Patent EP0076948A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0076948A2
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EP
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Variable resolution interlaced ink jet printer
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1982-09-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-09-22
Abstract
Abstract Multiple-resolution, interlace, ink-jet printing is accomplished using a single array with multiple nozzles by assuming a pseudo pel (picture element) spacing k' between the nozzles. The ratio between the old resolution and the new resolution is k'/k where k is the number of actual pel spacings between the nozzles. The print-data must be processed and the print head moved based on the pseudo pel spacing k'. The array of nozzles will still print in an interlace manner so long as k' and Nt (the total number of ink jet nozzles used) have no common factor. The figure shows the print-data supplied to the head array (33) from main memory (52) loaded from data source organiser (51). The data is supplied at a timing controlled by clock generator (50) which provides sets of (3) clock signals, each set comprising a line sync signal, a cycle clock signal and a data clock signal. Each printing resolution requires an individual set of generator-clock-signals and each set is different. The required print resolution is decoded by decoders (23) and used in conjunction with the appropriate set of clock signals to control entry of data into memory (52) by source organiser (51) and printing.
Inventors
- 👤 Van Clifton Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:34
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/485; B41J2/505; B41J2/5056; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; G06K15/102; G06K15/105; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/04; H04N1/0402; H04N1/0408; H04N1/0411; H04N1/0414; H04N1/042; H04N1/0443; H04N1/19; H04N1/191; H04N1/1911; H04N1/1912; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/101; G06K2215/111; H04N1/06; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/04; H04N2201/047; H04N2201/04753; H04N2201/04756
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
An interlace ink jet printer having a single array (33) containing a plurality, Nt, of nozzles with the nozzles uniformly spaced kD apart, where D is the width of a pel spacing, Nt is the number of nozzles on the array and k is an integer, and having means (44, 46) for translating the ink jet print head Nt pel spacings D during each pass of the print head across the print media, and means (51) for processing print-data for printing on print lines one pel spacing D apart, said printer being characterised by including apparatus for controlling the printing of various resolutions by the the print head, said apparatus comprising means (23, 50A through 50F) for setting a pseudo pel spacing D', where D' equals (k'/k) D, and k' is an integer and has no common factor with Nt, to provide a new resolution R' equal to (k'/k) R where R is the old resolution; translational control means (48) responsive to said setting means for controlling said translating means (44) to translate said print head Nt pseudo pel spacings D' during each pass of the print head across the print media; and data control means (81, 74) responsive to said setting means for controlling said print-data processing means to process said print-data for printing on print lines one pseudo pel spacing D' apart.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
An interlace ink jet printer having a single array (33) containing a plurality, Nt, of nozzles with the nozzles uniformly spaced kD apart, where D is the width of a pel spacing, Nt is the number of nozzles on the array and k is an integer, and having means (44, 46) for translating the ink jet print head Nt pel spacings D during each pass of the print head across the print media, and means (51) for processing print-data for printing on print lines one pel spacing D apart, said printer being characterised by including apparatus for controlling the printing of various resolutions by the the print head, said apparatus comprising means (23, 50A through 50F) for setting a pseudo pel spacing D', where D' equals (k'/k) D, and k' is an integer and has no common factor with Nt, to provide a new resolution R' equal to (k'/k) R where R is the old resolution; translational control means (48) responsive to said setting means for controlling said translating means (44) to translate said print head Nt pseudo pel spacings D' during each pass of the print head across the print media; and data control means (81, 74) responsive to said setting means for controlling said print-data processing means to process said print-data for printing on print lines one pseudo pel spacing D' apart.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A printer as claimed in claim 1, further characterised by comprising means (57, 58) for setting the number Nt of nozzles used by the print head to Nt' by not using one or more end nozzles of the array when k' and Nt have a common factor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A printer as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further characterised by means (23, 80) for setting k equal to mk by using only every mth nozzle in the array for printing whereby D' equals (k'/mk) D and there is less separation between resolutions available to the printer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A printer as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, further characterised by comprising means (23, 48, Fig. 4) for adjusting the speed of the print head in the pass direction to adjust the resolution in the pass direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data control means adjusts the pel spacing D to the pseudo pel spacing D' by setting k to k' in said print-data processing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A printer as claimed in claim 5, further characterised by comprising means (57, 58) for setting the number Nt of nozzles used by the print head to Nt' by not using one or more end nozzles of the array when k' and Nt have a common factor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A printer as claimed in claim 5 or 6, further characterised by « comprising means (135, 136, Fig. 7) for enabling every "m"th nozzle in the array to print whereby D' equals (k'/mk) D and there is less separation between resolutions available to the printer.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
191 words
A method of controlling printing by an interlace ink jet printing system having a single array containing a plurality, Nt, of nozzles with the nozzles uniformly spaced k pel spacings apart, where Nt is the number of nozzles on the array and k is the number of actual pel spacings between nozzles, said method enabling printing at various resolutions to be effected and comprising the steps of: translating the ink jet print head Nt pel spacings during each pass of the print head across the print media; processing print-data for printing on print lines one pel spacing apart; assigning a pseudo pel spacing of k' pseudo pels between nozzles on the array where k' is an integer and has no common factor with Nt; adjusting the translation during said translation step so that said print head moves Nt pseudo pel spacings during each pass across the print media; adjusting said print-data processing steps so that said print-data may be printed on print lines one pseudo pel spacing apart whereby the new print resolution, R', of the system is given by the expression:R' = (k'/k) R where R is the old resolution.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
191 words
A method of controlling printing by an interlace ink jet printing system having a single array containing a plurality, Nt, of nozzles with the nozzles uniformly spaced k pel spacings apart, where Nt is the number of nozzles on the array and k is the number of actual pel spacings between nozzles, said method enabling printing at various resolutions to be effected and comprising the steps of: translating the ink jet print head Nt pel spacings during each pass of the print head across the print media; processing print-data for printing on print lines one pel spacing apart; assigning a pseudo pel spacing of k' pseudo pels between nozzles on the array where k' is an integer and has no common factor with Nt; adjusting the translation during said translation step so that said print head moves Nt pseudo pel spacings during each pass across the print media; adjusting said print-data processing steps so that said print-data may be printed on print lines one pseudo pel spacing apart whereby the new print resolution, R', of the system is given by the expression:R' = (k'/k) R where R is the old resolution.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in 8, further comprising inhibiting printing by one or more of the end nozzles on the array so that k' and Nt do not have a common factor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising enabling only every "m"th nozzle for printing so that k equals mk whereby R' equals (k'/mk) R and there is less separation between resolutions available to the printer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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