System for the real-time scheduling and loading of look-up tables for a patterning device

Claim 1

A method for processing digitally encoded pattern information for use in a patterning method wherein a plurality of arrays are spaced across the path of a moving substrate to be patterned, each of said arrays comprising a plurality of individually addressable dye applicators capable of selectively projecting a stream of dye onto a predetermined portion of the substrate corresponding to an individual pattern element comprising said pattern, said device capable of applying multiple pattern sets in sequence to a relatively moving substrate, each pattern set being comprised of at least one pattern having printing characteristics in association therewith, said method utilizing an electronic control system, said control system being comprised of an electronic computer having a first memory and a second memory, wherein data is transferred from said first memory to said second memory, said method further comprising: a. accessing the first pattern set; b. providing a second memory, said second memory comprised of a plurality of look-up tables, said look-up tables requiring loading for each of said patterns to be applied to said substrate; d. scheduling a pattern set by placing the pattern set into a scheduled queue; e. preparing said pattern set for printing by queuing each of said look-up tables for each pattern to be loaded from said first memory to said second memory such that each of said look-up tables are loaded in sequence before patterns associated with said respective look-up tables are applied to said substrate; f. generating and issuing direct memory access commands to transfer said pattern look-up tables from said first memory to said second memory during the process of applying previous patterns from those queued to run at a later time such that queued look-up tables are loaded in the correct sequence and prior to being needed; and g. re-queuing look-up tables to be transferred from said first memory to said second memory in a priority manner such as to load said look-up tables during running of their respective pattern to provide for the timely and efficient updating of said printing characteristics of said pattern as necessary.

Claim 2

A method for processing digitally encoded pattern information for use in a patterning method wherein a plurality of arrays are spaced across the path of a moving substrate to be patterned, each of said arrays comprising a plurality of individually addressable dye applicators capable of selectively projecting a stream of dye onto a predetermined portion of the substrate corresponding to an individual pattern element comprising said pattern, said device capable of applying multiple pattern sets in sequence to a relatively moving substrate, each pattern set being comprised of at least one pattern having printing characteristics in association therewith, said method utilizing an electronic control system, said control system being comprised of an electronic computer having a first memory and a second memory, wherein data is transferred from said first memory to said second memory, said method further comprising: a. accessing the first pattern set; b. providing a second memory, said second memory comprised of a plurality of look-up tables, said look-up tables requiring loading for each of said patterns to be applied to said substrate; d. scheduling a pattern set by placing the pattern set into a scheduled queue; e. preparing said pattern set for printing by queuing each of said look-up tables for each pattern to be loaded from said first memory to said second memory such that each of said look-up tables are loaded in sequence before patterns associated with said respective look-up tables are applied to said substrate; f. generating and issuing direct memory access commands to transfer said pattern look-up tables from said first memory to said second memory during the process of applying previous patterns from those queued to run at a later time such that queued look-up tables are loaded in the correct sequence and prior to being needed; and g. re-queuing look-up tables to be transferred from said first memory to said second memory in a priority manner such as to load said look-up tables during running of their respective pattern to provide for the timely and efficient updating of said printing characteristics of said pattern as necessary.