Eastman-kodak Company

Seung H Baek

Thomas A Mackin

Kurt Michael Sanger

Roger Stanley Kerr

Charles D DeBoer

Robert W Spurr

William L DeMarco

Sanwal P Sarraf

Robert I Morrison

Lee William Tutt

Xin Wen

Thap DoMinh

Babak B Tehranchi

Joseph Y Kaukeinen

William R Markis

Donald DeJager

Nea Y Woo

Eileen M Tyo

Ephraim Pinsky

James B Geist

Suzanne K Wyatt

The invention relates to an apparatus for printing a multibit per pixel image () from a halftone binary digital bitmap having pixels having a multibit per pixel image memory for receiving the multibit per pixel image; a lookup table () external to the memory disposed in a programmable gate array () for converting the multibit per pixel image to a base duty cycle () wherein the base duty cycle is disposed in the programmable gate array and is adapted for creating a modulated drive signal () from the base duty cycle to modulate an exposure () for each pixel in the multibit per pixel image; and a printer () adapted for using the modulated exposure to print an image, having a dpi greater than 1400, further comprising a drum () capable of spinning, and an encoder () disposed on the drum for providing a home signal () and a pixel rate ().

Apparatus for printing a multibit image

The present invention is a method of adjusting a color in a color proof () printed with primary colors cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. It is accomplished by:

Method of adjusting color in a color proof

A method for printing multiple binary bitmaps () with an original density level () and a color (), wherein the color () is the same for all the multiple binary bitmaps (), by combining 'n' number of binary bitmaps into 'p' bits of a multibit image forming a &#x201c;p&#x201d; bit image (), identifying at least one overprint (), predicting an overprint density () for each overprint, calculating a set of exposures () needed to image each overprint density () and original density (), setting a maximum exposure level () that is a number greater than or equal to the maximum of the set of exposures (), calculating pulse width modulation levels () for the set of exposures () using the set maximum exposure level (), and printing the color () at the set maximum exposure level () using the pulse width modulation levels () for each level of the &#x201c;p&#x201d; bit image () in a single pass.

Method of imaging multiple binary bitmaps in a single pass

An output print produced by an image processing apparatus comprising a substrate having an image thereon and a machine readable marking identifying a data source used to process the image provided.

Print having encoded metadata coupled thereto

A method for laminating a dual sided pre-press proof ( ) comprises laminating a first side of a receiver stock ( ) with a first pre-laminate sheet ( ) and laminating a second side of the receiver stock ( ) with a second pre-laminate sheet ( ). The first pre-laminate sheet support layer ( ) and the second pre-laminate sheet support layer ( ) are removed forming a pre-laminated receiver stock. A first imaged clear receiver sheet ( ) and a second imaged clear receiver sheet ( ) are laminated to the pre-laminated receiver stock ( ) such that the registration marks on the first and second imaged clear receiver sheets are visibly positioned on top of each other and are in registration with each other. The first clear support layer ( ) and the second clear support layer ( ) is removed forming a dual sided pre-press proof ( ), wherein the images are in registration with each other.

Dual sided lamination

An image processing apparatus ( ) for forming images on a thermal print media includes: a) a rotatable drum ( ); b) a motor for rotating the drum ( ); c) at least one movable printhead ( ) external to the drum ( ); d) thermal print media ( ) removably mounted on the drum ( ), the printhead ( ) being positioned to move over the thermal print media ( ) on the drum ( ); e) an imaging assembly ( ); f) at least one connection means, preferably fiber optic cables ( ), for connecting the imaging assembly ( ) to the printhead ( ); g) at least one conduit tube ( ) for conducting the connection means ( ) between the imaging assembly and the printhead ( ), one end of the conduit tube ( ) being affixed to the printhead ( ), an opposite end of the conduit tube being connected to the imaging assembly ( ); and h) an air moving device, preferably a cooler ( ) or blower ( ), connecting directly or indirectly to the conduit tube ( ) at the opposite end of the conduit tube. A process for eliminating foreign particles from and/or cooling the printhead area is also included herein.

Image processing apparatus with conduit tube and blower

A color proofing apparatus (,) for writing images to an prelaminated substrate (,) comprising an inkjet printhead (,) for writing the images to the prelaminated substrate (,). A lead screw (,) moves the inkjet printhead (,) in a first direction relative to the prelaminated substrate (,). The prelaminated substrate (,) is mounted on the vacuum imaging drum (,) which is rotated by a motor (,) relative to the inkjet printhead.

Color proofing apparatus and method for writing inkjet images to a prelaminate substrate

A color proofing apparatus (,) for writing images to an intermediate ink receiving element (,) comprising an inkjet printhead (,) for writing the images to the intermediate ink receiving element (,). A lead screw (,) moves the inkjet printhead (,) in a first direction relative to the intermediate ink receiving element (,). The intermediate ink receiving element (,) is mounted on the vacuum imaging drum (,) which is rotated by a motor (,) relative to the inkjet printhead.

