EP1593516B1 - Méthode d'impression avec camouflage des élements d'impression défectueux - Google Patents

Méthode d'impression avec camouflage des élements d'impression défectueux Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1593516B1
EP1593516B1 EP20050103216 EP05103216A EP1593516B1 EP 1593516 B1 EP1593516 B1 EP 1593516B1 EP 20050103216 EP20050103216 EP 20050103216 EP 05103216 A EP05103216 A EP 05103216A EP 1593516 B1 EP1593516 B1 EP 1593516B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pixels
error
line
pixel
printable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP20050103216
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1593516A2 (fr
EP1593516A3 (fr
Inventor
Henry Faken
Johannes C.G. Vestjens
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Production Printing Netherlands BV
Original Assignee
Oce Technologies BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Oce Technologies BV filed Critical Oce Technologies BV
Priority to EP20050103216 priority Critical patent/EP1593516B1/fr
Publication of EP1593516A2 publication Critical patent/EP1593516A2/fr
Publication of EP1593516A3 publication Critical patent/EP1593516A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1593516B1 publication Critical patent/EP1593516B1/fr
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/21—Ink jet for multi-colour printing
    • B41J2/2132—Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding
    • B41J2/2139—Compensation for malfunctioning nozzles creating dot place or dot size errors

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a printing method for a printer having a printhead with a plurality of print elements and capable of printing a binary pixel image, the method comprising the steps of: locating defective print elements, determining a camouflage area in the vicinity of pixels that would have to be printed with the defective print elements, and camouflaging defective print elements by modifying image information in said camouflage area.
  • the invention further relates to a printer and to a computer program implementing this method.
  • the invention is applicable, for example, to an ink jet printer the printhead of which comprises a plurality of nozzles as print elements.
  • the nozzles are arranged in a line that extends in parallel with the direction (subscanning direction) in which a recording medium, e.g. paper, is transported through the printer, and the printhead scans the paper in a direction (main scanning direction) perpendicular to the subscanning direction.
  • a complete swath of the image is printed in a single pass of the printhead, and then the paper is transported by the width of the swath so as to print the next swath.
  • a nozzle of the printhead is defective, e.g. has become clogged, the corresponding pixel line is missing in the printed image, so that image information is lost and the quality of the print is degraded.
  • a printer may also be operated in a multi-pass mode, in which only part of the image information of a swath is printed in a first pass and the missing pixels are filled-in during one or more subsequent passes of the printhead. In this case, it is sometimes possible that a defective nozzle is backed-up by a non-defective nozzle, though on the cost of productivity.
  • US-A-6 215 557 discloses a method of the type indicated above, wherein, when a nozzle is defective, the print data are altered so as to bypass the faulty nozzle. This means that a pixel that would have but cannot be printed with the defective nozzle is substituted by printing an extra pixel in one of the neighbouring lines that are printed with non-defective nozzles, so that the average optical density of the image area is conserved and the defect resulting from the nozzle failure is camouflaged and becomes almost imperceptible.
  • This method involves a specific algorithm that operates on a bitmap, which represents the print data, and shifts each pixel that cannot be printed to a neighbouring pixel position. However, if this neighbouring pixel position happens to be occupied by a pixel already printed, anyway, pursuant to the original print data, then the extra pixel cannot be printed, and a loss of image information will nevertheless occur.
  • EP-A-1157840 describes a method using tuned error diffusion tables to print a multi-level halftoned image.
  • the error diffusion tables are based on a same error propagation scheme and a proportional relation between errors distributed to neighbouring pixels remains equal.
  • the camouflaging step is incorporated in a halftoning step, in which error diffusion is used for creating said binary pixel image, and comprises a step of modifying an error propagation scheme for the camouflage area.
  • the print data of an image to be printed is frequently supplied to the printer in the form of a multi-level pixel matrix, in which the grey level of each individual pixel may vary over a continuous or practically continous range.
  • the grey level of each pixel may be given by an 8-bit word, i.e. an integral number between 0 and 255, so that 256 different grey levels may be distinguished.
