Region-of-interest based print quality optimization

• US 10,105,963 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2017
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Soh, Teck Siong
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Huan
• Application Number:
  US15/449,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20180250950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/32 using thermal heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/335 Structure of thermal heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/3551 Block driving
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/36 Print density control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/028 by thermal printers

Abstract

A method for printing includes analyzing print quality requirements for a printing area; adjusting settings for heater elements (e.g., energy and/or firing durations) of strobe lines based on the requirements analysis; and providing a plurality of individual strobe signals to the strobe lines. The strobe signals can be transmitted simultaneously, for example with a field-programmable gate array. Analyzing print quality requirements can include separating the printing area into one or more areas of interest, such as rows and/or columns. For each area of interest individual print quality settings (e.g., darkness, contrast, and/or media sensitivity) may be selected.

Claims

1. A method for print settings control, comprising:

dividing an image to be printed on print media into a plurality of regions of interest (ROI);

analyzing the plurality of ROI to determine one or more printing requirements for each ROI;

using the determined printing requirements to calculate individual strobe durations;

using the calculated strobe durations to adjust individual strobe signals; and

transmitting the strobe signals to a thermal printhead.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein transmitting the strobe signals includes transmitting all the strobe signals simultaneously.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein transmitting the strobe signals simultaneously includes transmitting the signals with a field-programmable gate array.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein adjusting individual strobe signals includes adjusting energy of one or more heater elements of the thermal printhead.

5. A method for printing, comprising:

analyzing one or more print quality requirements for a printing area;

adjusting one or more settings for one or more heater elements of one or more strobe lines based on the requirements analysis; and

providing a plurality of individual strobe signals to the strobe lines.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein adjusting settings for heater elements includes adjusting energy and/or firing durations.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein providing a plurality of individual strobe signals includes providing a plurality of individual strobe signals with an FPGA-based driver circuit.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein analyzing print quality requirements for a printing area includes separating the printing area into one or more areas of interest.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein separating a printing area into areas of interest includes separating the printing area into rows and/or columns.

10. The method according to claim 8, further including determining individual print quality requirements for the one or more areas of interest.

11. The method according to claim 5, wherein analyzing print quality requirements includes analyzing a print job request.

12. A method for print quality adjustment, comprising:

segmenting a print area into region-of-interest (ROI) sections;

selecting one or more print quality settings for each ROI section; and

using the selected print quality settings to adjust one or more printing parameters of one or more thermal printhead heater elements for each corresponding ROI section.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein segmenting a print area into ROI sections includes segmenting the print area in rows.

14. The method according to claim 13, further including segmenting the print area in columns.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein adjusting printing parameters includes adjusting strobe durations for one or more heater groups.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein selecting print quality settings includes selecting darkness, contrast, and/or media sensitivity.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein segmenting a print area includes segmenting a print area having one or more barcodes and/or one or more designs.