Ink consumption detection method and system
AssigneeNEC Corporation
InventorsMasaru Inora, Hideyuki Kobayashi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an inkjet printer, print image data indicating a pattern of ejection and non-ejection nozzles is produced from print data received from a host computer and the print image data is searched in blocks for an effective block including data indicating at least one ejection nozzle to count effective blocks, wherein a block has a predetermined size. Ink consumption caused by a print operation is detected based on a count of the effective blocks.
Claims18
A method for detecting ink consumption in an inkjet printer having a print head with a plurality of nozzles selectively ejecting ink to a printing medium, comprising the steps of:
- a) producing print image data indicating a pattern of ejection and non-ejection nozzles for ejecting or not ejecting dots of ink, respectively;
- b) searching the print image data in blocks to count effective blocks, each including data indicating at least one ejection nozzle, wherein each block includes a predetermined dot matrix;
- and
- c) detecting ink consumption caused by a print operation based on a count of the effective blocks.
An inkjet printer comprising:
- a print head having a plurality of nozzles selectively ejecting ink to a printing medium;
- a memory for storing an ink consumption count value corresponding to an ink consumption operation of the inkjet printer;
- and
- a controller for producing print image data indicating a pattern of ejection and non-ejection nozzle for ejecting or not ejecting dots of ink, respectively, searching the print image data in blocks effective blocks each including data indicating at least one ejection nozzle to count effective blocks, wherein each block includes a predetermined dot matrix, and detecting ink consumption caused by a print operation based on a count of the effective blocks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.