Overlapping Nozzle Dot Dispersion Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In inkjet printers with overlapping nozzle columns, the halftone process and dot distribution are independent, leading to deterioration in dot dispersion in the overlapping regions, resulting in poor image quality.
Innovation Solution
A fluid-ejecting device with overlapping nozzle columns, where the controller adjusts dot data based on halftone processes that multiply nozzle usage rates by incidence rate data for each dot size, allowing coordinated dot ejection from both columns to minimize dispersion issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If heads are arranged with overlapping ends to increase printing width coverage, then the printing efficiency and width coverage are improved, but the dot dispersion deteriorates in the overlapping region due to independent halftone and masking processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the halftone process and masking process into a single integrated operation. Instead of performing halftone processing first and then applying masking separately, the invention combines both functions so that dot distribution and head assignment are determined simultaneously, ensuring consistent dot dispersion across overlapping regions while maintaining the benefits of multiple heads covering the printing width.
2Device complexity
If independent halftone process and masking process are used for simplicity of implementation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the dot dispersion in overlapping regions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the halftone process and masking process into a single integrated operation. Instead of performing halftone processing first and then applying masking separately, the invention combines both functions so that dot distribution and head assignment are determined simultaneously, ensuring consistent dot dispersion across overlapping regions while maintaining the benefits of multiple heads covering the printing width.
Data Source
AI summary
To minimize deterioration in the dispersion of dots in an overlapping region between heads, a fluid-ejecting device includes: (A) a first nozzle column having first nozzles for ejecting a fluid; (B) a second nozzle column having second nozzles for ejecting a fluid and arranged to form an overlapping region in which an end portion toward one end in the predetermined direction overlaps an end portion at another end of the first nozzle column; and (C) a controller for ejecting a fluid from the first nozzle column and the second nozzle column in accordance with dot data indicating a dot size converted from inputted image data and ejecting the fluid from the second nozzles in the overlapping region in accordance with dot data obtained from a halftone process performed after multiplying the usage rate of the second nozzle column by incidence rate data for each of the dot sizes.