Interactive printer

• US 6,965,439 B1
• Filed: 11/25/2000
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Arthur G.
• Application Number:
  US09/722,142
• Time in Patent Office: 1,816 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.6, 358/1.15, 358/1.3, 358/1.8, 358/537, 358/538, 358/540, 358/402, 358/403, 358/452, 358/472, 358/474, 358/1.13, 358/1.18, 710/8, 710/9, 710/20, 710/72, 710/73
• US Class Current: 358/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17563 Ink filters
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2114 Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids B41J2/211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 19/02 starting with single sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0006 by applying adhesive to a stack of sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0081 applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together by fusing, welding B42C9/0093
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2261/04 Producing books by printing sheets in following order, e.g. for ordering via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/34 from supports slid from under the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 37/04 for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1265 Printing by reference, e.g. retrieving document/image data for a job from a source mentioned in the job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 : Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 : the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 : Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00358 : Type of the scanned marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 : Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00567 : Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 : by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 : in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 : using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3243 : of type information, e.g. handwritten or text document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3247 : Data linking a set of images to one another, e.g. sequence, burst or continuous capture mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 : data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes

Abstract

A printer for printing a second interface onto a second surface, in response to first indicating data received from a sensing device in the form of a stylus. The first indicating data is sensed by the stylus from first coded data. A first interface is disposed on a first surface, and includes the first coded data. The printer includes an input module and a printing module. The input module is configured to receive the first indicating data from the stylus, the first indicating data being at least partially indicative of response data. The input module generates second indicating data based on the first indicating data, the second indicating data being at least partially indicative of the response data. The second indicating data is sent to a computer system. The printing module includes a printing mechanism configured to receive the response data from the computer system. The second interface is based at least partially on the response data. The printing module then prints the second interface onto the second surface using the printing mechanism.

Claims

1. A printer for printing a second interactive sheet in response to first indicating data received from a sensing device, the first indicating data being generated by the sensing device using first coded data, disposed on a first interactive sheet, the printer including:

(a) an input module configured to;

(i) receive, from the sensing device, the first indicating data, the first indicating data being at least partially indicative of response data;

(ii) generate second indicating data based on the first indicating data, the second indicating data being at least partially indicative of the response data;

(iii) send the second indicating data to a computer system; and

(b) a printing module, including a printing mechanism, configured to;

(i) receive the response data from the computer system;

(ii) generate an interactive image for the second interactive sheet, based at least partially on the response data; and

(iii) print the second interactive sheet using the printing mechanism.

2. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the second interactive sheet comprises second coded data and the printing module includes a coded data generator configured to generate the second coded data based on at least part of the response data.

3. A printer according to claim 2, wherein the second coded data is indicative of an identity of the second interactive sheet and of a plurality of locations on the second interactive sheet.

4. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the first coded data is indicative of an identity of the first interactive sheet and of a plurality of locations on the first interactive sheet.

5. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the first indicating data comprises data regarding an identity of the first interactive sheet and data regarding a position of the sensing device relative to the first interactive sheet.

6. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the coded data is substantially invisible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.

7. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the coded data is slightly visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.

8. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the coded data is visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.

9. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is an inkjet printer.

10. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the coded data is printed using ink that is absorbent or reflective in the ultraviolet spectrum or the infrared spectrum.

11. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer includes a separate ink channel for printing the coded data.

12. A printer according to claim 9, wherein the printer is configured to print the second coded data and additional information substantially simultaneously.

13. A printer according to claim 12, wherein the additional information is printed onto the second surface using colored or monochrome inks.

14. A printer according to claim 13, wherein the additional information is printed onto the second surface using one of the following combinations of colored inks:

CMY;

CMYK,

CMYRGB; and

spot color.

15. A printer according to claim 1, further including a binding mechanism for binding the pages into a bound document.

16. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the printing mechanism includes an inkjet printhead for printing the second interactive sheet.

17. A printer according to claim 16, wherein the printhead is a drop on demand inkjet printhead.

18. A printer according to claim 17, wherein the printhead is a pagewidth printhead.

19. A printer according to claim 18, wherein the printhead is configured to deliver a plurality of ink colors onto the second interactive sheet with one printing pass.

20. A printer according to claim 18, wherein the printhead includes electro-thermal bend actuators to eject the ink onto the surface.

21. A printer according to claim 16, wherein the printer includes two sets of printheads, configured to print opposite surfaces of a page substantially simultaneously.

22. A printer according to claim 16, including a forced filtered air delivery mechanism for keeping nozzles of the printhead relatively free of paper dust.

23. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the first indicating data includes user identity data, the user identity data being indicative of user data.

24. A printer according to claim 23, wherein the user identity data is supplied from storage means associated with the sensing device.

25. A system including:

a printer according claim 1; and

a sensing device for sensing the first indicating data and transmitting it to the printer.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the sensing device includes a radio transmitter for transmitting the indicating data to the printer, and the printer includes a radio receiver for receiving the indicating data.

27. A system according to claim 25, wherein the sensing device includes an optical sensor for sensing the first coded data.

28. A system including:

a printer according to claim 1; and

a first interactive sheet, comprising first coded data for sensing by a sensing device, the first coded data being indicative of an identity of the first interactive sheet and of a plurality of locations on the ineractive sheet.

29. An interface sheet produced by the printer according claim 1.