Recording Head Test Pattern Layout for Transport Error Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording devices struggle to accurately adjust for errors in medium transport due to skew or other factors, leading to inconsistent recording quality and difficulty in calculating the necessary transport amount.
Innovation Solution
A recording device and method that uses a recording head with multiple nozzles to discharge liquid onto a medium, forming test patterns with varying positional relationships to determine the shift amount between scans, allowing for accurate adjustment of transport errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If test patterns are recorded with gradually changing positional relationships in sequential order, then it is easy to calculate transport amount, but skew errors cause inaccurate measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional sequential recording approach by recording test patterns in reverse order or with non-uniform intervals. Instead of recording patterns with gradually increasing positional shifts in sequential order, the system records them in an inverted sequence or with varying intervals, which allows the calculation to naturally cancel out skew errors while maintaining ease of computation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the recording parameters by varying the intervals between test patterns and using non-uniform positional relationships. By recording patterns with different intervals rather than uniform gradual changes, the system creates a measurement scheme where skew errors affect different patterns differently, allowing these errors to be eliminated through mathematical calculation.
2Measurement precision
If multiple test patterns with different positional relationships are recorded, then transport error calculation accuracy improves, but recording time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by recording a specific optimal number of test patterns (not too few to be inaccurate, not too many to waste time). The system determines the minimum necessary number of patterns with different positional relationships that provides sufficient calculation accuracy, avoiding excessive recording that would waste time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes recording time by changing parameters such as the number of test patterns, their positional intervals, and the recording speed. By carefully selecting these parameters, the system achieves accurate transport error calculation with the minimum necessary recording time.
3Ease of operation
If test patterns are recorded with uniform intervals, then recording process is simple, but skew errors cannot be eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry into the recording process by using non-uniform intervals between test patterns instead of uniform intervals. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that skew errors affect different patterns in different ways, making it possible to eliminate these errors through calculation while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the interval parameter from uniform to non-uniform values. By recording test patterns with varying intervals rather than constant spacing, the system creates a recording process that is still simple to execute but effectively eliminates skew errors through the mathematical relationships created by the non-uniform spacing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise calculation of transport errors, resulting in improved recording quality by minimizing visual irregularities and ensuring consistent image density across scans.
Implementation Method 1
a recording head 19 having a plurality of nozzles 20 for discharging liquid onto the medium 30
Data Source
AI summary
A recording device, when n is an integer of 3 or more, controls a recording head to record n test patters from which a shift amount is acquirable between a scan and a scan different from each other on a medium in a main scanning direction, at least three test pattern is formed by a plurality of patches recorded by a plurality of scans, the n test patterns are formed so as to be different from each other in positional relationship of the plurality of patches and recorded side by side in the main scanning direction in an order different from an order in which the positional relationship of the plurality of patches gradually changes.