Abstract:
Systems and procedures are described to automatically configure an imaging device to form images on sheets of print media that are loaded in the imaging device. To accomplish this, the imaging device reads, or senses a single marking from at least one edge of the sheet of print media. The marking includes data; the data provides orientation information with respect to how the print sheet is loaded in the imaging device. The data further includes a set of media parameter information corresponding to the sheet of print media. The imaging device configures itself to form images on the sheet of print media based on at least a portion of the sensed data from the sheet of print media.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The described subject matter relates to sensing media parameter information from print media.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Conventional imaging devices such as printers, plotters, copiers, facsimile machines and the like, typically utilize various types of print media to print images. Such print media types include paper based media (e.g., glossy paper, semi-glossy paper, matte paper, etc.) as well as non-paper based media (e.g., vellum, film, etc.).  
           [0003]    To optimize print quality, an imaging device generally requires a number of parameters such as print modes, color maps, and so on, to be configured. This is because such parameters typically vary with the type of media being utilized. For example, an ink-based imaging device such as an ink jet printer that prints to an overhead transparency (OHT) designed for a laser printer may result in a print that not only may need to re-imaged, but that also may result in gumming-up the internal assembly of the imaging device. This is because ink-based imaging devices use ink and laser-based OHTs do not generally have any ink retention coating. Accordingly, an ink-imaging device may adjust parameters such as printing speed, ink drying time, the amount of ink used, and so on, to suit the particular print media being used.  
           [0004]    In yet another example, a laser-based imaging device such as a laser printer that prints on an ink-based OHT may melt the ink-based OHT because ink-based OHTs are not manufactured to withstand the amount of heat typically generated by a laser printer&#39;s image fusing process. As a result, the imaging job may not only need to be re-imaged, but the job may also result in the need to replace printer parts if the incompatible print media melted onto internal parts of the laser printer. Accordingly, a laser-imaging device may adjust parameters such as the speed of printing, ink-fusing temperature, biasing voltage, and/or the like, to suit the particular print media being used.  
           [0005]    Some imaging devices need to be manually configured to properly operate based on the print media type that is going to be used. Thus, print media type information and instructions are typically written on a media box. However, many users do not read the box or the instructions that accompany the media. If the user re-installs the print media on another printer, the user is often required to either remember or guess the media type. This is because once the user removes the media from the box for installation into the device, the box is generally thrown away, and the media data type and/or other instructions are often lost.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, a number of conventional techniques have been developed for an imaging device to identify the particular type of print media that is loaded into an imaging device. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,148,162 to Huston et al., assigned to the assignee hereof, and incorporated herein by reference, describes marking each sheet of print media with eight separate indicia by imprinting the markings either on the face of each media sheet or on the side of each media sheet.  
           [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a block diagram that shows marking each sheet of print media  100  in eight different places with ink in a barcode pattern  110  to identify print media parameters. I.e., two (2) barcodes are printed for detection on each margin or edge of a sheet of media, which has four (4) margins/edges—top (barcodes  110 - 1  and  110 - 2 ), right (barcodes  110 - 3  and  110 - 4 ), bottom (barcodes  110 - 5  and  110 - 6 ), and left (barcodes  110 - 7  and  110 - 8 ). Such a conventional procedure to provide print media parameters to a printer has a number of disadvantages.  
           [0008]    One disadvantage, for example, is that print media marking costs can be substantially increased by the requirement to mark each sheet of print media with eight separate barcodes. An additional disadvantage is that up to eight separate sensors (e.g., optical sensors) are required to sense the sheet&#39;s eight markings—one dedicated sensor per marking. Requiring so many sensors generally increases printer fabrication costs.  
