Patent ID: 6181362
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A fault tolerant method of scanning for use in a device having an array of individually addressable elements comprising both primary elements and secondary elements, said individually addressable elements operative to record data forming raster lines in parallel tracks on a recording surface, and said method comprising the steps of:(a) selecting a set of active elements from within said array of individually addressable elements, said active elements being completely functional and all other elements being non-activated;(b) moving said array so as to produce a set of raster lines in a set of parallel tracks on said recording surface, said set of raster lines being formed only by said set of active elements;(c) moving said array in predetermined discrete steps transverse to said parallel tracks;(d) repeating steps (b) and (c) so as to create an interleaving pattern, said interleaving pattern:(i) allowing raster lines to be created in parallel tracks on said recording surface which parallel tracks are separated by a fraction of the separation of said array elements; and(ii) having one of said primary elements and at least one of said secondary elements assigned to each parallel track on said recording surface, with only one of said primary and secondary elements forming part of said set of active elements.