Patents Assigned to Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8243326
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for editing color profiles. In particular, input data (such as reference image data) are received, and then are converted to first output data using a first color profile and to second output data using a second color profile, wherein the second color profile is an edited version of the first color profile. Soft proof data corresponding to the input data, first output data and second output data are calculated and then displayed on a display device. The soft proof data corresponding to the input data, first output data and second output data may be simultaneously or selectively displayed on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Thor A. Olson
  • Patent number: 8205012
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods are described for providing information access to network devices. A directory server registers identification information about a first network device coupled to a first network. The first network and the directory server may be coupled to a second network, which may include a wide area network, public network, or the Internet. The identification information may include a network address of the first network device on the first network, or a network address of the first network on the second network. The directory server may receive and process requests for identification information about registered network devices, and may selectively reply to the requests based on status information of the first network device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics For Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: John Armstrong, Ofer Tenenbaum, Victor Thu
  • Patent number: 8192010
    Abstract: A multi-phase system for creating a metallic effect on a substrate, comprising applying to the substrate a first ink jet ink comprising a dispersion of reflective metallic particles in a suitable carrier system, to form a reflective coating layer; and applying a second ink jet ink over the reflective coating layer to form a protective coating layer. Optionally, an undercoat layer is printed on the substrate prior to applying the first ink jet ink. The second ink jet comprises at least one crosslinkable polymer or is otherwise energy curable. The second ink jet ink optionally imparts a color to the metallic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics For Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Edwards, Sandra Zinke, Joshua Samuel, Matthew Tennis
  • Patent number: 8172363
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for wide format inkjet printing using conventional piezoelectric inkjet print heads that each print at a native resolution. A plurality of inkjet print heads are disposed in a print head array to print an image on the substrate at the native resolution across an entire width of the substrate without scanning across the width of the substrate. The print head array may be shifted in a direction parallel to the width of the substrate, and the print head array may be used to print images on the substrate in multiple passes to form a composite image having a resolution equal to a multiple of the native resolution. Alternatively, a plurality of print head arrays may be provided, with adjacent print head arrays spaced apart to provide a composite print resolution equal to a multiple of the native resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Mills, Paul Alan Duncanson
  • Patent number: 8169630
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for receiving a PDL File that describes a print job, processing the PDL commands in the file, identifying print settings and printer factors that may affect the entire print job, and reporting such print settings and printer factors. Methods and apparatus are also provided for receiving a PDL File that describes a print job, processing the PDL commands in the file, identifying any objects in the print job that have associated predetermined attributes, and reporting the print objects that have any such predetermined attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Michel, Jonathan Marsden
  • Patent number: 8171103
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for providing access to content via messaging services, such as email, voicemail, instant messaging, text messaging, or other similar messaging services. A content server is provided that includes a user interface, a web server and a file. The web server includes a web page for accessing the file. A user provides user information associated with a messaging address via the user interface, and the content server then sends a message including the web address of the web page to the messaging address. The user may then retrieve the message at a client computer, and may then download the file to the client computer by entering the web address into a web browser on the client computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics For Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Robinson, Josef Coetsee
  • Patent number: 8162437
    Abstract: An ink jet printer for printing on a substrate comprising a first print head outputting ink and defining an ink meniscus; a platen operable to carry the substrate; a support structure; and a print head mechanism coupled to the support structure and carrying the first print head. The print head mechanism moves the first print head relative to the platen. A controller controls the print head mechanism such that at least one of a predetermined acceleration and predetermined deceleration of the print head mechanism is achieved such that the ink meniscus is operably maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Andrew Edwards, John Hennessy, Frank Bruck
  • Patent number: 8153195
    Abstract: The present invention provides a printing method for printing radiation-curable ink jet ink printing comprising a clear coat primer composition comprising: a low surface tension monofunctional alkyl acrylate monomer with a surface tension in the range of 23 to 31 dynes/cm in which the alkyl group has at least 8 carbon atoms; a photoinitiator; and other UV curable monomers and oligomers. The clear coat primer composition is applied first onto a substrate and cured with actinic radiation or cationic curable ink jet ink is printed on the surface of the clear coat primer coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics For Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Tennis, Joshua Samuel, Paul A. Edwards
  • Patent number: 8139256
    Abstract: A method and system for scanning documents in a network environment and merging the resulting scan files with other documents into a printing workflow provides a user interface in which the user merges a scan file and a document file on a page basis by selecting thumbnail images of the desired pages and dragging and dropping the thumbnails so that a new merged document results. An alternative embodiment allows the user to apply predefined merge templates to the selected pages. The predefined merge templates may include printing and formatting instructions such as color settings and a page layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Margaret Motamed
  • Patent number: 8133539
    Abstract: Ink jet printing on a non-absorbent substrate involves a wet primer having a primer viscosity. The wet primer is applied on the non-absorbent substrate. An ink jet ink having an ink jet viscosity lower than the primer viscosity is jetted over the wet primer while the primer is still wet. The wet primer and ink are simultaneously cured on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Vincent Oberski, Paul Andrew Edwards