           [0009]    Accordingly, the various implementations of the following described subject matter address these and other problems of conventional techniques to provide print media parameters to printing devices.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0010]    Systems and procedures are described to automatically configure an imaging device to form images on sheets of print media that are loaded in the imaging device. To accomplish this, the imaging device reads, or senses a single marking from at least one edge of the sheet of print media. The marking includes data. The data provides orientation information with respect to how the print sheet is loaded in the imaging device. The data further includes a set of media parameter information corresponding to the sheet of print media. The imaging device configures itself to form images on the sheet of print media based on at least a portion of the sensed data from the sheet of print media.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a block diagram that shows marking each sheet of print media in eight (8) different places with ink in a barcode pattern to identify print media parameters.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 shows an exemplary media parameter identification sheet.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIGS. 3 and 4 show indicia marked on the edge of print media (e.g., a number of bars in a barcode) are reversed if a sheet of print media (i.e., the sheet  200  of FIG. 2) is loaded into an imaging device facedown as shown in FIG. 3, rather than loaded into the device face-up as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 shows an exemplary encoding of print media orientation information in marked indicia on a sheet of print media. Specifically, FIG. 5 shows an exemplary encoding of orientation information from the perspective of a sheet of print media that is loaded face-up in an imaging device.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 shows an exemplary encoding of print media orientation information in marked indicia on a sheet of print media. Specifically, FIG. 6 shows an exemplary encoding of orientation information from the perspective of a sheet of print media that is loaded facedown in an imaging device.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary image forming system, which includes a host device, an image-forming device, and a communication medium operatively coupling the host device to the imaging device.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 shows further details of an exemplary arrangement of an image forming device of FIG. 7.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 shows exemplary electrical components to control operations of an image forming device of FIGS. 7 and 8.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 shows an exemplary procedure to optimize imaging device operations based on print media information that is imprinted in a single marking on each of the sides of a sheet of print media. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary media parameter identification sheet  200 . The sheet includes a number of markings  202  comprising media parameter information such a brand name, a media name, a media type (e.g., paper, plastic, coated, etc.), size, thickness, weight, manufacturer, media form (e.g., labels, checks, envelopes, etc.), color table, device compatibility, speed at which the media can be fed into a device, fusing temperatures, drying time, valid orientations, duplex options, temperature and humidity ranges, surface roughness, wicking, quantity/length, reorder address, and so on. One or more of the markings  202  are sensed, or read by an imaging device to determine the media parameters that correspond to the sheet. (Although this example illustrates the markings as barcodes, other types of markings could be used as well such as character-based markings that can be interpreted by an optical character recognition (OCR) computer program).  
         [0021]    Moreover, the marked indicia  202  are imprinted using a novel imprinting scheme to provide print sheet  200  orientation information to an imaging device. (Such an imaging device is described in greater detail below in reference to the exemplary imaging device  712  of FIGS. 7 and 8). The sensed orientation information indicates to the imaging device whether print media is loaded into the imaging device face-up or facedown, and which edge (i.e., the top, bottom, left, or right edge) of the sheet of print media is leading (i.e., being fed into an imaging assembly of the imaging device). The encoding scheme is based on the imaging device reading indicia from the print media in a predetermined direction such as reading the marked indicia from left-to-right, right-to-left, top-to-bottom, bottom-to-top, or in some diagonal manner.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 3 and 4 are block diagrams that show that indicia  202  that are marked on the edge of print media (e.g., a number of bars in a barcode) are reversed if a sheet of print media (i.e., the sheet  200  of FIG. 2) is loaded into an imaging device facedown as shown in FIG. 3, rather than loaded into the device face-up as shown in FIG. 4. The arrows  302  and  402  indicate that the imaging device is reading the indicia from the left to the right. The indicia&#39;s encoding scheme is based on this reversal of information that depends on whether print media is loaded facedown or face-up into the imaging device.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 5 and 6 are block diagrams that show an exemplary encoding of print media orientation information in marked indicia  202  on a sheet of print media  200 . Specifically, FIG. 5 shows an exemplary encoding of orientation information from the perspective of a sheet of print media that is loaded face-up in an imaging device. And, FIG. 6 shows an exemplary encoding of orientation information from the perspective of a sheet of print media that is loaded facedown in an imaging device.  
         [0024]    Although FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the indicia  202  on the front and back face of the print media, this is done for ease of illustrating the encoding scheme of the indicia. The described subject matter applies to marking single indicia on each of the four (4) sides/edges of a sheet of print media, or four (4) indicia per sheet of print media. However, the edge imprinted indicia may be purposefully bled from an edge onto the front and/or back face of a sheet of print media as described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, titled “Media Imprinted with Media Parameter Information” which was filed on ______, and which is assigned to the assignee hereof, and which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0025]    In this configuration, each marking code  202  starts of ends with a zero (“0”) and ends with a one (“1”), or a starts with a “1” and ends with a “0”. In particular, the code starts with a “0” and ends with a “1” when a sheet of print media  200  is loaded into an imaging device in a face-up position as illustrated in FIG. 5. The code starts with a “1” and ends with a “0” when the sheet of print media is loaded facedown into the imaging device as shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0026]    In this exemplary configuration, if an imaging device detects and reads a code  202  left to right that starts with a “0” and ends with a “1”, it indicates to the device that the corresponding sheet of print media is loaded into the imaging device in a face-up position and that the remaining bits of the code are to be read from left-to-right. However, if the device detects and reads a code  202  left to right that starts with a “1” and ends with a “0”, it indicates to the device that the corresponding sheet of print media is loaded into the imaging device in a facedown position and that the remaining bits of the code are to be read from right-to-left. In other words, a code such as “0 . . . 1” indicates that the remaining code (“ . . . ”) is to be read from left-to-right. And, a code such as “1 . . . 0” indicates that the remaining code (“ . . . ”) is to be read from right-to-left.  
         [0027]    Once an imaging device determines a facial orientation of the sheet of print media (i.e., that the sheet is face-up or facedown), this configuration utilizes the remaining bits such as the middle bits (“ . . . ”) to determine the media parameters and to determine which side (top, bottom, left, or right side) of the sheet of print media that is being read.  
         [0028]    To illustrate this, consider that on this exemplary print media sheet  200  as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, remaining bits equivalent to “00” at a predetermined position indicates that the left edge of the sheet is being sensed, the remaining bits “10” indicate the right side, remaining bits “01” indicate the top edge, and remaining bits “11” indicate that the bottom edge is being detected. (Note, the remaining bits are read from left-to-right or from right-to-left based on the determined facial orientation of the sheet of print media).  
         [0029]    Thus, “0001” indicates face up, left side; “0011” indicates face up, top side; “0101” indicates face up, right side; “0111” indicates face up, bottom side; “1000” indicates face down, left side; “1010” indicates face down, right side, “1100” indicates face down, top edge, and “1110” indicates face down, bottom edge. If appropriate to the particular implementation, other media parameters such as those described above are identified by other predetermined codes in predetermined locations of the indicia  202 . This particular encoding scheme is an example. There may be any number of different encoding schemes.  
         [0030]    For example, although this configuration selects an encoding scheme  202  to begin and end with specific numerals, any number of different encoding schemes can be used to indicate that a sheet of print media is loaded in a particular orientation. For example, predetermined indicia may be located at any one of a number of particular positions in a code to indicate the facial orientation of a sheet of print media and to indicate other print media information such as information indicating a particular edge that is being sensed.  
         [0031]    To illustrate this, consider that a coding scheme  202  may start with a first punctuation or letter such as “A” in the first position of the code and end with a second punctuation or letter such as “B” at a last code position to indicate that a sheet of print media is loaded in the face-up position. Other media parameter information such as which edge is being read or other data (e.g., media type, etc.) is located at predetermined positions that are located between the “A” and the “B” positions. In the same scheme, detecting the second punctuation or letter (e.g., “B”) before the first punctuation or letter (e.g., “A”) at any position in a code may indicate that the print media is loaded into the imaging device in a facedown position, and all other bits may indicate the other media parameters.  
         [0032]    In this manner, only a single print media sheet mark indicia sensor per side of print media is required by an imaging device to detect any facial orientation and/or edge information of a print media sheet that is being detected. (An exemplary imaging device  712  and imaging sensors  816  are described in greater detail below in reference to FIGS. 8 and 9). This is substantially beneficial because it may save cost and complexity in an imaging device&#39;s fabrication. For example, the described subject matter requires only a single (1) sensor to identify the particular orientation of a marked sheet of print media. In contrast to this, conventional systems typically require two barcode sensors to determine the orientation of print media such as the print media  100  of FIG. 1, which has 8 marks per page of print media (2 marks per side).  
