US6456311B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic registration and length adjustment
Assignee: HP Indigo BV
•
Filing: 1999-12-08
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Granted: 2002-09-24
•
Expires: 2019-12-08
Abstract
Abstract A method for registration of print separations in a printer comprising: (a) printing a first pattern, for which at least one image characteristic varies relatively weakly with misregistration, using at least one of first and second separations; (b) printing a second pattern, for which said at least one image characteristic varies relatively strongly with misregistration, using said at least one first and second separations; (c) determining said at least one image characteristic for the first and second patterns; and (d) correcting the mutual registration of said at least one first and second separations responsive to a difference in the determined at least one image characteristic for the first and second patterns.
Inventors
- 👤 Shlomo Harush
- 👤 Yevgeny Korol
- 👤 Lior Lewintz
- 👤 Omer Gila
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:16
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41F; B41F13/00; B41F13/08; B41F13/10; B41F13/12; B41F33/00; B41F33/0081; G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/01; G03G15/0142; G03G15/0147; G03G15/0152; G03G15/0173; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00025; G03G2215/00029; G03G2215/00067; G03G2215/01; G03G2215/0151; G03G2215/0158; G03G2215/0161; G03G2215/0167; G03G2215/0174
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for registration of print separations in a printer comprising: (a) printing a first pattern, for which at least one image characteristic varies with misregistration in either direction of misregistration to a first degree, using said at least one first and second separations; (b) printing a second pattern, for which said at least one image characteristic varies with misregistration, in either direction of misregistration, to a second degree, using at least one of the first and second separations, said second degree being smaller in both directions, than said first degree, or zero; (c) determining said at least one image characteristic for the first and second patterns; and (d) correcting the mutual registration of said at least one first and second separations responsive to a difference in the determined at least one image characteristic for the first and second patterns.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for registration of print separations in a printer comprising: (a) printing a first pattern, for which at least one image characteristic varies with misregistration in either direction of misregistration to a first degree, using said at least one first and second separations; (b) printing a second pattern, for which said at least one image characteristic varies with misregistration, in either direction of misregistration, to a second degree, using at least one of the first and second separations, said second degree being smaller in both directions, than said first degree, or zero; (c) determining said at least one image characteristic for the first and second patterns; and (d) correcting the mutual registration of said at least one first and second separations responsive to a difference in the determined at least one image characteristic for the first and second patterns.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 and including: repeating at least (b)-(d) for a third separation in place of said second separation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said second pattern is printed utilizing both said first and second separations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the characteristic comprises a dot area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the characteristic comprises a hue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said dot area is determined from a measurement of optical density.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the characteristic comprises an average optical density of the pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the second pattern is printed using only one separation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the first and second separations are printed in a same color.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the first and second separations are printed in different colors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the characteristic comprises an extent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the first pattern comprises a series of lines having a given spacing pattern printed using said first separation and wherein the second pattern comprises a series of lines having said given spacing pattern and wherein, in the absence of misregistration, some of said lines are printed utilizing said first separation and some of said lines are printed utilizing said second separation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the characteristic of the second pattern does not vary with misregistration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
124 words
A method according to claim 13 , in which: the first pattern comprises at least one first rectangle printed by said first separation and having a given extent and at least one second rectangle printed by said second separation having a smaller extent than said first rectangle in at least one direction, said at least one second rectangle being completely within the first rectangle, such that the characteristic is not a function of misregistration of the separations; and the second pattern comprises at least one third rectangle printed by said first separation and at least one fourth rectangle printed by said second separation partially overlapping said third rectangle, the extent of said partially overlapping rectangles having said given extent when the separations are registered.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
161 words
A method according to claim 9 in which: the second pattern comprises at least one first rectangle printed by said first separation having a first given extent and at least one second rectangle printed by said second separation having said first given extent partially overlapping said first rectangle, the extent of said partially overlapping rectangles providing a pattern for which said characteristic varies relatively weakly with misregistration of the separations; and the first pattern comprises at least one third rectangle printed by said first separation and at least one fourth rectangle printed by said second separation partially overlapping said third rectangle, the extent of said partially overlapping rectangles providing the same value of the characteristic as for the second pattern when the separations are registered, wherein the extent of the third and fourth rectangles is much smaller than the first given extent, such that the characteristic of the first pattern is much more sensitive to misregistration than is the second pattern.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 10 and including: identifying a spectral region for which said different colors have a substantially equal absorption; and utilizing a characteristic of said patterns in said spectral region in registering the separations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 and including printing a plurality of said patterns and utilizing an average value of the characteristic in correcting the registration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1 , including: printing a plurality of said patterns; determining a functional fit to variations in said characteristics; and utilizing a zeroth order term in said functional fit to correct the registration.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein correcting said registration includes correcting scale differences between the separations, and including utilizing a variation in said characteristic in correcting scale differences between the patterns.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein correcting said registration includes correcting scale differences between the separations and including printing a plurality of said patterns and utilizing a variation in said characteristic in correcting scale differences between the patterns.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 19 wherein the variation used to correct scale differences is a first order variation of the characteristic.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the first and second patterns comprise a plurality of repeating sub-patterns and wherein an average value of said characteristic over the extent of the pattern is utilized in correcting the registration.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the printer prints said separations without a change of printing plates.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the printer is an electrostatic printer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 24 wherein the electrostatic printer is an electrophotographic printer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 25 wherein the printer utilizes liquid toner to print.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 25 wherein the printer utilizes powder toner to print.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein an intermediate transfer member is utilized to transfer the separations between an image forming surface, on which the separations are formed, and a substrate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 28 wherein the intermediate transfer member is heated.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the patterns are used only for registration and are not printed together with an image for which registration is desired.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said registration serves to align the printer and wherein subsequent images, different from the patterns, are printed with the same printer alignment.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the printer uses dedicated plates for each separation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 32 wherein the printer utilizes printing ink to print the patterns.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein a same printing engine is used to print the separations.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein different printing engines are used to print the separations.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 and including: repeating at least (a)-(c) after correcting the registration in accordance with (d).
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 and including: iteratively repeating at least (a)-(c) after correcting the registration in accordance with (d), until said difference is below a given value.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein the variation used to correct scale differences
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-09-23 | 2006-03-25 | 2006-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-23 | 2010-03-25 | 2010-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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