Method and System for Split Head Drop Size Printing
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsDavid A. Mantell, Jeffrey J. Folkins
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Abstract
A method for operating an inkjet printer to form images that include both high density and low density segments has been developed. The method includes operating one printhead to eject ink drops with a large size to form high density segments of the image, and operating a second printhead to eject ink drops with a small size to form low density segments of the image. The large ink drops provide high coverage in the high density segments, and the small ink drops provide improved image quality in the low density segments of the image.
Claims24
A method of printing images in an inkjet printer comprising:
- receiving image data for a color separation;
- storing a portion of the color separation image data in a first memory map used to generate electrical signals for operating at least one printhead that is configured to eject ink drops of a first color and first ink drop mass;
- storing a remaining portion of the color separation image data in a second memory map used to generate electrical signals for operating at least one other printhead that is configured to eject ink drops of the first color and second ink drop mass, the second ink drop mass being greater than the first ink drop mass;
- generating a first plurality of electrical signals for operating the at least one printhead with reference to the first memory map for the at least one printhead;
- and
- generating a second plurality of electrical signals for operating the at least one other printhead with reference to the second memory map for the at least one other printhead.
An inkjet printer comprising:
- a first printhead positioned in a print zone including a first plurality of inkjets, the first printhead being configured to eject ink drops of a first color and first ink drop mass;
- a second printhead positioned in the print zone including a second plurality of inkjets, the second printhead being configured to eject ink drops of the first color and a second ink drop mass, the second ink drop mass being greater than the first ink drop mass;
- a media path configured to move a print medium through the print zone in a process direction past the first printhead and the second printhead;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to the first printhead, the second printhead, and the media path, the controller being configured to:
- receive image data for a color separation;
- store a portion of the color separation image data in a first memory map used to generate electrical signals for operating the first printhead;
- store a remaining portion of the color separation image data in a second memory map used to generate electrical signals for operating the second printhead;
- generate a first plurality of electrical signals for operating the first printhead with reference to the first memory map for the first printhead;
- and
- generate a second plurality of electrical signals for operating the second printhead with reference to the second memory map for the second printhead.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.