         [0033]    Moreover, because only a single marking per edge of print media is required to provide facial orientation and information corresponding to which side is being sensed by an imaging device, print media marking costs may be substantially reduced as compared to the costs of conventional marking schemes. For example, marking the media a single time on each side (i.e., four (4) marks per sheet of print media) requires less marking material to implement as compared to systems and procedures that require two marks per side (i.e., the eight (8) marks mark per page shown by prior art print media  100  of FIG. 1).  
         [0034]    An Exemplary Image Forming System  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an exemplary image forming system  700 , which includes a host device  710 , an image-forming device  712 , and a communication medium  714  operatively coupling the host device to the imaging device. The host device is implemented as a personal computer (PC), server, Web Server, or other device configured to communicate with image forming devices. The host device optionally includes a display  716  such as a CRT or flat-panel monitor to display information to a user.  
         [0036]    An exemplary communication medium  714  includes a parallel connection, packet switched network, such as an intranet network (e.g., an Ethernet arrangement), and/or Internet, and other communication configurations operable to provide electronic exchange of information between the host device  710  and the image forming device  712  using an appropriate protocol. Other image forming system arrangements are possible including additional host devices and/or additional image forming devices coupled to the communication medium.  
         [0037]    The image forming device  712  is configured to form images upon print media  718 . One exemplary image-forming device is a printer, such as a laser printer, inkjet printer, a dot matrix printer, a dry medium printer, or a plotter. The described subject matter is embodied within other image forming device configurations such as multiple function peripheral devices, copiers, facsimile machines, plotters, and the like. The imaging device includes one or more print media supply bins  722 , or trays into which print media are loaded.  
         [0038]    The imaging device  712  is arranged to form images upon the print media  200  (see, also print media  200  of FIG. 2) including, for example, paper, envelopes, transparencies, labels, etc. Print media may be in a number of different forms such as a stack, or a ream of print media. Different types of print media have various weights, surface finishes, roughness, wicking properties, etc., which impact equality of images formed thereupon by the imaging device.  
         [0039]    In this example, the print media  200  includes a single indicia, or marking such as a barcode on each of the print media&#39;s four (4) sides. The print media shown in the output bin  724  has already presented to the imaging device, a number of media parameters to substantially optimally configure the device&#39;s imaging operations. An exemplary procedure for an imaging device to sense and configure its operating parameters based on media parameter information provided by a print media&#39;s marked indicia is described in greater detail below in reference to FIG. 10.)  
         [0040]    An Exemplary Image Forming Device  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 8 is a block diagram that shows further details of an exemplary arrangement of image forming device  712  of FIG. 7. The image-forming device includes a housing  810  arranged to define a media path  812  to guide media within the housing. For example, a plurality of rollers is arranged within the housing to define the media path and to direct print media  200  (see, print media sheet  200  of FIG. 2) from one or more media supplies  722  (e.g., media trays  722  of FIG. 7) to an output tray  724  (see, output tray  724  of FIG. 7). In this configuration, the media is loaded sheet-by-sheet from the stack by the rollers.  
         [0042]    In the depicted arrangement, the device  712  includes a plurality of media supplies  722 . A first and second media supply  722 - 1  and  722 - 2  include respective stacks, or reams of print media  200 . Each sheet  200  in the stack has a respective single marking with information thereon (e.g., a barcode) imprinted on each side of the sheet. Each respective marking has data thereon that is used by the device  712  to substantially optimally configure itself to form images upon the print media. The data is read from each respect sheet in a stack of print media as each sheet is picked from the stack and read by a sensor  816  that is described in further detail below.  
         [0043]    The exemplary image-forming device  712  further includes an image engine  818  adjacent media path  812  and arranged to print or otherwise form images upon media  200 . An exemplary image engine includes a print engine including a developing assembly  820  and a fusing assembly  822  in the depicted configuration. Control circuitry of the device is configured to control operations of device  712  including controlling operations of developing and fusing assemblies  820  and  822  as described in further detail below.  
         [0044]    The image-forming device  712  includes one or more marking sensors  816  (e.g., an optical sensor) configured to read data within markings  202  of FIG. 2 imprinted on a media sheet  200 . Such indicia are positioned on each print media sheet such that they can be sensed from any orientation as long as a sensor is properly positioned to sense the indicia. Accordingly, plural configurations of sensor  816  are possible.  
