Automated enhancement of printed documents

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12023921-B2
Application number	US-202117477417-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2021
Priority date	Sep 16, 2021
Publication date	Jul 2, 2024
Grant date	Jul 2, 2024

Abstract

An MFD is disclosed. For example, the MFD includes a printhead to dispense print material, an enhancement printhead to dispense an enhancement printing fluid, a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions. The instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations that include determining that an automated enhancement feature was selected, analyzing each pixel of an image to be printed to determine one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid, controlling the printhead to print the image, and controlling the enhancement printhead to dispense the enhancement printing fluid on the one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-function device (MFD), comprising:
a printhead to dispense a print material;
an enhancement printhead to dispense an enhancement printing fluid;
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:
determining that an automated enhancement feature was selected;
analyzing each pixel of an image to be printed to determine one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid in addition to the print material that is different from the enhancement printing fluid;
controlling the printhead to dispense the print material to print the image; and
controlling the enhancement printhead to dispense the enhancement printing fluid on the one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid.

2. The MFD of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display to show a preview of the image with and without the automated enhancement feature or to include an interface to adjust a level of enhancement.

3. The MFD of claim 1 , wherein the enhancement printing fluid comprises a glossy clear coat.

4. The MFD of claim 1 , wherein the enhancement printing fluid comprises a matte finish coat.

5. The MFD of claim 1 , wherein the controlling the printhead and the controlling the enhancement printhead comprise dispensing the print material and the enhancement printing fluid on a single pass.

6. The MFD of claim 1 , wherein the controlling the printhead is performed via a first pass and the controlling the enhancement printhead is performed on a second pass.

7. The MFD of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing comprises:
determining a color value of the each pixel; and
determining the one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid based on the one or more pixels having the color value below a threshold.

8. The MFD of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing comprises:
determining a border around the image to be printed; and
determining the one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid based on the one or more pixels being included in the border.

9. The MFD of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing comprises:
detecting edges of the image to be printed; and
determining the one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid based on the one or more pixels being included in the edges.

10. The MFD of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing comprises:
determining a color value of the each pixel;
determining a first subset of the one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid based on the first subset of the one or more pixels having the color value below a first threshold; and
determining a second subset of the one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid in a halftone pattern based on the second subset of the one or more pixels having the color value above the first threshold, but below a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold.

11. A method, comprising:
determining, via a processor, that an automated enhancement feature was selected;
analyzing, by the processor, each pixel of an image to be printed to determine one or more pixels that are to receive an enhancement printing fluid in addition to a print material that is different from the enhancement printing fluid;
dispensing, by the processor, the print material to print the image; and
dispensing, by the processor, the enhancement printing fluid on the one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the enhancement printing fluid comprises a glossy clear coat.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the enhancement printing fluid comprises a matte finish coat.

14. The method of claims claim 11 , wherein the dispensing the print material and the dispensing the enhancement printing fluid are performed on a single pass.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the dispensing the print material is performed on a first pass, and the dispensing the enhancement printing fluid is performed on a second pass.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the analyzing comprises:
determining, by the processor, a color value of the each pixel; and
determining, by the processor, the one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid based on the one or more pixels having the color value below a threshold.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the analyzing comprises:
determining, by the processor, a border around the image to be printed; and
determining, by the processor, the one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid based on the one or more pixels being included in the border.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the analyzing comprises:
detecting, by the processor, edges of the image to be printed; and
determining, by the processor, the one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid based on the one or more pixels being included in the edges.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the analyzing comprises:
determining, by the processor, a color value of the each pixel;
determining, by the processor, a first subset of the one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid based on the first subset of the one or more pixels having the color value below a first threshold; and
determining, by the processor, a second subset of the one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid in a halftone pattern based on the second subset of the one or more pixels having the color value above the first threshold, but below a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold.

20. A multi-function device (MFD), comprising:
a printhead to dispense a print material;
an enhancement printhead to dispense an enhancement printing fluid;
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:
determining a type of automated enhancement feature that was selected, wherein the type of automated enhancement feature that was selected comprises at least one of: a contrast enhancement, a feathered contrast enhancement, a border enhancement, or an edge enhancement;
analyzing each pixel of an image to be printed to determine one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid, in addition to the print material that is different from the enhancement printing fluid, in accordance with the type of automated enhancement feature that was selected;
controlling the printhead to dispense the print material to print the image; and
controlling the enhancement printhead to dispense the enhancement printing fluid on the one or more pixels that are to receive the enhancement printing fluid.

Assignees

• Xerox Corp

Inventors

• Knausdorf Peter
• Lestrange Jack T
• Ramesh Palghat S
• Sheflin Joseph C
• Condello Anthony S

Classifications

• B41J2/2114

  Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids (B41J2/211 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N1/6097

  depending on the characteristics of the output medium, e.g. glossy paper, matt paper, transparency or fabrics · CPC title

• H04N1/4092

  Edge or detail enhancement · CPC title

• H04N1/58

  Edge or detail enhancement; Noise or error suppression, e.g. colour misregistration correction (H04N1/62 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B41J2/04586

  controlling heads of a type not covered by groups B41J2/04575 - B41J2/04585, or of an undefined type · CPC title