Abstract: Disclosed is an inkjet printing apparatus including a printing head, an overcoating head discharging an overcoating agent, and a controller operating the printing head and the overcoating head to perform printing to a print medium. The controller operates in a normal discharge mode having a printing rate in the print medium relative to a given area of less than 100% for printing to the print medium, and an inspecting discharge mode having a printing rate in the print medium relative to the given area higher than the printing rate of the normal discharge mode for confirming a discharge state of the overcoating agent. In the inspecting discharge mode, the controller operates the printing head to form an inspecting region on the print medium, and operates the overcoating head to discharge the overcoating agent onto the inspecting region, whereby an overcoating inspecting chart is formed.

Abstract: A method of forming a fluid ejection device includes providing a substrate having a first side supporting an oxide layer and a conductive layer over the oxide layer; and patterning the conductive layer to define an area for an actuator of the fluid ejection device, including shaping the area with first and second ends each having a first width and at least one portion between the first and second ends having a second width less than the first width.

Abstract: A printing apparatus that is capable of obtaining density more than density that is obtained by repeating the same printing process a plurality of times without affecting resolution and tone expression. A printing unit prints an image by transferring ink to a printing sheet with a thermal head according to print data of a multiple value. A control unit controls the printing unit so as to change a maximum exothermic frequency in one dot according to a transfer frequency at the time of transferring ink of a same color a plurality of times to overlap, when an image is printed based on the print data by transferring ink of the same color the plurality of times to overlap.

Abstract: The degree of thickening of ink for each of nozzles based on dot pattern data is calculated based on a thickening value Z (n+1)=Z (n)×a×bss×bmm×bll, and information the dot pattern data corresponding to the nozzle, which indicates that small dots are formed in when the thickening value is equal to or greater than a threshold is replaced with information indicating that middle dots which are larger than the small dots are formed. On the other hand, in a case where the thickening value is returned to be smaller than the threshold (a previous state) when after the thickening value becomes equal to or greater than the threshold, information of the dot pattern data corresponding to the nozzle, which indicates that the small dots are formed is maintained as it is without being replaced.

Abstract: An ink printing process employs per-nozzle droplet volume measurement and processing software that plans droplet combinations to reach specific aggregate ink fills per target region, guaranteeing compliance with minimum and maximum ink fills set by specification. In various embodiments, different droplet combinations are produced through different printhead/substrate scan offsets, offsets between printheads, the use of different nozzle drive waveforms, and/or other techniques. These combinations can be based on repeated, rapid droplet measurements that develop understandings for each nozzle of means and spreads for expected droplet volume, velocity and trajectory, with combinations of droplets being planned based on these statistical parameters. Optionally, random fill variation can be introduced so as to mitigate Mura effects in a finished display device. The disclosed techniques have many possible applications.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus configured to use a recording head where a plurality of nozzles are arranged in a row formation to discharge ink droplets from each of the nozzles by individually supplying predetermined driving power with regard to actuators, and configured to discharge the ink droplets with different discharge speeds so that subsequent ink droplets catch up with and combine together with prior ink droplets that are continuously discharged before the prior ink droplets land on a printing medium. The printing control apparatus includes a control section configured to drive the actuators in the recording head so that dots that are in a region where a nozzle usage rate is higher than a predetermined threshold are printed due to ink droplets, where ink droplets that are continuously discharged combine together in air, attaching to the printing medium.

Abstract: Pattern information for identifying a pattern and color information for identifying a color are acquired. Image data corresponding to the acquired pattern information and color information is acquired from a storage unit configured to store at least two types of image data out of first to fourth image data. The first image data corresponds to first pattern information for identifying a first pattern and first color information for identifying a first color. The second image data corresponds to the first pattern information and second color information for identifying a second color. The third image data corresponds to second pattern information for identifying a second pattern and the first color information. The fourth image data corresponds to the second pattern information and the second color information. A colored pattern corresponding to the acquired image data is recorded onto a base material.

