Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reconstructing digitized images are provided that include an image reconstruction path that receives a digitized image and provides a processed RGB or CMYK image that may be printed or stored in memory. The image reconstruction path is configured to operate in either a multiple scan or single scan environment if the source of the digitized image is a scanner. A plurality of optional functional units in the reconstruction path can be controlled by user or internal controls. These functional units perform preliminary color adjustment, automatic deskew, background and dust removal, descreen, text detection and enhancement, color conversion, scaling, and color manipulation.
Abstract: Methods and apparatus for backlit and dual-sided imaging are described. A print head array is provided comprising first and second print heads arranged along a single print head axis. The first print head is adapted to print first and second images on a substrate, and the second print head is adapted to print a coating layer between the first and second images. The coating layer may comprise a specialized printing fluid such as a layer of substantially white ink. The substrate may comprise a substantially translucent or substantially clear material.
Abstract: The invention is relates to a simple, inexpensive high capacity output catch tray for copiers and other document production machines. The output tray automatically increases in capacity as the stack of copies in it accumulates, without external power source or control.
Abstract: The toner in the toner cartridge is determined by taking each of the rasterized images output by the RIP and evaluating the pixel levels over the surface thereof. The average value is determined as a percentage of the maximum toner that can be applied to the page. This is then subtracted from a toner value and a remaining toner level determined. Further, all pages of the rasterized document can be evaluated to predetermine the toner level after printing. If this falls below a predetermined minimum, printing is inhibited for that document.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 23, 2007
Date of Patent:
June 30, 2009
Assignee:
Electronics For Imaging, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael W. Barry, Jack N. Bartholmae, Francis A. Rowe, E. Neal Tompkins, Peter A. Zuber
Abstract: The present invention relates to systems for providing printing services over a communications network. In particular, the present invention enables a user to obtain print jobs at an unspecified location, which may be remote from the source of the print job. Spooling means are used to store a print job received via the network from a print job source. Polling means, which may be at a location remote from the print job source, are capable of polling the spooling means via the network to identify whether any print jobs associated with the polling means are available for printing at associated printing means. The spooling means need not initiate contact with the printing means through a firewall, since it is polled by the polling means. Thus, network security is maintained. A fee can be charged for the printing services provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 8, 2004
Date of Patent:
June 23, 2009
Assignee:
Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
Inventors:
Guy Gecht, Philip A. Lodwick, Loren Schoenzeit, John D. Steinberg, Ofer Tenenbaum
Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for routing page data of a print job to printers in a multi-engine printing system based on print job parameters associated with the page data. One or more virtual printers are configured, each with a plurality of individual print engines, each having associated printing characteristics. Page data of the print job are rasterized and stored as bit-mapped images in print buffers associated with the multi-engine printing system. The bit-mapped images are distributed to select ones of the print engines based on matching the print job parameters of each bit-mapped image with the printing characteristics of the print engines to be selected.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 16, 2007
Date of Patent:
May 12, 2009
Assignee:
Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael W. Barry, Jack N. Bartholmae, Francis A. Rowe, E. Neal Tompkins, Peter A. Zuber
Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for providing print capability in connection with SMS messages to mobile device users. A content source communicates information regarding a print job to a mobile device user using SMS messages. The mobile device user then may obtain a hardcopy printout of the print job by designating any print device that is configured to receive print jobs via a universal printing network. The content source provides the print job to the universal printing network for delivery to the designated print device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 28, 2003
Date of Patent:
May 5, 2009
Assignee:
Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
Inventors:
Guy Gecht, Chirag Bakshi, Sanjay Kamble
Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing colorant limitation are provided that receive input data, desired output response data and measured (or specified) output response data for a print output device, and determine converted input data that accounts for differences between the measured (or specified) output response data and the desired output responses of the printer. Converted input data may then be provided to a conventional colorant limitation algorithm for performing colorant limitation. Colorant-limited input data are then de-converted by accounting for differences between the desired output response data and the measured (or specified) output responses of the printer.
Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for automatically correcting colors of a digital image. The methods and apparatus create a first digital image of a target test sheet under a predetermined lighting condition, the target test sheet including a plurality of regions, each region including a known color value, the first digital image including a plurality of regions, each region including an acquired color value, compare the acquired color values to the known color values to align the regions of the target test sheet with the regions of the first digital image and generate a profile to correct a color imbalance between the acquired color values and the known color values, create a second digital image under the predetermined lighting condition, and apply the profile to correct a color balance of the second digital image.
Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are provided that capture a full page of information displayed in a web browser in a native format, convert the native format data to an intermediate format, and communicate the intermediate format data over a network to an output server. The intermediate format data are received from the network at the output server, converted to an output format, and then communicated to an output device, such as a printer, copier, facsimile device, document storage device, email server or other similar device, for recording.
Abstract: The invention relates to a printing device and a method of operating the printing device, it being possible for the following steps to be carried out: printing a calibration print by means of the printing device, the calibration print having a plurality of measuring areas with different colour mixture relationships, spectrophotometric measurement of the measuring areas, producing a colour profile, the spectrophotometric measurement of the measuring areas being carried out at a plurality (N) of measuring times (Tn), producing a colour profile which is extended by a description of the behaviour over time and which comprises a plurality of colour profiles in each case associated with a measuring time, and setting the colour mixture relationships of the printing device on the basis of the colour profile extended by a description of the behaviour over time.
Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for modifying the rendered output of a marking engine for a print job in progress. A marking engine commences printing print data for a print job. A parameter of a printed page of the print job is measured while the marking engine prints the print job. The measured parameter is compared to a reference, and the print data are modified before the print job completes, such that all subsequent portions of the print job are rendered with modified print data.
Abstract: A spot color pattern system provides a naming convention that allows the user to name a custom spot color pattern. A Raster Image Processing (RIP) has a database of spot color patterns that are user definable and are patterns which are images of a textile, fabric, metal, etc., that are repeatedly printed across the job. The RIP interprets a spot color pattern name in print job, looks up the spot color in its database, pulls up the image associated with the spot color pattern name, adds Postscript® pattern code to the print job to paint the spot color across the background of the print job, realistically simulating the final print media, and adds other code to perform other tasks, such as mirroring or four-way mirroring to prevent stitches from appearing. A RIP user interface gives the user the ability to create, modify, or delete spot color patterns. The invention also provides a mechanism that allows an application program to access a custom spot color pattern from the RIP.
Abstract: A multiple print engine configuration allows a plurality of workstations to create individual print jobs and then transfer them to a distributing processor. The distributing processor spools the jobs in a print spooler and then performs a software raster image processing (“RIP”) operation on the print jobs. The RIP operation divides the jobs into multiple individual jobs which are stored in a page buffer. An image task manager in conjunction with an engine manager selectively s the RIPed pages to multiple print engines.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 15, 2006
Date of Patent:
December 30, 2008
Assignee:
Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael W. Barry, Francis A. Rowe, E. Neal Tompkins
Abstract: Apparatus and methods for distributing print jobs. A print job is generated at an application node of a network, and has associated therewith print parameters. The print job is routed to a distribution node on the network. The parameters are then parsed from the generated print job and the print job parameterized with predetermined metrics that are a function of at least one of the parsed parameters. The parameterized print job is then routed to a destination device on a destination node on the network.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 18, 2007
Date of Patent:
December 16, 2008
Assignee:
Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael Barry, Jeffrey Pitts Dockman, Kevin John O'Neill, Jr., Robert Gregory Pennington, Michael David Raines, Matthew David Shumaker, Elliot Neal Tompkins
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:
May 26, 2004
Date of Patent:
December 9, 2008
Assignee:
Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
Inventors:
Dylan Corlett, Scott Christopher Crosby, Huy Phan
Abstract: A plurality of compression schemes are provided that achieve improved compression ratios. A first embodiment provides for compression of each pixel by one of a plurality of different entropy-based compression schemes based upon a probability cost analysis. A second embodiment provides for compression of each pixel based on a hybrid context formed using a plurality of compression schemes for improved probability determination, and thus improved entropy encoding. In embodiments of the invention, a context compression scheme similar to JBIG is applied, as well as an inverse scheme. The context scheme forms a statistical context from a concatenated sequence of previous pixel values. The inverse scheme provides a gray value estimation method based upon previous pixel values and respective threshold values. Statistics are maintained with respect to the actual current pixel value and the difference between an estimated gray value and the current pixel threshold value.
Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for printing print jobs over a communications network. In particular, the present invention enables a user to obtain print jobs at a location which may be unspecified, and which may be remote from the source of the print job. A spooling server is used to store a print job received via the network from a print job source. A printer polling device, which may be used at a location remote from the client device, is capable of polling the spooling server via the network to identify whether any print jobs associated with the printer polling device are available for printing at a printer currently associated with the polling device. The spooling server need not initiate contact with the printer through a firewall, since it is polled by the printer polling device. Thus, network security is maintained.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 11, 2006
Date of Patent:
December 2, 2008
Assignee:
Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
Inventors:
Richard A. Keeney, Philip A. Lodwick, Loren Schoenzeit, John Steinberg, Ofer Tenenbaum
Abstract: A fully digital pulse width modulator substantially doubles resolution in a laser printer by outputting data to the laser on both the rising and falling edges of the clock cycle. A counter and the clock itself are used to select input to a multiplexer, and consequently, the data output to the laser from the multiplexer. A data selector code, generated by concatenating the binary value of the counter and the inverted clock bitwise, selects which of the 16 bits representing a pixel to place onto the data line, so that all 16 bits are output to the laser serially and sequentially in eight clock cycles. By using both the rising and falling edges of a clock cycle, the clock speed of the device is effectively doubled, without increasing actual clock speed. Device resolution is improved simply and inexpensively without major modification of printed circuit boards.
Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for calibrating a digital color imaging device to a printing press by determining a total colorant limit, per-channel colorant limits, and channel linearization tables using calorimetric and/or spectrophotometric techniques. In addition, for digital color imaging devices that use multi-hue colorants, methods and apparatus are provided for determining distribution functions for the multi-hue colorants as a function of input values.