MEMS Fabry-Perot inline color scanner for printing applications using stationary membranes
First Claim
1. A method of calibrating a marking engine that includes a photoreceptor transfer device having at least a first area on a surface of the photoreceptor transfer device, the at least first area receiving at least one color of marking material that is an image, the photoreceptor transfer device conveying the marking material to at least one of another transfer device or an output substrate, the method comprising:
- configuring Fabry-Perot cells within a Fabry-Perot array to form a desired light filter pattern;
disposing at least one toned patch in a second area of the photoreceptor transfer device, the second area being different from and not overlapping the first area and the second area being disposed at a margin area located on the surface of the photoreceptor transfer device;
transferring the at least one toned patch or the image to the output substrate;
illuminating the at least one toned patch or the image on the output substrate;
filtering light reflected from the at least one toned patch or the image through the Fabry-Perot array;
measuring the filtered light received from different Fabry-Perot cells within the Fabry-Perot array to obtain measured spectral information values for the at least one toned patch or the image in response to the illumination; and
performing a color calibration of the marking engine for use in a marking operation based on the measured spectral information values.
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Abstract
A Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) based Fabry-Perot array may be used as a spectral filter to light sensing array, such as a CCD or CMOS photodetector. Applying different voltages to the electrodes of individual Fabry-Perot cells within the array allows a gradient in the Fabry-Perot air gap across the Fabry-Perot array. In this manner the MEMS Fabry-Perot array serves as a spectral filter of light passing through the Fabry-Perot array to the photodetector array. Embodiments of the disclosed sensor, used with LEDs that emit light outside the photosensitivity range of a photoreceptor belt, may be used to measure spectral information from toned patches placed upon a photoreceptor belt within a marking system. Other embodiments of the disclosed sensor, used with LEDs that emit light of any wavelength, may be used to measure spectral information from toned patches placed by a marking system upon a non-photosensitive output substrate, such as an intermediate belt or paper.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of calibrating a marking engine that includes a photoreceptor transfer device having at least a first area on a surface of the photoreceptor transfer device, the at least first area receiving at least one color of marking material that is an image, the photoreceptor transfer device conveying the marking material to at least one of another transfer device or an output substrate, the method comprising:
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configuring Fabry-Perot cells within a Fabry-Perot array to form a desired light filter pattern; disposing at least one toned patch in a second area of the photoreceptor transfer device, the second area being different from and not overlapping the first area and the second area being disposed at a margin area located on the surface of the photoreceptor transfer device; transferring the at least one toned patch or the image to the output substrate; illuminating the at least one toned patch or the image on the output substrate; filtering light reflected from the at least one toned patch or the image through the Fabry-Perot array; measuring the filtered light received from different Fabry-Perot cells within the Fabry-Perot array to obtain measured spectral information values for the at least one toned patch or the image in response to the illumination; and performing a color calibration of the marking engine for use in a marking operation based on the measured spectral information values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
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a photoreceptor transfer device that includes a plurality of first areas receiving at least one color of marking material that is an image and conveying the marking material to an output substrate; a first storage device adapted to store at least one toned patch pattern for at least one toned patch; a marking engine that marks a desired image in a first area and marks at least one toned patch in a second area of the photoreceptor transfer device based on the stored toned patch pattern, the second area being different from and not overlapping the first area; at least one illumination source that illuminates the at least one toned patch or the image on the output substrate with an illumination wavelength; a Fabry-Perot array sensor that measures a spectral information for the at least one toned patch or the image illuminated on the output substrate to obtain spectral information values for the at least one toned patch or the image in response to illumination of the at least one toned patch or the image from the at least one illumination source; and a calibration processor that performs a color calibration of the marking engine for use in a marking operation based on the spectral information values. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification