Cryptographic printhead
First Claim
1. A method for printing process control within a printer, comprising:
- determining, via a hardware processor of the printer, a printhead control signal (PCS) to regulate a print process of a printhead of the printer, said PCS comprising printhead control parameters to maintain a designated acceptable level of print quality by the printhead;
encrypting, via the hardware microprocessor, the PCS;
transmitting from the hardware microprocessor to the printhead the encrypted PCS;
decrypting at the printhead the received encrypted PCS to obtain the unencrypted PCS; and
regulating the print process of the printhead according to the PCS.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A printer is configured with a processor which calculates printhead control parameters, the control parameters being determined by the processor in such a way as to optimize the printing process of the printer'"'"'s printhead. The processor determines the printhead control parameters according to an optimization algorithm stored in the printer. To maintain the internal security of the optimization algorithm, the printhead control parameters are encrypted by the processor. The encrypted printhead control parameters are then transmitted to the printhead via an internal data path of the printer. If a third party monitors the data along the internal data path, the encryption algorithm remains secure because the control parameters are encrypted. The printhead contains a second, dedicated processor. The printhead processor receives the encrypted printhead control parameters, and decrypts the control parameters. The printhead then prints according to the decrypted printhead control parameters, ensuring optimized printing.
599 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for printing process control within a printer, comprising:
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determining, via a hardware processor of the printer, a printhead control signal (PCS) to regulate a print process of a printhead of the printer, said PCS comprising printhead control parameters to maintain a designated acceptable level of print quality by the printhead; encrypting, via the hardware microprocessor, the PCS; transmitting from the hardware microprocessor to the printhead the encrypted PCS; decrypting at the printhead the received encrypted PCS to obtain the unencrypted PCS; and regulating the print process of the printhead according to the PCS. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A printer, comprising:
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a first hardware processor; a printhead comprising; a contrast-generating element for printing an image on a print media; and a second hardware processor configured for data decryption;
wherein;said first hardware processor is configured to; determine a printhead control signal (PCS) to regulate a print process of the printhead, said PCS comprising printhead control parameters to maintain a designated acceptable level of print quality by the printhead; and encrypt the PCS; and said second hardware processor is configured to decrypt the received encrypted PCS to obtain the unencrypted PCS, wherein the print process of the printhead is regulated according to the PCS. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification