substantially prevent addressing, in each scan, any vertically neighboring pixels within the entire height of the printmask.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein: there are ten passes; and the printmask identifies the pass in which each pixel is addressed, by this sixteen-by-five pattern of pass numbers: ______________________________________
7 1 6 2 5 8 4 9 3 10 6 2 5 8 4 9
4 9 3 10 7 1 6 2 5 8 3 10 7 1 6 2
6 2 5 8 4 9 3 10 7 1 5 8 4 9 3 10
3 10 7 1 6 2 5 8 4 9 7 1 6 2 5 8
5 8 4 9 3 10 7 1 6 2 4 9 3 10 7 1.
______________________________________
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the printmask-establishing means further comprise means for establishing the printmask so that: the printmask also has a width; and location rules also substantially prevent addressing, in each scan, any horizontally neighboring pixels within the entire width of the printmask.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: the printmask is an eight-by-eight "knight" pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: there are four passes; and the printmask identifies the pass in which each pixel is addressed, by this four-by-four pattern of pass numbers: ______________________________________
4 1 3 2
3 2 4 1
1 4 2 3
2 3 1 4.
______________________________________
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the printmask in particular prevents addressing of any immediately neighboring pixels, in any direction, along boundaries between vertically adjacent swaths, or horizontally adjacent masks, or both, within each scan.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for printing a color image on a printing medium; said apparatus comprising: scanning inkjet printhead means for forming a color image as inkdrops in a pixel grid of multiple rows and columns on such medium, said rows being spaced apart by a row spacing; said printhead means having a nozzle pitch equal to the pixel row spacing; means for establishing a printmask that has a height of at least three pixels, and wherein location rules substantially prevent addressing, within each scan, any vertically neighboring pixels within the entire height of the printmask; and means for applying the printmask to control the inkjet printhead means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for printing a color image on a printing medium; said apparatus comprising: scanning inkjet printhead means for forming a color image as inkdrops in a pixel grid of multiple rows and columns on such medium, said rows being spaced apart by a row spacing; said printhead means having a nozzle pitch equal to the pixel row spacing; means for establishing a printmask that has a height of at least three pixels, and wherein location rules substantially prevent addressing, within each scan, any vertically neighboring pixels within the entire height of the printmask; and means for applying the printmask to control the inkjet printhead means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
206 words
Apparatus for printing a color image on a printing medium; said apparatus comprising: scanning inkjet printhead means for forming a color image as inkdrops in a pixel grid of multiple rows and columns on such medium, said rows being spaced apart by a row spacing; said printhead means having a nozzle pitch equal to the pixel row spacing; means for establishing a printmask that has a height, and wherein location rules substantially prevent addressing, within each scan, any vertically neighboring pixels within the entire height of the printmask; and means for applying the printmask to control the inkjet printhead means, wherein: there are ten passes; and the printmask identifies the pass in which each pixel is addressed, by this sixteen-by-five pattern of pass numbers: ______________________________________
7 1 6 2 5 8 4 9 3 10 6 2 5 8 4 9
4 9 3 10 7 1 6 2 5 8 3 10 7 1 6 2
6 2 5 8 4 9 3 10 7 1 5 8 4 9 3 10
3 10 7 1 6 2 5 8 4 9 7 1 6 2 5 8
5 8 4 9 3 10 7 1 6 2 4 9 3 10 7 1.
______________________________________
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
206 words
Apparatus for printing a color image on a printing medium; said apparatus comprising: scanning inkjet printhead means for forming a color image as inkdrops in a pixel grid of multiple rows and columns on such medium, said rows being spaced apart by a row spacing; said printhead means having a nozzle pitch equal to the pixel row spacing; means for establishing a printmask that has a height, and wherein location rules substantially prevent addressing, within each scan, any vertically neighboring pixels within the entire height of the printmask; and means for applying the printmask to control the inkjet printhead means, wherein: there are ten passes; and the printmask identifies the pass in which each pixel is addressed, by this sixteen-by-five pattern of pass numbers: ______________________________________
7 1 6 2 5 8 4 9 3 10 6 2 5 8 4 9
4 9 3 10 7 1 6 2 5 8 3 10 7 1 6 2
6 2 5 8 4 9 3 10 7 1 5 8 4 9 3 10
3 10 7 1 6 2 5 8 4 9 7 1 6 2 5 8
5 8 4 9 3 10 7 1 6 2 4 9 3 10 7 1.
______________________________________
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the printmask-establishing means further comprise means for establishing the printmask so that: the printmask also has a width; and location rules also substantially prevent addressing, in each scan, any horizontally neighboring pixels within the entire width of the printmask.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein: the printmask is an eight-by-eight "knight" pattern.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
157 words
Apparatus for printing a color image on a printing medium; said apparatus comprising: scanning inkjet printhead means for forming a color image as inkdrops in a pixel grid of multiple rows and columns on such medium, said rows being spaced apart by a row spacing; said printhead means having a nozzle pitch equal to the pixel row spacing; means for establishing a printmask that has a height and a width, and wherein location rules substantially prevent addressing, within each scan, any vertically neighboring pixels within the entire height of the printmask and any horizontally neighboring pixels within the entire width of the printmask; and means for applying the printmask to control the inkjet printhead means, wherein: there are four passes; and the printmask identifies the pass in which each pixel is addressed, by this four-by-four pattern of pass numbers: ______________________________________
4 1 3 2
3 2 4 1
1 4 2 3
2 3 1 4.
