IP Library Granted Patent US 6,975,411
Granted Patent B2
US 6,975,411 · App. 10/785,677 · Granted Dec 13, 2005

Post rip image rendering in an electrographic printer using density patch feedback

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,975,411
App. No.
10/785,677
Granted
Dec 13, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrostatographic recording method for printing an image on a receiver comprising the steps of: operating a primary charger to establish a uniform primary voltage level on an image recording member; developing a control patch on the image recording member, measuring density of the control patch to thereby provide a density measurement signal; converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information; rendering the digital bitmap by defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel and reassigning the digital value of one or more of edge pixels or interior pixels independently and as a function of the density measurement signal; modulating electrostatic charge on the image recording member as a function of the digital bitmap after rendering.

Claims (48)

1. An electrostatographic recording method for printing an image on a receiver comprising the steps of:

operating a primary charger to establish a uniform primary voltage level on an image recording member;

developing a control patch on the image recording member,

measuring density of the control patch to thereby provide a density measurement signal;

converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information

rendering the digital bitmap by defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel and reassigning the digital value of one or more of edge pixels or interior pixels independently and as a function of the density measurement signal;

modulating electrostatic charge on the image recording member as a function of the digital bitmap after rendering.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the digital image is a binary image.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the digital image is a multi-bit image.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the reassigning step comprises increasing the value of edge pixels with respect to interior pixels.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the reassigning step comprises decreasing the value of edge pixels with respect to interior pixels.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising performing the defining and reassigning steps two or more times.

7. An electrostatographic recording method for printing an image on a receiver comprising the steps of:

operating a primary charger to establish a uniform primary voltage level on an image recording member;

developing a control patch on the image recording member,

measuring density of the control patch to thereby provide a density measurement signal;

converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information;

rendering the digital bitmap by defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, edge pixel, one line pixel, or two line pixel and reassigning the digital value of one or more interior pixels, edge pixels, one line pixels, or two line pixels independently and as a function of the density measurement signal; and,

modulating electrostatic charge on the image recording member as a function of the digital bitmap after rendering.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the digital image is a binary image.

9. A method in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the digital image is a multi-bit image.

10. A method in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the reassigning step comprises increasing the value of edge pixels with respect to interior pixels.

11. A method in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the reassigning step comprises decreasing the value of edge pixels with respect to interior pixels.

12. A method in accordance with claim 7 , further comprising performing the defining and reassigning steps two or more times.

13. An electrostatographic printing apparatus for printing an image on a receiver comprising:

a primary charger to establish a uniform primary voltage level on an image recording member;

a developer for developing a control patch on the image recording member,

a densitometer for measuring density of the control patch to thereby provide a density measurement signal;

a raster image processor for converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information

a rendering circuit for rendering the digital bitmap by defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel and reassigning the digital value of one or more of edge pixels or interior pixels independently and as a function of the density measurement signal;

wherein the developer modulates electrostatic charge on the image recording member as a function of the digital bitmap after rendering.

14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the digital image is a binary image.

15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the digital image is a multi-bit image.

16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 , wherein reassigning comprises increasing the value of edge pixels with respect to interior pixels.

17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 , wherein reassigning step comprises decreasing the value of edge pixels with respect to interior pixels.

18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the rendering circuit further comprises performing the defining and reassigning steps two or more times.

19. An electrostatographic printing apparatus for printing an image on a receiver comprising:

a primary charger to establish a uniform primary voltage level on an image recording member;

a developer for developing a control patch on the image recording member,

a densitometer for measuring density of the control patch to thereby provide a density measurement signal;

a raster image processor for converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information

a rendering circuit for rendering the digital bitmap by defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, edge pixel, one line pixel, or two line pixel and reassigning the digital value of one or more of edge pixels or interior pixels independently and as a function of the density measurement signal;

wherein the developer modulates electrostatic charge on the image recording member as a function of the digital bitmap after rendering.

20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19 , wherein the digital image is a binary image.

21. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19 , wherein the digital image is a multi-bit image.

22. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19 , wherein reassigning comprises increasing the value of edge pixels with respect to interior pixels.

23. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19 , wherein reassigning step comprises decreasing the value of edge pixels with respect to interior pixels.

24. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19 , wherein the rendering circuit further comprises performing the defining and reassigning steps two or more times.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2020
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; FPC INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST) INC.; KODAK AMERICAS LTD.; KODAK REALTY INC.; LASER PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; QUALEX INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES LTD.; NPEC INC.
Reel/Frame 052773/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2019
From: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; PFC, INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; PAKON, INC.; QUALEX, INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC, INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC
Reel/Frame 049901/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2019
From: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: QUALEX, INC.; EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; FPC, INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; PAKON, INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC, INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC
Reel/Frame 050239/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2018
From: BANK OF AMERICA N.A.
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Reel/Frame 045095/0299 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2018
From: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK N.A.
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Reel/Frame 045095/0317 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2017
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
To: MIDWEST ATHLETICS AND SPORTS ALLIANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 044811/0245 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 28, 2017
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
To: MIDWEST ATHLETICS AND SPORTS ALLIANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 044811/0502 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS SENIOR DIP AGENT; WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS JUNIOR DIP AGENT
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; PAKON, INC.
Reel/Frame 031157/0451 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; FPC INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER-PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; PAKON, INC.; QUALEX INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE
Reel/Frame 031158/0001 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; FPC INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER-PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; PAKON, INC.; QUALEX INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031159/0001 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; FAR EAST DEVELOPMENT LTD.; FPC INC.; KODAK (NEAR EAST), INC.; KODAK AMERICAS, LTD.; KODAK IMAGING NETWORK, INC.; KODAK PORTUGUESA LIMITED; KODAK REALTY, INC.; LASER-PACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION; PAKON, INC.; QUALEX INC.; KODAK PHILIPPINES, LTD.; NPEC INC.; CREO MANUFACTURING AMERICA LLC; KODAK AVIATION LEASING LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 031162/0117 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 1, 2013
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; PAKON, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 030122/0235 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 21, 2012
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY; PAKON, INC.
To: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 028201/0420 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2004
From: NEXPRESS DIGITAL L.L.C. (FORMERLY HEIDELBERG DIGITAL L.L.C.)
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Reel/Frame 015637/0985 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2004
From: FOSTER, THOMAS J.; BLOOD, JEFFREY C.
To: HEIDELBERG DIGITAL L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 015021/0732 →