  • the printer since the printer is only capable of printing a binary image or bitmap, in which each pixel can only be either printed or not, it is necessary to perform a halftoning step in which the multi-level pixel matrix is transformed into a bitmap with conservation of the average grey level.
  • a commonly employed halftoning method is an error diffusion process.
  • the grey level of a pixel that is currently being processed is compared to a predetermined threshold value.
  • the threshold value is subtracted from the grey level, and the rest or error is diffused, i.e. propagated or distributed over a number of target pixels in the vicinity of the source pixel, i.e. the pixel that is being processed.
  • the grey level of the source pixel is smaller than the threshold value, the corresponding pixel in the bitmap is made white, and the error which is distributed over the target pixels in the like manner is then formed by the whole grey level of the source pixel.
  • the error is multiplied with a specific weight factor for each target pixel.
  • This weight factor depends on the spatial relationship between the source pixel and the target pixel.
  • the grey level of the target pixel is increased by the product of the error and the weight factor.
  • the grey level that is compared to the threshold value will thus be larger or smaller than the original grey level of the pixel as specified by the print data.
  • the result of this process is a bitmap in which the average grey level of a small image area is approximately equal to the grey level of the same area in the original multi-level pixel matrix,
  • An error diffusion process may be characterised by an error propagation scheme which specifies the threshold value to be employed, the selection of target pixels and their weight factors. If a pixel of the bitmap cannot be printed because the corresponding print element of the printer is defective, then, according to the invention, the error propagation scheme for this pixel and/or the pixels in the neighbourhood is modified in order to achieve at least one of the following two objectives: (1) increasing the likelihood that an error from a printable pixel is propagated onto other printable pixels rather than to a non-printable pixel, and (2) avoiding that a non-printable pixel is made black, and, instead, assuring that its image information is treated as an error and is at least partly propagated onto to printable pixels.
  • the first objective can be achieved by increasing the weight factors assigned to printable target pixels.
  • the second objective can be achieved by increasing the threshold value for the non-printable pixels, possibly to infinity, and thereby increasing the error that is diffused onto neighbouring printable pixels. Again, the result is an increased number of black pixels in the vicinity of the non-printable pixel, and the image defect is camouflaged.
  • bitmap does not mean that a bitmap must actually be stored physically in a storage medium, but only means that the print data are provided in binary form, so that each pixel is represented by a single bit. Thus, the "bitmap" may well be generated “on the fly” during the print process.
  • the invention further has the advantage that the loss of image information caused by defective print elements can reliably be controlled or even eliminated completely by appropriately adapting the error propagation scheme. Another advantage is that the method can be carried out at a comparatively early stage in the processing sequence, so that the method can also be adapted, for example, to printer hardware which has no sufficient processing capability for carrying out corrections on bitmap level. It is even possible that the method according to the invention is executed in a host computer from which the print data are sent to the printer, provided that the information on the defective nozzles of the printer is made available at the host computer. Then, if the printer forms part of a multi-user network, the data processing necessary for carrying out the invention may be distributed over a plurality of computers in the network.
  • the invention is particularly useful when the print data that are supplied to the printer are in the multi-level format. However, if these data are in the binary format already, it is a simple matter to reconvert these data into multi-level data, with or without averaging over clusters of adjacent pixels, and then to employ the method as described above.
  • the camouflage area comprises both the source pixels for which a non-printable pixel is a target pixel, and the target pixels associated with the non-printable pixels.
  • the target pixels are limited to those pixels that are processed later than the respective source pixel.
  • a target pixel will always have either a larger line index or a larger column index than the corresponding source pixel.
  • the camouflage area when printing in the single-pass mode, for example the camouflage area will be formed by one or more pixel lines adjacent to the line that is affected by the nozzle failure.
  • the camouflage area may then comprise the two direct neighbours of the line that cannot be printed.
  • the invention is also applicable in multi-pass printing. Then, a nozzle failure will generally not have the effect that a complete line is missing in the printed image, but that, for example in the case of two-pass printing, typically only half the pixels in the line will be missing.
  • the camouflage area may consist of the remaining, printable pixels in the line in which half of the pixels are missing.
  • the camouflage area may also be extended to the adjacent lines.
  • the image information of the pixel will be conserved completely, except for those cases where the camouflage area becomes saturated with black pixels.
  • the threshold value to be employed for the printable pixels in the camouflage area can be decreased. This may have the effect that some of the black pixels that cannot be printed are "shifted" in rearward direction, i.e. in the direction of decreasing line and column indices.
  • an ink jet printer comprises a platen 10 which serves for transporting a recording paper 12 in a subscanning direction (arrow A) past a printhead unit 14.
  • the printhead unit 14 is mounted on a carriage 16 that is guided on guide rails 18 and is movable back and forth in a main scanning direction (arrow B) relative to the recording paper 12.
  • the printhead unit 14 comprises four printheads 20, one for each of the basic colours cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
  • Each printhead has a linear array of nozzles 22 extending in the subscanning direction.
  • the nozzles 22 of the printheads 20 can be energised individually to eject ink droplets onto the recording paper 12, thereby to print a pixel on the paper.
  • a swath of an image can be printed.
  • the number of pixel lines of the swath corresponds to the number of nozzles 22 of each printhead.
  • the paper 12 is advanced by the width of the swath, so that the next swath can be printed.
  • the printheads 20 are controlled by a processing unit 24 which processes the print data in a manner that will be described in detail hereinbelow. The discussion will be focused on printing in black colour, but is equivalently valid for printing in the other colours.
  • Figure 2A shows an array of 6x6 pixels 26, which represents a portion of an image to be printed.
  • the pixels 26 are arranged in lines i-3, i-2, i-1, i, i+1, i+2 and columns j-3, j-2, j-1, j. j+1 and j+2.
  • Black pixels are indicated by dots 28 as printed with the ink jet printer shown in figure 1 . Since the ink droplet forming a dot 28 tends to spread on the recording medium (paper), the optical density of the dot decreases gradually from the center toward the periphery, and the lighter peripheral portions of the dot extend beyond the area of the pixel, so that neighbouring dots overlap.
  • the image that has been shown in largely magnified scale in figure 2A would give the impression of a uniform grey area.
  • Figure 2B shows the same image in the case that the nozzle needed for printing the line i is defective, so that the dots at the pixel positions (i, j-2) and (i, j) are missing. This would give rise to a perceptible brighter gap in the printed image at the position of the line i.
  • the processing unit 24 shown in figure 1 performs a camouflage step which, in the given example, leads to the insertion of an additional dot 30 at the pixel position (i-1, j-1), i.e. in the pixel line i-1 directly adjacent to the defective line i.
  • the image shown in Figure 2C resembles the ideal image shown in Figure 2A .
  • the print data are supplied to the printer in a multi-level format, in which the grey value of each pixel is indicated by an 8-bit word, i.e. by an integral number between 0 and 255.
  • the number 0 represents a white pixel and the number 255 a black pixel with maximum optical density.
  • the print data are thus represented by a multi-level pixel matrix 32 as is schematically shown in figure 3 .
  • each pixel line of this pixel matrix will be printed by only one of the nozzles 22 of the printhead.
  • the printer may be equipped with a detection system which automatically detects and locates defective nozzles.
  • the location of a defective nozzle may also be input by the user.
  • the pixels in this line are non-printable pixels 34, whereas the other pixels 36, 38 and 40 are printable. Pixels 38 and 40 in the lines directly adjacent to the non-printable pixels 34 are shown in dark hatching.
  • the non-printable pixels 34 and pixels 38 and 40 adjacent thereto form a camouflage area that is involved in camouflaging the effect of the defective nozzle.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a conventional error propagation scheme 42 (a Floyd Steinberg scheme) that is frequently used for this purpose.
  • a number of arrows originate from a source pixel 44 and point to four target pixels 46 adjacent to the source pixel.
  • the fractions (7/16, etc.) given in the target pixels 46 indicate the weight factors with which the error remaining from the source pixel is distributed over the target pixels.
  • the theshold value th with which the grey level of the source pixel 44 is compared is 255, for example.
  • This standard arrow propagation scheme will be used for the printable pixels 36 outside of the camouflage area.
  • Figure 5 illustrates a modified error propagation scheme 48 that will be used for the pixels 38 in the line that is processed immediately before the line including the non-printable pixels 34.
  • the error from the source pixel 44 is propagated with a weight factor of 1 (16/16) only to the next pixel in the same line.
  • the theshold value th for the source pixel 44 is again 255.
  • the large weight factor with which the error is propagated horizontally in figure 5 increases the likelihood that additional black pixels are added in this line, in order to achieve a camouflage effect similar to the one shown in figure 2C .
  • Figure 6 shows another modified error propagation scheme 50 that will be used for the non-printable pixels 34 in figure 3 .
  • the error from the (non-printable) target pixel 44 is propagated only into the line below, i.e. the line formed by the pixels 40 in figure 4 .
  • the sum of the weight factors is again equal to 1, so that the error is fully transferred onto the neighbouring line.
  • the threshold value for the non-printable pixels 34 is increased to a level above 255. In other words, even when the grey level of such a pixel is equal to 255, the pixel will nevertheless be made white and the error of 255 will be propagated to the line below.
  • the image information of the line that cannot be printed because of the nozzle defect will be fully transferred to the line immediately therebelow. Again, this increases the likelihood that one of the pixels 40 in figure 3 will be made black in order to camouflage the nozzle defect.
  • the pixels 40 form part of the camouflage area because they are affected by the error propagation scheme 50 shown in figure 6 . However, when the pixels 40 are themselves processed in the error diffusion process, the standard error propagation scheme 42 of figure 4 may be used.
  • the threshold value utilised in the error diffusion process is either 255 (for the error propagation schemes 42 and 48) or infinity (for the scheme 50).
  • the weight factors indicated in figure 6 are reduced correspondingly. This modified embodiment would have the effect that the likelihood of becoming black is increased for the pixels 38 (above the line of the nozzle defect) and decreased for the pixels 40 (the line below the nozzle defect).
  • the target pixels 46 are not more than one line or column away from the source pixel 44.
  • the maximum distance between source and target pixel may be larger, e. g. 2.
  • the camouflage area would also include the first and the fifth line in Figure 3 .
  • Figure 7 illustrates the case of a specific two-pass print mode.
  • one of the two nozzles responsible for printing the third line in the pixel matrix 32 in figure 7 is defective, only every second pixel in this line will be a non-printable pixel 34, and the intervening pixels 52 will belong to the camouflage area.
  • the pixel 52 will be treated with an error propagation scheme in which the error is only propagated downward but not horizontally.
  • the error may be propagated horizontally (as in Figure 5 ) and/or downwardly.
  • two different error propagations schemes have to be used, depending upon whether or not the pixel is located directly above a non-printable pixel 34.
  • camouflage process described above is particularly efficient for images which mainly contain small or medium grey levels. In case of very dark images and, in the extreme, in the case of solid black areas, it is increasingly difficult or even impossible to add more black pixels in the camouflage area. Nevertheless, the camouflage process may be useful even for dark or black images, depending upon the design of the printer. Some known printers are capable of printing a plainly black area even when the percentage of black pixels in the bitmap is somewhat smaller than 100%. In this case, the modified error propagation schemes for the camouflage area may lead to an over-saturated bitmap which would still mask the nozzle defect to some extent.
  • step S100 the multi-level pixel matrix 32 is established by reading-in the grey values of the pixels.
  • the pixel lines that are affected by nozzle failures of the printhead are identified in step S101.
  • step S102 the camouflage area is determined.
  • An optional step S103 may involve a decrease of the threshold value th, e. g. from 255 to 191, for the lines (pixel 38 in Figure 3 ) preceding the lines affected by the defect.
  • step S104 identifies the pixels (such as the pixels 34 and 38 in Figure 3 ) for which a modified error propagation scheme (50 or 48) has to be employed and selects the appropriate scheme.
  • step S105 the error diffusion process is performed for all the pixels of the pixel matrix with either the non-modified or the selected one of the modified error propagation schemes.
  • the resulting bitmap is then printed in step S106.
  • the step S100 may be performed after the step S101 or even after the step S104.
  • Figure 9 illustrates another embodiment which is adapted to the case that the print data are presented already in the format of a bitmap, i.e. a matrix of only black and white pixels.
  • the bitmap is read in step S200.
  • the steps S201 and S202 correspond to the steps S101 and S102 discussed above.
