Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Memory
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-17
2001-04-17
Coles, Edward L. (Department: 2722)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Memory
C358S001120, C358S296000, C358S296000, C358S504000, C347S014000, C347S019000, C347S043000, C347S049000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219153
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to printing devices which print images on a print medium. In particular, the present invention is a printer which includes a memory which stores a printer profile parameter which is utilized by the host computer to control the printer based on the printer profile parameter.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional ink jet printers have either a single print head arrangement or multiple print head arrangement for printing. In the latter case, printing speed of image data is increased using the multiple print head design. For example, U.S. Pat. No, 4,272,771 discloses an example of a method which increases the print speed of serial image printing by using two print heads, one to print the left half of a printed line and the other to print the right half of a printed line, both halves being printed simultaneously. To achieve this result, left and right print head assemblies are supported by a common carriage mechanism. As a result, print speed is approximately doubled over that of a single print head device.
In both single print head printers and multiple print head printers, the print heads and ink cartridges which provide the ink output from the print heads are both interchangeable and disposable. For example, a black cartridge may be exchanged for a cyan, magenta and yellow (CMY) cartridge and vice versa. Additionally, there are ink cartridges which provide different printing effects, such as a photo-style ink cartridge which provides photograph-like qualities and pigment ink cartridges which provide different printing effects.
Because print heads become clogged or partially dysfunctional over time, print heads are designed to be replaced. Depending on the cartridge and manufacturer, the ink cartridge and print head are combined so that the entire ink cartridge and print head can be replaced when the ink runs out.
While it is convenient to replace or to exchange ink cartridges and print heads of an ink jet printer, this convenience brings with it problems due to physical differences between inks and print heads. For example, because each ink and each manufactured print head may be from different manufacturing lots, the inks and print heads may have different physical characteristics. These variations in physical characteristics in print heads alter print head alignment from one print head to the next. Similarly, variations in physical characteristics of ink will vary output image density. As a result of these variations, unwanted variations occur in the printed document.
As may be appreciated, this problem is compounded when using two or more print heads. For example, in the case that one print head is printing the left half of a print line in a document and the other print head is printing the right half of a print line in a document, if the two print heads are not aligned, the misalignment will be quite noticeable. In the case that the same color ink is being used by both print heads and the ink densities of both print heads do not match, the varied image densities will be quite noticeable in the printed document.
In view of the varied output from each print head, it is desirable to know a print head's alignment, ink density, as well as other print head characteristics which may affect printing so that these variations may be compensated for before printing.
On the other hand, in the system of a host computer and a printer, if the information of the characteristics of the printing, which depends on the current status of the printer, is stored in the memory of the host computer, when the printer is separated from the host computer and connected to another computer, the new computer can not use the information stored in the former computer.
Further, a conventional printer does not remember the condition change of the printer after power-off. Therefore, for example, if the power of the printer has been off after the change to a new print head, the printer can not understand whether it should make a cleaning operation or not.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide printing control that overcomes the foregoing disadvantages found in the prior art systems.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a non-volatile memory, such as an EEPROM, is provided in a printer. The non-volatile memory (NVRAM) is capable of storing various profile parameters and measurements of the print head or print heads, including ink information. This information is in turn output to a host computer which utilizes this information to produce image information for printing. According to another aspect of the invention, a compensation parameter is stored back in the printer's NVRAM and is used by the host computer to alter commands to the printer during a printing operation. By storing the parameter in the NVRAM, outputting the parameter to the host computer and allowing the host computer to calculate and compensate for print head variations, costs for the printer can be reduced.
Moreover, by storing printer profile parameters and/or measurements in a NVRAM, it is possible for a host computer to check the status of the printer and to obtain information which may affect printing output. More importantly, if the printer is disconnected from host computer and connected to another host computer, the parameters and measurements are stored with the printer and therefore are readily available to the new host computer. As a result, the newly connected host computer can compensate for variations in the print heads and/or inks when sending data for each print job.
Thus, the present invention is a method for controlling a print head of an image printing device having at least one print head. The method includes the steps of obtaining profile information of the at least one print head, storing the profile parameters in a non-volatile RAM, outputting, upon request, the profile information to a host computer connected to the image printing device, wherein the host computer utilizes the print head profile information to produce compensation parameters which compensate print information to be sent from the host computer to the print head for printing.
According to another aspect of the invention, a printer controller for a printer having at least one print device receives image information from an external device and controls a printer to form an image based on the image information. Further it has storing means for storing information concerning the printer, wherein a part of the storing means is non-volatile and stores the information which is used by the external device for producing the image information.
Further, according to another aspect of the invention, a printer controller for a printer having at least one print device receives image information from an external device, and controls a printer based on the image information. Further it has non-volatile memory means for storing information concerning a condition change of the printer which may occur during an off-line mode, and transmits the information to the external apparatus during a next on-line mode.
A more complete understanding of the invention can be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof in connection with the attached drawings.
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patent: 5670997 (19
Aichi Takao
Hirabayashi Hiromitsu
Kawanabe Tetsuya
Masumoto Kazuyuki
Sukigara Akihiko
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Coles Edward L.
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Lamb Twyler
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