The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 17, 1998
Jerome E. Jackson, Newtown, CT (US);
Richard A. Malin, Westport, CT (US);
Kevin M. Minckler, East Haven, CT (US);
Brian Romansky, Monroe, CT (US);
Arthur Rubinstein, Norwalk, CT (US);
Edilberto I Salazar, Brookfield, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
Predetermined print control signals are provided to a digital printing mechanism that responds to the print control signals to print an image on a substrate. A reference signal is derived from said print control signals. The image is scanned to generate a post-print signal. The reference signal is compared with said post-print signal. If the reference signal and the post-print signal do not compare within predetermined standards, an output signal indicative of poor print quality is generated. The print mechanism can be incorporated into a postage metering system and the image can be a postal indicia. The postage meter is responsive to a signal generated as a function of the output signal to inhibit further printing of postal indicia. Prior to printing the image, a substrate upon which the image is to be printed is scanned to generate a reflectance signal, the reflectance signal being used to correct the post-print signal. The post-print signal can represent integration of reflectance over segments of the image, or can represent summation of scanned pixels over segments of the image.