EP1880533A1 - Dispositif sans fil presentant un lecteur pour un indice lisible par machine et methode d'etablissement de communication avec un serveur eloigne - Google Patents

Dispositif sans fil presentant un lecteur pour un indice lisible par machine et methode d'etablissement de communication avec un serveur eloigne

Info

Publication number
EP1880533A1
EP1880533A1 EP05738007A EP05738007A EP1880533A1 EP 1880533 A1 EP1880533 A1 EP 1880533A1 EP 05738007 A EP05738007 A EP 05738007A EP 05738007 A EP05738007 A EP 05738007A EP 1880533 A1 EP1880533 A1 EP 1880533A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printhead
print
print medium
mobile device
media
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP05738007A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1880533A4 (fr
Inventor
Kia Silverbrook
Paul Lapstun
Simon Robert Walmsley
Tobin Allen King
David John Atkinson
Gregory Michael Tow
Michael J. Hollins
Peter Charles Henderson
Richard Thomas Plunkett
Jacqueline Anne Lapstun
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.)
Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
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 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd filed Critical Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
Publication of EP1880533A1 publication Critical patent/EP1880533A1/fr
Publication of EP1880533A4 publication Critical patent/EP1880533A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W92/00—Interfaces specially adapted for wireless communication networks
    • H04W92/16—Interfaces between hierarchically similar devices
    • H04W92/18—Interfaces between hierarchically similar devices between terminal devices
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/26—Devices for calling a subscriber
    • H04M1/27—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
    • H04M1/274—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc
    • H04M1/2745—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
    • H04M1/2753—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc using static electronic memories, e.g. chips providing data content
    • H04M1/2755—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc using static electronic memories, e.g. chips providing data content by optical scanning
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
    • G06V10/00—Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding
    • G06V10/10—Image acquisition
    • G06V10/12—Details of acquisition arrangements; Constructional details thereof
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
    • H04B1/38—Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/21—Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
    • H04N1/00204—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
    • H04N1/00281—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal
    • H04N1/00307—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal with a mobile telephone apparatus
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/0035—User-machine interface; Control console
    • H04N1/00352—Input means
    • H04N1/00355—Mark-sheet input
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/0035—User-machine interface; Control console
    • H04N1/00352—Input means
    • H04N1/00355—Mark-sheet input
    • H04N1/00358—Type of the scanned marks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/0035—User-machine interface; Control console
    • H04N1/00352—Input means
    • H04N1/00355—Mark-sheet input
    • H04N1/00368—Location of the scanned marks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/0035—User-machine interface; Control console
    • H04N1/00352—Input means
    • H04N1/00355—Mark-sheet input
    • H04N1/00368—Location of the scanned marks
    • H04N1/00374—Location of the scanned marks on the same page as at least a part of the image
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/0035—User-machine interface; Control console
    • H04N1/00352—Input means
    • H04N1/00384—Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/0035—User-machine interface; Control console
    • H04N1/00405—Output means
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/0035—User-machine interface; Control console
    • H04N1/00405—Output means
    • H04N1/00485—Output means providing a hardcopy output to the user, e.g. print out
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/23—Reproducing arrangements
    • H04N1/2307—Circuits or arrangements for the control thereof, e.g. using a programmed control device, according to a measured quantity
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/23—Reproducing arrangements
    • H04N1/2307—Circuits or arrangements for the control thereof, e.g. using a programmed control device, according to a measured quantity
    • H04N1/2323—Circuits or arrangements for the control thereof, e.g. using a programmed control device, according to a measured quantity according to characteristics of the reproducing medium, e.g. type, size or availability
    • 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
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/44—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
    • B41J3/445—Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
    • G06V10/00—Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding
    • G06V10/10—Image acquisition
    • G06V10/19—Image acquisition by sensing codes defining pattern positions
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2250/00—Details of telephonic subscriber devices
    • H04M2250/12—Details of telephonic subscriber devices including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
    • H04N2201/0081—Image reader
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
    • H04N2201/0082—Image hardcopy reproducer
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/0096—Portable devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to mobile devices with inbuilt printers.
  • the invention has primarily been designed for use in a mobile device such as a mobile telecommunications device (i.e. a mobile phone) that incorporates a printer, and will be described with reference to such an application.
  • a mobile telecommunications device i.e. a mobile phone
  • the invention can be used with other types of portable device, or even non-portable devices.
  • the invention has primarily been designed for use in a mobile telecommunications device such as a mobile telecommunications device (i.e. a mobile phone) that incorporates a printer, and will be described with reference to such an application.
  • a mobile telecommunications device i.e. a mobile phone
  • the invention can be used with other types of portable device, or even non-portable devices.
  • the Assignee has developed mobile phones, personal data assistants (PDAs) and other mobile telecommunication devices, with the ability to print hard copies of images or information stored or accessed by the device (see for example, US Patent 6,405,055 (Docket No. AP06US), filed on November 9, 1999).
  • PDAs personal data assistants
  • the Assignee has also designed digital cameras with the ability to print captured images with an inbuilt printer (see for example, US Patent 6,750,901 (Docket No. ARTOlUS) filed on July 10, 1998).
  • the functionality of these devices is further enhanced by the ability to print hard copies.
  • the Assignee of the present invention has also developed the Netpage system for enabling interaction with computer software using a printed interface and a proprietary stylus-shaped sensing device.
  • a Netpage pen captures, identifies and decodes tags of coded data printed onto a surface such as a page.
  • each tag encodes a position and an identity of the document.
  • a remote computer can determine an action to perform.
  • Such actions can include, for example, causing information to be saved remotely for subsequent retrieval, downloading of a webpage for printing or display via a computer, bill payment or even the performance of handwriting recognition based on a series of locations of the Netpage pen relative to the surface.
  • a printer in a mobile telecommunications device can print the Netpage tags simultaneously with visible user information.
  • the association between the tags and information can already exist on a remote Netpage server, such as where the printer is printing a fully rendered page (including tags) provided by the Netpage server or another computer.
  • the mobile telecommunications device can generate the tags (or source them remotely) and define an association between the tags and user information. The association is then recorded in the remote Netpage server.
  • the mobile telecommunications device can be configured to print on print media that is pre-printed with Netpage tags. That way the printer need only print the user information and record an association between the visible information and the pre-printed tags.
  • Netpage sensing device that scans the page as it is printed to determine the content of at least one of the tags and positions of various elements of the user information relative to the tags.
  • the printer include a Netpage sensing device, which may be somewhat bulky for use in mobile applications, and requires additional processing capacity. Even if a Netpage sensing device is provided to enable the mobile telecommunications device to act as a Netpage pen in a more general sense, it is undesirable for a user to have to separately scan a portion of the pre-printed media to determine parameters of the coded data before inserting the media for printing.
  • the present invention provides a method of accessing at least one electronic connection address using a mobile device and an interactive printed document that includes human-readable information and machine- readable coded data
  • the mobile telecommunications device comprising: a transceiver configured to send and receive signals via a wireless telecommunications network; sensing means; and decoding means; the method comprising the steps of:
  • step (d) o ⁇ tputting the at least one connection address in a human readable manner.
  • the mobile device includes an integral printer, wherein step (d) includes printing the at least one connection address onto a print medium with the printer.
  • the mobile device includes a display, wherein step (d) includes displaying the at least one connection address on the display.
  • the mobile device further includes a user interface, the method including the steps, performed after step (d), of:
  • step (f) includes establishing a telephonic connection between the mobile device and the at least one connection address.
  • the telephonic connection is a voice connection.
  • the telephonic connection is an audio- visual connection.
  • the mobile device further includes a user interface, the method including the steps, performed after step
  • the coded data is indicative of an identity of the print medium.
  • the coded data is indicative of at least one location in relation to the print medium.
  • the coded data is indicative of an object.
  • the coded data is indicative of an electronic address of the object.
  • the electronic connection address comprises one or more of the following: an email address; a fax number; a phone number; a network address; and a URL.
  • the mobile device includes a printer, the method including printing the connection address onto a print medium.
  • the method further including steps of: determining a relationship between the connection address printed or to be printed onto the print medium; and transmitting the data indicative of me relationship to a remote computer system for storage.
  • the print medium is a card.
  • the mobile device stores one or more templates for use in generating an image to be printed, the image incorporating the connection address in human readable form.
  • the mobile device is configured to access a remote computer system to download one or more templates for use in generating an image to be printed, the image incorporating the connection address in human readable form.
  • a mobile device including sensing means, processing means and a transceiver, the schedule document including human- readable first schedule information and machine-readable coded data, the method including the steps of:
  • the mobile device further includes a display, the method including outputting the layout by displaying it on the display.
  • the mobile device further includes a printer, the method including outputting the layout by printing it using the printer.
  • the mobile device further includes a printer controller, the method including processing the layout with the printer controller to generate dot data, and supplying the dot data to the printer to be printed.
  • the mobile device further includes a printer, the method including outputting the layout by printing it using the printer.
  • the mobile device further includes a printer controller, the method including processing the layout with the printer controller to generate dot data, and supplying the dot data to the printer to be printed.
  • the print medium includes a linear-encoded data track extending in an intended direction of printing
  • the mobile device including: a sensor configured to sense the data track during printing of the dot data; a printhead for printing onto the print medium in response to a fire control signal; and fire control means connected to generate the fire control signal based on the sensed data track.
  • the mobile device further includes a light-emitting device for illuminating the data track while the sensor is sensing it during printing.
  • the data track is printed with infrared ink
  • the light-emitting device emits light in the infrared spectrum
  • the photosensor is sensitive in the infrared spectrum.
  • the data track is a clock track containing only a clock code, the fire control means being configured to generate the fire control signal in the form of a clock signal generated from the sensed data track.
  • the first information is indicative of at least one physical characteristic of the print medium, the mobile device being configured to control operation of the printhead at least partially on the basis of at least one of the physical characteristics.
  • the mobile device further configured to use the sensed data track to determine an absolute position of the print medium with respect to the printhead, and to print onto the print medium in reliance on the determination.
  • the data track further encoding first information and the print medium further including second coded data that encodes second information, the first information being indicative of the second information, wherein the mobile device is configured to print onto the print medium such that there is a predetermined registration between what is being printed and the second coded data.
  • the mobile device fiirther configured to receive the information indicative of the predetermined registration from a remote computer system via the transceiver.
  • the mobile device further configured to transmit the determined registration to a remote computer system via the transceiver.
  • a mobile telecommunications device including: a transceiver for sending and receiving signals via a wireless telecommunications network; a processor for processing schedule data to generate dot data representing a visual layout of the schedule data; and a printer configured to receive the dot data and print it onto a print medium.
  • the printer is configured to print coded data onto the print medium along with the visual layout represented by the dot data.
  • the mobile telecommunications device configured to receive, using the transceiver, the schedule data from a remote computer system via the telecommunications network.
  • the mobile telecommunications device configured to send, using the transceiver, a request to the remote computer system, the request identifying the schedule data, the schedule data being received in response to the request.
  • the coded data is indicative of an identity of a document containing the schedule data.
  • print medium includes a linear-encoded data track extending in an intended direction of printing
  • the mobile device including: a sensor configured to sense the data track during printing of the dot data; a printhead for printing onto the print medium in response to a fire control signal; and fire control means connected to generate the fire control signal based on the sensed data track.
  • the mobile device further includes a light-emitting device for illuminating the data track while the sensor is sensing it during printing.
  • the data track is printed with infrared ink, the light-emitting device emits light in the infrared spectrum and the photosensor is sensitive in the infrared spectrum.
  • the data track is a clock track containing only a clock code, the fire control means being configured to generate the fire control signal in the form of a clock signal generated from the sensed data track.
  • the data track includes first information, the first information including an embedded clock signal, the fire control means being configured to generate the fire control signal in the form of a clock signal extracted from the sensed data track.
  • the first information is indicative of at least one physical characteristic of the print medium, the mobile device being configured to control operation of the printhead at least partially on the basis of at least one of the physical characteristics.
  • the mobile device configured to use the sensed data track to determine an absolute position of the print medium with respect to the printhead, and to print onto the print medium in reliance on the determination.
  • the mobile device wherein the data track further encoding first information and the print medium further including second coded data that encodes second information, the first information being indicative of the second information, wherein the mobile device is configured to print onto the print medium such that there is a predetermined registration between what is being printed and the second coded data.
  • the mobile device configured to receive the information indicative of the predetermined registration from a remote computer system via the transceiver.
  • the mobile device wherein the data track further encoding first information and the print medium further including second coded data that encodes second information, the first information being indicative of the second information, wherein the mobile device is configured to determine a registration between what is being printed and the second coded data.
  • the mobile device configured to transmit the determined registration to a remote computer system via the transceiver.
  • a mobile device for enabling interaction with a printed email document, the email document including human-readable first email information and machine-readable coded data
  • the mobile device including: ' a transceiver for sending and receiving signals via a wireless telecommunications network; sensing means for sensing at least some of the coded data while the mobile device is used to interact with the email document; processing means for decoding at least some of the sensed coded data and generating indicating data on the basis of the decoded coded data; the mobile device being programmed and configured to:
  • the mobile device further includes a display, the mobile device being configured to output the layout by displaying it on the display.
  • the mobile device further includes an integral printer, the mobile device being configured to output the layout by printing it using the printer.
  • the mobile device further includes a printer controller circuit configured to process the layout to generate dot data and supply the dot data to the printer to be printed.
  • a printer controller circuit configured to process the layout to generate dot data and supply the dot data to the printer to be printed.
  • the mobile device further includes an integral printer, the mobile device being configured to output the layout by printing it onto a print medium using the printer.
  • the mobile device further includes a printer controller circuit configured to process the layout to generate dot data and supply the dot data to the printer to be printed.
  • a printer controller circuit configured to process the layout to generate dot data and supply the dot data to the printer to be printed.
  • the print medium includes a linear-encoded data track extending in an intended direction of printing
  • the mobile device including: a sensor configured to sense the data track during printing of the dot data; a printhead for printing onto the print medium in response to a fire control signal; and fire control means connected to generate the fire control signal based on the sensed data track.
  • the mobile device further includes a light-emitting device for illuminating the data track while the sensor is sensing it during printing.
  • the data track is printed with infrared ink
  • the light-emitting device emits light in the infrared spectrum
  • the photosensor is sensitive in the infrared spectrum.
  • the data track is a clock track containing only a clock code, the fire control means being configured to generate the fire control signal in the form of a clock signal generated from the sensed data track.
  • the data track includes first information, the first information including an embedded clock signal, the fire control means being configured to generate the fire control signal in the form of a clock signal extracted from the sensed data track.
  • the first information is indicative of at least one physical characteristic of the print medium, the mobile device being configured to control operation of the printhead at least partially on the basis of at least one of the physical characteristics.
  • the mobile device configured to use the sensed data track to determine an absolute position of the print medium with respect to the printhead, and to print onto the print medium in reliance on the determination.
  • the mobile device wherein the data track further encoding first information and the print medium further including second coded data that encodes second information, the first information being indicative of the second information, wherein the mobile device is configured to print onto the print medium such that there is a predetermined registration between what is being printed and the second coded data.
  • the mobile device configured to receive the information indicative of the predetermined registration from a remote computer system via the transceiver.
  • the mobile device wherein the data track further encoding first information and the print medium further including second coded data that encodes second information, the first information being indicative of the second information, wherein the mobile device is configured to determine a registration between what is being printed and the second coded data.
  • the mobile device configured to transmit the determined registration to a remote computer system via the transceiver.
  • the present invention provides a mobile device configured to enable a user to play a game by interacting with an interactive gaming document, the mobile device comprising:
  • a transceiver configured to send and receive signals via a wireless telecommunications network
  • decoding means for decoding the coded data read by the sensor and generating indicating data based on the decoded data; the mobile telecommunications device being programmed and configured to: send the indicating data to a remote computer system using the transceiver; receive gaming data in response via the transceiver; and based on the gaming data, output visual information to a user.
  • the coded data is indicative of an identity of the print medium.
  • the coded data is indicative of at least one location in relation to the print medium.
  • the coded data is indicative of an object.
  • the coded data is indicative of an electronic address of the object.
  • the gaming data includes any one or more of the following: audio; text; video; images; and vibration patterns.
  • the gaming data includes printable content
  • the mobile device includes a printer, the method comprising the step of printing the printable content onto a print medium using the printer.
  • the gaming data includes registration information indicative of a registration between the printable content and coded data, the mobile device being configured to print the printable gaming data onto the print medium in accordance with the registration information.
  • the printable content includes one or more maps.
  • the mobile device further configured to print a plurality of the print media having maps, wherein the print media having maps are printed such that they can be tiled together to form a larger map.
  • the mobile device further includes a user interface, the printable content including information or instructions for use by a user in interacting with the user interface.
  • the mobile device further configured to print one or more additional print media in response to input entered via the user interface, the input being at least partially based on the information and/or instructions on one or more of the earlier printed game cards.
  • the print medium to be printed on includes a linear-encoded data track extending in an intended direction of printing
  • the mobile device including: a sensor configured to sense the data track during printing of the dot data; a printhead for printing onto the print medium in response to a fire control signal; and fire control means connected to generate the fire control signal based on the sensed data track.
  • the mobile device further includes a light-emitting device for illuminating the data track while the sensor is sensing it during printing.
  • the data track is printed with infrared ink
  • the light-emitting device emits light in the infrared spectrum
  • the photosensor is sensitive in the infrared spectrum.
  • the data track is a clock track containing only a clock code, the fire control means being configured to generate the fire control signal in the form of a clock signal generated from the sensed data track.
  • the data track includes first information, the first information including an embedded clock signal, the fire control means being configured to generate the fire control signal in the form of a clock signal extracted from the sensed data track.
  • the first information is indicative of at least one physical characteristic of the print medium, the mobile device being configured to control operation of the printhead at least partially on the basis of at least one of the physical characteristics.
  • the mobile device further configured to use the sensed data track to determine an absolute position of the print medium with respect to the printhead, and to print onto the print medium in reliance on the determination.
  • the mobile device wherein the data track further encoding first information and the print medium further including second coded data that encodes second information, the first information being indicative of the second information, wherein the mobile device is configured to print onto the print medium such that there is a predetermined registration between what is being printed and the second coded data.
  • the present invention provides a mobile telecommunications device comprising:
  • transceiver configured to send and receive data via a wireless telecommunications network
  • processing means for processing data received via the receiver, thereby to generate dot data representing game information for generating at least one card for use in an interactive game
  • a printhead operatively connected to the processing means to receive the dot data and print.it onto a print medium, thereby to generate the at least one card.
  • the at least one card includes coded data indicative of a plurality of positions, the positions being associated, in a remote computer system, with one or more actions or instructions associated with the interactive game.
  • the coded data is indicative of an identity of the card.
  • the game information includes map data indicative of an image of at least part of a map associated with the interactive game.
  • the game information includes map information to be printed on a plurality of the cards.
  • Optionally mobile telecommunications device configured to print the cards such that the map portions can be tiled together to form a map.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further including a sensing device for sensing coded data while the mobile telecommunications device is being used to interact with coded data on a surface, the processing means being configured to decode at least some of the code data to determine at least an identity of the surface.
  • a mobile telecommunications device configured to send at least the identity to a remote computer system via the transceiver and to receive via the transceiver in reply
  • the game information includes visible user information in the form of text, icons or images, the coded data being disposed adjacent or coincident with the user information, thereby allowing a user to interact with the user information with a sensing device.
  • the mobile telecommunications device includes the sensing device for sensing at least some of the coded data on the card whilst the mobile telecommunications device is used to interact with the game information on the card.
  • a mobile telecommunications device wherein the processing means being configured to process at least some of the sensed coded data to determine at least an identity of the card.
  • a mobile telecommunications device configured to: send at least the identity of the card to a remote computer system; receive, in response from the remote computer system, further data representing further game information.
  • processing means are configured to process the further data to generate further dot data
  • the printhead is configured to receive the further dot data and print it onto a print medium, thereby to generate a further game card.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further including a user interface, and wherein the device is programmed and configured such that at least some of the game cards include information or instructions for use by a user in interacting with the user interface.
  • a mobile telecommunications device configured to one or more game cards in response to input entered via the user interface, the input being at least partially based on information and/or instructions on one or more of the earlier printed game cards.
  • the processing means further includes decompression means, wherein at least some of the game data is received in a compressed format and the decompression means is configured to decompress the data for supply to the processing means.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further including a sensor for sensing coded data disposed on or in the print medium before or during printing.
  • a mobile telecommunications device configured to extract a clock signal from the sensed coded data, and to synchronize printing by the printhead onto the print medium in accordance with the clock signal.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further including light-emitting means, the light emitting means being controlled to emit light while the coded data is being sensed by the sensor.
  • the present invention provides a cartridge for use in a mobile device including:
  • Incorporating the printhead into a cartridge ensures its regular replacement and thereby maintains print quality.
  • Putting the drive mechanism in the cartridge means that the dimensional tolerances between the drive mechanism and the printhead can be closely controller and the fragile printhead nozzles can be safely enclosed within the cartridge casing.
  • the only opening required in the cartridge are the media entry and exit slots which significantly limits the opportunity for tampering or contamination.
  • the drive mechanism is a passive mechanism with a drive shaft for engaging the print media and driving it past the inkjet printhead.
  • the print cartridge further comprising a drive roller for rotating the drive shaft, the drive roller being configured to be driven by a complementary drive mechanism in the mobile device when the cartridge is installed therein.
  • the drive roller is coaxial with the drive shaft.
  • the drive shaft is positioned in the print media path upstream of the printhead.
  • the print cartridge further comprising a printhead having an array of ink ejection nozzles and at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead for ejection by the nozzles, each of the at least one ink reservoirs including at least one absorbent structure for inducing a negative hydrostatic pressure in the ink at the nozzles, and a capping mechanism for capping the printhead when not in use.
  • the print cartridge further comprising:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print media, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • the print cartridge further comprising: (a) a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print media, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead; and
  • a locking mechanism configured to hold the capper in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the media is clear of the printhead.
  • the print cartridge further comprising:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print media;
  • the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • the print cartridge further comprising: the media substrate is a sheet; wherein during use, the sheet disengages from the drive mechanism before completion of its printing such that the trailing edge of the sheet projects past the printhead by momentum to complete its printing.
  • the printhead comprises: an array of nozzles for ejecting ink; print data circuitry for providing the nozzles with print data; and, a photosensor for optically receiving the print data from a beacon operated by a print engine controller in the mobile device.
  • the mobile device comprises: a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a position sensor for providing the print engine controller with a signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead; such that, the print engine controller differentiates the signal to derive the speed of the media substrate relative to the printhead and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the speed.
  • the mobile device comprises: a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; wherein during use, the print engine controller senses the number of complete and partial rotations of the drive shaft and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the angular velocity of the drive shaft.
  • the print cartridge further comprising at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead, the at least one ink reservoir comprising: a housing defining an ink storage volume; one or more baffles dividing the ink storage volume into sections, each of the sections having at least one ink outlet for sealed connection to the printhead; and, at least one conduit establishing fluid communication between the ink outlets of adjacent sections.
  • the media substrate is a sheet with coded data on at least part of its surface; and the mobile device further comprises a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a sensor for reading the coded data and generating a signal indicative of at least one dimension of the sheet, and transmitting the signal to the print engine controller; such that, the print engine controller uses the signal to initiate the printing when the sheet is at a predetermined position relative to the printhead.
  • a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead
  • a sensor for reading the coded data and generating a signal indicative of at least one dimension of the sheet, and transmitting the signal to the print engine controller; such that, the print engine controller uses the signal to initiate the printing when the sheet is at a predetermined position relative to the printhead.
  • the media substrate has coded data on at least part of its surface; and, the mobile device further comprising a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a dual sensing facility for reading the coded data before, as well as after, it has past the printhead.
  • the mobile device is a telecommunication device.
  • the mobile device is a mobile phone.
  • a print medium for use in a mobile device having a printer, the print medium comprising: a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces; first coded data in a first data format disposed in a first data region on the laminar substrate, the first coded data encoding first information; and at least one orientation indicator indicative of an orientation of the print medium.
  • the at least one orientation indicator is disposed at or adjacent an edge of the print medium.
  • the print medium having a leading edge and a trailing edge defined relative to intended feed direction of the print medium through a media feed path, at least one of the at least one orientation indicators being disposed on or in the print medium at or adjacent the leading edge.
  • one of the orientation indicators is positioned adjacent a first corner of the print medium on the first face.
  • orientation indicators is positioned adjacent a second corner of the print medium on the first face, the second corner being diagonally opposite the first corner.
  • orientation indicators is positioned adjacent a third corner of the print medium on the second face, the third corner being adjacent the second corner.
  • another of the orientation indicators is positioned adjacent a fourth corner of the print medium on the second face, the fourth corner being diagonally opposite the third corner.
  • orientation indicators is positioned adjacent a second corner of the print medium on the first face, the second corner being diagonally opposite the first corner.
  • the print medium further including a plurality of the orientation indicators, the position and number of the orientation indicators being positioned and configured such that, when the print medium is used in a suitably equipped mobile device, the device can determine the orientation of the card without having to read all of the orientation indicators.
  • the first coded data a linear-encoded data track extending in an intended direction of printing.
  • the data track is printed with infrared ink.
  • the data track includes a clock track containing only a clock code from which a clock signal can be derived during printing onto the print medium.
  • the first information includes an embedded clock from which a clock signal can be derived during printing onto the print medium.
  • the print medium further including second coded data that encodes second information, the first information being indicative of the second information.
  • the first information is indicative of at least one physical characteristic of the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of a size of the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of a media type associate with the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of information pre-printed onto the print medium.
  • the print medium further including pre-printed human-readable information printed on either or both of the first and second faces.
  • the first coded data is printed in infrared ink that is substantially invisible to an average unaided human eye.
  • the present invention provides a print medium for use with a mobile device having a printer, the print medium comprising: a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces; and an orientation indicator disposed on at least one of the first and second faces, the orientation indicator being indicative of at least one orientation of the print medium, thereby enabling the mobile device to determine the print medium's orientation prior to printing thereon.
  • the orientation indicator is indicative of which of the first and second faces it is disposed upon.
  • the orientation indicator is indicative of an absolute planar rotational orientation of the print medium.
  • a print medium having a leading edge and a trailing edge defined relative to intended feed direction of the print medium through the media feed path, wherein the orientation indicator is positioned at or adjacent the leading edge and is indicative of the leading edge.
  • a print medium further including a plurality of the orientation indicators.
  • each of the orientation indicators is indicative of which of the first and second faces it is disposed upon;
  • each of the orientation indicators is indicative of an absolute planar rotational orientation of the print medium
  • the print medium has a leading edge and a trailing edge defined relative to intended feed direction of the print medium through the media feed path, wherein the orientation indicator is positioned at or adjacent the leading edge and is indicative of the leading edge.
  • the orientation indicator is disposed at or adjacent an edge of the print medium.
  • the orientation indicator is positioned adjacent a first corner of the print medium on the first face.
  • orientation indicators is positioned adjacent a second corner of the print medium on the first face, the second corner being diagonally opposite the first corner.
  • orientation indicators is positioned adjacent a fourth corner of the print medium on the second face, the fourth corner being diagonally opposite the third corner.
  • the orientation indicator forms part of a coded data region on the print medium.
  • the coded data takes the form of a linear-encoded data track.
  • the data track extends along an edge of the print medium in an intended print direction of the card.
  • the data track encodes first information in addition to the orientation indicator.
  • the print medium further including second information encoded in accordance with a coding different from the linear-encoding of the data track, the first information being indicative of the second information.
  • the coded data is printed in infrared ink.
  • the first coded data is printed in infrared ink that is substantially invisible to an average unaided human eye.
  • the present invention provides a method of using a mobile device to print onto a print medium, the mobile device comprising: a wireless transceiver for sending and receiving data via a telecommunications network; and a printer; the method comprising the steps of:
  • the information is indicative of a location of a commercial entity.
  • the information is indicative of an inducement to buy the product or service.
  • the inducement is a price discount.
  • the price discount is only valid at an outlet of a commercial entity at the location.
  • the price discount is valid at any of a number of outlets of the commercial entity.
  • the method including the step of using the mobile device to determine the geographical location.
  • the mobile device includes a GPS receiver, the method comprising determining the geographical location using the GPS receiver.
  • the sensing device includes a wireless receiver for receiving radio-frequency data from a transmitter, step of determining the geographical location including the step of receiving, via the transmitter, radio- frequency data the geographical location.
  • the method including deriving the geographical location using an Uplink Time Difference of Arrival technique.
  • the providing step includes sending the information to an electronic address associated with at least one of the user of the mobile device.
  • the geographical location is an area.
  • the area is defined by a postal or zip code.
  • the area is a city, suburb or town.
  • the area is at least partially defined by a transmission footprint of one or more cells of a telecommunications network.
  • the area is at least partially defined by a transmission footprint of one or more cells of the telecommunications network.
  • the method including the steps of: using a sensor in the mobile device to sense a data track during printing of the voucher, the data track being disposed on a face of the print medium being printed on to generate the voucher; generating a fire control signal from the sensed data track; and synchronizing the printing of the voucher using the fire control signal.
  • the data track is printed with infrared ink
  • the light-emitting device emits light in the infrared spectrum
  • the photosensor is sensitive in the infrared spectrum.
  • the data track is a clock track containing only a clock code, the method including the step of generating a clock signal generated from the sensed data track, the fire control signal being based on the clock signal.
  • the data track includes first information, the first information including an embedded clock signal, the method including the step of extracting a clock signal from the sensed data track, the fire control signal being based on the clock signal.
  • the present invention provides a mobile device including: a printhead for printing onto a print medium, the print medium including coded data; a media path for directing the print medium past the printhead for printing; an optical sensor; a first optical pathway for directing optical image information to the sensor to enable it to read at least some of the coded data from the print medium while at least some of the print medium is within the media path; and a second optical pathway for directing optical image information to the sensor to enable it to read coded data from the print medium when the print medium is not in the media path.
  • the mobile device including at least one light source for illuminating the coded data to be sensed via the first optical pathway.
  • the mobile device including at least one light source for illuminating the coded data to be sensed via the second optical pathway.
  • the light source is an infrared light source.
  • the light source is an infrared light source.
  • the first optical pathway includes at least one mirror.
  • the first optical pathway includes a periscope arrangement of mirrors.
  • the mobile device further including a shutter selectively operable to reduce or prevent light from reaching the sensor via the second optical pathway during at least part of a printing procedure.
  • the mobile device further including a shutter-closing mechanism configured to close the shutter in response to the print medium moving through at least part of the media path.
  • first and second optical pathways share a common optical pathway portion.
  • the printer takes the form of a replaceable cartridge.
  • the replaceable cartridge includes at least one ink reservoir.
  • the replaceable cartridge includes at least one sensor for sensing coded data on print medium intended to be used with the printer.
  • the replaceable cartridge includes a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between: a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead; and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print medium, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead; wherein the capper is moved between the capped and uncapped position by an edge of the print medium as it moves through the media path.
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between: a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead; and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print medium, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead; wherein the capper is moved between the capped and uncapped position by an edge of the print medium as it moves through the media path.
  • the capper is resiliently urged into the capping relationship.
  • the capping mechanism is configured such that the capper is displaced in the feed direction as it moves from the capped position to the uncapped position.
  • the replaceable cartridge includes a media drive mechanism for engaging print media to be printed by the printer.
  • the mobile device further including drive means for driving the media drive mechanism, the drive means not forming part of the replaceable cartridge.
  • the media drive mechanism includes a driven wheel configured to engage the drive means when the replaceable cartridge is installed in the mobile device.
  • the present invention provides an integrated cartridge for installation into a mobile device, the cartridge including: an inkjet printhead including a plurality of inkjet nozzles; at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead for ejection by the nozzles; and a capping mechanism for capping the printhead when it is not in use.
  • the integrated circuit including a plurality of the ink reservoirs, each supplying ink to a subset of the nozzles.
  • the integrated circuit including reservoirs containing cyan, magenta and yellow inks, respectively.
  • the integrated circuit including reservoirs that respectively contain cyan, magenta, yellow inks and at least one other fluid.
  • the at least one other fluid includes black ink.
  • the at least one other fluid includes infrared ink.
  • the at least one other fluid includes infrared ink and black ink.
  • a cartridge further comprising a drive shaft for engaging the print media and driving it past the inkjet printhead.
  • a cartridge further comprising a drive roller for rotating the drive shaft, the drive roller being configured to be driven by a complementary drive mechanism in the mobile device when the cartridge is installed therein.
  • the drive roller is coaxial with the drive shaft.
  • the drive shaft is positioned in the print media path upstream of the printhead.
  • a cartridge further comprising a printhead having an array of ink ejection nozzles and at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead for ejection by the nozzles, each of the at least one ink reservoirs including at least one absorbent structure for inducing a negative hydrostatic pressure in the ink at the nozzles.
  • the capping mechanism has a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print media, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead; and the cartridge further comprises: a force transfer mechanism connected to the capper and configured such that a force provided by an edge of the media as it moves relative to the feed path is transferred to the capper by the force transfer mechanism, thereby to at least commence movement of the capper from the capped position to the uncapped position prior to the media reaching the capper.
  • the capping mechanism has a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print media, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead; and the cartridge further comprises: a locking mechanism configured to hold the capper in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the media is clear of the printhead.
  • the capping mechanism has a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print media; such that during use, the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • a print cartridge further comprising: the media substrate is a sheet; wherein during use, the sheet disengages from the drive mechanism before completion of its printing such that the trailing edge of the sheet projects past the printhead by momentum to complete its printing.
  • the mobile device comprises: a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; wherein during use, the print engine controller senses the number of complete and partial rotations of the drive shaft and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the angular velocity of the drive shaft.
  • a print cartridge further comprising at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead, the at least one ink reservoir comprising: a housing defining an ink storage volume; one or more baffles dividing the ink storage volume into sections, each of the sections having at least one ink outlet for sealed connection to the printhead; and, at least one conduit establishing fluid communication between the ink outlets of adjacent sections.
  • the mobile device is a telecommunication device.
  • the mobile device is a mobile phone.
  • the present invention provides a mobile device including:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between: a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead; and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print medium, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • a force transfer mechanism connected to the capper and configured such that a force provided by an edge of the print medium as it moves relative to the feed path is transferred to the capper by the force transfer mechanism, thereby to at least commence movement of the capper from the capped position to the uncapped position prior to the print medium reaching the capper.
  • the capper is moved completely into the uncapped position by the force transfer mechanism.
  • the force transfer device includes at least one crank member mounted to pivot about an axis, the crank member including: a first region for engaging the print medium; and a second region, rotationally displaced from the first region, for engaging the capping mechanism; the crank member being configured to translate linear force provided by the print medium into a torque that causes movement of the capper from the capped position towards the uncapped position.
  • the mobile device further including a locking mechanism for holding the capper in the uncapped position whilst the print medium is being printed on by the printhead.
  • the locking mechanism includes at least one cam mounted for rotation between an unlocked position and a locked position, the at least one cam being configured such that, in the unlocked position, it extends at least partially into the feed path when the print medium is not present, the at least one cam being positioned and configured to engage an edge of the print medium as the print medium is fed through the feed path such that the at least one cam is rotated by the print medium into the locked position, such that, in the locked position, the capper is held in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the print medium is clear of the printhead.
  • the cam is resiliently biased to return to the unlocked position once the print medium edge moves past a predetermined position in the feed path, thereby causing the capper to return to the capped position.
  • the at least one cam is mounted for rotation about an axis that is substantially normal to the print medium as it engages the cam in the feed path.
  • print medium for use with the device includes a linear-encoded data track extending in an intended direction of printing, the mobile device including: a sensor configured to sense the data track during printing of the dot data; a printhead for printing onto the print medium in response to a fire control signal; and fire control means connected to generate the fire control signal based on the sensed data track.
  • the data track is a clock track containing only a clock code, the fire control means being configured to generate the fire control signal in the form of a clock signal generated from the sensed data track.
  • the data track includes first information, the first information including an embedded clock signal, the fire control means being configured to generate the fire control signal in the form of a clock signal extracted from the sensed data track.
  • the first information is indicative of at least one physical characteristic of the print medium, the mobile device being configured to control operation of the printhead at least partially on the basis of at least one of the physical characteristics.
  • the mobile device configured to use the sensed data track to determine an absolute position of the print medium with respect to the printhead, and to print onto the print medium in reliance on the determination.
  • the data track further encoding first information and the print medium further including second coded data that encodes second information, the first information being indicative of the second information, wherein the mobile device is configured to print onto the print medium such that there is a predetermined registration between what is being printed and the second coded data.
  • the mobile device includes a transceiver, the mobile device being configured to receive the information indicative of the predetermined registration from a remote computer system via a transceiver.
  • the data track further encoding first information and the print medium further including second coded data that encodes second information, the first information being indicative of the second information, wherein the mobile device is configured to determine a registration between what is being printed and the second coded data.
  • the mobile device configured to transmit the determined registration to a remote computer system via the transceiver.
  • the present invention provides a mobile device including:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between: a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead; and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print media, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead; wherein the capper is moved between the capped and uncapped position by an edge of the print media as it moves through the feed path.
  • De-capping the printhead by engagement with the media substrate avoids the need for a separate mechanism for actuating the capper. This permits a more compact cartridge so that the mobile device can adhere to a small form factor.
  • the capper is resiliently urged into the capping relationship.
  • the capping mechanism is configured such that the capper is displaced in the feed direction as it moves from the capped position to the uncapped position.
  • the capping mechanism is further configured such that the capper is simultaneously displaced in a direction away from the printhead as it is displaced in the feed direction.
  • the capping mechanism is subsequently displaced in a direction opposite the feed direction in the uncapped position.
  • the mobile device further including a locking mechanism for holding the capper in the uncapped position whilst the print media is being printed on by the printhead.
  • the locking mechanism includes at least one cam mounted for rotation between an unlocked position and a locked position, the at least one cam being configured such that, in the unlocked position, it extends at least partially into the feed path when print media is not present, the at least one cam being positioned and configured to engage an edge of the print media as the print media is fed through the feed path such that the at least one cam is rotated by the print media into the locked position, such that, in the locked position, the capper is held in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the media is clear of the printhead.
  • the cam is resiliently biased to return to the unlocked position once the print media edge moves past a predetermined position in the feed path, thereby causing the capper to return to the capped position.
  • the at least one cam is mounted for rotation about an axis that is substantially normal to the print media as it engages the cam in the feed path.
  • the mobile device further comprising a drive shaft for engaging the print media and driving it past the inkjet printhead.
  • the mobile device further comprising a drive roller for rotating the drive shaft, the drive roller being configured to be driven by a complementary drive mechanism in the mobile device when the cartridge is installed therein.
  • the drive roller is coaxial with the drive shaft.
  • the drive shaft is positioned in the print media path upstream of the printhead.
  • a mobile device further comprising a printhead having an array of ink ejection nozzles and at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead for ejection by the nozzles, each of the at least one ink reservoirs including at least one absorbent structure for inducing a negative hydrostatic pressure in the ink at the nozzles.
  • the sheet disengages from the drive shaft before completion of its printing such that the trailing edge of the sheet projects past the printhead by momentum to complete its printing.
  • the printhead comprises: an array of nozzles for ejecting ink; print data circuitry for providing the nozzles with print data; and, a photosensor for optically receiving the print data from a beacon operated by a print engine controller in the mobile device.
  • a mobile device further comprising: a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a position sensor for providing the print engine controller with a signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead; such that, the print engine controller differentiates the signal to derive the speed of the media substrate relative to the printhead and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the speed.
  • a mobile device further comprising at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead, the at least one ink reservoir comprising: a housing defining an ink storage volume; one or more baffles dividing the ink storage volume into sections, each of the sections having at least one ink outlet for sealed connection to the printhead; and, at least one conduit establishing fluid communication between the ink outlets of adjacent sections.
  • the mobile device is a telecommunication device.
  • the present invention provides a mobile device including:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between: a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead; and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print media, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • a locking mechanism configured to hold the capper in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the media is clear of the printhead.
  • the cam is resiliently biased to return to the unlocked position once the print media edge moves past a predetermined position in the feed path, thereby causing the capper to return to the capped position.
  • the at least one cam is mounted for rotation about an axis that is substantially normal to the print media as it engages the cam in the feed path.
  • the locking mechanism is configured to hold the capper in the uncapped position until after the trailing edge of the media is clear of the capper, such that the capper can be released into the capped position without capturing the print media.
  • a mobile device further including a locking mechanism for holding the capper in the uncapped position whilst the print media is being printed on by the printhead.
  • the locking mechanism includes at least one cam mounted for rotation between an unlocked position and a locked position, the at least one cam being configured such that, in the unlocked position, it extends at least partially into the feed path when print media is not present, the at least one cam being positioned and configured to engage an edge of the print media as the print media is fed through the feed path such that the at least one cam is rotated by the print media into the locked position, such that, in the locked position, the capper is held in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the media is clear of the printhead.
  • the cam is resiliently biased to return to the unlocked position once the print media edge moves past a predetermined position in the feed path, thereby causing the capper to return to the capped position.
  • the at least one cam is mounted for rotation about an axis that is substantially normal to the print media as it engages the cam in the feed path.
  • a mobile device further comprising a drive shaft for engaging the print media and driving it past the inkjet printhead.
  • a mobile device further comprising a drive roller for rotating the drive shaft, the drive roller being configured to be driven by a complementary drive mechanism in the mobile device when the cartridge is installed therein.
  • the drive roller is coaxial with the drive shaft.
  • the drive shaft is positioned in the print media path upstream of the printhead.
  • a mobile device further comprising a printhead having an array of ink ejection nozzles and at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead for ejection by the nozzles, each of the at least one ink reservoirs including at least one absorbent structure for inducing a negative hydrostatic pressure in the ink at the nozzles.
  • the sheet disengages from the drive shaft before completion of its printing such that the trailing edge of the sheet projects past the printhead by momentum to complete its printing.
  • the printhead comprises: an array of nozzles for ejecting ink; print data circuitry for providing the nozzles with print data; and, a photosensor for optically receiving the print data from a beacon operated by a print engine controller in the mobile device.
  • a mobile device further comprising: a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a position sensor for providing the print engine controller with a signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead; such that, the print engine controller differentiates the signal to derive the speed of the media substrate relative to the printhead and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the speed.
  • a mobile device further comprising at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead, the at least one ink reservoir comprising: a housing defining an ink storage volume; one or more baffles dividing the ink storage volume into sections, each of the sections having at least one ink outlet for sealed connection to the printhead; and, at least one conduit establishing fluid communication between the ink outlets of adjacent sections.
  • the mobile device is a telecommunication device.
  • the mobile device is a mobile phone.
  • the present invention provides a print medium for use with a printer, the print medium comprising: a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces; first coded data in a first data format disposed in a first data region on the laminar substrate, the first coded data encoding first information; and second coded data in a second data format disposed in a second data region on the laminar substrate, the second coded data encoding second information; wherein the first information is indicative of the second information.
  • the first information is the same as the second information.
  • the first information is a document identifier.
  • the first format is a linear pattern.
  • the second format is a two-dimensional pattern.
  • the first format is a linear-encoded data track.
  • the first format is a linear-encoded data track.
  • either or both of the first and second coded data are substantially invisible to the average unaided human eye.
  • a print medium further including one or more additional regions, each of the one or more additional regions including further coded data in the first format.
  • the coded data in each of the additional regions includes the first information.
  • the coded data in each of the first region and the additional regions includes an orientation indicator that is unique to each of the respective first and additional regions.
  • each orientation indicator includes sufficient bits' worth of data to uniquely identify the region within which the corresponding coded data is disposed.
  • the additional regions there are three of the additional regions, and wherein: the first coded data and the coded data of one of the additional regions are disposed along opposite edges on a first of the faces; and the coded data of the remaining two additional regions are disposed along the opposite edges on the second of the faces.
  • the second coded data is disposed between the first coded data and the one of the additional regions on the first of the faces.
  • the print medium including further coded data in the second format, the further coded data being disposed between the additional regions on the second of the faces.
  • the print medium further including human-readable information pre-printed on at least one of the faces.
  • the human-readable information includes at least one direction indicator.
  • the human-readable information includes at least one icon indicative of a function.
  • the first information includes an embedded clock signal.
  • the print medium further including at least one clock track on at least one of the faces.
  • the present invention provides a mobile telecommunications device including: a transceiver for sending and receiving signals via a wireless telecommunications network; processing means for processing connection history information relating to communications sent to or from the mobile telecommunications device via the transceiver, to generate dot data representing a visual layout of the connection history information; and a integral printer configured to receive the dot data and print it onto a print medium.
  • connection history information includes an originating address of at least one previous connection or attempted connection with the mobile telecommunications device.
  • connection history information includes an identity of a person or other entity associated with the originating address.
  • connection history information includes a human-readable indication that a voice-mail has been received from the originating address.
  • connection history information includes one or more connections or connection attempts made via the mobile telecommunications device.
  • the print medium includes a linear-encoded data track extending in an intended direction of printing
  • the mobile device including: a sensor configured to sense the data track during printing of the dot data; a printhead for printing onto the print medium in response to a fire control signal; and fire control means connected to generate the fire control signal based on the sensed data track.
  • the mobile device further including a light-emitting device for illuminating the data track while the sensor is sensing it during printing.
  • the data track is printed with infrared ink
  • the light-emitting device emits light in the infrared spectrum
  • the photosensor is sensitive in the infrared spectrum.
  • the data track is a clock track containing only a clock code, the fire control means being configured to generate the fire control signal in the form of a clock signal generated from the sensed data track.
  • the data track includes first information, the first information including an embedded clock signal, the fire control means being configured to generate the fire control signal in the form of a clock signal extracted from the sensed data track.
  • the first information is indicative of at least one physical characteristic of the print medium, the mobile device being configured to control operation of the printhead at least partially on the basis of at least one of the physical characteristics.
  • a mobile device configured to use the sensed data track to determine an absolute position of the print medium with respect to the printhead, and to print onto the print medium in reliance on the determination.
  • the data track further encoding first information and the print medium further including second coded data that encodes second information, the first information being indicative of the second information, wherein the mobile device is configured to print onto the print medium such that there is a predetermined registration between what is being printed and the second coded data.
  • a mobile device configured to receive the information indicative of the predetermined registration from a remote computer system via the transceiver.
  • the data track further encoding first information and the print medium further including second coded data that encodes second information, the first information being indicative of the second information, wherein the mobile device is configured to determine a registration between what is being printed and the second coded data.
  • a mobile device configured to transmit the determined registration to a remote computer system via the transceiver.
  • the present invention provides an ink cartridge for use in a mobile device, the ink cartridge including: at least one ink reservoir for holding ink; at least one baffle dividing the at least one ink reservoir into a plurality of sections, each of the sections in each ink reservoir being in fluid communication with each of the other sections in that ink reservoir via an aperture; and at least one porous insert in each of the at least one reservoirs, such that substantially all of each ink reservoir is filled with the at least one porous insert.
  • each reservoir includes a single porous insert including at least one recessed portion, each recessed portion being configured to engage one of the baffles in the reservoir.
  • each porous insert around the recessed portion sealingly engages a surface of its corresponding baffle.
  • porous insert is of unitary construction.
  • the porous insert is formed from open-celled foam.
  • an ink cartridge further including a wick that extends along an edge of the at least one porous insert, the wick being configured to transport ink from the at least one porous insert to an ink distribution arrangement configured to distribute the ink to a pagewidth printhead forming part of the cartridge.
  • the ink distribution arrangement includes a plurality of ink ducts.
  • an ink cartridge configured such that ink within the at least one reservoir is held at a negative pressure with respect to ambient air pressure.
  • an ink cartridge further including a plurality of the ink reservoirs, the ink reservoirs containing relatively different colored inks.
  • an n ink cartridge comprising: a print media feed path for directing a print medium past the printhead in a feed direction during printing; and a drive mechanism for driving the print medium past the inkjet printhead for printing.
  • the drive mechanism is a passive mechanism, including a media roller for engaging the print medium to drive it past the inkjet printhead.
  • an ink cartridge further including a drive roller configured to be driven by a complementary drive mechanism in the mobile device when the cartridge is installed therein.
  • the media roller is coaxial with the drive roller.
  • the media roller is positioned in the print media path upstream of the printhead.
  • the cartridge is configured such that, in use, the media roller drives the print medium such that a trailing edge of the print medium passes the printhead after having disengaged from the media roller.
  • the drive roller is a cog.
  • the drive roller includes a resilient peripheral edge.
  • a cartridge comprising a capping mechanism for capping the printhead when it is not hi use.
  • the capping mechanism includes a capper moveable between: a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead; and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print medium, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead; wherein the capper is moved between the capped and uncapped position by an edge of the print medium as it is driven through the print media path.
  • a cartridge comprising a sensor for sensing coded data on the print medium as it is being printed.
  • the present invention provides a method of retrieving and storing a ri ⁇ gtone in a mobile telecommunications device, the method comprising the steps, performed in the mobile telecommunications device, of: sensing coded data printed on a surface; decoding the coded data to generate decoded data; transmitting a request for the ringtone based on the decoded data, the request being transmitted via a mobile telecommunications network; receiving the requested ringtone from a remote computer system via the mobile telecommunications network, the ringtone being in a format that is useable as a ringtone by the mobile telecommunications device; and storing the ringtone in the mobile telecommunications device.
  • a method further including the step of associating the ringtone with at least one ring event in the mobile telecommunications device.
  • the ringtone is a digital sample.
  • the request is indicative of the mobile telecommunications device's type, such that the ringtone is received in a suitable format.
  • the mobile telecommunication device's type is recorded in the mobile telecommunications network and determined by the computer system to determine the correct format of ringtone to transmit.
  • a method of retrieving and storing a theme or wallpaper in a mobile telecommunications device comprising the steps, performed in the mobile telecommunications device, of: sensing coded data printed on a surface; decoding the coded data to generate decoded data; transmitting a request for the theme or wallpaper based on the decoded data, the request being transmitted via a mobile telecommunications network; receiving the requested theme or wallpaper from a remote computer system via the mobile telecommunications network, the theme or wallpapering being in a format that is useable by the mobile telecommunications device; and storing the wallpaper or theme in the mobile telecommunications device.
  • the method including the step of automatically applying the wallpaper or theme to the mobile telecommunications device upon receipt.
  • the request is indicative of the mobile telecommunications device's type, such that the wallpaper or theme is received in a suitable format.
  • the mobile telecommunication device's type is recorded in the mobile telecommunications network and determined by the computer system to determine the correct format of wallpaper or theme to transmit.
  • the mobile telecommunications device includes a printer, the printer being configured to print onto a print medium, such that the printed medium includes coded data that can be sensed to initiate generation and transmission of the request.
  • the print medium is pre-printed with the coded data, the printer being configured to print a user interface onto the print medium.
  • the mobile telecommunications device includes a sensor, the sensor being configured to sense at least some coded data on the print medium during printing, the mobile telecommunications device being configured to use the sensed coded data to print the user interface onto the print medium in accordance with a registration.
  • a method further including the step of receiving the known registration prior to commencing printing.
  • the coded data includes a linear-coded data track, the method including the step of extracting a clock from the data track and using the clock to synchronize printing of the user interface onto to print medium.
  • the present invention provides a print cartridge for a mobile telecommunications device, the cartridge comprising: a drive shaft with a media engagement surface for feeding a media substrate along a feed path; and, a media guide adjacent the drive shaft for biasing the media substrate against the media engagement surface.
  • any mobile telecommunications device that incorporates a printhead and media feed assembly does not significantly increase the overall size.
  • Using a single drive shaft and media guide is significantly more compact than an opposed pair of media drive rollers.
  • a print cartridge further comprising at least one ink reservoir, an inkjet printhead and a capper for capping the printhead when not in use.
  • a print cartridge further comprising a rigid outer casing enclosing the ink reservoir, the printhead, and capper, the outer casing defining a media entry slot and a media exit slot.
  • a print cartridge further comprising a drive roller mounted to the drive shaft, the drive roller having an elastomeric rim for abutting a drive system in the mobile telecommunications device.
  • a print cartridge further comprising electrical contacts for power and print data on the outer casing, the contacts and the drive roller positioned for simultaneously engaging corresponding contacts and the drive system respectively upon insertion into the mobile telecommunications device.
  • a print cartridge further comprising a printhead having an array of ink ejection nozzles and at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead for ejection by the nozzles, each of the at least one ink reservoirs including at least one absorbent structure for inducing a negative hydrostatic pressure in the ink at the nozzles, and a capping mechanism for capping the printhead when not in use.
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print media, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • a force transfer mechanism connected to the capper and configured such that a force provided by an edge of the media as it moves relative to the feed path is transferred to the capper by the force transfer mechanism, thereby to at least commence movement of the capper from the capped position to the uncapped position prior to the media reaching the capper.
  • a print cartridge further comprising:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print media, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • a locking mechanism configured to hold the capper in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the media is clear of the printhead.
  • a print cartridge further comprising:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print media;
  • the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • a print cartridge further comprising: a printhead for printing on to the media substrate; and, the media substrate is a sheet; wherein during use, the sheet disengages from the drive shaft before completion of its printing such that the trailing edge of the sheet projects past the printhead by momentum to complete its printing.
  • a print cartridge further comprising a printhead, wherein the printhead comprises: an array of nozzles for ejecting ink; print data circuitry for providing the nozzles with print data; and, a photosensor for optically receiving the print data from a beacon operated by a print engine controller in the mobile telecommunications device.
  • the mobile telecommunications device has a drive system for rotating the drive shaft by friction.
  • a print cartridge further comprising: an inkjet printhead for printing to the media substrate; and, the mobile telecommunications device comprises: a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a position sensor for providing the print engine controller with a signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead; such that, the print engine controller differentiates the signal to derive the speed of the media substrate relative to the printhead and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the speed.
  • a print cartridge further comprising an inkjet printhead for printing to the media substrate; and, the mobile telecommunications device comprises: a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; wherein during use, the print engine controller senses the number of complete and partial rotations of the drive shaft and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the angular velocity of the drive shaft.
  • a print cartridge further comprising at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to a printhead, the at least one ink reservoir comprising: a housing defining an ink storage volume; one or more baffles dividing the ink storage volume into sections, each of the sections having at least one ink outlet for sealed connection to the printhead; and, at least one conduit establishing fluid communication between the ink outlets of adjacent sections.
  • the media substrate is a sheet with coded data on at least part of its surface; and the mobile telecommunications device further comprises a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a sensor for reading the coded data and generating a signal indicative of at least one dimension of the sheet, and transmitting the signal to the print engine controller; such that, the print engine controller uses the signal to initiate the printing when the sheet is at a predetermined position relative to the printhead.
  • a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead
  • a sensor for reading the coded data and generating a signal indicative of at least one dimension of the sheet, and transmitting the signal to the print engine controller; such that, the print engine controller uses the signal to initiate the printing when the sheet is at a predetermined position relative to the printhead.
  • a print cartridge further comprising a printhead for printing the media substrate, the media substrate having coded data on at least part of its surface;
  • the mobile telecommunications device further comprising a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a dual sensing facility for reading the coded data before, as well as after, it has past the printhead.
  • a mobile telecommunications device comprising: a printhead with an array of nozzles for printing a media substrate; a capper assembly movable between a capped position covering the nozzles and an uncapped position spaced from the nozzles; wherein, the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • any mobile telecommunications device that incorporates a printhead and media feed assembly does not significantly increase the overall size. Using the media substrate to move the capper from the capped position before printing avoids the need for a separate uncapping mechanism.
  • the sheet of media substrate is encoded and the print engine controller uses an optical sensor to determine the position of the sheet relative to the printhead.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising a drive shaft for feeding the media past the printhead.
  • the media substrate is a sheet and the trailing edge of the sheet disengages from the drive shaft before it is printed and is projected past the printhead by its momentum.
  • the capper assembly lightly grips the sheet after it has been printed so that it partially extends from the mobile telecommunications device in readiness for manual collection.
  • the capper assembly moves out of the capped position and toward the uncapped position upon engagement with the leading edge of the sheet.
  • the printhead is incorporated into a cartridge that further comprises a print media feed path for directing the print media past the printhead in a feed direction during printing, and a drive mechanism for driving the print media past the printhead for printing.
  • the printhead has an array of ink ejection nozzles and is incorporated into a cartridge that further comprises at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead for ejection by the nozzles, each of the at least one ink reservoirs including at least one absorbent structure for inducing a negative hydrostatic pressure in the ink at the nozzles, and a capping mechanism for capping the printhead when not in use.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print media, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • a force transfer mechanism connected to the capper and configured such that a force provided by an edge of the media as it moves relative to the feed path is transferred to the capper by the force transfer mechanism, thereby to at least commence movement of the capper from the capped position to the uncapped position prior to the media reaching the capper.
  • a locking mechanism configured to hold the capper in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the media is clear of the printhead.
  • the drive assembly has a drive shaft with a media engagement surface for feeding a media substrate along a feed path;
  • a media guide adjacent the drive shaft for biasing the media substrate against the media engagement surface
  • a mobile telecommunications device 1 further comprising: a drive shaft for feeding the sheet of media substrate past the printhead; wherein during use, the sheet disengages from the drive shaft before completion of its printing such that the trailing edge of the sheet projects past the printhead by momentum to complete its printing.
  • the printhead comprises: an array of nozzles for ejecting ink; print data circuitry for providing the nozzles with print data; and,
  • a photosensor for optically receiving the print data from a beacon operated by a print engine controller.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising: a drive shaft for feeding the sheet of media substrate past the printhead and a drive system to rotate the drive shaft; wherein, the drive system rotates the drive roller by friction.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising: a media feed assembly for feeding the media past the printhead; a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a position sensor for providing the print engine controller with a signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead; such that, the print engine controller differentiates the signal to derive the speed of the media substrate relative to the printhead and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the speed.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising: a drive shaft for feeding the media past the printhead; and, a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; wherein during use, the print engine controller senses the number of complete and partial rotations of the drive shaft and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the angular velocity of the drive shaft.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising at least one ink reservoir, the at least one reservoir comprising: a housing defining an ink storage volume; one or more baffles dividing the ink storage volume into sections, each of the sections having at least one ink outlet for sealed connection to the printhead; and, at least one conduit establishing fluid communication between the ink outlets of adjacent sections.
  • the media substrate is a sheet with coded data disposed on at least part of its surface;
  • the mobile ' telecommunications device further comprising: a media feed assembly for feeding the sheet of media substrate along a feed path past the printhead; a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a sensor for reading the coded data and generating a signal indicative of at least one dimension of the sheet, and transmitting the signal to the print engine controller; such that, the print engine controller uses the signal to initiate the printing when the sheet is at a predetermined position relative to the printhead.
