Printer having a memory for storing a printer profile parameter
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsTetsuya Kawanabe, Akihiko Sukigara, Kazuyuki Masumoto, Hiromitsu Hirabayashi, Akitoshi Yamada, Takao Aichi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A host system for controlling a print head of an image printing device having at least one print head. The system includes the steps of obtaining profile information of the at least one print head, storing the profile parameters in a non-volatile memory, and outputting, upon request, the profile information to a host computer connected to the image printing device, wherein the host computer utilizes the print head profile information to produce compensation parameters which compensate print information to be sent from the host computer to the print head for printing.
Claims32
A method for controlling a print head of an image printing device having at least one print head, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining profile information of the at least one print head;
- storing the profile information in a non-volatile memory;
- and
- outputting, upon request, the profile information to a host computer connected to the image printing device, wherein the host computer utilizes the profile information to produce compensation parameters which compensate print information to be sent from the host computer to the print head for printing,
- wherein, in the storing step previously stored profile information is updated in the case the profile information has changed since the profile information was last obtained.
A printer driver stored on a computer readable medium, the printer driver comprising:
- means for obtaining profile information of the at least one print head;
- means for storing the profile information in a non-volatile memory;
- means for causing the non-volatile memory in the printer to be accessed;
- means for controlling the printer to print a test pattern based on information accessed in the non-volatile memory;
- means for causing a sensor in the printer to scan a printed test image;
- means for causing measured data resulting from the scanned test pattern to be retrieved;
- means for causing compensation parameters to be derived based on the retrieved measured data, wherein the derived compensation parameters are used to compensate for physical characteristics of the print head,
- wherein, the means for storing the profile information updates the previously stored profile information in the case the profile information has changed since the profile information was last obtained.
A method for compensating for physical characteristic variations in an inkjet print head used in a printer, the method comprising the steps of:
- causing profile information of the at least one print head to be obtained;
- causing the profile information to be stored in a non-volatile memory in a printer;
- causing the non-volatile memory in the printer to be accessed;
- controlling the printer to print a test pattern based on information accessed in the non-volatile memory;
- causing a sensor attached to a print head in the printer to scan a printed test image;
- causing measured data resulting from the scanned test pattern to be retrieved;
- and
- causing compensation parameters to be derived based on the retrieved measured data, wherein the derived compensation parameters are used to compensate for physical characteristics of the print head,
- wherein, the stored profile information is updated in the case the profile information has changed since the profile information was last obtained.
A printer controller for a printer having at least one print device comprising:
- receiving means for receiving image information from an external device;
- controlling means for controlling a printer to form an image based on the image information received by said receiving means;
- and
- obtaining means for obtaining information concerning the printer;
- storing means for storing information concerning the printer;
- wherein a part of the storing means is non-volatile and stores the information which is used by the external device for producing the image information and said part which is non-volatile is updated in the case the information concerning the printer has changed since the information concerning the printer was last obtained.
A printer driver for a printer having at least one print device comprising:
- sending means for sending commands to the printer for accessing a non-volatile memory in the printer;
- obtaining means for obtaining profile information concerning the printer stored in the non-volatile memory;
- and
- storing means for storing profile information concerning the printer;
- producing means for producing image information for printing an image by the printer based on the profile information;
- wherein, the storing means updates previously stored profile information in the case the profile information has changed since the profile information was last obtained.
Computer executable program codes stored in a computer readable medium for forming an image using a printer having at least one print device comprising:
- a first set of computer executable program codes for sending commands to the printer for accessing a non-volatile memory in the printer;
- a second set of computer executable program codes for obtaining profile information concerning the printer stored in the non-volatile memory;
- a third set of computer executable program codes for producing image information for printing an image by the printer based on the profile information;
- and
- a fourth set of computer executable program codes for updating the profile information in non-volatile memory in the printer, wherein previously stored profile information is updated in the case the profile information has changed since the profile information was last obtained.
A printer controller for a printer having at least one print device comprising:
- receiving means for receiving image information from an external device;
- controlling means for controlling a printer based on the image information;
- and
- non-volatile memory means for storing information concerning a condition change of the printer which may occur during an off-line mode;
- and
- transmitting means for transmitting the information to the external device during a next on-line mode.
A printing system, comprising:
- an external host computer having at least a host processor, a memory, a bi-directional printer-interface and a printer driver, said external host computer performing at least processing, storing and outputting of print data, print commands and printer parameters;
- and
- a printer having at least a bi-directional port, a non-volatile memory, a volatile memory, a print engine, an alignment sensor, at least one print head and a processor,
- wherein the host computer sends a request command through the bi-directional interface to the printer for profile information of the at least one print head and wherein the printer stores profile information in the non-volatile memory and in response to a request for the profile information outputs the profile information to the host processor through its bi-directional port,
- wherein said profile information in the non-volatile memory is updated in the case the profile information has changed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.