______________________________________
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
157 words
Apparatus for printing a color image on a printing medium; said apparatus comprising: scanning inkjet printhead means for forming a color image as inkdrops in a pixel grid of multiple rows and columns on such medium, said rows being spaced apart by a row spacing; said printhead means having a nozzle pitch equal to the pixel row spacing; means for establishing a printmask that has a height and a width, and wherein location rules substantially prevent addressing, within each scan, any vertically neighboring pixels within the entire height of the printmask and any horizontally neighboring pixels within the entire width of the printmask; and means for applying the printmask to control the inkjet printhead means, wherein: there are four passes; and the printmask identifies the pass in which each pixel is addressed, by this four-by-four pattern of pass numbers: ______________________________________
4 1 3 2
3 2 4 1
1 4 2 3
2 3 1 4.
______________________________________
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: the printmask also prevents addressing of any immediately neighboring pixels, in any direction, along boundaries between vertically adjacent swaths, or horizontally adjacent masks, or both, within each scan.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for printing a color image on a printing medium; said apparatus comprising: scanning inkjet printhead means for forming a color image as inkdrops in a pixel grid of multiple rows and columns on such medium, said rows being spaced apart by a row spacing; said printhead means having a nozzle pitch equal to the pixel row spacing; means for establishing a printmask that has a width of at least four pixels, and wherein location rules substantially prevent addressing, within each scan, any horizontally neighboring pixels within the entire width of the printmask; and means for applying the printmask to control the inkjet printhead means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for printing a color image on a printing medium; said apparatus comprising: scanning inkjet printhead means for forming a color image as inkdrops in a pixel grid of multiple rows and columns on such medium, said rows being spaced apart by a row spacing; said printhead means having a nozzle pitch equal to the pixel row spacing; means for establishing a printmask that has a width of at least four pixels, and wherein location rules substantially prevent addressing, within each scan, any horizontally neighboring pixels within the entire width of the printmask; and means for applying the printmask to control the inkjet printhead means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein: the printmask is an eight-by-eight "knight" pattern.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus for printing a color image on a printing medium; said apparatus comprising: scanning inkjet printhead means for forming a color image as inkdrops in a pixel grid of multiple rows and columns on such medium, said rows being spaced apart by a row spacing; said printhead means having a nozzle pitch equal to the pixel row spacing; means for establishing a printmask that has a width, and wherein location rules substantially prevent addressing, within each scan, any horizontally neighboring pixels within the entire width of the printmask; and means for applying the printmask to control the inkjet printhead means, wherein: there are four passes; and the printmask identifies the pass in which each pixel is addressed, by this four-by-four pattern of pass numbers: ______________________________________
4 1 3 2
3 2 4 1
1 4 2 3
2 3 1 4.
______________________________________
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus for printing a color image on a printing medium; said apparatus comprising: scanning inkjet printhead means for forming a color image as inkdrops in a pixel grid of multiple rows and columns on such medium, said rows being spaced apart by a row spacing; said printhead means having a nozzle pitch equal to the pixel row spacing; means for establishing a printmask that has a width, and wherein location rules substantially prevent addressing, within each scan, any horizontally neighboring pixels within the entire width of the printmask; and means for applying the printmask to control the inkjet printhead means, wherein: there are four passes; and the printmask identifies the pass in which each pixel is addressed, by this four-by-four pattern of pass numbers: ______________________________________
4 1 3 2
3 2 4 1
1 4 2 3
2 3 1 4.
______________________________________
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein: the printmask also prevents addressing of any immediately neighboring pixels, in any direction, along boundaries between vertically adjacent swaths, or horizontally adjacent masks, or both, within each scan.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for printing a color image on a printing medium; said apparatus comprising: scanning inkjet printhead means for forming a color image as inkdrops in a pixel grid of multiple rows and columns on such medium; means for establishing a printmask which provides for two passes, and which identifies by this four-by-four pattern of pass numbers the pass in which each pixel is addressed: ##EQU3## and means for applying the printmask to control the inkjet printhead means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for printing a color image on a printing medium; said apparatus comprising: scanning inkjet printhead means for forming a color image as inkdrops in a pixel grid of multiple rows and columns on such medium; means for establishing a printmask which provides for two passes, and which identifies by this four-by-four pattern of pass numbers the pass in which each pixel is addressed: ##EQU3## and means for applying the printmask to control the inkjet printhead means.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for creating and using a printmask for improved print quality in an inkjet printer; said method comprising the steps of: automatically generating a series of numbers for use in defining rows or columns, or both, of a pixel grid for printing in successive passes of a printhead; automatically testing each number against location rules for minimization of ink coalescence and puddling; automatically accumulating the numbers as a patterned array for defining rows and columns of a pixel grid for printing in successive passes of a printhead; operationally checking performance of the array, and others similarly generated, for selection of at least one preferred array; and storing said array in a tangible medium for later automatic recall and use in controlling a printer.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for creating and using a printmask for improved print quality in an inkjet printer; said method comprising the steps of: automatically generating a series of numbers for use in defining rows or columns, or both, of a pixel grid for printing in successive passes of a printhead; automatically testing each number against location rules for minimization of ink coalescence and puddling; automatically accumulating the numbers as a patterned array for defining rows and columns of a pixel grid for printing in successive passes of a printhead; operationally checking performance of the array, and others similarly generated, for selection of at least one preferred array; and storing said array in a tangible medium for later automatic recall and use in controlling a printer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of: recalling and using said stored pattern from the tangible medium, for use in controlling a printer.
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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) | 2003-05-23 | 2003-11-22 | 2004-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-23 | 2007-11-22 | 2008-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-23 | 2011-11-22 | 2012-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |