Data driven pen nozzle masks
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorRamon Vega
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for prolonging the life of a print head while printing repeated patterns on a substrate. A repeating pattern to be printed is first analyzed. An algorithm creates at least one set of masks based on the analysis of the repeating pattern. The masks created by the algorithm are used to print subsequent patterns. The algorithm operates to prolong the life of the print head by substantially evenly distributing the number of times each print head is used, and substantially prevents overuse of one nozzle with respect to another.
Claims38
A method for prolonging the life of a print head having a plurality of nozzles, the print head being configured to print a repeating pattern on a substrate, the method comprising:
- creating a Z set(s) of print masks;
- selecting at least one print mask from said Z set(s) of print masks;
- analyzing a repeating pattern in said at least one print mask;
- and
- utilizing said changed Z sets of print masks to control the firing of at least one of said plurality of nozzles, and
- changing said Z set(s) of print masks based on the results from the analyzing step.
A method for printing a repeating pattern, the method comprising the steps:
- providing a print head with a plurality of nozzles;
- analyzing the repeating pattern;
- and
- creating a set of masks that substantially balances the nozzle usage in response to the analysis of the repeating pattern.
A printer for printing a repeating pattern on a substrate, the printer comprising:
- a print head with a plurality of nozzles,
- a controller for controlling print head functions including the firing of the print head nozzles, wherein the controller is configured to analyze the repeating pattern, the controller comprising;
- a mask generator operable to generate Z set(s) of masks, in response to the analysis of the repeating pattern.
A method for prolonging the life of a print head having a plurality of nozzles, the print head being configured to print a repeating pattern on a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
- printing a first pattern;
- monitoring the printing of the first pattern;
- analyzing said first pattern for a repeating pattern;
- and
- creating Z set(s) of print masks based on the results from the analyzing step, wherein the step of creating one set of print masks comprises creating print masks that substantially balance the number of times each nozzle is used.
A method for prolonging the life of a print head having a plurality of nozzles, the print head being configured to print a repeating pattern on a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
- printing a first pattern and a second pattern;
- monitoring the printing of the first pattern and second pattern;
- analyzing said first pattern and second pattern for a repeating pattern;
- and
- creating Z set(s) of print masks based on the results from the analyzing step, wherein the step of creating Z set(s) of print masks comprises creating print masks that substantially balance the number of times each nozzle is used after printing of the first pattern and the created print masks substantially balance the number of times each nozzle is used after a printing of the second pattern.
A method for printing a repeating pattern, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a print head with a plurality of nozzles;
- printing a first pattern with the printhead, the first pattern including a repeating pattern;
- analyzing the repeating pattern;
- and
- creating a set of masks that substantially balances nozzle usage for the plurality of nozzles in response to the analysis of the repeating pattern, wherein the single set of masks substantially balances the nozzle usage after printing a second pattern.
A method for printing a repeating pattern, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a print head with a plurality of nozzles;
- printing a first pattern with the printhead, the first pattern including a repeating pattern;
- analyzing the repeating pattern;
- creating a set of masks that substantially balances nozzle usage for the plurality of nozzles in response to the analysis of the repeating pattern, wherein the set of masks substantially balances the nozzle usage after printing a second pattern;
- and
- creating at least a second set of masks based on the analysis of the second pattern.
A method for printing a repeating pattern, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a print head with a plurality of nozzles;
- printing a first pattern with the printhead, the first pattern including a repeating pattern;
- analyzing the repeating pattern;
- creating a set of masks that substantially balances nozzle usage for the plurality of nozzles in response to the analysis of the repeating pattern, wherein the set of masks substantially balances the nozzle usage after printing a second pattern;
- and
- creating at least a second set of masks based on the analysis of the second pattern, wherein the sets of masks substantially balance the nozzle usage after printing a plurality of patterns.
A method for printing a repeating pattern, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a print head with a plurality of nozzles;
- printing a first pattern with the printhead, the first pattern including a repeating pattern;
- analyzing the repeating pattern;
- creating a set of masks that substantially balances nozzle usage for the plurality of nozzles in response to the analysis of the repeating pattern, wherein the set of masks substantially balances the nozzle usage after printing a second pattern;
- and
- creating at least a second set of masks based on the analysis of the second pattern, wherein each of the sets of masks triggers substantially similar nozzle usage for the subsequent printing of the repeating pattern.
A method for printing a repeating pattern, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a print head with a plurality of nozzles;
- printing a first pattern with the printhead, the first pattern including a repeating pattern;
- analyzing the repeating pattern;
- creating a set of masks that substantially balances nozzle usage of the plurality of nozzles in response to the analysis of the repeating pattern, wherein the set of masks substantially balances the nozzle usage after printing a second pattern;
- creating at least a second set of masks based on the analysis of the second pattern;
- and
- altering a speed at which the substrate is fed in order to assist with substantial balancing of nozzle usage.
A printer for printing a repeating pattern on a substrate, the printer comprising:
- a print head with a plurality of nozzles;
- a controller for controlling print head functions including the firing of the plurality of nozzles, wherein the controller is configured to analyze a repeating pattern created by the printhead, the controller comprising:
- a mask generator operable to generate Z set(s) of masks based on an analysis of the repeating pattern;
- and
- software for analyzing the repeating pattern by recognizing requirements for printing the repeating pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.