English:
[0003] Fig. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example print system with a ratio-based adaptive switching technique illustrated by hardware components;
[0004] Fig. 2 is a simplified block diagram of the example print system of Fig. 1 with a ratio-based adaptive switching technique illustrating the functionality of the print system in hardware and software modules;
[0005] Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an example computer readable medium with processor executable instructions organized into sub modules to implement a ratio-based adaptive switching technique;
[0006] Fig. 4 is an example state transition diagram showing a current printer mode on the horizontal axis and a determined cM/pN ratio on the vertical axis;
[0007] Fig. 5 is flowchart of an example ratio-based adaptive switching technique used to switch between printer modes; and
[0008] Fig. 6 is a flow chart of an example alternative ratio-based adaptive switching technique with additional possible operations that may be included to influence threshold values.
[0010] To address these issues, a printing system having an adaptive switching technique based on a ratio of two recorded parameters that indicate wear is disclosed herein. The ratio is used to balance the optimization of both print-job performance and excess color cartridge wear. This dynamic ratio- based adaptive switching technique is used for determining when and how to dis-engage (alienate or switch-out) color cartridges to minimize excess wear. The two recorded parameters are the total number of pages printed (pN) and the number of black-only monochrome pages printed in color mode (cM). A ratio of cM to pN (cM/pN) is computed and compared to two thresholds separated by a hysteresis window. When the largest threshold is exceeded then the color cartridges are dis-engaged (alienated) to preserve color cartridge life by reducing unnecessary wear when printing monochrome pages. Once the color cartridges are not printing monochrome pages, the ratio cM/pN begins to drop. Once the lower of the two thresholds is reached, the color cartridges are engaged (de-alienated) or switched back in during monochrome printing to minimize the print-job performance impact. This ratio-based adaptive switching technique maintains a balance between both color and color mode monochrome printing, and color and black-only monochrome printing. More specific detail of example implementations and various possible modifications follow in the detailed description of the drawings.
[0011] For instance, Fig. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example print system 100 with a ratio-based adaptive switching technique 10 illustrated with hardware components. Print system 100 includes a computing unit 1 10 and a printing unit 150. The computing unit 1 10 may include a panel interface (Panel l/F) 108 typically coupled to a panel 160, such as an LCD, LED, plasma, OLED, AM-LED, IPS, or other display to provide visual indications of progress, options, and supply readiness to a user. Also, the computing unit 1 10 through and external display interface (EXT. D l/F) 106 typically receives one or more print-jobs 140 from one or more data processors 1 12. Data processors may encompass a personal computer, a laptop, cell phone, print server, cloud-based server, and other equivalent computer systems that process various electronic data into printable content. The print-jobs 140 may contain monochrome-only (e.g., black-only), color- only, or mixed monochrome and color data-sets. Computing unit 1 10 includes one or more CPUs 124 having one or more cores capable of executing one or more software threads of instructions. The computing unit 1 10 and the printing unit 150 may be typically electronically coupled via a data bus 130 through a print interface 1 12.
[0012] Computing unit 1 10 may include tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium (CRM) 120, such as read-only memory (ROM) 122, random-accessible memory (RAM) 124 (such as DRAM and SRAM), hard disk drives (HDD) 120, and external memories through an external interface (Ext. l/F) 128. The external interface may connect to external SCSI, ATA, USB, Firewire, network based, cloud-based, and other forms of remote memory known to those of skill in the art. The CRM 120 contains instructions in the form of computer executable code that when read by a processor, such as CPU 124, allows the processor to execute one or more software routines or modules, such as ratio-based adaptive switching technique 10.
[0013] CRM 120 allows for storage of one or more sets of data structures and instructions (e.g. software, firmware, logic) expressed or utilized by any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The instructions may also reside, completely or at least partially, with the static memory, the main memory, and/or within the processor during execution by the computing system. The main memory, ROM 122 and RAM 124 and the CPU 124 memory also constitute computer readable medium 120. The term "computer readable medium" 120 may include single medium or multiple media (centralized or distributed) that store the one or more instructions or data structures. The computer readable medium 120 may be implemented to include, but not limited to, solid state, optical, and magnetic media whether volatile or non-volatile. Such examples include, semiconductor memory devices (e.g. Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory (EE-PROM), and flash memory devices), magnetic discs such as internal hard drives and removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and CD-ROM
[0014] The various examples described herein may include logic or several components, modules, or constituents. Modules may constitute either software modules, such as code embedded in tangible non-transitory computer readable medium 120) or hardware modules. A hardware module is a tangible unit capable of performing certain operations and may be configured or arranged in certain manners. In one example, one or more CPUs 124 or one or more hardware modules of computing unit 1 10 may be configured by software (e.g. an application, or portion of an application) as a hardware module that operates to perform certain operations as described herein.
[0015] In some examples, a hardware module may be implemented as electronically programmable. For instance, a hardware module may include dedicated circuitry or logic that is permanently configured (e.g. as a special- purpose processor, state machine, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to perform certain operations. A hardware module may also include programmable logic or circuity (e.g. as encompassed within a general-purpose processor or other programmable processor) that is temporarily configured by software to perform certain operations. It will be appreciated that the decision to implement a hardware module electronically in dedicated and permanently configured circuitry, or in temporarily configure circuitry (e.g. configured by software) may be driven by cost and time considerations.
[0016] The printing unit 150 may have one or more modes of operation, such as color mode 154 and monochrome mode 158. In the color mode 154, each of the black ("K") and color ("C", Ύ", "M") cartridges 152 are engaged and available for use in printing documents of a print-job 140. In monochrome mode 158, the "K" cartridge 156 is engaged and available for use in printing while the color "C", Ύ", "M" cartridges 157 are dis-engaged (alienated) and not available for use in printing.
