Patent US6328396B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6328396B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Combining multiple printmodes into a single carriage sweep
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 2000-01-07
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Granted: 2001-12-11
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Expires: 2020-01-07
Abstract
Abstract A method of reducing a time required for an inkjet printer to print a page minimizes unused pen nozzles during printmode transitions. An image to be printed is typically partitioned into different image regions based on a content of each region, such as text, graphics, or photographic images, each characterized by a different printmode. The image is represented in terms of rows of dots, each dot printed by a pen nozzle as a print carriage sweeps across an output medium. The data representing the dots that are printed in a single sweep is termed a swath. According to the method, a swath contains data from more than one image region, thus reducing the number of swaths required to print an image.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen A. Smith
- 👤 William S. Osborne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:47
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/387; H04N1/3871; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; G06K15/102; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/0077
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for controlling an inkjet printer to print an image on an output medium, the image comprising at least two image regions, each image region associated with a regional printmode depending on a content of the image region, the inkjet printer comprising a printhead that passes across the output medium transferring a portion of the image to the output medium on each passage across the output medium, the method comprising: controlling the printhead to transfer portions of more than one image region to the output medium during a single passage across the output medium, wherein at least two of the more than one image region are associated with different regional printmodes, wherein each regional printmode is associated with printing attributes; wherein said more than one image region is transferred from the printhead to the output medium during said single passage of the printhead across the output medium if the printing attributes of the more than one image region are compatible with each other; and wherein the printing attributes comprise data resolution.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for controlling an inkjet printer to print an image on an output medium, the image comprising at least two image regions, each image region associated with a regional printmode depending on a content of the image region, the inkjet printer comprising a printhead that passes across the output medium transferring a portion of the image to the output medium on each passage across the output medium, the method comprising: controlling the printhead to transfer portions of more than one image region to the output medium during a single passage across the output medium, wherein at least two of the more than one image region are associated with different regional printmodes, wherein each regional printmode is associated with printing attributes; wherein said more than one image region is transferred from the printhead to the output medium during said single passage of the printhead across the output medium if the printing attributes of the more than one image region are compatible with each other; and wherein the printing attributes comprise data resolution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the content of the image region is text, graphics, or a photographic image.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for controlling an inkjet printer to print an image on an output medium, the image comprising at least two image regions, each image region associated with a regional printmode depending on a content of the image region, the inkjet printer comprising a printhead that passes across the output medium transferring a portion of the image to the output medium on each passage across the output medium, the method comprising: controlling the printhead to transfer portions of more than one image region to the output medium during a single passage across the output medium, wherein at least two of the more than one image region are associated with different regional printmodes, wherein each regional printmode is associated with printing attributes; wherein said more than one image region is transferred from the printhead to the output medium during said single passage of the printhead across the output medium if the printing attributes of the more than one image region are compatible with each other; and wherein the printing attributes comprise carriage speed.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for controlling an inkjet printer to print an image on an output medium, the image comprising at least two image regions, each image region associated with a regional printmode depending on a content of the image region, the inkjet printer comprising a printhead that passes across the output medium transferring a portion of the image to the output medium on each passage across the output medium, the method comprising: controlling the printhead to transfer portions of more than one image region to the output medium during a single passage across the output medium, wherein at least two of the more than one image region are associated with different regional printmodes, wherein each regional printmode is associated with printing attributes; wherein said more than one image region is transferred from the printhead to the output medium during said single passage of the printhead across the output medium if the printing attributes of the more than one image region are compatible with each other; and wherein the printing attributes comprise carriage speed.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
219 words
A method for controlling an inkjet printer comprising the acts of: (i) providing a representation of an image to be printed on an output medium in terms of rows of dots, the image comprising a plurality of image regions, each image region associated with printing attributes depending on a content of the image region; (ii) placing a plurality of the rows in a cut, the rows corresponding to a single image region, a number of rows in the cut being less than or equal to a number of rows in the representation of the image, and the cut associated with a specific print direction, wherein there are two possible print directions; (iii) transferring the cut to a selected directional buffer corresponding to the specific print direction if (a) the selected directional buffer is empty, or (b) the printing attributes associated with the image region of the cut are compatible with the printing attributes associated with contents of the selected directional buffer and a number of unfilled rows in the selected directional buffer is equal to or larger than the number of rows in the cut; (iv) providing an instruction to print the contents of the selected directional buffer on the output medium; and (v) repeating acts (ii) and (iii) if any rows remain in the representation of the image.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
219 words
