Patent Application
20050179770
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to print registration and more particularly relates to image registration with a single optical sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Printing systems such as duplex image printing systems and color image printing systems often register two or more separate images on one or two sides of a page. The page may be paper, a printed form, a continuous feed printed form, or a carton. Registration involves aligning each image in a desired position relative to each other image or images. Images are mis-registered when one or more images are not aligned as desired relative to the other images.
For example, a duplex printing system prints a first image on the anterior side of a page and a second image on the posterior side of the page. The first image and the second image are considered to be registered if they are aligned relative to each other so that the first image and the second image occupy equivalent areas on the anterior and posterior sides of the paper. When printing color images, the color separated images are deemed to be properly registered when two or more of the color separated images are aligned relative to each other on one side of the page.
Current printing systems often employ registration marks to align the two or more images.
In Operation, the first optical sensor 205a detects the first registration mark 110, and the second optical sensor 205b detects the second registration mark. A logic module (not shown) measures the time interval between the detection of the first registration mark 110 and the second registration mark. If the time interval is smaller than a specified limit, the first image and the second image are considered to be registered. If the time interval is larger than the specified limit, the first image and the second image are considered to be mis-registered.
It is a drawback of such a system that the registration detection device 200 must include at least two optical sensors to register the images on the page 105. In addition, the registration detection device 200 requires that the logic module have sufficient sophistication to measure the time interval between the each instance when each optical sensor 205 detects a registration mark 110. Two optical sensors and the sophisticated logic increase the cost of the registration detection device 200.
What is needed is a process, apparatus, and system that detects image registration with a single optical sensor. Beneficially, such a process, apparatus, and system would reduce the cost of a registration detection device.
The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available image registration devices. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a process, apparatus, and system for image registration that overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art.
The apparatus for image registration contains a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps of receiving light through a first and a second optical channel module, summing the light, and detecting a light transition. These modules in the described embodiments include the first optical channel module, the second optical channel module, and a sensor module.
The first optical channel module receives light from a first image on a page. The second optical channel module receives light from a second image on the page. In a certain embodiment, the first and second optical channel modules are fiber optic cables. In one embodiment, the first image and the second image are on the same side of the page. In an alternate embodiment, the first image and the second image are on opposite sides of the page.
The sensor module receives and sums the light from the first and second channel modules. The sensor module detects a first light transition as a first registration mark of the first image passes the first optical channel module. In addition, the sensor module detects a second light transition as a second registration mark of the second image passes the second optical channel module. In one embodiment, if the first registration mark and the second registration mark are registered, the sensor module detects the first light transition and the second light transition as a single light transition. In an alternate embodiment, if the first registration mark and the second registration mark are mis-registered, the sensor module detects the first light transition and the second light transition as two light transitions.
In a further embodiment, the apparatus includes a control module to adjust the relative position of the first image and the second image in response to the mis-registration. In one embodiment, the control module positions the first image and the second image to specified positions on the page. The control module may adjust the first image position in response to detecting the mis-registration and detect for registration. If the images are mis-registered, the control module may repeatedly adjust the first image position and detect for registration until the first image and the second image are registered. In an alternate embodiment, the control module further includes a timing module configured to measure the time interval between the first light transition and the second light transition. The control module may adjust the position of the first image in response to the measured time interval.
A system of the present invention is also presented for image registration. The system may be embodied in a printer. In particular, the system, in one embodiment, includes a paper transport module, a first optical channel module, a second optical channel module, and a sensor module.
The paper transport module moves a first registration mark of a first image on a page past the first optical channel module and further moves a second registration mark of a second image on the page past the second optical channel module. The first optical channel module receives light from the first registration mark and the second optical channel module also receives light from the second registration mark. The sensor module receives and sums the light from the first and second channel modules. The sensor module detects a first light transition as the first registration mark moves past the first optical channel module. In addition, the sensor module detects a second light transition as the second registration mark moves past the second optical channel module.
In one embodiment, if the first registration mark and the second registration mark are registered, the sensor module detects the first light transition and the second light transition as a single light transition. In addition, if the first registration mark and the second registration mark are mis-registered, the sensor module detects the first light transition and the second light transition as two light transitions. The system may further include a control module. The control module may adjust the position of the first image and the second image to register the images in response to a mis-registration.
A process of the present invention is also presented for image registration. The process in the disclosed embodiments substantially includes the steps necessary to carry out the functions presented above with respect to the operation of the described apparatus and system. In one embodiment, the process includes receiving light from a first and second image through a first and a second optical channel module, summing the light, and detecting a light transition. The process may also include adjusting image position and determining if the first image and the second image are registered.
In one embodiment, the process adjusts the position of the first image and the second image to specified positions. The process further receives light from the first image through the first optical channel module and from the second image through the second optical channel module. In addition, the process sums the light from the first optical channel module and the second optical channel module and detects a light transition.
In a further embodiment, the process detects the light transition as a first registration mark of the first image and a second registration mark of the second image move past the optical channel modules. The process determines that the first registration mark and the second registration mark are registered if the process detects one light transition. In addition, the process determines that the first and the second registration mark are mis-registered if the process detects two or more light transitions. In one embodiment, the process further positions the first image to in response to the mis-registration and detects for one or more light transitions to determine if the first and the second image are mis-registered.
Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.
The present invention uses a single sensor module to detect the registration and mis-registration of a plurality of registration marks. The present invention may consequently reduce the cost of a registration detection device. These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:
Many of the functional units described in this specification have been labeled as modules, in order to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices or the like.
Modules may also be implemented in software for execution by various types of processors. An identified module of executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module need not be physically located together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module.
Indeed, a module of executable code could be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within modules, and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices, and may exist, at least partially, merely as electronic signals on a system or network.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of programming, software modules, user selections, network transactions, database queries, database structures, hardware modules, hardware circuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
The first optical channel module 305a receives light reflected from a first image on a page 105 (not shown). The second optical channel module 305b also receives light reflected from a second image on the page 105. In a certain embodiment, the first and second images are printed on the page 105. In one embodiment, the first image and the second image are on the same side of the page 105. In an alternate embodiment, the first image and the second image are on opposite sides of the page 105. The optical channel modules 305 carry the light that is reflected by the images and the page 105. In a certain embodiment, the images are illuminated by one or more light sources (not shown). In one embodiment, the first and second optical channel modules 305 are fiber optic guides. In a certain embodiment, the optical modules 305 are F-S-72R fiber optic guides manufactured by the Tri-Tronics Company, Inc. of Tampa, Fla.
The optical channel modules 305 communicate the light to the sensor module 310. In a certain embodiment, the sensor module 310 is a Mark•Eye sensor manufactured by the Tri-Tronics Company, Inc. of Tampa, Fla. The sensor module 310 detects a first light transition as a first registration mark 110 of the first image moves past the first optical channel module 305a. In addition, the sensor module 310 also detects a second light transition as a second registration mark 110 of the second image passes the second optical channel module 305b. If the first registration mark 110 and the second registration mark 110 are registered, the sensor module 310 detects the first light transition and the second light transition as one single light transition. The sensor module 310 may communicate the registration. In addition, if the first registration mark 110 and the second registration mark 110 are mis-registered, the sensor module 310 detects the first light transition and the second light transition as at least two light transitions. The sensor module 310 may communicate the mis-registration.
In one embodiment, the registration detection device 300 includes a control module 315. The control module 315 adjusts the relative position of the first image and the second image in response to a mis-registration. The control module 315 may position the first image and the second image to specified positions on the page 105. In addition, the control module 315 may adjust the first image position in response to detecting the mis-registration and again detecting for registration. If the images are mis-registered, the control module 315 may repeat adjusting the first image position and detecting for registration until the first image and the second image are registered. The registration detection device 300 detects the registration and mis-registration of a plurality of registration marks 110.
The paper transport module 405 moves one or more registration marks 110 on the page 105 past the first optical channel module 305a and the second optical channel module 305a. In one embodiment, the registration detection system 400 triggers the sensor module 310 to detect one or more light transitions as the paper transport module 405 moves the registration marks 110 past the optical channel modules 305. In a certain embodiment, the control module 315 triggers the sensor module 310 to detect the one or more light transitions. In one embodiment, the paper transport module 405 is driven by a stepper motor 410. The registration detection system 400 detects registration or mis-registration using the registration marks 110 on the page 105 positioned by paper transport module 405.
The edge detector 505 is configured to detect a voltage level transition or edge at the input of the edge detector 505 if the trigger of the edge detector 505 is asserted. In addition, the edge detector 505 remains asserted until reset. The LTDC 500 receives a trigger signal at the trigger input 520. The trigger signal enables the first edge detector 505a to detect a voltage level transition at the input of the first edge detector 505a. In one embodiment, the trigger signal is received prior to the registration marks 110 of the page 105 moving past the optical channel modules 305. The light sensor 510 converts the light received from the first and second optical channel module 305 into a voltage. The voltage from the light sensor 510 is received by the inputs of the edge detectors 505.
In one embodiment, as the optical channel module 305 transitions from receiving reflected light from the unprinted page 105 to receiving reflected light from the printed registration mark 110, the intensity of the light communicated to the light sensor 510 is reduced. In response to the reduced light intensity, the voltage output by the light sensor 510 is reduced. The first edge detector 505a detects a first voltage level transition if the trigger signal is asserted and asserts the first edge detector 505a output. In one embodiment, the transition captured output 535 is asserted if the first edge detector 505a output is asserted, indicating that at least one registration mark 110 is detected.
The asserted output of the first edge detector 505a is delayed by the delay module 515 and asserts the trigger of the second edge detector 505b. The delay module 515 delays enabling the second edge detector 505b so that the second edge detector 505b does not detect the first voltage transition detected by the first edge detector 505a. The second edge detector 505b detects a second voltage transition subsequent to the first edge detector 505a detecting the first voltage transition. If the second edge detector 505b detects the second voltage transition when the second edge detector 505b trigger is enabled, the mis-registration output 530 is asserted, indicating the mis-registration of the first and the second registration marks 110. In one embodiment, the edge detector 505 output is reset when the edge detector 505 trigger input is de-asserted. The LTDC 500 detects one light transition indicating registration of the registration marks 110 or alternatively two or more light transitions indicating mis-registration of the registration marks 110.
In one embodiment, the RDP 600 prints 605 one or more registration marks 110 on the page 105. In an alternate embodiment, one or more registration marks 110 are preprinted on the page 105. The RDP 600 receives 610 light from one or more optical channel modules 305 as the registration marks 110 pass the optical channel modules 305. In one embodiment, the RDP 600 receives 610 light from at least one optical channel module 305 for each registration mark 110. The RDP 600 further sums 615 the light from each optical channel module 305.
The RDP 600 detects 620 at least one light transition and determines 625 if the registration marks of the first and the second images are registered. The RDP 600 determines 625 the registration marks 110 are registered if the RDP 600 detects 620 one light transition. In addition, the RDP 600 determines 625 the registration marks 110 are mis-registered if the RDP detects 620 two or more light transitions. In a certain embodiment, the RDP 600 determines 625 if three or more images are registered.
The RDP 600 loops to adjust 630 the image position if the RDP 600 determines 625 that the registration marks 110 are mis-registered. In one embodiment, the RDP 600 adjusts 630 the first image position. In an alternate embodiment, the RDP 600 adjusts 630 the first image position and the second image position. In addition, the RDP 600 terminates if the RDP 600 determines 625 the registration marks 110 are registered. The RDP 600 detects the registration of the registration marks 110 of two or more images.
In one embodiment, the CRDP 700 registers 705 a black color separated image. The CRDP 700 may employ the RDP 600 of
In one embodiment, the CRDP 700 registers 710 a cyan color separated image. The CDRP 700 may register 710 the cyan color separated image using the RDP 600 depicted in
In addition, the CRDP 700 registers 715 a magenta color separated image and registers 720 a yellow color separated image. In one embodiment, the magenta color separated image and the yellow color separated image are registered using the RDP 600 of
The present invention uses a single sensor module 310 to detect the registration and mis-registration of a plurality of registration marks 110. The present invention may further reduce the cost of a registration detection device 300. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