[0017] The print system 100 may include one or more adaptive switching techniques 10 (see for instance, flowchart 500 in Fig. 5 and flowchart 600 in Fig. 6) selectable by users or to operate automatically and applicable for both two-part and all-in-one toner cartridge systems to minimize unneeded wear on the color cartridges 157 when they are not used during printing of monochrome pages. The various adaptive switching techniques 10 also improve print-job performance by minimizing when switching between color mode 154 and monochrome modes 158 is used. In one adaptive switching technique 10, a ratio 306 (Fig. 3) is determined by monitoring a number (cM 314, a first behavior) of black-only monochrome (mono) pages printed while in color mode to the total number of pages printed (pN 302, a second behavior). This ratio 306 (cM/pN) is indicative of the unneeded wear on the color cartridge 157 components. For instance, when the ratio is near 1 , then there is excess unneeded wear on the color cartridges 157. When the ratio is near 0, there is minimal unneeded wear on the color cartridges 157. However, to come close to achieving this low ratio there may be frequent switching of the color cartridge 157 components in (de-alienate) and out (alienate) of a print path of print system 100. This switching action may create undesired noise and print-job delay, thereby impacting print-job 140 performance. Hence, it is difficult to minimize the amount of additional wear on the color cartridges while keeping acceptable system performance.
[0018] One goal of the adaptive switching techniques 10 is to therefore to minimize the performance impact of switching between modes to when it is needed to preserve color cartridge life when there is adequate toner available. Accordingly, the adaptive switching techniques 10 optimize both print-job performance and excess cartridge wear of the system based on the determined ratio. The result is a balance between pages of both a) Color and Color Mode Mono, and 2) Color and Black (K)-only Mono.
[0019] Fig. 2 is a simplified block diagram of the print system 100 of Fig. 1 with a ratio-based adaptive switching technique 10 illustrating the functionality of print system 100 in hardware and software modules or combinations of hardware and software modules depending upon specific implementations. Print system 100 includes computing unit 1 10 and printing unit 150. Computing unit 1 10 includes CRM 120 with instructions 220 to implement a ratio-based adaptive switching technique 10 in the form of one or more modules, such as monitor behavior module 202, determine ratio module 206 and optimize system module 204. The various modules may be part of a single overall module or program or may be implemented as one or more sub-routines, object-oriented software objects, or separate autonomous program modules. Further various functionality of the modules may be shared, interoperate, or reside otherwise between the different modules. In one example, the computing unit 1 10 communicates with printing unit 150. The printing unit 150 may include one or more hardware and/or software modules to implement a switching unit 210 to switch between the color mode 154 and the monochrome mode 158 of print system 100. In some examples, the computing unit 1 10 may also be partially or fully implemented as part of printing unit 150. Also, the CRM 120, instructions 220, and one or more of the various modules to implement a ratio-based adaptive switching technique 10 may also reside partially or fully in printing unit 150.
[0020] Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an example computer readable medium 120 with processor executable instructions 220 organized into sub modules to implement a ratio-based adaptive switching technique 10 that balances print-job performance and component wear.
[0021] In module 312, the instructions monitor a total number (pN) of printed pages 302 performed by print system 100 with both color mode 154 and monochrome mode 158 and a number (cM) of monochrome pages performed by print system 100 in a color mode 154. In module 314, the instructions 220 determine a ratio of cM 304 to pN 302 (cM/pN) 306. In module 316, the instructions 220 select the print system 100 to select the color mode 154 when the ratio is less than a first threshold. In module 318, the instructions select the print system 100 to select a monochrome mode 158 when the ratio 306 is more than second threshold. In some example implementations, there may be more than one switching technique used to determine the current printing mode as discussed below. Therefore, the print system 100 may include more than one adaptive switching technique 10 and each technique may share or include their own unique counters (cM, pN) and threshold values.
[0022] Fig. 4 is an example state transition diagram 400 showing the current printer mode 404 on the horizontal axis and the determined cM/pN ratio 306 on the vertical axis. The current printer mode may also encompass selection a default or "home" printer mode, which could be either color mode 154 or monochrome-only mode 158. In this example, print system 100 may change the default home mode to optimize for the current content type that users are most printing. This change of default home mode may be the most optimal for print-job 140 performance. In some examples, however, it may be that the default home mode always remains color mode 154, and that on the receipt of a monochrome-only job, the print system 100 switches to monochrome-only mode 158. In other examples, the default home mode may be monochrome-only mode 158 and the print system 100 switches to color mode 154 when a color job arrives 456.
[0023] The vertical axis of cM/pN ratio 306 includes a first threshold 410 and a greater second threshold 412, the difference between the two thresholds create a hysteresis region 414. In general, a lower threshold value indicates more switching may occur, a greater threshold value indicates a desire for better print-job performance. To begin with, a printer system 100 with new black 156 and color 157 cartridges may typically initialize the start mode 406 of current printer mode 404 in color mode 154. As various print- jobs 140 are received, including when monochrome job arrives 454, the computing unit 1 10 tracks the total number of pages printed pN 302 and the number cM 304 of black-only or monochrome pages printed in color mode 154 of the print system 100. The ratio 306 of cM to pN will increase when there is a greater number of monochrome pages being printed than when there are pages with color being printed while in color mode 154. As more pages with color are printed and correspondingly less monochrome pages printed, the ratio 306 will decrease.
[0024] Once the ratio 306 reaches a first threshold 410 and a second threshold 412, depending on the current printer mode 404 state, different actions will occur. For instance, while in color mode 154, when a monochrome job, such as monochrome job 420 arrives while the ratio 306 is less than the second threshold 412, the current printer mode 404 remains in the color mode 154 state while the ratio 306 increases due to the monochrome pages being printed while in color mode 154. However, once the ratio 306 increases beyond the second threshold 412, such as by printing mixed black and color print-jobs with more black than color pages, and then a further monochrome job 422 arrives, the print system 100 changes the current printer mode 404 to monochrome mode 158 as shown by state arrow 424. While in monochrome mode 158, when monochrome print-jobs 140 arrive and are printed, the ratio 306 will decrease as the numerator cM stays constant while the denominator pN continues to increase. Note that, when a print-job with color job 456 arrives (as shown by state arrows 428, 430, and
[0025] Depending on the ratio 306 value with respect to the first threshold 410 and second threshold 412, the printer may stay in color mode 154, such as with state arrow 434, or it may return to monochrome mode 158, such as with state arrows 430 and 428. Stated otherwise, once the ratio 306 has exceeded the second threshold 412, the print system 100 will switch or transition to monochrome mode 158 upon receiving a monochrome print-job 140. Once in the monochrome mode 158 after the second threshold 412 has been reached, printing of monochrome print-jobs will decrease the ratio 306. Until the ratio 306 has decreased to the first threshold 410, any print-job 140 received that has a color page will cause the print system 100 to temporarily transition (as shown by state arrows 428, 430) to color mode 154 to print the color pages and then transition back to monochrome mode 158 as the current printer mode 404 to reduce wear on the color cartridge157 components.
[0026] In some example implementations of print system 100, such as by user option selection or based on the expected type of print-jobs to be received by print system 100, the current printer mode 404 may selected to be monochrome mode 158 in alternative start mode 408. Thus, the ratio 306 will stay at zero as all black-only or monochrome pages are printed in monochrome mode 158 and cM remains zero as pN increases. Once a color job arrives 456, the print system 100 current printer mode 404 will transition to color mode 154 as shown by state arrow 436. The ratio 306 may then continually increase as monochrome pages are printed in color mode 154. This example implementation allows for minimizing wear of color cartridges 157 until an actual color job arrives 456.
[0027] In another example implementation, the module 312 includes instructions 220 to have the print system 100 wait until the number of printed pages pN 302 exceeds a predetermined number before the instructions 220 in modules 316 and 318 are executed by the processor to select the print system modes (i.e. color mode 154, monochrome mode 158).
[0028] In yet another example, the instructions 220 may include an additional module to analyze actual usage patterns of the print system 100 and adjust one or both the first threshold 410 and the second threshold 412 to reduce transitions between the color mode and the monochrome mode and thereby minimize an amount of color cartridge 157 life while the print system 100 prints monochrome pages. Also, the instructions 220 may also consider component life within cartridges 152, such as toner and wear components, and adjust one or both the first threshold 410 and the second threshold 412 based at least partially on the component life. For instance, if an estimated life of the toner remaining in a color cartridge 157 is less than an estimated remaining life of the wear components of the color cartridge 157, or the trend of the toner life is decreasing faster than the trend of the remaining life of the wear component then the second threshold 412 may be raised to keep print system 100 performance as the color toner will likely run out before the wear components wear out. Alternatively, the first threshold 410 may be raised to reduce the hysteresis region to allow print system 100 to default back to color mode more quickly when a color job arrives 456 as the color cartridge 157 may take on more wear before the color toner is expected to expire. In yet another example, both the first threshold 410 and the second threshold 412 may be raised to emphasize print performance over component wear.
[0029] If the estimated wear life is less than the estimated toner life and/or the trend is that the estimated wear life is decreasing faster than the estimated toner life, either or both the first threshold 410 and the second threshold 412 may be reduced to cause the print system 100 to have the current printer mode 404 be in monochrome mode 158 as it would appear from the usage patterns that most current print-jobs are monochrome and it would be prudent to stay in the monochrome mode 158 as a default to emphasize decreased component wear over print performance.
[0030] In fact, some example implementations may include a learning system to continually analyze usage patterns of the print system 100 and have the learning system dynamically optimize performance behavior based on real-time usage of the print system 100. For instance, normally, when the second threshold 412 is reached and it is determined to switch to monochrome mode 158 from color mode 154, it may be assumed that the print system 100 will switch back to color model 54 eventually. Therefore, one may assume that any switch from color mode 154 to monochrome mode 158 will also have a monochrome mode 158 to color mode 154 switch as well. Accordingly, if a final page of a print-job 140 is often monochrome, one can relax this assumption and get more aggressive to lower the setting of the second threshold 412 and perhaps also the first threshold 410 to trigger a faster change to monochrome mode 158 because the overall cost to print-job performance is likely to be lower as it appears most print-jobs are monochrome only or mostly monochrome.
[0031] For print system 100, an example learning system may thus detect that the final page before a spin-down of the paper feed components is often or usually monochrome. Perhaps in this situation, a user is printing a set of letters where the first page of a letter has a color logo and all following pages of the letter are monochrome. Thus, most of the pages of the set of letters may be assumed to be monochrome and as such, a switch to color mode 154 to print the color logo and a quick switch back to monochrome mode 158 for the monochrome pages can reduce wear on the color components without significantly reducing the overall print system 100 performance. Consequently, a learning system may look for opportunistic usage patterns and adjust the threshold levels accordingly to balance the print-job performance and cartridge wear to match more closely current usage patterns of print system 100.
