Abstract: A camera unit includes a display for displaying an image to be captured; an image sensor for digitally capturing the displayed image; a card reader having a linear scanner for scanning a surface of a removable card to sense a plurality of dots printed on the surface of the removable card, the plurality of dots representing a bit pattern encoding a program script; a card interface for receiving a signal from the card reader indicative of the sensed plurality of dots printed on the surface of the card, and decoding the sensed plurality of dots into the program script; and a printer configured to print a distorted image on print media, the distorted image being a version of the captured image distorted in accordance with the program script. The card reader comprises a moulding housing therewithin a plurality of light sources, the moulding being transparent to light from the light sources and shaped to focus the light on the removable card.

Abstract: A modular camera and printer is disclosed. A camera module is provided having an image sensor for capturing an image in a RGB format. The camera module also has a central processing unit with program memory for storing program steps for execution by the central processing unit to operate the camera module, and an image storage memory for storing the captured image in the RGB format. An image processing unit of the camera module is in communication with the image storage memory and transforms image data in the image storage memory into a L*a*b* format. The camera module also has a serial bus for outputting transformed image data in the L*a*b* format. A printer module is provided also having a serial bus in communication with the serial bus of the camera module. The printer module receives the image data from the camera module in the L*a*b* format, converts the image data to a color space of the printer module, and then prints the image data on a printhead.

Abstract: A camera unit includes a display for displaying an image to be captured; an image sensor for digitally capturing the displayed image; a card reader having a linear scanner for scanning a surface of a removable card to sense a plurality of dots printed on the surface of the removable card, the plurality of dots representing a bit pattern encoding a program script; a card interface for receiving a signal from the card reader indicative of the sensed plurality of dots printed on the surface of the card, and decoding the sensed plurality of dots into the program script; and a printer configured to print a distorted image on print media, the distorted image being a version of the captured image distorted in accordance with the program script. The card reader comprises a moulding housing therewithin a plurality of light sources, the moulding being transparent to light from the light sources and shaped to focus the light on the removable card.

Abstract: A printhead module for a wide format pagewidth inkjet printer comprises a carrier mountable on a chassis, said carrier being configured for abutment with a carrier of an adjacent printhead module; at least one printhead integrated circuit mounted on the carrier, said at least one printhead integrated circuit including a plurality of ink ejection nozzles and drive circuitry for driving actuators in the ink ejection nozzles; and a connection zone defined in the carrier for electrically connecting said at least one printhead integrated circuit to control circuitry. The ink ejection nozzles are supplied with ink from an ink distribution arrangement, and the printhead module is removably mounted to the ink distribution arrangement.

Abstract: A method of generating half tone print data is disclosed. The method starts by determining an extent of overlap caused by temperature variations of overlapping end portions of a pair of consecutive printhead segments. A dither value is also generated from a dither matrix, and the dither value is combined with the extent of overlap to produce an output value. A mathematical operation is performed on continuous tone print data based on the output value, to produce the half tone print data.

Abstract: A printhead having at least first and second rows of print nozzle cells. Each each nozzle cell has an ink chamber, control circuitry and drive circuitry. Each nozzle cell in the first row has a corresponding nozzle cell in the second row. The drive circuitry of each nozzle cell of the first row is arranged adjacent the drive circuitry of the corresponding nozzle cell in the second row and distant the control circuitry of the corresponding nozzle cell in the first row.

Abstract: A printer system includes a printer and a printing consumable detachably mounted on the printer. The printer has a first integrated circuit which generates a random number, reference information using the random number and a secret key. The printing consumable has a second integrated circuit which generates validation information using the random number and the secret key received from the first integrated circuit. The printer also has processing circuitry configured for receiving the reference information from the first integrated circuit; receiving the validation information from the second integrated circuit; and comparing the reference information and validation information so as to validate the printing consumable device for use with the printer.

Abstract: A method of performing an action is disclosed. The method starts by sensing a print medium to obtain data encoded on a surface of the print medium. The data encodes at least a print media identifier. The print medium has a representation of a document printed thereon. The print media identifier is determined from the data and a digital copy of the document corresponding to the representation is retrieved. The digital copy is associated with the print media identifier and includes one or more hyperlinks. The digital copy of the document is displayed and a selection of one of the hyperlinks is received from a user. A predefined action designated by the selected hyperlink is then performed.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a printhead assembly for ejecting ink upon print media; a capping molding for engaging a face of the printhead assembly; and an actuator for actuating the capping molding against and away from the printhead assembly. The actuator includes a flexible arm attached at one end to the capping molding and at the other end to slip and drive wheels. The slip and drive wheels facilitating actuation of the capping molding via the flexible arm. The flexible arm facilitates conformation of the capping molding against the printhead assembly.