  • step S203 the part of the bitmap which corresponds to the camouflage area is reconverted into a multi-level pixel matrix. To this end, a value of 255 is assigned to each of the black pixels of the pixel matrix, i.e. the pixels having the binary value 1, and the white 0-pixels are left as they are. All non-printable pixels 34 may be set to 0.
  • the steps S204, S205 and S206 correspond again to the steps S104, S105 and S106, with the difference that steps S204 and S205 are performed only for the camouflage area and for the lines that contain the corresponding target pixels.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Quality & Reliability (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Facsimile Image Signal Circuits (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Procédé d'impression pour une imprimante ayant une tête d'impression (20) avec une pluralité d'éléments d'impression (22) et capable d'imprimer une image de pixels binaires, le procédé comprenant les étapes consistant à :
    a) localiser des éléments d'impression défectueux,
    b) déterminer une région de camouflage (34, 38, 40 ; 52) à proximité de pixels (34) qui devaient être imprimés avec les éléments d'impression défectueux et
    c) camoufler les éléments d'impression défectueux en modifiant les informations d'image dans ladite région de camouflage,
    caractérisé en ce que l'étape de camouflage est incorporée à une étape de création de demi-tons, dans laquelle une diffusion d'erreur est utilisée pour créer ladite image de pixels binaires et comprend une étape (S104 ; S204) d'application de diffusion d'erreur par un premier schéma de propagation d'erreur (42) à l'extérieur de la région de camouflage et d'application de la diffusion d'erreur par un second schéma de propagation d'erreur (48, 50) dans la région de camouflage différent du premier schéma de propagation d'erreur.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le schéma de propagation d'erreur (48, 50) est modifié pour que l'erreur soit propagée avec un facteur de pondération accru à des pixels imprimables (38, 40) dans la région de camouflage et avec un facteur de pondération réduit ou pas du tout à des pixels non imprimables (34).
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 2, dans lequel la somme des facteurs de pondération avec lesquels l'erreur se propage aux pixels imprimables (38, 40 ; 52) est égale à 1.
  4. Procédé selon la revendication 2 ou 3, dans lequel différents seuils de diffusion d'erreur (th) sont utilisés à l'intérieur et à l'extérieur de la région de camouflage.
  5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les informations d'image de pixels non imprimables (34) sont toujours traitées comme une erreur et se propagent aux pixels imprimables (38, 40 ; 52).
  6. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel un mode d'impression à passage unique est employé, un premier schéma de propagation d'erreur modifié (48) est utilisé pour les pixels (38) d'une ligne qui est traitée immédiatement avant une ligne de pixels non imprimables (34), ledit premier schéma de propagation d'erreur modifié (48) étant à même de propager l'erreur uniquement dans la même ligne.
  7. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel un mode d'impression à passages multiples est employé, un premier schéma de propagation d'erreur modifié (48) est utilisé pour les pixels (38) d'une ligne qui est traitée immédiatement avant une ligne de pixels non imprimables (34), ledit schéma de propagation d'erreur modifié (48) étant à même de propager l'erreur uniquement dans la même ligne ou dans les pixels d'une ligne suivante qui sont imprimés avec des buses non défectueuses.
  8. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel un mode d'impression à passage unique est employé et un second schéma de propagation d'erreur modifié est employé pour les pixels non imprimables (34), ledit second schéma de propagation modifié étant agencé de telle sorte que l'erreur ne soit propagée que sur les pixels (40) dans la même ligne mais imprimés par des buses non défectueuses dans la ligne subséquente ou dans une ligne subséquente à la ligne de pixels non imprimables.
  9. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les données d'impression sont reçues sous la forme d'une première image de pixels binaires et sont converties en une matrice de pixels à plusieurs niveaux avant que les étapes de création de demi-tons et de camouflage (204, 205) ne soient effectuées.
  10. Imprimante capable d'imprimer une image de pixels binaires, caractérisée par une unité de traitement (24), dans laquelle un procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9 est mis en oeuvre.
  11. Programme d'ordinateur comprenant un code de programme informatique pour élaborer une unité de traitement (24), qui fait partie ou peut être raccordée à une imprimante, pour exécuter le procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8.
EP20050103216 2004-05-06 2005-04-21 Méthode d'impression avec camouflage des élements d'impression défectueux Not-in-force EP1593516B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20050103216 EP1593516B1 (fr) 2004-05-06 2005-04-21 Méthode d'impression avec camouflage des élements d'impression défectueux