[0032] Therefore, a print system 100 may include a printing unit 150 to print an image on a recording medium in a color mode 154 or a monochrome mode 158. The printing unit 150 may include a switching unit 210 to switch the printing unit 150 between the color mode 152 and the monochrome mode 158. A computing unit 1 10 is configured with instructions to perform operations. Such operations include instructions to monitor a number (cM) 304 of monochrome pages printed in the color mode 154 and a total number (pN) 302 of printed pages. The instructions also determine a ratio 306 cM/pN that is indicative of unnecessary excess cartridge 156, 157 wear of the print system. The instructions then optimize print-job 140 performance and cartridge 156, 157 wear of the print system based on the determined ratio 306. In some examples, the computing unit 1 10 does not optimize until at least a predetermined total number of printed pages pN 302 has accumulated to better derive an accurate understanding of a standard usage of the print system 100. In yet other examples, the computing unit 1 10 optimizes by minimizing both the number of transitions between the color mode 154 and the monochrome mode 158 and the life of a color cartridge 157 in the print system 100 that is used while printing monochrome pages. As noted above, the computing unit 1 10 may also be configured to perform a learning system to allow for dynamically optimizing the print-job performance and the cartridge wear based on real-time usage of the print system 100. Accordingly, the print system 100 may include more than one method of switching between color mode 154 and monochrome mode 158 and each method may include their own unique counters and thresholds.
[0033] Fig. 5 is flowchart 500 of an example ratio-based adaptive switching technique 10 to change between current printer modes. When the adaptive switching technique 10 begins in start block 502, it begins to monitor print system 100 for the total number of printed pages, pN 302, in both color mode 154 and monochrome mode 158 as well as the number of monochrome pages, cM 304, printed in color mode 154. In decision block 506, a ratio of cM/pN is determined whether it is less than or not a first threshold 410 and if so, selecting the color mode 154 of the print system 100 in block 508. If not less, then in decision block 510 the ratio cM/pN is determined whether it is greater or not than a second threshold 412 and if so, selecting the monochrome model 58 of the print system 100 in block 512. If not greater, and after the color or monochrome modes have been selected in blocks 508, 512, respectively, the adaptive switching technique 500 continues to block 514 to keep the current printer mode 404 and then back to block 504 to continue monitoring pN 302 and cM 304 and checking if the ratio 306 of cM/pN to the first and second thresholds in decision blocks 506, 510.
[0034] Fig. 6 is a flow chart 600 of an example alternative adaptive switching technique 10 with additional possible operations that may be included or used to influence the first and second threshold values. For instance, once the alternative adaptive switching technique 10 begins in start block 602, it similarly monitors pN 302 and cM 304 in block 504 as described for Fig. 5's flow chart. However, before checking the ratio 306 of cM/pN to the first threshold 410 and the second threshold 412 in decision blocks 506 and 510, in decision block 604 the alternative adaptive switching technique 600 waits until the total number of printed pages pN 302 exceeds a predetermined number before proceeding to determining if the ratio 306 against the first and second thresholds in blocks 506, 508, 510, 512, and 514 as described for Fig. 5. Therefore, an alternative adaptive switching technique 10 may wait until the number of printed pages exceeds a predetermined number before the elements of determining are performed.
[0035] In some implementations, an alternative adaptive switching technique 10 may include a learning module that in block 606 allows for monitoring real-time usage patterns of the print system 100 and in block 608 modifying at least one of the first threshold 410 and the second threshold 412 to minimize at least one of cartridge 156, 157 wear or optimize print-job time performance of the print system 100 based on the real-time usage patterns. Block 608 may in some implementations in block 610 also check the level or age of at least one component in a cartridge of the print system 100 and then modify at least one of the first threshold and the second threshold based on the level or age of at least one component in a cartridge of the print system. For example, if the color toner has an expiration date that is soon approaching and the timeframe to the expiration date is less than the expected time for wear out of the color cartridge 157 or the color toner level is low, then the first and second thresholds may be increased to keep emphasizing print-job performance as the color cartridge will need to be replace soon anyway.
[0036] In another implementation, the alternative adaptive switching technique 10 may include in block 612 of first selecting the monochrome mode 158 as the current printer mode 404 of the print system 100. Then in block 614 print-jobs 140 for the print system 100 are received. In decision block 616, the print-job 140 is checked to see if it is a color print-job and when a color page is to be printed and if so in block 618 the color mode 154 is selected as the current printer mode 404 for the remaining color print-job 140 before returning to block 504 and monitoring of the behavior of print system 100 using the pN and cM variables. If not, then decision block 616 proceeds to block 514 to keep the current printer mode 404.
[0037] In summary, the adaptive switching techniques 10 and hardware and software logic discussed above allows for managing the wear life an any print system 100 that has at least two possible methods of behavior (e.g. total number of printed pages (pN) 302 and number of monochrome pages printed in color mode (cM) 304) that may be controlled and/or optimized based on the real-time usage of the print system 100. In the given examples, a ratio 306 of cM to pN (cM/pN) may be controlled through use of thresholds which may be passively set or actively adjusted to achieve a balance between the print-job performance and reduced wear of color cartridge components based on usage, usage patterns, component life, amount of toner. Allowing for actively adjusted thresholds, the entire print system 100 may be analyzed and real- use print usage patterns determined. These print usage patterns may then be used to vigorously adjust the thresholds and thus the behavior of the print system 100 may be dynamically optimized for real-use patterns along with the real-time usage.
[0038] While the claimed subject matter has been particularly shown and described with reference to the foregoing examples, those skilled in the art will understand that many variations may be made therein without departing from the intended scope of subject matter in the following claims. This description should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application to any novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. The foregoing examples are illustrative, and no single feature or element is central to all possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a later application. Where the claims recite "a" or "a first" element of the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.

