Fast scan image registration method and apparatus for high addressable video systems

The present invention relates to the art of digital image printing. It finds particular application in conjunction with registering or aligning picture elements precisely in a raster output scanner printers and will be described with reference thereto. It is to be appreciated, however, that the invention may find further application in any other raster output scanning device including, but not limited to copiers, facsimile machines and the like. Multiple components of an image produced by an image output device including a raster output scanner are registered by delaying an output high addressable bit stream for a time following each raster start of scan. A multiplicity of error values are added resulting in a total error integer component and a factional component. Following the start of scan, a line sync generator delays for a number of first clock signals proportional to the integer component. After the delay, the line sync generator signals a buffer to input a video input byte. A parallel to serial shift register converts the input video byte into a high addressable bit stream. A delay register further delays the bit stream by the fractional component, which further refines where, along the raster, the bit stream will commence. Suitably, the system corrects for the errors in run time as the fast scan line is scanned.