Measuring image characteristics of output from a digital printer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of measuring image characteristics of printed output from a digital printer, comprising:
- sending test pattern data for a test pattern to a digital printer, said test pattern including one or more target objects designed to reveal one or more specific printed image characteristics;
generating a printed image of said test pattern data at said digital printer;
scanning said printed image to obtain digital pattern data; and
analyzing said digital pattern data to generate one or more quantitative ratings with respect to said one or more printed image characteristics, said one or more quantitative ratings being evaluated with respect to historical data.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Measuring the printed image characteristics of printed output from a digital printer by sending test pattern data to a digital printer and generating a printed image of the test pattern data. The printed image is scanned, and digital pattern data is output. The digital pattern data is analyzed to generate one or more quantitative ratings with respect to one or more printed image characteristics.
109 Citations
53 Claims
-
1. A method of measuring image characteristics of printed output from a digital printer, comprising:
-
sending test pattern data for a test pattern to a digital printer, said test pattern including one or more target objects designed to reveal one or more specific printed image characteristics;
generating a printed image of said test pattern data at said digital printer;
scanning said printed image to obtain digital pattern data; and
analyzing said digital pattern data to generate one or more quantitative ratings with respect to said one or more printed image characteristics, said one or more quantitative ratings being evaluated with respect to historical data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
indicating unacceptable print quality in response to said one or more quantitative ratings.
-
-
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
indicating a setting adjustment to said digital printer in response to said one or more quantitative ratings.
-
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
automatically adjusting a setting to said digital printer in response to said one or more quantitative ratings.
-
9. The method of claim 1, wherein said quantitative ratings include a physical measurement of said one or more target objects in said digital pattern data.
-
10. The method of claim 9, wherein landmarks in said digital pattern data are used to identify positions for said one or more target objects.
-
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said landmarks are located in corners of said digital pattern data.
-
12. The method of claim 10, wherein said landmarks are used to adjust for scanner deviations.
-
13. The method of claim 9, wherein said physical measurement determines density uniformity.
-
14. The method of claim 9, wherein said physical measurement determines positional accuracy.
-
15. The method of claim 9, wherein said physical measurement determines edge sharpness.
-
16. The method of claim 9, wherein said physical measurement determines edge acuity.
-
17. The method of claim 9, wherein said physical measurement detects a presence of streaks and smears.
-
18. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing step produces a plurality of physical measurements of said digital pattern data.
-
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
combining said physical measurements into a quality rating.
-
20. The method of claim 19, wherein said combining step comprises:
-
producing a plurality of weights, each weight assigned to one of said plurality of physical measurements;
normalizing said plurality of physical measurements;
computing said quality rating by multiplying each of said plurality of weights by a respective one of said normalized physical measurements to generate products; and
summing the products of said weights and said measurements into one overall quality rating.
-
-
21. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing step identifies a plurality of factors responsible for quality deviation and suggests appropriate corrective action.
-
22. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing step uses a database with historical data unique for the digital printer.
-
23. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing step uses a database with quality data correlated with printer setting adjustments.
-
24. The method of claim 1, wherein said test pattern data includes samples of horizontal and vertical lines.
-
25. The method of claim 24, wherein said horizontal and vertical lines are separated by different distances.
-
26. The method of claim 1, wherein the test pattern data is stored as a bitmap data or represented as a page in a page description language.
-
27. A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions causing a print analyzer system to:
-
produce digital test pattern data for a test pattern, said test pattern including one or more target objects designed to reveal one or more specific printed image characteristics;
send said digital test pattern data to a digital printer to generate a printed image at said digital printer;
receive digital pattern data generated from scanning said printed image, said digital pattern data having a higher resolution than said printed image; and
analyze said digital pattern data to generate one or more quantitative ratings with respect to said one or more printed image characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
indicate a setting adjustment to said digital printer in response to said one or more quantitative ratings.
-
-
30. The computer program of claim 27, further comprising instructions causing a print analyzer system to:
automatically adjust a setting to said digital printer in response to said one or more quantitative ratings.
-
31. The computer program of claim 27, wherein said quantitative ratings include a physical measurement of said one or more target objects in said digital pattern data.
-
32. The computer program of claim 27, wherein analyzing of said digital pattern data produces a plurality of physical measurements of said digital pattern data and further comprising instructions to cause a print analyzer system to combine said physical measurements into a quality rating.
-
33. The computer program of claim 27, further comprising instructions causing a print analyzer system to:
-
read historical data in a database; and
evaluate said one or more quantitative ratings with said historical data.
-
-
34. A print analyzer system for measuring image characteristics of printed output from a digital printer, comprising:
-
a source of digital test pattern data for a test pattern, said test pattern including one or more target objects designed to reveal one or more specific printed image characteristics;
a digital printer that receives said digital test pattern data as input and outputs a printed image;
a scanner that receives said printed image as input and outputs digital pattern data having higher resolution than said printed image;
an image quality analyzer receiving said digital pattern data and analyzing said digital pattern data to generate one or more quantitative ratings with respect to one or more printed image characteristics; and
a database with historical data for said digital printer. - View Dependent Claims (35)
a database with quality data correlated with printer setting adjustments.
-
-
36. A test instrument for measuring image characteristics of printed output from a digital printer, comprising:
-
an input that receives printed digital pattern data based on scanning an image printed by a digital printer in response to test pattern data for a test pattern, said test pattern including one or more target objects designed to reveal one or more specific printed image characteristics;
an analyzer to receive said digital pattern data and analyze said digital pattern data to generate one or more quantitative ratings with respect to said one or more printed image characteristics;
an output responding to said one or more quantitative ratings; and
a database having historical data for said digital printer. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
a setting adjustment indicator to respond to said one or more quantitative ratings.
-
-
40. The test instrument of claim 36, wherein said output automatically adjusts a setting to said digital printer.
-
41. The test instrument of claim 36, wherein said quantitative ratings include a physical measurement of said one or more target objects in said digital pattern data.
-
42. The test instrument of claim 36, wherein said analyzer produces a plurality of physical measurements of said digital pattern data and combines said physical measurements into a quality rating.
-
43. The test instrument of claim 36, wherein said analyzer suggests appropriate corrective action.
-
44. The test instrument of claim 36, further comprising:
a database having quality data correlated with said digital printer setting adjustments.
-
45. A method of measuring image characteristics of printed output from a digital printer, comprising:
-
sending test pattern data for a test pattern to a digital printer, said test pattern including one or more target objects designed to reveal one or more specific printed image characteristics;
generating a printed image of said test pattern data at said digital printer;
scanning said printed image with a scanner to obtain digital pattern data, said scanner having a higher resolution than said digital printer; and
analyzing said digital pattern data to generate one or more quantitative ratings with respect to said one or more printed image characteristics, and generating a quality rating related to image quality from said one or more quantitative ratings.
-
-
46. A method of measuring image characteristics of printed output from a digital printer, comprising:
-
sending test pattern data for a test pattern to a digital printer, said test pattern including one or more target objects designed to reveal one or more specific printed image characteristics;
generating a printed image of said test pattern data at said digital printer;
scanning said printed image to obtain digital pattern data; and
analyzing said digital pattern data to generate one or more quantitative ratings with respect to said one or more printed image characteristics, said step of analyzing producing a plurality of physical measurements of said digital pattern data;
combining said plurality of physical measurements into a quality rating, said step of combining including the steps of, producing a plurality of weights, each weight assigned to one of said plurality of physical measurements, normalizing said plurality of physical measurements, computing said quality rating by multiplying each of said plurality of weights by a respective one of said normalized physical measurements to generate products, and summing the products of said weights and said measurements into one overall quality rating.
-
-
47. A method of measuring image characteristics of printed output from a digital printer, comprising:
-
sending test pattern data for a test pattern to a digital printer, said test pattern including one or more target objects designed to reveal one or more specific printed image characteristics;
generating a printed image of said test pattern data at said digital printer;
scanning said printed image to obtain digital pattern data; and
analyzing, using a database with historical data unique for the digital printer, said digital pattern data to generate one or more quantitative ratings with respect to said one or more printed image characteristics.
-
-
48. A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions causing a print analyzer system to:
-
produce digital test pattern data for a test pattern, said test pattern including one or more target objects designed to reveal one or more specific printed image characteristics;
send said digital test pattern data to a digital printer to generate a printed image at said digital printer;
receive digital pattern data generated from scanning said printed image;
analyze said digital pattern data to generate one or more quantitative ratings with respect to said one or more printed image characteristics;
read historical data in a database; and
evaluate said one or more quantitative ratings with said historical data. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
indicate a setting adjustment to said digital printer in response to said one or more quantitative ratings.
-
-
51. The computer program of claim 48, further comprising instructions causing a print analyzer system to:
automatically adjust a setting to said digital printer in response to said one or more quantitative ratings.
-
52. The computer program of claim 48, wherein said quantitative ratings include a physical measurement of said once or more target objects in said digital pattern data.
-
53. The computer program of claim 48, wherein analyzing of said digital pattern data produces a plurality of physical measurements of said digital pattern data and further comprising instructions to cause a print analyzer system to combine said physical measurements into a quality rating.
Specification