Abstract: A dot matrix printing method is provided for printing an image on a printing medium with a printing head (10) having a contiguous set of equally spaced marking elements (11). The marking elements available to be fired at firing moments are described as the active set. There is relative linear movement between the printing head (10) and the printing medium in a fast scan direction (Y). The method comprises the steps of: 1) dividing the image in a plurality of sub-images to be subsequently printed with mutually interstitial printing steps, and 2) using the printing head (10) to generate a plurality of equally spaced raster lines of dots on the printing medium in the fast scan direction (Y) by firing the marking elements (11), each raster line extending in the fast scan direction (Y), adjacent dots in the raster line not being generated by the same marking element (11).

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for printing, with one type of printhead, with a resolution that differs from the resolution of the type of printhead used. In the method according to the present invention, the speed in the fast scan direction is changed with reference to a reference velocity which the printhead is intended to be driven with, while preferably keeping the firing frequency of the sets of nozzles unchanged. The firing order of the may or may not be changed.

Abstract: A method and a device for aligning sheets. The device includes a first and a second supporting stop for supporting the sheet against gravity in a first non-aligned position of the sheet. The device further includes two alignment stops and an actuator for moving the sheet from the first non-aligned position to a second aligned position. In the second aligned position, a substantially straight edge of the sheet contacts the two alignment stops and the first supporting stop supports the sheet while the second supporting stop does not support the sheet.

Abstract: An ink jet printer including a first and a second nozzle array, arranged one after another in the printing direction, wherein the second nozzle array is movably arranged in the printer for being displaced so that the number of nozzles in the second nozzle array experience a displacement having a component in a direction orthogonal to the printing direction.

Abstract: Drilling holes in structures using two different lasers allows a precise hole to be formed quickly. While one laser cuts a hole quickly, a second laser precisely shapes the hole. One useful application of such a method is drilling holes in multilayered structures such as Printed Wiring Boards (PWBs). One laser can precisely remove a first layer (copper) and a portion of a second layer (dielectric material). During this removal the shape of the hole is precisely formed. A second laser can remove the remaining portion of the second layer, exposing a third layer (copper). The use of the second laser can allow rapid removal of the remaining portion of the second layer. When cutting through a PWB, the second laser can be of a type that minimally damages the third copper layer.

Abstract: A monochrome liquid crystal display device comprises a layer of liquid crystals (1) and a light source (6) arranged for uniformly illuminating the liquid crystal layer. A color filter (8) is provided for changing the spectrum of the light emitted by the liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: The method reproduces on an output device an electronic image having color pixels, each color pixel being represented by K spatially corresponding component pixels, K>1, each component pixel having an input pixel value, the output device being capable of rendering Nj intensity levels for a component pixel j, 1≦j≦K, thereby defining N1*N2* . . . *NK intensity level combinations, the method comprising the steps of: computing for any color pixel a scalar value which is a function of at least one of said input pixel values of said spatially corresponding component pixels; quantizing said scalar value by a multilevel halftoning process to obtain for said color pixel a quantized scalar value; using said quantized scalar value to select, out of all said intensity level combinations, a subset of intensity level combinations; selecting one combination out of said subset; using said selected combination for reproducing said color pixel by said output device.

Abstract: A method, which is implemented via software on a computer, configures punches to be used on a web or sheet handling machine. The method includes: determining a queue of jobs to be processed on the machine; gathering setup information for each job; defining a punch configuration for each job; establishing punch sharing between jobs; and generating one or more punch configuration files for each job. The method can be transferred to a computerized controller via a computer-readable medium containing punch configuration code.

Abstract: The present invention provides an autofocus system for an imaging system, such as an external drum platesetter. The autofocus system automatically focuses each of a plurality of scan lines produced by an imaging system on a supply of recording material, and includes a control loop with scan line to scan line feedforward of a motor command waveform.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for synchronizing multiple circuits or chips clocked at a divided phase lock loop (PLL) frequency. The apparatus generally includes a plurality of chips, each chip including a phase locked loop (PLL) and a circuit for generating a system clock signal, a circuit for receiving the lock signal from each PLL and for generating an All-Locked signal in response to all of the PLLs achieving lock, and a synchronizing circuit for synchronizing the system clocks of the plurality of chips upon receipt of the All-Locked signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically identifying and tracking the hottest spot in an infrared scene captured and displayed by an infrared camera system. In an Autospot Mode of the present invention, a cursor is automatically positioned on the display device over the hottest spot in the infrared scene image captured by the camera. The temperature at this location is also automatically displayed. The location of the cursor, and the temperature of the scene at this location, are automatically updated for successive frames of data captured and displayed by the infrared camera system. In a Delta Mode of the present invention, the difference in temperature between two points in a thermal image, designated by an operator using first and second cursors, is calculated and displayed.

Abstract: A method for printing an image using a thermal printing system comprising a thermal printer having a thermal head TH incorporating a plurality of energisable heating elements Hn and a thermographic material m, comprises several steps. These steps comprise supplying image data Id corresponding to a plurality of output values Dn to a processing unit, reading a first table LUT1 comprising first entries for desired output values Dk and second entries for sequences Sk of time slices si of activation pulses, transformation of the image data Id into corresponding sequences Sk of time slices of activation pulses, providing the time slices of activation pulses to the heating elements Hn of the thermal head TH, and printing the image by transporting the thermographic material past and adjacent to the thermal head and by activating the heating elements Hn of the thermal head.

Abstract: An ink jet printer wherein a belt transports an image receiving member past a printhead is equipped with guiding means (18) for creating a bulge, d, in the belt, extending towards the ink ejecting means, thus keeping the “throw distance” constant and/or with rollers for moving the belt, one of the rollers having a flange and being positioned so as to force the belt agains the flange.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for calibrating a printing device, the method including the steps of: printing a wedge (10,11,12,13) by the printing device; determining for at least one patch (21) of the wedge (10,11,12,13) a magnitude of a psychophysical or psychovisual quantity; using the magnitude of the psychophysical or psychovisual quantity in calibrating the printing device.

Abstract: A vacuum system is provided including a vacuum source and plurality of suction cups coupled to the vacuum source, wherein at least one of the suction cups is coupled to the vacuum source using a non-constricted fitting, and wherein at least one of the suction cups is coupled to vacuum source using a fixed orifice fitting. The vacuum system is configured to pick a top printing plate from the stack of printing plates, such that each suction cup coupled to the vacuum source using a non-constricted fitting is configured to always engage the top printing plate.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer includes pagewidth printheads mounted in a frame, wherein the printheads are coupled to mechanical devices for aligning the printheads with respect to each other, with respect to an edge of the image receiving substrate, or with respect to both. The printer may include devices for sensing the possible misalignment, coupled to a computer for automatically aligning the printheads.

Abstract: A flow system includes an air mover operable to cause the flow. A first stage, such as a coarse filter, is disposed upstream of the air mover and operates on the flow. A second stage, such as an adsorbent cell or muffler, is disposed downstream of the air mover and further operates on the flow. Other stages, such as a fine filter, may be disposed between the first and second stages.

Abstract: A radiation image that has been stored in photostimulable phosphor screen comprising a divalent europium activated cesium halide is read out by stimulating the phosphor screen by means of stimulating radiation, detecting light emitted by the phosphor screen upon stimulation and converting the detected light into a signal representation of said radiation image. After read out the phosphor screen is erased by exposing it to erasing light emitted by at least one electroluminescent lamp or by an array of light emitting diodes.

Abstract: A frequency-modulation halftone screen and method for making same, utilizing local randomization of a deterministic screen. The deterministic screen optimizes uniformity of the halftone dot distribution, while the local randomization suppresses artifacts due to subject moiré.