US6196652B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Scanning an inkjet test pattern for different calibration adjustments
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1998-03-04
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Granted: 2001-03-06
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Expires: 2018-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A calibration technique for a plurality of different color ink printheads which includes printing and scanning a test pattern which incorporates two different calibration adjustments from the same test pattern, with one calibration adjustment at right angles to the scan axis. Further calibration precision is provided by incorporating a controlled color background for the test pattern that minimizes light reflection, as well as basing printhead alignment on the overall swath height of the printheads rather than the centers of the printheads.
Inventors
- 👤 Francesc Subirada
- 👤 Francisco Guerrero
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:43
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/21; B41J2/2132; B41J2/2135; B41J29/00; B41J29/38; B41J29/393
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
An inkjet printing system for forming images on a printing medium, and comprising: a scanning carriage operating along a scan axis and having a plurality of different color ink printheads mounted therein for printing on such printing medium in a print zone; an optical sensor capable of scanning across such printing medium in a scanning zone; and a test pattern comprising a single set of test-pattern bars, printed by the printheads and scanned by the sensor, which test pattern incorporates two different calibration adjustments, at least one of which is at right angles to the scan axis, based upon said same test pattern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
An inkjet printing system for forming images on a printing medium, and comprising: a scanning carriage operating along a scan axis and having a plurality of different color ink printheads mounted therein for printing on such printing medium in a print zone; an optical sensor capable of scanning across such printing medium in a scanning zone; and a test pattern comprising a single set of test-pattern bars, printed by the printheads and scanned by the sensor, which test pattern incorporates two different calibration adjustments, at least one of which is at right angles to the scan axis, based upon said same test pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein: said two different calibration adjustments comprise printhead alignment in the direction at right angles to the scan axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein: the printing-medium-axis printhead alignment comprises alignment based upon the overall swath heights of the printheads rather than the centers of the printheads.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein: said two different calibration adjustments comprise swath-height-error measurement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein: both of said adjustments are at right angles to the scan axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 5 , wherein: said two different calibration adjustments comprise printhead alignment in the direction at right angles to the scan axis, and swath-height-error printhead measurement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 6 , wherein: the printhead alignment comprises alignment based upon the overall swath heights of the printheads rather than the centers of the printheads.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein: the test pattern includes a controlled background that minimizes light reflection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein: the controlled background is printed in a dark color.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 1 : wherein the test pattern has multiple sets of blocks printed by each of the plurality of different color ink printheads respectively; and further comprising automatic circuitry for reading signals from the sensor representative of said test-pattern block positions, and comparing a mean value of two block-position centers with a third block center.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
An inkjet printing system for forming images on a printing medium, and comprising: a scanning carriage operation along a scan axis and having a plurality of different color ink printheads mounted therein for printing on such printing medium in a print zone; an optical sensor capable of scanning across such medium in a scanning zone; and a test pattern, printed by the printheads and scanned by the sensor, which incorporates printhead alignment in a direction, at right angles to the scan axis, based upon the overall swath heights of the printheads rather than the centers of the printheads.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
98 words
An inkjet printing system for forming images on a printing medium, and comprising: a scanning carriage operation along a scan axis and having a plurality of different color ink printheads mounted therein for printing on such printing medium in a print zone; an optical sensor capable of scanning across such medium in a scanning zone; and a test pattern, printed by the printheads and scanned by the sensor, which incorporates printhead alignment in a direction, at right angles to the scan axis, based upon the overall swath heights of the printheads rather than the centers of the printheads.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
An inkjet printing system for forming images on a printing medium, and comprising: a scanning carriage operation along a scan axis and having a plurality of different color ink printheads mounted therein for printing on such printing medium in a print zone; an optical sensor capable of scanning across such medium in a scanning zone; and a test pattern, printed by the printheads and scanned by the sensor, which includes a controlled background that minimizes light reflection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
An inkjet printing system for forming images on a printing medium, and comprising: a scanning carriage operation along a scan axis and having a plurality of different color ink printheads mounted therein for printing on such printing medium in a print zone; an optical sensor capable of scanning across such medium in a scanning zone; and a test pattern, printed by the printheads and scanned by the sensor, which includes a controlled background that minimizes light reflection.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein: the controlled background is printed in a dark color.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein: the dark color is cyan.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
115 words
An inkjet printing system for forming images on a printing medium, and comprising: a scanning carriage operation along a scan axis and having a plurality of different color ink printheads mounted therein for printing on such printing medium in a print zone; an optical sensor capable of scanning across such medium in a scanning zone; and a test pattern, printed by the printheads and scanned by the sensor and having multiple sets of blocks printed by each of the plurality of different color ink printheads respectively; and automatic circuitry for reading signals from the sensor representative of said test-pattern block positions, and comparing a mean value of two block-position centers with a third block center.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
115 words
An inkjet printing system for forming images on a printing medium, and comprising: a scanning carriage operation along a scan axis and having a plurality of different color ink printheads mounted therein for printing on such printing medium in a print zone; an optical sensor capable of scanning across such medium in a scanning zone; and a test pattern, printed by the printheads and scanned by the sensor and having multiple sets of blocks printed by each of the plurality of different color ink printheads respectively; and automatic circuitry for reading signals from the sensor representative of said test-pattern block positions, and comparing a mean value of two block-position centers with a third block center.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein: a center block of the three is always printed in a dark color.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein: the dark color is magenta.
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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) | 2004-03-05 | 2004-09-04 | 2005-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-05 | 2008-09-04 | 2009-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-05 | 2012-09-04 | 2013-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |