US20030142220A1 - Method of image enhancement - Google Patents

Method of image enhancement Download PDF

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Publication number
US20030142220A1
US20030142220A1 US10/322,453 US32245302A US2003142220A1 US 20030142220 A1 US20030142220 A1 US 20030142220A1 US 32245302 A US32245302 A US 32245302A US 2003142220 A1 US2003142220 A1 US 2003142220A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
ink
actuator
image
nozzle
exposure setting
Prior art date
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Abandoned
Application number
US10/322,453
Inventor
Kia Silverbrook
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Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
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Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AUPO7991A external-priority patent/AUPO799197A0/en
Application filed by Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd filed Critical Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
Priority to US10/322,453 priority Critical patent/US20030142220A1/en
Assigned to SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY. LTD. reassignment SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY. LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SILVERBROOK, KIA
Publication of US20030142220A1 publication Critical patent/US20030142220A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
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    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/222—Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment
    • H04N5/262—Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
    • H04N5/2628—Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
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    • B41J2/17513—Inner structure
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    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
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    • G07F7/086—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer
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    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
    • G07F7/08—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means
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    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Preventing or detecting of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16585—Preventing or detecting of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17596—Ink pumps, ink valves
    • 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
    • B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
    • B41J2202/01—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads
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    • G06F2221/2129—Authenticate client device independently of the user
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    • H04N2101/00—Still video cameras

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of enhancement image and, in particular, discloses a process for Utilising Exposure Information in a Digital Image Camera.
  • the present invention further relates to the field of digital image processing and in particular, the field of processing of images taken with a digital camera.
  • a method of image enhancement of a sensed image taken with a digital camera said digital camera being hand held and including an area image sensor, internal page width ink jet printer, processor means for processing an output of said area image sensor in accordance with processing rules, and a print roll including print media and printing ink for printing out a processed image on said print media, said digital camera further including an auto exposure setting means, said method comprising the step of utilising exposure setting information from said auto exposure setting means to process said sensed image in accordance with said processing rules.
  • a method of image enhancement of a sensed image taken with a digital camera including an auto exposure setting means, said method comprising the step of utilising the auto exposure setting from said auto exposure setting means to process said sensed image to add exposure specific graphics to said image.
  • the utilising step can comprise utilising the auto exposure setting to determine a re-mapping of colours within the image so as to produce an amended image having colours within an image transformed to take account of the auto exposure setting.
  • the processing can comprise re-mapping image colours so they appear deeper and richer when the exposure setting indicates low light conditions and re-mapping image colours to be brighter and more saturated when the auto exposure setting indicates bright light conditions.
  • the utilising step includes adding exposure specific graphics to the image.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the method of operation of the preferred embodiment.
  • the preferred embodiment is preferably implemented through suitable programming of a hand held camera device such as that described in the concurrently filed application U.S. Ser. No 09/113,060, entitled “A Digital Instant Printing Camera with Image Processing Capability” filed concurrently herewith by the present applicant the content of which is hereby specifically incorporated by cross reference and the details of which, and other related applications are set out in the tables included herein.
  • the aforementioned patent specification discloses a camera system, hereinafter known as an “Artcam” type camera, wherein sensed images can be directly printed out by an Artcam portable camera unit. Further, the aforementioned specification discloses means and methods for performing various manipulations on images captured by the camera sensing device leading to the production of various effects in any output image. The manipulations are disclosed to be highly flexible in nature and can be implemented through the insertion into the Artcam of cards having encoded thereon various instructions for the manipulation of images, the cards hereinafter being known as Artcards.
  • the Artcam further has significant onboard processing power provided by an Artcam Central Processor unit (ACP) which is interconnected to a memory device for the storage of important data and image.
  • ACP Artcam Central Processor unit
  • the invention disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,060 relates to providing an alternative form of camera system which includes a digital camera with an integral color printer. Additionally, the camera provides hardware and software for the increasing of the apparent resolution of the image sensing system and the conversion of the image to a wide range of “artistic styles” and a graphic enhancement.
  • a camera system comprising at least one area image sensor for imaging a scene, a camera processor means for processing said imaged scene in accordance with a predetermined scene transformation requirement, a printer for printing out said processed image scene on print media, print media and printing ink stored in a single detachable module inside said camera system, said camera system comprising a portable hand held unit for the imaging of scenes by said area image sensor and printing said scenes directly out of said camera system via said printer.
  • the camera system includes a print roll for the storage of print media and printing ink for utilization by the printer, the print roll being detachable from the camera system.
  • the print roll can include an authentication chip containing authentication information and the camera processing means is adapted to interrogate the authentication chip so as to determine the authenticity of said print roll when inserted within said camera system.
  • the printer can include a drop on demand ink printer and guillotine means for the separation of printed photographs.
  • the Artcam has an auto exposure sensor for determining the light level associated with the captured image.
  • This auto exposure sensor is utilised to process the image in accordance with the set light value so as to enhance portions of the image.
  • the area image sensor includes a means for determining the light conditions when capturing an image.
  • the area image sensor adjusts the dynamic range of values captured by the CCD in accordance with the detected level sensor.
  • the captured image is transferred to the Artcam central processor and stored in the memory store.
  • Intensity information, as determined by the area image sensor, is also forwarded to the ACP. This information is utilised by the Artcam central processor to manipulate the stored image to enhance certain effects.
  • the auto exposure setting information 1 is utilised in conjunction with the stored image 2 to process the image by utilising the ACP.
  • the processed image is returned to the memory store for later printing out 4 on the output printer.
  • a number of processing steps can be undertaken in accordance with the determined light conditions.
  • the image pixel colours are selectively re-mapped so as to make the image colours stronger, deeper and richer.
  • the image colours can be processed to make them brighter and more saturated.
  • the re-colouring of the image can be undertaken by conversion of the image to a hue-saturation-value (HSV) format and an alteration of pixel values in accordance with requirements.
  • HSV hue-saturation-value
  • the pixel values can then be output converted to the required output colour format of printing.
  • the Artcard inserted could have a number of manipulations applied to the image which are specific to the auto-exposure setting.
  • clip arts containing candles etc could be inserted in a dark image and large suns inserted in bright images.
  • the embodiments of the invention use an ink jet printer type device. Of course many different devices could be used. However presently popular ink jet printing technologies are unlikely to be suitable.
  • thermal ink jet The most significant problem with thermal ink jet is power consumption. This is approximately 100 times that required for high speed, and stems from the energy-inefficient means of drop ejection. This involves the rapid boiling of water to produce a vapor bubble which expels the ink. Water has a very high heat capacity, and must be superheated in thermal ink jet applications. This leads to an efficiency of around 0.02%, from electricity input to drop momentum (and increased surface area) out.
  • piezoelectric ink jet The most significant problem with piezoelectric ink jet is size and cost. Piezoelectric crystals have a very small deflection at reasonable drive voltages, and therefore require a large area for each nozzle. Also, each piezoelectric actuator must be connected to its drive circuit on a separate substrate. This is not a significant problem at the current limit of around 300 nozzles per print head, but is a major impediment to the fabrication of pagewidth print heads with 19,200 nozzles.
  • the ink jet technologies used meet the stringent requirements of in-camera digital color printing and other high quality, high speed, low cost printing applications.
  • new ink jet technologies have been created.
  • the target features include:
  • ink jet designs shown here are suitable for a wide range of digital printing systems, from battery powered one-time use digital cameras, through to desktop and network printers, and through to commercial printing systems
  • the print head is designed to be a monolithic 0.5 micron CMOS chip with MEMS post processing.
  • the print head is 100 mm long, with a width which depends upon the ink jet type.
  • the smallest print head designed is IJ38, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a chip area of 35 square mm.
  • the print heads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus data and control circuitry.
  • Ink is supplied to the back of the print head by injection molded plastic ink channels.
  • the molding requires 50 micron features, which can be created using a lithographically micromachined insert in a standard injection molding tool.
  • Ink flows through holes etched through the wafer to the nozzle chambers fabricated on the front surface of the wafer.
  • the print head is connected to the camera circuitry by tape automated bonding.
  • ink jet configurations can readily be derived from these forty-five examples by substituting alternative configurations along one or more of the 11 axes.
  • Most of the IJ01 to IJ45 examples can be made into ink jet print heads with characteristics superior to any currently available ink jet technology.
  • Suitable applications for the ink jet technologies include: Home printers, Office network printers, Short run digital printers, Commercial print systems, Fabric printers, Pocket printers, Internet WWW printers, Video printers, Medical imaging, Wide format printers, Notebook PC printers, Fax machines, Industrial printing systems, Photocopiers, Photographic minilabs etc.
  • Perovskite ( ⁇ 1 ⁇ s) PLZSnT are materials such as Relatively required tin modified lead high Actuators lanthanum longitudinal require a zirconate titanate strain large (PLZSnT) exhibit High area large strains of up efficiency to 1% associated Electric with the AFE to field strength FE phase of around transition. 3 V/ ⁇ m can be readily provided Electro- Conductive plates Low power Difficult to IJ02, IJ04 static are separated by a consumption operate plates compressible or Many ink electrostatic fluid dielectric types can devices in (usually air). be used an aqueous Upon application Fast environment of a voltage, the operation The plates attract each electrostatic other and displace actuator will ink, causing drop normally ejection.
  • Examples from single currents are: Samarium nozzles to required Cobalt (SaCo) pagewidth Copper and magnetic print heads metalization materials in the should be neodymium iron used for long boron family electro- (NdFeB, migration NdDyFeBNb, lifetime NdDyFeB, etc) and low resistivity Pigmented inks are usually infeasible Operating temperature limited to the Curie temperature (around 540 K) Soft A solenoid Low power Complex IJ01, IJ05, magnetic induced a consumption fabrication IJ08, IJ10, core magnetic field in Many ink Materials IJ12, IJ14, electro- a soft magnetic types can not usually IJ15, IJ17 magnetic core or yoke be used present in fabricated from a Fast a CMOS fab ferrous material operation such as such as electro- High NiFe, plated iron alloys efficiency CoNiFe, or such as CoNiFe Easy CoFe are [1], CoFe, or extension required NiFe
  • the soft nozzles to currents magnetic material pagewidth required is in two parts, print heads Copper which are metalization normally held should be apart by a spring. used for long When the electro- solenoid is migration actuated, the two lifetime parts attract, and low displacing the resistivity ink. Electro- plating is required High saturation flux density is required (2.0-2.1 T is achievable with CoNiFe [1]) Lorenz The Lorenz force Low power Force acts IJ06, IJ11, force acting on a consumption as a twisting IJ13, IJ16 current carrying Many ink motion wire in a types can Typically, magnetic field is be used only a utilized.
  • Pigmented inks are usually infeasible Magneto-
  • the actuator uses Many ink Force acts Fi Referencebeck, striction the giant types can as a twisting USP magnetostrictive be used motion 4,032,929 effect of materials Fast Unusual IJ25 such as operation materials Terfenol-D (an Easy such as alloy of terbium, extension Terfenol-D dysprosium and from single are required iron developed at nozzles to High local the Naval pagewidth currents Ordnance print heads required Laboratory, hence High force Copper Ter-Fe-NOL).
  • Terfenol-D an Easy such as alloy of terbium, extension Terfenol-D dysprosium and from single are required iron developed at nozzles to High local the Naval pagewidth currents Ordnance print heads required Laboratory, hence High force Copper Ter-Fe-NOL.
  • Pre-stressing may be required Surface Ink under positive Low power Requires Silverbrook, tension pressure is held in consumption supple- EP 0771 reduction a nozzle by Simple mentary 658 A2 surface tension. construction force to and related The surface No unusual effect patent tension of materials drop applications the ink is reduced required in separation below the bubble fabrication Requires threshold, causing High special ink the ink to egress efficiency surfactants from the nozzle. Easy Speed may extension be limited by from single surfactant nozzles to properties pagewidth print heads Viscosity The ink viscosity Simple Requires Silverbrook, reduction is locally reduced construction supple- EP 0771 to select which No unusual mentary 658 A2 drops are to be materials force to and related ejected.
  • a vis- required in effect drop patent cosity reduction fabrication separation applications can be achieved Easy Requires electrothermally extension special ink with most inks, from single viscosity but special inks nozzles to properties can be engineered pagewidth High speed for a 100:1 print heads is difficult viscosity to achieve reduction.
  • Requires oscillating ink pressure A high temperature difference (typically 80 degrees) is required Acoustic An acoustic wave Can operate Complex 1993 is generated and without a drive Hadimioglu focussed upon the nozzle plate circuitry et al, EUP drop ejection Complex 550,192 region.
  • Simple insulator on IJ27, IJ28, planar the hot side IJ29, IJ30, fabrication Corrosion IJ31, IJ32, Small chip prevention IJ33, IJ34, area required can be IJ35, IJ36, for each difficult IJ37, IJ38, actuator Pigmented IJ39, IJ40, Fast inks may be IJ41 operation infeasible, High as pigment efficiency particles may CMOS jam the bend compatible actuator voltages and currents Standard MEMS processes can be used Easy extension from single nozzles to pagewidth print heads High CTE A material with a High force Requires IJ09, IJ17, thermo- very high can be special IJ18, IJ20, elastic coefficient of generated material IJ21, IJ22, actuator thermal expansion Three (e.g.
  • PTFE PTFE
  • IJ23, IJ24, (CTE) such as methods of Requires a IJ27, IJ28, polytetrafluoro- PTFE PTFE IJ29, IJ30, ethylene (PTFE) deposition deposition IJ31, IJ42, is used.
