# US 8,570,604 B2 · Printer and method for printing of overlapping swathes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,570,604 B2 - Document ID: US8570604B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/443,739 - Filed: 2007-10-03 - Published: 2010-01-14 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-03 - Assignees: Xaar Technology Limited - Applicants: Julian Bane; Steve Temple; Paul Raymond Drury - Inventors: Julian Bane; Steve Temple; Paul Raymond Drury - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8570604B2 ## CPC - G06K 15/107: {Mask selection} - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract A method for controlling the printing of overlapping swathes, the swathes extending perpendicular to a succession of print lines; for each print line a transition is defined between one swathe and the next, with the location of the transition in the print line varying between print lines, for example varying pseudo-randomly or as a curve extending in the swathe direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling printing utilizing a plurality of overlapping printheads attached to a rigid frame of a respective plurality of overlapping swathes extending in a print direction with a succession of print lines extending perpendicular to the print direction, each swathe being an area addressed by a respective printhead during printing, there being at least one overlap region where said swathes overlap so that a number of pixels can be printed by either one printhead or a next printhead, the method comprising the steps of: determining, for each pixel in said overlap region whether said pixel will be printed by said one printhead or said next printhead, said determining step including defining for each print line a transition region between a contiguous array of pixels printed by said one printhead and a contiguous array of pixels printed by said next printhead, said transition region extending over a number of adjacent transition pixels in the print line; varying a location of the transition region, in a direction perpendicular to the print direction, between different print lines within the same overlap region; and printing said plurality of overlapping swathes with said plurality of overlapping printheads attached to a rigid frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the location of the transition region in the print lines varies as a function of displacement in the print direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the location of the transition region in the print lines is randomly derived or pseudo-randomly derived. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the transition pixels are assigned to said one printhead or said next printhead according to an algorithm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4, wherein said algorithm comprises a probability function. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4, wherein the transition pixels are assigned according to a dithering algorithm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the transition pixels take weighted contributions from said one printhead or said next printhead. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein a center of said transition region, as measured perpendicular to the print direction, is varied between different print lines within the same overlap region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A method according to claim 8, wherein a location of a center of said transition region is mathematically calculated or randomly derived for the print lines. ### Claim 10 A printer comprising a plurality of overlapping printheads attached to a rigid frame and a controller, wherein the printer is adapted to form an image from a respective plurality of overlapping swathes extending in a print direction with a succession of print lines extending perpendicular to the print direction, each swathe being an area addressed by a respective printhead during printing, there being at least one overlap region where said swathes overlap so that a number of pixels can be printed by either one printhead or a next printhead and wherein said controller is operable to carry out a determination, for each pixel in each said overlap region as to whether said pixel will be printed by said one printhead or said next printhead, said determination being such that for each print line a transition region is defined between a contiguous array of pixels printed by said one printhead and a contiguous array of pixels printed by said next printhead, said transition region extending over a number of adjacent transition pixels in the print line, with a location of the transition region in the print line varying, in a direction perpendicular to the print direction, between different print lines within the same overlap region. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising substrate feed means operable to move a substrate relative to said printer in a feed direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said at least one printhead is moveable under the influence of said controller perpendicular to said feed direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said print direction is parallel to said feed direction.