Patents by Inventor Rodney Hardy
Rodney Hardy has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11831841Abstract: A method of printing an image using a printing system having first and second printheads supplied with a same ink. The method includes the steps of: allocating first lines of the image to the first printhead; allocating second lines of the image to the second printhead; dithering the first lines of the image using a selected first dither mask; dithering the second lines of the image using a selected second dither mask; printing the dithered first lines of the image using the first printhead; and printing the dithered second lines of the image using the second printhead. The first and second dither masks are selected based on a relative alignment of the first and second printheads.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2022Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Memjet Technology LimitedInventors: Rodney Hardy, James Lawrence
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Publication number: 20230330992Abstract: A method of printing an image from a print chip having plurality of horizontal nozzle rows. The method includes the steps of allocating first dot data for an image line of the image to nozzles in a first row portion of a first nozzle row; allocating second dot data for the image line to nozzles in a second row portion; sending the first and second dot data to the print chip and firing respective droplets. Some bits of the first dot data correspond to pixels of the image line aligned with the second row portion, and some bits of the second dot data correspond to pixels of the image line aligned with the first row portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: Brian Brown, Julie HOGAN, Ronan PALLISER, Keshu NAZNEEN, Juliette LE HIR, Rodney HARDY
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Patent number: 11787182Abstract: A method of printing an image from a printhead module having a plurality of horizontal nozzle rows, the method including the steps of: allocating first dot data for an image line of the image to nozzles of a main row portion of a first nozzle row; allocating second dot data for the image line to nozzles of a dropped row portion of a second nozzle row; and sending the first and second dot data to the printhead module and firing respective droplets. Each nozzle row of the printhead module has a same number of nozzles N; and the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are non-corresponding nozzle rows, such that a number of nozzles contained in the main portion of the first nozzle row and a number of nozzles contained in the dropped row portion of the second nozzle row is greater or fewer than N nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Memjet Technology LimitedInventors: Brian Brown, Julie Hogan, Ronan Palliser, Keshu Nazneen, Juliette Le Hir, Rodney Hardy
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Patent number: 11724502Abstract: A method of printing an image from a printhead module having a plurality of horizontal nozzle rows. The method includes the steps of: allocating first dot data for an image line of the image to nozzles in a main row portion of a first nozzle row; allocating second dot data for the image line to nozzles in a dropped row portion of the first nozzle row; sending the first and second dot data to the printhead module and firing respective droplets. Some bits of the first dot data correspond to pixels of the image line aligned with the dropped row portion, and some bits of the second dot data correspond to pixels of the image line aligned with the main row portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Memjet Technology LimitedInventors: Brian Brown, Julie Hogan, Ronan Palliser, Keshu Nazneen, Juliette Le Hir, Rodney Hardy
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Patent number: 11654674Abstract: A print medium having a calibration pattern printed thereon for generating alignment data for a printhead. The calibration pattern contains rows of spaced apart fiducials, each fiducial having a plurality of concentric shapes representing a Barker code.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2022Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Inventors: Nigel Hoschke, Rodney Hardy, Steven Parker
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Publication number: 20230085437Abstract: A method of printing an image using a printing system having first and second printheads supplied with a same ink. The method includes the steps of: allocating first lines of the image to the first printhead; allocating second lines of the image to the second printhead; dithering the first lines of the image using a selected first dither mask; dithering the second lines of the image using a selected second dither mask; printing the dithered first lines of the image using the first printhead; and printing the dithered second lines of the image using the second printhead. The first and second dither masks are selected based on a relative alignment of the first and second printheads.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2022Publication date: March 16, 2023Inventors: Rodney Hardy, James LAWRENCE
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Patent number: 11539858Abstract: A method of single-pass printing uses a printing system having first and second aligned printheads supplied with a same ink. The method includes the steps of: receiving first and second halftone images at the first and second printheads, respectively; printing the first halftone image from the first printhead; and printing the second halftone image from the second printhead. The first halftone image is based on a first dither pattern and the second halftone image is based on a second dither pattern, the first dither pattern being different than the second dither pattern.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Inventors: Rodney Hardy, James Lawrence
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Patent number: 11445088Abstract: A method of processing a contone image for single-pass printing uses a printing system having first and second aligned printheads supplied with a same ink. The method includes the steps of: providing the contone image at a first resolution in a printing direction; dithering the contone image using a combined dither pattern to provide a full halftone image at the first resolution; dividing the full halftone image into first and second halftone images at a second resolution in the printing direction, the second resolution being less than the first resolution; and sending the first and second halftone images to respective first and second printheads for printing. The combined dither pattern is a combination of a first dither pattern for the first printhead and a second dither pattern for the second printhead, the first dither pattern being different than the second dither pattern.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2021Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Inventors: Rodney Hardy, James Lawrence
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Publication number: 20220219449Abstract: A print medium having a calibration pattern printed thereon for generating alignment data for a printhead. The calibration pattern contains rows of spaced apart fiducials, each fiducial having a plurality of concentric shapes representing a Barker code.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2022Publication date: July 14, 2022Inventors: Nigel HOSCHKE, Rodney HARDY, Steven PARKER
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Patent number: 11312126Abstract: A method of generating alignment data for a printhead. The method includes the steps of: printing a calibration pattern using the printhead, the calibration pattern including rows of spaced apart fiducials, each fiducial having a plurality of concentric shapes representing a code sequence; imaging the fiducials at a first resolution to generate imaged fiducials; cross-correlating a template fiducial with the imaged fiducials at a plurality of different displacement s relative to each imaged fiducial, the template fiducial having a configuration matching the imaged fiducials; determining a two-dimensional set of cross-correlation values for each imaged fiducial, each set of cross-correlation values indicating a center of a respective fiducial; and generating alignment data for the printhead using the sets of cross-correlation values.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Inventors: Nigel Hoschke, Rodney Hardy, Steven Parker
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Publication number: 20220072857Abstract: A method of printing an image from a printhead module having a plurality of horizontal nozzle rows, the method including the steps of: allocating first dot data for an image line of the image to nozzles of a main row portion of a first nozzle row; allocating second dot data for the image line to nozzles of a dropped row portion of a second nozzle row; and sending the first and second dot data to the printhead module and firing respective droplets. Each nozzle row of the printhead module has a same number of nozzles N; and the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are non-corresponding nozzle rows, such that a number of nozzles contained in the main portion of the first nozzle row and a number of nozzles contained in the dropped row portion of the second nozzle row is greater or fewer than N nozzles.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2021Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Brian BROWN, Julie HOGAN, Ronan PALLISER, Keshu NAZNEEN, Juliette LE HIR, Rodney HARDY
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Publication number: 20220072851Abstract: A method of printing an image from a printhead module having a plurality of horizontal nozzle rows. The method includes the steps of: allocating first dot data for an image line of the image to nozzles in a main row portion of a first nozzle row; allocating second dot data for the image line to nozzles in a dropped row portion of the first nozzle row; sending the first and second dot data to the printhead module and firing respective droplets. Some bits of the first dot data correspond to pixels of the image line aligned with the dropped row portion, and some bits of the second dot data correspond to pixels of the image line aligned with the main row portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2021Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Brian BROWN, Julie HOGAN, Ronan PALLISER, Keshu NAZNEEN, Juliette LE HIR, Rodney HARDY
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Publication number: 20210295121Abstract: A method of processing a contone image for single-pass printing uses a printing system having first and second aligned printheads supplied with a same ink. The method includes the steps of: providing the contone image at a first resolution in a printing direction; dithering the contone image using a combined dither pattern to provide a full halftone image at the first resolution; dividing the full halftone image into first and second halftone images at a second resolution in the printing direction, the second resolution being less than the first resolution; and sending the first and second halftone images to respective first and second printheads for printing. The combined dither pattern is a combination of a first dither pattern for the first printhead and a second dither pattern for the second printhead, the first dither pattern being different than the second dither pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Rodney HARDY, James LAWRENCE
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Publication number: 20210295120Abstract: A method of single-pass printing uses a printing system having first and second aligned printheads supplied with a same ink. The method includes the steps of: receiving first and second halftone images at the first and second printheads, respectively; printing the first halftone image from the first printhead; and printing the second halftone image from the second printhead. The first halftone image is based on a first dither pattern and the second halftone image is based on a second dither pattern, the first dither pattern being different than the second dither pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Rodney HARDY, James LAWRENCE
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Publication number: 20200223221Abstract: A method of generating alignment data for a printhead. The method includes the steps of: printing a calibration pattern using the printhead, the calibration pattern including rows of spaced apart fiducials, each fiducial having a plurality of concentric shapes representing a code sequence; imaging the fiducials at a first resolution to generate imaged fiducials; cross-correlating a template fiducial with the imaged fiducials at a plurality of different displacement s relative to each imaged fiducial, the template fiducial having a configuration matching the imaged fiducials; determining a two-dimensional set of cross-correlation values for each imaged fiducial, each set of cross-correlation values indicating a center of a respective fiducial; and generating alignment data for the printhead using the sets of cross-correlation values.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventors: Nigel Hoschke, Rodney Hardy, Steven Parker
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Patent number: 10029458Abstract: A method of generating print data for an inkjet printhead having a plurality of ink planes. The method includes the steps of: receiving image data for a print job in a printer controller; retrieving keep-wet pattern data for each ink plane of the printhead, the retrieved keep-wet pattern data being determined using one or more input parameters; generating first print data for each ink plane in the printer controller based on the received image data; merging the first print data with the keep-wet pattern data to provide second print data for each ink plane; and sending the second print data from the printer controller to the printhead, thereby causing the printhead to print an image together with a keep-wet pattern. The keep-wet pattern is defined by a plurality of dots printed at a frequency sufficient to maintain hydration of each nozzle in the printhead.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd.Inventors: Julie Hogan, Angus North, Philip Palma, John Sheahan, Brian Brown, David Keeshan, Rodney Hardy, Peter Allworth, Colin Pickup, Caitriona Forbes, Kieran Roughan, William Jacob
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Publication number: 20170120581Abstract: A method of generating print data for an inkjet printhead having a plurality of ink planes. The method includes the steps of: receiving image data for a print job in a printer controller; retrieving keep-wet pattern data for each ink plane of the printhead, the retrieved keep-wet pattern data being determined using one or more input parameters; generating first print data for each ink plane in the printer controller based on the received image data; merging the first print data with the keep-wet pattern data to provide second print data for each ink plane; and sending the second print data from the printer controller to the printhead, thereby causing the printhead to print an image together with a keep-wet pattern. The keep-wet pattern is defined by a plurality of dots printed at a frequency sufficient to maintain hydration of each nozzle in the printhead.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2016Publication date: May 4, 2017Inventors: Julie Hogan, Angus North, Philip Palma, John Sheahan, Brian Brown, David Keshan, Rodney Hardy, Peter Allworth, Colin Pickup, Caitriona Forbes, Kieran Roughan, William Jacob
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Patent number: 9545787Abstract: A method of generating print data for an inkjet printhead having a plurality of ink planes. The method includes the steps of: receiving image data for a print job in a printer controller; retrieving keep-wet pattern data for each ink plane of the printhead, the retrieved keep-wet pattern data being determined using one or more input parameters; generating first print data for each ink plane in the printer controller based on the received image data; merging the first print data with the keep-wet pattern data to provide second print data for each ink plane; and sending the second print data from the printer controller to the printhead, thereby causing the printhead to print an image together with a keep-wet pattern. The keep-wet pattern is defined by a plurality of dots printed at a frequency sufficient to maintain hydration of each nozzle in the printhead.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Memjet Technology LimitedInventors: Julie Hogan, Angus North, Philip Palma, John Sheahan, Brian Brown, David Keeshan, Rodney Hardy, Peter Allworth, Colin Pickup, Caitriona Forbes, Kieran Roughan, William Jacob
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Publication number: 20150360465Abstract: A method of generating print data for an inkjet printhead having a plurality of ink planes. The method includes the steps of: receiving image data for a print job in a printer controller; retrieving keep-wet pattern data for each ink plane of the printhead, the retrieved keep-wet pattern data being determined using one or more input parameters; generating first print data for each ink plane in the printer controller based on the received image data; merging the first print data with the keep-wet pattern data to provide second print data for each ink plane; and sending the second print data from the printer controller to the printhead, thereby causing the printhead to print an image together with a keep-wet pattern. The keep-wet pattern is defined by a plurality of dots printed at a frequency sufficient to maintain hydration of each nozzle in the printhead.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2014Publication date: December 17, 2015Inventors: Julie Hogan, Angus North, Philip Palma, John Sheahan, Brian Brown, David Keeshan, Rodney Hardy, Peter Allworth, Colin Pickup, Caitriona Forbes, Kieran Roughan, William Jacob
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Publication number: 20150029247Abstract: A method of generating print data for an inkjet printhead having a plurality of ink planes. The method includes the steps of: receiving image data for a print job in a printer controller; retrieving keep-wet pattern data for each ink plane of the printhead, the retrieved keep-wet pattern data being determined using one or more input parameters; generating first print data for each ink plane in the printer controller based on the received image data; merging the first print data with the keep-wet pattern data to provide second print data for each ink plane; and sending the second print data from the printer controller to the printhead, thereby causing the printhead to print an image together with a keep-wet pattern. The keep-wet pattern is defined by a plurality of dots printed at a frequency sufficient to maintain hydration of each nozzle in the printhead.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2014Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventors: Julie Hogan, Angus North, Philip Palma, John Sheahan, Brian Brown, David Keeshan, Rodney Hardy, Peter Allworth, Colin Pickup, Caitriona Forbes, Kieran Roughan, William Jacob