Application of color imagery to a rewritable color surface
First Claim
1. A method of printing of a color image having a range of colors, comprising:
- providing a rewritable color surface, said surface including a global pattern of a local color dot pattern, said local color dot pattern comprising two or more different color dots in which at least a first said color dot includes a background colorant and a first colorant and a second said color dot includes the background colorant and a second colorant different from said first colorant, said surface responsive to the selective application of energy to change a persistent state of the amount of the corresponding color in individual color dots to provide a perceived color for each local color dot pattern;
providing an applicator comprising a memory storing a color image including state values for the color dots, first and second print heads separated by a visible band sensor, each said print head including multiple heads that produce localized energy, and a navigation subsystem for positioning the applicator within the global pattern; and
scanning the applicator over the rewritable color surface, said navigation subsystem positioning the applicator and determining the state values for a corresponding portion of the color image on said surface, said first print head first passes over and applies localized energy to at least some of the local dot patterns to change their persistent state to a nominal on state to provide alignment markers, said visible band sensor passes over and senses the alignment markers to determine an absolute position within the local color dot pattern on the rewritable color surface and to align the state values for the corresponding portion of the color image to the individual color dots in the local dot patterns on said surface, and said second print head then passes over and applies localized energy associated with the aligned state values to the individual dots to combine different amounts of the at least said background, first and second colorants to produce a range of colors to print the color image.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Printing of color imagery onto a rewritable color surface is accomplished by providing an applicator with an alignment subsystem capable of sensing an alignment marker of one or more colors dots from multiple local color dot patterns as the applicator scans the surface to align the applicator'"'"'s print head to the local color dot patterns. The alignment subsystem uses the sensed alignment markers to determine an absolute position on the rewritable color surface at a resolution of the individual color dots in the local color dot pattern and to align the state values for the corresponding portion of the color image to the individual color dots in the local color dot patterns on said surface.
42 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of printing of a color image having a range of colors, comprising:
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providing a rewritable color surface, said surface including a global pattern of a local color dot pattern, said local color dot pattern comprising two or more different color dots in which at least a first said color dot includes a background colorant and a first colorant and a second said color dot includes the background colorant and a second colorant different from said first colorant, said surface responsive to the selective application of energy to change a persistent state of the amount of the corresponding color in individual color dots to provide a perceived color for each local color dot pattern; providing an applicator comprising a memory storing a color image including state values for the color dots, first and second print heads separated by a visible band sensor, each said print head including multiple heads that produce localized energy, and a navigation subsystem for positioning the applicator within the global pattern; and scanning the applicator over the rewritable color surface, said navigation subsystem positioning the applicator and determining the state values for a corresponding portion of the color image on said surface, said first print head first passes over and applies localized energy to at least some of the local dot patterns to change their persistent state to a nominal on state to provide alignment markers, said visible band sensor passes over and senses the alignment markers to determine an absolute position within the local color dot pattern on the rewritable color surface and to align the state values for the corresponding portion of the color image to the individual color dots in the local dot patterns on said surface, and said second print head then passes over and applies localized energy associated with the aligned state values to the individual dots to combine different amounts of the at least said background, first and second colorants to produce a range of colors to print the color image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A rewritable color paint ink kit, comprising:
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a rewritable color surface, said surface including a global pattern of a local color dot pattern, said local color dot pattern comprising two or more different color dots in which at least a first said color dot includes a background colorant and a first colorant and a second said color dot includes the background colorant and a second colorant different from said first colorant, said surface responsive to the application of localized energy to change a persistent state of individual color dots, and an applicator configured for scanning over the rewritable color surface, said applicator comprising; a memory storing a color image, said color image comprising state values for the color dots; a navigation subsystem for positioning the applicator within the global pattern and determining the state values for a corresponding portion of the color image on said surface; and first and second print heads separated by a visible band sensor, each said print head including multiple heads that produce localized energy, said first print head configured to apply localized energy to at least some of the local dot patterns to change their persistent state to a nominal on state to provide alignment markers, said visible band sensor configured to sense the alignment markers to determine an absolute position within the local color dot pattern on the rewritable color surface and to align the state values for the corresponding portion of the color image to the individual color dots in the local dot patterns on said surface, and said second print head configured to apply localized energy associated with the aligned state values to the individual dots to combine different amounts of the at least said background and first and second colorants to produce a range of colors to print the color image.
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13. An applicator for printing a color image onto a rewritable color surface, said surface including a global pattern of a local color dot pattern, said local color dot pattern comprising two or more different color dots in which at least a first said color dot includes a background colorant and a first colorant and a second said color dot includes the background colorant and a second colorant different from said first colorant, said surface responsive to the application of localized energy to change a persistent state of individual color dots, said applicator configured for scanning over the rewritable color surface, said applicator comprising:
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a memory storing a color image, said color image comprising state values for the color dots; a navigation subsystem for positioning the applicator within the global pattern and determining the state values for a corresponding portion of the color image on said surface; and first and second print heads separated by a visible band sensor, each said print head including multiple heads that produce localized energy, said first print head configured to apply localized energy to at least some of the local dot patterns to change their persistent state to a nominal on state to provide alignment markers, said visible band sensor configured to sense the alignment markers to determine an absolute position within the local color dot pattern on the rewritable color surface and to align the state values for the corresponding portion of the color image to the individual color dots in the local dot patterns on said surface, and said second print head configured to apply localized energy associated with the aligned state values to the individual dots to combine different amounts of the at least said background and first and second colorants to produce a range of colors to print the color image.
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Specification