Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided that print a set of similar color patches using a color output device, determine colorimetric values for each color patch, calculate a standard deviation value for each of the colorimetric values, and calculate a numerical value that is a function of the standard deviation values and that represents the colorimetric deviation of the set.
Abstract: Methods and systems for compression of digital images (still or motion sequences) are provided wherein predetermined criteria may be used to identify a plurality of areas of interest in the image, and each area of interest is encoded with a corresponding quality level (Q-factor). In particular, the predetermined criteria may be derived from measurements of where a viewing audience is focusing their gaze (area of interest). In addition, the predetermined criteria may be used to create areas of interest in an image in order to focus an observer's attention to that area. Portions of the image outside of the areas of interest are encoded at a lower quality factor and bit rate. The result is higher compression ratios without adversely affecting a viewer's perception of the overall quality of the image.
Abstract: A printer that includes at least one printhead mounted to a carriage of a printing system, and a secondary ink container mounted to the carriage and which holds an ink and is in fluid communication with the at least one printhead. A pressure source in fluid communication with the secondary ink container provides a pressure to the secondary ink container during a purging operation to cause the ink to flow from the at least one printhead. The secondary ink container has a large enough volume to hold a sufficient amount of ink for a purge operation of at least about seven seconds. The secondary ink container has a minimum ink level, and an inlet that is located below the minimum ink level so as to minimize aeration of the ink as it flows through the inlet.
Abstract: The screened printing data are subjected to a filtering method, the raster information being maintained. Intermediate tonal values are produced by the filtering method, using the binary tonal values, the intermediate tonal values being configured in such a way that, by means of a color space transformation, transformed tonal values and/or intermediate tonal values can be formed which represent a true-to-color proof.
Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for debugging an integrated circuit. Local multiplexer circuits are provided near first and second circuit blocks in the integrated circuit. Each multiplexer circuit includes input nodes, a control node, and an output node. A first input node of the first multiplexer circuit is coupled to an internal node of the first circuit block, a first input node of the second multiplexer circuit is coupled to an internal node of the second circuit block, second input nodes of the first and second multiplexer circuits are coupled to logical 0, and the control signal nodes of the first and second multiplexer circuits are coupled to a control signal. An OR gate is provided that includes an input node coupled to the output node of the first multiplexer circuit, another input node coupled to the output node of the second multiplexer circuit, and an output node.
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, while maintaining a relatively constant elevation relative to the copier output port, and automatically returns to its original position when partially or completely unloaded.
Abstract: Radiation curable ink compositions that include a curable component having a functionality that is greater than two, is present in the ink composition in an amount greater than 30 percent by weight, and has a molecular weight in the range of about 400 g/mole to about 10,000 g/mole; a component that has a functionality that is less than or equal to 2; and an initiator component. A solvent component, pigment, a surface tension modifier and other materials also can be included. The radiation curable inks are employed in ink jet printers and are particularly suited for use in printing on large-scale substrates. The printed images described herein have good adhesion to polymeric substrates such as styrene-based, polycarbonates, polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalate glycol ester, acrylic and others.
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 method and apparatus is disclosed for color balancing page data, from a variety of input sources having non-consistent device color profiles, among a plurality of individually accessible print engines arranged in a system for color printing multiple copies of multiple page documents. Input page data is converted to a common color space, rasterized and routed to a selected print engine. Page data routed to each marking engine is color balanced to the selected marking engine where at least a portion of the color balancing occurs following the rasterizing of the page data.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 8, 2006
Date of Patent:
March 11, 2008
Assignee:
Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael W. Barry, Jack N. Bartholmae, Francis A. Rowe, Neal E. Tompkins, Peter A. Zuber
Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for requesting and receiving 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:
July 5, 2006
Date of Patent:
March 11, 2008
Assignee:
Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
Inventors:
Richard A. Keeney, Philip A. Lodwick, Farhad Nourbakhsh, Loren Schoenzeit, Ofer Tenenbaum
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. While 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.
Abstract: A client print server link is provided, which uses two-way communication between a client computer and a printing system typically having networked output devices and print servers. The client print server link provides detailed information regarding each print server and connected device within a printing system. The client print server link allows a client user at a client computer to access information and control each of their print jobs quickly and efficiently within a single application, without requiring the user to access a plurality of separate utilities. The client print server link groups and displays information that is relevant to print jobs sent by a single client user to one or more all connected print servers and output peripheral devices. An administrative print server link is also provided, which also uses two-way communication between a computer and a networked printing system.
Abstract: Methods and systems for compression of digital images (still or motion sequences) are provided wherein predetermined criteria may be used to identify a plurality of areas of interest in the image, and each area of interest is encoded with a corresponding quality level (Q-factor). In particular, the predetermined criteria may be derived from measurements of where a viewing audience is focusing their gaze (area of interest). In addition, the predetermined criteria may be used to create areas of interest in an image in order to focus an observer's attention to that area. Portions of the image outside of the areas of interest are encoded at a lower quality factor and bit rate. The result is higher compression ratios without adversely affecting a viewer's perception of the overall quality of the image.
Abstract: Methods are described for calibrating a virtual printer including a plurality of color marking engines. The methods include printing a test pattern on one of the marking engines, the test pattern including a plurality of test patches, each test patch including corresponding expected colorimetric values, reading the test pattern with a colorimeter to determine measured colorimetric values associated with each of the test patches, and creating a lookup table that maps the measured colorimetric values to the expected colorimetric values.
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:
May 2, 2005
Date of Patent:
November 27, 2007
Assignee:
Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael W. Barry, Jack N. Bartholmae, Francis A. Rowe, E. Neal Tompkins, Peter A. Zuber
Abstract: A system or method of removing whitespace between tiled or repeated patterns generated during a printing operation. The system takes an initial image and determines if there exist extraneous bits of whitespace around the edge of actual image. Once this information is established, the printer application program uses that information to alter the tiled output accordingly to produce a seamless image with repeated or tiled patterns of the actual image.
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 and apparatus are provided for securely printing a print job on a networked printer. An application program running on a networked computer instructs the printer to generate and exchange cryptographic keys. The application program then encrypts the print job using the keys, and then communicates the encrypted print job to the printer. The printer decrypts the received print job and prints the document.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 10, 2002
Date of Patent:
November 13, 2007
Assignee:
Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
Inventors:
Mike Partelow, Truxton Fulton, Mehran Faramani
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:
December 22, 2000
Date of Patent:
October 9, 2007
Assignee:
Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
Inventors:
Richard A. Keeney, Farhad Nourbakhsh, Anthony Clark
Abstract: Color processing methods and apparatus are provided that blend the gray component replacement (“GCR”) level of arbitrarily-specified input color data with an estimate of the GCR level of an output profile, and then converts processed device-independent data to output CMYK data that has a GCR level that substantially matches the GCR level of the input CMYK data. Methods and apparatus in accordance with this invention may be used to receive CMYK data that approximates a spot color, and provide tints of spot colors using an output profile that has a GCR level that differs from the GCR level of the input color data.