APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR FLASH PRINTING

• US 20140368599A1
• Filed: 06/23/2014
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Jones
• Original Assignee: Mark Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,573,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/255
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/325 by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/435 characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/006 Patterns of chemical products used for a specific purpose, e.g. pesticides, perfumes, adhesive patterns; use of microencapsulated material; Printing on smoking articles
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/28 using thermochromic compounds or layers containing liquid crystals, microcapsules, bleachable dyes or heat- decomposable compounds, e.g. gas- liberating B41M5/38271 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/287 using microcapsules or microspheres only
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/54 Lamp housings; Illuminating means

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method to flash print an image. The apparatus includes an energy source that delivers energy. The apparatus includes an energy pulse width modulator coupled to the energy source. The energy pulse width modulator may receive energy from the energy source and modulate the energy received from the energy source. The energy pulse width modulator may be driven by a logic module. The apparatus also includes a plurality of imaging pixels modulated by the energy pulse width modulator and conveying modulated energy to a host material. The host material may be in close proximity to a receiving medium and the modulated energy may release dye from the host material into the receiving medium.

Claims

1. An apparatus to flash print an image, the apparatus comprising:

an energy source that delivers energy;

an energy pulse width modulator coupled to the energy source, the energy pulse width modulator receiving energy from the energy source and modulating the energy received from the energy source, the energy pulse width modulator driven by a logic module;

a plurality of imaging pixels modulated by the energy pulse width modulator and conveying modulated energy to a host material, the host material in close proximity to a receiving medium, the modulated energy releasing dye from the host material into the receiving medium.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pulse width modulator comprises a digital light processor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a filter in between the energy source and the digital light processor.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of filters positionable in between the energy source and the digital light processor, wherein each filter selects a distinct wavelength.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy source comprises one of a laser, an infrared lamp, a light emitting diode, a plurality of lasers wherein each laser emits a distinct wavelength, a plurality of infrared lamps wherein each infrared lamp emits a distinct wavelength, and a plurality of light emitting diodes wherein each light emitting diode emits a distinct wavelength.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an optical module that focuses and scales energy from the plurality of imaging pixels onto hosting material in close proximity to the receiving medium.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein receiving medium comprises a curved surface and wherein the optical module focuses and scales the modulated energy to account for the curved surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiving medium comprises a substrate for a radio frequency identification substrate.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the dye comprises a conductive ink.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the host material comprises one or more of a dye ribbon, a plurality of dye-filled microspheres, and dye-filled nanoparticles.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiving medium comprises a substrate for receiving Braille lettering.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the dye comprises a clear plastic.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pulse width modules arrayed to relay modulated energy over a larger surface array of the receiving medium.

14. A method to flash print an image, the method comprising:

emitting energy to an energy pulse width modulator;

modulating the energy with the energy pulse width modulator along a plurality of imaging pixels as directed by a logic module; and

conveying the modulated energy to a host material, the host material in close proximity to a receiving medium, the modulated energy releasing dye from the host material into the receiving medium.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the host material further comprises a plurality of dye-filled microspheres and wherein conveying the modulated energy to a host material further comprises reflecting light from a matrix of micro mirrors to the plurality of dye-filled microspheres and activating the microspheres with the reflected light, to release dye in various volumes from the microspheres.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein modulating the energy with the energy pulse width modulator further comprises modulating the energy to convey a distinct pulse-width value.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the receiving medium comprises a curved surface and wherein the method further comprises focusing and scaling the modulated energy to account for the curved surface.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the host material further comprises a plurality of dye-filled microspheres, the method further comprising attaching the plurality of dye-filled microspheres to the curved surface.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein emitting energy to an energy pulse width modulator further comprises emitting a first instance energy, emitting a second instance energy, and emitting a third instance energy, and wherein modulating the energy with the energy pulse width modulator further comprises modulating the first instance energy to convey a first distinct pulse-width value, modulating the second instance energy to convey a second distinct pulse-width value, and modulating the third instance energy to convey a third distinct pulse-width value, and wherein conveying the modulated energy to a host material further comprises conveying the first pulse-width value to the host material wherein the host material releases a first dye, conveying the second pulse-width value to the host material wherein the host material releases a second dye, and conveying the third pulse-width value to the host material wherein the host material releases a third dye.

20. A system to flash print an image, the system comprising:

an energy source that delivers energy;

an energy pulse width modulator coupled to the energy source, the energy pulse width modulator receiving energy from the energy source and modulating the energy received from the energy source;

a logic module driving the energy pulse width modulator;

a plurality of imaging pixels modulated by the energy pulse width modulator and conveying modulated energy to a host material,

a host material receiving modulated energy from the plurality of imaging pixels, the host material in close proximity to a receiving medium, the host material comprising dye, the host material releasing dye into the receiving medium according to the modulated energy.