Abstract: A method for use in guiding a hand-operated printer positioned over a print medium includes determining a position of the hand-operated printer relative to the print medium; and generating on a display screen a virtual image of at least a portion of an area under the hand-operated printer, corresponding to the position of the hand-operated printer.

Abstract: A method for correcting misalignment between a plurality of columns of color ink jetting nozzle arrays of a color printhead during printing with a hand held printer includes determining a misdirection angle of motion of the plurality of columns of color ink jetting nozzle arrays relative to a desired direction of motion of the hand operated printer; determining for each of the plurality of columns of color ink jetting nozzle arrays a respective usable nozzles subset to be used in printing a swath, based on the misdirection angle; determining an amount of shifting of at least one of the respective usable nozzles subsets to adjust for non-perpendicularity of the color ink jetting nozzle arrays relative to the desired direction of motion, based on the misdirection angle; and shifting the respective usable nozzles subset for a respective column based on the amount determined.

Abstract: A method for automatically providing vertical misalignment correction in a hand held printer fixedly mounting a printhead having a plurality of ink jetting nozzles arranged in a column includes defining a fixed quantity subset of the plurality of ink jetting nozzles for printing a print swath; defining a reference line corresponding to a desired printing path; assigning print data to the feed quantity subset of the plurality of ink jetting nozzles for printing the print swath along the desired printing path; determining an amount of vertical deviation of the hand held printer from the reference line as the hand held printer is hand-scanned along the desired printing path; and dynamically shifting a location of the fixed quantity subset within the plurality of ink jetting nozzles to compensate for the amount of vertical deviation as the hand held printer is hand-scanned along the desired printing path.

Abstract: Method for determining enhanced printing functions on a hand-held inkjet printer having one or more optical sensors configured to measure speed and distance across the page. Collecting a first frame of individual pixel data, mapping the first frame of individual pixel data into a pixel map memory, processing the first frame of individual pixel data to perform additional print quality features. These additional features can be categorized in three main categories: 1) sensing non-printing elements, 2) sensing pre-printed elements, and 3) sensing print elements.

Abstract: A method for controlling the media feed of a print media sheet in an imaging apparatus having a media feed roller includes selecting between using absolute positioning of the media feed roller and relative positioning of the media feed roller for various media feed roller moves.

Abstract: A hand-held micro-fluid ejection device for ejecting a fluid onto a substrate surface in a plurality of physical orientations between the ejection device and a substrate surface, and methods for controlling the geometric accuracy of printing using a hand-held printing apparatus. Various spatial and dynamic orientations of the ejection device are measured, such as rotation angle, yaw angle, and velocity and acceleration vectors. Threshold limits are established for the orientations and printing is disabled if the measured values exceed the threshold limits.

Abstract: Method of printing from a printer, where the printer includes one or more maintenance firings from a printhead nozzle. Formatting a print job to be printed in determining which nozzles on a printhead require maintenance during printing of the print job. Modifying the formatted print job to include one or more maintenance firings for the nozzles requiring maintenance.

Abstract: A method for controlling the media feed of a print media sheet in an imaging apparatus having a media feed roller includes selecting between using absolute positioning of the media feed roller and relative positioning of the media feed roller for various media feed roller moves.

Abstract: A method for correcting misalignment between a plurality of columns of color ink jetting nozzle arrays of a color printhead during printing with a hand held printer includes determining a misdirection angle of motion of the plurality of columns of color ink jetting nozzle arrays relative to a desired direction of motion of the hand operated printer; determining for each of the plurality of columns of color ink jetting nozzle arrays a respective usable nozzles subset to be used in printing a swath, based on the misdirection angle; determining an amount of shifting of at least one of the respective usable nozzles subsets to adjust for non-perpendicularity of the color ink jetting nozzle arrays relative to the desired direction of motion, based on the misdirection angle; and shifting the respective usable nozzles subset for a respective column based on the amount determined.

Abstract: A method for controlling the media feed of a print media sheet in an imaging apparatus having a media feed roller includes selecting between using absolute positioning of the media feed roller and relative positioning of the media feed roller for various media feed roller moves.

Abstract: Methods for selecting elements of information displayed on a computer screen for printing by a hand-held printer that preferably incorporates the capability of a computer mouse to more efficiently capture and print such information thereby minimizing the time and effort required for printing such information.