A method for controlling an inkjet printer comprising the acts of: (i) providing a representation of an image to be printed on an output medium in terms of rows of dots, the image comprising a plurality of image regions, each image region associated with printing attributes depending on a content of the image region; (ii) placing a plurality of the rows in a cut, the rows corresponding to a single image region, a number of rows in the cut being less than or equal to a number of rows in the representation of the image, and the cut associated with a specific print direction, wherein there are two possible print directions; (iii) transferring the cut to a selected directional buffer corresponding to the specific print direction if (a) the selected directional buffer is empty, or (b) the printing attributes associated with the image region of the cut are compatible with the printing attributes associated with contents of the selected directional buffer and a number of unfilled rows in the selected directional buffer is equal to or larger than the number of rows in the cut; (iv) providing an instruction to print the contents of the selected directional buffer on the output medium; and (v) repeating acts (ii) and (iii) if any rows remain in the representation of the image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 4 wherein transferring the cut to the selected directional buffer if the selected directional buffer is empty further comprises associating a physical position on the output medium with the selected directional buffer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 5 wherein providing an instruction to print the contents of the selected directional buffer on the output medium comprises testing whether the physical position on the output medium associated with the selected directional buffer is higher than a physical position on the output medium associated with a nonselected directional buffer associated with the other print direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 6 wherein providing an instruction to print the contents of the selected directional buffer on the output medium further comprises providing an instruction to print contents of the nonselected directional buffer before providing an instruction to print the contents of the selected directional buffer if the physical position on the output medium associated with the nonselected directional buffer is higher than the physical position on the output medium associated with the selected directional buffer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
The method of claim 7 wherein providing an instruction to print the contents of the selected directional buffer on the output medium is providing an instruction to print the a contents of the selected directional buffer on the output medium if the printing attributes associated with the image region of the cut are not compatible with the printing attributes associated with the contents of the selected directional buffer, or if a number of unfilled rows in the selected directional buffer is smaller than the number of rows in the cut, or if there are no more rows remaining in the representation of the image that have not been placed in the cut.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a maximum number of rows in the first directional buffer is equal to a number of nozzles on a pen of the inkjet printer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the content of the image region is text, graphics, or a photographic image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the method is performed in firmware on the inkjet printer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the method is performed in a printer driver on a personal computer connected to the inkjet printer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
276 words
An inkjet printer for printing an image on an output medium, the image having a representation in terms of rows of dots and the image comprising a plurality of image regions, each image region associated with printing attributes depending on content of the image region, the inkjet printer comprising: a chassis; an output medium handling system within the chassis for positioning the output medium for printing; a carriage for transporting pens across the output medium; a controller providing instructions to the carriage and the pens to print on the output medium according to a method comprising the acts of: (i) placing a plurality of the rows in a cut, the rows corresponding to a single image region, the number of rows in the cut being less than or equal to the number of rows in the representation of the image, and the cut associated with a specific print direction wherein there are two possible print directions; (ii) transferring the cut to a directional buffer corresponding to the specific print direction if (a) the directional buffer is empty, or (b) the printing attributes associated with the image region of the cut are compatible with the printing attributes associated with contents of the directional buffer and a number of unfilled rows in the directional buffer is equal to or larger than the number of rows in the cut; (iii) instructing at least one pen to print the contents of the directional buffer on the output medium as the at least one pen is transported by the carriage across the output medium; and (iv) repeating acts (i) and (ii) if any rows remain in the representation of the image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
276 words
An inkjet printer for printing an image on an output medium, the image having a representation in terms of rows of dots and the image comprising a plurality of image regions, each image region associated with printing attributes depending on content of the image region, the inkjet printer comprising: a chassis; an output medium handling system within the chassis for positioning the output medium for printing; a carriage for transporting pens across the output medium; a controller providing instructions to the carriage and the pens to print on the output medium according to a method comprising the acts of: (i) placing a plurality of the rows in a cut, the rows corresponding to a single image region, the number of rows in the cut being less than or equal to the number of rows in the representation of the image, and the cut associated with a specific print direction wherein there are two possible print directions; (ii) transferring the cut to a directional buffer corresponding to the specific print direction if (a) the directional buffer is empty, or (b) the printing attributes associated with the image region of the cut are compatible with the printing attributes associated with contents of the directional buffer and a number of unfilled rows in the directional buffer is equal to or larger than the number of rows in the cut; (iii) instructing at least one pen to print the contents of the directional buffer on the output medium as the at least one pen is transported by the carriage across the output medium; and (iv) repeating acts (i) and (ii) if any rows remain in the representation of the image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
112 words
The inkjet printer of claim 13 wherein instructing at least one pen to print the contents of the directional buffer on the output medium is instructing at least one pen to print the contents of the directional buffer on the output medium if the printing attributes associated with the image region of the cut are not compatible with the printing attributes associated with the contents of the directional buffer, or if a number of unfilled rows in the directional buffer is smaller than the number of rows in the cut, or if there are no more rows remaining in the representation of the image that have not been placed in the cut.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-12-10 | 2005-06-11 | 2005-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-10 | 2009-06-11 | 2009-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-10 | 2013-06-11 | 2013-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |