Handheld printer minimizing printing defects
US7682017B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 10, 2006 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 15, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N2201/04737
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatus include a handheld printer manipulated back and forth by an operator during use to print an image. An inkjet printhead of the printer has a plurality of fluid firing actuators arranged in a substantial column. A controller communicates with the printhead to identify active actuators given to fire at a particular time during use to print the image. However, to prevent unsightly print quality from occurring during overlapping adjacent print swaths, for example, certain of the identified actuators are prevented from firing. Especially, actuators in the column further from a center of the column fire less frequently than those closer to the center. A position sensor is also used to locate the printhead relative to the image. The controller correlates the position to the printhead and actuators and fires the active actuators or not.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.