Abstract: An ink jet printer has a number of ink discharge nozzles, a number of actuators respectively associated with the nozzles and arranged to create pressure waves in the ink to be discharged from the respective nozzles, and a controller arranged to apply drive signals to the actuators in accordance with print instructions for an image to be printed. The drive signals include print pulses causing ink droplets to be ejected from the nozzles at timings when the respective nozzle faces an image part of a print medium, and spitting pulses causing ink droplets to be ejected from the nozzles at timings when the respective nozzle faces a non-image part of the print medium. The drive signals further include pre-fire pulses which have an amplitude below a threshold at which ink droplets are ejected, and the controller is arranged to apply the spitting pulses in the form of combined pulse sequences that each include a number of pre-fire pulses preceding the spitting pulse.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a transfer unit that transfers a paper, a print unit that has three or more nozzle rows aligned along a transfer direction of the paper, and a controller that ejects ink on the paper by controlling the print unit while transferring the paper by controlling the transfer unit. The most-upstream nozzle row of the nozzle row and the most-downstream nozzle row are capable of ejecting ink whose color has a lowest brightness among colors of ink to be used for printing. The controller selects the most-upstream nozzle row or the most-downstream nozzle row as a nozzle row for ejecting the ink whose color has a lowest brightness according to a type of the paper. According to the printer, it becomes possible to restrict contaminations on a printed media while also restricting degradation of print quality.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises: a printhead, which has a heater board on which heaters are disposed, configured to discharge ink; a transfer unit configured to transfer a discharge image signal to the printhead; and a power supply circuit configured to generate power for heating the heaters. Here, the printhead includes a supply circuit which, based upon the discharge image signal, supplies the heater board with power generated by the power supply circuit.

Abstract: Provided is a printing method for multi-pass printing with column thinning in which the multi-pass number is not restricted to being a multiple of the column thinning number. A mask pattern of a size corresponding to the number of printing elements in use is prepared, and divided into blocks 1 to P. Taking R(x) to be the mask pattern for the region corresponding to block x (where x=1 to P), these P block mask patterns satisfy the following condition. Namely, for all integers s obtainable between the values from 1 to M, the arrangements of printing pixels exist in a complementary relationship with each other in the combination of mask patterns R(s), R(s+M), R(s+2M), and so on to R(s+N×M). However, for all s, N is taken to be the largest integer satisfying s+N×M?P.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electrophotographic printing system to print digital image data for an image region. An image region database stores data characterizing a plurality of reference image regions, each reference image region having one or more associated system control parameters that are appropriate for use in printing the reference image region. The system control parameters can include parameters related to correcting color registration errors. The image region to be printed is compared with the reference image regions in the image region database, and a similar reference image region is selected. The image region is printed using the system control parameters associated with the selected similar reference image region.

Abstract: A density corrector performs a density correction processing on a resolution-converted image dataset to obtain a density-corrected image dataset by: determining whether each of first and second pixels in the resolution-converted image dataset is a deletion-target pixel, the first pixels each being a pixel located at a position including a longitudinal edge in a second original image, the second pixels each being a pixel located at a position including a lateral edge in the second original image, patterns of edges in regions in the first and second original images corresponding to the deletion-target pixel being the same; correcting a density of the deletion-target pixel to “0”; and correcting a density of respective pixels other than the deletion-target pixel among the first and second pixels to a value equal to or larger than an original density of the respective pixels.

Abstract: A system determines a position of one or more objects relative to a detection surface. An illumination source is located at a first fixed position relative to the detection surface, and configured to illuminate an adjacent coordinate space. Two or more single-pixel optical sensors are located at fixed positions relative to the detection surface such that each point of the illuminated coordinate space is within a field of view of at least two single-pixel optical sensors. Each single-pixel optical sensor detects illumination reflected off an object within the coordinate space, and outputs information useable to assess a time-of-flight of the detected reflected illumination. A controller assesses a radial distance between each single-pixel sensor and the object based at least in part on the time-of-flight of the detected reflected illumination, and determines a position of the object in the coordinate space based at least in part on the radial distances.