Abstract: A camera unit includes a display for displaying an image to be captured; an image sensor for digitally capturing the displayed image; a card reader having a linear scanner for scanning a surface of a removable card to sense a plurality of dots printed on the surface of the removable card, the plurality of dots representing a bit pattern encoding a program script; a card interface for receiving a signal from the card reader indicative of the sensed plurality of dots printed on the surface of the card, and decoding the sensed plurality of dots into the program script; and a printer configured to print a distorted image on print media, the distorted image being a version of the captured image distorted in accordance with the program script. The card reader comprises a molding housing therewithin a plurality of light sources, the molding being transparent to light from the light sources and shaped to focus the light on the removable card.

Abstract: A method of storing data on a photograph includes delimiting a plurality of data block regions on the photograph, the plurality of data block regions superposing a region of the photograph delimited for the printing of a photographic image; compressing data representing the image contained in the photograph with a compression technique; redundantly encoding the compressed data using Reed-Solomon encoding techniques; shuffling the redundantly encoded compressed data in a deterministic manner to reduce potential effects of localized encoded data caused by damage to the photograph; and printing the shuffled data as dots within the data block regions on the photograph. Each of the plurality of data blocks is printed on a first side with a first column of orientation dots, and on a second side with a second column of orientation dots.

Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit including a MEMS layer having a plurality of nozzle assemblies and a CMOS layer having control circuitry. Each nozzle assembly includes a heater element for ejecting ink and sensing a temperature of the nozzle assembly. The control circuitry modifies operation of the heater elements in response to a sensed temperature exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A mobile telecommunications device retrieves audio data using a coded medium with coded data. The coded data is encoded in a linear pattern and a two-dimensional pattern on the coded medium. The linear pattern and the two-dimensional pattern encode a medium identifier linked to the audio data, and the two-dimensional pattern also encodes a two-dimensional coordinate grid. The mobile telecommunications device has a first image sensor for sensing the coded data printed in the linear pattern on the coded medium, a second image sensor for sensing the coded data printed in the two-dimensional pattern and, a processor for determining the medium identifier from the coded data printed in a linear pattern and the coded data printed in a two dimensional pattern, and retrieving the audio data using the determined medium identifier.

Abstract: A mobile telecommunications device for printing a webpage and retrieving content via a printed webpage. The device includes a media feed for receiving an encoded print medium; a printer positioned in the media feed path; an optical encoder for reading a linear pattern on the print medium during printing; a processor configured for determining a print media identifier by decoding the read linear pattern; a transceiver for communicating the print media identifier to a computer system; and a sensor module for sensing a two-dimensional pattern on the print medium.

Abstract: A telephone is provided having an input at which a print medium is loaded, a sensor for sensing an identifier of the loaded print medium, and a printer for determining whether or not the loaded print medium is a valid print medium on which printing can be performed. If the loaded print medium is determined to be valid, the printer prints on the loaded print medium. If the loaded print medium is determined to not be valid, the loaded print medium is ejected at the input.

Abstract: A method of sending a message using a business card with data encoded on a surface, and a mobile phone. The data includes an identifier which uniquely identifies the surface and the mobile telephone senses the coded data to determine the identifier. Using the identifier, the phone retrieves a representation of the business card, which has a plurality of fields, one of which being a messaging field. The business card is displayed on the phone such that the messaging field can be user selected, a message generated and transmitted to a communications address retrieved from a database.

Abstract: A print engine controller for a pagewidth inkjet printhead having a plurality of abutting printhead modules mounted on a carrier. The print engine controller is configured to: (a) receive data identifying a rotational yaw displacement of an erroneously displaced printhead module; (b) determine a correction factor that compensates for ink dot displacement by nozzles in the erroneously displaced printhead module; (c) use the correction factor to determine an accumulative Y-offset for each printhead module in the printhead; and (d) alter the output of the ink dots from nozzles in each printhead module having a non-zero accumulative Y-offset to compensate for the rotational yaw displacement of the erroneously displaced printhead module.

Abstract: A print assembly is disclosed. The print assembly includes a printhead for printing on a printing medium having encoded positional data thereon, a media feed assembly for feeding the medium past the printhead, a capper assembly movable between a capped position covering the printhead and an uncapped position exposing the printhead, and a print controller having a reader configured to operatively read the positional data to provide the print controller with a signal indicative of a position of the medium relative to the printhead. The controller is configured to derive a feed speed of the medium from the signal, and to correlate printing of the printhead with such feed speed.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead has nozzles and respective heater elements. A print engine controller actuates the heater elements to eject ink through the corresponding nozzle. During use, the print engine controller actuates each of the heater elements at least once every decap time. The decap time is a predetermined time period in which the viscosity of the ejectable liquid at the nozzle increases to a threshold, at which ejection fails and the nozzle clogs.

Abstract: A print engine controller for a pagewidth inkjet printer includes an interface for connection to an input data bus to receive page data to be processed prior to printing. A data bus is connected to the interface to communicate data to various circuitry components of the controller. A memory is connected to the data bus and is configured so that as one page is loaded another previously loaded page is read from the memory to permit the controller to act in a double-buffered manner. A print engine pipeline is connected to the data bus and is configured to read the page data from the memory and process the page data into a form suitable for printing by the pagewidth inkjet printer.