  • the media substrate is a sheet with coded data disposed on at least part of its surface; the mobile telecommunications device further comprising: a media feed assembly for feeding the sheet of media substrate along a feed path past the printhead; a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a dual sensing facility for reading the coded data before, as well as after, it has past the printhead.
  • the present invention provides a mobile telecommunications device comprising: a printhead for printing a sheet of media substrate; a drive shaft for feeding the sheet of media substrate past the printhead; wherein during use, the sheet disengages from the drive shaft before completion of its printing such that the trailing edge of the sheet projects past the printhead by momentum to complete its printing.
  • any mobile telecommunications device that incorporates a printhead and media feed assembly does not significantly increase the overall size and compact form factor.
  • Using a single drive shaft in a mobile telecommunications device with a printhead allows for a compact design. However, this makes full bleed printing (printing to the edges of the media sheet) difficult. If the single shaft is after the printhead, it is difficult to accurately print the leading portion of the sheet as it is manually fed past the printhead. Also, contact between the roller and the freshly printed media can degrade the print quality. Likewise, the trailing portion of the sheet can get artifacts in the print if the feed roller is before the printhead and the trailing portion is manually drawn past the printhead to complete its printing. Configuring the drive shaft so that the trailing edge of the media carries past the printhead by momentum will allow foil bleed printing using a single feed roller for a compact design.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising a media guide adjacent the drive shaft for biasing the media substrate against the drive shaft.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising a drive system for transmitting torque to the drive shaft, the drive system having a drive wheel wherein the drive shaft can be moved into contact with the rim of the drive wheel for the transfer of torque.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising: a print engine controller for controlling the operation of the printhead; and, a position sensor connected to the print engine controller such that the print engine controller can determine the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead.
  • the position sensor reads encoded data on the media substrate.
  • the position sensor senses the number of rotations of the drive shaft.
  • the printhead and the drive shaft are incorporated into a replaceable cartridge for insertion into a print media feed path within the mobile telecommunications device.
  • the printhead has an array of ink ejection nozzles and is incorporated into a cartridge that further comprises at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead for ejection by the nozzles, each of the at least one ink reservoirs including at least one absorbent structure for inducing a negative hydrostatic pressure in the ink at the nozzles, and a capping mechanism for capping the printhead when not in use.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising:
  • a force transfer mechanism connected to the capper and configured such that a force provided by an edge of the media substrate as it moves relative to the feed path is transferred to the capper by the force transfer mechanism, thereby to at least commence movement of the capper from the capped position to the uncapped position prior to the media substrate reaching the capper.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising:
  • a print media feed path for directing media substrate past the printhead in a feed direction during printing
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • a locking mechanism configured to hold the capper in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the media substrate is clear of the printhead.
  • the drive shaft has a media engagement surface for enhanced contact friction with the media substrate.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising a print engine controller with a light emitting beacon
  • the printhead comprises: an array of nozzles for ejecting ink; print data circuitry for providing the nozzles with print data; and, a photosensor for optically receiving the print data from the beacon.
  • the drive shaft is driven by a piezo-electric resonant linear drive system.
  • a mobile telecommunications further comprising: a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a position sensor for providing the print engine controller with a signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead; such that, the print engine controller differentiates the signal to derive the speed of the media substrate relative to the printhead and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the speed.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising: a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; wherein during use, the print engine controller senses the number of complete and partial rotations of the drive shaft and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the angular velocity of the drive shaft.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising at least one ink reservoir, the at least one reservoir comprising: a housing defining an ink storage volume; one or more baffles dividing the ink storage volume into sections, each of the sections having at least one ink outlet for sealed connection to the printhead; and, at least one conduit establishing fluid communication between the ink outlets of adjacent sections.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising: a media feed assembly for feeding the sheet of media substrate along a feed path past the printhead; a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a sensor for reading coded data on at least part of the media substrate and generating a signal indicative of at least one dimension of the sheet, and transmitting the signal to the print engine controller; such that, the print engine controller uses the signal to initiate the printing when the sheet is at a predetermined position relative to the printhead.
  • the present invention provides a mobile device comprising: a processor for outputting print data; a replaceable printhead cartridge including a photosensor and a printhead for printing onto print media; and a light emitting device for receiving the print data and converting it into a modulated light signal; wherein the photosensor and the light emitting device are positioned and orientated such that, in use, the photosensor receives the modulated light signal, the printhead being configured to print on the basis of the print data encoded in the modulated light signal.
  • the light emitting device is a light emitting diode.
  • the light emitting device is an organic light emitting diode.
  • the photosensor is mounted directly to the printhead within the print cartridge.
  • a mobile device further including: a receptacle for holding the cartridge; an energy storage device; first electrical contacts connected to receive electrical power from the energy storage device; and second electrical contacts disposed on or in the printhead cartridge; the first and second contacts being configured and arranged to electrically engage each other when the cartridge is installed in the receptacle.
  • the energy storage device is a battery.
  • each of the ink ejection mechanisms includes a thermal bend actuator.
  • each of the ink ejection mechanisms includes a heater for ejecting ink by vaporisation.
  • the present invention provides a printhead for an inkjet printer with a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead, the printhead comprising: an array of nozzles for ejecting ink; print data circuitry for providing the nozzles with print data; and, an optical sensor for optically receiving the print data from a beacon operated by the print engine controller.
  • InkJet printhead ICs will typically receive print data as well as nozzle actuation power from a TAB film. However, with large numbers of nozzles and high nozzle firing rates, the nozzle actuation signals can generate a significant amount of noise which can interfere with the print data signal. To provide the printhead with a 'cleaner' print data signal, it can be transmitted via an optical link to a sensor on directly on the printhead IC. By pulsing a beacon in the appropriate spectrum, the optical sensor receives the signal free of any electrical noise due to the firing pulses.
  • the optical sensor is an IR sensor and the beacon is an IR LED.
  • the printhead is part of a cartridge that can be inserted into the printer.
  • the inkjet printer is part of a mobile telecommunications device.
  • a mobile telecommunications device comprising: a print engine controller with a light emitting beacon; and, a printhead with an array of nozzles for ejecting ink, print data circuitry for providing the nozzles with print data; and, a sensor for receiving the print data from the beacon.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising a drive shaft wherein the printhead and drive shaft are incorporated into a replaceable cartridge for insertion into a media feed path within the mobile telecommunications device.
  • the printhead is incorporated into a cartridge that further comprises at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead for ejection by the nozzles, each of the at least one ink reservoirs including at least one absorbent structure for inducing a negative hydrostatic pressure in the ink at the nozzles, and a capping mechanism for capping the printhead when not in use.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • a force transfer mechanism connected to the capper and configured such that a force provided by an edge of the media substrate as it moves relative to the feed path is transferred to the capper by the force transfer mechanism, thereby to at least commence movement of the capper from the capped position to the uncapped position prior to the media substrate reaching the capper.
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • a locking mechanism configured to hold the capper in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the media substrate is clear of the printhead.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising a drive shaft with a media engagement surface for enhanced contact friction with the media substrate.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • the senor is a photosensor for optically receiving the print data from the beacon.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising a drive shaft driven by a piezo-electric resonant linear drive system.
  • the print engine controller senses the number of complete and partial rotations of the drive shaft and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the angular velocity of the drive shaft.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising at least one ink reservoir, the at least one reservoir comprising: a housing defining an ink storage volume; one or more baffles dividing the ink storage volume into sections, each of the sections having at least one ink outlet for sealed connection to the printhead; and, at least one conduit establishing fluid communication between the ink outlets of adjacent sections.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising: a media feed assembly for feeding a sheet of the media substrate along a feed path past the printhead; and, a sensor for reading coded data on at least part of the media substrate and generating a signal indicative of at least one dimension of the sheet, and transmitting the signal to the print engine controller; such that, the print engine controller uses the signal to initiate the printing when the sheet is at a predetermined position relative to the printhead.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising: a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a dual sensor facility for reading coded data on at least part of the media substrate before, as well as after, it has past the printhead.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising: a drive shaft for feeding a sheet of the media substrate along a feed path past the printhead, wherein the sheet disengages from the drive shaft before completion of its printing such that the trailing edge of the sheet projects past the printhead by momentum to complete its printing.
  • the present invention provides a print cartridge for an inkjet printer with a media drive assembly, the cartridge comprising: a drive shaft for feeding a media substrate past a printhead, the drive shaft positioned such that it engages the media drive assembly upon installation of the cartridge; wherein during use, the drive assembly transfer torque to the drive shaft by contact friction.
  • the drive shaft has a drive wheel mounted to it for the frictional engagement with the drive assembly.
  • the rim of the drive wheel is formed from an elastomeric material.
  • the drive assembly has an idler roller to provide the frictional contact with the drive wheel.
  • the drive assembly has an electric motor to drive the idler roller.
  • the drive assembly has a piezo electric resonating linear drive to drive the idler roller.
  • a print cartridge further comprising:
  • a force transfer mechanism connected to the capper and configured such that a force provided by an edge of the media as it moves relative to the feed path is transferred to the capper by the force transfer mechanism, thereby to at least commence movement of the capper from the capped position to the uncapped position prior to the media reaching the capper.
  • a print cartridge further comprising:
  • a locking mechanism configured to hold the capper in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the media is clear of the printhead.
  • a print cartridge further comprising:
  • the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • the media substrate is a sheet that, during use, disengages from the drive shaft before completion of its printing such that the trailing edge of the sheet projects past the printhead by momentum to complete its printing.
  • the printer has a print engine controller with a light emitting beacon, and the printhead comprises: an array of nozzles for ejecting ink; print data circuitry for providing the nozzles with print data; and, a photosensor for optically receiving the print data from the beacon.
  • the printer is incorporated into a mobile telecommunications device.
  • the cartridge incorporates the printhead; and, the printer comprises: a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a position sensor for providing the print engine controller with a signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead; such that, the print engine controller differentiates the signal to derive the speed of the media substrate relative to the printhead and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the speed.
  • the printer comprises: a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a position sensor for providing the print engine controller with a signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead; such that, the print engine controller differentiates the signal to derive the speed of the media substrate relative to the printhead and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the speed.
  • the cartridge incorporates the printhead; and, the printer comprises: a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; wherein during use, the print engine controller senses the number of complete and partial rotations of the drive shaft and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the angular velocity of the drive shaft.
  • a print cartridge further comprising at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead, the at least one ink reservoir comprising: a housing defining an ink storage volume; one or more baffles dividing the ink storage volume into sections, each of the sections having at least one ink outlet for sealed connection to the printhead; and, at least one conduit establishing fluid communication between the ink outlets of adjacent sections.
  • the media substrate is a sheet with coded data on at least part of its surface; and the printer further comprises a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a sensor for reading the coded data and generating a signal indicative of at least one dimension of the sheet, and transmitting the signal to the print engine controller; such that, the print engine controller uses the signal to initiate the printing when the sheet is at a predetermined position relative to the printhead.
  • a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead
  • a sensor for reading the coded data and generating a signal indicative of at least one dimension of the sheet, and transmitting the signal to the print engine controller; such that, the print engine controller uses the signal to initiate the printing when the sheet is at a predetermined position relative to the printhead.
  • the media substrate has coded data on at least part of its surface; and, the printer further comprising a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a dual sensing facility for reading the coded data before, as well as after, it has past the printhead.
  • the drive shaft has a media engagement surface for feeding a media substrate along a feed path; and, the cartridge further comprises a media guide adjacent the drive shaft for biasing the media substrate against the media engagement surface.
  • the present invention provides a mobile telecommunications device comprising: an inkjet printhead for printing to a media substrate; a media feed assembly for feeding the media past the printhead; a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a position sensor for providing the print engine controller with a signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead; such that, the print engine controller differentiates the signal to derive the speed of the media substrate relative to the printhead and adjusts the operation of the printhead in. response to variations in the speed.
  • any mobile telecommunications device that incorporates a printhead and media feed assembly does not significantly increase the overall size and compact form factor of currently available mobile telecommunications devices.
  • Using a single media feed roller in a mobile telecommunications device with a printhead allows for a compact design.
  • the feed roller must be immediately before the printhead (in terms of media feed direction) so that the trailing edge of the media carries past the printhead by momentum. Because of this, the speed of the feed roller varies during the printing of the media sheet. Firstly, when the leading edge of the media sheet initially engages the feed roller the additional load decreases angular speed. Once the frictional engagement between the roller and the media has been established, the angular speed increases again.
  • the roller As the printhead is so close to the feed roller, the roller is still speeding up when the leading edge is being printed. If the print engine controller (PEC) assumes that the speed of the roller is constant, visible artifacts appear in the printing of the leading edge portion of the media sheet. By allowing the PEC to sense the longitudinal position of the media relative to the printhead, it can then derive its speed and adjust the operation of the nozzles in response to any variations to remove artifacts from the printing.
  • PEC print engine controller
  • the media substrate is printed with encoded data and the position sensor optically reads the encoded data to generate the signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to printhead.
  • the media feed assembly has a media feed roller with encoding, such that the position sensor optically reads the encoding to sense the number of complete and partial rotations of the media feed roller to generate the signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead.
  • the printhead has an array of nozzles and a capper assembly movable between a capped position covering the printhead nozzles and an uncapped position spaced from the printhead nozzles, the capper assembly being adapted for engagement with the media substrate to move it away of the capped position and towards the uncapped position.
  • the media substrate is a sheet with a leading edge that engages the capper assembly and a trailing edge that disengages from the media feed roller before it is printed and is projected past the printhead by its momentum such that the media feed roller accelerates from the reduction in load and the sheet decelerates from friction.
  • the capper assembly lightly grips the sheet after it has been printed so that it partially extends from the mobile telecommunications device in readiness for manual collection.
  • the media feed assembly has a drive shaft, the drive and the printhead being incorporated into a replaceable cartridge for insertion into a print media feed path within the mobile telecommunications device.
  • the printhead has an array of ink ejection nozzles and is incorporated into a cartridge that further comprises at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead for ejection by the nozzles, each of the at least one ink reservoirs including at least one absorbent structure for inducing a negative hydrostatic pressure in the ink at the nozzles, and a capping mechanism for capping the printhead when not in use.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • the media feed assembly has a drive shaft with a media engagement surface for enhanced contact friction with the media substrate.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • the print engine controller has a light emitting beacon
  • the printhead further comprises: an array of nozzles for ejecting ink; print data circuitry for providing the nozzles with print data; and,
  • a sensor for receiving the print data from the beacon.
  • the media feed assembly has a drive shaft driven by a piezo-electric resonant linear drive system.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising at least one ink reservoir, the at least one reservoir comprising: a housing defining an ink storage volume; one or more baffles dividing the ink storage volume into sections, each of the sections having at least one ink outlet for sealed connection to the printhead; and, at least one conduit establishing fluid communication between the ink outlets of adjacent sections.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising: a sensor for reading coded data on at least part of the media substrate and generating a signal indicative of at least one dimension of the sheet, and transmitting the signal to the print engine controller; such that, the print engine controller uses the signal to initiate the printing when the sheet is at a predetermined position relative to the printhead.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising a dual sensing facility for reading coded data on at least part of the media substrate before, as well as after, it has past the printhead.
  • the present invention provides a mobile telecommunications device comprising: an inkjet printhead for printing to a media substrate; a drive shaft for feeding the media past the printhead; and, a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; wherein during use, the print engine controller senses the number of complete and partial rotations of the media feed roller and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the angular velocity of the drive shaft.
  • Using a single media drive shaft in a mobile telecommunications device with a printhead allows for a compact design.
  • the drive shaft must be immediately before the printhead (in terms of media feed direction) so that the trailing edge of the media carries past the printhead by momentum. Because of this, the speed of the drive shaft varies during the printing of the media sheet. Firstly, when the leading edge of the media sheet initially engages the feed roller the additional load decreases angular speed. Once the frictional engagement between the roller and the media has been established, the angular speed increases again. As the printhead is so close to the feed roller, the roller is still speeding up when the leading edge is being printed.
  • the print engine controller (PEC) assumes that the speed of the roller is constant, visible artifacts appear in the printing of the leading edge portion of the media sheet.
  • the PEC can determine the longitudinal position of the media relative to the printhead and adjust the operation of the nozzles in response to variations in roller speed to remove artifacts from the printing.
  • the drive shaft has optical encoding and the print engine controller uses an optical sensor to sense the number of complete and partial rotations of the drive shaft.
  • the printhead has a capper assembly movable between a capped position covering the printhead nozzles and an uncapped position spaced from the printhead nozzles, the capper assembly being adapted for engagement with the media substrate to move it away of the capped position and towards the uncapped position.
  • the media substrate is a sheet with a leading edge that engages the capper assembly and a trailing edge that disengages from the drive shaft before it is printed and is projected past the printhead by its momentum such that the drive shaft accelerates from the reduction in load and the sheet decelerates from friction.
  • the capper assembly lightly grips the sheet after it has been printed so that it partially extends from the mobile telecommunications device in readiness for manual collection.
  • the capper assembly returns to the capped position after the sheet has been manually collected from the mobile telecommunications device.
  • the printhead and the drive shaft are incorporated into a replaceable cartridge for insertion into a print media feed path within the mobile telecommunications device.
  • the printhead has an array of ink ejection nozzles and is incorporated into a cartridge that further comprises at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead for ejection by the nozzles, each of the at least one ink reservoirs including at least one absorbent structure for inducing a negative hydrostatic pressure in the ink at the nozzles, and a capping mechanism for capping the printhead when not in use.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • a force transfer mechanism connected to the capper and configured such that a force provided by an edge of the media substrate as it moves relative to the feed path is transferred to the capper by the force transfer mechanism, thereby to at least commence movement of the capper from the capped position to the uncapped position prior to the media substrate reaching the capper.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • a locking mechanism configured to hold the capper in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the media substrate is clear of the printhead.
  • the drive shaft has a media engagement surface for enhanced contact friction with the media substrate.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • the print engine controller has a light emitting beacon
  • the printhead further comprises: an array of nozzles for ejecting ink; print data circuitry for providing the nozzles with print data; and, a photosensor for optically receiving the print data from the beacon.
  • the drive shaft is driven by a piezo-electric resonant linear drive system.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising: a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a position sensor for providing the print engine controller with a signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead; such that, the print engine controller differentiates the signal to derive the speed of the media substrate relative to the printhead and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the speed.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising at least one ink reservoir, the at least one reservoir comprising: a housing defining an ink storage volume; one or more baffles dividing the ink storage volume into sections, each of the sections having at least one ink outlet for sealed connection to the printhead; and, at least one conduit establishing fluid communication between the ink outlets of adjacent sections.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising a sensor for reading coded data on at least part of the media substrate and generating a signal indicative of at least one dimension of the sheet, and transmitting the signal to the print engine controller; such that, the print engine controller uses the signal to initiate the printing when the sheet is at a predetermined position relative to the printhead.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising a dual sensing facility for reading coded data on at least part of the media substrate before, as well as after, it has past the printhead.
  • the present invention provides a mobile telecommunications device comprising:
  • a printhead for printing on a media substrate
  • a drive shaft for feeding the media substrate past the printhead
  • a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, an ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead, the reservoir having:
  • a housing defining an ink storage volume
  • baffles dividing the ink storage volume into sections, each of the sections having at least one ink outlet for sealed connection to the printhead;
  • At least one conduit establishing fluid communication between the ink outlets of adjacent sections.
  • the at least one conduit has a cross sectional area small enough such that capillary action prevents ink from draining of the conduit under gravity regardless of the orientation of the housing.
  • the at least one conduit is defined by one or more channels formed in the exterior surface of the housing and covered by a sealing film adhered to the exterior surface, the sealing film having apertures for each of the outlets respectively for fluid communication with the printhead.
  • the printhead is a pagewidth printhead.
  • the printhead and the drive shaft are incorporated into a replaceable cartridge for insertion into a print media feed path within the mobile telecommunications device.
  • the printhead has an array of ink ejection nozzles and is incorporated into a cartridge that further comprises at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead for ejection by the nozzles, each of the at least one ink reservoirs including at least one absorbent structure for inducing a negative hydrostatic pressure in the ink at the nozzles, and a capping mechanism for capping the printhead when not in use.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • the drive shaft has a media engagement surface for enhanced contact friction with the media substrate.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • the print engine controller has a light emitting beacon, and the printhead further comprises:
  • print data circuitry for providing the nozzles with print data
  • a photosensor for optically receiving the print data from the beacon.
  • the drive shaft is driven by a piezo-electric resonant linear drive system.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising:
  • a position sensor for providing the print engine controller with a signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead
  • the print engine controller differentiates the signal to derive the speed of the media substrate relative to the printhead and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the speed.
  • the print engine controller senses the number of complete and partial rotations of the drive shaft and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the angular velocity of the drive shaft.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising:
  • a sensor for reading coded data on at least part of the media substrate and generating a signal indicative of at least one dimension of the sheet, and transmitting the signal to the print engine controller; such that, the print engine controller uses the signal to initiate the printing when the sheet is at a predetermined position relative to the printhead.
  • a mobile telecommunications device further comprising:
  • a dual sensing facility for reading coded data on at least part of the media substrate before, as well as after, it has past the printhead.
  • the present invention provides a print medium configured to be printed on by a mobile device in a print direction, the print medium comprising: a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces; and a data track containing first information encoded in accordance with a linear encoding scheme, the data track extending in a linear read direction across a portion of the first face of the print medium, the read direction being oriented at between 45 and 135 degrees with respect to the print direction.
  • the read direction is orientated at about 90 degrees with respect to the print direction.
  • a print medium further including a leading edge and trailing edge opposite the leading edge, the print medium being designed for insertion leading-edge-first into the mobile device for printing, wherein the data track is positioned closer to the leading edge than to the trailing edge.
  • the data track is positioned at or adjacent the leading edge.
  • the data track is printed in infrared ink.
  • the data track is printed in infrared ink that is substantially invisible to an average unaided human eye.
  • a print medium further including coded data containing second information encoded in accordance with a second encoding scheme distinct from the linear encoding scheme, wherein the first information is indicative of the second information.
  • the first information is the same as the second information.
  • the first and second information are a document identifier.
  • a method of printing onto a print medium using a mobile device that includes a printhead and a data track reader comprising the steps of:
  • step (d) includes the substeps of:
  • step (g) including printing onto the print medium based at least partially on the print data.
  • the first information is indicative of a physical characteristic of the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of a size of the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of a media type associate with the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of information pre-printed onto the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of an identity of the print medium.
  • a print medium further including a second linear-encoded data track extending along at least a portion of at least one face of the print medium.
  • the second linear-encoded data track is printed in infrared ink that is substantially invisible to an average unaided human eye.
  • the second linear-encoded data track includes an extractable clock useable by the mobile device in synchronizing printing onto the print medium.
  • the present invention provides a method of printing onto a print medium using a mobile device with a printhead and sensor, the print medium comprising: a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces; and a data track containing first information encoded in accordance with a linear encoding scheme, the data track extending in a linear read direction across a portion of the first face of the print medium, the read direction being oriented at between 45 and 135 degrees with respect to the print direction; the method comprising the steps of: receiving the print medium into a media feed path of the mobile device; using the sensor to sense the data track at least once before or during printing onto the print medium with the printhead; and determining a lateral registration of the data track relative to the sensor.
  • the print medium includes coded data having a predetermined positional relationship relative to the data track, the method including determining, in the mobile device and based on the determined lateral registration, a lateral registration of the coded data with respect to the media feed path before or during printing.
  • the coded data encodes second information, the first information being indicative of the second information, the method including the step of decoding the data track to determine the first information.
  • the first information is the same as the second information.
  • the first and second information are a document identifier.
  • the method comprising the step of printing onto the print medium with the printhead at least partially in reliance on determined lateral registration.
  • the method comprising the step of printing onto the print medium with the printhead at least partially in reliance on first information determined from the decoded data track.
  • the printing step includes the substeps of: sending a first message to a remote computer system, the first message containing the first information; receiving a response from the remote computer, the response being indicative of whether printing is authorised for the print medium; and printing onto the print medium in the event the response confirms that the printing is authorised.
  • the method comprising receiving print data from the remote computer system in response to the first message, the printing step comprising printing onto the print medium based at least partially on the print data.
  • the first information is indicative of a physical characteristic of the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of a size of the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of a media type associate with the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of information pre-printed onto the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of an identity of the print medium.
  • the print medium further including a second linear-encoded data track extending along at least a portion of at least one face of the print medium, the method including the steps of: sensing the second data track during printing onto the print medium; deriving a clock signal from the sensed second data track; and synchronizing printing based on the clock signal.
  • the mobile device including a light emitting device
  • the method including illuminating the data track with the light emitting device during sensing of the data track.
  • the present invention provides a print medium configured to be printed on by a mobile device in a print direction, the print medium comprising: a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces; and a data track containing first information encoded in accordance with a linear encoding scheme, the data track extending in a linear read direction along the print medium in the print direction, the linear encoding scheme being selected to enable clock data to be extracted from it while the print medium is being moved past a printhead in the mobile device, for use in synchronizing printing onto the print medium using the printhead.
  • the data track is disposed at or adjacent an edge of the print medium, the edge extending in the print direction.
  • the data track is printed in infrared ink.
  • the data track is printed in infrared ink that is substantially invisible to an average unaided human eye.
  • the print medium further including coded data containing second information encoded in accordance with a second encoding scheme distinct from the linear encoding scheme, wherein the first information is indicative of the second information.
  • the method of printing onto a print medium using a mobile device that includes a printhead and a data track reader comprising the steps of:
  • the method further including the steps of:
  • the method further including a step Q), performed prior to step (f), of reading the data track using the data track reader at a separate time to step (b), and using the data read in step (j) to perform steps (f) to (i).
  • step (g) including printing onto the print medium based at least partially on the print data.
  • the first information is indicative of a physical characteristic of the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of a size of the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of a media type associate with the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of information pre-printed onto the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of an identity of the print medium.
  • the data track includes at least one orientation indicator.
  • the at least one orientation indicator is disposed at or adjacent an edge of the print medium.
  • the print medium having a leading edge and a trailing edge defined relative to intended feed direction of
  • the print medium through a media feed path of the mobile device, at least one of the at least one orientation indicators being disposed on or in the print medium at or adjacent the leading edge
  • the present invention provides a mobile device for printing onto a print medium, the print medium including a linear-encoded data track extending in an intended direction of printing, the mobile device including: a sensor configured to sense the data track during printing; a printhead for printing onto the print medium in response to a fire control signal; and fire control means connected to generate the fire control signal based on the sensed data track.
  • a mobile device further including a light-emitting device for illuminating the data track while the sensor is sensing it during printing.
  • the data track is printed with infrared ink, the light-emitting device emits light in the infrared spectrum and the photosensor is sensitive in the infrared spectrum.
  • the data track is a clock track containing only a clock code, the fire control means being configured to generate the fire control signal in the form of a clock signal generated from the sensed data track.
  • the data track includes first information, the first information including an embedded clock signal, the fire control means being configured to generate the fire control signal in the form of a clock signal extracted from the sensed data track.
  • the first information is indicative of at least one physical characteristic of the print medium, the mobile device being configured to control operation of the printhead at least partially on the basis of at least one of the physical characteristics.
  • a mobile device configured to use the sensed data track to determine an absolute position of the print medium with respect to the printhead, and to print onto the print medium in reliance on the determination.
  • the data track further encoding first information and the print medium further including second coded data that encodes second information, the first information being indicative of the second information, wherein the mobile device is configured to print onto the print medium such that there is a predetermined registration between what is being printed and the second coded data.
  • a mobile device further including a receiver for receiving print data to be printed and information indicative of the predetermined registration.
  • the mobile device further including a transmitter for transmitting the determined registration to a remote computer system.
  • the first information is indicative of a size of the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of a media type associate with the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of information pre-printed onto the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of an identity of the print medium.
  • the method further including a plurality of the data tracks disposed in different places on the print medium.
  • the data track includes at least one orientation indicator.
  • the at least one orientation indicator is disposed at or adjacent an edge of the print medium.
  • the print medium having a leading edge and a trailing edge defined relative to intended feed direction of the print medium through a media feed path of the mobile device, at least one of the at least one orientation indicators being disposed on or in the print medium at or adjacent the leading edge
  • the present invention provides a print medium configured to be printed on by a mobile device in a print direction, the print medium comprising: a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces; and coded data encoding first information, the first information being indicative of a physical characteristic of the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of a size of the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of a media type associate with the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of information pre-printed onto the print medium.
  • the first information is encoded into the coded data in accordance with a linear encoding scheme.
  • the coded data takes the form of a data track.
  • the print medium including at least two of the data tracks, each of which encodes the first information.
  • the first information is identical in all the data tracks.
  • each of the data tracks includes at least one orientation indicator indicative of an orientation of the print medium.
  • the orientation indicator is different in each of the data tracks to account for differences in position and orientation of the respective data tracks relative to the print medium.
  • one of the orientation indicators is positioned adjacent a first corner of the print medium on the first face.
  • orientation indicators is positioned adjacent a second corner of the print medium on the first face, the second corner being diagonally opposite the first corner.
  • the data track further includes at least one orientation indicator indicative of an orientation of the print medium.
  • the data track is printed in infrared ink.
  • the print medium further including coded data containing second information encoded in accordance with a second encoding scheme distinct from the linear encoding scheme, wherein the first information is indicative of the second information.
  • the present invention provides a mobile device for printing onto a print medium in a print direction, the print medium including first coded data that encodes first information
  • mobile device comprising: a first sensor for sensing the first coded data; processing means for decoding the coded data and extracting at least the first information; and a printhead for printing onto the print medium, wherein the printhead is controlled to print onto the print medium at least partially on the basis of the extracted first information, and printing does not commence until all of the first information has been extracted.
  • the first information is indicative of an identity of the print medium.
  • the first coded data is encoded in a data track in accordance with a linear encoding scheme
  • the print medium includes second coded data encoded in an encoding scheme different from the linear encoding scheme, at least some of the first information being indicative of second information encoded in the second coded data.
  • the first and second information are indicative of the identity of the print medium.
  • the mobile device includes a transmitter configured to transmit a first message to a remote computer system, the first message being indicative of the identity of the print medium.
  • the mobile device defining a print path along which the print medium travels past the printhead, wherein the drive means is disposed upstream of the sensor in the print path.
  • the senor is disposed between the drive means and the printhead.
  • the drive means is reversible, thereby enabling the print medium to be driven past the sensor in the print direction to allow reading of the first coded data, reversed until the print medium is positioned substantially upstream of the printhead, then driven in the print direction past the printhead during printing.
  • the mobile device defining a print path along which the print medium travels past the printhead, wherein the drive means includes first and second drive mechanisms disposed in the print path upstream and downstream, respectively, of the printhead.
  • the senor is disposed between the first and second drive mechanisms.
  • the mobile device configured to: sense the first coded data while the print medium is being driven past the printhead during printing; extract a clock signal from the first coded data; and use the clock signal the provide a fire control signal to the printhead, thereby to synchronise printing with movement of the print medium.
  • the first coded data includes a separate clock track parallel to the linear encoded first information, the mobile device being configured to generate the clock signal from the clock track during printing.
  • the first coded data includes a separate clock track parallel to the linear encoded first information, the mobile device being configured to generate the clock signal from the clock track during printing.
  • the mobile device further including a light-emitting device positioned to output light onto the first coded data to enable sensing thereof with the sensor.
  • the first coded data is printed in infrared ink and the light-emitting device emits light in the infrared spectrum.
  • the first coded data is printed in infrared ink that is substantially invisible to an average unaided human eye.
  • the present invention provides a mobile device for printing onto a print medium in a print direction, the print medium including first coded data that encodes first information
  • mobile device comprising: a first sensor for sensing the first coded data; processing means for decoding the coded data and extracting at least the first information; and a printhead for printing onto the print medium, wherein the printhead is controlled to print onto the print medium at least partially on the basis of the extracted first information, and printing commences prior to all of the first information being extracted.
  • the first information is indicative of an identity of the print medium.
  • the first coded data is encoded in a data track in accordance with a linear encoding scheme
  • the print medium includes second coded data encoded in an encoding scheme different from the linear encoding scheme, at least some of the first information being indicative of second information encoded in the second coded data.
  • the first and second information are indicative of the identity of the print medium.
  • the mobile device includes a transmitter configured to transmit a first message to a remote computer system, the first message being indicative of the identity of the print medium.
  • the mobile device further including a media drive means for driving the print medium past the printhead during printing.
  • the mobile device defining a print path along which the print medium travels past the printhead, wherein the drive means is disposed upstream of the sensor in the print path.
  • the mobile device configured to: sense the first coded data while the print medium is being driven past the printhead during printing; extract a clock signal from the first coded data; and use the clock signal the provide a fire control signal to the printhead, thereby to synchronise printing with movement of the print medium.
  • the first coded data includes a separate clock track in addition to the first information, the mobile device being configured to generate the clock signal from the clock track during printing.
  • the mobile device further including a light-emitting device positioned to output light onto the first coded data to enable sensing thereof with the sensor.
  • the first coded data is printed in infrared ink and the light-emitting device emits light in the infrared spectrum.
  • the first coded data is printed in infrared ink that is substantially invisible to an average unaided human eye.
  • the cartridge includes at least one ink reservoir.
  • the cartridge includes at least one capping mechanism for capping the printhead when it is not printing.
  • the capper is resiliently urged into the capping relationship.
  • the capping mechanism is configured such that the capper is displaced in the feed direction as it moves from the capped position to the uncapped position.
  • the processing means is configured to extract a clock signal from the sensed coded data, the clock signal being used to synchronize printing onto the print medium.
  • the present invention provides a mobile device comprising: a printer for printing document information onto one or more of a plurality of print areas, each of the print areas including identity data indicative of identity information which differentiates the print area from others of the plurality; and at least one sensor for sensing the identity information of the one or more print areas.
  • the device is a mobile telecommunications device.
  • the identity data is represented on the print area in a coded form and the printer includes a decoder which receives coded data from the at least one sensor and outputs decoded data representing at least the identity data or at least the identity information.
  • each identity information is represented on the print area by at least two discrete items of data and the decoder outputs decoded data representing at least the identity information after receiving said at least two separate items of data.
  • said at least one sensor is positioned to sense said identity data during printing of the document information on the respective print area.
  • the mobile device further including a transmitter for transmitting information to a computer system.
  • the mobile device further including a transmitter which transmits the identity data or identity information to the computer system.
  • the mobile device further including means to detect failure to correctly print document information onto a print area and for generating a void signal on detection of said failure, the transmitter transmitting said void signal to the computer system.
  • said document information is based at least partially on document data received from a computer system.
  • said printer derives and transmits identity data or identity information associated with a print area to a computer system prior to receiving document data associated with said print area.
  • said printer derives and transmits identity data or identity information associated with a print area to a computer system prior to receiving document data associated with said print area and said document data is based at least partially on the identity information of the print area.
  • the printer is operable to over-print a print area having existing document information to render the existing document information unreadable
  • the printer includes a print mechanism for printing on at least two of print areas substantially simultaneously.
  • the at least one sensor is selected from an image sensor and a magnetic sensor and a chemical sensor.
  • the printer generates at least some of the information printed.
  • the printer generates print information indicative of the information printed.
  • the mobile device further including a user interface to enable a user to input identity information into the printer.
  • the present invention provides print medium configured to be printed on by a mobile device in a print direction, the print medium comprising a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces, the laminar substrate comprising a first portion to be printed on by the mobile device, and a second portion attached to the second portion by a relatively weak region in the substrate, the second portion being detachable from the first portion.
  • a print medium including a linear track from which a clock signal can be extracted by the mobile device for use in synchronising printing onto the first portion.
  • the linear track is at least partially disposed on the second portion.
  • the linear track extends on both the first and second portions in a continuous fashion.
  • the linear track is a linear-encoded data track containing first information extractable by the mobile device prior to or during printing.
  • a print medium further including coded data encoded in a format different from the linear encoding, the coded data containing second information, wherein the first information is indicative of the second information.
  • the linear track extends along the print medium in the print direction.
  • the linear track is disposed at or adjacent an edge of the print medium, the edge extending in the print direction.
  • the relatively weak region is a perforated line extending across the print medium in direction generally normal to the print direction.
  • the relatively weak region is shaped such that, once the second portion is detached from the first portion, an edge of the first portion revealed by removal of the second portion is shaped substantially the same, in plan view, as an edge of the first portion at an opposite end of the first portion.
  • the linear track includes at least one orientation indicator indicative of an orientation of the print medium.
  • the orientation indicator is disposed at or adjacent an edge of the second portion distant from the weak region.
  • a print medium including a further orientation indicator in the linear track, the further orientation indicator being positioned on the first portion at or adjacent the weak region.
  • the data track is printed in infrared ink.
  • the data track is printed in infrared ink that is substantially invisible to an average unaided human eye.
  • a print medium further including pre-pri ⁇ ted human readable information on at least one of the faces.
  • the second portion includes coded data encoded in a format different from the linear encoding, the coded data containing second information.
  • the second portion includes pre-printed human readable information indicative of the second portion being a lottery ticket.
  • the first information is indicative of a physical characteristic of the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of a size of the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of a media type associate with the print medium.
  • the first information is indicative of information pre-printed onto the print medium.
  • the present invention provides a method of using a mobile device to read coded data from a print medium configured to be printed on by the mobile device in a print direction, the mobile device including a printer, a sensor and processing means, the print medium comprising a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces, the first face bearing coded data, the method comprising the steps of: using the sensor to sense at least some of the coded data from the print medium; using the processing means to decode the coded data; and printing onto the print medium only after the coded data has been decoded.
  • the coded data is indicative of a plurality of locations associated with the print medium, the decoding step including determining at least one of the locations.
  • the decoding step includes determining a position of the print medium relative to the sensor at the time the coded data was sensed, based at least partly on the determined location.
  • the coded data takes the form of a two-dimensional array of data, the sensor being configured to capture an image of a subset of the coded data, the subset of the coded data being sufficient to enable the location to be determined.
  • the processing means being configured to determine a position of the print medium relative to the sensor at the time the coded data was sensed, based at least partly on the determined location and a position of the captured coded data in a capture field of the sensor.
  • the mobile device further including a light emitting device, the method including the step of using the light emitting device to illuminate the print medium while the sensor senses the coded data.
  • the method including the steps, performed during printing onto the print medium, of: using the sensor to determine a clock signal; and using the clock signal to synchronize the printing onto the print medium.
  • the step of using the sensor to sense the coded data includes capturing a first image of the coded data
  • the step of generating the clock signal includes using the processor to perform the steps of; determining a position of the print medium relative to the sensor at the time the coded data was sensed, based at least partly on the determined location; using the sensor to capture subsequent images of the coded data as the printhead is being printed; determining movement of the print medium during printing based on the subsequently captured images; and deriving the clock signal based on the movement.
  • determining the movement during printing includes using the processing means to perform the steps of: decoding the coded data captured in at least some of the subsequently captured images; determining a position of the print medium relative to the sensor at the time each of the images was captured; and determining the movement of the print medium based on the positions determined over time.
  • determining the movement during printing includes the step of performing pattern recognition on at least some of the coded data in at least some of the captured images to determine movement of the print medium relative to initial position.
  • the method further including the step of determining movement of the print medium relative to sensor, based on the coded data sensed by the sensor.
  • Optionally determining the movement includes capturing a plurality of images of the coded data as the print medium moves past the sensor, and dete ⁇ nining the movement based on the plurality of images.
  • the mobile device further including a light emitting device, the method including the step of using the light emitting device to illuminate the print medium while the sensor senses the coded data.
  • the method further including the steps of generating a clock signal based on the movement, and using the clock signal to synchronize the printing onto the print medium.
  • the medium includes at least one orientation indicator indicative of an orientation of the print medium, the method comprising determining the orientation from the orientation indicator before commencing printing.
  • the at least one orientation indicator is disposed at or adjacent an edge of the print medium.
  • the print medium having a leading edge and a trailing edge defined relative to intended feed direction of the print medium through a media feed path, at least one of the at least one orientation indicators being disposed on or in the print medium at or adjacent the leading edge.
  • the present invention provides a method of using a mobile device to determine movement, relative to the mobile device, of a print medium configured to be printed on by the mobile device in a print direction, the mobile device including a printer, a first sensor and processing means, the print medium comprising a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces, the first face bearing coded data, the method comprising the steps of: using the first sensor to sense at least some of the coded data from the print medium; determining movement of the print medium relative to sensor, based on the coded data sensed by the first sensor.
  • determining the movement includes capturing a plurality of images of the coded data as the print medium moves past the first sensor, and determining the movement based on the plurality of images.
  • determining the movement includes the steps of: using the processing means to decode the coded data captured in at least one of the plurality of captured images; determining a position of the print medium relative to the first sensor at the time each of the images was captured; and determining the movement of the print medium based on the positions determined over time.
  • determining the movement includes the step of performing pattern recognition to determine movement of the print medium relative to at least one absolute position of the print medium.
  • the method including the step of obtaining the absolute position by using the processing means to decode the coded data in at' least one of the captured images and obtaining the at least one absolute position from the decoded data.
  • the mobile device further including a light emitting device, the method including the step of using the light emitting device to illuminate the print medium while the first sensor senses the coded data.
  • the method further including the steps of generating a clock signal based on the movement, and using the clock signal to synchronize the printing onto the print medium.
  • the coded data is indicative of a plurality of locations associated with the print medium, the decoding step including determining at least one of the locations.
  • the decoding step includes determining a position of the print medium relative to the first sensor at the time the coded data was sensed, based at least partly on the determined location.
  • the coded data takes the form of a two-dimensional array of data, the first sensor being configured to capture an image of a subset of the coded data, the subset of the coded data being sufficient to enable the position to be determined.
  • the processing means being configured to determine a position of the print medium relative to the first sensor at the time the coded data was sensed, based at least partly on the determined location and a position of the captured coded data in a capture field of the first sensor.
  • the mobile device further including a light emitting device, the method including the step of using the light emitting device to illuminate the print medium while the first sensor senses the coded data.
  • the method including the steps, performed during printing onto the print medium, of: using the first sensor to sense the coded data; and using the processing means to generate a clock signal based on the sensed coded data; and using the clock signal to synchronize the printing onto the print medium.
  • the step of using the first sensor to sense the coded data includes capturing a first image of the coded data
  • the step of generating the clock signal includes using the processor to perform the steps of; determining a position of the print medium relative to the first sensor at the time the coded data was sensed, based at least partly on the determined location; using the first sensor to capture subsequent images of the coded data as the printhead is being printed; determining movement of the print medium during printing based on the subsequently captured images; and deriving the clock signal based on the movement.
  • determining the movement during printing includes using the processing means to perform the steps of: decoding the coded data captured in at least some of the subsequently captured images; determining a position of the print medium relative to the first sensor at the time each of the images was captured; and determining the movement of the print medium based on the positions determined over time.
  • determining the movement during printing includes the step of performing pattern recognition on at least some of the coded data in at least some of the captured images to determine movement of the print medium relative to initial position.
  • the print medium includes at least one orientation indicator indicative of an orientation of the print medium, the method comprising determining the orientation from the orientation indicator before commencing printing.
  • the at least one orientation indicator is disposed at or adjacent an edge of the print medium.
  • the method further including the steps of using the processing means to determine, from a known physical orientation of the print medium and the first image, a first relative rotation of the coded data with respect to the print medium.
  • the method further including the steps of: using a second sensor to capture a second image of at least some of the coded data; and determining movement of the print medium relative to sensor, based on the coded data sensed by both the first and second sensors.
  • the present invention provides a method of using a mobile device to determine a first relative rotation of coded data on a print medium, the print medium configured to be printed on by the mobile device in a print direction, the mobile device including a printer, a first sensor and processing means, the print medium comprising a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces, the first face bearing coded data, the method comprising the steps of:
  • the mobile device further includes a transmitter, the method further including the step of transmitting, using the transmitter, the first relative rotation to a remote computer system.
  • the transmitter is configured to transmit the relative rotation via a mobile telecommunications network.
  • the method further including the steps of: using the first sensor to capture a second image of at least some of the coded data when the print medium is at a second position; using the processing means to determine, from a known physical orientation of the print medium and the second image, a second relative rotation of the coded data with respect to the print medium; and using the processing means to calculate, from the first and second rotations, a third rotation, the third rotation being a more accurate indication of the relative rotation of the coded data with respect to the print medium than the first or second rotations.
  • the method further including the steps, performed by the processing means, of: decoding at least some of the coded data in the first image; determining a location from the decoded data; and determining, based on the location and a position of the coded data within the first image, a first position of the print medium relative to the first sensor at time the first image was captured.
  • determining the movement includes capturing a plurality of images of the coded data as the print medium moves past the first sensor, and determining the movement based on the plurality of images.
  • the mobile device further including a light emitting device, the method including the step of using the light emitting device to illuminate the print medium while the first sensor senses the coded data.
  • the method further including the steps of generating a clock signal based on the movement, and using the clock signal to synchronize the printing onto the print medium.
  • the coded data takes the form of a two-dimensional array of data, the first sensor being configured to capture an image of a subset of the coded data, the subset of the coded data being sufficient to enable the position to be determined.
  • the method including the steps, performed during printing onto the print medium, of: using the first sensor to sense the coded data; and using the processing means to generate a clock signal based on the sensed coded data; and using the clock signal to synchronize the printing onto the print medium.
  • the step of using the first sensor to sense the coded data includes capturing a first image of the coded data
  • the step of generating the clock signal includes using the processor to perform the steps of; determining a position of the print medium relative to the first sensor at the time the coded data was sensed, based at least partly on the determined location; using the first sensor to capture subsequent images of the coded data as the printhead is being printed; determining movement of the print medium during printing based on the subsequently captured images; and deriving the clock signal based on the movement.
  • determining the movement during printing includes using the processing means to perform the steps of: decoding the coded data captured in at least some of the subsequently captured images; determining a position of the print medium relative to the first sensor at the time each of the images was captured; and determining the movement of the print medium based on the positions determined over time.
  • determining the movement during printing includes the step of performing pattern recognition on at least some of the coded data in at least some of the captured images to determine movement of the print medium relative to initial position.
  • the print medium includes at least one orientation indicator indicative of an orientation of the print medium, the method comprising determining the orientation from the orientation indicator before commencing printing.
  • the at least one orientation indicator is disposed at or adjacent an edge of the print medium.
  • the print medium having a leading edge and a trailing edge defined relative to intended feed direction of the print medium through a media feed path, at least one of the at least one orientation indicators being disposed on or in the print medium at or adjacent the leading edge.
  • the method further including the steps of: using a second sensor to capture a second image of at least some of the coded data; using the processing means to determine, from a known physical orientation of the print medium and the second image, a second relative rotation of the coded data with respect to the print medium; and using the processing means to calculate, from the first and second rotations, a third rotation, the third rotation being a more accurate indication of the relative rotation of the coded data with respect to the print medium than the first or second rotations.
  • the method including capturing the first and second images substantially simultaneously.
  • the present invention provides a method of using a mobile device to determine a position of a print medium, the print medium configured to to be printed on by the mobile device in a print direction, the mobile device including a printer, a first sensor and processing means, the print medium comprising a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces, the first face bearing coded data indicative of at least one location, the method comprising the steps of:
  • step (c) determining the position of the print medium based on the at least one location determined in step (b).
  • step (c) wherein the position is determined based at least partly on the determined location and a position of the captured coded data in a capture field of the first sensor.
  • the method further including the steps of: using the first sensor to capture a plurality of the images over time; using the processing means to decode a plurality of the captured images, thereby to determine a plurality of the locations; and determining a series of positions of the print medium based on the locations.
  • the mobile device comprises a second sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
  • step (f) determining a position of the print medium based on the location determined in step (e).
  • the method including capturing the first and second images substantially simultaneously.
  • the method further including using the processing means to determine a position of the print medium based on the positions determined in steps (c) and (f).
  • the method including averaging the positions determined in steps (c) and (f).
  • the method further including the step of using the processing means to determine, from the sensed coded data, an identity of the print medium.
  • the method further including determining movement of the print medium relative to sensor, based on the coded data sensed by the first sensor.
  • determining the movement includes capturing a plurality of images of the coded data as the print medium moves past the first sensor, and determining the movement based on the plurality of images.
  • determining the movement includes the steps of: using the processing means to decode the coded data captured in at least one of the plurality of captured images; determining a position of the print medium relative to the first sensor at the time each of the images was captured; and determining the movement of the print medium based on the positions determined over time.
  • Optionally determining the movement includes the stp of performing pattern recognition to determine movement of the print medium relative to at least one absolute position of the print medium.
  • the method comprising the step of using the processing means to determine, from a known physical orientation of the print medium and the first image, a first relative rotation of the coded data with respect to the print medium.
  • the mobile device further includes a transmitter, the method further including the step of transmitting, using the transmitter, the first relative rotation to a remote computer system.
  • the transmitter is configured to transmit the relative rotation via a mobile telecommunications network.
  • the method including the steps, performed during printing onto the print medium, of: using the processing means to generate a clock signal based on the sensed coded data; and using the clock signal to synchronize the printing onto the print medium.
  • the mobile device further including a light emitting device, the method including the step of using the light emitting device to illuminate the print medium while the first sensor senses the coded data.
  • the present invention provides a mobile telecommunications device comprising: a printhead for printing a sheet of media substrate, the sheet of media substrate having coded data on at least part of its surface; a media feed assembly for feeding the sheet of media substrate along a feed path past the printhead; a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a sensor for reading the coded data and generating a signal indicative of at least one dimension of the sheet, and transmitting the signal to the print engine controller; such that, the print engine controller uses the signal to initiate the printing when the sheet is at a predetermined position relative to the printhead.
  • Detecting the leading edge of the card is necessary for longitudinal registration of the print from the printhead with the card. Longitudinal registration of the print is particularly crucial if the printing is full bleed (printed to the very edges of the card).
  • the print engine controller PEC
  • PEC print engine controller
  • the print engine controller must be able to initiate printing at the exact time the leading edge reaches the printhead.
  • accurate longitudinal registration is necessary to ensure that any hyperlinks in the tag pattern align with the corresponding printed words or images.
  • Using a micro switch or photo-sensor immediately prior to the printhead to detect the leading edge adds to the complexity and size the design.
  • encoding the card with data specifying its relevant dimension allows the PEC to initiate printing at the correct time. Once the sensor reads the coded data, the PEC can determine the distance from the sensor to the leading edge and then using the media feed speed to determine when to initiate printing.
  • the at least one dimension is the distance from at least one marker in the coded data to the leading edge of the sheet with respect to the direction of media feed past the printhead.
  • the media feed assembly feeds the sheet along the feed path in a forward direction so that the sensor can read at least some of the coded data before retracting the sheet along the path in a reverse direction and then again feeding the sheet along the path in the forward direction past the printhead for printing.
  • the coded data is disposed along a track extending along the sheet in a direction parallel to the feed path.
  • the coded data is distributed across substantially all of at least one side of the sheet.
  • the printhead and the drive shaft are incorporated into a replaceable cartridge for insertion into a print media feed path within the mobile telecommunications device.
  • the printhead has an array of ink ejection nozzles and is incorporated into a cartridge that further comprises at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead for ejection by the nozzles, each of the at least one ink reservoirs including at least one absorbent structure for inducing a negative hydrostatic pressure in the ink at the nozzles, and a capping mechanism for capping the printhead when not in use.
  • the mobile telecommunications device further comprising:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • a force transfer mechanism connected to the capper and configured such that a force provided by an edge of the media substrate as it moves relative to the feed path is transferred to the capper by the force transfer mechanism, thereby to at least commence movement of the capper from the capped position to the uncapped position prior to the media substrate reaching the capper.
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • the media feed assembly has a drive shaft with a media engagement surface for enhanced contact friction with the media substrate.
  • the mobile telecommunications device further comprising a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • the print engine controller has a light emitting beacon
  • the printhead comprises: an array of nozzles for ejecting ink; print data circuitry for providing the nozzles with print data; and,
  • the media feed assembly has a drive shaft driven by a piezo-electric resonant linear drive system.
  • the mobile telecommunications device further comprising: a position sensor for providing the print engine controller with a signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead; such that, the print engine controller differentiates the signal to derive the speed of the media substrate relative to the printhead and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the speed.
  • the mobile telecommunications device further wherein during use, the print engine controller senses the number of complete and partial rotations of the drive shaft and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the angular velocity of the drive shaft.
  • the mobile telecommunications device further comprising at least one ink reservoir, the at least one reservoir comprising: a housing defining an ink storage volume; one or more baffles dividing the ink storage volume into sections, each of the sections having at least one ink outlet for sealed connection to the printhead; and, at least one conduit establishing fluid communication between the ink outlets of adjacent sections.
  • the media feed assembly has a drive shaft for feeding the sheet of media substrate past the printhead; wherein during use, the sheet disengages from the drive shaft before completion of its printing such that the trailing edge of the sheet projects past the printhead by momentum to complete its printing.
  • the present invention provides a mobile telecommunications device comprising: a printhead for printing a sheet of media substrate, the sheet of media substrate having coded data on at least part of its surface; a media feed assembly for feeding the sheet of media substrate along a feed path past the printhead; a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, a dual sensor facility for reading the coded data before, as well as after, it has past the printhead.
  • the print engine controller need a line sync signal to control the firing of each line of print data from the nozzles.
  • the line sync signal essentially indicates when the card has moved along the feed path by the necessary amount and the next line of print can be fired from the nozzles.
  • the media can be encoded with clock data that is optically sensed to derive a clock signal which is in turn used to generate the line sync signal. While the clock data sensor can be positioned very close to the printhead (on the media entry side), it can not read the clock data on trailing edge of the media once it had passed by on its way to the printhead.
  • the sensor facility has a first photosensor positioned adjacent the feed path before the printhead, and a second photosensor positioned adjacent the feed path after the printhead.
  • the coded data includes clock data configured in a longitudinal clock track extending along the sheet of media substrate such that, the first photosensor reads the clock track before the second photosensor.
  • the first and second photosensors both generate a clock signal when they are simultaneously reading the clock track and the print engine controller synchronizes the clock signal from the second photosensor with the signal from the first phototsensor.
  • the print engine controller has a phase lock loop for the first and second photosensor signals respectively in order to generate first and second phase locked clock signals, the print engine controller also having a phase difference calculator to determine any phase difference between the first and second phase locked clock signals, and a delay to delay the second phase locked clock signal by an amount that synchronizes it with the first phase locked signal.
  • the print engine controller generates a line sync signal for the printhead using the first phase locked clock signal prior to synchronization with the second phase locked clock signal, and then uses the second phase locked • clock signal to generate the line sync signal after synchronization.
  • the printhead and the drive shaft are incorporated into a replaceable cartridge for insertion into a print media feed path within the mobile telecommunications device.
  • the printhead has an array of ink ejection nozzles and is incorporated into a cartridge that further comprises at least one ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead for ejection by the nozzles, each of the at least one ink reservoirs including at least one absorbent structure for inducing a negative hydrostatic pressure in the ink at the nozzles, and a capping mechanism for capping the printhead when not in use.
  • the mobile telecommunications device further comprising:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • a force transfer mechanism connected to the capper and configured such that a force provided by an edge of the media substrate as it moves relative to the feed path is transferred to the capper by the force transfer mechanism, thereby to at least commence movement of the capper from the capped position to the uncapped position prior to the media substrate reaching the capper.
  • the mobile telecommunications device further comprising:
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;
  • a locking mechanism configured to hold the capper in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the media substrate is clear of the printhead.
  • the media feed assembly has a drive shaft with a media engagement surface for enhanced contact friction with the media substrate.
  • the mobile telecommunications device further comprising a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
  • a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.

Abstract

L'invention concerne une méthode d'accès à au moins une adresse de connexion électronique faisant appel à un dispositif mobile et à un document imprimé interactif comprenant des informations lisibles par des humains et des données codées lisibles par machine. Le dispositif de télécommunication mobile de l'invention comprend: un émetteur/récepteur conçu pour envoyer et pour recevoir des signaux par un réseau de télécommunication sans fil; un moyen de détection; et un moyen de décodage. La méthode comprend les étapes consistant à: (a) détecter, à l'aide de moyens de détection, au moins certaines données codées pendant que le dispositif de télécommunication mobile est utilisé pour interagir physiquement avec le document imprimé; (b) envoyer, à l'aide de l'émetteur/récepteur, les données d'indication au système informatique éloigné; (c) recevoir, à l'aide de l'émetteur/récepteur, au moins une adresse de connexion électronique en réaction aux données d'indication; et (d) produire l'adresse de connexion de manière lisible par un humain.
EP05738007A 2005-05-09 2005-05-09 Dispositif sans fil presentant un lecteur pour un indice lisible par machine et methode d'etablissement de communication avec un serveur eloigne Withdrawn EP1880533A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/AU2005/000662 WO2006119533A1 (fr) 2005-05-09 2005-05-09 Dispositif sans fil presentant un lecteur pour un indice lisible par machine et methode d'etablissement de communication avec un serveur eloigne

Publications (2)

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EP1880533A1 true EP1880533A1 (fr) 2008-01-23
EP1880533A4 EP1880533A4 (fr) 2009-11-04

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EP05738007A Withdrawn EP1880533A4 (fr) 2005-05-09 2005-05-09 Dispositif sans fil presentant un lecteur pour un indice lisible par machine et methode d'etablissement de communication avec un serveur eloigne

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EP (1) EP1880533A4 (fr)
JP (1) JP2008541245A (fr)
KR (1) KR100973621B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2005331778B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2602695C (fr)
WO (1) WO2006119533A1 (fr)

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JP2012100137A (ja) 2010-11-04 2012-05-24 Fuji Xerox Co Ltd 画像処理装置、画像処理システム及び画像処理プログラム
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CN103780786B (zh) * 2012-10-23 2018-08-03 爱思打印解决方案有限公司 用户终端设备及其控制方法
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2005331778B2 (en) 2009-10-01
CA2602695C (fr) 2011-08-16
KR100973621B1 (ko) 2010-08-02
WO2006119533A1 (fr) 2006-11-16
AU2005331778A1 (en) 2006-11-16
CA2602695A1 (fr) 2006-11-16
JP2008541245A (ja) 2008-11-20
EP1880533A4 (fr) 2009-11-04
KR20080018881A (ko) 2008-02-28

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