Patent Application
20080075511
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner
As shown in
During a hand printing operation, as illustrated in
Controller 22 includes a processor unit and associated memory, and may be formed as one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC). Controller 22 executes program instructions to perform data processing and formatting, facilitate printing control, and/or facilitate device interaction with respect to one or more of a plurality of devices in communication with controller 22. Controller 22 is communicatively coupled to I/O device 24 via communications link 32. Controller 22 is communicatively coupled to cartridge receptacle 26 via a communications link 34. Controller 22 is communicatively coupled to operator panel 28 via communications link 36. Controller 22 is communicatively coupled to each of sensors 30-1 and 30-2 via a communications link 38.
As used herein, the term “communications link” generally refers to structure that facilitates electronic communication between components, and may operate using wired or wireless technology.
I/O device 24 may be configured in a variety of ways, depending on the source and or destination of the communicated content. For example, I/O device 24 may be a wired, e.g., USB, or wireless, e.g., IEEE 802.XX, communication device that provides a communications link to a source of image content, such as for example, a memory card reader and associated memory card. Alternatively, I/O device 24 may be a host computer, or some other intelligent device, such as a digital camera, that may supply image data for printing by hand-operated printer 10.
Cartridge receptacle 26, for example, may be formed in body 12 and configured for receiving and mounting at least one printhead cartridge 40. Cartridge receptacle 26 holds printhead cartridge 40 in a fixed position relative to hand-operated printer 10. Printhead cartridge 40 is communicatively coupled to controller 22 via communications link 34. As shown in the example of
Movement of the hand-operated printer 10 relative to print medium 16 results in relative movement of printhead cartridge 40 and ink jet printhead 42 with respect to printing surface 16-1 of print medium 16. The smooth bottom surface 14 of body 12 contacts print medium 16 to provide the desired spacing between printhead 42 and the printing surface 16-1 of print medium 16.
As shown, for example, in
If, for example, a user desires to print an image in the primary print mode, such as an image displayed on display screen 46, then hand-operated printer 10 is turned ON, and hand-operated printer 10 is moved relative to print medium 16 along scan path 20. Controller 22 controls printhead 42 to print the image on print medium 16 corresponding to the image selection made by the user. A distance of movement of hand-operated printer 10 in at least one direction is automatically sensed by sensors 30-1 and 30-2, and printing will commence to form an image on print medium 16 after hand-operated printer 10 has moved a predetermined distance to reach a designated print position.
Referring again to
During operation, sensors 30-1 and 30-2 are sampling continually, for example, hundreds or thousands of times a second. Each of sensors 30-1 and 30-2 detect movement by sensing small changes in the surface features of the surface being sensed, e.g., the surface roughness of printing surface 16-1 of print medium 16, or a discontinuity in print medium 16.
Referring to
Sensors 30-1 and 30-2 are located at a fixed location on hand-operated printer 10 in relation to printing mechanism 18, e.g., ink jet printhead 42. Accordingly, by knowing the relative position of sensors 30-1 and 30-2 with respect to an object, it is possible to determine the relative position of printing mechanism 18, e.g., ink jet printhead 42, with respect to that same object. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the position of sensors 30-1 and 30-2 with respect to multiple edges of print medium 16 is determined and recorded to facilitate an accurate determination of the position of printing mechanism 18, e.g., ink jet printhead 42, of hand-operated printer 10 with respect to any point, e.g., a start printing position, on print medium 16.
At step S100, for example, with hand-operated printer selected to be in a setup mode, hand-operated printer 10 is activated to make navigation calculations that are based on reading sensor 30-1 and sensor 30-2. Those skilled in the art will recognize that additional sensors may be used, if desired. Controller 22 executes program instructions to read output signals received from each of sensor 30-1 and sensor 30-2 to make navigation calculations. Navigation calculations may be made, for example, by a navigation program executing on controller 22. The navigation program may use, for example, trigonometric functions and geometric rules in converting vector information derived from the output of sensor 30-1 and sensor 30-2 into rectilinear information, e.g., X-Y information, or vice-versa.
At step S102, and referring to
Controller 22 executes program instructions for providing a first indication on display screen 46 when the zero-crossing point of first navigational axis 54-1 is successfully determined. The indication may be, for example, in the form of two lights, corresponding respectively to sensors 30-1 and 30-2, which illuminate when the field of view of each of sensor 30-1 and sensor 30-2 is simultaneously located on first edge 52-1 of print medium 16 to define the zero-crossing point of first navigational axis 54-1.
At step S104, hand-operated printer 10 is subsequently moved until the field of view of each of sensor 30-1 and sensor 30-2 is simultaneously located on a second edge 52-2, e.g., left edge, of print medium 16 to define a zero-crossing point of a second navigational axis 54-2, as illustrated in
Step S104 may be performed, for example, by sweeping an arc 56 with hand-operated printer 10 from first edge 52-1 of print medium 16 to second edge 52-2 of print medium 16 with hand-operated printer 10 making navigation calculations to track a distance and direction of movement of hand-operated printer 10. For example, second navigational axis 54-2 is determined relative to first navigational axis 54-1 by controller 22 while making navigation calculations to track a distance and direction of movement of hand-operated printer 10. In this example, arc 56 corresponds to a rotation of hand-operated printer by about 90 degrees.
Controller 22 executes program instructions for providing a second indication on display screen 46 when the zero-crossing point on second navigational axis 54-2 is successfully determined, The indication may be, for example, in the form of two lights, corresponding respectively to sensors 30-1 and 30-2, which illuminate when the field of view of each of sensor 30-1 and sensor 30-2 is simultaneously located on second edge 52-2 of print medium 16 to define the zero-crossing point of second navigational axis 54-2.
The accuracy of the determinations at steps S 102 and S104 are dependent, in part, on the spacing between sensor 30-1 and sensor 30-2. For example, a wider spacing between sensor 30-1 and sensor 30-2 will provide a more accurate determination of an edge of print medium 16 and the zero-crossing on a navigation axis associated with that edge of print medium 16 then will a narrower spacing between sensor 30-1 and sensor 30-2. Also, navigational axes 54-1 and 54-2 are defined without the necessity of positioning hand-operated printer 10 at a corner of print medium 16 where edges 52-1 and 52-2 intersect, but rather, hand-operated printer 10 may be moved to any position along edges 52-1 and 52-2, and in either order, e.g., from edge 52-1 to edge 52-2, or from edge 52-2 to edge 52-1.
At step S106, a rectilinear grid 58 is formed based on first navigational axis 54-1 and second navigational axis 54-2 for association with print medium 16, e.g., by scaling each of first navigational axis 54-1 and second navigational axis 54-2 beginning at (0,0). The horizontal and vertical resolutions of rectilinear grid 58 may be selected to correspond to a desired print density, e.g., 600 dots per inch (DPI). For example, controller 22 executes program instructions to calculate a matrix forming rectilinear grid 58 associated with print medium 16 based on the positions of first navigational axis 54-1 and second navigational axis 54-2.
At step S108, a position of a printing mechanism 18 of hand-operated printer 10 on print medium 16 is determined with respect to rectilinear grid 58. For example, with hand-operated printer 10 being selected to be in a printing mode, controller 22 executes program instructions for determining a position of printing mechanism 16, e.g., ink jet printhead 42 of hand-operated printer 10 on print medium 16 with respect to rectilinear grid 58.
At step S110, an origin of print data is correlated with respect to rectilinear grid 58 prior to commencing a printing operation. For example, controller 22 process print data that has associated therewith an origin. Controller 22 executes program instructions for correlating the origin of print data with respect to rectilinear grid 58 prior to commencing a printing operation. In particular, the user positions hand-operated printer 10 on print medium 16 at the desired start print position. The navigation program continually executed by controller 22 of hand-operated printer 16 determines the present start print position with respect to rectilinear coordinates of rectilinear grid 58, and associates the origin of the print data with the start print position of the hand-operated printer.
At step S112, if at any time during printing the navigation of hand-operated printer 10 is corrupted, such as if hand-operated printer 10 is lifted off of print medium 16, the navigation may be recalibrated by repeating steps S102 through S110 to re-acquire the current position of hand-operated printer 10. In some embodiments, controller 22 executes program instructions that provide an audio, visual, or tactile indication (or some combination thereof), notifying a user that the navigation process has been corrupted. The recalibration steps set forth above allow the hand-operated printer 10 to facilitate the convenient reacquisition of navigation if navigation is lost during printing. Accordingly, the time and expense required to restart printing on a current page, or to reprint spoiled pages, may be reduced.
While this invention has been described with respect to an embodiment of the invention, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
