Image forming apparatus for identifying undesirable toner placement

• US 8,194,282 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Technology, Ltd. (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Keithley, Douglas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, THIERRY L
• Application Number:
  US13/102,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20110205567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.9, 358 111- 118, 382/165, 382/170, 382/173, 382/181, 382/254, 382/255, 382267-269
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1822 Analysing the received data before processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1828 characterized by the kind of storage accessed
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1848 Generation of the printable image

Abstract

A method and apparatus for printing data on a print medium is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to format print data to pixel data, the pixel data including pixel values; identify a grid of pixels having a predetermined pattern of pixel values; obtain predetermined pcode grid from memory for the identified grid of pixels; and send the predetermined pcode grid to controller circuit for printing.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store a plurality of predetermined grids, wherein each location in the plurality of predetermined grids includes a pcode comprising a justification value and a pulse width value;

pcode circuitry configured to;

compare a predetermined pattern to a plurality of pixels in image data in order to examine image data; and

generate a command signal based on the comparison and select one of the plurality of predetermined grids from the memory to replace at least the plurality of pixels in the image data for printing,

wherein the predetermined pattern corresponds to a risk of toner scattering, and

wherein the toner scattering is caused by a lack of ventilation when toner is fused to paper.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pcode circuitry is dedicated hardware for processing the image data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

controller circuitry configured to interpret the one of the plurality of predetermined grids into commands for a laser.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of predetermined grids corresponds to a toner placement pattern with low risk of toner scattering.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the predetermined grids corresponds to a number of pixels greater than a number of the plurality of pixels such that the pcode circuitry replaces more pixels than the plurality of pixels with the one of the plurality of predetermined grids.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a printer, a copier, or a multifunctional appliance and a laser is configured to expose a drum in the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of predetermined grids corresponds to a toner placement pattern that uses less toner than the predetermined pattern.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of predetermined grids includes a first predetermined grid corresponding to a first color and a second predetermined grid corresponding to a second color.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first predetermined grid is applied at the plurality of pixels and the second predetermined grid is not applied at the plurality of pixels.

10. A method comprising:

storing a plurality of predetermined grids in a memory, wherein each location in the plurality of predetermined grids includes a pcode comprising a justification value and a pulse width value;

comparing, with pcode circuitry, a toner condition pattern to a plurality of pixels in image data;

generating, with the pcode circuitry, a command signal when the plurality of pixels matches the toner condition pattern; and

outputting one of the plurality of predetermined grids to a laser based on the command signal, wherein the toner condition pattern corresponds to a risk of toner scattering or toner explosion and the toner scattering or toner explosion is caused by a lack of ventilation when toner is fused to paper.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of predetermined grids corresponds to a toner placement pattern with low risk of toner scattering, toner explosion, or an overuse of toner.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the predetermined grids corresponds to a number of pixels greater than a number of the plurality of pixels such that the one of the plurality of predetermined grids replaces more pixels than the plurality of pixels.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the laser is configured to expose a drum in a printer, a copier, or a multifunctional appliance.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of predetermined grids corresponds to a toner placement pattern that uses less toner than the predetermined pattern.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of predetermined grids includes a first predetermined grid corresponding to a first color and a second predetermined grid corresponding to a second color.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first predetermined grid is applied at the plurality of pixels and the second predetermined grid is not applied at the plurality of pixels.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store a plurality of predetermined grids, wherein each location in the plurality of predetermined grids includes a pcode; and

pcode circuitry configured to;

compare a predetermined pattern to a plurality of pixels in image data in order to examine image data; and

generate a command signal based on the comparison and select one of the plurality of predetermined grids from the memory to replace at least the plurality of pixels in the image data for printing,

wherein the predetermined pattern corresponds to a risk of toner scattering, and

wherein the toner scattering is caused by a lack of ventilation when toner is fused to paper.