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US 6,582,049 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for detecting the position of an inkjet printhead
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorWilliam Paul Cook
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inkjet printhead position detection system includes a light emitting device emitting at least one beam of light having a first edge and a second edge nonparallel to the first edge. An inkjet printhead includes a light detecting device detecting the at least one beam of light as the inkjet printhead scans across the light. A time period between when the light detecting device crosses the first edge of the at least one light beam and when the light detecting device crosses the second edge of the at least one light beam is dependent upon a position of the inkjet printhead.
Claims41
An inkjet printhead position detection system, comprising:
- a light emitting device configured to emit at least one beam of light, said at least one beam of light having a first edge and a second edge nonparallel to said first edge;
- and
- an inkjet printhead including a light detecting device configured to detect the at least one beam of light as said inkjet printhead scans across said light emitting device, said at least one beam of light being detected a first time when said light detecting device crosses the first edge of the at least one light beam, and said at least one beam of light being detected a second time when said light detecting device crosses the second edge of the at least one light beam.
An inkjet printhead position detection system, comprising:
- a light emitting device configured to emit at least one beam of light, said at least one beam of light having a first edge and a second edge nonparallel to said first edge;
- and
- an inkjet printhead including a light detecting device configured to detect the at least one beam of light as said inkjet printhead scans across said light emitting device, said at least one beam of light being detected a first time when said light detecting device crosses the first edge of the at least one light beam, and said at least one beam of light being detected a second time when said light detecting device crosses the second edge of the at least one light beam being dependent upon a position of said inkjet printhead,
- wherein said light emitting device includes at least one aperture defining the at least one light beam, said at least one aperture having two nonparallel sides.
1 more element
An inkjet printhead position detection system, comprising:
- a light emitting device having a fixed position;
- and
- an inkjet printhead including a light detecting device configured to detect light from said light emitting device as said inkjet printhead scans across said light emitting device, an amount of the light detected by said light detecting device being dependent upon a position of said inkjet printhead.
A method of detecting a position of an inkjet printhead, comprising the steps of:
- emitting at least one light beam having a first edge and a second edge, the second edge being nonparallel to the first edge;
- providing a light detecting device on the inkjet printhead;
- scanning the inkjet printhead through said at least one light beam;
- detecting the first edge of the at least one light beam with said light detecting device during said scanning step;
- detecting the second edge of the at least one light beam with said light detecting device during said scanning step;
- and
- calculating the position of the inkjet printhead dependent upon a time period between said detecting steps.
4 more elements
A method of detecting a position of an inkjet printhead, comprising the steps of:
- emitting light from a fixed position within an inkjet printer;
- providing a light detecting device on the inkjet printhead;
- scanning the inkjet printhead through the light;
- detecting the light with said light detecting device during said scanning step;
- and
- calculating the position of the inkjet printhead dependent upon said detecting step.
3 more elements
A method of detecting a position of an inkjet printhead, comprising the steps of:
- emitting light from a fixed position within an inkjet printer;
- providing a light detecting device on the inkjet printhead;
- scanning the inkjet printhead through the light;
- detecting the light with said light detecting device during said scanning step;
- and
- calculating the position of the inkjet printhead dependent upon said detecting step,
- wherein said scanning is in a scan direction, said calculating step including calculating a position of the inkjet printhead in a print medium feed direction substantially perpendicular to the scan direction.
4 more elements
A method of detecting a position of an inkjet printhead, comprising the steps of:
- emitting light from a fixed position within an inkjet printer;
- providing a light detecting device on the inkjet printhead;
- scanning the inkjet printhead through the light;
- detecting the light with said light detecting device during said scanning step;
- and
- calculating the position of the inkjet printhead dependent upon said detecting step,
- wherein said scanning is in a scan direction, said calculating step including calculating a position of the inkjet printhead in an elevation direction, the elevation direction being substantially perpendicular to a print medium feed direction.
4 more elements
A method of printing with an ink jet printer, comprising the steps of:
- sensing positions of at least two printheads in the ink jet printer;
- adjusting print data dependent upon said sensing step;
- and
- printing said adjusted print data with said at least two printheads.
1 more element
A method of printing with an ink jet printer, comprising the steps of:
- sensing a skew angle of a printhead in the ink jet printer;
- adjusting print data dependent upon said sensing step;
- and
- printing said adjusted print data with said printhead.
1 more element
An ink jet printhead position detection system, comprising:
- a light emitting device configured to emit a beam of light, the beam of light having a substantially planar edge;
- and
- an ink jet printhead including a light detecting device configured to detect the beam of light as said inkjet printhead scans across said light emitting device, said inkjet printhead having a scan direction substantially perpendicular to the substantially planar edge of the beam of light.
An inkjet printhead position and skew detection system, comprising:
- a light emitting device configured to emit at least one beam of light, said at least one beam of light having a first edge and a second edge nonparallel to said first edge;
- an inkjet printhead including two light detecting devices configured to detect the at least one beam of light as said inkjet printhead scans across said light emitting device in a scan direction, said two light detecting devices being offset from each other in the scan direction;
- and
- a calculating device configured for calculating the position and skew of the printhead dependent upon a plurality of times at which said light detecting devices cross the first edge and the second edge of the at least one beam of light.
1 more element
A method of detecting position and skew of an ink jet printhead, comprising the steps of:
- emitting at least one beam of light having a first edge and a second edge nonparallel to said first edge;
- providing an inkjet printhead including two light detecting devices, said two light detecting devices being offset from each other in the scan direction;
- detecting the at least one beam of light as said inkjet printhead scans across said light emitting device in a scan direction;
- and
- calculating the position and skew of the printhead dependent upon a plurality of times at which said light detecting devices cross the first edge and the second edge of the at least one beam of light.
2 more elements
An inkjet printhead position and skew detection system, comprising:
- a first light emitting device configured to emit a first beam of light having a first edge and a second edge nonparallel to said first edge;
- a second light emitting device offset from said first light emitting device in a paper feed direction, said second light emitting device being configured to emit a second beam of light having a third edge and a fourth edge nonparallel to said third edge;
- an inkjet printhead including two light detecting devices offset from each other in the paper feed direction, said light detection devices being configured to detect the first beam of light and the second beam of light as said inkjet printhead scans across said first light emitting device and said second light emitting device in a scan direction;
- and
- a calculating device configured for calculating the position and skew of the printhead dependent upon a plurality of times at which said light detecting devices cross the first beam of light and the second beam of light.
2 more elements
A method of detecting position and skew of an ink jet printhead, comprising the steps of:
- emitting a first beam of light having a first edge and a second edge nonparallel to said first edge;
- emitting a second beam of light offset from the first beam of light in a paper feed direction, said second beam of light having a third edge and a fourth edge nonparallel to said third edge;
- providing an inkjet printhead including two light detecting devices offset from each other in the paper feed direction;
- detecting the first beam of light and the second beam of light as said inkjet printhead scans across said first light emitting device and said second light emitting device in a scan direction;
- and
- calculating the position and skew of the printhead dependent upon a plurality of times at which said light detecting devices cross the first beam of light and the second beam of light.
3 more elements
An inkjet printhead position and skew detection system, comprising:
- a first light emitting device configured to emit a first beam of light having a first edge and a second edge nonparallel to said first edge;
- a second light emitting device offset from said first light emitting device in a paper feed direction, said second light emitting device being configured to emit a second beam of light having a third edge and a fourth edge substantially parallel to said third edge;
- an inkjet printhead including two light detecting devices offset from each other in the paper feed direction, said light detection devices being configured to detect the first beam of light and the second beam of light as said inkjet printhead scans across said first light emitting device and said second light emitting device in a scan direction;
- and
- a calculating device configured for calculating the position and skew of the printhead dependent upon a plurality of times at which said light detecting devices cross at least one of the first edge and the second edge of the first beam of light and at least one of the third edge and the fourth edge of the second beam of light.
2 more elements
A method of detecting position and skew of an ink jet printhead, said method comprising the steps of:
- emitting a first beam of light having a first edge and a second edge nonparallel to said first edge;
- emitting a second beam of light offset from the first beam of light in a paper feed direction, said second beam of light having a third edge and a fourth edge substantially parallel to said third edge;
- providing an inkjet printhead including two light detecting devices offset from each other in the paper feed direction;
- detecting the first beam of light and the second beam of light as said inkjet printhead scans across said first light emitting device and said second light emitting device in a scan direction;
- and
- calculating the position and skew of the printhead dependent upon a plurality of times at which said light detecting devices cross at least one of the first edge and the second edge of the first beam of light and at least one of the third edge and the fourth edge of the second beam of light.
3 more elements
An inkjet printhead position and skew detection system, comprising:
- a first light emitting device configured to emit a first beam of light having a first edge and a second edge parallel to said first edge;
- a second light emitting device offset from said first light emitting device in a paper feed direction, said second light emitting device being configured to emit a second beam of light having a third edge and a fourth edge substantially parallel to said third edge;
- an inkjet printhead including two light detecting devices offset from each other in the paper feed direction, said light detection devices being configured to detect the first beam of light and the second beam of light as said inkjet printhead scans across said first light emitting device and said second light emitting device in a scan direction;
- and
- a calculating device configured for calculating the position in the scan direction and skew of the printhead dependent upon a plurality of times at which said light detecting devices cross at least one of the first edge and the second edge of the first beam of light and at least one of the third edge and the fourth edge of the second beam of light.
2 more elements
A method of detecting position and skew of an ink jet printhead, comprising the steps of:
- emitting a first beam of light having a first edge and a second edge parallel to said first edge;
- emitting a second beam of light having a third edge and a fourth edge parallel to said first edge, the second beam of light being offset from the first beam of light in a paper feed direction;
- scanning an inkjet printhead including two light detecting devices across the at least one beam of light in a scan direction, said two light detecting devices being offset from each other in the scan direction;
- detecting the at least one beam of light during said scanning, and
- calculating the position in the scan direction and skew of the printhead dependent upon a plurality of times at which said light detecting devices cross at least one of the first edge and the second edge of the first beam of light and at least one of the third edge and the fourth edge of the second beam of light.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.