中文:
[0003]图1是由硬件部件示出的具有基于比率的自适应切换技术的示例打印系统的简化框图;
[0004]图2是具有基于比率的自适应切换技术的图1的示例打印系统的简化框图,其示出了打印系统的硬件和软件模块中的功能;
[0005]图3是具有被组织为子模块以实现基于比率的自适应切换技术的处理器可执行指令的示例计算机可读介质的框图;
[0006]图4是示出了横轴上的当前打印机模式和纵轴上的所确定出的比率cM/pN的示例状态转换图;
[0007]图5是被用于在打印机模式之间切换的示例的基于比率的自适应切换技术的流程图;并且
[0008]图6是具有可被包括以对阈值产生影响的附加可能操作的示例可替代的基于比率的自适应切换技术的流程图。
[0010]为了解决这些问题,本文公开了一种具有自适应切换技术的打印系统,该自适应切换技术基于用于指示磨损的两个记录参数的比率。该比率被用于使对打印作业性能和彩色墨盒过度磨损这两者的优化达到平衡。这种基于动态比率的自适应切换技术被用于确定何时以及如何使彩色墨盒脱离接合(隔离或切换出)以便最小化过度磨损。两个记录参数是打印页面的总数量(pN)和在彩色模式下打印的仅黑色的单色页面的数量(cM)。计算cM与pN的比率(cM/pN)并将该比率与由滞后窗口分隔开的两个阈值进行比较。当超过最大阈值时,使彩色墨盒脱离接合(隔离)以通过减少打印单色页面时不必要的磨损来保持彩色墨盒的使用寿命。一旦彩色墨盒不打印单色页面,则比率cM/pN开始下降。一旦达到两个阈值中的较低者,则在单色打印期间使彩色墨盒被接合(去隔离)或切换回,用以最小化打印作业性能影响。这种基于比率的自适应切换技术在彩色及彩色模式单色打印与彩色及仅黑色单色打印之间保持平衡。示例实现及各种可能修改的更多具体细节见附图的详细描述。
[0011]例如,图1是具有以硬件部件示出的基于比率的自适应切换技术10的示例打印系统100的简化框图。打印系统100包括计算单元110和打印单元150。计算单元110可以包括通常耦接到面板160(例如LCD、LED、等离子体、OLED、AM-LED、IPS或其他显示器)的面板接口(面板I/F)108,用以为用户提供进度、选项和供应准备的可视化指示。此外,计算单元110通常通过外部显示接口(EXT.D I/F)106来从一个或多个数据处理器112接收一个或多个打印作业140。数据处理器可以包括个人计算机、膝上型计算机、蜂窝电话、打印服务器、基于云的服务器、以及将各种电子数据处理成可打印内容的其他等效计算机系统。打印作业140可以包含仅单色(例如仅黑色)的、仅彩色的、或混合的单色和彩色的数据集。计算单元110包括一个或多个CPU 124,其具有能够执行指令的一个或多个软件线程的一个或多个核。计算单元110和打印单元150通常可以经由数据总线130并通过打印接口112被电耦接。
[0012]计算单元110可以包括有形的、非暂时性计算机可读介质(CRM)120,诸如只读存储器(ROM)122、随机可存取存储器(RAM)124(诸如DRAM和SRAM)、硬盘驱动器(HDD)120、以及通过外部接口(Ext.I/F)128的外部存储器。外部接口可以连接到外部的SCSI、ATA、USB、火线(Firewire)、基于网络的、基于云的以及本领域技术人员已知的其他形式的远程存储器。CRM 120包含计算机可执行代码形式的指令,当由诸如CPU 124的处理器读取时,该指令允许处理器执行一个或多个软件例程或模块(例如基于比率的自适应切换技术10)。
[0013]CRM 120允许存储由本文所描述的任何一种或多种方法或功能所表达或使用的一组或多组数据结构和指令(例如,软件、固件、逻辑)。指令还可以完全地或者至少部分地驻留在静态存储器、主存储器、和/或在由计算系统执行期间驻留在处理器内。主存储器、ROM122和RAM 124、以及CPU 124的存储器也构成计算机可读介质120。术语“计算机可读介质”120可以包括存储一个或多个指令或数据结构的单个介质或多个介质(集中式或分布式)。计算机可读介质120可以被实现为包括但不限于固态、光学和磁性介质,无论是易失性的还是非易失性的。这些示例包括半导体存储器件(例如,可擦除可编程只读存储器(EPROM)、电可擦除可编程只读存储器(EE-PROM)和闪存器件)、诸如内部硬盘驱动器和可移动磁盘的磁盘、磁光盘、以及CD-ROM(光盘只读存储器)和DVD(数字通用光盘)盘。
[0014]本文所描述的各种示例可以包括逻辑或若干个部件、模块或构成部分。模块可以构成软件模块(例如嵌入在有形非暂时性计算机可读介质120中的代码)或硬件模块。硬件模块是能够执行某些操作的有形单元,并且可以以某些方式来配置或布置。在一个示例中,计算单元110的一个或多个CPU 124或一个或多个硬件模块可以通过软件(例如,应用程序或应用程序的一部分)被配置为操作以执行如本文所描述的某些操作的硬件模块。
[0015]在一些示例中,硬件模块可以被实现为电子可编程的。例如,硬件模块可以包括被永久配置以执行某些操作的专用电路或逻辑(例如,作为专用处理器、状态机、现场可编程门阵列(FPGA)或专用集成电路(ASIC))。硬件模块还可以包括由软件临时配置以执行某些操作的可编程逻辑或电路(例如,包含在通用处理器或其他可编程处理器内)。将会理解,以电子方式在专用的和永久配置的电路中或者在临时配置的电路(例如,由软件配置)中实现硬件模块的决定可能是由成本和时间因素所驱动的。
[0016]打印单元150可以具有一种或多种操作模式,例如彩色模式154和单色模式158。在彩色模式154下,黑色(“K”)和彩色(“C”、“Y”、“M”)墨盒152中的每个墨盒被接合并且可被用于对打印作业140的文档进行打印。在单色模式158下,“K”墨盒156被接合并且可被用于打印,而彩色“C”“Y”“M”墨盒157脱离接合(隔离)并且不能被用于打印。
[0017]打印系统100可以包括一个或多个自适应切换技术10(参见例如图5中的流程图500和图6中的流程图600),其可由用户选择或自动操作并且适用于两部式调色剂墨盒系统和一体式调色剂墨盒系统,用以当在打印单色页面期间不使用彩色墨盒157时使对它们的不必要磨损最小化。各种自适应切换技术10还通过在使用彩色模式154和单色模式158之间的切换时执行最小化,从而改善打印作业的性能。在一种自适应切换技术10中,通过监控在彩色模式下打印的仅黑色的单色(单色的)页面的数量(cM 314,第一行为)和打印页面的总数量(pN 302,第二行为)来确定比率306(图3)。该比率306(cM/pN)表示对彩色墨盒157部件的不必要磨损。例如,当比率接近1时,存在对彩色墨盒157的过度不必要磨损。当比率接近0时,对彩色墨盒157的不必要磨损为最小。然而,为了接近实现这种低比率,可能会频繁地将彩色墨盒157部件切换到打印系统100的打印路径中(去隔离)和路径外(隔离)。该切换动作可能会产生不期望的噪声及打印作业延迟,从而影响到打印作业140的性能。因此,难以在保持可接受的系统性能的同时使对彩色墨盒的额外磨损量最小化。
[0018]因此,自适应切换技术10的一个目标在于,当在有足够的调色剂可用时需要保持彩色墨盒的使用寿命时,使在模式间进行切换的性能影响最小化。因此,自适应切换技术10基于所确定的比率来对系统的打印作业性能和过度墨盒磨损这两者进行优化。结果是a)彩色和彩色模式单色与2)彩色和仅黑色(K)单色这两者的页面之间的平衡。
[0019]图2是具有基于比率的自适应切换技术10的图1的打印系统100的简化框图,用于示出取决于具体实现的在硬件和软件模块中的或者在硬件和软件模块的组合中的打印系统100的功能。打印系统100包括计算单元110和打印单元150。计算单元110包括具有指令220的CRM 120,该指令220以一个或多个模块(例如监控行为模块202、确定比率模块206和优化系统模块204)的形式来实现基于比率的自适应切换技术10。各种模块可以是单个的整体模块或程序的一部分,或者可以被实现为一个或多个子例程、面向对象的软件对象、或单独的自主程序模块。模块的其他各种功能可以在不同模块之间共享、交互操作或以其他方式驻留。在一个示例中,计算单元110与打印单元150进行通信。打印单元150可以包括一个或者多个硬件和/或软件模块以实现切换单元210,用以在打印系统100的彩色模式154和单色模式158之间进行切换。在一些示例中,计算单元110还可以部分地或者完全地被实现为打印单元150的一部分。而且,CRM 120、指令220、以及用于实现基于比率的自适应切换技术10的各种模块中的一个或多个模块也可以部分地或者完全地驻留在打印单元150中。
[0020]图3是具有处理器可执行指令220的示例计算机可读介质120的框图,该处理器可执行指令220被组织成子模块以实现基于比率的自适应切换技术10,该基于比率的自适应切换技术10用于平衡打印作业性能和部件磨损。
[0021]在模块312中,指令对由打印系统100在彩色模式154和单色模式158下执行的打印页面的总数量(pN)302以及由打印系统100在彩色模式154下执行的单色页面的数量(cM)进行监控。在模块314中,指令220确定cM 304与pN 302的比率(cM/pN)306。在模块316中,指令220对打印系统100进行选择以在比率小于第一阈值时选择彩色模式154。在模块318中,指令对打印系统100进行选择以在比率306大于第二阈值时选择单色模式158。在一些示例实现中,可以存在多于一种的被用于对当前打印模式进行确定的切换技术,如下所述。因此,打印系统100可以包括多于一种的自适应切换技术10,并且每种技术可以共享或者包括它们自己的唯一计数器(cM、pN)和阈值。
[0022]图4是示例状态转换图400,示出了横轴上的当前打印机模式404和纵轴上的所确定出的比率cM/pN 306。当前的打印机模式还可以包括选择默认或“主”打印机模式,该默认或“主”打印机模式可以是彩色模式154或仅单色模式158。在该示例中,打印系统100可以改变默认主模式以针对用户打印最多的当前内容类型来进行优化。默认主模式的这种变更对于打印作业140的性能而言可能是最佳的。然而,在一些示例中,可以是默认主模式始终保持彩色模式154,并且在接收仅单色作业时,打印系统100切换到仅单色模式158。在其他示例中,默认主模式可以是仅单色模式158,并且当彩色作业456到达时,打印系统100切换到彩色模式154。
[0023]纵轴的比率cM/pN 306包括第一阈值410和更大的第二阈值412,两个阈值之间的差异产生了滞后区域414。通常,较低的阈值表示可以发生更多的切换,较高的阈值表示期望更好的打印作业性能。首先,具有新黑色墨盒156和彩色墨盒157的打印机系统100通常可以在彩色模式154下对当前打印机模式404的启动模式406进行初始化。当接收到各种打印作业140时,包括当单色作业454到达时,计算单元110跟踪打印页面的总数量pN 302和在打印系统100的彩色模式154下打印的仅黑色或单色的页面的数量cM 304。当在彩色模式154下打印的单色页面的数量大于在彩色模式154下打印的彩色页面的数量时,cM与pN的比率306将会增加。随着打印更多的彩色页面并且相应地打印更少的单色页面,比率306将会减小。
