In Accordance With Ambient Temperature Patents (Class 347/189)
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Patent number: 10293621Abstract: A printing device includes: a thermal head including heater elements arrayed into a line along an array direction intersecting a conveying direction of a printing medium; and controller that causes the thermal head to print onto the printing medium based on multiple line print data, each of the multiple line print data being data into which print data is divided along the array direction. The controller performs either of a first energization control to energize the heater elements in one line cycle for printing based on a single line print data among the multiple line print data and a second energization control to energize the heater elements so that a non-energization period in which the heater elements are not energized is included in the one line cycle, depending on a temperature of the thermal head.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.Inventors: Takeo Ozawa, Masaki Ito
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Patent number: 8395815Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for implementing a color model function for a printer that uses a relatively large number of colorants. The model is based upon several four color printer color models that contain more complete color models by storing output data for a higher number of input color value combinations and a small number of additional measurements that characterize the response of the printer to outputs using more than four colorants. Results from more complete printer models are determined and combined with a CMYKOV printer model that stores output values for only a coarse resolution of inputs. Transitions between various regions of color space defined by the colorant model definitions are then smoothed. A higher dimension printer color model output is produced. The present method effectively determines a higher dimension color printer model output corresponding to values of an N+2 dimension color model input.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2009Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Martin S. Maltz
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Patent number: 8379069Abstract: A thermal printing apparatus includes a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line. The thermal printing apparatus may further includes a control unit configured to determine conduction times of the heating elements based on print rates respectively assigned to the plurality of heating elements. The control unit may be further configured to compensate each of the determined conduction times based on the conduction times of the heating elements other than the respective heating element to determine a plurality of compensated conduction times. The control unit may control each of the plurality of heating elements based on the respective one of the plurality of compensated conduction times to enable the thermal head to perform printing on a recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiyuki Tamura, Kaname Iga, Okiharu Matsuda
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Patent number: 8240804Abstract: The present invention uses a temperature sensor to sense the temperature of a print head configured to eject ink, and senses the environmental temperature of a printing apparatus. The temperature of the print head is corrected based on the environmental temperature only if information from the temperature sensor is different from the last information acquired.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2010Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirokazu Tanaka, Hidehiko Kanda, Susumu Hirosawa, Wakako Yamamoto, Kenichi Oonuki
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Publication number: 20110069131Abstract: A thermal printing apparatus includes a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line. The thermal printing apparatus may further includes a control unit configured to determine conduction times of the heating elements based on print rates respectively assigned to the plurality of heating elements. The control unit may be further configured to compensate each of the determined conduction times based on the conduction times of the heating elements other than the respective heating element to determine a plurality of compensated conduction times. The control unit may control each of the plurality of heating elements based on the respective one of the plurality of compensated conduction times to enable the thermal head to perform printing on a recording medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toshiyuki Tamura, Kaname Iga, Okiharu Matsuda
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Patent number: 7782350Abstract: The apparatus and method can suppress an increase in power consumption and reduce ink density unevenness caused by variations in the amount of ink discharge upon performing printhead temperature retaining control. The printing apparatus, which prints on a print medium by scanning a printhead having a printing element for generating thermal energy, includes a determination unit which predicts a maximum temperature which the printhead reaches in printing, and determines a target temperature based on the predicted maximum temperature, and an adjustment unit which adjusts the temperature of the printhead in printing on the basis of the target temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2007Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirokazu Tanaka, Hidehiko Kanda, Atsushi Sakamoto, Jiro Moriyama
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Patent number: 7619791Abstract: A reference developing image is formed on a photoreceptor drum under an image forming condition measured in advance, and the density of this reference developing image is detected. A development bias voltage is corrected based on the detection result, and when a correction value of the development bias voltage exceeds a predetermined range, a reference output voltage of an ATC sensor for detecting the density of toner in a developing device is corrected based on the detected value of humidity around the developing device, the frequency of use of the apparatus, and the agitation stress of developer.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2004Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Motoyuki Itoyama, Syouichi Fujita, Hirofumi Sakita, Shuichi Morikuni
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Publication number: 20080278562Abstract: In a thermal head control system for controlling heating energy to a thermal head perforating stencil material unrolled from a stencil material roll, the heating energy to a thermal head is controlled according to the surface condition of the stencil material. The residue of stencil material M in a stencil material roll (21b) is calculated by a residue calculating means (65) and the elapsed time of the stencil material roll from production thereof is obtained on the basis of date data on the date of production of the stencil material roll stored in a storage portion (70) of the stencil material roll (21b). Further, kind data on the kind of the stencil material stored in the storage portion (70) is obtained and the heating energy is obtained on the basis of the residue, the elapsed time and the kind data. On the basis of this heating energy, the heating action of the thermal head (22) is controlled.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2008Publication date: November 13, 2008Inventors: Kenji Oshima, Takashi Isozaki, Morio Ohashi
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Patent number: 7330201Abstract: A printer that applies donor material from donor patches on a donor web to a receiver medium using a thermal printhead that generates heat and a method for operating such a printer are provided. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a print order requesting the printing of a quantity of images; determining a temperature of the printhead; printing a designated number of the quantity of the images in a sequence; determining a length of time of a programmed delay; delaying the printing for the determined length of time of the programmed delay; and printing remaining images from the quantity of images. The length of each programmed delay is determined by using the temperature of the printhead and a time rate of cooling of the printhead and, is determined in a manner that provides a sufficient cooling time to prevent the printhead from reaching a maximum printhead temperature during printing.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2005Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Robert F. Mindler, Robert C. Cohoon
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Patent number: 7295224Abstract: A model of a thermal print head is provided that models the thermal response of thermal print head elements to the provision of energy to the print head elements over time. The amount of energy to provide to each of the print head elements during a print head cycle to produce a spot having the desired density is calculated based on: (1) the desired density to be produced by the print head element during the print head cycle, (2) the predicted temperature of the print head element at the beginning of the print head cycle, (3) the ambient printer temperature at the beginning of the print head cycle, and (4) the ambient relative humidity.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2004Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Brian D. Busch, Suhail S. Saquib, William T. Vetterling
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Patent number: 7145675Abstract: A printer system comprises a communication interface and printer components. The communication interface receives a humidity value from a toner cartridge. The printer components control printing operation based on the humidity value. To control printing operation, the printer components may configure a dither matrix based on the humidity value. The toner cartridge comprises a humidity sensor and a communication interface. The humidity sensor detects a humidity level and generates the humidity value to correspond to the humidity level. The communication interface transfers the humidity value from the humidity sensor to the printer system.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2001Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: George H. Kerby
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Publication number: 20040196352Abstract: A model of a thermal print head is provided that models the thermal response of thermal print head elements to the provision of energy to the print head elements over time. The amount of energy to provide to each of the print head elements during a print head cycle to produce a spot having the desired density is calculated based on: (1) the desired density to be produced by the print head element during the print head cycle, (2) the predicted temperature of the print head element at the beginning of the print head cycle, (3) the ambient printer temperature at the beginning of the print head cycle, and (4) the ambient relative humidity.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2004Publication date: October 7, 2004Inventors: Brian D. Busch, Suhail S. Saquib, William T. Vetterling
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Patent number: 6747682Abstract: A thermal master making device and a thermal printer including the same are disclosed. A thermistor senses ambient temperature around a thermal head. A correcting device corrects the amount of heat to be generated by the thermal head, i.e., the duration of energization at least two times during a single master making operation. This configuration reduces a change in the perforation conditions of a thermosensitive medium ascribable to the heat accumulation characteristic of the head. The printer achieves high resolution, high-speed master making and space saving.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2001Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasunobu Kidoura, Satoshi Katoh, Yasumitsu Yokoyama, Yoshiyuki Shishido
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Patent number: 6744455Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording image information on a moving receiver media at a thermal print station features a ribbon cassette assembly that stores a thermal ribbon having dye, the thermal ribbon being supported as a supply role and take-up role on the ribbon cassette assembly, the ribbon cassette assembly including a wall structure defining a plenum chamber. Air under pressure is provided to the plenum chamber. An elongated thermal print head is positioned in engagement with the thermal ribbon; and recording elements on the thermal print head are directed along a main scan direction. The print head has associated therewith a heat sink that includes a series of parallel fins arranged along the length of the print head and the fins are oriented at least generally perpendicular to the main scan direction of printing. Cooling air flows from the wall structure, which structure extends in the direction of elongation of the print head.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2002Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: David E. Coons, Frederic J. Sturgis, Raymond Maynard, David A. Johnson
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Publication number: 20040041899Abstract: A thermal master making device and a thermal printer including the same are disclosed. A thermistor senses ambient temperature around a thermal head. A correcting device corrects the amount of heat to be generated by the thermal head, i.e., the duration of energization at least two times during a single master making operation. This configuration reduces a change in the perforation conditions of a thermosensitive medium ascribable to the heat accumulation characteristic of the head. The printer achieves high resolution, high-speed master making and space saving.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2003Publication date: March 4, 2004Applicant: Tohoku Ricoh Co., LtdInventors: Yasunobu Kidoura, Satoshi Katoh, Yasumitsu Yokoyama, Yashiyuki Shishido
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Publication number: 20030156182Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording image information on a moving receiver media at a thermal print station features a ribbon cassette assembly that stores a thermal ribbon having dye, the thermal ribbon being supported as a supply role and take-up role on the ribbon cassette assembly, the ribbon cassette assembly including a wall structure defining a plenum chamber. Air under pressure is provided to the plenum chamber. An elongated thermal print head is positioned in engagement with the thermal ribbon; and recording elements on the thermal print head are directed along a main scan direction. The print head has associated therewith a heat sink that includes a series of parallel fins arranged along the length of the print head and the fins are oriented at least generally perpendicular to the main scan direction of printing. Cooling air flows from the wall structure, which structure extends in the direction of elongation of the print head.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2002Publication date: August 21, 2003Applicant: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: David E. Coons, Frederic J. Sturgis, Raymond Maynard, David A. Johnson
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Patent number: 6382758Abstract: A printhead temperature monitoring system includes a processor having a top priority interrupt input, a normal priority interrupt input, and at least one input for receiving temperature related signals. The processor is programmed or otherwise operable to calculate a printhead temperature based at least in part upon temperature related signals read on the input. A single timer circuit provides interrupt signals to the interrupt inputs of the processor. An interrupt control circuit is connected between the single timer circuit and the processor for selectively controlling application of timer circuit interrupt signals to the top priority interrupt of the processor and the normal priority interrupt of the processor.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2000Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: George Chausanski, Duane Edward Norris
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Publication number: 20010028384Abstract: A thermal master making device and a thermal printer including the same are disclosed. A thermistor senses ambient temperature around a thermal head. A correcting device corrects the amount of heat to be generated by the thermal head, i.e., the duration of energization at least two times during a single master making operation. This configuration reduces a change in the perforation conditions of a thermosensitive medium ascribable to the heat accumulation characteristic of the head. The printer achieves high resolution, high-speed master making and space saving.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2001Publication date: October 11, 2001Applicant: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasunobu Kidoura, Satoshi Katoh, Yasumitsu Yokoyama, Yoshiyuki Shishido
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Patent number: 6236414Abstract: An ink transfer printer has an electrically-insulated base plate. An array of electric heater elements, aligned with each other, is provided on a surface of the base plate, the heater elements being selectively and electrically energized in accordance with a series of digital image-pixel signals. A frame member, having an opening, is securely provided on the base plate such that the array of elements is encompassed by the opening of the frame member. A sheet of film covers the frame member such that the opening of the frame member is defined as an ink space fillable with ink, and the film sheet has a plurality of fine pores arranged along the array, with at least one of the plurality of fine pores being allocated to each of the heater elements. A heat dissipating conductor is formed of a thermal conductive material, and is associated with the film sheet such that thermal energy, locally generated by an electrical energization of at least one of the electric heater elements, is promptly dissipated.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1998Date of Patent: May 22, 2001Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Minoru Suzuki, Mikio Horie, Hiroshi Orita, Masahiko Sasaki, Takemi Iwayama
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Patent number: 5900900Abstract: An image recording method using a reversible thermosensitive recording material which is capable of assuming a transparent state when heated to a first temperature which is above room temperature, and a colored state when heated to a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature and then cooled, and a heating element, including the step of applying energy to the heating element for generating heat in such a manner as to form each picture element of an image to be formed in the recording material by a plurality of energy pulses applied thereto. An image recording apparatus for this image recording method is also described, which includes a pulse division device for dividing the energy to be applied to the heating element into the plurality of energy pulses, an ambient temperature measurement device for measuring the ambient temperature around the recording material, and a pulse-generation timing adjustment device for adjusting the timing for the generation of the plurality of energy pulses.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 1997Date of Patent: May 4, 1999Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihiko Hotta, Yukio Konagaya, Kunichika Morohoshi, Makoto Kawaguchi, Toru Nogiwa, Akira Suzuki, Yusuke Takeda
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Patent number: 5835235Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus which reproduces halftone by using variable area toning method. The image forming apparatus stores a reference pattern data for adjusting bias voltage of developing device. The image forming apparatus also stores density toning data used for printout. An image of the reference pattern data has a dot pattern of which the optical density is more sensitive to environmental fluctuation than that of density toning data.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1995Date of Patent: November 10, 1998Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Goto, Satoshi Deishi, Peter Johnston
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Patent number: 5809879Abstract: A control device for a thermosensitive stencil printer capable of perforating a stencil in an optimal configuration matching a desired resolution in the subscanning direction and thereby producing desirable images. The device allows perforations to be formed in a stencil in an adequate size in the subscanning direction. Heating portions included in a thermal head are each sized, in the subscanning direction, smaller than a feed pitch corresponding to the highest resolution available with a resolution setting device.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 1995Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasumitsu Yokoyama, Yoshiyuki Shishido, Satoshi Katoh
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Patent number: 5808653Abstract: In the disclosed thermal gradation printing apparatus, heat elements in a line-type thermal head are divided into a plurality of groups, and an accumulated heat amount in the substrate of the thermal head for each group is estimated based on the pulse width data applied to each heat element considering the influences by heat accumulations in the main-scanning direction and in the sub-scanning direction. Based on the group division estimated accumulated heat amounts and the temperature of the body portion of the thermal head, a correction value for the pulse width data to be applied to each heat element. Moreover, the correction value is applied to the pulse width data for each heat element, so as to output the corrected pulse width data to the thermal head.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1997Date of Patent: September 15, 1998Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasuki Matsumoto, Haruo Yamashita, Hideshi Ishihara
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Patent number: 5805312Abstract: An image copying system is disclosed which has a thermal head energized at a strobe current supply time rate corresponding to a current head temperature according to a preset strobe current supply time rate control characteristics. In copying operation at a standard speed, a read sensor 211 reads an image by performing N main scans in one sub scan. A signal processor 221 validates the image signal thus read once every N scans according to a selection signal from a mode control circuit 401. A record circuit 311 having a thermal head performs one main scan every sub scan. During a copying operation at a speed N times the standard speed, the sub scan speed is made N times and the read sensor 211 reads the image by performing one main scan every sub scan and the signal processor 221 makes the read image signal always valid by the selection signal. The record device 311 performs one main scan every sub scan. A single A/D converter is used for A/D converting head temperature as well as other output signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1994Date of Patent: September 8, 1998Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Naohiro Ozawa, Yasuo Otsuka, Akihiko Asada, Toyota Honda, Mikio Shiraishi, Yasuyuki Kojima, Toshio Tanizoe, Hiroshi Minoda, Akira Shimizu
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Patent number: 5800082Abstract: A controller receives a signal indicating the temperature of a print head from a head temperature detection thermistor. The controller sets a cooling time for the print head based on a time in which the temperature of the print head increase from a first temperature to a second temperature and an environment temperature detected by an environment temperature detection thermistor. When the temperature of the print head exceeds the second temperature due to excessive heat accumulation therein, printing and movement of the print head are suspended for the cooling time immediately after completion of printing of one or a plurality of bands at a position where the print head is located at that time. Thus, the temperature of the print head is decreased.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1997Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventor: Akira Yamasawa
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Patent number: 5706043Abstract: In a driving method of a thermal printer, in which method heating elements are driven by strobe pulses consisting of preheat pulses and subsequent drive pulses that depend on a gradation level, the preheat pulse width and the frequency of basic clock pulses that are used to generate the strobe pulses are switched linearly with the temperature of a thermal head unit. In particular, based on data of preheat pulse widths and basic clock pulse frequencies for respective experimental head temperatures, preheat pulse widths and basic clock pulse frequencies for the other temperatures are calculated.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1995Date of Patent: January 6, 1998Assignee: Seiko Precision Inc.Inventors: Takayuki Okada, Mitsuo Tashiro
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Patent number: 5690437Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for driving and controlling a thermal head used in a printing device, such as a tape printer, in response to the temperature variations of the printing device environment and the thermal head. According to the present invention, in the printing operation of the tape printer, measurements are made of the initial temperature T1 immediately after the power is switched on, the temperature prior to printing T2, and the ambient temperature of the thermal head each time the thermal head prints T3 (i). If the temperature difference between the initial temperature T1 and the temperature prior to printing T2 is small, the duration of the current signals provided to the thermal head is controlled in accordance with the temperature prior to printing T2, which is the most recently measured thermal head ambient temperature best reflecting the printing device environmental temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1995Date of Patent: November 25, 1997Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shigekazu Yanagisawa, Susumu Takatsu, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Tomoyuki Shimmura
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Patent number: 5664893Abstract: A thermal sublimation printer comprises means for counting at periodic observation times the number (N.sub.h) of activated heating elements; means for measuring at periodic observation times the temperature (T.sub.d) of the drum and the temperature (T.sub.h) of the heatsink; means for digitising the measured temperature of the drum and the measured temperature of the heatsink; means for transferring the number of activated heating elements and the digitised temperature values T.sub.d and T.sub.h ; a device for estimating the temperature (T.sub.e) of the heating elements based on the values of N.sub.h, T.sub.d and T.sub.h ; memory means for storing the estimate of the temperature of the heating elements; the printer operating to adjust the applied energy as a function of the estimate of the temperature of the heating elements and of the required temperature of the heating elements.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1995Date of Patent: September 9, 1997Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.Inventors: Dirk Meeussen, Eric Kaerts
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Patent number: 5644351Abstract: In the disclosed thermal gradation printing apparatus, heat elements in a line-type thermal head are divided into a plurality of groups, and an accumulated heat amount in the substrate of the thermal head for each group is estimated based on the pulse width data applied to each heat element considering the influences by heat accumulations in the main-scanning direction and in the sub-scanning direction. Based on the group division estimated accumulated heat amounts and the temperature of the body portion of the thermal head, a correction value for the pulse width data to be applied to each heat element. Moreover, the correction value is applied to the pulse width data for each heat element, so as to output the corrected pulse width data to the thermal head.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1993Date of Patent: July 1, 1997Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasuki Matsumoto, Haruo Yamashita, Hideshi Ishihara
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Patent number: 5614934Abstract: A color correction circuit is best adjusted to consistently obtain a stable, color printing by compensating for a change in the characteristic of a printer under the influence of ambient temperature and humidity.Before the printing of pictorial data, e.g., an image, (reference data produced by a reference data generator), is entered into a printer engine by which it is printed out on a sheet of a paper. This printed data is read in by a color sensor, which in turn produces an output detection signal. A feedback control circuit produces a control signal necessary for a color correction according to the output signal of the color sensor and then sends it to the color correction circuit. The color correction circuit is adjusted and corrects the colors of the pictorial data to be printed. The corrected data is printed out. Repeating this process for each color printing can prevent a variation in the printed colors due to the effect of ambient temperature.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 1993Date of Patent: March 25, 1997Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuhiro Yoshida, Gen Itoh, Hiroyuki Furukawa, Masaki Takakura
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Patent number: 5497174Abstract: An apparatus and method compensates for a voltage drop of electrical pulse signals selectively applied to a plurality of heater elements on a printhead of an ink jet printing device. A number of heater elements to be pulsed at a given time is determined and a time duration of each of the pulse signals is selected based on information including the determined number of heater elements to be pulsed. In another aspect, the position on the printhead of the heater elements to be pulsed is determined and the time duration of the pulse signals is selected further based on the determined position. By varying the time duration of the pulse signals applied to the heater elements, a voltage drop across the heater elements due to the number of heater elements simultaneously pulsed and/or the position of the heater elements on the printhead is compensated for, maintaining reliable jetting performance while minimizing the voltage by which operating printing voltage needs to exceed the threshold printing voltage.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1994Date of Patent: March 5, 1996Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Joseph F. Stephany, Juan J. Becerra, Thomas P. Courtney, Gary A. Kneezel, Richard V. LaDonna, Peter J. John, Thomas E. Watrobski, Joseph J. Wysocki