  • CTE ethylene
  • IJ43, IJ44 GTE materials are develop- which is not usually non- ment: yet standard conductive, a chemical in ULSI fabs heater fabricated vapor PTFE from a conductive deposition deposition material is (CVD), spin cannot be incorporated.
  • a coating, and followed 50 ⁇ m long PTFE evaporation with high bend actuator PTFE is a temperature with polysilicon candidate (above heater and 15 for low 350° C.)
  • mW power input dielectric processing can provide 180 constant Pigmented ⁇ N force and 10 insulation inks may be ⁇ m deflection.
  • Actuator motions Very low as pigment include: power particles may Bend consumption jam the bend Push Many ink actuator Buckle types can Rotate be used Simple planar fabrication Small chip area required for each actuator Fast operation High efficiency CMOS compatible voltages and currents Easy extension from single nozzles to pagewidth print heads Con- A polymer with a High force Requires IJ24 ductive high coefficient can be special polymer of thermal generated materials thermo- expansion (such Very low development elastic as PTFE) is power (High CTE actuator doped with consumption conductive conducting Many ink polymer) substances to types can Requires a increase its be used PTFE conductivity to Simple deposition about 3 orders of planar process, magnitude below fabrication which that of copper.
  • the shape Easy Requires of the actuator in extension unusual its martensitic from single materials state is deformed nozzles to (TiNi) relative to the pagewidth
  • Low voltage trans- causes ejection of operation formation a drop.
  • High current operation Requires pre-stressing to distort the martensitic state
  • Linear Linear magnetic Linear Requires IJ12 Magnetic actuators include Magnetic unusual Actuator the Linear In- actuators semi- duction Actuator can be conductor (LIA), Linear constructed materials Permanent with high such Magnet thrust, long as soft Synchronous travel, and magnetic Actuator high alloys (LPMSA), Linear efficiency (e.g.
  • drops can 10 kHz.
  • IJ07, IJ09 have a sufficient if drop this is not IJ11, IJ12, velocity to velocity is the method, IJ14, IJ16, overcome the less than but IJ20, IJ22, surface tension.
  • the drop print head patent surface tension selection and the applications reduction of means does print media pressurized ink). not need to or transfer Selected drops are provide the roller separated from energy May require the ink in the required to two print nozzle by contact separate the heads with the print drop from printing medium or a the nozzle alternate transfer roller. rows of the image Monolithic color print heads are difficult Electra- The drops to be Very simple Requires Silverbrook, static printed are print head very high EP 0771 pull on selected by some fabrication electrostatic 658 A2 ink manner (e.g. can be used field and related thermally induced The drop Electrostatic patent surface tension selection field for applications reduction of means does small Tone-Jet pressurized ink).
  • Selected drops are provide the is above air separated from energy breakdown the ink in the required to Electrostatic nozzle by a strong separate the field may electric field. drop from attract dust the nozzle Magnetic
  • the drops to be Very simple Requires Silverbrook, pull on printed are print head magnetic ink EP 0771 ink selected by some fabrication Ink colors 658 A2 manner (e.g. can be used other than and related thermally induced
  • the drop black are patent surface tension selection difficult applications reduction of means does Requires pressurized ink), not need to very high Selected drops are provide the magnetic separated from energy fields the ink in the required to nozzle by a strong separate the magnetic field drop from acting on the the nozzle magnetic ink.
  • the actuator energy can be very low Shuttered
  • the actuator Actuators Moving parts IJ08, IJ15, grill moves a shutter to with small are required IJ18, IJ19 block ink flow travel can Requires ink through a grill to be used pressure the nozzle.
  • the Actuators modulator shutter movement with small Friction and need only be force can wear must be equal to the width be used considered of the grill holes.
  • High speed Stiction is (>50 kHz) possible operation can be achieved
  • Pulsed A pulsed Extremely Requires an IJ10 magnetic magnetic field low energy external pull on attracts an ‘ink operation is pulsed ink pusher’ at the possible magnetic pusher drop ejection No heat field frequency.
  • An dissipation Requires actuator controls problems special a catch, which materials prevents the ink for both the pusher from actuator moving when a and the drop is not ink pusher to be ejected.
  • Ink pressure patent stimu-
  • the actuator allowing phase and applications lation) selects which higher amplitude IJ08, IJ13, drops are to be operating must be IJ15, IJ17, fired by speed carefully IJ18, IJ19, selectively
  • the controlled IJ21 blocking or actuators Acoustic enabling nozzles. may operate reflections
  • the ink pressure with much in the ink oscillation may be lower energy chamber achieved by Acoustic must be vibrating the print lenses can be designed for head, or used to focus preferably by the sound on an actuator in the nozzles the ink supply.
  • Media The print head is Low power Precision Silverbrook, proximity placed in close High assembly EP 0771 proximity to the accuracy required 658 A2 print medium.
  • Simple print Paper fibers and related Selected drops head may cause patent protrude from the construction problems applications print head further Cannot print than unselected on rough drops, and contact substrates the print medium. The drop soaks into the medium fast enough to cause drop separation.
  • Transfer Drops are printed High Bulky Silverbrook, roller to a transfer roller accuracy Expensive EP 0771 instead of straight Wide range Complex 658 A2 to the print of print construction and related medium.
  • a substrates patent transfer roller can can be used applications also be used for Ink can be Tektronix proximity drop dried on the hot melt separation.
  • transfer piezoelectric roller ink jet Any of the IJ series Electro- An electric field Low power Field Silverbrook, static is used to Simple strength EP 0771 accelerate print head required for 658 A2 selected drops construction separation and related towards the print of small patent medium.
  • a pulsed Very low Complex IJ10 magnetic magnetic field is power print head field used to cyclically operation construction attract a paddle, is possible Magnetic which pushes on Small print materials the ink.
  • a small head size required in actuator moves a print head catch, which selectively prevents the paddle from moving.
  • IJ21, IJ22 may be thermal, do not IJ23, IJ24, piezoelectric, delaminate IJ27, IJ29, magnetostrictive, Residual IJ30, IJ31, or other bend IJ32, IJ33, mechanism.
  • the resulting IJ34, IJ35, bend actuator from high IJ36, IJ37, converts a high temperature IJ38, IJ39, force low travel or high IJ42, IJ43, actuator stress IJ44 mechanism to during high travel, formation lower force mechanism.
  • Transient A trilayer bend Very good High stresses IJ40, IJ41 bend actuator where temperature are involved actuator the two outside stability Care must be layers are High speed, taken that identical. This as a new the materials cancels bend due drop can be do not to ambient fired before delaminate temperature and heat residual stress. dissipates The actuator only Cancels responds to residual transient heating stress of of one side formation or the other. Reverse The actuator Better Fabrication IJ05, IJ11 spring loads a spring.
  • Actuator A series of thin Increased Increased Some stack actuators are travel fabrication piezoelectric stacked. This can Reduced complexity ink jets be appropriate drive Increased IJ04 where actuators voltage possibility require high of short electric field circuits strength, such as due to electrostatic and pinholes piezoelectric actuators. Multiple Multiple smaller Increases Actuator IJ12, IJ13, actuators actuators are used the force forces IJ18, IJ20, simultaneously to available may not add IJ22, IJ28, move the ink.
  • Each actuator actuator reducing need provide only Multiple efficiency a portion of the actuators force required. can be positioned to control ink flow accurately Linear
  • a linear spring is Matches Requires IJ15 Spring used to transform low travel print head a motion with actuator area for small travel and with higher the spring high force into a travel longer travel, requirements lower force Non-contact motion.
  • method of motion trans- formation Coiled
  • Coiled A bend actuator is Increases Generally IJ17, IJ21, actuator coiled to provide travel restricted IJ34, IJ35 greater travel in a Reduces to planar reduced chip area. chip area imple- Planar mentations imple- due to mentations extreme are relatively fabrication easy to difficulty fabricate. in other orientations.
  • inks Gears Gears can be used Low force, Moving parts IJ13 to increase travel low travel are required at the expense of actuators Several duration. Circular can be used actuator gears, rack and Can be cycles pinion, ratchets, fabricated are required and other gearing using More methods can be standard complex used. surface drive MEMS electronics processes Complex construction Friction, friction, and wear are possible Buckle A buckle plate Very fast Must stay S. Hirata plate can be used to movement within et al, “An change a slow achievable elastic limits Ink-jet Head actuator into a of the Using fast motion. It can materials for Diaphragm also convert a long device Micro- high force, low life actuator”, travel actuator High stresses Proc. IEEE into a high involved MEMS, Feb.
  • VLSI processes for a surface ejecting ink-jet Only relevant for electrostatic ink jets ACTUATOR MOTION Volume
  • the volume of Simple High energy Hewlett- expansion the actuator construction is typically Packard changes, pushing in the case required to Thermal the ink in all of thermal achieve Ink jet directions.
  • ink jet volume Canon expansion. Bubblejet This leads to thermal stress, cavitation, and kogation in thermal ink jet imple- mentations Linear,
  • the actuator Efficient High IJ01, IJ02, normal moves in a coupling to fabrication IJ04, IJ07, to chip direction normal ink drops complexity IJ11, IJ14 surface to the print head ejected may be surface.
  • the normal to required to nozzle is typically achieve the in the line of surface per- movement.
  • the actuator Suitable for Fabrication IJ12, IJ13, to chip moves parallel to planar complexity IJ15, IJ33, surface the print head fabrication Friction IJ34, IJ35, surface. Drop Stiction IJ36 ejection may still be normal to the surface.
  • Membrane An actuator with The effective Fabrication 1982 push a high force but area of the complexity Howkins small area is used actuator
  • Actuator size USP to push a stiff becomes the Difficulty of 4,459,601 membrane that is membrane integration in contact with area in a VLSI the ink.
  • IJ35 Swivel The actuator Allows Inefficient IJ06 swivels around a operation coupling to central pivot. This where the the ink motion is suitable net linear motion where there are force on opposite forces the paddle applied to is zero opposite sides of Small chip the paddle, e.g. area Lorenz force. requirements Straighten The actuator is Can be used Requires IJ26, IJ32 normally bent, with shape careful and straightens memory balance of when energized.
  • actuators mechanisms Radial The actuator Relatively High force 1970 con- squeezes an ink easy to required Zoltan striction reservoir, forcing fabricate Inefficient USP ink from a single Difficult to 3,683,212 constricted nozzles integrate nozzle. from glass with VLSI tubing as processes macroscopic structures Coil/ A coiled actuator Easy to Difficult to IJ17, IJ21, uncoil uncoils or coils fabricate fabricate for IJ34, IJ35 more tightly. The as a planar non-planar motion of the free VLSI devices end of the process Poor out-of- actuator ejects Small area plane the ink.
  • actuator increases efficiency
  • Curl A set of actuators Relatively Relatively IJ43 outwards curl outwards, simple large chip pressurizing ink construction area in a chamber surrounding the actuators, and expelling ink from a nozzle in the chamber.
  • Iris Multiple vanes High High IJ22 enclose a volume efficiency fabrication of ink. These Small chip complexity simultaneously area Not suitable rotate, reducing for the volume pigmented between the inks vanes.
  • Acoustic The actuator The Large area 1993 vibration vibrates at a high actuator required for Hadimioglu frequency.
  • the actuator After Operational tension force Piezoelectric the actuator is simplicity relatively ink jet energized, it small IJ01-IJ07, typically returns compared to IJ10-IJ14, rapidly to its actuator IJ16, IJ20, normal position. force IJ22-IJ45 This rapid return Long refill sucks in air time usually through the dominates nozzle opening. the total The ink surface repetition tension at the rate nozzle then exerts a small force restoring the meniscus to a minimum area. This force refills the nozzle.
  • IJ16, IJ20, IJ22-IJ45 METHOD OF RESTRICTING BACK-FLOW THROUGH INLET Long inlet
  • the ink inlet Design Restricts Thermal channel channel to the simplicity refill rate ink jet nozzle chamber is Operational May result Piezoelectric made long and simplicity in a ink jet relatively narrow, Reduces relatively IJ42, IJ43 relying on viscous crosstalk large chip drag to reduce area inlet back-flow.
  • the ink is under a Drop Requires a Silverbrook, ink positive pressure, selection and method EP 0771 pressure so that in the separation (such as a 658 A2 quiescent state can forces nozzle rim and related some of the ink be reduced or effective patent drop already Fast refill hydro- applications protrudes from time phobizing, Possible the nozzle. or both) to operation
  • ink inlet Design Restricts IJ02, IJ37, inlet channel to the simplicity refill rate IJ44 compared nozzle chamber May result to nozzle has a substantially in a smaller cross relatively section than that large chip of the nozzle, area resulting in easier Only ink egress out of partially the nozzle than effective out of the inlet.
  • the inlet The method Back-flow Requires IJ01, IJ03, is located avoids the problem is careful IJ05, IJ06, behind problem of inlet eliminated design to IJ07, IJ10, the ink- back-flow by minimize the IJ11, IJ14, pushing arranging the ink- negative IJ16, IJ22, surface pushing surface pressure IJ23, IJ25, of the actuator behind IJ28, IJ31, between the inlet the paddle IJ32, IJ33, and the nozzle.
  • IJ16, IJ20, The nozzle firing IJ22, IJ23, is usually IJ24, IJ25, performed during IJ26, IJ27, a special clearing IJ28, IJ29, cycle, after first IJ30, IJ31, moving the print IJ32, IJ33, head to a cleaning IJ34, IJ36, station.
  • IJ42, IJ43, IJ44, IJ45 Acoustic An ultrasonic A high High IJ08, IJ13, resonance wave is applied to nozzle implement- IJ15, IJ17, the ink chamber. clearing ation IJ18, IJ19, This wave is of capability cost if IJ21 an appropriate can be system amplitude and achieved does not frequency to May be already cause sufficient implemented include force at the at very low an acoustic nozzle to clear cost in actuator blockages. This is systems easiest to achieve which if the ultrasonic already wave is at a include resonant acoustic frequency of the actuators ink cavity.
  • Nozzle A microfabricated Can clear Accurate Silverbrook, clearing plate is pushed severely mechanical EP 0771 plate against the clogged alignment 658 A2 nozzles.
  • the plate nozzles is required and related has a post for Moving patent every nozzle.
  • a parts are applications post moves required through each There is nozzle, displacing risk of dried ink. damage to the nozzles Accurate fabrication is required
  • Ink The pressure of May be Requires May be used pressure the ink is effective pressure with all pulse temporarily where pump IJ series increased so that other or other ink jets ink streams from methods pressure all of the nozzles. cannot actuator This may be used be used Expensive in conjunction Wasteful with actuator of ink energizing.
  • a flexible ‘blade’ Effective Difficult Many ink jet head is wiped across for planar to use if systems wiper the print head print head print head print head surface.
  • the surfaces surface is blade is usually Low cost non-planar fabricated from a or very flexible polymer, fragile e.g. rubber or Requires synthetic mechanical elastomer. parts Blade can wear out in high volume print systems
  • Separate A separate heater Can be Fabrication Can be used ink is provided at the effective complexity with many IJ boiling nozzle although where other series ink heater the normal drop nozzle jets e-ection clearing mechanism does methods not require it.
  • VLSI Nozzles are processes the nozzle IJ01, IJ02, litho- etched in the can be chamber IJ04, IJ11, graphic nozzle plate using used Surface IJ12, IJ17, processes VLSI lithography may be IJ18, IJ20, and etching.
  • the nozzle plate High Requires IJ03, IJ05, lithic, is a buried etch accuracy long etch IJ06, IJ07, etched stop in the wafer.
  • Nozzle slit The elimination No nozzles Difficult to 1989 Saito instead of of nozzle holes to become control drop et al USP individual and replacement clogged position 4,799,068 nozzles by a slit accurately encompassing Crosstalk many actuator problems positions reduces nozzle clogging, but increases crosstalk due to ink surface waves DROP EJECTION DIRECTION Edge Ink flow is along Simple Nozzles Canon (‘edge the surface of the construction limited to Bubblejet shooter’) chip, and ink No silicon edge 1979 drops are ejected etching High Endo et al from the chip required resolution is GB patent edge.
  • print heads applications High nozzle IJ04, IJ17, packing IJ18, IJ24, density IJ27-IJ45 therefore low manu- facturing cost Through Ink flow is High ink Requires IJ01, IJ03, chip, through the chip, flow wafer IJ05, IJ06, reverse and ink drops are Suitable for thinning IJ07, IJ08, (‘down ejected from the pagewidth Requires IJ09, IJ10, shooter’) rear surface of print heads special IJ13, IJ14, the chip.
  • Methyl MEK is a highly Very fast Odorous All IJ Ethyl volatile solvent drying Flammable series Ketone used for industrial Prints on ink jets (MEK) printing on various difficult surfaces substrates such as aluminum such as cans. metals and plastics Alcohol Alcohol based Fast drying Slight odor All IJ (ethanol, inks can be used Operates at Flammable series 2-butanol, where the printer sub-freezing ink jets and must operate at temperatures others) temperatures Reduced below the paper cockle freezing point Low cost of water. An example of this is in-camera consumer photographic printing.
  • ink Phase The ink is solid No drying High Tektronix change at room time—ink viscosity hot melt (hot melt) temperature, instantly Printed ink piezoelectric and is melted in freezes on typically has ink jets the print head the print a ‘waxy’ feel 1989 Nowak before jetting.
  • medium Printed USP Hot melt inks are Almost any pages may 4,820,346 usually wax print ‘block’ All IJ series based, with a medium can Ink ink jets melting point be used temperature around 80° C. No paper may be After jetting cockle above the the ink freezes occurs curie point almost instantly No wicking of permanent upon contacting occurs magnets the print medium No bleed Ink heaters or a transfer occurs consume roller.
  • Oil Oil based inks are High High All IJ extensively used solubility viscosity: series in offset printing, medium for this is a ink jets They have some dyes significant advantages in Does not limitation improved cockle for use in characteristics on paper ink jets, paper (especially Does not which no wicking or wick through usually cockle). Oil paper require soluble dies and a low pigments are viscosity. required. Some short chain and multi- branched oils have a sufficiently low viscosity.

Abstract

An image 2 from a digital camera is modified by employing the output from an auto exposure setting stage 1 in an image processing step 3 to provide an enhanced processed image 4 as a function of said output.

Description

  • Continuation Application Of U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,743 filed on Jul. 10, 1998[0001]
    • CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
  • The following patent applications are hereby incorporated by cross-reference. For the purposes of location and identification, US patent applications identified by their US patent application serial numbers (USSN) and US patents identified by their Patent Numbers are listed with Australian applications from which the US patents or patent applications claim the right of priority and the Applicant's Docket No. [0002]
    CROSS-REFERENCED U.S. PATENT/
    AUSTRALIAN PATENT APPLICATION
    PROVISIONAL (CLAIMING RIGHT OF
    PATENT PRIORITY FROM AUSTRALIAN DOCKET
    APPLICATION NO. PROVISIONAL APPLICATION) NO.
    PO7991 09/113,060 ART01
    PO8505 09/113,070 ART02
    PO7988 09/113,073 ART03
    PO9395  6,322,181 ART04
    PO8017 09/112,747 ART06
    PO8014 09/112,776 ART07
    PO8025 09/112,750 ART08
    PO8032 09/112,746 ART09
    PO7999 09/112,743 ART10
    PO7998 09/112,742 ART11
    PO8031 09/112,741 ART12
    PO8030  6,196,541 ART13
    PO7997  6,195,150 ART15
    PO7979 09/113,053 ART16
    PO8015 09/112,738 ART17
    PO7978 09/113,067 ART18
    PO7982 09/113,063 ART19
    PO7989 09/113,069 ART20
    PO8019 09/112,744 ART21
    PO7980  6,356,715 ART22
    PO8018 09/112,777 ART24
    PO7938 09/113,224 ART25
    PO8016  6,366,693 ART26
    PO8024 09/112,805 ART27
    PO7940 09/113,072 ART28
    PO7939 09/112,785 ART29
    PO8501  6,137,500 ART30
    PO8500 09/112,796 ART31
    PO7987 09/113,071 ART32
    PO8022 09/112,824 ART33
    PO8497 09/113,090 ART34
    PO8020 09/112,823 ART38
    PO8023 09/113,222 ART39
    PO8504 09/112,786 ART42
    PO8000 09/113,051 ART43
    PO7977 09/112,782 ART44
    PO7934 09/113,056 ART45
    PO7990 09/113,059 ART46
    PO8499 09/113,091 ART47
    PO8502 09/112,753 ART48
    PO7981  6,317,192 ART50
    PO7986 09/113,057 ART51
    PO7983 09/113,054 ART52
    PO8026 09/112,752 ART53
    PO8027 09/112,759 ART54
    PO8028 09/112,757 ART56
    PO9394 09/112,758 ART57
    PO9396 09/113,107 ART58
    PO9397  6,271,931 ART59
    PO9398  6,353,772 ART60
    PO9399  6,106,147 ART61
    PO9400 09/112,790 ART62
    PO9401  6,304,291 ART63
    PO9402 09/112,788 ART64
    PO9403  6,305,770 ART65
    PO9405  6,289,262 ART66
    PP0959  6,315,200 ART68
    PP1397  6,217,165 ART69
    PP2370 09/112,781 DOT01
    PP2371 09/113,052 DOT02
    PO8003 09/112,834 Fluid01
    PO8005 09/113,103 Fluid02
    PO9404 09/113,101 Fluid03
    PO8066  6,227,652 IJ01
    PO8072  6,213,588 IJ02
    PO8040  6,213,589 IJ03
    PO8071  6,231,163 IJ04
    PO8047  6,247,795 IJ05
    PO8035 09/113,099 IJ06
    PO8044  6,244,691 IJ07
    PO8063  6,257,704 IJ08
    PO8057 09/112,778 IJ09
    PO8056  6,220,694 IJ10
    PO8069  6,257,705 IJ11
    PO8049  6,247,794 IJ12
    PO8036  6,234,610 IJ13
    PO8048  6,247,793 IJ14
    PO8070  6,264,306 IJ15
    PO8067  6,241,342 IJ16
    PO8001  6,247,792 IJ17
    PO8038  6,264,307 IJ18
    PO8033  6,254,220 IJ19
    PO8002  6,234,611 IJ20
    PO8068 09/112,808 IJ21
    PO8062  6,283,582 IJ22
    PO8034  6,239,821 IJ23
    PO8039 09/113,083 IJ24
    PO8041  6,247,796 IJ25
    PO8004 09/113,122 IJ26
    PO8037 09/112,793 IJ27
    PO8043 09/112,794 IJ28
    PO8042 09/113,128 IJ29
    PO8064 09/113,127 IJ30
    PO9389  6,227,653 IJ31
    PO9391  6,234,609 IJ32
    PP0888  6,238,040 IJ33
    PP0891  6,188,415 IJ34
    PP0890  6,227,654 IJ35
    PP0873  6,209,989 IJ36
    PP0993  6,247,791 IJ37
    PP0890 09/112,764 IJ38
    PP1398  6,217,153 IJ39
    PP2592 09/112,767 IJ40
    PP2593  6,243,113 IJ41
    PP3991  6,283,581 IJ42
    PP3987  6,247,790 IJ43
    PP3985  6,260,953 IJ44
    PP3983  6,267,469 IJ45
    PO7935  6,224,780 IJM01
    PO7936  6,235,212 IJM02
    PO7937  6,280,643 IJM03
    PO8061  6,284,147 IJM04
    PO8054  6,214,244 IJM05
    PO8065  6,071,750 IJM06
    PO8055  6,267,905 IJM07
    PO8053  6,251,298 IJM08
    PO8078  6,258,285 IJM09
    PO7933  6,225,138 IJM10
    PO7950  6,241,904 IJM11
    PO7949 09/113,129 IJM12
    PO8060 09/113,124 IJM13
    PO8059  6,231,773 IJML4
    PO8073  6,190,931 IJM1S
    PO8076  6,248,249 IJM16
    PO8075 09/113,120 IJM17
    PO8079  6,241,906 IJM18
    PO8050 09/113,116 IJM19
    PO8052  6,241,905 IJM20
    PO7948 09/113,117 IJM21
    PO7951  6,231,772 IJM22
    PO8074  6,274,056 IJM23
    PO7941 09/113,110 IJM24
    PO8077  6,248,248 IJM25
    PO8058 09/113,087 IJM26
    PO8051 09/113,074 IJM27
    PO8045  6,110,754 IJM28
    PO7952 09/113,088 IJM29
    PO8046 09/112,771 IJM30
    PO9390  6,264,849 IJM31
    PO9392  6,254,793 IJM32
    PP0889  6,235,211 IJM35
    PP0887 09/112,801 IJM36
    PP0882  6,264,850 IJM37
    PP0874  6,258,284 IJM38
    PP1396 09/113,098 IJM39
    PP3989  6,228,668 IJM40
    PP2591  6,180,427 IJM41
    PP3990  6,171,875 IJM42
    PP3986  6,267,904 IJM43
    PP3984  6,245,247 IJM44
    PP3982 09/112,835 IJM45
    PP0895  6,231,148 IR01
    PP0870 09/113,106 IR02
    PP0869 09/113,105 IR04
    PP0887 09/113,104 IR05
    PP0885  6,238,033 IR06
    PP0884 09/112,766 IR10
    PP0886  6,238,111 IR12
    PP0871 09/113,086 IR13
    PP0876 09/113,094 IR14
    PP0877 09/112,760 IR16
    PP0878  6,196,739 IR17
    PP0879 09/112,774 IR18
    PP0883  6,270,182 IR19
    PP0880  6,152,619 IR20
    PP0881 09/113,092 IR21
    PO8006 6,087,638 MEMS02
    PO8007  09/113,093 MEMS03
    PO8008 09/113,062 MEMS04
    PO8010  6,041,600 MEMS05
    PO8011 09/113,082 MEMS06
    PO7947  6,067,797 MEMS07
    PO7944 09/113,080 MEMS09
    PO7946  6,044,646 MEMS10
    PO9393 09/113,065 MEMS11
    PP0875 09/113,078 MEMS12
    PP0894 09/113,075 MEMS13
    • FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention relates to a method of enhancement image and, in particular, discloses a process for Utilising Exposure Information in a Digital Image Camera. [0003]
  • The present invention further relates to the field of digital image processing and in particular, the field of processing of images taken with a digital camera. [0004]
    • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • Recently, digital cameras have become increasingly popular. These cameras normally operate by means of imaging a desired image utilising a charge coupled device (CCD) array and storing the imaged scene on an electronic storage medium for later down loading onto a computer system for subsequent manipulation and printing out. Normally, when utilising a computer system to print out an image, sophisticated software may be available to manipulate the image in accordance with requirements. [0005]
  • Unfortunately such systems require significant post processing of a captured image and normally present the image in an orientation in which it was taken, relying on a post processing process to perform any necessary or required modifications of the captured image. Further, much of the environmental information available when the picture was taken is lost. [0006]
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • It is an object of the present invention to provide for the utilisation of exposure information in an image specific manner. [0007]
  • In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of image enhancement of a sensed image taken with a digital camera, said digital camera being hand held and including an area image sensor, internal page width ink jet printer, processor means for processing an output of said area image sensor in accordance with processing rules, and a print roll including print media and printing ink for printing out a processed image on said print media, said digital camera further including an auto exposure setting means, said method comprising the step of utilising exposure setting information from said auto exposure setting means to process said sensed image in accordance with said processing rules. [0008]
  • In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of image enhancement of a sensed image taken with a digital camera, including an auto exposure setting means, said method comprising the step of utilising the auto exposure setting from said auto exposure setting means to process said sensed image to add exposure specific graphics to said image. [0009]
  • The utilising step can comprise utilising the auto exposure setting to determine a re-mapping of colours within the image so as to produce an amended image having colours within an image transformed to take account of the auto exposure setting. The processing can comprise re-mapping image colours so they appear deeper and richer when the exposure setting indicates low light conditions and re-mapping image colours to be brighter and more saturated when the auto exposure setting indicates bright light conditions. [0010]
  • The utilising step includes adding exposure specific graphics to the image. [0011]
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
  • Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0012]
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the method of operation of the preferred embodiment.[0013]
    • DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS
  • The preferred embodiment is preferably implemented through suitable programming of a hand held camera device such as that described in the concurrently filed application U.S. Ser. No 09/113,060, entitled “A Digital Instant Printing Camera with Image Processing Capability” filed concurrently herewith by the present applicant the content of which is hereby specifically incorporated by cross reference and the details of which, and other related applications are set out in the tables included herein. [0014]
  • The aforementioned patent specification discloses a camera system, hereinafter known as an “Artcam” type camera, wherein sensed images can be directly printed out by an Artcam portable camera unit. Further, the aforementioned specification discloses means and methods for performing various manipulations on images captured by the camera sensing device leading to the production of various effects in any output image. The manipulations are disclosed to be highly flexible in nature and can be implemented through the insertion into the Artcam of cards having encoded thereon various instructions for the manipulation of images, the cards hereinafter being known as Artcards. The Artcam further has significant onboard processing power provided by an Artcam Central Processor unit (ACP) which is interconnected to a memory device for the storage of important data and image. [0015]
  • The invention disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,060, relates to providing an alternative form of camera system which includes a digital camera with an integral color printer. Additionally, the camera provides hardware and software for the increasing of the apparent resolution of the image sensing system and the conversion of the image to a wide range of “artistic styles” and a graphic enhancement. [0016]
  • In accordance with the invention, disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,060, there is provided a camera system comprising at least one area image sensor for imaging a scene, a camera processor means for processing said imaged scene in accordance with a predetermined scene transformation requirement, a printer for printing out said processed image scene on print media, print media and printing ink stored in a single detachable module inside said camera system, said camera system comprising a portable hand held unit for the imaging of scenes by said area image sensor and printing said scenes directly out of said camera system via said printer. [0017]
  • Preferably the camera system includes a print roll for the storage of print media and printing ink for utilization by the printer, the print roll being detachable from the camera system. Further, the print roll can include an authentication chip containing authentication information and the camera processing means is adapted to interrogate the authentication chip so as to determine the authenticity of said print roll when inserted within said camera system. [0018]
  • Further, the printer can include a drop on demand ink printer and guillotine means for the separation of printed photographs. [0019]
  • In the preferred embodiment, the Artcam has an auto exposure sensor for determining the light level associated with the captured image. This auto exposure sensor is utilised to process the image in accordance with the set light value so as to enhance portions of the image. [0020]
  • Preferably, the area image sensor includes a means for determining the light conditions when capturing an image. The area image sensor adjusts the dynamic range of values captured by the CCD in accordance with the detected level sensor. The captured image is transferred to the Artcam central processor and stored in the memory store. Intensity information, as determined by the area image sensor, is also forwarded to the ACP. This information is utilised by the Artcam central processor to manipulate the stored image to enhance certain effects. [0021]
  • Turning now to FIG. 1, the auto exposure setting information [0022] 1 is utilised in conjunction with the stored image 2 to process the image by utilising the ACP. The processed image is returned to the memory store for later printing out 4 on the output printer.
  • A number of processing steps can be undertaken in accordance with the determined light conditions. Where the auto exposure setting [0023] 1 indicates that the image was taken in a low light condition, the image pixel colours are selectively re-mapped so as to make the image colours stronger, deeper and richer.
  • Where the auto exposure information indicates that highlight conditions were present when the image was taken, the image colours can be processed to make them brighter and more saturated. The re-colouring of the image can be undertaken by conversion of the image to a hue-saturation-value (HSV) format and an alteration of pixel values in accordance with requirements. The pixel values can then be output converted to the required output colour format of printing. [0024]
  • Of course, many different re-colouring techniques may be utilised. Preferably, the techniques are clearly illustrated on the pre-requisite artcard inserted into the reader. Alternatively, the image processing algorithms can be automatically applied and hard-wired into the camera for utilization in certain conditions. [0025]
  • Alternatively, the Artcard inserted could have a number of manipulations applied to the image which are specific to the auto-exposure setting. For example, clip arts containing candles etc could be inserted in a dark image and large suns inserted in bright images. [0026]
  • It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. [0027]
  • The present invention is best utilized in the Artcam device, the details of which are set out in the following paragraphs. [0028]
  • Ink Jet Technologies [0029]
  • The embodiments of the invention use an ink jet printer type device. Of course many different devices could be used. However presently popular ink jet printing technologies are unlikely to be suitable. [0030]
  • The most significant problem with thermal ink jet is power consumption. This is approximately 100 times that required for high speed, and stems from the energy-inefficient means of drop ejection. This involves the rapid boiling of water to produce a vapor bubble which expels the ink. Water has a very high heat capacity, and must be superheated in thermal ink jet applications. This leads to an efficiency of around 0.02%, from electricity input to drop momentum (and increased surface area) out. [0031]
  • The most significant problem with piezoelectric ink jet is size and cost. Piezoelectric crystals have a very small deflection at reasonable drive voltages, and therefore require a large area for each nozzle. Also, each piezoelectric actuator must be connected to its drive circuit on a separate substrate. This is not a significant problem at the current limit of around 300 nozzles per print head, but is a major impediment to the fabrication of pagewidth print heads with 19,200 nozzles. [0032]
  • Ideally, the ink jet technologies used meet the stringent requirements of in-camera digital color printing and other high quality, high speed, low cost printing applications. To meet the requirements of digital photography, new ink jet technologies have been created. The target features include: [0033]
  • low power (less than 10 Watts) [0034]
  • high resolution capability (1,600 dpi or more) [0035]
  • photographic quality output [0036]
  • low manufacturing cost [0037]
  • small size (pagewidth times minimum cross section) [0038]
  • high speed (<2 seconds per page). [0039]
  • All of these features can be met or exceeded by the ink jet systems described below with differing levels of difficulty. Forty-five different ink jet technologies have been developed by the Assignee to give a wide range of choices for high volume manufacture. These technologies form part of separate applications assigned to the present Assignee as set out in the table under the heading Cross References to Related Applications. [0040]
  • The ink jet designs shown here are suitable for a wide range of digital printing systems, from battery powered one-time use digital cameras, through to desktop and network printers, and through to commercial printing systems [0041]
  • For ease of manufacture using standard process equipment, the print head is designed to be a monolithic 0.5 micron CMOS chip with MEMS post processing. For color photographic applications, the print head is 100 mm long, with a width which depends upon the ink jet type. The smallest print head designed is IJ38, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a chip area of 35 square mm. The print heads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus data and control circuitry. [0042]
  • Ink is supplied to the back of the print head by injection molded plastic ink channels. The molding requires 50 micron features, which can be created using a lithographically micromachined insert in a standard injection molding tool. Ink flows through holes etched through the wafer to the nozzle chambers fabricated on the front surface of the wafer. The print head is connected to the camera circuitry by tape automated bonding. [0043]
  • Tables of Drop-on-Demand Ink Jets [0044]
  • Eleven important characteristics of the fundamental operation of individual ink jet nozzles have been identified. These characteristics are largely orthogonal, and so can be elucidated as an eleven dimensional matrix. Most of the eleven axes of this matrix include entries developed by the present assignee. [0045]
  • The following tables form the axes of an eleven dimensional table of ink jet types. [0046]
  • Actuator mechanism (18 types) [0047]
  • Basic operation mode (7 types) [0048]
  • Auxiliary mechanism (8 types) [0049]
  • Actuator amplification or modification method (17 types) [0050]
  • Actuator motion (19 types) [0051]
  • Nozzle refill method (4 types) [0052]
  • Method of restricting back-flow through inlet (10 types) [0053]
  • Nozzle clearing method (9 types) [0054]
  • Nozzle plate construction (9 types) [0055]
  • Drop ejection direction (5 types) [0056]
  • Ink type (7 types) [0057]
  • The complete eleven dimensional table represented by these axes contains 36.9 billion possible configurations of ink jet nozzle. While not all of the possible combinations result in a viable ink jet technology, many million configurations are viable. It is clearly impractical to elucidate all of the possible configurations. Instead, certain ink jet types have been investigated in detail. These are designated IJ01 to IJ45 which match the docket numbers in the table under the heading Cross References to Related Applications. [0058]
  • Other ink jet configurations can readily be derived from these forty-five examples by substituting alternative configurations along one or more of the 11 axes. Most of the IJ01 to IJ45 examples can be made into ink jet print heads with characteristics superior to any currently available ink jet technology. [0059]
  • Where there are prior art examples known to the inventor, one or more of these examples are listed in the examples column of the tables below. The IJ01 to IJ45 series are also listed in the examples column. In some cases, a print technology may be listed more than once in a table, where it shares characteristics with more than one entry. [0060]
  • Suitable applications for the ink jet technologies include: Home printers, Office network printers, Short run digital printers, Commercial print systems, Fabric printers, Pocket printers, Internet WWW printers, Video printers, Medical imaging, Wide format printers, Notebook PC printers, Fax machines, Industrial printing systems, Photocopiers, Photographic minilabs etc. [0061]
  • The information associated with the aforementioned 11 dimensional matrix are set out in the following tables. [0062]
    Dis-
    Description Advantages advantages Examples
    ACTUATOR MECHANISM
    (APPLIED ONLY TO SELECTED INK DROPS)
    Thermal An electrothermal Large force High power Canon
    bubble heater heats the generated Ink carrier Bubblejet
    ink to above Simple limited to 1979 Endo
    boiling point, construction water et al GB
    transferring No moving Low patent
    significant heat to parts efficiency 2,007,162
    the aqueous ink. Fast High Xerox
    A bubble operation temperatures heater-in-pit
    nucleates and Small chip required 1990
    quickly forms, area required High Hawkins et
    expelling the ink. for actuator mechamcal al USP
    The efficiency of stress 4,899,181
    the process is Unusual Hewlett-
    low, with materials Packard TIJ
    typically less required 1982 Vaught
    than 0.05% of the Large drive et al USP
    electrical energy transistors 4,490,728
    being transformed Cavitation
    into kinetic causes
    energy of the actuator
    drop. failure
    Kogation
    reduces
    bubble
    formation
    Large print
    heads are
    difficult to
    fabricate
    Piezo- A piezoelectric Low power Very large Kyser et al
    electric crystal such as consumption area required USP
    lead lanthanum Many ink for actuator 3,946,398
    zirconate (PZT) is types can be Difficult to Zoltan USP
    electrically used integrate 3,683,212
    activated, and Fast with 1973
    either expands, operation electronics Stemme USP
    shears, or bends High High 3,747,120
    to apply pressure efficiency voltage drive Epson
    to the ink, required transistors Stylus
    ejecting drops. Full page- Tektronix
    width print IJ04
    heads
    impractical
    due to
    actuator size
    Requires
    electrical
    poling in
    high field
    strengths
    during
    manufacture
    Electro- An electric field Low power Low Seiko Epson,
    strictive is used to activate consumption maximum Usui et all JP
    electrostriction in Many ink strain 253401/96
    relaxor materials types can (approx. IJ04
    such as lead be used 0.01%)
    lanthanum Low Large area
    zirconate titanate thermal required for
    (PLZT) or lead expansion actuator due
    magnesium Electric to low strain
    niobate (PMN). field strength Response
    required speed is
    (approx. 3.5 marginal
    V/μm) can (˜10 μs)
    be generated High voltage
    without drive
    difficulty transistors
    Does not required
    require Full
    electrical pagewidth
    poling print heads
    impractical
    due to
    actuator size
    Ferro- An electric field Low power Difficult to IJ04
    electric is used to induce consumption integrate
    a phase transition Many ink with
    between the types can electronics
    antiferroelectric be used Unusual
    (AFE) and Fast materials
    ferroelectric (FE) operation such as
    phase. Perovskite (<1 μs) PLZSnT are
    materials such as Relatively required
    tin modified lead high Actuators
    lanthanum longitudinal require a
    zirconate titanate strain large
    (PLZSnT) exhibit High area
    large strains of up efficiency
    to 1% associated Electric
    with the AFE to field strength
    FE phase of around
    transition. 3 V/μm can
    be readily
    provided
    Electro- Conductive plates Low power Difficult to IJ02, IJ04
    static are separated by a consumption operate
    plates compressible or Many ink electrostatic
    fluid dielectric types can devices in
    (usually air). be used an aqueous
    Upon application Fast environment
    of a voltage, the operation The
    plates attract each electrostatic
    other and displace actuator will
    ink, causing drop normally
    ejection. The need to be
    conductive plates separated
    maybe in a comb from the ink
    or honeycomb Very large
    structure, or area required
    stacked to to achieve
    increase the high forces
    surface area High
    and therefore the voltage drive
    force. transistors
    may be
    required
    Full page-
    width print
    heads are not
    competitive
    due to
    actuator size
    Electro- A strong electric Low current High voltage 1989 Saito
    static field is applied to consumption required et al, USP
    pull on the ink, where- Low May be 4,799,068
    ink upon electrostatic temperature damaged by 1989 Miura
    attraction sparks due et al, USP
    accelerates the to air 4,810,954
    ink towards the breakdown Tone-jet
    print medium. Required
    field strength
    increases as
    the drop size
    decreases
    High
    voltage drive
    transistors
    required
    Electrostatic
    field attracts
    dust
    Permanent An electromagnet Low power Complex IJ07, IJ10
    magnet directly attracts consumption fabrication
    electro- a permanent Many ink Permanent
    magnetic magnet, types can magnetic
    displacing ink and be used material
    causing drop Fast such as
    ejection. Rare operation Neodymium
    earth magnets High Iron Boron
    with a field efficiency (NdFeB)
    strength around 1 Easy required.
    Tesla can be extension High local
    used. Examples from single currents
    are: Samarium nozzles to required
    Cobalt (SaCo) pagewidth Copper
    and magnetic print heads metalization
    materials in the should be
    neodymium iron used for long
    boron family electro-
    (NdFeB, migration
    NdDyFeBNb, lifetime
    NdDyFeB, etc) and low
    resistivity
    Pigmented
    inks are
    usually
    infeasible
    Operating
    temperature
    limited to
    the Curie
    temperature
    (around
    540 K)
    Soft A solenoid Low power Complex IJ01, IJ05,
    magnetic induced a consumption fabrication IJ08, IJ10,
    core magnetic field in Many ink Materials IJ12, IJ14,
    electro- a soft magnetic types can not usually IJ15, IJ17
    magnetic core or yoke be used present in
    fabricated from a Fast a CMOS fab
    ferrous material operation such as
    such as electro- High NiFe,
    plated iron alloys efficiency CoNiFe, or
    such as CoNiFe Easy CoFe are
    [1], CoFe, or extension required
    NiFe alloys. from single High local
    Typically, the soft nozzles to currents
    magnetic material pagewidth required
    is in two parts, print heads Copper
    which are metalization
    normally held should be
    apart by a spring. used for long
    When the electro-
    solenoid is migration
    actuated, the two lifetime
    parts attract, and low
    displacing the resistivity
    ink. Electro-
    plating is
    required
    High
    saturation
    flux density
    is required
    (2.0-2.1 T is
    achievable
    with CoNiFe
    [1])
    Lorenz The Lorenz force Low power Force acts IJ06, IJ11,
    force acting on a consumption as a twisting IJ13, IJ16
    current carrying Many ink motion
    wire in a types can Typically,
    magnetic field is be used only a
    utilized. Fast quarter of
    This allows the operation the solenoid
    magnetic field to High length
    be supplied efficiency provides
    externally to the Easy force in a
    pnnt head, for extension useful
    example with rare from single direction
    earth permanent nozzles to High local
    magnets. pagewidth currents
    Only the current print heads required
    carrying wire Copper
    need be fabricated metalization
    on the print-head, should be
    simplifying used for
    materials long electro-
    requirements. migration
    lifetime
    and low
    resistivity
    Pigmented
    inks are
    usually
    infeasible
    Magneto- The actuator uses Many ink Force acts Fisehenbeck,
    striction the giant types can as a twisting USP
    magnetostrictive be used motion 4,032,929
    effect of materials Fast Unusual IJ25
    such as operation materials
    Terfenol-D (an Easy such as
    alloy of terbium, extension Terfenol-D
    dysprosium and from single are required
    iron developed at nozzles to High local
    the Naval pagewidth currents
    Ordnance print heads required
    Laboratory, hence High force Copper
    Ter-Fe-NOL). For is available metalization
    best efficiency, should be
    the actuator used for long
    should be pre- electro-
    stressed to migration
    approx. 8 MPa. lifetime
    and low
    resistivity
    Pre-stressing
    may be
    required
    Surface Ink under positive Low power Requires Silverbrook,
    tension pressure is held in consumption supple- EP 0771
    reduction a nozzle by Simple mentary 658 A2
    surface tension. construction force to and related
    The surface No unusual effect patent
    tension of materials drop applications
    the ink is reduced required in separation
    below the bubble fabrication Requires
    threshold, causing High special ink
    the ink to egress efficiency surfactants
    from the nozzle. Easy Speed may
    extension be limited by
    from single surfactant
    nozzles to properties
    pagewidth
    print heads
    Viscosity The ink viscosity Simple Requires Silverbrook,
    reduction is locally reduced construction supple- EP 0771
    to select which No unusual mentary 658 A2
    drops are to be materials force to and related
    ejected. A vis- required in effect drop patent
    cosity reduction fabrication separation applications
    can be achieved Easy Requires
    electrothermally extension special ink
    with most inks, from single viscosity
    but special inks nozzles to properties
    can be engineered pagewidth High speed
    for a 100:1 print heads is difficult
    viscosity to achieve
    reduction. Requires
    oscillating
    ink pressure
    A high
    temperature
    difference
    (typically 80
    degrees) is
    required
    Acoustic An acoustic wave Can operate Complex 1993
    is generated and without a drive Hadimioglu
    focussed upon the nozzle plate circuitry et al, EUP
    drop ejection Complex 550,192
    region. fabrication 1993 Elrod
    Low et al, EUP
    efficiency 572,220
    Poor control
    of drop
    position
    Poor control
    of drop
    volume
    Thermo- An actuator Low power Efficient IJ03, IJ09,
    elastic which relies upon consumption aqueous IJ17, IJ18,
    bend differential Many ink operation IJ19, IJ20,
    actuator thermal expansion types can requires a IJ21, IJ22,
    upon Joule be used thermal IJ23, IJ24,
    heating is used. Simple insulator on IJ27, IJ28,
    planar the hot side IJ29, IJ30,
    fabrication Corrosion IJ31, IJ32,
    Small chip prevention IJ33, IJ34,
    area required can be IJ35, IJ36,
    for each difficult IJ37, IJ38,
    actuator Pigmented IJ39, IJ40,
    Fast inks may be IJ41
    operation infeasible,
    High as pigment
    efficiency particles may
    CMOS jam the bend
    compatible actuator
    voltages and
    currents
    Standard
    MEMS
    processes
    can be used
    Easy
    extension
    from single
    nozzles to
    pagewidth
    print heads
    High CTE A material with a High force Requires IJ09, IJ17,
    thermo- very high can be special IJ18, IJ20,
    elastic coefficient of generated material IJ21, IJ22,
    actuator thermal expansion Three (e.g. PTFE) IJ23, IJ24,
    (CTE) such as methods of Requires a IJ27, IJ28,
    polytetrafluoro- PTFE PTFE IJ29, IJ30,
    ethylene (PTFE) deposition deposition IJ31, IJ42,
    is used. As high are under process, IJ43, IJ44
    GTE materials are develop- which is not
    usually non- ment: yet standard
    conductive, a chemical in ULSI fabs
    heater fabricated vapor PTFE
    from a conductive deposition deposition
    material is (CVD), spin cannot be
    incorporated. A coating, and followed
    50 μm long PTFE evaporation with high
    bend actuator PTFE is a temperature
    with polysilicon candidate (above
    heater and 15 for low 350° C.)
    mW power input dielectric processing
    can provide 180 constant Pigmented
    μN force and 10 insulation inks may be
    μm deflection. in ULSI infeasible,
    Actuator motions Very low as pigment
    include: power particles may
    Bend consumption jam the bend
    Push Many ink actuator
    Buckle types can
    Rotate be used
    Simple
    planar
    fabrication
    Small chip
    area required
    for each
    actuator
    Fast
    operation
    High
    efficiency
    CMOS
    compatible
    voltages and
    currents
    Easy
    extension
    from single
    nozzles to
    pagewidth
    print heads
    Con- A polymer with a High force Requires IJ24
    ductive high coefficient can be special
    polymer of thermal generated materials
    thermo- expansion (such Very low development
    elastic as PTFE) is power (High CTE
    actuator doped with consumption conductive
    conducting Many ink polymer)
    substances to types can Requires a
    increase its be used PTFE
    conductivity to Simple deposition
    about 3 orders of planar process,
    magnitude below fabrication which
    that of copper. Small chip is not yet
    The conducting area required standard in
    polymer expands for each ULSI fabs
    when resistively actuator PTFE
    heated. Fast deposition
    Examples of operation cannot be
    conducting High followed
    dopants include: efficiency with high
    Carbon nanotubes CMOS temperature
    Metal fibers compatible (above
    Conductive voltages and 350° C.)
    polymers such as currents processing
    doped Easy Evaporation
    polythiophene extension and CVD
    Carbon granules from single deposition
    nozzles to techniques
    pagewidth cannot
    print heads be used
    Pigmented
    inks may be
    infeasible,
    as pigment
    particles
    may jam
    the bend
    actuator
    Shape A shape memory High force Fatigue IJ26
    memory alloy such as TiNi is available limits
    alloy (also known as (stresses of maximum
    Nitinol-Nickel hundreds of number of
    Titanium alloy MPa) cycles
    developed at the Large strain Low strain
    Naval Ordnance is available (1%) is
    Laboratory) is (more than required to
    thermally 3%) extend
    switched between High fatigue
    its weak corrosion resistance
    martensitic state resistance Cycle rate
    and its high Simple limited by
    stiffness austenic construction heat removal
    state. The shape Easy Requires
    of the actuator in extension unusual
    its martensitic from single materials
    state is deformed nozzles to (TiNi)
    relative to the pagewidth The latent
    austenic shape. print heads heat of
    The shape change Low voltage trans-
    causes ejection of operation formation
    a drop. must be
    provided
    High current
    operation
    Requires
    pre-stressing
    to distort
    the
    martensitic
    state
    Linear Linear magnetic Linear Requires IJ12
    Magnetic actuators include Magnetic unusual
    Actuator the Linear In- actuators semi-
    duction Actuator can be conductor
    (LIA), Linear constructed materials
    Permanent with high such
    Magnet thrust, long as soft
    Synchronous travel, and magnetic
    Actuator high alloys
    (LPMSA), Linear efficiency (e.g.
    Reluctance using planar CoNiFe)
    Synchronous semi- Some
    Actuator (LRSA), conductor varieties
    Linear Switched fabrication also require
    Reluctance techniques permanent
    Actuator (LSRA), Long magnetic
    and the Linear actuator materials
    Stepper Actuator travel is such as
    (LSA). available Neodymium
    Medium iron boron
    force is (NdFeB)
    available Requires
    Low voltage complex
    operation multi-phase
    drive
    circuitry
    High current
    operation
    BASIC OPERATION MODE
    Actuator This is the Simple Drop Thermal
    directly simplest mode of operation repetition ink jet
    pushes operation: the No external rate is Piezoelectric
    ink actuator directly fields usually ink jet
    supplies sufficient required limited to IJ01, IJ02,
    kinetic energy to Satellite around IJ03, IJ04,
    expel the drop. drops can 10 kHz. IJ05, IJ06,
    The drop must be avoided However, IJ07, IJ09,
    have a sufficient if drop this is not IJ11, IJ12,
    velocity to velocity is the method, IJ14, IJ16,
    overcome the less than but IJ20, IJ22,
    surface tension. 4 m/s fundamental IJ23, IJ24,
    Can be to is related IJ25, IJ26,
    efficient, to the refill IJ27, IJ28,
    depending method IJ29, IJ30,
    upon the normally IJ31, IJ32,
    actuator used IJ33, IJ34,
    used All of the IJ35, IJ36,
    drop kinetic IJ37, IJ38,
    energy must IJ39, IJ40,
    be provided IJ41, IJ42,
    by the IJ43, IJ44
    actuator
    Satellite
    drops usually
    form if drop
    velocity
    is greater
    than 4.5 m/s
    Proximity The drops to be Very simple Requires Silverbrook,
    printed are print head close EP 0771
    selected by some fabrication proximity 658 A2
    manner (e.g. can be used between the and related
    thermally induced The drop print head patent
    surface tension selection and the applications
    reduction of means does print media
    pressurized ink). not need to or transfer
    Selected drops are provide the roller
    separated from energy May require
    the ink in the required to two print
    nozzle by contact separate the heads
    with the print drop from printing
    medium or a the nozzle alternate
    transfer roller. rows of
    the image
    Monolithic
    color print
    heads are
    difficult
    Electra- The drops to be Very simple Requires Silverbrook,
    static printed are print head very high EP 0771
    pull on selected by some fabrication electrostatic 658 A2
    ink manner (e.g. can be used field and related
    thermally induced The drop Electrostatic patent
    surface tension selection field for applications
    reduction of means does small Tone-Jet
    pressurized ink). not need to nozzle sizes
    Selected drops are provide the is above air
    separated from energy breakdown
    the ink in the required to Electrostatic
    nozzle by a strong separate the field may
    electric field. drop from attract dust
    the nozzle
    Magnetic The drops to be Very simple Requires Silverbrook,
    pull on printed are print head magnetic ink EP 0771
    ink selected by some fabrication Ink colors 658 A2
    manner (e.g. can be used other than and related
    thermally induced The drop black are patent
    surface tension selection difficult applications
    reduction of means does Requires
    pressurized ink), not need to very high
    Selected drops are provide the magnetic
    separated from energy fields
    the ink in the required to
    nozzle by a strong separate the
    magnetic field drop from
    acting on the the nozzle
    magnetic ink.
    Shutter The actuator High speed Moving parts IJ13, IJ17,
    moves a shutter to (>50 kHz) are required IJ21
    block ink flow to operation Requires ink
    the nozzle. The can be pressure
    ink pressure is achieved due modulator
    pulsed at a to reduced Friction and
    multiple of the refill time wear must be
    drop ejection Drop timing considered
    frequency. can be very Stiction is
    accurate possible
    The actuator
    energy can
    be very low
    Shuttered The actuator Actuators Moving parts IJ08, IJ15,
    grill moves a shutter to with small are required IJ18, IJ19
    block ink flow travel can Requires ink
    through a grill to be used pressure
    the nozzle. The Actuators modulator
    shutter movement with small Friction and
    need only be force can wear must be
    equal to the width be used considered
    of the grill holes. High speed Stiction is
    (>50 kHz) possible
    operation
    can be
    achieved
    Pulsed A pulsed Extremely Requires an IJ10
    magnetic magnetic field low energy external
    pull on attracts an ‘ink operation is pulsed
    ink pusher’ at the possible magnetic
    pusher drop ejection No heat field
    frequency. An dissipation Requires
    actuator controls problems special
    a catch, which materials
    prevents the ink for both the
    pusher from actuator
    moving when a and the
    drop is not ink pusher
    to be ejected. Complex
    construction
    AUXILIARY MECHANISM (APPLIED TO ALL NOZZLES)
    None The actuator Simplicity of Drop Most ink
    directly fires the construction ejection jets,
    ink drop, and Simplicity of energy including
    there is no operation must be piezoelectric
    external field or Small supplied by and thermal
    other mechanism physical size individual bubble.
    required. nozzle IJ01, IJ02,
    actuator IJ03, IJ04,
    IJ05, IJ07,
    IJ09, IJ11,
    IJ12, IJ14,
    IJ20, IJ22,
    IJ23, IJ24,
    IJ25, IJ26,
    IJ27, IJ28,
    IJ29, IJ30,
    IJ31, IJ32,
    IJ33, IJ34,
    IJ35, IJ36,
    IJ37, IJ38,
    IJ39, IJ40,
    IJ41, IJ42,
    IJ43, IJ44
    Oscillating The ink pressure Oscillating Requires Silverbrook,
    ink oscillates, ink pressure external ink EP 0771
    pressure providing much can provide pressure 658 A2
    (including of the drop a refill oscillator and related
    acoustic ejection energy. pulse, Ink pressure patent
    stimu- The actuator allowing phase and applications
    lation) selects which higher amplitude IJ08, IJ13,
    drops are to be operating must be IJ15, IJ17,
    fired by speed carefully IJ18, IJ19,
    selectively The controlled IJ21
    blocking or actuators Acoustic
    enabling nozzles. may operate reflections
    The ink pressure with much in the ink
    oscillation may be lower energy chamber
    achieved by Acoustic must be
    vibrating the print lenses can be designed for
    head, or used to focus
    preferably by the sound on
    an actuator in the nozzles
    the ink supply.
    Media The print head is Low power Precision Silverbrook,
    proximity placed in close High assembly EP 0771
    proximity to the accuracy required 658 A2
    print medium. Simple print Paper fibers and related
    Selected drops head may cause patent
    protrude from the construction problems applications
    print head further Cannot print
    than unselected on rough
    drops, and contact substrates
    the print medium.
    The drop soaks
    into the medium
    fast enough to
    cause drop
    separation.
    Transfer Drops are printed High Bulky Silverbrook,
    roller to a transfer roller accuracy Expensive EP 0771
    instead of straight Wide range Complex 658 A2
    to the print of print construction and related
    medium. A substrates patent
    transfer roller can can be used applications
    also be used for Ink can be Tektronix
    proximity drop dried on the hot melt
    separation. transfer piezoelectric
    roller ink jet
    Any of the
    IJ series
    Electro- An electric field Low power Field Silverbrook,
    static is used to Simple strength EP 0771
    accelerate print head required for 658 A2
    selected drops construction separation and related
    towards the print of small patent
    medium. drops is applications
    near or Tone-Jet
    above air
    breakdown
    Direct A magnetic field Low power Requires Silverbrook,
    magnetic is used to Simple magnetic ink EP 0771
    field accelerate print head Requires 658 A2
    selected drops of construction strong and related
    magnetic ink magnetic patent
    towards the print field applications
    medium.
    Cross The print head is Does not Requires IJ06, IJ16
    magnetic placed in a require external
    field constant magnetic magnetic magnet
    field. The Lorenz materials Current
    force in a current to be densities
    canying wire is integrated may be high,
    used to move the in the resulting in
    actuator. print head electro-
    manu- migration
    facturing problems
    process
    Pulsed A pulsed Very low Complex IJ10
    magnetic magnetic field is power print head
    field used to cyclically operation construction
    attract a paddle, is possible Magnetic
    which pushes on Small print materials
    the ink. A small head size required in
    actuator moves a print head
    catch, which
    selectively
    prevents the
    paddle from
    moving.
    ACTUATOR AMPLIFICATION OR MODIFICATION METHOD
    None No actuator Operational Many Thermal
    mechanical simplicity actuator Bubble
    amplification mechanisms Ink jet
    is used. The have IJ01, IJ02,
    actuator directly insufficient IJ06, IJ07,
    drives the drop travel, or IJ16, IJ25,
    ejection process. insufficient IJ26
    force, to
    efficiently
    drive the
    drop
    ejection
    process
    Differ- An actuator Provides High stresses Piezoelectric
    ential material expands greater are involved IJ03, IJ09,
    expansion more on one side travel in a Care must be IJ17, IJ18,
    bend than on the other. reduced print taken that IJ19, IJ20,
    actuator The expansion head area the materials IJ21, IJ22,
    may be thermal, do not IJ23, IJ24,
    piezoelectric, delaminate IJ27, IJ29,
    magnetostrictive, Residual IJ30, IJ31,
    or other bend IJ32, IJ33,
    mechanism. The resulting IJ34, IJ35,
    bend actuator from high IJ36, IJ37,
    converts a high temperature IJ38, IJ39,
    force low travel or high IJ42, IJ43,
    actuator stress IJ44
    mechanism to during
    high travel, formation
    lower force
    mechanism.
    Transient A trilayer bend Very good High stresses IJ40, IJ41
    bend actuator where temperature are involved
    actuator the two outside stability Care must be
    layers are High speed, taken that
    identical. This as a new the materials
    cancels bend due drop can be do not
    to ambient fired before delaminate
    temperature and heat
    residual stress. dissipates
    The actuator only Cancels
    responds to residual
    transient heating stress of
    of one side formation
    or the other.
    Reverse The actuator Better Fabrication IJ05, IJ11
    spring loads a spring. coupling to complexity
    When the actuator the ink High stress
    is turned off, the in the spring
    spring releases.
    This can reverse
    the force/distance
    curve of the
    actuator to make
    it compatible with
    the force/time
    requirements of
    the drop ejection.
    Actuator A series of thin Increased Increased Some
    stack actuators are travel fabrication piezoelectric
    stacked. This can Reduced complexity ink jets
    be appropriate drive Increased IJ04
    where actuators voltage possibility
    require high of short
    electric field circuits
    strength, such as due to
    electrostatic and pinholes
    piezoelectric
    actuators.
    Multiple Multiple smaller Increases Actuator IJ12, IJ13,
    actuators actuators are used the force forces IJ18, IJ20,
    simultaneously to available may not add IJ22, IJ28,
    move the ink. from an linearly, IJ42, IJ43
    Each actuator actuator reducing
    need provide only Multiple efficiency
    a portion of the actuators
    force required. can be
    positioned
    to control
    ink flow
    accurately
    Linear A linear spring is Matches Requires IJ15
    Spring used to transform low travel print head
    a motion with actuator area for
    small travel and with higher the spring
    high force into a travel
    longer travel, requirements
    lower force Non-contact
    motion. method of
    motion trans-
    formation
    Coiled A bend actuator is Increases Generally IJ17, IJ21,
    actuator coiled to provide travel restricted IJ34, IJ35
    greater travel in a Reduces to planar
    reduced chip area. chip area imple-
    Planar mentations
    imple- due to
    mentations extreme
    are relatively fabrication
    easy to difficulty
    fabricate. in other
    orientations.
    Flexure A bend actuator Simple Care must be IJ10, IJ19,
    bend has a small region means of taken not to IJ33
    actuator near the fixture increasing exceed the
    point, which travel of elastic limit
    flexes much more a bend in the flexure
    readily than the actuator area
    remainder of the Stress
    actuator. The distribution
    actuator flexing is very
    is effectively uneven
    converted from an Difficult to
    even coiling to an accurately
    angular bend, model with
    resulting in finite
    greater travel of element
    the actuator tip. analysis
    Catch The actuator Very low Complex IJ10
    controls a small actuator construction
    catch. The catch energy Requires
    either enables Very small external
    or disables actuator size force
    movement Unsuitable
    of an ink pusher for
    that is controlled pigmented
    in a bulk manner. inks
    Gears Gears can be used Low force, Moving parts IJ13
    to increase travel low travel are required
    at the expense of actuators Several
    duration. Circular can be used actuator
    gears, rack and Can be cycles
    pinion, ratchets, fabricated are required
    and other gearing using More
    methods can be standard complex
    used. surface drive
    MEMS electronics
    processes Complex
    construction
    Friction,
    friction, and
    wear are
    possible
    Buckle A buckle plate Very fast Must stay S. Hirata
    plate can be used to movement within et al, “An
    change a slow achievable elastic limits Ink-jet Head
    actuator into a of the Using
    fast motion. It can materials for Diaphragm
    also convert a long device Micro-
    high force, low life actuator”,
    travel actuator High stresses Proc. IEEE
    into a high involved MEMS, Feb.
    travel, medium Generally 1996,
    force motion. high power pp 418-423.
    requirement IJ18, IJ27
    Tapered A tapered Linearizes Complex IJ14
    magnetic magnetic pole the magnetic construction
    pole can increase force/
    travel at the distance
    expense of force. curve
    Lever A lever and Matches High IJ32, IJ36,
    fulcrum is used low travel stress IJ37
    to transform a actuator with around the
    motion with small higher travel fulcrum
    travel and high requirements
    force into a Fulcrum
    motion with area has no
    longer travel and linear
    lower force. The movement,
    lever can also and can be
    reverse the used for a
    direction of fluid seal
    travel.
    Rotary The actuator is High Complex IJ28
    impeller connected to a mechanical construction
    rotary impeller. A advantage Unsuitable
    small angular The ratio of for
    deflection of the force to pigmented
    actuator results in travel of the inks
    a rotation of the actuator
    impeller vanes, can be
    which push the matched to
    ink against the nozzle
    stationary vanes requirements
    and out of the by varying
    nozzle. the number
    of impeller
    vanes
    Acoustic A refractive or No moving Large area 1993
    lens diffractive (e.g. parts required Hadimioglu
    zone plate) Only et al, EUP
    acoustic lens relevant 550,192
    is used to for acoustic 1993 Elrod
    concentrate sound ink jets et al, EUP
    waves. 572,220
    Sharp A sharp point is Simple Difficult to Tone-jet
    conductive used to con- construction fabricate
    point centrate an using
    electrostatic standard
    field. VLSI
    processes
    for a
    surface
    ejecting
    ink-jet
    Only
    relevant for
    electrostatic
    ink jets
    ACTUATOR MOTION
    Volume The volume of Simple High energy Hewlett-
    expansion the actuator construction is typically Packard
    changes, pushing in the case required to Thermal
    the ink in all of thermal achieve Ink jet
    directions. ink jet volume Canon
    expansion. Bubblejet
    This leads
    to thermal
    stress,
    cavitation,
    and kogation
    in thermal
    ink jet
    imple-
    mentations
    Linear, The actuator Efficient High IJ01, IJ02,
    normal moves in a coupling to fabrication IJ04, IJ07,
    to chip direction normal ink drops complexity IJ11, IJ14
    surface to the print head ejected may be
    surface. The normal to required to
    nozzle is typically achieve the
    in the line of surface per-
    movement. pendicular
    motion
    Parallel The actuator Suitable for Fabrication IJ12, IJ13,
    to chip moves parallel to planar complexity IJ15, IJ33,
    surface the print head fabrication Friction IJ34, IJ35,
    surface. Drop Stiction IJ36
    ejection may still
    be normal to the
    surface.
