Method and apparatus for printing an image in a specified positional relationship with a preprinted registration mark
First Claim
1. A method for locating a previously preprinted two-dimensional registration mark on a printing medium, and for then printing a new image in a specified positional relationship with said preprinted mark;
- said method comprising;
locating the position of the preprinted mark by using information about substantially the entire area of the preprinted mark; and
then aligning and printing said new image by reference to said located position of the preprinted mark on the medium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Each two-dimensional alignment mark on a printing medium is found by using information about the whole mark area, or with respect to each of two different directions relative to the medium by using a distinctive two-dimensional pattern or characteristic of the mark; or by finding the mark centroid, or by scanning the mark region to obtain a two-dimensional representation for analysis--and preferably by combinations of these procedures. An image is then aligned and printed by reference to the mark so located. A previous image may also be preprinted in known relation with the mark, so that the new image is aligned with the preprinted one--sometimes on the same piece of medium. Preferably information used includes the mark'"'"'s intended size, shape, areal disposition and other properties; and a two-dimensional search template is defined which matches the mark in at least one of these. A template position is then found that essentially maximizes areal intersection with the mark; this position is then treated as the mark position, for printing the new image. The invention preferably determines a position of the template along each of two directions in alternation--maximizing the areal intersection with respect to shifting along each direction, iteratively--until no significant increase is obtained.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for locating a previously preprinted two-dimensional registration mark on a printing medium, and for then printing a new image in a specified positional relationship with said preprinted mark;
- said method comprising;
locating the position of the preprinted mark by using information about substantially the entire area of the preprinted mark; and then aligning and printing said new image by reference to said located position of the preprinted mark on the medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- said method comprising;
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8. A method for locating a preprinted two-dimensional registration mark on a printing medium, said mark having at least one distinctive two-dimensional characteristic;
- and for printing a new image in a specified positional relationship with the mark;
said method comprising;locating the position of the preprinted mark, with respect to each of two different directions relative to the medium, by using information about the at least one distinctive two-dimensional characteristic of the mark; and then aligning and printing said new image by reference to said located position of the preprinted mark on the medium. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- and for printing a new image in a specified positional relationship with the mark;
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32. A method for printing a new image substantially in a desired location on a printing medium;
- said method comprising;
providing on the printing medium a preprinted two-dimensional registration mark that has an associated known two-dimensional pattern, and that also has a known positional relationship with the desired new-image location on the medium; then locating the position of the preprinted mark, with respect to each of two different directions relative to the medium, by using information about its said associated two-dimensional pattern; and then aligning and printing a new image by reference to said located position of the preprinted mark on the medium. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
- said method comprising;
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40. A method for locating a preprinted registration mark on a printing medium, and for printing a new image in a specified positional relationship with the mark;
- said method comprising;
locating the position of the preprinted mark by first scanning the region of the mark to obtain a two-dimensional representation of the region and then analyzing the two-dimensional representation; and then aligning and printing said new image by reference to said located position of the preprinted mark on the medium.
- said method comprising;
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41. A method for locating a preprinted registration mark on a printing medium, and for printing a new image in a specified positional relationship with the mark;
- said method comprising;
locating the position of the preprinted mark by finding its areal centroid on the printing medium; and then aligning and printing said new image by reference to said centroid on the medium.
- said method comprising;
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42. Apparatus for locating a preprinted registration mark on a printing medium and printing a new image in a specified positional relationship with the preprinted registration mark;
- said apparatus comprising;
means for disposing such medium for printing thereon; means for printing a new image on such medium; means for controlling the relative position of such medium and said printing means; electrooptical sensors responsive to such preprinted registration mark; means for effecting relative physical movement of the sensors and such medium to produce a matrix of said signals corresponding to a region of the medium; electronic circuit means for analyzing said signal matrix to locate the position of the preprinted registration mark, with respect to each of two different directions, by reference to information selected from the group consisting of; information about the entire area of the preprinted registration mark, information about a two-dimensional characteristic of the preprinted registration mark, information about a two-dimensional pattern associated with the preprinted registration mark, and the position of the areal centroid of the preprinted registration mark; and means for using said position of the preprinted registration mark to adjust the printing means and the relative-position-controlling means.
- said apparatus comprising;
Specification