Method and apparatus for adaptive black solid area estimation in a xerographic apparatus
US6201936A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 3, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 3, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/017
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A process control method for color quality control maintains a preselected developed mass per unit area (DMA) of black solid area by adjusting the development field during run-time operation. In order to estimate the DMA of a solid black control patch, which is outside the sensing range of an infra-red densitometer (IRD), an estimation technique is employed which accounts for system changes due to adjustment of the development field. The estimation technique includes generating two or more test patches, using a patch generator, which have DMA readings within the sensing range of the IRD. The DMA readings and corresponding development voltages of the test patches are sensed and used to calculate a developability curve. The developability curve is projected into a region beyond the sensing range of the IRD. From the developability curve, the DMA of the solid black control patch is estimated and employed in a closed feedback loop to return the system to the preselected DMA by adjusting the development field. Development field control provides faster response to toner density changes than toner concentration control, and thus, results in better color quality control.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.