    Membrane An actuator with The effective Fabrication 1982
    push a high force but area of the complexity Howkins
    small area is used actuator Actuator size USP
    to push a stiff becomes the Difficulty of 4,459,601
    membrane that is membrane integration
    in contact with area in a VLSI
    the ink. process
    Rotary The actuator Rotary Device IJ05, IJ08,
    causes the levers may complexity IJ13, IJ28
    rotation of some be used to May have
    element, such a increase friction
    grill or impeller travel at a pivot
    Small chip point
    area
    requirements
    Bend The actuator A very Requires the 1970 Kyser
    bends when small actuator to et al USP
    energized. This change in be made 3,946,398
    may be due to dimensions from at 1973
    differential can be least two Stemme
    thermal converted distinct USP
    expansion, to a large layers, or 3,747,120
    piezoelectric motion. to have a IJ03, IJ09,
    expansion, thermal IJ10, IJ19,
    magnetostriction, difference IJ23, IJ24,
    or other form of across the IJ25, IJ29,
    relative actuator IJ30, IJ31,
    dimensional IJ33, IJ34,
    change. IJ35
    Swivel The actuator Allows Inefficient IJ06
    swivels around a operation coupling to
    central pivot. This where the the ink
    motion is suitable net linear motion
    where there are force on
    opposite forces the paddle
    applied to is zero
    opposite sides of Small chip
    the paddle, e.g. area
    Lorenz force. requirements
    Straighten The actuator is Can be used Requires IJ26, IJ32
    normally bent, with shape careful
    and straightens memory balance of
    when energized. alloys where stresses to
    the austenic ensure that
    phase is the quiescent
    planar bend is
    accurate
    Double The actuator One Difficult IJ36, IJ37,
    bend bends in one actuator can to make IJ38
    direction when be used to the drops
    one element is power two ejected by
    energized, and nozzles. both bend
    bends the other Reduced directions
    way when another chip size. identical.
    element is Not A small
    energized. sensitive efficiency
    to ambient loss
    temperature compared to
    equivalent
    single bend
    actuators.
    Shear Energizing the Can increase Not readily 1985
    actuator causes a the effective applicable Fishbeck
    shear motion in travel of to other USP
    the actuator piezoelectric actuator 4,584,590
    material. actuators mechanisms
    Radial The actuator Relatively High force 1970
    con- squeezes an ink easy to required Zoltan
    striction reservoir, forcing fabricate Inefficient USP
    ink from a single Difficult to 3,683,212
    constricted nozzles integrate
    nozzle. from glass with VLSI
    tubing as processes
    macroscopic
    structures
    Coil/ A coiled actuator Easy to Difficult to IJ17, IJ21,
    uncoil uncoils or coils fabricate fabricate for IJ34, IJ35
    more tightly. The as a planar non-planar
    motion of the free VLSI devices
    end of the process Poor out-of-
    actuator ejects Small area plane
    the ink. required, stiffness
    therefore
    low cost
    Bow The actuator Can increase Maximum IJ16, IJ18,
    bows (or buckles) the speed travel is IJ27
    in the middle of travel constrained
    when energized. Mechanic- High force
    ally rigid required
    Push-Pull Two actuators The Not readily IJ18
    control a shutter. structure is suitable for
    One actuator pulls pinned at ink jets
    the shutter, and both ends, which
    the other pushes so has a directly
    it. high out-of- push
    plane rigidity the ink
    Curl A set of actuators Good fluid Design IJ20, IJ42
    inwards curl inwards to flow to complexity
    reduce the the region
    volume of ink behind the
    that they enclose. actuator
    increases
    efficiency
    Curl A set of actuators Relatively Relatively IJ43
    outwards curl outwards, simple large chip
    pressurizing ink construction area
    in a chamber
    surrounding the
    actuators, and
    expelling ink
    from a nozzle in
    the chamber.
    Iris Multiple vanes High High IJ22
    enclose a volume efficiency fabrication
    of ink. These Small chip complexity
    simultaneously area Not suitable
    rotate, reducing for
    the volume pigmented
    between the inks
    vanes.
    Acoustic The actuator The Large area 1993
    vibration vibrates at a high actuator required for Hadimioglu
    frequency. can be efficient et al, EUP
    physically operation at 550,192
    distant from useful 1993 Elrod
    the ink frequencies et al, EUP
    Acoustic 572,220
    coupling and
    crosstalk
    Complex
    drive
    circuitry
    Poor control
    of drop
    volume
    and position
    None In various ink jet No moving Various Silverbrook,
    designs the parts other EP 0771
    actuator does tradeoffs are 658 A2
    not move. required to and related
    eliminate patent
    moving parts applications
    Tone-jet
    NOZZLE REFILL METHOD
    Surface This is the normal Fabrication Low speed Thermal
    tension way that ink jets simplicity Surface ink jet
    are refilled. After Operational tension force Piezoelectric
    the actuator is simplicity relatively ink jet
    energized, it small IJ01-IJ07,
    typically returns compared to IJ10-IJ14,
    rapidly to its actuator IJ16, IJ20,
    normal position. force IJ22-IJ45
    This rapid return Long refill
    sucks in air time usually
    through the dominates
    nozzle opening. the total
    The ink surface repetition
    tension at the rate
    nozzle then exerts
    a small force
    restoring the
    meniscus to a
    minimum area.
    This force refills
    the nozzle.
    Shuttered Ink to the nozzle High speed Requires IJ08, IJ13,
    oscillating chamber is Low actuator common ink IJ15, IJ17,
    ink provided at a energy, as pressure IJ18, IJ19,
    pressure pressure that the actuator oscillator IJ21
    oscillates at twice need only May not be
    the drop ejection open or suitable for
    frequency. When close the pigmented
    a drop is to be shutter, inks
    ejected, the instead
    shutter is opened of ejecting
    for 3 half cycles: the ink
    drop ejection, drop
    actuator return,
    and refill. The
    shutter is then
    closed to prevent
    the nozzle
    chamber
    emptying during
    the next negative
    pressure cycle.
    Refill After the main High speed, Requires two IJ09
    actuator actuator has as the independent
    ejected a drop a nozzle is actuators
    second (refill) actively per nozzle
    actuator is refilled
    energized. The
    refill actuator
    pushes ink into
    the nozzle
    chamber. The
    refill actuator
    returns slowly, to
    prevent its return
    from emptying
    the chamber
    again.
    Positive The ink is held a High refill Surface spill Silverbrook,
    ink slight positive rate, must be EP 0771
    pressure pressure. After therefore a prevented 658 A2
    the ink drop is high drop Highly and related
    ejected, the repetition hydrophobic patent
    nozzle chamber rate is print head applications
    fills quickly as possible surfaces are Alternative
    surface tension required for:,
    and ink pressure IJ01-IJ07,
    both operate to IJ10-IJ14,
    refill the nozzle. IJ16, IJ20,
    IJ22-IJ45
    METHOD OF RESTRICTING BACK-FLOW THROUGH INLET
    Long inlet The ink inlet Design Restricts Thermal
    channel channel to the simplicity refill rate ink jet
    nozzle chamber is Operational May result Piezoelectric
    made long and simplicity in a ink jet
    relatively narrow, Reduces relatively IJ42, IJ43
    relying on viscous crosstalk large chip
    drag to reduce area
    inlet back-flow. Only
    partially
    effective
    Positive The ink is under a Drop Requires a Silverbrook,
    ink positive pressure, selection and method EP 0771
    pressure so that in the separation (such as a 658 A2
    quiescent state can forces nozzle rim and related
    some of the ink be reduced or effective patent
    drop already Fast refill hydro- applications
    protrudes from time phobizing, Possible
    the nozzle. or both) to operation
    This reduces the prevent of the
    pressure in the flooding following:
    nozzle chamber of the IJ01-IJ07,
    which is required ejection IJ09-IJ12,
    to eject a certain surface of IJ14, IJ16,
    volume of ink. the print IJ20, IJ22,
    The reduction in head. IJ23-IJ34,
    chamber pressure IJ36-IJ41,
    results in a IJ44
    reduction in ink
    pushed out
    through the inlet.
    Baffle One or more The refill Design HP Thermal
    baffles are placed rate is not complexity Ink Jet
    in the inlet ink as restricted May increase Tektronix
    flow. When the as the long fabrication piezoelectric
    actuator is inlet method. complexity ink jet
    energized, the Reduces (e.g.
    rapid ink crosstalk Tektronix
    movement creates hot melt
    eddies which Piezoelectric
    restrict the flow print heads).
    through the
    inlet. The slower
    refill process is
    unrestricted, and
    does not result in
    eddies.
    Flexible In this method Significantly Not Canon
    flap recently disclosed reduces applicable
    restricts by Canon, the backflow to most ink
    inlet expanding for edge- jet con-
    actuator (bubble) shooter figurations
    pushes on a thermal Increased
    flexible flap that ink jet fabrication
    restricts the inlet. devices complexity
    Inelastic
    deformation
    of polymer
    flap results
    in creep over
    extended
    use
    Inlet A filter is located Additional Restricts IJ04, IJ12,
    filter between the ink advantage refill rate IJ24, IJ27,
    inlet and the of ink May result IJ29, IJ30
    nozzle chamber. filtration in complex
    The filter has a Ink filter construction
    multitude of small may be
    holes or slots, fabricated
    restricting ink with no
    flow. The filter additional
    also removes process
    particles which steps
    may block the
    nozzle.
    Small The ink inlet Design Restricts IJ02, IJ37,
    inlet channel to the simplicity refill rate IJ44
    compared nozzle chamber May result
    to nozzle has a substantially in a
    smaller cross relatively
    section than that large chip
    of the nozzle, area
    resulting in easier Only
    ink egress out of partially
    the nozzle than effective
    out of the inlet.
    Inlet A secondary Increases Requires IJ09
    shutter actuator controls speed of separate
    the position of a the inkjet refill
    shutter, closing print head actuator
    off the ink inlet operation and drive
    when the main circuit
    actuator is
    energized.
    The inlet The method Back-flow Requires IJ01, IJ03,
    is located avoids the problem is careful IJ05, IJ06,
    behind problem of inlet eliminated design to IJ07, IJ10,
    the ink- back-flow by minimize the IJ11, IJ14,
    pushing arranging the ink- negative IJ16, IJ22,
    surface pushing surface pressure IJ23, IJ25,
    of the actuator behind IJ28, IJ31,
    between the inlet the paddle IJ32, IJ33,
    and the nozzle. IJ34, IJ35,
    IJ36, IJ39,
    IJ40, IJ41
    Part of The actuator and Significant Small IJ07, IJ20,
    the a wall of the ink reductions in increase in IJ26, IJ38
    actuator chamber are back-flow fabrication
    moves to arranged so that can be complexity
    shut off the motion of the achieved
    the inlet actuator closes off Compact
    the inlet. designs
    possible
    Nozzle In some Ink back- None related Silverbrook,
    actuator configurations of flow to ink EP 0771
    does not ink jet, there is problem is back-flow 658 A2
    result in no expansion or eliminated on actuation and related
    ink back- movement of an patent
    flow actuator which applications
    may cause ink Valve-jet
    back-flow Tone-jet
    through the inlet.
    NOZZLE CLEARING METHOD
    Normal All of the nozzles No added May not be Most ink jet
    nozzle are fired complexity sufficient systems
    firing periodically, on the to displace IJ01, IJ02,
    before the ink has print head dried IJ03, IJ04,
    a chance to dry. ink IJ05, IJ06,
    When not in use IJ07, IJ09,
    the nozzles are IJ10, IJ11,
    sealed (capped) IJ12, IJ14,
    against air. IJ16, IJ20,
    The nozzle firing IJ22, IJ23,
    is usually IJ24, IJ25,
    performed during IJ26, IJ27,
    a special clearing IJ28, IJ29,
    cycle, after first IJ30, IJ31,
    moving the print IJ32, IJ33,
    head to a cleaning IJ34, IJ36,
    station. IJ37, IJ38,
    IJ39, IJ40,
    IJ41, IJ42,
    IJ43, IJ44,
    IJ45
    Extra In systems which Can be Requires Silverbrook,
    power to heat the ink, but highly higher drive EP 0771
    ink heater do not boil it effective voltage for 658 A2
    under normal if the clearing and related
    situations, nozzle heater is May require patent
    clearing can be adjacent to larger drive applications
    achieved by over- the nozzle transistors
    powering the
    heater and boiling
    ink at the nozzle.
    Rapid The actuator is Does not Effectiveness May be used
    succession fired in rapid require depends with: IJ01,
    of actuator succession. extra drive substantially IJ02, IJ03,
    pulses In some circuits upon the IJ04, IJ05,
    configurations, on the configuration IJ06, IJ07,
    this may cause print head of the ink IJ09, IJ10,
    heat build-up at Can be jet nozzle IJ11, IJ14,
    the nozzle which readily IJ16, IJ20,
    boils the ink, controlled IJ22, IJ23,
    clearing the and initiated IJ24, IJ25,
    nozzle. In other by digital IJ27, IJ28,
    situations, it may logic IJ29, IJ30,
    cause sufficient IJ31, IJ32,
    vibrations to IJ33, IJ34,
    dislodge clogged IJ36, IJ37,
    nozzles. IJ38, IJ39,
    IJ40, IJ41,
    IJ42, IJ43,
    IJ44, IJ45
    Extra Where an actuator A simple Not suitable May be used
    power to is not normally solution where there with: IJ03,
    ink driven to the limit where is a hard IJ09, IJ16,
    pushing of its motion, applicable limit to IJ20, IJ23,
    actuator nozzle clearing actuator IJ24, IJ25,
    may be assisted movement IJ27, IJ29,
    by providing an IJ30, IJ31,
    enhanced drive IJ32, IJ39,
    signal to the IJ40, IJ41,
    actuator. IJ42, IJ43,
    IJ44, IJ45
    Acoustic An ultrasonic A high High IJ08, IJ13,
    resonance wave is applied to nozzle implement- IJ15, IJ17,
    the ink chamber. clearing ation IJ18, IJ19,
    This wave is of capability cost if IJ21
    an appropriate can be system
    amplitude and achieved does not
    frequency to May be already
    cause sufficient implemented include
    force at the at very low an acoustic
    nozzle to clear cost in actuator
    blockages. This is systems
    easiest to achieve which
    if the ultrasonic already
    wave is at a include
    resonant acoustic
    frequency of the actuators
    ink cavity.
    Nozzle A microfabricated Can clear Accurate Silverbrook,
    clearing plate is pushed severely mechanical EP 0771
    plate against the clogged alignment 658 A2
    nozzles. The plate nozzles is required and related
    has a post for Moving patent
    every nozzle. A parts are applications
    post moves required
    through each There is
    nozzle, displacing risk of
    dried ink. damage to
    the nozzles
    Accurate
    fabrication
    is required
    Ink The pressure of May be Requires May be used
    pressure the ink is effective pressure with all
    pulse temporarily where pump IJ series
    increased so that other or other ink jets
    ink streams from methods pressure
    all of the nozzles. cannot actuator
    This may be used be used Expensive
    in conjunction Wasteful
    with actuator of ink
    energizing.
    Print A flexible ‘blade’ Effective Difficult Many ink jet
    head is wiped across for planar to use if systems
    wiper the print head print head print head
    surface. The surfaces surface is
    blade is usually Low cost non-planar
    fabricated from a or very
    flexible polymer, fragile
    e.g. rubber or Requires
    synthetic mechanical
    elastomer. parts
    Blade can
    wear out
    in high
    volume
    print
    systems
    Separate A separate heater Can be Fabrication Can be used
    ink is provided at the effective complexity with many IJ
    boiling nozzle although where other series ink
    heater the normal drop nozzle jets
    e-ection clearing
    mechanism does methods
    not require it. cannot
    The heaters do be used
    not require Can be
    individual implemented
    drive circuits, as at no
    many nozzles can additional
    be cleared cost in some
    simultaneously, ink jet con-
    and no imaging is figurations
    required.
    NOZZLEPLATE CONSTRUCTION
    Electro- A nozzle plate is Fabrication High Hewlett
    formed separately simplicity temperatures Packard
    nickel fabricated from and Thermal
    electroformed pressures Ink jet
    nickel, and are required
    bonded to the to bond
    print head chip. nozzle plate
    Minimum
    thickness
    constraints
    Differential
    thermal
    expansion
    Laser Individual nozzle No masks Each hole Canon
    ablated or holes are ablated required must be Bubblejet
    drilled by an intense UV Can be individually 1988 Sercel
    polymer laser in a nozzle quite fast formed et al., SPIE,
    plate, which is Some Special Vol. 998
    typically a control over equipment Excimer
    polymer such as nozzle required Beam
    polyimide or profile is Slow where Applications,
    polysulphone possible there pp. 76-83
    Equipment are many 1993
    required is thousands of Watanabe
    relatively nozzles per et al., USP
    low cost print head 5,208,604
    May produce
    thin burrs at
    exit holes
    Silicon A separate nozzle High Two part K. Bean,
    micro- plate is accuracy is construction IEEE
    machined micromachined attainable High cost Transactions
    from single Requires on Electron
    crystal silicon, precision Devices,
    and bonded to the alignment Vol. ED-25,
    print head wafer. Nozzles No. 10,
    may be 1978, pp
    clogged 1185-1195
    by adhesive Xerox 1990
    Hawkins
    et al., USP
    4,899,181
    Glass Fine glass No Very small 1970 Zoltan
    capillaries capillaries are expensive nozzle sizes USP
    drawn from glass equipment are difficult 3,683,212
    tubing. This required to form
    method has been Simple to Not suited
    used for making make single for mass
    individual nozzles production
    nozzles, but is
    difficult to
    use for bulk
    manufacturing of
    print heads with
    thousands of
    nozzles.
    Mono- The nozzle plate High Requires Silverbrook,
    lithic, is deposited as a accuracy sacrificial EP 0771
    surface layer using (<1 μm) layer 658 A2
    micro- standard VLSI Monolithic under the and related
    machined deposition Low cost nozzle plate patent
    using techniques. Existing to form applications
    VLSI Nozzles are processes the nozzle IJ01, IJ02,
    litho- etched in the can be chamber IJ04, IJ11,
    graphic nozzle plate using used Surface IJ12, IJ17,
    processes VLSI lithography may be IJ18, IJ20,
    and etching. fragile IJ22, IJ24,
    to the IJ27, IJ28,
    touch IJ29, IJ30,
    IJ31, IJ32,
    IJ33, IJ34,
    IJ36, IJ37,
    IJ38, IJ39,
    IJ40, IJ41,
    IJ42, IJ43,
    IJ44
    Mono- The nozzle plate High Requires IJ03, IJ05,
    lithic, is a buried etch accuracy long etch IJ06, IJ07,
    etched stop in the wafer. (<1 μm) times IJ08, IJ09,
    through Nozzle chambers Monolithic Requires IJ10, IJ13,
    substrate are etched in the Low cost a support IJ14, IJ15,
    front of the wafer, No wafer IJ16, IJ19,
    and the wafer is differential IJ21, IJ23,
    thinned from the expansion IJ25, IJ26
    back side.
    Nozzles are then
    etched in the etch
    stop layer.
    No nozzle Various methods No nozzles Difficult to Ricoh 1995
    plate have been tried to to become control drop Sekiya
    eliminate the clogged position et al USP
    nozzles entirely, accurately 5,412,413
    to prevent nozzle Crosstalk 1993
    clogging. These problems Hadimioglu
    include thermal et al EUP
    bubble 550,192
    mechanisms and 1993 Elrod
    acoustic lens et al EUP
    mechanisms 572,220
    Trough Each drop ejector Reduced Drop firing IJ35
    has a trough manu- direction is
    through which a facturing sensitive to
    paddle moves. complexity wicking.
    There is no Monolithic
    nozzle plate.
    Nozzle slit The elimination No nozzles Difficult to 1989 Saito
    instead of of nozzle holes to become control drop et al USP
    individual and replacement clogged position 4,799,068
    nozzles by a slit accurately
    encompassing Crosstalk
    many actuator problems
    positions reduces
    nozzle clogging,
    but increases
    crosstalk due to
    ink surface waves
    DROP EJECTION DIRECTION
    Edge Ink flow is along Simple Nozzles Canon
    (‘edge the surface of the construction limited to Bubblejet
    shooter’) chip, and ink No silicon edge 1979
    drops are ejected etching High Endo et al
    from the chip required resolution is GB patent
    edge. Good heat difficult 2,007,162
    sinking via Fast color Xerox
    substrate printing heater-in-pit
    Mech- requires one 1990
    anically print head Hawkins
    strong per color et al USP
    Ease of chip 4,899,181
    handing Tone-jet
    Surface Ink flow is along No bulk Maximum Hewlett-
    (‘roof the surface of the silicon ink flow is Packard TIJ
    shooter’) chip, and ink etching severely 1982 Vaught
    drops are ejected required restricted et al USP
    from the chip Silicon can 4,490,728
    surface, normal to make an IJ02, IJ11,
    the plane of the effective IJ12, IJ20,
    chip. heat sink IJ22
    Mechanical
    strength
    Through Ink flow is High ink Requires Silverbrook,
    chip, through the chip, flow bulk silicon EP 0771
    forward and ink drops are Suitable etching 658 A2
    (‘up ejected from the for and related
    shooter’) front surface of pagewidth patent
    the chip. print heads applications
    High nozzle IJ04, IJ17,
    packing IJ18, IJ24,
    density IJ27-IJ45
    therefore
    low manu-
    facturing
    cost
    Through Ink flow is High ink Requires IJ01, IJ03,
    chip, through the chip, flow wafer IJ05, IJ06,
    reverse and ink drops are Suitable for thinning IJ07, IJ08,
    (‘down ejected from the pagewidth Requires IJ09, IJ10,
    shooter’) rear surface of print heads special IJ13, IJ14,
    the chip. High nozzle handling IJ15, IJ16,
    packing during IJ19, IJ21,
    density manufacture IJ23, IJ25,
    therefore IJ26
    low manu-
    facturing
    cost
    Through Ink flow is Suitable for Pagewidth Epson
    actuator through the piezoelectric print heads Stylus
    actuator, which is print heads require Tektronix
    not fabricated as several hot melt
    part of the same thousand piezoelectric
    substrate as the connections ink jets
    drive transistors. to drive
    circuits
    Cannot be
    manu-
    factured
    in standard
    CMOS fabs
    Complex
    assembly
    required
    INK TYPE
    Aqueous, Water based ink Environ- Slow drying Most
    dye which typically mentally Corrosive existing
    contains: water, friendly Bleeds on ink jets
    dye, surfactant, No odor paper All IJ series
    humectant, and May ink jets
    biocide. strikethrough Silverbrook,
    Modem ink dyes Cockles EP 0771
    have high water- paper 658 A2
    fastness, light and related
    fastness patent
    applications
    Aqueous, Water based ink Environ- Slow drying IJ02, IJ04,
    pigment which typically mentally Corrosive IJ21, IJ26,
    contains: water, friendly Pigment IJ27, IJ30
    pigment, No odor may clog Silverbrook,
    surfactant, Reduced nozzles EP 0771
    humectant, and bleed Pigment 658 A2
    biocide. Reduced may clog and related
    Pigments have an wicking actuator patent
    advantage in Reduced mechanisms applications
    reduced bleed, strike- Cockles Piezoelectric
    wicking and through paper ink-jets
    strikethrough. Thermal ink
    jets (with
    significant
    restrictions)
    Methyl MEK is a highly Very fast Odorous All IJ
    Ethyl volatile solvent drying Flammable series
    Ketone used for industrial Prints on ink jets
    (MEK) printing on various
    difficult surfaces substrates
    such as aluminum such as
    cans. metals and
    plastics
    Alcohol Alcohol based Fast drying Slight odor All IJ
    (ethanol, inks can be used Operates at Flammable series
    2-butanol, where the printer sub-freezing ink jets
    and must operate at temperatures
    others) temperatures Reduced
    below the paper cockle
    freezing point Low cost
    of water. An
    example of this
    is in-camera
    consumer
    photographic
    printing.
    Phase The ink is solid No drying High Tektronix
    change at room time—ink viscosity hot melt
    (hot melt) temperature, instantly Printed ink piezoelectric
    and is melted in freezes on typically has ink jets
    the print head the print a ‘waxy’ feel 1989 Nowak
    before jetting. medium Printed USP
    Hot melt inks are Almost any pages may 4,820,346
    usually wax print ‘block’ All IJ series
    based, with a medium can Ink ink jets
    melting point be used temperature
    around 80° C. No paper may be
    After jetting cockle above the
    the ink freezes occurs curie point
    almost instantly No wicking of permanent
    upon contacting occurs magnets
    the print medium No bleed Ink heaters
    or a transfer occurs consume
    roller. No power
    strikethrough Long warm
    occurs up time
    Oil Oil based inks are High High All IJ
    extensively used solubility viscosity: series
    in offset printing, medium for this is a ink jets
    They have some dyes significant
    advantages in Does not limitation
    improved cockle for use in
    characteristics on paper ink jets,
    paper (especially Does not which
    no wicking or wick through usually
    cockle). Oil paper require
    soluble dies and a low
    pigments are viscosity.
    required. Some short
    chain and
    multi-
    branched
    oils have a
    sufficiently
    low
    viscosity.
    Slow drying
    Micro- A microemulsion Stops ink Viscosity All IJ
    emulsion is a stable, self bleed higher than series
    forming emulsion High dye water ink jets
    of oil, water, and solubility Cost is
    surfactant. The Water, slightly
    characteristic oil, and higher than
    drop size is less amphiphilic water
    than 100 nm, and soluble based ink
    is determined by dies can High
    the preferred be used surfactant
    curvature of the Can stabilize con-
    surfactant. pigment centration
    suspensions required
    (around 5%)

Claims (6)

We claim:
1. A method of image enhancement of a sensed image taken with a digital camera, said digital camera being hand held and including an area image sensor, internal page width ink jet printer, processor means for processing an output of said area image sensor in accordance with processing rules, and a print roll including print media and printing ink for printing out a processed image on said print media, said digital camera further including an auto exposure setting means, said method comprising the step of utilising exposure setting information from said auto exposure setting means to process said sensed image in accordance with said processing rules.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said utilising step comprises utilising the auto exposure setting from said auto exposure setting means to determine a re-mapping of colours within said image so as to produce an amended image having colours within an image transformed to take account of said auto exposure setting.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said processing comprises re-mapping image colours so they appear deeper and richer when said auto exposure setting indicates low light conditions.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said processing step comprises re-mapping image colours to be brighter and more saturated when said auto exposure setting indicates bright light conditions.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said utilising step includes adding exposure specific graphics to said image.
6. A method of image enhancement of a sensed image taken with a digital camera, including an auto exposure setting means, said method comprising the step of utilising the auto exposure setting from said auto exposure setting means to process said sensed image to add exposure specific graphics to said image.
US10/322,453 1997-07-15 2002-12-19 Method of image enhancement Abandoned US20030142220A1 (en)

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AUPO7999 1997-07-15
AUPO7991A AUPO799197A0 (en) 1997-07-15 1997-07-15 Image processing method and apparatus (ART01)
AUPO7999A AUPO799997A0 (en) 1997-07-15 1997-07-15 Image processing method and apparatus (ART10)
AUPO7991 1997-07-15
US09/112,743 US6727951B1 (en) 1997-07-15 1998-07-10 Utilizing exposure information for image processing in a digital image camera
US10/322,453 US20030142220A1 (en) 1997-07-15 2002-12-19 Method of image enhancement

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