Methods and apparatus for handheld inkjet printer

摘要

A handheld inkjet printer includes an inkjet print head and a tip. One or more sensors measure the position of points on a curved surface that are physically touched by the tip while the tip is moved relative to the surface. Based on these measurements, a computer generates or modifies a computer model that specifies at least (i) position of the curved surface, and (ii) a target region of the curved surface on which a pattern is to be printed. In addition, the one or more sensors measure position and orientation of nozzles in the print head, while the handset is moved relative to the surface. The computers also calculate, based on the computer model and these additional measurements, which of the nozzles to fire at a different times, such that the pattern is printed on the target region as the handset is moved relative to the surface.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
(a) a memory device for storing a first computer-assisted design model (CAD model) of a curved surface; (b) a handset that includes an inkjet print head and a tip; (c) one or more sensors for
(i) taking a first set of measurements of position of points that are on the curved surface and that are physically touched by the tip while the tip moves relative to the curved surface, and(ii) taking a second set of measurements of position and orientation of one or more nozzles in the print head, while the handset moves relative to the curved surface; and (d) one or more computers for
(i) calculating a 3D point cloud that represents the position of the points on the curved surface that were measured in the first set of measurements,(ii) calculating, based on the 3D point cloud and first CAD model, a second CAD model of the curved surface, such that the second CAD model is calculated before the second set of measurements is taken, and(iii) calculating, based on the second CAD model and the second set of measurements, which of the one or more nozzles to fire at different times to print the pattern on the region of the curved surface as the handset is moved relative to the curved surface.