Patent · US Active

Print data generation method, printing apparatus and method of generating mask

US7878613B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
11References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 9, 2006
Grant dateFeb 1, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 14, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06K15/107
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Mask patterns to be used for multi-pass printing make it possible to make a print with a higher quality at a higher speed. Specifically, by performing a swapping process with adjacency forbiddance, two points in the horizontal direction, or the scanning direction of a printing head, are selected in a buffer in which codes for each scan pass are set depending on printing ratios of a gradation mask. Subsequently, codes are swapped between the two points. By this swap, adjacencies between print permitting areas are eliminated in the mask pattern. As a result, when driving frequencies set for the printing head is kept constant, the scanning speed can be doubled at minimum.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.