Abstract: The present invention is a system incorporating a modem in an xerographic machine, thereby enabling external data communication with a remote system, while concurrently executing normal xerographic control operations. Specifically, the reprographic features of the xerographic machine are fully enabled during communication with an external or host system. In addition, a means is provided to reset only the communication hardware and software within the system, without impacting the xerographic functionality of the system.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for monitoring the linear displacement of a body using a pair of ultrasonic transducers, one for transmitting an ultrasonic signal and one for receiving the ultrasonic signal. For example, the present invention may be used for monitoring the position of a stapling device relative to a set of copy sheets. The position monitoring system senses the linear position of the stapling device by measuring the time delay required for the ultrasonic signal to propagate from the transmitting transducer, located on a stationary reference, and the receiving transducer, operatively attached to the movable stapling device. The time delay is determined as a function of both a partial signal period and an integral number of complete signal periods for the ultrasonic signal.

Abstract: An image processing system for altering the size of an image represented by a plurality of input video signals including a controller for producing a scale factor and a scale factor valid signal. The controller also includes a padder which is used to increase the accuracy of the scale factor during the operation of the controller. The signals generated by the controller are passed to an interpolator suitable for producing an output signal as a function of one or more of the input video signals in response to the scale factor and scale factor valid signal.

Abstract: A reprographic system having one or more peripheral devices or subsystems whose function is integrated therewith, including a communications link between the reprographic system and peripheral devices. Furthermore, the reprographic system would have the capability to determine the configuration of electromechanical components contained within the peripheral devices, as well as, the status or control states of the components.

Abstract: An electronic reprographic apparatus, including a method for increasing the speed of manual or semi-automatic imaging of signature-type original documents, having the ability to selectively control the areas of the documents to be imaged. In particular, the system enables the user to identify the type of input document, including size and image cropping dimensions, thereby eliminating the potential for imaging beyond document edges or in bound document gutter regions. In addition, the system is suitable for scanning both page sides of a first signature-type document on the first pass of the scan array and is capable of scanning a second signature-type document on the reverse or return pass. Furthermore, the system implements the scanning operation with a center registration technique, facilitating the registration of bound documents.

Abstract: An electrostatic measurement apparatus having a single balanced beam vibratory element supported and balanced at its center, so that it may be driven in a manner to cause a regular vibration of the beam. The apparatus also has an electrode suitable for sensing a capacitive coupling relationship with an electrostatic field to produce a signal indicative of the magnitude of the electrostatic field. The coupling of the electrode with the electrostatic field is modulated (coupled/decoupled) either by attaching the electrode to the end of the beam and vibrating the electrode past an aperture, or by affixing a vane to the end of the beam, whereupon the vibration of the beam causes the vane to occlude the electrode from capacitively coupling with the electrostatic field.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method adaptable for use in a printing system, to measure the mass of toner developed on an electrostatic latent image produced therein. The printing system employs an electrostatic process to produce a printed sheet in response to a plurality of image intensity signals. The toner mass measuring apparatus sums a plurality of individual toner mass signals, generated as a function of the image intensity signals, to approximate the toner mass used to develop the electrostatic latent image.

Abstract: A dynamically limited amplifier including an operational amplifier having both non-inverting and inverting input terminals, an output terminal, and dynamic limiting circuitry connected between the inverting input and output terminals of the operational amplifier. The dynamically limiting circuitry operates to supply a feedback current between the output terminal of the operational amplifier and the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier, whenever the output voltage of the operational amplifier exceeds a threshold potential.

Abstract: A mechanism for accurately mounting a large area semiconductive device within a larger system is disclosed. The semiconductive device, formed by the linear abutment of semiconductive sub-units divided from a larger semiconductive wafer must be accurately positioned to enable the operation of which it was intended. In one embodiment, the sub-units are thermal ink jet arrays which are abutted to form a pagewidth printhead. The semiconductive device includes a reference plate or substrate having a generally planar surface for mounting an array of functional sub-units thereon. The semiconductive device further includes two or more individual sub-units which are also affixed to the planar surface, thereby forming alignment pads for the assembled semiconductive device. When incorporated into the system, the alignment pads are received by frame members or alignment points to provide positive alignment of the reference plate, and the attached array of sub-units, within the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing including the use of a pyroelectric imaging member in a novel fashion to produce prints having improved resolution. The prints are produced by thermally exposing the pyroelectric imaging member in a localized fashion while neutralizing the surface charge and subsequently cooling the exposed surface of the imaging member to generate a latent electrostatic image thereon. Subsequently, the latent image is developed with charged toner particles, and transferred from the pyroelectric member to a substrate through the use of a second thermal treatment which serves to reverse the polarity of the imaging member and thereby eliminate the electrostatic forces attracting the toner particles to the imaging member. The transferred toner image may be simultaneously or subsequently fixed to the substrate by a thermal or other well known fusing treatment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing including the use of a pyroelectric material in a novel fashion to directly mark an image on a print substrate. The image is produced by initially coating a poled pyroelectric material with a uniform coating of charged marking particles and subsequently thermally exposing the pyroelectric material in a localized fashion, thus reversing the polarity of the charge which repels the particles from the surface of the pyroelectric material, and in the direction of the surface of a print substrate placed in close proximity thereto. Subsequently, the image formed by the transferred marking particles is fixed to the substrate by a thermal or other well known fusing treatment.

Abstract: An electronic printing system having the capability of producing cover sheets for an output document set, including the ability to allow an operator to select the desired features of the cover sheets. Moreover, the system has a scanner for scanning an original document set, thereby producing an electronic representation of the set of original documents. Subsequently, the system is capable of automatically reordering the electronic images in a manner suitable to produce front and/or back cover sheets in accordance with the features previously selected. Finally, the output section of the system generates printed output of the reordered electronic images, thereby producing a completed document, including covers.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for controlling the velocity of the photoreceptor within a reprographic machine having a seamed, web type photoreceptor, for producing a plurality of images thereon. The images being separated by unexposed interdocument regions on the photoreceptor. The reprographic machine further including a registration apparatus for registering copy substrates with developed latent images. The process of assuring that the seamed region of the photoreceptor lies within an interdocument region begins by first sensing an actual phase relationship between the photoreceptor seam and the activity of the registration apparatus and then calculating a phase error value by comparing the actual phase relationship to a desired phase relationship. Next, the system determines an adjustment photoreceptor velocity as a function of the phase error. Subsequently, the photoreceptor is moved at a fixed velocity during exposure of the images.

Abstract: A thin film transistor in which a source electrode is electrically isolated from a drain electrode and a gate electrode. The gate electrode is formed on one surface of an electrically insulating layer. A semiconducting layer is formed on the other surface of the electrically insulating layer. The semiconducting layer has a charge carrier mobility of at least 1 cm.sup.2 /V-sec. and is made from a polycrystalline diamond layer. The source electrode and the drain electrode are formed on one surface of the polycrystalline diamond layer. The other surface of the polycrystalline diamond layer is in integral contact with the other surface of the electrically insulating layer.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for positioning an original document near a target registration point on an imaging platen of a xerographic reproduction system, including the capability to compensate for any resulting mis-registration of the document. The amount of mis-registration of the original document, in the feed direction, is determined by a servo encoder or positional sensing mechanism and passed to the control function of a subsequent servo-mechanical system. The subsequent servo-mechanical system controls the positional alignment of the copy paper with respect to the laten image present on the photoreceptor. This system automatically adjusts the nominal feed velocity of the copy paper to correct for the previously determined mis-registration of the latent image on the photoconductive surface. This, the positional error introduced by the document feeding system is removed at a subsequent subsystem within the xerographic system.

Abstract: A device for the adjustment of the digital data stream that drives the modulators in an ionographic printing device. In particular, the device stretches strings of black image pixels to produce wider vertical lines and other fine details that may have been adversely affected due to modulator crosstalk. Moreover, the present invention is implemented in such a manner, so as to enable the end user to selectively define the magnitude of stretching to be applied to the strings of black pixels.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the concentration of toner within a developer material of carrier and toner. The apparatus having a control means for generating a toner addition signal indicative of the amount of toner to be added to the developer material. The control means including the ability to measure the concentration of toner within the developer material during at least a first period and a second period subsequent to the first period. The control means also determining a first concentration error as a function of the deviation between the toner concentration measured during the first period and a reference toner concentration and a second concentration error as a function of the deviation between the toner concentration measured during the second period and the reference toner concentration. Subsequently, the control means generates the toner addition signal as a function of the first and second concentration error values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deskewing and registering a copy sheet, including the use of two or more selectably controllable drive rolls operating in conjunction with sheet skew and lead edge sensors, for frictionally driving and deskewing sheets having variable lengths. Subsequently, said sheets will be advanced so as to reach a predefined registration position at a predetermined velocity and time, at which point said sheets will no longer be frictionally engaged by said drive rolls.

Abstract: A thermal jet ink printing is provided with an improved printhead. The printhead is formed by monolithic integration of MOS logic elements and drivers onto the same silicon substrate containing the resistive elements using a more efficient manufacturing process. In a preferred embodiment, the logic switches, logic drivers and resistive elements are formed from a single layer of polysilicon with the resistive element formed on a thermally grown field oxide layer. The integrated circuit chips are formed by a MOS fabrication technology which uses fewer processing steps than used in existing chips, and the resulting chips are thermally stable and can be operated at higher logic voltages.

Abstract: A reprographic system of the type having a set of features available for use in executing a copying job, including the ability to pre-select a subset of desired features from the set of all available features for the generation of the copies. The system also includes a user interface suitable for displaying the available features as icons and the ability to execute the copying job in accordance with the pre-selected set of desired features. The system further includes a job status screen, displayed on the user interface, indicating the system status during execution of the copying job. Also displayed on the user interface is a second subset of the available features which represents only those features whose settings may be altered during execution of the copying job, thereby enabling an operator to alter one or more of the second subset during execution of the copying job.