US6079806A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for producing halftone images suitable for lithographic printing plate
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1997-11-17
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Granted: 2000-06-27
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Expires: 2017-11-17
Abstract
Abstract An ink jet printing apparatus responsive to an input digital image for producing a halftone image on a receiver, such as a lithographic plate, having halftone dots with each halftone dot being formed by one or more microdots in a screen dot of selectable areas, including an adjustable printhead for delivering different volumes of ink droplets which, when they contact the receiver, forming microdots of different areas according to the selected screen dot size. The apparatus delivers ink to the printhead and is responsive to a selected screen dot size and the digital image to control the printhead to form ink droplets of different volumes to produce a halftone image on the receiver.
Inventors
- 👤 Xin Wen
- 👤 Seung H. Baek
- 👤 Thap DoMinh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:26
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/21; B41J2/2121; B41J2/2128
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
An ink jet printing apparatus responsive to an input digital image for producing a halftone image on a receiver, such as a lithographic plate, having halftone dots with each halftone dot being formed by two or more microdots in a screen dot of selectable size, comprising: a) an adjustable printhead for delivering different volumes of ink droplets which, when they contact the receiver, form microdots of different areas according to the selected screen dot size; b) means for delivering ink to the printhead; and c) means responsive to a selected screen dot size and the digital image to control the printhead to form ink droplets of different volumes to produce screen dots each having a plurality of microdots to thereby form a halftone image on the receiver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
An ink jet printing apparatus responsive to an input digital image for producing a halftone image on a receiver, such as a lithographic plate, having halftone dots with each halftone dot being formed by two or more microdots in a screen dot of selectable size, comprising: a) an adjustable printhead for delivering different volumes of ink droplets which, when they contact the receiver, form microdots of different areas according to the selected screen dot size; b) means for delivering ink to the printhead; and c) means responsive to a selected screen dot size and the digital image to control the printhead to form ink droplets of different volumes to produce screen dots each having a plurality of microdots to thereby form a halftone image on the receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink jet printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein a single halftone dot of variable size is formed in the screen dot.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ink jet printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means of element c) further includes means for determining the print density by controlling the diameter of the microdot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ink jet printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the printhead is a piezoelectric inkjet printhead.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ink jet printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the printhead is a thermal inkjet printhead.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
218 words
An ink jet printing apparatus responsive to an input digital image for producing a halftone image on a receiver, such as a lithographic plate, having halftone dots with each halftone dot being formed by two or more microdots in a screen dot of selectable size, comprising: a) an adjustable printhead for delivering different volumes of ink droplets which, when they contact the receiver, form microdots of different areas according to the selected screen dot size; b) means for delivering ink to the printhead; and c) means responsive to a selected screen dot size and the digital image to control the printhead to form ink droplets of different volumes to produce screen dots each having a plurality of microdots to thereby form a halftone image on the receiver, including: i) a performance look-up table having information corresponding to electric signals which are useable by the printhead to control ink droplets of different volumes and ink dot diameter formed by each ink droplet; and ii) means coupled to the performance look-up table and responsive to the input digital image and the selected screen dot size for determining the pattern of microdots to be produced in the screen dots and having a waveform generator for producing the electrical signal for controlling the printhead to produce a desired volume of ink droplet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
218 words
An ink jet printing apparatus responsive to an input digital image for producing a halftone image on a receiver, such as a lithographic plate, having halftone dots with each halftone dot being formed by two or more microdots in a screen dot of selectable size, comprising: a) an adjustable printhead for delivering different volumes of ink droplets which, when they contact the receiver, form microdots of different areas according to the selected screen dot size; b) means for delivering ink to the printhead; and c) means responsive to a selected screen dot size and the digital image to control the printhead to form ink droplets of different volumes to produce screen dots each having a plurality of microdots to thereby form a halftone image on the receiver, including: i) a performance look-up table having information corresponding to electric signals which are useable by the printhead to control ink droplets of different volumes and ink dot diameter formed by each ink droplet; and ii) means coupled to the performance look-up table and responsive to the input digital image and the selected screen dot size for determining the pattern of microdots to be produced in the screen dots and having a waveform generator for producing the electrical signal for controlling the printhead to produce a desired volume of ink droplet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink jet printing apparatus of claim 6 wherein a single halftone dot of variable area is formed in the screen dot.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ink jet printing apparatus of claim 6 wherein the printhead is a piezoelectric inkjet printhead.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ink jet printing apparatus of claim 6 wherein the printhead is a thermal inkjet printhead.
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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) | 2003-06-27 | 2003-12-27 | 2004-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-27 | 2007-12-27 | 2008-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-27 | 2011-12-27 | 2012-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |