Abstract: An optically imaging pen for interacting with a printed substrate. The pen includes: a nib for interacting with the printed substrate; an image sensor for imaging an area of the printed substrate to provide image data; a processor configured for: (i) identifying target elements in the image data and inferring a perspective transform due to a tilt of the pen; (ii) acquiring and decoding coded data contained in the image data; (iii) calculating a nib position using a tag location, the perspective transform and a known geometry of pen optics; and (iv) generating digital ink based on the nib position.

Abstract: A method of delivering an electronically transmitted document is provided. The method starts by printing, by a printer, a document on a substrate. The document has printed thereon visible user information and invisible coded tags. The user information includes information indicative of a send instruction. Each tag encodes an identity of the document and a location of the tag on the substrate. A sensing device senses the printed coded tags when the sensing device is moved relative to the document by a user so as to compose a message. The message is electronically captured by the sensing device using the identity of the document and a sequence of the respective locations of tags sensed by the sensing device. Upon sensing coded tags coincident with the send instruction, the message is transmitted to a recipient address for electronically transmitted document delivery.

Abstract: A duplex printer includes a pair of pagewidth printheads. Each printhead includes a casing assembly defining a channel. At least one elongate support member is received within the channel and defines longitudinally extending fluid passages. The support member further defines spaced apart groups of holes extending from the passages. A fluid distribution arrangement is mounted in fluid communication with the support member. A plurality of ink ejection integrated circuits (ICs) is mounted in fluid communication with the fluid distribution arrangement so that the ICs can be supplied with ink from respective groups via the fluid distribution arrangement.

Abstract: A computer system for printing a page at a printer. The computer system is configured to: (i) receive a visual description for the page, the visual description describing a graphic impression for printing; (ii) identify a URI text string in the visual description; (iii) generate a corresponding input description for the visual description, the input description describing a URI corresponding to the URI text string and a spatial extent of the URI text string on the page; and (iv) archive the visual description and the corresponding input description.

Abstract: A method of printing onto a print medium using a mobile device with a printhead and sensor, the print medium comprising: a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces; and a data track containing first information encoded in accordance with a linear encoding scheme, the data track extending in a linear read direction across a portion of the first face of the print medium, the read direction being oriented at between 45 and 135 degrees with respect to the print direction; the method comprising the steps of: receiving the print medium into a media feed path of the mobile device; using the sensor to sense the data track at least once before or during printing onto the print medium with the printhead; and determining a lateral registration of the data track relative to the sensor.

Abstract: A method of imaging a coding pattern disposed on a surface of a substrate. The method comprises the steps of: (a) operatively positioning an optical reader relative to the surface and capturing an image of a portion of the coding pattern; (b) sampling and decoding x-coordinate data and y-coordinate data contained in the imaged portion; and (c) determining a position of the pen. The imaged portion has a diameter of at least one tag diameter and less than two tag diameters. The x-coordinate data and y-coordinate are each replicated in the tag.

Abstract: A method of purging and printing from an inkjet printhead. The method comprises the steps of: (i) purging the printhead using a purging ink, thereby flooding an ink ejection face of the printhead; (ii) removing the flooded ink from the ink ejection face by feeding a transfer surface past the printhead, wherein no part of the transfer surface makes contact with the printhead; and (iii) printing from the printhead using a printing ink.

Abstract: A method of imaging a coding pattern disposed on a surface of a substrate. The method comprises the steps of: (a) operatively positioning an optical reader relative to the surface and capturing an image of a portion of the coding pattern; (b) sampling and decoding x-coordinate data and y-coordinate data within the imaged portion; and (c) determining a position of the pen. The coding is specially adapted to minimize space occupied by coordinate data. The imaged portion has a diameter of at least (l+q)?2 and less than (2 l)?2, where l is the length of a square tag in the coding pattern and q is the width of a central column or row of data within each tag.

Abstract: An inkjet nozzle assembly includes a nozzle chamber comprising a floor and a roof. The roof has a moving portion which is moveable relative to the floor. A thermal bend actuator is configured for actuating the moving portion. The thermal bend actuator includes an active beam for connection to drive circuitry and a passive beam mechanically cooperating with the active beam. When a current is passed through the active beam, the active beam expands relative to the passive beam resulting in bending of the moving portion towards the floor of the nozzle chamber. The nozzle opening is defined in the moving portion of the roof, such that the nozzle opening is moveable relative to the floor.

Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit (IC) with an array of ink chambers defined by sidewalls extending between a nozzle plate and an underlying wafer substrate, each chamber having a nozzle in the nozzle plate plurality of nozzles, and an actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle, one of the sidewalls of each chamber having an opening to allow ink to refill the chamber; an ink conduit between the nozzle plate and underlying wafer, the ink conduit being in fluid communication with the openings of a plurality of the ink chambers; and, a plurality of ink inlets defined in said substrate; wherein, the ink conduit is in fluid communication with the plurality of ink inlets for receiving ink to supply to the ink chambers. Introducing an ink conduit that supplies several of the nozzles, and is in itself supplied by several ink inlets, reduces the chance that nozzles will be starved of ink by inlet clogging. If one inlet is clogged, the ink conduit will draw more ink from the other inlets in the wafer.