Abstract: A coating method for liquid crystal alignment film of TFT-LCD, at least two different sized nozzles are used to perform N nested hollow rectangular coatings, the N nested hollow rectangles are ordered based on 1, 2 to N measurements sequentially from the smallest to the biggest, and a smaller sized nozzle is employed for the Nth nested hollow rectangular coating on an edge.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an image printing apparatus, image printing method, and image processing apparatus. The image printing apparatus and image printing method print images by controlling the connectivity of dots by using mask patterns having different numbers of print permitting pixels in accordance with the attributes of the images.

Abstract: In the present invention, an inkjet printing head cleaning device is provided, through droplet image information and feedback control technology in order to drive the nozzle without ejecting, the micro clogging technique is able to avoid the nozzle crimp and reduce the material cost.

Abstract: A print apparatus performing printing on a print medium that includes a lenticular lens and an ink absorption layer that absorbs ink includes a print head that ejects a plurality of types of ink and a control section that controls the driving of the print head. In the print apparatus, in a case in which at least one type of ink among the plurality of types of ink is ink the visibility of which is reduced when the ink is absorbed in the ink absorption layer, the control section controls ink different from the ink the visibility of which is reduced has been ejected before the ink the visibility of which is reduced dries when the ink the visibility of which is reduced is ejected on the side opposite to the mounting side of the lenticular lens in the print medium from the print head.

Abstract: A color filter array is provided in an electro-optic display by ink jet printing a plurality of colored areas (22R, 22G, 22B) on one surface of a layer of electro-optic material (12), an adhesive layer or a protective layer. Alternatively, the ink jet printing may be effected on the same layers in various sub-assemblies used to produce electro-optic displays.

Abstract: An ink jet recording device comprises: an ink jet recording head for discharging an ink droplet; and a recording control part for outputting a drive signal to cause the ink jet recording head to discharge an ink droplet, wherein the recording control part includes a current amplifier circuit for amplifying a drive signal by active elements connected in multi-stages, and the current amplifier circuit includes a current interruption element connected to an input side of the active element of the current amplifier circuit on a power source side, the current interruption element being for preventing damage of the active element due to an overcurrent from occurring when a short circuit of the drive signal is generated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid ejection system comprising a print head unit including a fluid ejection nozzle array, wherein the fluid ejection nozzle array comprises at least a first set of nozzles having nozzles of a first fluid ejection capacity and a second set of nozzles having nozzles of a second fluid ejection capacity and nozzles of a third fluid ejection capacity, wherein the first fluid ejection capacity, the second fluid ejection capacity and the third fluid ejection capacity are different from one another, and further including a printer controller which, in a first printing mode, selects nozzles of the first and second sets for firing in proportions so that the overall color densities generated by the nozzles of second set when compared to nozzles of the first set are the same in a defined print area.

Abstract: Raggedness of thin lines or edges is suppressed to improve straightness. For each of the pixels forming image data, each pixel in the image data is assigned to a printing element for outputting a pixel value of the pixel. A control unit controls printing of the image data by driving the plurality of printing elements by time-division driving in which a different driving timing is set to each printing element according to assignment. The control unit drives the printing elements such that the printing elements included in a printing element array are associated with a plurality of different driving timings and further a plurality of printing element arrays have different orders of driving timings for the respective printing elements in an arrangement direction. Distribution information assigns to the pixel a printing element driven at a reference driving timing or a driving timing close to the reference driving timing.

Abstract: A control signal is generated, so that if dots, which are formed in a transverse direction across a recording medium, are classified into plural groups depending on a plurality of timings, then preceding dots, which belong to a group having an earliest timing, are formed in a pale color. A head drive circuit controls a recording head based on the generated control signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to form a plurality of dots on a recording medium by ejecting ink droplets includes: a recording head configured to eject the ink droplets of a plurality of colors including similar colors, which are colors of which densities or hues are equal to each other; a transporting unit configured to relatively move the recording head and the recording medium; a head driving circuit configured to perform a driving control of the recording head based on a control signal; and an image processing unit configured to convert an input image signal into a control signal to be supplied to the head driving circuit in a manner so that the dots of the similar colors are formed to be overlapped at a same position at a lower rate in a low density gradation range and at a higher rate in a high density gradation range.

Abstract: A printing device which prints onto a printing medium comprising: a printing head; a control section which moves the printing head in a scanning direction and relatively moves either of the head or the printing medium in a direction which intersects with the scanning direction; and a discharge control section, wherein the printing head is provided with a plurality of color nozzle rows which are arranged to line up in the intersecting direction and where a plurality of nozzles which discharge the same color of color ink are arranged in the intersecting direction for each of the color nozzles rows, and a black ink nozzle row which is a nozzle row, which is arranged to line up with the color nozzle rows and discharges black ink, and which has a black ink nozzle group of the same number as the number of rows of the color nozzles.

Abstract: In a color mode, the image quality improving liquid is set to the same rate of 20% for all input signal values. Meanwhile, in a monochrome mode, the image quality improving liquid is set to a rate of 30% in the highlight region, and the ink rate gradually decreases starting from the intermediate tones and proceeding towards the high-density region. Thus, the optimal printing method and usage rate for image quality improving liquid can be adjusted in accordance with the image quality characteristics of the color mode and the monochrome mode. As a result, it is possible to reduce color change in specular light while maintaining at least a certain level of image clarity in both modes, and thus favorably print both color images and monochrome images.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method using ink selected from a group including (A) black ink containing black pigment, (B) mixed color black ink containing black and color pigments, and (C) color ink containing color pigment, in which an ink glossiness at 60° is increased in the order of black ink (A), mixed color black ink (B), and color ink (C), the target recording surface glossiness at 60° in a target recording medium is 40 or more, and at least one of the following is satisfied: (1) A black image is formed using at least a plurality of types of the color ink of (C) and a color image is formed using the color ink of (C), and (2) A black image is formed using the mixed color black ink of (B) and a color image is formed using the color ink of (C).

Abstract: The number of recording-permitted pixels in an increment in each of multiple mask patterns is a relatively small number, and the number of recording-permitted pixels in an increment in each of multiple logical sum patterns is a relatively large number.

Abstract: A discharging element substrate, comprising a discharging element configured to discharge liquid, a MOS transistor including a drain terminal electrically connected to a first node to which a first voltage is supplied, a gate terminal electrically connected to a second node to which a second voltage is supplied, and a source terminal and a back gate terminal electrically connected to the discharging element, a switch unit arranged in a current path between the discharging element and a ground node, and a unit configured to make a potential difference between the source terminal and the gate terminal lower than the second voltage in a case where the second voltage is not supplied to the second node.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a storage unit, a processing unit, and a memory. The storage unit stores a dither matrix. The memory has instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to function as: an acquiring unit that is configured to acquire an image including a plurality of pixels, each pixel having a color value; an updating unit that is configured to update a color value of at least one pixel by adding a random number to the color value; and a thresholding unit that is configured to convert the updated color value into a binary value by using the dither matrix.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a head for ejecting ink, a moving mechanism for moving a recording medium, and a control part for controlling these constituent elements. The control part includes an information storage part, a conversion part, and a correction part. The conversion part converts input image data into converted image data which is suitable for image recording. The information storage part stores an LUT indicating a relation between the input image data and the converted image data for each head and each type of recording medium. The correction part updates the LUT on a representative recording medium on the basis of correction amounts determined in accordance with reference images which are recorded onto the representative recording medium and further updates the LUT on another type of recording medium. By virtue of providing this correction part, it is possible to simplify a correcting operation of recording densities.

Abstract: According to the invention it is possible to determine in advance whether it is possible to correctly generate a conversion table for calibration or color profile correction even with respect to an unknown print medium, and to avoid the preparation of unsuitable parameters and the performance of unsuitable image processing based thereon. In order to achieve this the color of a subject print medium is measured and from the color measurement result it is determined, based on color measurement data from a test pattern printed on the print medium, whether it is possible to obtain parameters suited to the print medium. As a result it has become possible to avoid the preparation of unsuitable parameters to be associated with the print medium, and it has become possible to output images with a comparatively stable reproduction of color even where performing printing on a variety of print mediums.

Abstract: In the regions in the check pattern image where the stripe is formed, the density of the region with higher density has a density value lower than the density value in the case without occurrence of the color mixing and the density of the region with lower density has a density value higher than the density value in the case without occurrence of the color mixing. Regarding this difference in the density value, determination on whether or not density unevenness caused by the color mixing or the landing position deviation occurs is made by using a threshold value and a threshold value different from that.

Abstract: To provide an inkjet printing apparatus that suppresses occurrence of image deterioration, such as a texture, a moire, and a streak in a printing result. In order for this to be achieved, a level is set up to a overlapping portion of a chip of a print head depending on dot impact accuracy, and a print data distribution rate of each chip in the overlapping portion is determined according to the level.

Abstract: A digital inkjet printing method capable of imparting a transparent color to a UV-curable transparent ink includes: on multiple color ink inkjet heads and a transparent ink inkjet head, setting a first output area and a second output area, respectively; controlling at least one color ink inkjet head to output from the first output area a color ink corresponding to the first output area in a first printing stroke, and at the same time of the output, so as to form a pattern area; and at a partial position, where a transparent effect is to be formed, on the pattern area, simultaneously controlling at least one color ink inkjet head and the transparent ink inkjet head to simultaneously output from the second output area a color ink and a transparent ink corresponding to the second output area in a second printing stroke.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inkjet printing apparatus and an inkjet printing method for printing a high-definition image while improving glossiness of the image surface without causing complication and enlargement of the apparatus. A plurality of inks are ejected from first and second printing heads so that a weighted average of a printing rate for each scan regarding an ink having the highest lightness becomes the largest among the plurality of inks and so that a maximum value regarding the printing rate of the ink having the highest lightness becomes larger than those of other inks.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for calibrating a spot color comprising: determining a target value for the spot color; and calibrating a printing device in an enumeration cycling manner, so that a spot color measurement value of a color block output by the printing device approximates the target value. The present invention further provides an apparatus for calibrating a spot color, comprising: a target module used for determining a target value for the spot color; a calibrating module used for calibrating a printing device in an enumeration cycling manner, so that a spot color measurement value of a color block output by the printing device approximates the target value. The present invention precisely calibrates the spot color of the printing device.

Abstract: Through the use of a mask with an appropriate pattern, depending on dot size or density, in an in jet printing apparatus, image defects caused by conveyance distance errors are suppressed. More concretely, at the masking unit A an interlaced mask pattern is used and a masking process is performed with respect to 2 pl dot data obtained from the dot pattern development unit 604. On the other hand, at the masking unit B a random mask pattern is used and masking is performed with respect to 5 pl dot data. Herewith it has become possible, at all gradations, to suppress the 2 image defects, density unevenness and graininess, caused by conveyance distance errors.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, including: printing unit; conveying unit; print control unit; correcting unit configured to determine, in printing an image on each of a plurality of sets of the same type of print medium, a correction value for correcting printing position shift between a plurality of nozzle arrays based on an inspection pattern printed on a preceding region of the print medium, and to correct the printing position between the plurality of nozzle arrays in the subsequent region of the print medium by using the determined correction value, wherein the correcting unit corrects, in printing on a leading end region of a set of print medium subsequent to the preceding set of print medium, the printing position shift by using the correction value used in printing on the preceding set of print medium.

Abstract: An N-pass hybrid fill-and-line print mode is used to print an image on a print medium. In this mode, each sequence of N longitudinally overlapping printhead passes over said print media includes at least one transverse forward pass using a fill mask and at least one transverse reverse pass using a line mask.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for integrated masking for viewing of data. A record is encoded with a mask definition, wherein the mask definition describes which one or more portions of the record are to be hidden. A request to display the encoded record is received. The encoded record is displayed with the one or more portions of the record hidden based on the mask definition.

