Abstract: A method of registering an image onto a sheet of media on an imaging surface of a printer having a printhead for imaging onto the sheet, comprising: detecting a position of said sheet of media being advanced onto the imaging surface using a first sensor positioned along said media path upstream of the printhead; and firing the printhead at a time based on the detected position and a calibrated distance between the sensor and the printhead.

Abstract: A multi-carriage printing device has a first member, a first bar mounted on the first member, and a first printer carriage mounted on the first bar. The device further has a second bar mounted on the first member, a second printer carriage mounted on the second bar, and a first temperature sensor positioned to sense a first temperature of the member.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes an encoder strip having encoder markings and at least a first index marking along a length of the encoder strip, an encoder configured to generate a first signal that indicates detection of the encoder markings in response to being moved along the length of the encoder strip, an index sensor configured to generate a second signal that indicates detection of the first index marking in response to being moved along the length of the encoder strip in unison with the encoder, and processing circuitry configured to determine a first encoder index value that corresponds to a center of the first index marking using the first and the second signals.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention include systems and methods of reducing visible print defects in drum printers having multi-die printheads oriented substantially perpendicular to the print media path. The exemplary embodiments include printing very small amounts of additional ink via empirically determined printing masks in addition to the normal image content, such that the print defects become less visible. Further exemplary embodiments include printing the additional ink during times typically utilized for print drying.

Abstract: A method of registering an image onto a sheet of media on an imaging surface of a printer having a printhead for imaging onto the sheet, comprising: detecting a position of said sheet of media being advanced onto the imaging surface using a first sensor positioned along said media path upstream of the printhead; and firing the printhead at a time based on the detected position and a calibrated distance between the sensor and the printhead.

Abstract: A multi-carriage printing device has a first member, a first bar mounted on the first member, and a first printer carriage mounted on the first bar. The device further has a second bar mounted on the first member, a second printer carriage mounted on the second bar, and a first temperature sensor positioned to sense a first temperature of the member.

Abstract: A printer comprises a print engine and a print head. The print engine separates combined image/dot pattern data into image data and dot pattern data. The print engine separately processes the image data and the dot pattern data and merges the separately-processed image data and dot pattern into print data for printing. A print head prints the print data.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention include systems and methods of reducing visible print defects in drum printers having multi-die printheads oriented substantially perpendicular to the print media path. The exemplary embodiments include printing very small amounts of additional ink via empirically determined printing masks in addition to the normal image content, such that the print defects become less visible. Further exemplary embodiments include printing the additional ink during times typically utilized for print drying.

Abstract: A method for calibrating one or more printheads includes printing a reference image using a first portion of image forming points of a first printhead, printing a diagnostic image using a second portion of image forming points of either the first printhead or a second printhead, detecting an optical density of the combined reference image and the diagnostic image and determining a compensation value based upon the optical density.

Abstract: A method for locating a cutter in a web fed photo imaging system including the steps of measuring an actual fiducial distance between consecutive fiducials, comparing a measured actual fiducial distance between consecutive fiducials to an imaging engine feed distance, calculating a feed distance scaling factor equal to a difference between an average actual fiducial distance and the imaging engine feed distance divided by a total number of discrete incremental moves between fiducials and adjusting the imaging engine feed distance in an amount equal to the scaling factor.

Abstract: A method for locating a cutter in a web fed photo imaging system including the steps of measuring an actual fiducial distance between consecutive fiducials, comparing a measured actual fiducial distance between consecutive fiducials to an imaging engine feed distance, calculating a feed distance scaling factor equal to a difference between an average actual fiducial distance and the imaging engine feed distance divided by a total number of discrete incremental moves between fiducials and adjusting the imaging engine feed distance in an amount equal to the scaling factor.

Abstract: A single-pen, or multi-pen, printing device prints one or more diagnostic images to determine a print media line-feed advance offset to compensate for pen, or multi-pen, swath height and/or line-feed advance errors. A sensor detects pen swath optical densities from the diagnostic images, and an application component determines an error compensation factor from the pen swath optical densities. The sensor detects different pen swath optical densities from overlapping, aligned, and/or offset first and second print swath images that form a diagnostic image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for calibrating a digital printer to provide a substantially aim printer response. A test target is processed through a set of potential calibration functions to form a set of processed test targets and the set of processed test targets is printed using the digital printer. Thereafter, the set of printed test targets is measured to determine the printer response. An error criterion is determined for each measured test target by comparing the measured printer response for each of the set of potential calibration functions to the aim printer response. The calibration function which has the smallest value of the error criterion is then selected.

Abstract: A postacquired spectrophotometer, for use with a sample and reference. The spectrophotometer has a filter unit, defining an axis of movement, and pluralities of designated sites and dark sites disposed in uniform relation to the axis. The designated and dark sites are disposed in alternation. Alternating designated sites have apertures and filters covering the apertures. Further, a main member, coaxial with the filter unit, has sample and reference beam paths, which are intersected by the sites. The main member has disposed, in operative relation to the actuators, an actuator sensor, which generates an integration actuator signal upon alignment with each integration actuator and a clamping actuator signal upon alignment with each clamping actuator. Moreover, a drive continuously moves the filter unit relative to the axis and beam paths.

Abstract: A spectrophotometer is described, comprising a single light source, a single detector, optics for dually and alternatively reading a sample and a reference, and only one moving part. That moving part is a chopper containing multiple pass-through apertures, each filled with a unique bandpass filter to select wavelengths to specifically illuminate the sample or reference. To inform the spectrophotometer whether and when it is reading the sample or the reference, trigger means are provided in at least twice the number of the pass-through apertures.

Abstract: A waveguide optical device having a guide member for propagation of light in a longitudinal direction. The guide member has upper and lower boundaries. A mass of birefringent material is disposed proximal to the guide member. The birefringent material has molecular dipoles subject to alignment by an imposed electrical field. The birefringent mass is overlapped by the optical field of the propagated light. An upper electrode is disposed in spaced relation to the birefringent mass. A lower electrode is disposed in spaced relation to the guide member. The electrodes have the capability of imposing an alternating current voltage across the birefringent mass to rotate the molecular dipoles of the birefringent mass in a plane defined by the normal to the guide member and the propagation vector of the light.

Abstract: There are disclosed an instrument and method for using near IR to discriminate between healthy and diseased tissue, using, e.g., a catheter and a spectrophotometer. Near IR is passed at certain wavelengths to suspected tissue, and reflected light is analyzed to determine the absorbance, and preferably the second derivative thereof. From identification of the absorption spectra of known diseased and known healthy tissue, a relation has been established to determine the following correlation equation for determining the predictive value of y:y=Co+C.sub.1 A(.lambda..sub.1)+C.sub.2 A(.lambda..sub.2)wherein A(.lambda..sub.1)+A(.lambda..sub.2) are the second derivatives for the absorbance at the two selected wavelengths. For blood cholesterol esters and plaque, .lambda..sub.1 is preferably 1714.5 and .lambda..sub.2 is preferably 1678.5 nm. Solving for the coefficients Co, C.sub.1 and C.sub.2, it has been shown that values of y less than -8.0 represent diseased tissue, which should be treated.

Abstract: Silicic acid heteropolycondensates containing a luminescent compound, whose luminescence is quenchable by oxygen, form suitable sensors for measuring oxygen content in an oxygen-containing gaseous, liquid, or solid sample.