What is claimed is:
1. A printhead assembly for a printer which prints onto a moving web that follows a path, comprising:
a full width printhead located across the path;
the printhead comprising a color printhead which is at least as wide as the web;
the printhead being supplied with a number of different inks which are remote from the printhead and which supply the printhead through tubes.
2. The printhead assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a rail which is located across the path and along which the printhead slides into and out of a printing position.
3. The printhead assembly of claim 2, wherein:
the printhead is secured to the rail by fasteners which allow the printhead to be removed when the fasteners are disengaged.
4. The printhead assembly of claim 1, wherein:
the inks are contained in individual reservoirs and a supply tube connects each reservoir to the printhead.
5. The printhead assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
an air supply which supplies a stream of air, through a supply tube, to a location near the printhead from where the stream impinges onto the web to prevent it from adhering to the printhead.
6. The printhead assembly of claim 1, wherein:
the printhead assembly further comprises a capping device having a capper motor for sealing the printhead when not in use in order to prevent contamination from entering the printheads.
7. The printhead assembly of claim 6, wherein:
the capping device further comprises a blotter, which moves into and out of position and which is used for absorbing ink fired from the printhead.
8. The printhead assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
one or more rail microadjusters for accurately adjusting a gap between the printhead and the media onto which it is printing.
9. The printhead assembly of claim 4, further comprising:
a coupling in each ink supply tube which can be disconnected so that the printhead can be withdrawn.
10. The printhead assembly of claim 5, further comprising:
a coupling in the air supply tube which can be disconnected so that the printhead can be withdrawn.
11. The printhead assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a pre-heater located adjacent to the path and before the printhead.
12. The printhead assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a dryer in the same path as the printer the dryer adapted to dry the ink deposited by the printer.
13. The printhead assembly of claim 12, wherein:
the dryer has a compartment located beneath an opening;
the opening being essentially in the path;
there being a source of heated air located above the opening, the source of heated air adapted to blow heated air into the opening.
14. The printhead assembly of claim 13, wherein:
the opening is coverable by a door; and
the door covers the entire opening and acts to support the web when the door is closed.
15. The printhead assembly of claim 14, wherein:
the door pivots along an axis transverse to the path to reveal the opening.
16. The printhead assembly of claim 15, wherein:
the door is operated by a motor that operates a spool;
the spool winding and releasing a cord which operates the door.
17. The printhead assembly of claim 13, wherein:
the source of heated air comprises a blower which feeds a stream of air into a plenum.
18. The printhead assembly of claim 17, wherein:
a temperature sensor is located in the plenum.
19. The printhead assembly of claim 13, wherein:
the compartment is adapted to receive the web in a catenary path.
20. The printhead assembly of claim 13, wherein:
the compartment has an air vent which supplies a recirculation duct that leads to a motor intake.
21. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the web is printed by the printhead at a rate exceeding 0.02 square meters per second (775 square feet per hour).
22. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the web is printed by the printhead at a rate exceeding 0.1 square meters per second (3875 square feet per hour).
23. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the web is printed by the printhead at a rate exceeding 0.2 square meters per second (7750 square feet per hour).
24. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printhead has more than 7680 nozzles.
25. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printhead has more than 20,000 nozzles.
26. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printhead has more than 100,000 nozzles.
27. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printhead has more than 250,000 nozzles.
28. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printhead prints ink drops with a volume of less than 5 picoliters.
29. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printhead prints ink drops with a volume of less than 3 picoliters.
30. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printhead prints ink drops with a volume of less than 1.5 picoliters.
31. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printer is a self contained printer for producing rolls of wallpaper, the printer comprising:
a cabinet in which is located a media path which extends from a media cartridge loading area to a winding area;
a full width digital color printhead located in the media path;
a processor which accepts operator inputs which are used to configure the printer for producing a particular roll; and
the winding area adapted to removably retain a core and wind onto it, wallpaper produced by the printer.
32. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printer is adapted for use with a media cartridge, the media cartridge comprising:
a case in which a roll of blank media may be deployed;
the case having two halves, hinged together, an area between the two halves, when closed, defining a media supply slot; and
the case having internally and adjacent to the slot, a pair of rollers, at least one of the rollers being a driven roller which is supported at each end, by the case, for rotation by an external motor.
33. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printer is adapted for producing rolls of wallpaper for being carried in a consumer tote, the tote comprising:
a disposable exterior in which is formed a main access flap and a pair of core access openings; and
the tote having an interior in which is located a disposable core which is aligned with the access openings.
34. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printer has a transverse cutter, the cutter comprising:
a chassis having end plates;
the end plates being separated to allow a web of media to pass between them;
the end plates supporting between them a cutting blade; and
the blade supported at each end to perform a cutting motion which begins on one side of the web and finishes on an opposite side of the web.
35. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printer has a slitting mechanism, the slitting mechanism comprising:
a chassis having end plates;
the end plates being separated by a transverse portion of the chassis to allow a web of media to pass between them;
one or more rotating slitting shafts extending between the end plates, each shaft having one or more slitters arranged along its length, each slitter having a cutting edge; and
the slitting mechanism selectively engageable to either enter or not enter a path followed by the web according to an input provided by an operator of the printer.
36. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printer has a dryer, the dryer comprising:
a compartment with a top opening for receiving a media web fed from the printer;
a source of heated air located above the top opening for blowing heated air into the opening to dry printing on the media web.
37. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printer is adapted to produce rolls of wallpaper, the printer comprising:
a cabinet in which is located a media path which extends from a media loading area to a winding area;
a printhead located in the media path;
a processor which accepts operator inputs from one or more input devices which are used to configure the printer for producing a particular roll; and
the winding area adapted to removably retain a core and wind onto it, wallpaper produced by the printer wherein,
the length and design of the roll are determined by the operator inputs.
38. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 for use in a method of printing wallpaper onto a web of media, the method comprising the steps of:
utilizing an on-demand printer comprising a cabinet in which is located a media path which extends from a media loading area to a winding area, there being a printhead located in the media path, a processor which accepts operator inputs from one or more input devices;
using one or more input devices which communicate with the processor to capture data from an operator regarding a specification for an operator’s requirements;
using the processor to operatively control the printer according to the data; and
printing a single roll of wallpaper, on demand, according to a selected pattern.
39. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 for use in a method of operating a wallpaper printing business, the method comprising the steps of:
utilizing an on-demand printer comprising a cabinet in which is located a media path which extends from a media loading area to a printhead and from the printhead to a dispensing slot;
using one or more printer input devices which communicate with a processor to capture data regarding one or more customer’s requirements;
the data comprising at least a customer selected pattern;
printing a roll of wallpaper, onto a web of blank media, on demand, according to the selected pattern; and charging a customer for the roll.
40. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 for use in a method of operating a wallpaper printing franchise, the method comprising the steps of:
providing to franchisees, an on-demand printer comprising a cabinet in which is located a media path which extends from a media loading area to a printhead and from the printhead to a dispensing slot;
the printer having one or more printer input devices which communicate with a processor to capture data regarding one or more customer requirements, the data comprising at least a customer selected pattern;
providing the franchisee with a collection of patterns in a digital storage medium that can be read by the printer;
enabling the franchisee to print a roll of wallpaper, onto a web of blank media, on demand, according to the selected pattern; and
obtaining or attempting to obtain a fee from the franchisee.
41. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printer is adapted to produce rolls of wallpaper, the printer comprising:
a frame in which is located a media path which extends from a media loading area to a winding area;
a printhead located across the media path;
one or more input devices for capturing operator instructions;
a processor which accepts operator inputs which are used to configure the printer for producing a particular roll; and
the winding area adapted to removably retain a core and wind onto it, wallpaper produced by the printer.
42. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 for use in a method of printing wallpaper onto a web of media, the method comprising the steps of:
utilizing an on-demand printer comprising a cabinet in which is located a media path, there being a full width printhead located across the media path, there being a processor which accepts operator inputs from one or more input devices and which controls the printer;
using one or more input devices which communicate with the processor to capture data from an operator regarding a specification;
running the printer according to the data;
printing a single roll of wallpaper, on demand, according to a selected pattern and configuration;
changing the pattern according to a new datum from an operator; and
then printing a new roll onto the same web.
43. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 for use in a method of drying a moving web of media in a printer such as a wallpaper printer, the method comprising the steps of:
loading the web in a path that traverses a compartment in a dryer within the printer, the compartment having an opening across the top;
allowing the moving web to descend into the compartment, as required; and
blowing heated air from above the opening.
44. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 for use in a method of supplying a media web to a wallpaper printer, the method comprising the steps of:
opening a reusable case;
placing into the case a core onto which has been located a supply roll of blank wallpaper media;
supporting the core for rotation within the case;
leading a free edge of the roll between a pair of rollers and past an edge of the open case; then
with the rollers located within the case and on either side of the web, closing the case and loading it into a printer.
45. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printer is adapted to produce rolls of wallpaper, the printer comprising:
a housing in which is located a media path which extends from a blank media intake to a wallpaper exit slot;
a multi-color roll width removable printhead located in the housing and across the media path;
the printhead being supplied by separate ink reservoirs, the reservoirs connected to the printhead by a an ink supply harness, there being a disconnect coupling between the reservoirs and the printhead;
one or more input devices for capturing operator instructions;
a processor which accepts operator inputs which are used to configure the printer for producing a particular roll.
46. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printer is adapted to produce rolls of wallpaper that can be carried in a consumer tote, the tote comprising:
a disposable exterior in which is formed a main access flap and a pair of core access openings;
the tote having an interior in which is located a disposable core which is aligned with the access openings;
both openings exposing a moulded coupling, one coupling attached to each end of the core, at least one of the couplings being a driven coupling and adapted to engage a driving spindle that rotates the core.
47. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printhead assembly is removeable and adapted to print onto a moving web, the assembly further comprising:
a full width stationary printhead located on a rail along which it slides for service and removal;
a number of replaceable ink reservoirs which supply the printhead with different inks;
the printhead comprising a color printhead which is at least as wide as the web; and
the printhead being supplied with the different inks through tubes which can be disconnected so the printhead may be removed.
48. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printer is self threading and adapted to produce rolls of wallpaper, comprising:
a media loading area adapted to support a media cartridge in a position so that a media supply slot of the cartridge is closely adjacent to a pilot guide;
a cabinet housing a media path which extends from the pilot guide to a printed media dispensing slot;
a printhead located across the media path;
a processor which accepts operator inputs which are used to configure the printer for producing a particular roll;
a motor within the cabinet for advancing a media web out of the media cartridge; and
one or more other motors adapted to urge the media along the path and out of the slot.
49. A printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1 adapted for use in a method of producing wallpaper on-demand, the method comprising the steps of:
utilizing an on-demand printer comprising a cabinet in which is located a media path which passes a printhead on the way to a dispensing slot;
selecting a pattern and a configuration;
using one or more printer input devices which communicate with a processor to input the pattern and the configuration; and
printing a roll of wallpaper, onto a web of blank media, on demand, according to the selected pattern and configuration.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A nano-scale resolution fluorescence microscopy system, comprising:
a speckle pattern generator to generate speckle patterns by passing, through a diffuser, a light emitted from at least one coherent light source in at least one color to detect fluorescent emission in at least one color from fluorophores attached to a specimen;
an illumination optical system to radiate the generated speckle patterns to be exposed on a specimen, by disposing at least one optical lens; and
a fluorescent image optical system to detect fluorescence emission images of the specimen excited by the speckle patterns in at least one color, by passing the radiated speckle patterns sequentially through at least one excitation filter and detecting the emission images through at least one emission filter.
2. The nano-scale resolution microscopy system of claim 1, wherein the speckle pattern generator generates the speckle patterns, using either at least one reflection diffuser or transmission diffuser or any type of spatial light modulator.
3. The nano-scale resolution microscopy system of claim 1, wherein the incident optical system comprises either transmission type or reflection type microscope optics in a far-field or near field optical system.
4. The nano-scale resolution microscopy system of claim 1, wherein
the at least one excitation filter excites fluorephores in at least one color using the speckle patterns in at least one color, and
the at least one emission filter selectively passes fluorescent emission light in at least one color from the fluorephores excited by the speckle patterns in at least one color through the at least one excitation filter.
5. The nano-scale resolution microscopy system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the incident optical system and the fluorescent image optical system is disposed in a structure of at least one of a reflection microscope or a transmission microscope in a far-field or near-field optics.
6. The nano-scale resolution microscopy system of claim 1, further comprising an image reconstruction algorithm to sequentially obtain fluorescent emission images by the fluorescent image optical system, and to reconstruct the image at high resolution by detecting temporal profile of fluorescence emission data at every pixel, based on the sequentially obtained images.
7. The nano-scale resolution microscopy system of claim 6, wherein the image reconstruction algorithm process fluorescence emission images obtained sequentially based on any type of signal processing algorithms.
8. The nano-scale resolution microscopy system of claim 6, wherein the image reconstruction algorithm process fluorescence emission images obtained sequentially based on any type of array signal processing algorithms that uses data covariance matrix by calculating the spatial correlation matrix between pixels, and reconstruct images with respect to the fluorphores using the signal and noise subspace structure of the data covariance matrix.
9. The nano-scale resolution microscopy system of claim 6, wherein the image reconstruction algorithm process fluorescence emission images obtained sequentially based on an sensor array signal processing algorithms, calculates a data covariance matrix by calculating the spatial correlation matrix between pixels, and reconstruct images with respect to the fluorphores using any statistical signal processing and optimization algorithm.
10. The nano-scale resolution microscopy system of claim 6, wherein the image reconstruction algorithm calculates the data covariance matrix by calculating the spatial correlation matrix between pixels and taking the temporal average of the correlation matrix.
11. The nano-scale resolution microscopy system of claim 6, wherein the image reconstruction algorithm reconstruct the image by exploiting a characteristic of a temporal correlation of the fluorescence emission temporal profiles being small between adjacent fluorophores.
12. The nano-scale resolution microscopy system of claim 6, wherein the image reconstruction algorithm reconstruct the image by exploiting a characteristic of incoherence of the speckle illumination.
13. The nano-scale resolution microscopy system of claim 6, wherein the image reconstruction algorithm decompose a data covariance matrix into the signal and the noise subspaces, and reconstruct positions of the fluorephores of the target object by exploiting the orthogonality of a model signal calculated from a fluorophore location with respect to the noise subspace.
14. The nano-scale resolution microscopy system of claim 6, wherein the image reconstruction algorithm decompose a data covariance matrix into the signal and the noise subspaces, and reconstruct positions of the fluorephores of the target object by exploiting that a model signal calculated from a fluorphore location is highly correlated with the signal subspace.
15. The nano-scale resolution microscopy system of claim 6, wherein the image reconstruction algorithm reconstruct positions of the fluorephores of the target object by exploiting that the measurement data is highly correlated with the numerically calculated forward model.
15. The nano-scale resolution microscopy system of claim 6, wherein the image reconstruction algorithm decompose the data covariance matrix into the signal and the noise subspaces, and reconstruct positions of the fluorephores of the target object by exploiting that the signal subspace is highly correlated with the numerically calculated forward model.
16. A method of obtaining an image using a nano-scale resolution microscopy system, the method comprising:
illuminating coherent light from at least one coherent source to image fluorphores in specimen;
generating speckle patterns by passing the light emitted from the coherent through a diffuser
radiating the generated speckle patterns to be exposed on a specimen, using at least one optical lens; and
photographing a fluorescent light of the speckle patterns, by passing the radiated speckle patterns sequentially through at least one excitation filter and at least one emission filter.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the generating comprises generating the speckle patterns having an irregular pattern, using either a reflection diffuser or a transmission diffuser or any type of spatial light modulator.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one optical lens corresponds to an optical lens where a size of an irregular pattern of the speckle patterns has a diffraction limit, or a total internal reflection optical system to reduce the diffraction limit.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein
the at least one excitation filter excites a fluorephores of the speckle patterns, and
the at least one emission filter selectively passes a fluorescent emission from the light excited by the at least one excitation filter.
20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:
continuously obtaining images photographed by the fluorescent image optical system; and
restoring the images in high resolution by sensing time dependent data that changes in every pixel, based on the continuously obtained images.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the restoring of the image in high resolution comprises:
processing fluorescence emission images obtained sequentially based on an sensor array signal processing algorithms,
calculating a data covariance matrix by calculating the spatial correlation matrix between pixels, and reconstructing images with respect to the fluorphores using any statistical signal processing and optimization algorithm.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein the restoring of the image in high resolution comprises:
decomposing a data covariance matrix into the signal and the noise subspaces,
and reconstructing positions of the fluorephores of the target object by exploiting the orthogonality of a model signal calculated from a fluorophore location with respect to the noise subspace.
23. The method of claim 20, wherein the restoring of the image in high resolution comprises:
decomposing a data covariance matrix into the signal and the noise subspaces,
and reconstructing positions of the fluorephores of the target object by exploiting that a model signal calculated from a fluorphore location is highly correlated with the signal subspace.
24. A nano-scale resolution microscopy system, comprising:
an incident optical system;
a fluorescent image optical system;
a speckle pattern generator to generate speckle patterns by passing, through a diffuser or a spatial light modulator, a light emitted from a laser to photograph fluorescence emission from a specimen; and
an image reconstruction algorithm execution unit to execute an image reconstruction algorithm,
wherein the incident optical system and the fluorescent image optical system include at least one optical lens disposed in a structure of at least one of a reflection microscope, a transmission microscope, and a total internal reflection optical microscope, and
the image reconstruction algorithm execution unit executes the image reconstruction algorithm, thereby continuously obtaining images photographed by the fluorescent image optical system, and reconstructing the images in high resolution by sensing time dependent data that changes in every pixel, based on the continuously obtained images.
25. The nano-scale resolution microscopy system of claim 19, wherein the image reconstruction algorithm execution unit generates an irregular speckle illumination pattern, processing fluorescence emission images obtained sequentially, calculating a data covariance matrix by calculating the spatial correlation matrix between pixels, and reconstructing images with respect to the fluorphores using any statistical signal processing and optimization algorithm.