[0024]一旦比率306达到第一阈值410和第二阈值412(这取决于当前打印机模式404的状态),则将会发生不同的动作。例如,在彩色模式154下时,当单色作业(例如单色作业420)到达而比率306小于第二阈值412时,当前打印机模式404保持在彩色模式154的状态,同时比率306由于在彩色模式154下打印单色页面而增加。然而,一旦比率306增加超过第二阈值412(例如通过打印具有比彩色页面更黑的混合黑色和彩色的打印作业),并随后另一单色作业422到达,则打印系统100会将当前打印机模式404变更为单色模式158,如状态箭头424所示。在单色模式158下时,当单色打印作业140到达并被打印时,比率306将会随着分子cM保持恒定而分母pN持续增加而减小。注意,当具有彩色作业456的打印作业到达时(如状态箭头428、430和434所示),打印系统100会切换到彩色模式154以允许彩色打印。
[0025]取决于相对于第一阈值410和第二阈值412的比率306值,打印机可以保持在彩色模式154下(例如以状态箭头434),或者它可以返回到单色模式158(例如以状态箭头430和428)。换言之,一旦比率306已经超过第二阈值412,则打印系统100将在接收到单色打印作业140时切换或转换到单色模式158。一旦达到第二阈值412之后就处于单色模式158下,单色打印作业的打印将降低比率306。直到比率306减小到第一阈值410,接收到的具有彩色页面的任何打印作业140将使打印系统100暂时转换(如状态箭头428、430所示)到彩色模式154以对彩色页面进行打印,然后转换回单色模式158以作为当前打印机模式404,用以减少对彩色墨盒157部件的磨损。在单色模式158下时,当比率306小于第一阈值410时,接收到的具有彩色页面的任何打印作业140将使当前打印机模式404非暂时性地切换回彩色模式154,如状态箭头434所示。
[0026]在打印系统100的一些示例实现中,例如通过用户选项选择或者基于打印系统100要接收的打印作业的预期类型,当前打印机模式404可以在可替代启动模式408下被选择为单色模式158。因此,比率306将保持为零,因为所有仅黑色或单色的页面以单色模式158打印并且cM随着pN的增加而保持为零。一旦彩色作业456到达,则将打印系统100的当前打印机模式404转换为彩色模式154,如状态箭头436所示。然后,当在彩色模式154下打印单色页面时,比率306可持续增加。该示例性实现允许最小化彩色墨盒157的磨损,直到实际的彩色作业456到达为止。
[0027]在另一示例实现中,模块312包括指令220以使打印系统100在处理器执行模块316和318中的指令220以选择打印系统模式(即,彩色模式154、单色模式158)之前等待,直到打印页面的数量pN 302超过预定数量为止。
[0028]在又一示例中,指令220可以包括附加模块,以对打印系统100的实际使用模式进行分析并且对第一阈值410和第二阈值412中的一个或两个进行调整,用以减少彩色模式和单色模式之间的转换,从而在打印系统100打印单色页面时最小化彩色墨盒157的使用寿命量。而且,指令220还可以考虑墨盒152内的部件(例如调色剂和磨损部件)的使用寿命,并且至少部分地基于部件使用寿命来对第一阈值410和第二阈值412中的一个或两个进行调整。例如,如果彩色墨盒157中的剩余调色剂的估计使用寿命小于彩色墨盒157的磨损部件的估计剩余使用寿命,或者调色剂使用寿命的趋势比磨损部件的剩余使用寿命的趋势减少得更快,则随后可以升高第二阈值412以保持打印系统100的性能,因为彩色调色剂将会在磨损部件被磨损坏之前用尽。可替代地,可以升高第一阈值410以减小滞后区域,用以允许打印系统100在彩色作业456到达时更快地默认返回到彩色模式,因为彩色墨盒157可能会在彩色调色剂预期耗尽之前经受更多的磨损。在又一个示例中,可以提高第一阈值410和第二阈值412这两者以强调打印性能而不是部件磨损。
[0029]如果估计磨损使用寿命小于估计调色剂使用寿命和/或趋势是估计磨损使用寿命比估计调色剂使用寿命减少得更快,则可以减小第一阈值410和第二阈值412中的任意一个或两者,以使得打印系统100使当前打印机模式404处于单色模式158,因为从使用模式来看,大多数当前的打印作业是单色的,并且保持单色模式158以作为默认值用以强调减少的部件磨损而不是打印性能是稳健的。
[0030]实际上,一些示例实现可以包括学习系统以持续地对打印系统100的使用模式进行分析并且使学习系统基于打印系统100的实时使用来动态地优化性能行为。例如,通常,当达到第二阈值412并且确定了从彩色模式154切换到单色模式158时,可以假设打印系统100将最终切换回彩色模式154。因此,可以假设从彩色模式154到单色模式158的任何切换也将具有单色模式158到彩色模式154的切换。因此,如果打印作业140的最终页通常是单色的,则可以放松该假设并且更加积极地降低第二阈值412的设置而且可能还包括第一阈值410,用以触发更快地改变到单色模式158,因为当出现大多数打印作业仅是单色或者大多是单色时打印作业性能的整体成本可以被降低。
[0031]因此,针对打印系统100,示例学习系统可以检测到在进纸部件自旋减慢之前的最终页面经常或通常是单色的。也许在这种情况下,用户正在打印一组信件,其中信件的第一页具有彩色标志,并且该信件的所有后续页面都是单色的。因此,可以假设该组信件的大多数页面是单色的,因此,针对单色页面切换到彩色模式154以打印彩色标志并且快速切换回单色模式158以便减少对彩色部件的磨损而不会显著降低打印系统100的整体性能。因此,学习系统可以寻找机会性使用模式并相应地调整阈值水平以平衡打印作业性能和墨盒磨损,以便更紧密地与打印系统100的当前使用模式相匹配。
