Patent ID: 7431417

Claim:
One or more processor-readable media on which are defined processor-executable instructions for managing a signal-to-noise ratio of a signal produced by a sensor by controlling ink density within a print test pattern scanned by the sensor, the processor-executable instructions comprising instructions for: setting an ink density with which each of two or more pens prints, wherein for each pen, ink density is set as a function of the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal of the sensor, so that the signal-to-noise ratio exceeds a threshold; configuring the print test pattern as a print alignment pattern; printing the print test pattern, wherein the print test pattern comprises patches printed by each of the two or more pens according to the ink density set for that pen; scanning the print test pattern with the sensor, thereby producing the signal having a signal-to-noise ratio exceeding the threshold; and adjusting nozzle firings of misaligned pens as indicated by data obtained during the scanning.