Color proofing apparatus and method for writing inkjet images to an intermediate ink receiving element

A color printer (,) for printing a color images comprising a vacuum imaging drum (,) for supporting a first receiver and a dye donor material (,) in registration with the first receiver. A motor rotates the vacuum imaging drum (,). An optical printhead directs energy on the dye donor material (,), which transfers colorant from the dye donor material (,) to the first receiver forming color images as the optical printhead is transported parallel to a surface of the vacuum imaging drum (,). After the dye donor material (,) and the first receiver have been removed from the vacuum imaging drum (,), an inkjet printhead (,) applies ink to a second receiver mounted on the vacuum imaging drum (,) as the inkjet printhead (,) is transported parallel to the surface of the vacuum imaging drum (,).

Method and apparatus for printing color images using an inkjet printhead and a laser thermal printhead

An ink jet printing apparatus responsive to an input digital image for producing a halftone image on a receiver, such as a lithographic plate, having halftone dots with each halftone dot being formed by one or more microdots in a screen dot of selectable areas, including an adjustable printhead for delivering different volumes of ink droplets which, when they contact the receiver, forming microdots of different areas according to the selected screen dot size. The apparatus delivers ink to the printhead and is responsive to a selected screen dot size and the digital image to control the printhead to form ink droplets of different volumes to produce a halftone image on the receiver.

Apparatus for producing halftone images suitable for lithographic

A stepper motor that turns a lead screw runs in microstepping mode. To compensate for positional error in microstepping, the method utilizes the characteristic sinusoidal positional error behavior that is measured at four times the frequency of the composite microstepping current waveform, using a correction factor that is in phase with this positional error.

Method for compensating for positional error inherent to stepper motors

The present invention is for an image processing apparatus (10) for sheet thermal print media. The image processing apparatus (10) comprises a vacuum imaging drum (300) for holding thermal print media (32) and dye donor material (36) in registration on the vacuum imaging drum (300). A print head (500), mounted on a translation stage member (220) that is moved by a lead screw (250) moves along a line parallel to the longitudinal axis (301) of the vacuum imaging drum (300) as the vacuum imaging drum (300) rotates. The print head (500) receives information signals and produces radiation which is directed to the dye donor material (36) which causes color to transfer from the dye donor material (36) to the thermal print media (32). To adjust for different imaging resolutions and swath widths, the lead screw (250) can be mounted so that it is in parallel with the vacuum imaging drum or its mounting can be offset from parallel to change, based on the offset angle, the actual speed of the translation stage member (220) on which the print head (500) is mounted. This adjustment also allows compensation for station-to-station variance within the same multi-station image processing apparatus as well as for machine-to-machine differences.

Adjustable lead screw for changing resolution and for

A laser diode controller (30) having a constant current source (60) which supplies current to a laser diode (90) is disclosed. A current shunt switch (40) directs current to either the laser diode (90) or to a bypass circuit (42). A thermal compensator (70) alters a current level of the constant current source (60) as a function of on-time of the laser diode (90) to compensate for changes in optical power conversion efficiency due to temperature changes in the laser diode. A thermo electric cooler controller (80) maintains a constant temperature of a substrate on which the laser diode is mounted. In one embodiment, an array of sample and hold amplifiers (50) eliminates a need for multiple DACs.

Laser diode controller

A system that includes multiple, elliptical writing spots produced by a single, integrated laser diode array head. The beams, generated by the array and shaped by beam shaping optics into the elliptical spots, are scanned across a thermal media writing plural lines at the same time. The elliptical writing spots have an energy profile and a concatenated, angular orientation and staggered arrangement that, due to the thermal interaction of the spots on the media, creates substantially Gaussian thermal profiles in the media.

Method and apparatus for writing elliptical spots on a thermal media

The present invention is directed to a laser printer including a printer controller, a printhead including a plurality of lasers formed in an array for receiving modulating image data from the printer controller, a variable magnifying means such as a zoom lens, and a drum on which a receiver member is mounted on which an image is to be printed. The printer controller is arranged to selectively use any one of a set of predetermined microdot matrixing values and a separate sub-microdot matrix associated therewith, and distribute image data to the plurality of lasers based on such microdot and sub-microdot matrixing values. The variable magnification means (e.g., a zoom lens) applies optical magnification or demagnification to light beams from the array of lasers to provide selective variable microdot matrixing values between the predetermined microdot matrixing values of the set. Therefore, any dot density between a low and a high microdot matrix value of the set of predetermined microdot matrixing values is produced using combinations of microdot and sub-microdot matrixing by the printer controller and variable magnification of the zoom lens.

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Pittsford, NY, United States of America

Seung H Baek