Abstract: Methods and means for imaging are provided. A sequential application hierarchy of two or more colors is defined. A page-wide print array forms images on a moving media using colored inks. Shingling is performed in accordance with the sequential application hierarchy within the overlap print zones of the page-wide print array. Images formed on the media are visually seamless and of proper hue and color saturation throughout as a result of the present teachings.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a drop detection method includes: moving a light source along a first side of the drop zone to illuminate drops passing through a drop zone; and, without blocking any part of the drop zone, detecting light scattered off the drops as the drops pass through the drop zone. In another embodiment, a drop detector includes: a light source on a first side of the drop zone for illuminating drops passing through a drop zone; a light detector on the first side of the drop zone near the light source and a movable carriage carrying the light source and the light detector. The light detector is exposed to the drop zone for detecting light scattered off drops as the drops pass through the drop zone. The carriage is movable along the first side of the drop zone in a direction transverse to the drop direction.

Abstract: A method for forwarding a firing signal within a nozzle group of a fluid ejection device includes receiving warm data and fire data. A firing signal having a firing pulse preceded by a warming pulse is received. The firing signal is conditionally modified according to of the fire data. The conditionally modified firing signal is forwarded to a particular nozzle circuit of the nozzle group.

Abstract: A system and methods for modifying the values of halftoned image pixels to replace a defective colorant with at least one non-defective colorant.

Abstract: A controller is to receive a halftoning job having a number of pages. The controller is to divide each page into a number of sections. A number of halftoning mechanisms correspond in number to the number of sections into which each page is to be divided. Each halftoning mechanism is to perform halftoning on a different section of each page. At any given time, no halftoning mechanism is to perform halftoning on a same page on which any other halftoning mechanism is to currently perform halftoning.

Abstract: A fluid-ejection device includes physical data lines, a controller, and a fluid-ejection mechanism. The physical data lines communicatively connect the controller and the fluid-ejection mechanism. The controller is to assert a logical and virtual nozzle-fire-restart line to denote that a first data sub-packet of a new data packet of nozzle data for a predetermined sequence of fluid-ejection nozzles of the fluid-ejection mechanism is being transmitted over the physical data lines. The fluid-ejection mechanism is to listen for the controller to assert the logical and virtual nozzle-fire-restart line, to discern that the first data sub-packet of the new data packet is being transmitted over the physical data lines.

Abstract: Methods and means for imaging are provided. A sequential application hierarchy of two or more colors is defined. A page-wide print array forms images on a moving media using colored inks. Shingling is performed in accordance with the sequential application hierarchy within the overlap print zones of the page-wide print array. Images formed on the media are visually seamless and of proper hue and color saturation throughout as a result of the present teachings.

Abstract: A control circuit is provided for controlling ink jet pens having different numbers of internal select lines using external select lines that extend between the control circuit and the ink jet pens and that are shared by the ink jet pens. In one embodiment, the control circuit includes a register that store values, the values indicating whether a pulse is or is not to be sent as to each of the external select lines, a first control module configured to control select pulses sent on a first external select line after consultation of the register, and a second control module configured to control select pulses sent on a second external select line after consultation of the register.

Abstract: A method for forwarding a firing signal within a nozzle group of a fluid ejection device includes receiving warm data and fire data. A firing signal having a firing pulse preceded by a warming pulse is received. The firing signal is conditionally modified according to of the fire data. The conditionally modified firing signal is forwarded to a particular nozzle circuit of the nozzle group.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a drop detection method includes: moving a light source along a first side of the drop zone to illuminate drops passing through a drop zone; and, without blocking any part of the drop zone, detecting light scattered off the drops as the drops pass through the drop zone. In another embodiment, a drop detector includes: a light source on a first side of the drop zone for illuminating drops passing through a drop zone; a light detector on the first side of the drop zone near the light source and a movable carriage carrying the light source and the light detector. The light detector is exposed to the drop zone for detecting light scattered off drops as the drops pass through the drop zone. The carriage is movable along the first side of the drop zone in a direction transverse to the drop direction.

Abstract: A controller is to receive a halftoning job having a number of pages. The controller is to divide each page into a number of sections. A number of halftoning mechanisms correspond in number to the number of sections into which each page is to be divided. Each halftoning mechanism is to perform halftoning on a different section of each page. At any given time, no halftoning mechanism is to perform halftoning on a same page on which any other halftoning mechanism is to currently perform halftoning.

Abstract: A control circuit is provided for controlling ink jet pens having different numbers of internal select lines using external select lines that extend between the control circuit and the ink jet pens and that are shared by the ink jet pens. In one embodiment, the control circuit includes a register that store values, the values indicating whether a pulse is or is not to be sent as to each of the external select lines, a first control module configured to control select pulses sent on a first external select line after consultation of the register, and a second control module configured to control select pulses sent on a second external select line after consultation of the register.

Abstract: An indication of any target point internal to a first color space is received. The target point is rendered in a second color space using one of at least two levels of gray colorant and at most two primary colorants out of three primary colorants in the second color space.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device and a method for identifying a fluid ejection device are provided by determining first identification information and based upon the first identification information, querying one or more elements on the fluid ejection device that include second identification information. Then determining the second identification information based upon the query and a plurality of operating of parameters of the fluid ejection device based upon the first and second identification information.

Abstract: An ink set for inkjet printing includes a cyan ink having a first lightness value, a magenta ink having a second lightness value, and a blue ink having a third lightness value, wherein the cyan ink and the magenta ink mix to form a composite blue having a fourth lightness value, wherein the fourth lightness value is approximately twice the third lightness value.

Abstract: A print cartridge includes a printhead and a plurality of distinct achromatic inks contained within a plurality of chambers in communication with the printhead.

Abstract: An ink set for inkjet printing includes a cyan ink having a first lightness value, a magenta ink having a second lightness value, and a blue ink having a third lightness value, wherein the cyan ink and the magenta ink mix to form a composite blue having a fourth lightness value, wherein the fourth lightness value is approximately twice the third lightness value.

Abstract: A system and method for printing on media includes a printhead assembly, a memory, and a controller. The printhead assembly is configured to make physical print sweeps relative to print regions of the media and to print within the print regions during the physical print sweeps. The memory communicates with the printhead assembly and is configured to receive data associated with a logical print sweep. The data associated with the logical print sweep controls printing within a first print region of the media during a corresponding first physical print sweep. The controller communicates with the printhead assembly and memory. The controller initiates the first physical print sweep of the printhead assembly before all of the data associated with the logical print sweep is received by the memory.

Abstract: A printing system includes a printer and a print cartridge. The printer includes a carriage configured to move across the medium. The print cartridge is releasably coupled to the carriage and includes a first printhead and at least three achromatic inks. The at least three achromatic inks have distinct L* values and are contained within at least three chambers in communication with the printhead.

Abstract: A method of an embodiment of the invention is disclosed that advances media sheets through an image-forming device such that each successive pair of media sheets are advanced at least substantially adjacent to one another. The method transmissively optically senses a leading edge of each of the media sheets and a lagging edge of each of the media sheets. The method detects occurrence of an out-of-media sheets situation where a length of time after the lagging edge of one of the media sheets has been optically sensed exceeds a threshold length of time.