Abstract: A method for automatically providing vertical misalignment correction in a hand held printer fixedly mounting a printhead having a plurality of ink jetting nozzles arranged in a column includes defining a fixed quantity subset of the plurality of ink jetting nozzles for printing a print swath; defining a reference line corresponding to a desired printing path; assigning print data to the feed quantity subset of the plurality of ink jetting nozzles for printing the print swath along the desired printing path; determining an amount of vertical deviation of the hand held printer from the reference line as the hand held printer is hand-scanned along the desired printing path; and dynamically shifting a location of the fixed quantity subset within the plurality of ink jetting nozzles to compensate for the amount of vertical deviation as the hand held printer is hand-scanned along the desired printing path.

Abstract: A method for use in guiding a hand-operated printer positioned over a print medium includes determining a position of the hand-operated printer relative to the print medium; and generating on a display screen a virtual image of at least a portion of an area under the hand-operated printer, corresponding to the position of the hand-operated printer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring the print quality maintenance of hand-held printers and insuring the performance of periodic maintenance to maintain optimal print quality.

Abstract: A hand-held micro-fluid ejection device for manually ejecting fluid droplets onto a substrate during relative translational motion between the ejection device and a target area on the substrate. The ejection device includes a frequency generator to set a designated frequency signal for fluid droplet ejection by the device. The frequency generator is configured to operate open-loop with respect to the relative translational motion between the ejection device and the target area. An electronic processor uses the designated frequency signal to drive a micro-fluid ejection head that produces a predetermine droplet pattern. In some embodiments a manual tuner is provided to adjust the designated frequency. In some embodiments the designated frequency signal includes more than one component to control different elements of fluid being ejected.

Abstract: A hand-held micro-fluid ejection device for ejecting a fluid onto a substrate surface in a plurality of physical orientations between the ejection device and a substrate surface and methods for controlling the geometric accuracy of printing using a hand-held printing apparatus. Various spatial and dynamic orientations of the ejection device are measured, such as rotation angle, yaw angle, and velocity and acceleration vectors. Threshold limits are established for the orientations and printing is disabled if the measured values exceed the threshold limits.

Abstract: Method for determining enhanced printing functions on a hand-held inkjet printer having one or more optical sensors configured to measure speed and distance across the page. Collecting a first frame of individual pixel data, mapping the first frame of individual pixel data into a pixel map memory, processing the first frame of individual pixel data to perform additional print quality features. These additional features can be categorized in three main categories: 1) sensing non-printing elements, 2) sensing pre-printed elements, and 3) sensing print elements.

Abstract: A method for rotating a printer paper-feed roller wherein the roller is driven by a DC (direct current) motor. A feedback-control signal is applied to the motor until the roller reaches a desired rotational position. The feedback-control signal is a function of an error signal, and the error signal represents the difference between the actual rotational position and the desired rotational position of the roller. When the roller reaches the desired rotational position, the applied feedback-control signal is removed from the motor, and a direct-control biasing signal is applied to the motor to reduce or prevent rollback of the roller when the feedback-control signal is removed from the motor. In one example, the signals are PWM (pulse-width-modulated) signals.

Abstract: A printer (1) in which a first sheet (5) to be imaged by printhead (3) is followed by a trailing media sheet. The first sheet is stopped intermittently so that the printhead can traverse the first sheet to print a partial image. The trailing media sheet is stopped behind the first sheet and is moved intermittently until it reaches or is near nip rollers (9a, 9b). Exit rollers 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d move the first sheet out of the printer. When the exit rollers and the nip roller move forward and backward together the first sheet may be exited before the nip rollers are reversed to align the second sheet. Alternatively, the first sheet may be moved backward during alignment. The intermittent movement of the sheets may be at different times and with the trailing sheet moved less times and longer amounts than the first sheet is moved.

Abstract: A speed mode for a printer (1) which has a pivotally mounted autocompensating system (19) mounted at an intermediate position in paper guide (17). That system (19) is driven by a motor (40) through a slip drive (70, 72, 74). The motor also drives paper feed system (15). When the motor turns in a direction to feed by system (15), the intermediate system is moved away from the paper guide. In basic operation, when a sheet (5) reaches a position to be fed by the intermediate system, the motor is reversed, and the intermediate system pivots against the paper for moving it further through the paper guide. In the speed mode the intermediate system is not employed and all of the feed is by the system at the tray. Since this will not feed shorter sheets, preferably the speed mode must be positively invoked, as by operator input or definitive information in the header of a print job.