Apparatus, system, and method for color data printing

1. An apparatus associated with a printing device having a plurality of print engines comprising a first print engine and at least one second print engine, the apparatus comprising:

a pixel clock generating module which generates a reference signal operating at a single video frequency derived from a clock and the first print engine; and

a color data modification module which modifies color data for the at least one second print engine based on an accumulated phase error for the at least one second print engine, wherein the accumulated phase error is calculated based on calibration information for the at least one second print engine relative to the first print engine,

wherein the calibration information specified for the at least one second print engine is used to derive an ideal operating frequency for the at least one second print engine,

and wherein the color data modification module modifies the color data for the at least one second print engine by deleting a pixel in the color data when the single video frequency is lower than the ideal operating frequency for the at least one second print engine and the accumulated phase error exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the color data modification module generates an insert pixel signal or a delete pixel signal if the accumulated phase error exceeds the predetermined threshold and wherein the insert pixel signal or the delete pixel signal is asserted for one clock cycle of the reference signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the color data modification module modifies the color data for the at least one second print engine by inserting a pixel in the color data when the single video frequency is higher than the ideal operating frequency for the at least one second print engine and the accumulated phase error exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein the inserted pixel has a pixel value identical to a pixel immediately before.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the color data modification module justifies the color data to be 180 degree out-of-phase with reference signal operating at the single video frequency, if the accumulated phase error exceeds the predetermined threshold.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the color data modification module generates a plurality of phase-differentiated clock signals based on the reference signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the color data modification module includes a pulse-width modulation section which:

generates a plurality of pulse sequences each representing pixel values of the color data, wherein each pulse sequence is aligned with one of the plurality of phase-differentiated clock signals; and

shifts color data that reconciles with one pulse sequence to reconcile with another pulse sequence, based on the accumulated phase error.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of phase-differentiated clock signals are 90 degrees apart in phase.

8. A processor-implemented method of correcting color registration errors in a printing device comprising a plurality of print engines including a first print engine and at least one second print engine, wherein the plurality of print engines are driven by a reference signal operating at a single video frequency derived from a clock and the first print engine, the method comprising the processor-implemented steps of:

calculating an accumulated phase error for the at least one second print engine based on calibration information for the at least one second print engine relative to the first print engine;

modifying color data for the at least one second print engine when the accumulated phase error exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

resetting the accumulated phase error,

wherein the calibration information for the at least one second print engine is used to derive an ideal operating frequency for the at least one second print engine, and

wherein modifying the color data comprises deleting a pixel in the color data when the single video frequency is lower than the ideal operating frequency for the at least one second print engine.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein modifying the color data comprises generating an insert pixel signal or a delete pixel signal if the accumulated phase error exceeds the predetermined threshold and wherein the insert pixel signal or the delete pixel signal is asserted for one clock cycle of the reference signal.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein modifying the color data comprises inserting a pixel in the color data when the single video frequency is higher than the ideal operating frequency for the at least one second print engine, wherein the inserted pixel has a pixel value identical to a pixel immediately before.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein modifying the color data comprises justifying the color data to be 180 degree out-of-phase with the reference signal operating at the single video frequency.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein modifying the color data comprises:

generating a plurality of pulse sequences each representing pixel values of the color data, wherein each pulse sequence has a distinct phase; and

shifting color data that reconciles with one pulse sequence to reconcile with another pulse sequence, if the accumulated phase error exceeds a predetermined threshold.

13. The processor-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the method is performed on:

a computer coupled to a printer;

a device driver for a printer; or

a pre-processing module for a printer.

14. A printing device comprising:

a plurality of print engines including a first print engine and at least one second print engine, the plurality of print engines being driven by a single video frequency and capable of printing color data;

a memory coupled to the plurality of print engines, wherein the memory holds calibration information for the at least one second print engine relative to the first print engine; and

an apparatus coupled to the memory and the plurality of print engines, wherein the apparatus:

generates a reference signal operating at the single video frequency derived from a clock and the first print engine;

modifies color data for the at least one second print engine based on an accumulated phase error for the at least one second print engine, wherein the accumulated phase error is calculated based on calibration information for the at least one second print engine relative to the first print engine;

uses the calibration information for the at least one second print engine to derive an ideal operating frequency for the at least one second print engine; and

modifies the color data for the at least one second print engine by deleting a pixel in the color data when the single video frequency is lower than the ideal operating frequency for the at least one second print engine and the accumulated phase error exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

15. The printing device of claim 14 , further comprising a phase-locked loop module coupled to the plurality of print engines, wherein the phase-locked loop module drives the plurality of print engines at the single video frequency.

16. The printing device of claim 14 , wherein the printing device is a CMYK printer, wherein the first print engine corresponds to the print engine for the K-plane, and the at least one second print engine corresponds to at least one of the M, Y, and C planes.