         [0045]    For example sensors can be positioned in the paper path  812  (e.g., sensors  816 - 3  and  816 - 4  are located along the media path), and/or adjacent to the media supply bin  722  (e.g., sensors  816 - 1  and  816 - 2 ). In this configuration, a sensor positioning in the paper path is optimal as the information provided on a media sheet  200  is read as the media is pulled through the print path.  
         [0046]    Image forming device  712  includes an interface  824  configured to couple with a communications medium (e.g., the communication media  714  of FIG. 7) for implementing communications externally of device  712  with host device  710  or other external devices. Interface  824  receives image data from the communication medium and the imaging device subsequently forms images upon print media  718  using image data received via interface  824 . In one configuration, interface  824  is implemented as a JetDirect® card that is available from Hewlett-Packard Company.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 9 is a block diagram that shows exemplary electrical components to control operations of image forming device  712 . The depicted electrical circuitry includes sensors  816 , interface  824 , storage circuitry  910  and imaging circuitry  912  (imaging circuitry  912  includes control circuitry  914  and image engine  818  comprising assembly&#39;s  820  and  822  of FIG. 8). Further a communication medium  916  configured to implement appropriate communications is provided intermediate internal components of image forming device  712 . In one arrangement, communication medium  916  is implemented as a bidirectional bus.  
         [0048]    Storage circuitry  910  is configured to store electrical information such as image data for using and formulating hard images and instructions usable by control circuitry  914  for implementing image-forming operations within device  712  of FIGS. 7 and 8. Exemplary storage circuitry includes nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory, EEPROM, and/or read-only memory (ROM)), random access memory (RAM), and hard disk and associated drive circuitry.  
         [0049]    Control circuitry  914  implements processing of image data (e.g., rasterization) received via interface  824 . Further, control circuitry  914  of imaging circuitry  912  performs functions with respect to the formation of images including controlling operations of image engine  818  including developing assembly  820  and fusing assembly  822  in the described configuration. For example, control circuitry  914  obtains data via appropriate signals from one or more of sensors  816  and adjusts imaging parameters of image engine  818  during formation of images.  
         [0050]    An exemplary configuration of control circuitry  914  is implemented as a processor such as a dedicated microprocessor configured to fetch and execute computer-executable instructions  918  that are stored in storage circuitry  910 . The control circuitry is also configured to fetch data  920  from the storage circuitry during the execution of the computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions configure the image-forming device  712  according to the type and/or orientation of print media  200  being imaged upon.  
         [0051]    For example, different types of media  200  of FIG. 2 (as well as different sides of print media) have various weights, surface finishes, roughness, wicking properties, etc., which impact equality of images formed thereupon. The imaging parameters of device  712  including those of image engine  818  are adjusted by the control circuitry  914  in conjunction with the computer-executable instructions  918  to optimize the formation of quality images upon media  718  responsive to the types of media utilized as indicated by the data imprinted on a media sheet  200 .  
         [0052]    In one configuration, storage circuitry  910  is configured to store a plurality of settings for one or more imaging parameters corresponding to a plurality of respective media types. Such settings are identified, for example, in a lookup table within data  920 . Upon identification of a media sheet  200  by a sensor  816 , the appropriate media parameters are obtained by control circuitry  914  for configuring device  712 . The parameters settings may be used directly to configure device  712  or for providing initial settings which may be subsequently modified based on other information to optimize imaging.  
         [0053]    Exemplary Procedure Using Media Parameter Information Sheet  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 10 shows an exemplary procedure  1000  to optimize imaging device operations based on print media information. At block  1010 , an imaging device reads information that is imprinted a single time on each of the four edges of a sheet of print media. As described above in reference to FIGS.  4 - 6 , the encoding scheme used in the marked indicia is designed such that the information can be sensed and properly interpreted by the device regardless of whether the sheet of print media has been loaded into the device face-up or facedown. At block  1012 , the imaging device uses the information to substantially optimally configure image-forming operations to form an image on the sheet of print media  200 .  
         [0055]    Conclusion  
         [0056]    Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological operations, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or operations described. Rather, the specific features and operations are disclosed as preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention.