Title:
AUTOMATIC MARGIN ALIGNMENT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2000/051017
Kind Code:
A2
Abstract:
A system for automatic margin alignment for digital document processors. An output device (16) is calibrated to graphics software without requiring the user to input offset information. The user need only print out first (180) and second (190) calibration sheets, overlay the first sheet on the second, and scan (17) in the overlaid sheets. Margin marks (182-185) such as vertical and horizontal lines on the first calibrating sheet signal the location of the respective horizontal and vertical margins. The edge of the first calibration sheet contrasts with the second calibration sheet to enable the scanner to detect the edge. Software calculates the required (x, y) offsets based on the number of scanning pixels between the edge of the first calibration sheet (180) and the margin marks (182-185), and the resolution of the scanner. A rotational mis-calibration of the output device (16) may also be calculated.
Inventors:
LODWICK PHILIP A
HARTZEL NICHOLAS J G JR
HARTZEL NICHOLAS J G JR
Application Number:
PCT/US2000/003869
Publication Date:
August 31, 2000
Filing Date:
February 16, 2000
Export Citation:
Assignee:
ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING INC (US)
International Classes:
B41J13/26; G06F17/21; G06K5/02; G06K9/32; G06K15/00; (IPC1-7): G06F17/21
Foreign References:
| US5813771A | 1998-09-29 | |||
| EP0449403A2 | 1991-10-02 | |||
| US5864774A | 1999-01-26 |
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Lipsitz, Barry R. (building No. 8 Monroe, CT, US)
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Claims:
What is claimed is:
| 1. | A method for providing automatic margin alignment using a digital document processor, comprising the steps of: printing a first calibration sheet on an output device; said first calibration sheet having at least a first margin mark indicating a first margin location, a first edge, and a first edge region located between said first margin mark and said first edge; providing a second calibration sheet having a first region that contrasts with said first edge region; positioning said first calibration sheet relative to said second calibration sheet for scanning such that at least a portion of the first region adjoins said first edge; scanning along said portion toward said first edge, through said first edge region, and up to said first margin mark to detect locations of said first edge and said first margin mark; and calculating an offset of said first margin mark relative to said first edge according to the detected locations of said first edge and said first margin mark. |
| 2. | The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of: providing the calculated offset to the digital document processor to calibrate data provided to the output device. |
| 3. | The method of claim 2, wherein: the calibration occurs during rasterization of the data. |
| 4. | The method of claim 1, wherein: said first calibration sheet further has a second margin mark indicating a second margin location, a second edge, and a second edge region located between said second margin mark and said second edge; and said second calibration sheet has a second region that contrasts with said second edge region; comprising the further steps of: positioning said first calibration sheet relative to said second calibration sheet for scanning such that at least a portion of the second region adjoins said second edge; scanning along the second region toward said second edge, through said second edge region, and up to said second margin mark to detect locations of said second edge and said second margin mark; and calculating an offset of said second margin mark relative to said second edge according to the detected locations of said second edge and said second margin mark. |
| 5. | The method of claim 4, wherein: said first margin mark indicates a margin of said first calibration sheet that is perpendicular to a margin indicated by said second margin mark. |
| 6. | The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of: counting a number of scanning pixels between said first margin mark and said first edge; wherein: said calculating step calculates said offset according to the number of scanning pixels and a scanning pixel resolution. |
| 7. | The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of: providing corresponding alignment marks on said first and second calibration sheets to assist a user in said positioning step. |
| 8. | The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of: calculating a rotational miscalibration of the output device according to said offset. |
| 9. | An apparatus for providing automatic margin alignment using a digital document processor, comprising: means for providing data to an output device to cause the output device to print a first calibration sheet; said first calibration sheet having at least a first margin mark indicating a first margin location, a first edge, and a first edge region located between said first margin mark and said first edge; a second calibration sheet having a first region that contrasts with said first edge region; wherein: said first calibration sheet is adapted to be positioned relative to said second calibration sheet for scanning such that at least a portion of the first region adjoins said first edge; and said scanning is adapted to detect locations of said first edge and said first margin mark; and means for calculating an offset of said first margin mark relative to said first edge according to the detected locations of said first edge and said first margin mark. |
| 10. | The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: said scanning is adapted to proceed along said portion toward said first edge, through said first edge region, and up to said first margin mark to detect said locations of said first edge and said first margin mark. |
| 11. | The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: means for providing the calculated offset to the digital document processor to calibrate data provided to the output device. |
| 12. | The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: the calibration occurs during rasterization of the data. |
| 13. | The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: said first calibration sheet further has a second margin mark indicating a second margin location, a second edge, and a second edge region located between said second margin mark and said second edge; and said second calibration sheet has a second region that contrasts with said second edge region; said first calibration sheet is adapted to be positioned relative to said second calibration sheet for scanning such that at least a portion of the second region adjoins said second edge; and said scanning is adapted to proceed along said second region toward said second edge, through said second edge region, and up to said second margin mark to detect locations of said second edge and said second margin mark; further comprising: means for calculating an offset of said second margin mark relative to said second edge according to the detected locations of said second edge and said second margin mark. |
| 14. | The apparatus of claim 13, wherein: said first margin mark indicates a margin of said first calibration sheet that is perpendicular to a margin indicated by said second margin mark. |
| 15. | The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: means for counting a number of scanning pixels between said first margin mark and said first edge; wherein: said calculating means calculates said offset according to the number of scanning pixels and a scanning pixel resolution. |
| 16. | The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: said first and second calibration sheets have corresponding alignment marks to assist a user in positioning said first calibration sheet relative to said second calibration sheet for scanning. |
| 17. | The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: means for calculating a rotational mis calibration of the output device according to said offset. |
| 18. | First and second calibration sheets for use in providing automatic margin alignment in a digital document processor, wherein: said first calibration sheet comprises: at least a first margin mark indicating a first margin location, a first edge, and a first edge region located between said first margin mark and said first edge; and said second calibration sheet comprising: a first region that contrasts with said first edge region; wherein: said first calibration sheet is adapted to be positioned relative to said second calibration sheet for scanning such that at least a portion of the first region adjoins said first edge; locations of said first edge and said first margin mark are adapted to be detected by the scanning; and the detected locations of said first edge and said first margin mark enable an offset of said first margin mark relative to said first edge to be calculated. |
| 19. | The calibration sheets of claim 18, wherein: said first calibration sheet is printed on an output device; and data provided to the output device for printing is calibrated according to said calculated offset during rasterization of the data. |
| 20. | The calibration sheets of claim 18, wherein: said first calibration sheet further has a second margin mark indicating a second margin location, a second edge, and a second edge region located between said second margin mark and said second edge; said second calibration sheet has a second region that contrasts with said second edge region; said first calibration sheet is adapted to be positioned relative to said second calibration sheet for scanning such that at least a portion of the second region adjoins said second edge; and the detected locations of said second edge and said second margin mark enable an offset of said second margin mark relative to said second edge to be calculated. |
| 21. | The calibration sheets of claim 20, wherein: said first margin mark indicates a margin of said first calibration sheet that is perpendicular to a margin indicated by said second margin mark. |
| 22. | The calibration sheets of claim 18, wherein: corresponding alignment marks are provided on said first and second calibration sheets to assist a user in positioning said first calibration sheet relative to said second calibration sheet for scanning. |
| 23. | The calibration sheets of claim 18, wherein: the detected locations of said first edge and said first margin mark enable a rotational mis alignment of the output device to be calculated. |
Description:
INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT Interrzbrnal Application No : ormatlon on patent family members Patent document Publication Patent family Publication cited in search report date member (s) date US 5813771 A 29-09-1998 GB 2312304 A, B 22-10-1997 EP 449403 A 02-10-1991 US 4960336 A 02-10-1990 CA 2018058 A 26-07-1991 DE 69116196 D 22-02-1996 DE 69116196 T 29-08-1996 JP 2867073 B 08-03-1999 JP 3222784 A 01-10-1991 US5864774 A 26-01-1999 NONE