Detection of non-firing printhead nozzles by optical scanning of a test pattern

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 6352331
SERIAL NO

08811412

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

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Abstract

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A nozzle detection test pattern has been developed which can be sensed by an optical sensor located on an inkjet printer carriage. By having the same nozzle print ink drops on multiple pixels to form a single thickened test line during multiple passes of the printhead, it is possible to thereafter scan across such test line and automatically determine by the light contrast ratios which nozzles are not firing properly. A green light LED is used to illuminate the magenta, cyan and black test patterns as they are being sensed, and a blue light LED is used to illuminate the yellow test pattern as it is being sensed. A separate test pattern is used for each printhead ink color. The test pattern constitutes six rows with forty test lines on each row for a printhead having 240 active nozzles.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY L P10300 ENERGY DRIVE SPRING TX 77389

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Armijo, Chris T San Diego, CA 2 76
Gaston, Gonzalo Sant Cugat del Valles, ES 14 262
Gil, Antoni Sant Cugat del Valles, ES 5 94
Guerrero, Francisco Sant Cugat del Valles, ES 13 182
Lagares, Javier Sant Cugat del Valles, ES 4 156
Subirada, Francesc Sant Cugat del Valles, ES 24 408

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