  • Patent number: 8107122
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for submitting an electronic document to a printing system that includes a print controller having an input port and a print queue. Methods in accordance with this invention include coupling a portable media device to the input port, the portable media device including an electronic document and automatically copying the electronic document to the print queue. Apparatus in accordance with this invention include a portable media device that includes an electronic document. The portable media device is adapted to be coupled to the input port of the print controller, and the print controller is adapted to automatically copy the electronic document to the print queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics For Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: David Riesel, Fumiaki Okushi, Amit Jain
  • Patent number: 8100507
    Abstract: A printer comprising a base module having a main drive element and a print zone, a main module back plane coupled with the base module, a machine base rail system coupled to the base module, and an expansion module releasably coupled to the machine base rail system between an operating position and a removed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics For Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Andrew Edwards, John Hennessy
  • Patent number: 8031363
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for dynamically halftoning image data, substantially in real-time. Halftone threshold values are calculated and stored in memory, and halftone output values are calculated for the portions of the image data that will be displayed on a display device. Halftone screen parameters may be modified, and new halftone screen threshold values may be calculated for any affected halftone screens. For unaffected halftone screens, the previously stored threshold values may be retrieved from memory. In addition, the portion of the image to be displayed may be modified, and the halftone output values of the new portion may be calculated and then displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Marsden, Richard A. Falk, David Macy
  • Patent number: 8014036
    Abstract: A form of stochastic random distribution is used to print an invisible watermark using a typical, e.g., 600 dpi, printer. The watermark contains such information as “Do Not Copy,” or other such information. Although the watermark is not visible on a first generation version of a document that is printed, various techniques are used to print the watermark in such a way that it becomes readily apparent when the first generation document is photocopied. The preferred embodiment of the invention is concerned with a technique for improving such techniques, for example so that gray levels are improved to address variations from printer to printer. Another preferred embodiment of the invention is also concerned with a technique for performing error diffusion watermarking without the need for performing a calibration step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics For Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Lai Chee Man
  • Patent number: 8013871
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for editing color profiles. In particular, an output color including a first hue, a first lightness and a first chroma is received, and a first range of lightness values and a first range of chroma values for all output color values in the color profile are determined. A second range of lightness values of output color values in the color profile that have the first hue and the first chroma, and a second range of chroma values of output color values in the color profile that have the first hue and the first lightness are determined. Graphical representations of the first and second ranges of lightness values, and the first and second ranges of chroma values are distinctly displayed on a display device. A user interface is provided that allows a user to create an edited output color including a second hue, a second lightness and a second chroma, and dynamically modify the second range of lightness values and the second range of chroma values based on the edited output color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Thor A. Olson
  • Patent number: 7996806
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for designing and laying out multi-layer circuit substrates, such as multi-layer PCBs. Dynamic vias are provided on intermediate PCB layers. Each dynamic via has features that adjust based on the trace layout of the corresponding intermediate layer. In particular, each dynamic via has a second radius R2 if the via is not connected to any trace on the corresponding intermediate layer. If a trace is connected to a dynamic via, the via radius changes from the second radius R2 to a first radius R1, where R1 is greater than R2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: David Kwong
  • Patent number: 7982890
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for securely communicating a print job to a printer, the systems and methods pausing the print job in a print queue on a client computer, obtaining first authentication information regarding a user at the client computer, obtaining second authentication information regarding a user at a release station adjacent the printer, communicating the second authentication information from the release station to the client computer, and releasing the print job from the print queue if the second authentication information matches the first authentication information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Dylan Corlett, Scott Christopher Crosby, Huy Phan
  • Patent number: 7919543
    Abstract: Compositions for inkjet inks, methods for applying the ink to a surface of a substrate, and articles that include indicia printed with the ink. The inkjet inks include a cellulose polymer and a liquid carrier. Unlike currently available commercial inks, the inkjet inks of this invention can be formulated with less toxic ingredients, thus reducing the risks of negative impact on environmental quality and the health and safety of workers who use the inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Beck, Stephen J. Mills
  • Patent number: 7911432
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for repairing inoperative pixels in a display are provided. In particular, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for improving the effective yield rates of displays, such as liquid crystal micro-displays, by disconnecting inoperative pixels from their defective drive circuitry and tying such pixels to the working drive circuit of a nearby pixel. A display can be repaired without the need to provide redundant drive circuitry underneath each pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Keeney, Farhad Nourbakhsh, Anthony Clark
  • Patent number: 7911433
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for repairing inoperative pixels in a display are provided. In particular, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for improving the effective yield rates of displays, such as liquid crystal micro-displays, by disconnecting inoperative pixels from their defective drive circuitry and tying such pixels to the working drive circuit of a nearby pixel. A display can be repaired without the need to provide redundant drive circuitry underneath each pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Keeney, Farhad Nourbakhsh, Anthony Clark