Abstract: An inkjet image forming apparatus includes ink heads, a drive voltage controller that adjusts density by controlling each drive voltage of the ink heads, a halftone processing controller that adjusts density by changing the number of ink droplets ejected from each nozzle of the ink heads, and a density adjustment controller that prints and scans a density adjustment pattern to calculate an adjustment value of each density level. The density adjustment controller adjusts density of a lowest density level so that the drive voltage controller controls each drive voltage based on the adjustment value of the lowest density level, and adjusts density of each density level other than the lowest density level so that the halftone processing controller changes the number of ink droplets based on the adjustment value of each density level other than the lowest density level and the adjustment result by the drive voltage controller.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a print head having a plurality of nozzle arrays; a scanning unit configured to perform scanning of the print head in a first direction and in a second direction; an adjusting unit configured to adjust an amount of the ink ejection from a first nozzle unit including a predetermined number of nozzles arranged at one of end positions of a first nozzle array, the number of nozzle arrays arranged at a side of the first direction from the first nozzle array is less than the number of nozzle arrays arranged at a side of the second direction from the first nozzle array; and a control unit. The adjusting unit adjusts the amount of the ink ejection such that amount of ink ejection in the scan of the first direction is smaller than amount of ink ejection in the scan of the second direction.

Abstract: A method for performing color-to-color correction for printing multiple copies of a print job having one or more documents is disclosed. A first copy of the print job is printed using a plurality of color planes. A first plurality of color registration errors produced during the printing of the first copy of the print job is determined. For each document in the print job, a processor is used to determine a first plurality of local color plane correction values for each color registration error produced during the printing of the first copy of the print job. Each of the first plurality of local color plane correction values corresponds to one of the first plurality of color registration errors. A second copy of the print job is printed using the local color plane correction values for each document in the print job.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus includes a head that is provided with nozzle holes for ejecting ink, and a control unit that performs a plurality modes, and the plurality of modes includes a first image printing mode of ejecting white-based ink from the nozzle holes to adhere the white-based ink to a first area of a printing medium and a second area different from the first area to print an image, and a second image printing mode of substantially concurrently ejecting color ink and resin ink from the nozzle holes to contact and adhere the color ink and the resin ink onto the white-based ink of the first area to print an image, and ejecting resin ink from the nozzle holes to adhere the resin ink onto the white-based ink composition of the second area to print an image.

Abstract: When the contact angle of a first color ink on a layer of a second color ink is larger than the contact angle of the second color ink on a layer of the first color ink, ejection of the first and the second color ink is controlled so that the number of pixel areas onto which the second color ink is applied after the first color ink is larger than the number of pixel areas onto which the first color ink is applied after the second color ink.

Abstract: A printhead system to reduce peak energy usage may include a printhead including a plurality of primitives including nozzles. A printhead control module may control the printhead to increase printed pixel resolution and to reduce peak pixel fill density for print media. The printhead control module may further control the printhead such that all the nozzles with a same address generally disposed in a column do not fire at the same time.

Abstract: In a print control device which prints a monochrome image by discharge of a black ink from a nozzle for discharging an ink, a chromatic color ink in addition to the black ink is discharged in a region where an amount of use of the black ink indicated by monochrome image data representing the monochrome image, is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value. In the region, chromatic color inks of different colors are discharged to positions which do not overlap with each other.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method includes the steps of: shooting an ink containing a color material in a penetrant by ink jet method to a surface of a print medium; and supplying only a penetrant containing no color material at a position on the print medium corresponding to a position at which the ink has been shot to diffuse the supplied penetrant in the print medium in order to control distribution of the color material supplied in the print medium as the ink is shot at the print medium.

Abstract: Provided is a printing method using a printing apparatus. The printing apparatus includes a head that has a nozzle array, in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a black pigment ink is arranged, and a nozzle array in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a color ink is arranged. The printing method includes: a step of acquiring image data of an image to be printed on a medium; a step of ejecting the black pigment ink onto the medium on the basis of the image data; and a step of ejecting the color ink onto the medium on the basis of the image data. A supply capability of the pigment ink supply section is higher than a supply capability of the color ink supply section.