Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method for analyzing a digital image and automatically generating a visually attractive frame for the image. A data set for the image is analyzed, preferably in color space, to determine one or more image components representing dominant colors in the image. The components are characterized individually, and then these individual component characterizations are used to characterize the image overall. Based on the overall image characteristics, the framing scheme parameters are determined and used in turn to generate the attributes of a visually attractive frame for the image. A data set for the framed image is then generated, which may be sent to an imaging device for display or printing, or simply stored as a new data set for later use. The user has the ability to modify the rules that determine the framing scheme parameters so as to adjust the framed image if desired.

Abstract: A swath printer and multipass printing method for improving print quality. The printer minimizes dot placement errors on a printed medium due to depositing drops of ink from lower quality printhead nozzles by providing a printmask having a mask pattern which prints with those nozzles most susceptible to dot placement error using a hi-fipe printmode which deposits into a specific pixel location a small number of drops in each of multiple passes, and a multidrop printmode which deposits into a specific pixel location many drops rapidly in one of the passes. Because such a printer and method prints substantially equally with all printhead nozzles, it does not shorten the useful life of the printhead due to defects associated with the number of times a nozzle deposits ink.

Abstract: A chainable I/O termination block system for connecting a programmable logic controller (PLC) or other controller to I/O signals such as sensors and control relays in an automatic tooling environment. A number of modular termination blocks (20) can be conveniently chained together to provide the required number of I/O points (28) at the appropriate location on the automated tool while simultaneously providing a single connection to the PLC (10). Chainable termination blocks (20) can be connected together directly or can be distributed over the required distance using block-to-block cabling (13). An autoshifting arrangement within each chainable termination block (20) determines the bit position at the controller (10) of each I/O signal (28).

Abstract: A swath printing system and pixel depletion methods compensate for the effects of defective printing elements by adjusting the pixel depletion mask used during printing to minimize the amount and location of extraneous unprinted spaces caused by the defective printing elements. A printing element quality detector determines which printing elements are functional and which are defective. Based on this information, an image processor then selects or constructs a depletion mask having depleted pixel positions chosen to reduce the adverse effects on print quality caused by the defective printing elements, thus maintaining high image quality for the printed output. Pixel depletion is preferably performed at the image pixel level, but can alternatively be performed at the color plane pixel level.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system having multiple independent power supplies for providing firing energy to the ink ejection elements of one or more printheads. Different ones of the power supplies can be connected to different print cartridges each of which prints a different color ink; to different arrays of ink ejection elements within a single print cartridge, where each array prints a different color ink; or to different sections of the ink ejection element array of a single printhead for a single color ink. The output of each power supply is independently set to an appropriate voltage level for each different print cartridge, ink ejection element array, or section of an array.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating digitized images stored as variable length encoded bitstreams such as JPEG format in a manner that reduces memory and processor resource requirements. A prescan means sequentially decompresses the bitstream to identify the location of encoded pixel image areas. Designated ones of these locations are recorded or stored in a prescan table. After the prescan operation has been performed on the image, image manipulations such as rotating, cropping, and zooming can be performed on a selected portion of the image by directly accessing only the encoded pixel image areas to be manipulated, without the need to sequentially decode and store all the encoded image areas in order to locate the ones of interest.

Abstract: A displaceable print cartridge chute for an inkjet printer. The chute holding the print cartridges is displaceable from the carriage that sweeps the cartridges relative to the media during printing. The chute can be moved from a printing position engaged with the carriage to a service position adjacent a side of the printer so as to facilitate installation and removal of the cartridges through the side rather than the top of the printer. Because cartridges are serviced through the side, a printer incorporating the displaceable print cartridge chute can be stacked with other electronic equipment.

Abstract: A swath printer and multipass printing method for improving print quality. The printer minimizes dot placement errors on a printed medium due to depositing drops of ink from lower quality printhead nozzles by providing a printmask having a mask pattern which enables those nozzles most susceptible to dot placement error to print relatively fewer times, and which enables other nozzles less susceptible to dot placement error to print relatively more times. Such a printer and method does not require the use of fractional print modes having a corresponding reduction in throughput.

Abstract: A print cartridge latching mechanism for a displaceable print cartridge chute used in an inkjet printer. The chute holding the print cartridges is displaceable from the carriage that sweeps the cartridges relative to the media during printing. The chute can be moved from a printing position engaged with the carriage to a service position adjacent a side of the printer so as to facilitate installation and removal of the cartridges through the side rather than the top of the printer. The print cartridge latching mechanism is operable through an access opening in the side of the printer. The mechanism latches the chute to the carriage, aligns the print cartridges in proper position for printing, and maintains sufficient force to ensure good electrical connection between the printer control electronics and the printhead.

Abstract: An interconnection arrangement for an inkjet printing system having multiple power pads, each of which provides power for driving a large number of printhead ink ejection elements. The ink ejection elements of a print cartridge are organized into groups, with power provided to each group by one of the power pads. The firing pulse width of each group is independently set to compensate for the parasitic electrical resistances in the power path of each ink ejection group in the print cartridge so as to eject ink drops of uniform volume required for high quality printed output. In order to transmit the relatively high current levels required to fire a large number of ink ejection elements from a single group at the same time, the interconnection scheme provides multiple bump-and-dimple interconnections with the printer for each power and ground pad on the print cartridge.

Abstract: An inkjet printer and printing method for improving print quality. The printer minimizes the visually perceptible effect of dot placement errors, dot size errors, and dot shape errors on a printed medium due to depositing drops of ink from lower print quality printhead nozzles. The printer provides a sensor which can test the ink drop output of the printhead nozzles to determine, for each particular printhead installed in the printer, which nozzles are of higher print quality and which are of lower print quality. A printmask is then defined based on the results of the testing for use in printing from that printhead. The printmask has a mask pattern which enables the deposition of more ink from higher quality nozzles and less ink from lower quality nozzles. Such a printer improves print quality without reducing throughput.

Abstract: An printing apparatus and method for reducing hue shift due to differing deposition orders of different color ink drops. A differing deposition order occurs in bidirectional inkjet printers with printheads that deposit overlapping drops in a single scan in either a forward or rearward direction. Different print masks for each color ink are used to govern ink drop deposition in the different scan directions in order to vary the deposition order and/or number of drops deposited in a given location. A different mask pattern is applied to a top and bottom set of nozzles corresponding to the print advance height. This technique reduces the perceived difference in color shade between an area of a composite color printed in the forward direction followed by the rearward direction, and an area of the same composite color printed in the rearward direction followed by the forward direction.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for enhanced integration of signals, such as those generated by chromatographs. In one embodiment an approximate baseline used for integration of a signal is improved to reduce error. Alternate embodiments filter drift, noise, or both from a signal prior to integration or simulated distillation. The signals are processed according to a computer program stored in a memory. The methods include steps for subtracting an approximate baseline from the signal, defining a noise band in the resulting difference, and forming a composite baseline by substituting signal data for baseline data wherever the difference does not exceed the threshold, thus leaving the parts of the approximate baseline that correspond to signal peaks unchanged.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for automated matching of retention times obtained using a known chromatographic method having a defined set of column parameters and operating parameters to the retention times obtained using a new chromatographic method having a new set of column parameters, wherein the retention times of components separated in accordance with the new chromatographic method are matched to the retention times set forth in the known chromatographic methods. A procedure is described to adjust head pressure to compensate for differences in a new versus the original column, carrier gas, and column outlet pressure of the known method.