Abstract: A method of determining a relative location of a first pattern and a second pattern includes providing a fiducial including a fiducial origin, a first camera, a second camera, and an image registration controller. A first fiducial image of the fiducial origin is captured using the first camera. A second fiducial image of the fiducial origin is captured using the second camera. A first pattern image of a first pattern is captured using the first camera. A second pattern image of a second pattern is captured using the second camera. A first location of the first pattern relative to the fiducial origin is determined using the image registration controller. A second location of the second pattern relative to the fiducial origin is determined using the image registration controller. A relative location of the first location and the second location is determined using the image registration controller.

Abstract: A method of printing includes printing first and second patterns at first and second locations on first and second sides of a media using first and second printheads, respectively. First and second fiducial images including a fiducial origin are captured using first and second cameras, respectively. First and second pattern images of the first and second patterns are captured using the first and second cameras, respectively. The locations of the first and second patterns relative to the fiducial origin are determined using an image registration controller. A relative printed location of the first pattern and the second pattern is determined. A deviation is determined by comparing the determined relative location of the first and second printed patterns with an intended relative location of the first and second printed patterns.

Abstract: A printing system includes a media transport system for transporting a media, a first printhead that prints a first pattern on a first side of the media, and a second printhead that prints a second pattern on a second side of the media. A print controller controls the operation of the first and second printheads. An image registration system includes a fiducial including a fiducial origin and first and second fiducial sides. A first camera captures a first fiducial image of the first fiducial side and origin and a first pattern image of the first pattern. A second camera captures a second fiducial image of the second fiducial side and origin and a second pattern image of the second pattern. An image registration controller processes the first and second fiducial images and the first and second pattern images to determine a relative position of the first and second patterns.

Abstract: A method for providing an intensity or brightness measurement using a digital image-capturing device comprising: selecting a target area within a field of view of the image-capturing device, the target area containing pixels; determining the brightness of pixels in the target area; accumulating the brightness values of the pixels in the target area; and determining a pixel value representative of the pixels in the target area. A device for making color measurements comprising an image-capture device, a processor or logic device, and a memory location for accumulating color data, and the processor or logic device is programmed to perform color measurements by accumulating the data for pixels located in the target area in memory, and determining a representative color value.

Abstract: A method of controlling a digital printing system that uses multiple metadata packets is provided. A controller including a metadata channel is provided. Information in a first metadata packet that is associated with an initial point of interest of a media is provided by a primary metadata packet creation unit. The first metadata packet is inserted into the metadata channel of the controller. A second metadata packet including new information associated with a new point of interest of the media is created using a secondary metadata creation unit. The second metadata packet with the new formation is inserted into the metadata channel of the controller based on the location of the new point of interest of the media.

Abstract: A method of controlling a digital printing system includes updating information provided to a metadata packet. Information is provided in a metadata packet that is associated with a point of interest of a media. The location of the point of interest of the media is monitored as the media moves through the digital printing system along a media path. An operating parameter of the digital printing system is monitored. The initially provided information in the metadata packet that is associated with the point of interest is modified based on the monitored operating parameter of the digital printing system and the monitored location of the point of interest of the media.

Abstract: A method for providing an intensity or brightness measurement using a digital image-capturing device comprising: selecting a target area within a field of view of the image-capturing device, the target area containing pixels; measuring the intensity or brightness of pixels in a target area; accumulating the intensity or brightness values of the pixels in the target area; and determining a pixel value representative of the intensity or brightness of the pixels in the target area. A device for making color measurements comprising an image-capture device, a processor or logic device, and a memory location for accumulating color data, and the processor or logic device is programmed to perform color measurements by accumulating the data for pixels located in the target area in memory, and determining a representative color value.

Abstract: A method for providing an intensity or brightness measurement using a digital image-capturing device comprising: selecting a target area within a field of view of the image-capturing device, the target area containing pixels; determining the brightness of pixels in the target area; accumulating the brightness values of the pixels in the target area; and determining a pixel value representative of the pixels in the target area. A device for making color measurements comprising an image-capture device, a processor or logic device, and a memory location for accumulating color data, and the processor or logic device is programmed to perform color measurements by accumulating the data for pixels located in the target area in memory, and determining a representative color value.

Abstract: A method for providing an intensity or brightness measurement using a digital image-capturing device comprising: selecting a target area within a field of view of the image-capturing device, the target area containing pixels; determining the brightness of pixels in the target area; accumulating the brightness values of the pixels in the target area; and determining a pixel value representative of the pixels in the target area. A device for making color measurements comprising an image-capture device, a processor or logic device, and a memory location for accumulating color data, and the processor or logic device is programmed to perform color measurements by accumulating the data for pixels located in the target area in memory, and determining a representative color value.

Abstract: A method for providing an intensity or brightness measurement using a digital image-capturing device comprising: selecting a target area within a field of view of the image-capturing device, the target area containing pixels; measuring the intensity or brightness of pixels in a target area; accumulating the intensity or brightness values of the pixels in the target area; and determining a pixel value representative of the intensity or brightness of the pixels in the target area. A device for making color measurements comprising an image-capture device, a processor or logic device, and a memory location for accumulating color data, and the processor or logic device is programmed to perform color measurements by accumulating the data for pixels located in the target area in memory, and determining a representative color value.

Abstract: A method for providing an intensity or brightness measurement using a digital image-capturing device comprising: selecting a target area within a field of view of the image-capturing device, the target area containing pixels; measuring the intensity or brightness of pixels in a target area; accumulating the intensity or brightness values of the pixels in the target area; and determining a pixel value representative of the intensity or brightness of the pixels in the target area. A device for making color measurements comprising an image-capture device, a processor or logic device, and a memory location for accumulating color data, and the processor or logic device is programmed to perform color measurements by accumulating the data for pixels located in the target area in memory, and determining a representative color value.

Abstract: A method for generating a delayed cue signal begins by receiving a tachometer input and writing a cue signal to a write address into a memory element that includes a read address. A memory output signal is read from the read address and a delayed cue signal is created from the memory output signal. Next, a cue delay value is created, wherein the cue delay value is the difference between the read address and the write address. The method ends by generating the delayed cue signal from the cue delay value.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for an ink jet printer includes a state machine with numerous sequenced logic circuits to generate buffered control signals from the tachometer input. A counter counts one of the buffered control signals from the state machine forming a write address. A synchronous up-down counter receives a cue delay value when the up-down counter receives a buffered control signal thereby forming a delayed count. An adder receives the write address and the delayed count and generates a read address. A comparator compares the delayed count to the cue delay value and sets a comparator output depending upon whether the delayed count is greater than or less than the cue delay value. A multiplexer receives the read and write addresses and the buffered control signals and sends a single to RAM. A logic circuit receives the buffered control signals and outputs a delayed cue signal to the printing system.

Abstract: A cue delay circuit for an ink jet printing system includes a state machine with sequenced logic circuits that generate buffered control signals; a counter that counts one of the buffered control signals to form a read address; and an adder that combines the read address to the cue delay value to generate a write address. A comparator compares the cue delay value to the read address to determine if the read address is greater than the cue delay value. A multiplexer receives the read and write address and one of the buffered control signals and forms a multiplexer output. The system includes a gate circuit that receives the latched comparator output and the RAM output signal forming a gated cue signal; and a logic circuit that sends a signal to the printing system.

Abstract: A minimum period circuit is used to process incoming encoder pulses for an imaging system that prints on a recording media in response to pulses from an encoder. The system using the minimum period circuit receives pulses from an encoder and generates output pulses that can by employed by the imaging system to define pixel locations. A difference between the number of pulses received from the encoder and the number of output pulses is determined, and it is further determined if this difference is positive. A minimum period is defined between output pulses. Finally, the output pulse generation is prompted to produce a pulse when the difference is positive and the time since the last output pulse exceeds the minimum period.

Abstract: A minimum period circuit is used to process incoming encoder pulses for an imaging system that prints on a recording media in response to pulses from an encoder. The system using the minimum period circuit receives pulses from an encoder and generates output pulses that can by employed by the imaging system to define pixel locations. A difference between the number of pulses received from the encoder and the number of output pulses is determined, and it is further determined if this difference is positive. A minimum period is defined between output pulses. Finally, the output pulse generation is prompted to produce a pulse when the difference is positive and the time since the last output pulse exceeds the minimum period.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring reflective, transmissive, or self-luminous samples, comprises a plurality of light sources, where each of the light sources emit light of a substantially different wavelength band spaced in the visible spectrum; a reference channel photodetector; a sample channel photodetector; an optical cap adapted to direct a first portion of the light emitted by each of the light sources to the reference channel photodetector, a reflector cone for directing a second portion of the light emitted by each of the light sources to the sample; and a receptor piece for directing the diffuse portion of the light reflected from the sample to the sample channel photodetector. Preferably, the reference channel and sample channel photodetectors are identical devices and are mounted back-to-back to share environmental characteristics, and in turn, minimize the variation between their respective responses.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring reflective, transmissive, or self-luminous samples, comprises a plurality of light sources, where each of the light sources emit light of a substantially different wavelength band spaced in the visible spectrum; a reference channel photodetector; a sample channel photodetector; an optical cap adapted to direct a first portion of the light emitted by each of the light sources to the reference channel photodetector; a reflector cone for directing a second portion of the light emitted by each of the light sources to the sample; and a receptor piece for directing the diffuse portion of the light reflected from the sample to the sample channel photodetector. Preferably, the reference channel and sample channel photodetectors are identical devices and are mounted back-to-back to share environmental characteristics, and in turn, minimize the variation between their respective responses.

Abstract: A hand-manipulatable device includes a sensor for gathering reflective, densitometric, spectrophotometric, colorimetric, self-luminous or radiometric readings from a sample surface. The device includes a housing having a substantially flat bottom surface and a top surface contoured to fit comfortably in the fingers and palm of the human hand. The housing also includes area on its top surface for seating an index finger of the human hand. Positioned within this area is a pressure-activated switch that is operatively coupled to the sensor circuitry for performing the readings. Preferably, the sensor is mounted into the device such that the focal aperture of the sensor is in axial alignment with the pressure-activated switch. Accordingly, a user will be able to use the device to "point" with his or her index finger to an area of the sample surface, and will then simply press the switch to initiate the readings, using the same index finger.

Abstract: A system for recording an image utilizes a microencapsulated media wherein the microcapsules contain an image forming agent and a photohardenable composition. A cathode ray tube has a faceplate formed from an array of parallel optical fibers and a phosphor coating applied on an inside surface of the faceplate. The cathode ray tube is controlled to write the image onto the coating so as to scroll the image over the coating. The imaging sheet is supported and moved past the faceplate at a rate equal to the scroll rate, whereby an entire image is exposed onto the sheet. Adapting such a system to full-color images is also disclosed.