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04076347 2004-05-06
EP04076347 2004-05-06
EP20050103216 EP1593516B1 (fr) 2004-05-06 2005-04-21 Méthode d'impression avec camouflage des élements d'impression défectueux

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1593516A2 EP1593516A2 (fr) 2005-11-09
EP1593516A3 EP1593516A3 (fr) 2009-12-23
EP1593516B1 true EP1593516B1 (fr) 2012-08-29

Family

ID=35445892

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20050103216 Not-in-force EP1593516B1 (fr) 2004-05-06 2005-04-21 Méthode d'impression avec camouflage des élements d'impression défectueux

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1593516B1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3205507A1 (fr) 2015-12-01 2017-08-16 OCE-Technologies B.V. Procédé de commande d'une imprimante numérique avec compensation de défaillance

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109624538B (zh) * 2018-12-19 2021-11-23 合肥京东方卓印科技有限公司 一种打印墨水的方法、装置、计算机存储介质及终端

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6215557B1 (en) 1999-07-01 2001-04-10 Lexmark International, Inc. Entry of missing nozzle information in an ink jet printer
AUPQ766300A0 (en) * 2000-05-22 2000-06-15 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Defective nozzle compensation
US6612678B2 (en) * 2000-09-04 2003-09-02 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet printing system and method
US20040174570A1 (en) * 2002-12-02 2004-09-09 Plunkett Richard Thomas Variable size dither matrix usage

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3205507A1 (fr) 2015-12-01 2017-08-16 OCE-Technologies B.V. Procédé de commande d'une imprimante numérique avec compensation de défaillance

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1593516A2 (fr) 2005-11-09
EP1593516A3 (fr) 2009-12-23

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7903290B2 (en) Printing method with camouflage of defective print elements
EP1529644B1 (fr) Procédé pour camoufler des éléments d'impression fautifs dans une imprimante
JP4164305B2 (ja) インクジェット記録方法およびインクジェット記録装置
EP1157840B1 (fr) Kompensations für defekte Düsen
US7715043B2 (en) Multilevel print masking method
CN1326699C (zh) 喷墨打印装置和喷墨打印方法
US7265770B2 (en) Method of camouflaging defective print elements in a printer
JP4385626B2 (ja) 画像処理装置、画像処理方法及び画像処理プログラム
EP2842750B1 (fr) Procédé de traitement d'image, dispositif de traitement d'image, dispositif de formation d'image et dispositif d'impression d'image à jet d'encre
US9434176B1 (en) Vector compensation for inoperative ink-jets in composite colors
US7298524B2 (en) Image processing method, printer and storage medium
US7185964B2 (en) Printing method and printing apparatus
EP1593516B1 (fr) Méthode d'impression avec camouflage des élements d'impression défectueux
EP1634709A1 (fr) méthode d'impression à dissimulation d'éléments d'impression défectueux
JP2006115431A (ja) 中間階調処理装置、印刷装置、情報処理装置、中間階調処理方法及びプログラム
EP1536371B1 (fr) Procédé de camoufler les défauts des éléments d'impression dans une imprimante
JP2008093982A (ja) インクジェット記録装置および記録制御方法
JP5247623B2 (ja) インクジェット記録装置およびインクジェット記録方法
EP2616245B1 (fr) Procédé de camouflage d'artéfacts dans des zones à forte couverture pour des images à imprimer
JP2006103054A (ja) 記録方法及び記録装置
JP5288918B2 (ja) 画像形成装置及びその制御方法、プログラム
JP2004306552A (ja) 画像記録方法及び画像記録装置
JP2006137115A (ja) 記録システム、画像処理装置、および画像処理方法
JP2006062088A (ja) インクジェットプリンタ装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA HR LV MK YU

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA HR LV MK YU

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20100623

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20110203

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 572843

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20120915

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602005035853

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20121025

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: T3

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 572843

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20120829

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

Effective date: 20120829

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120829

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120829

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20121229

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120829

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120829

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20121130

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120829

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20121231

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120829

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120829

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120829

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120829

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120829

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120829

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20121210

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120829

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120829

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120829

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20121129

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20130530

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602005035853

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20130530

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120829

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20130430

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20130430

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20130421

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120829

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20130421

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO

Effective date: 20050421

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 12

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20170420

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20170419

Year of fee payment: 13

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20170419

Year of fee payment: 13

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20170419

Year of fee payment: 13

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602005035853

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20180501

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20180421

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20180501

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20181101

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20180421

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20180430