METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR REAL TIME CALIBRATION OF A PRINT SYSTEM MARKING ENGINE

• US 20080165379A1
• Filed: 03/23/2008
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiery LLC
• Original Assignee: Peter A. Zuber
• Inventors: Zuber, Peter A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,489,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5062 by measuring the characteristics of an image on the copy material
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5087 for receiving image data
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00021 Plural substantially independent image forming units in cooperation, e.g. for duplex, colour or high-speed simplex
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0005 without production of a specific test patch
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00109 Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2206/1514 Sub-job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1211 Improving printing performance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1215 achieving increased printing speed, i.e. reducing the time between printing start and printing end
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1217 achieving reduced idle time at the output device or increased asset utilization
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/124 Parallel printing or parallel ripping
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1241 Dividing a job according to job requirements, e.g. black/white and colour pages, covers and body of books, tabs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1281 Multi engine printer devices, e.g. one entity having multiple output engines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1282 High volume printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1806 Receiving job control commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1856 characterized by its workflow
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1857 involving parallel processing in the same printing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for modifying the rendered output of a marking engine for a print job in progress. A marking engine commences printing print data for a print job. A parameter of a printed page of the print job is measured while the marking engine prints the print job. The measured parameter is compared to a reference, and the print data are modified before the print job completes, such that all subsequent portions of the print job are rendered with modified print data.

Claims

1. A method for printing a print job on a plurality of printers, the method comprising:

inserting a target image in the print job;

commencing printing of the print job on the plurality of printers;

detecting a printed target image generated by one of the printers;

measuring a color parameter in the detected target image;

calibrating the printer that generated the target image based on the measured parameter; and

resuming printing of the print job on the plurality of printers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting comprises automatically detecting the printed target image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the target image comprises indicia adapted to enable automatic detection of the target image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the target image comprises a predetermined page in the print job.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring comprises measuring the detected target image using an output meter.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the output meter comprises any of a densitometer, a colorimeter, and a spectrophotometer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring comprises comparing the printed target image to a predetermined reference image.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein calibrating comprises modifying data in a calibration lookup table.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting comprises inserting the target image at multiple intervals in the print job, and wherein the method further comprises repeating the detecting, measuring and calibrating steps throughout the entire print job.

10. A system for printing a print job on a plurality of printers, the system comprising:

means for inserting a target image in the print job;

means for commencing printing of the print job on the plurality of printers;

means for detecting a printed target image generated by one of the printers;

means for measuring a color parameter in the detected target image;

means for calibrating the printer that generated the target image based on the measured parameter; and

means for resuming printing of the print job on the plurality of printers.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for detecting comprises means for automatically detecting the printed target image.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the target image comprises indicia adapted to enable automatic detection of the target image.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the target image comprises a predetermined page in the print job.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for measuring comprises means for measuring the detected target image using an output meter.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the output meter comprises any of a densitometer, a calorimeter, and a spectrophotometer.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for measuring comprises means for comparing the printed target image to a predetermined reference image.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for calibrating comprises means for modifying data in a calibration lookup table.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for inserting comprises means for inserting the target image at multiple intervals in the print job, and wherein the detecting means, measuring means and calibrating means repeatedly detects, measures and calibrates throughout the entire print job.