Method and apparatus for recording data
View Patent ↗A method for storing data including the steps of providing a sheet of media and printing a raw data pixel on the sheet of media, the raw data pixel being printed at a density and a color such that the raw data pixel represents a data point. The method further includes printing an associated compensated data pixel on the sheet of media, the compensated data pixel being printed at a density and a color, wherein the density and color of the compensated data pixel are related to the density and color of the associated raw data pixel by a predefined relationship. The method also includes the step of repeating the first and second printing steps until the desired data is stored on the sheet of media.
1. A method for storing data comprising the steps of:
providing a sheet of media;
printing a raw data pixel on said sheet of media, said raw data pixel including at least one color printed at a specific density and a color such that said raw data pixel represents a data point:
printing an associated compensated data pixel on said sheet of media, said compensated data pixel including at least one color printed at a specific density, wherein said color and density of said compensated data pixel are related to the color and density of the associated raw data pixel by a predefined relationship;
repeating said first and second printing steps until the desired data is stored on said sheet of media; and
wherein each raw and compensated data pixel is printed at one of four discreet density levels, wherein a second density level has a higher density than a first density level, a third density level has a higher density than said second density level, and a fourth density level has a higher density than said third density level, and wherein when said raw data pixel is printed at said first density level, the associated compensated data pixel is printed at said third density level, and wherein when said raw data pixel is printed at said second density level, the associated compensated data pixel is printed at said fourth density level, and wherein when said raw data pixel is printed at said third density level, the associated compensated data pixel is printed at said first density level, and wherein when said raw data pixel is printed at said fourth density level, the associated compensated data pixel is printed at said second density level.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said sheet of media includes a plurality of pixel locations, each raw and compensated data pixel being printed at one of said pixel locations, and wherein each raw and compensated data pixel includes at least two colors printed in an overlapping manner on a pixel location of said sheet of media.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein each color of each raw and compensated data pixel is printed at one of a predetermined, discreet density level, wherein said predetermined number of discreet density levels is from 2 to about 10.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein each raw and compensated data pixel includes at least three primary colors printed in an overlapping manner on a pixel location of said sheet of media.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a set of raw data and converting said raw data into a plurality of raw data pixels, each raw data pixel including a density and color characteristic based upon a characteristic of the raw data.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein each compensated data pixel is printed at the same color as, and at a different density than, the associated raw data pixel.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the density of each compensated data pixel is more than about 50% if the density of the associated raw data pixel is less than about 50%.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein each raw data pixel is printed adjacent to the associated compensated data pixel.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of printing a plurality of timing marks on said sheet of media at a predetermined color, density and location at regular locations on said sheet of media such that an optical tool scanning said printed sheet of media can track its location.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of printing a calibration section on said sheet of media, said calibration section including a plurality of pixels printed at a predetermined color and density such that an optical tool can scan said calibration section and adjust its readings of the raw and compensated data pixels printed on said sheet of media.
11. A media storage device comprising a sheet of media having a plurality of raw and compensated data pixels located thereon, each raw data pixel having at least one color at a specific density such that said raw data pixel represents a data point based upon said color and density characteristics, each compensated data pixel having at least one color at a specific density related to the color and density of an associated raw data pixel by a predefined relationship; and
wherein each raw and compensated data pixel has one of four discreet density levels, wherein a second density level has a higher density than a first density level, a third density level has a higher density than said second density level, and a fourth density level has a higher density than said third density level, and wherein when said raw data pixel has said first density level, the associated compensated data pixel has said third density level, and wherein when said raw data pixel has said second density level, the associated compensated data pixel has said fourth density level, and wherein when said raw data pixel has said third density level, the associated compensated data pixel has said first density level, and wherein when said raw data pixel has said fourth density level, the associated compensated data pixel has said second density level.
12. The media storage device of claim 11 wherein said sheet of media includes a plurality of pixel locations, each raw and compensated data pixel being located at one of said pixel locations, and wherein each raw and compensated data pixel includes at least two colors printed in an overlapping manner on a pixel location of said sheet of media.
13. The media storage device of claim 12 wherein each color of each raw and compensated data pixel is at one of a predetermined, discreet density levels, wherein said predetermined number of discreet density levels is from 2 to about 10.
14. The media storage device of claim 12 wherein each raw and compensated data pixel includes at least three primary colors located in an overlapping manner on an associated single pixel location of said sheet of media.
15. The media storage device of claim 11 wherein each compensated data pixel has the same color as, and a different density from, the associated raw data pixel.
16. The media storage device of claim 11 wherein the density of each compensated data pixel is more than about 50% if the density of the associated raw data pixel is less than about 50%.
17. The media storage device of claim 11 wherein each raw data pixel is located adjacent to its associated compensated data pixel.
18. The media storage device of claim 11 wherein each raw data pixel includes a single associated compensated data pixel, and each compensated data pixel includes a single associated raw data pixel.
19. The media storage device of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of timing marks printed thereon at a predetermined color, density and location at regular locations on said sheet of media such that an optical tool scanning said printed sheet of media can track its location.
20. The media storage device of claim 11 further comprising a calibration section located thereon, said calibration section including a plurality of pixels printed at a predetermined color and density such that an optical tool can scan said calibration section and adjust its readings of the raw and compensated data pixels printed on said sheet of media.