[0032]因此,打印系统100可以包括打印单元150,用以在彩色模式154或单色模式158下将图像打印在记录介质上。打印单元150可以包括切换单元210,用以在彩色模式152和单色模式158之间切换打印单元150。计算单元110被配置有指令,用以执行操作。这些操作包括指令,用以对在彩色模式154下打印的单色页面的数量(cM)304和打印页面的总数量(pN)302进行监控。指令还确定比率cM/pN 306,该比率表示打印系统的墨盒156、157的不必要过度磨损。然后,指令基于所确定的比率306来优化打印作业140的性能和打印系统的墨盒156、157的磨损。在一些示例中,计算单元110不执行优化,直到已至少累积了预定的打印页面的总数量pN 302以更好地获得对打印系统100的标准使用的准确了解为止。在其他示例中,计算单元110通过最小化彩色模式154和单色模式158之间的转换次数以及打印系统100中的打印单色页面时使用的彩色墨盒157的使用寿命来进行优化。如上所述,计算单元110还可以被配置为执行学习系统以允许基于打印系统100的实时使用来动态地优化打印作业性能和墨盒磨损。因此,打印系统100可以包括多于一种的在彩色模式154和单色模式158之间进行切换的方法,并且每种方法可以包括它们自己的唯一计数器和阈值。
[0033]图5是用以在当前打印机模式之间执行变更的示例的基于比率的自适应切换技术10的流程图500。当自适应切换技术10在开始框502中开始时,它开始对打印系统100的在彩色模式154和单色模式158下打印的页面的总数量pN 302以及在彩色模式154下打印的单色页面的数量cM 304进行监控。在判定框506中,确定比率cM/pN是否小于第一阈值410,如果小于,则在框508中选择打印系统100的彩色模式154。如果并未小于,则在判定框510中确定比率cM/pN是否大于第二阈值412,如果大于,则在框512中选择打印系统100的单色模式158。如果并未大于并且在分别于框508、512中选择了彩色或单色模式之后,自适应切换技术500继续到框514以保持当前打印机模式404,然后返回到框504以继续对pN 302和cM 304进行监控,并在判定框506、510中检查比率cM/pN 306是否达到第一阈值和第二阈值。
[0034]图6是具有附加可能操作的示例可替代的自适应切换技术10的流程图600,该附加可能操可被包括或使用以对第一阈值和第二阈值产生影响。例如,一旦可替代的自适应切换技术10在开始框602中开始,则它会类似地在框504中对pN 302和cM 304进行监控,如针对图5的流程图所描述的那样。然而,在判定框506和510中检查比率cM/pN 306与第一阈值410和第二阈值412之前,在判定框604中,可替代的自适应切换技术600在进行如图5所述的在框506、508、510、512和514中确定比率306是否违反第一和第二阈值之前执行等待,直到打印页面的总数量pN 302超过预定数量为止。因此,可替代的自适应切换技术10可以在进行要素的确定之前执行等待,直到打印页面的数量超过预定数量为止。
[0035]在一些实现中,可替代的自适应切换技术10可以包括学习模块,该学习模块在框606中允许对打印系统100的实时使用模式进行监控,并且在框608中对第一阈值410和第二阈值412中的至少一个进行修改,以基于实时使用模式来最小化墨盒156、157中的至少一个的磨损或者优化打印系统100的打印作业时间性能。框608还可以在框610中的一些实现中检查打印系统100的墨盒中的至少一个部件的使用程度或使用年龄,然后,基于打印系统的墨盒中的至少一个部件的使用程度或使用年龄来修改第一阈值和第二阈值中的至少一个。例如,如果彩色调色剂的有效期即将到来且有效期的时间范围小于彩色墨盒157被磨损坏的预期时间或者彩色调色剂数量为低,则可以增加第一和第二阈值以强调打印作业性能,因为无论如何都需要尽快地更换彩色墨盒。
[0036]在另一实现中,可替代的自适应切换技术10可以包括在框612中首先选择单色模式158以作为打印系统100的当前打印机模式404。然后在块614中,接收打印系统100的打印作业140。在判定框616中,检查打印作业140以查看它是否是彩色打印作业以及何时打印彩色页面,如果是,则在框618中,在返回到框504并使用变量pN和cM来对打印系统100的行为进行监控之前,选择彩色模式154以作为剩余的彩色打印作业140的当前打印机模式404。如果不是,则判定框616进行到框514以保持当前打印机模式404。
[0037]总之,上面讨论的自适应切换技术10以及硬件和软件逻辑允许对具有至少两种可能的行为方法(例如,打印页面的总数量(pN)302和在彩色模式下打印的单色页面的数量(cM)304)的任何打印系统100的磨损使用寿命进行管理,这可以基于打印系统100的实时使用来加以控制和/或优化。在给出的示例中,可以通过使用阈值来对cM与pN的比率306(cM/pN)进行控制,可以被动地设置或者主动地调整该阈值,以基于使用、使用模式、部件使用寿命、调色剂的数量来实现打印作业性能和彩色墨盒部件磨损的减少这两者间的平衡。允许主动地对阈值进行调整,可以对整个打印系统100进行分析并确定实际使用的打印使用模式。然后可以使用这些打印使用模式来强健地调整阈值,因此可以针对实际使用的模式以及实时使用来动态地优化打印系统100的行为。
[0038]尽管已经参考前述示例具体地示出并描述了所要求保护的主题,但是本领域技术人员将会理解,在不脱离所附权利要求中的主题的预期范围的情况下,可以在其中进行许多修改。该描述应被理解为包括本文所描述的要素的所有新颖的和非显而易见的组合,并且权利要求可以在本申请或后续申请中被呈现给这些要素的任何新颖和非显而易见的组合。前述示例是说明性的,并且没有单个特征或要素是可在本申请或后续申请中要求保护的所有可能组合的核心。在权利要求陈述了其等同物的“一个”或“第一”要素的情况下,这种权利要求应被理解为包括一个或多个这种要素的结合,既不要求也不排除两个或更多个这种要素。