Abstract: Provided is an optical imaging pen configured to detect information encoded with infrared ink on a page. The pen includes a housing with an ink pen cartridge and a stylus. The ink cartridge and stylus are configured to be individually brought forward through an open end of the housing by rotation of a pen top rotatably mounted on an end of the housing. The pen also includes an infrared LED inside the housing for providing infrared radiation for projection onto the page, and an image sensor for receiving reflected radiation from the surface. Also included is a radio frequency circuit having a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and receiver, and a controller for controlling operation of the LED, sensor and radio frequency circuits. The controller includes a force sensor configured to detect displacement of the stylus or cartridge to enable a determination of a force being applied to a nib of either the cartridge or stylus.

Abstract: A method of retrieving audio data using a coded medium is provided in which first and second coded data printed on the coded medium is sensed using an image sensor, the first coded data being printed in a linear pattern and encoding a medium identifier linked to the audio data and the second coded data being printed in a two-dimensional pattern and encoding the medium identifier and data on a two-dimensional coordinate grid, the medium identifier is determined from the sensed first and second coded data using a processor in communication with the image sensor, and the audio data is retrieved using the determined medium identifier and the processor.

Abstract: A garment creation system includes a card, a camera and a processing system. The has printed thereon a depiction of a garment and encoded information. The encoded information carries instructions for generating garments pieces corresponding to the garment and manipulating an input image so as to be mapped onto the garment pieces. The camera and processing system are configured for: optically reading the encoded information on said card; capturing an image; mapping the captured image onto the garment pieces; generating print data for the garment pieces; and communicating the print data to a garment fabric printer.

Abstract: A method of interacting with a printed substrate. The comprises the steps of: interacting with the substrate using an optically imaging pen having a nib; optically imaging target elements and coded data; calculating a position of the nib; and generating digital ink in the pen, the digital ink being indicative of the identity of the substrate and the position of the nib relative to the substrate; and sending the digital ink to a computer system such that the computer system can identify the interaction with the substrate. The position of the nib is calculated using the coded data, a perspective transform and a known spatial relationship between an optical axis of the pen and the nib. The perspective transform is determined using the imaged target elements which are perspective-distorted due to a tilt of the pen.

Abstract: A process for decoding machine readable coded data is provided. The coded data has a plurality of layouts which each have order n (at least two) rotational symmetry and encode a codeword of a sequence of n symbols distributed at n locations about a center of rotational symmetry of the respective layout such that decoding the symbols at each of the n orientations of the layout produces n representations of the codeword. Each representation is a different cyclic shift of the codeword and is indicative of the degree of rotation of the layout. The process includes acquiring an image which includes the coded data with an image sensor, transmitting the acquired image to a computer system, and at the computer system, identifying a layout from the acquired image, decoding the identified layout to determine a codeword representation, and determining a degree of rotation of the layout from the determined representation.

Abstract: A method of swipe-scanning a graphic image pre-printed on a surface. The method comprises the steps of: (i) operatively positioning a swipe-scanner relative to the surface and swiping the scanner across the surface; (ii) capturing, during the swipe, successive images of portions of the graphic image; (iii) printing, during the swipe, successive parts of a position-coding pattern onto the graphic image, the position-coding pattern identifying a plurality of absolute positions and an impression identity for the graphic image; (iv) sensing, during the swipe, positions of the scanner; (v) using the sensed positions to control, during the swipe, printing of the position-coding pattern; (vi) using the sensed positions to assemble the captured portions of the graphic image into a scanned graphic image; and (vii) generating association data indicating an association between the impression identity, the plurality of absolute positions and the scanned graphic image.

Abstract: A solvent-based ink composition for a thermal inkjet printhead. The ink composition comprises: (a) 20-80 wt. % of a compound of formula (A); wherein: R1 is C1-6 alkyl; and each of R2, R3 and R4 is independently selected from H, C1-6 alkyl, halogen, OH, and C1-6 alkoxy; (b) 10-70 wt. % of a C1-6 alcohol; and (c) 0.01-25 wt. % of a colorant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a printhead assembly for a printer. The printhead assembly includes a mounting plate assembly for mounting to a chassis of the printer. An ink ejection printhead is mounted to the mounting plate assembly. A capping mechanism is mounted to the mounting plate assembly. The capping mechanism includes a capping member configured to cap the printhead. A carrier supports the capping member. An actuating mechanism is arranged to effect movement of the carrier back and forth between a first position at which the capping member is located remotely with respect to the printhead and a second position at which the capping member contacts the printhead.

Abstract: A printhead assembly comprising a substrate defining a plurality of ink inlets; a plurality of nozzle assemblies positioned on the substrate, each nozzle assembly defining a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with a respective ink inlet and a nozzle opening from which ink is ejected; and a plurality of endless containment walls extending from the substrate. Each endless containment wall surrounds a group of nozzle assemblies and defines a containment chamber to contain leakage ink from the group of nozzle assemblies therewithin.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a printer body, a printhead cartridge for installation in the printer body, the printhead cartridge having a pagewidth inkjet printhead structure with an array of nozzles, a plurality of ink cartridges for supplying ink, each of the ink cartridges having a docking face for engagement with a complementary face partially provided by the printhead cartridge and partially provided by the printer body and, a docking frame with a plurality of resilient connectors form part of fluid paths from the ink cartridges. Longitudinal expansion and contraction of the pagewidth printhead structure relative to the docking frame is accommodated by the resilient connectors.