Patent ID: 7706031
Filing Date: 2010-04-27
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A periodic pitch-to-pitch gray balance printer calibration and control method comprising: producing a target gray patch pattern for each of a plurality of pitches on a substrate comprising; producing at least one process gray patch; producing at least one black-based gray patch; measuring each target patch pattern to obtain measured values for each patch in each target pattern, wherein measured values are obtained by measuring the reflectance, color shade, and saturation of individual cyan, magenta, yellow, and black in each patch; determining a tone reproduction curve for each pitch based on the measured values by printing particles of different pitch, measuring the output colors, and automatically readjusting the tone reproduction curves until a satisfactory level of accuracy is obtained based on a comparison with a theoretical desired output; applying the tone reproduction curves to their respective pitches to normalize and optimize printer output; and repeating the steps of producing, measuring, determining, and applying until a difference between desired and actual values is less than a predetermined threshold, thereby calibrating the printer.