Patents by Inventor B. Mark Hirst
B. Mark Hirst has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8664922Abstract: A snubber circuit comprises a first energy storage device and circuitry coupled to the first energy storage device to facilitate capturing, by the first energy storage device, energy of a switching circuit. The snubber circuit also comprises a second energy storage device coupled to the first energy storage device to store the captured energy. The circuitry additionally facilitates resetting of the first energy storage device.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: B. Mark Hirst
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Publication number: 20130083338Abstract: A printing system includes a processor to execute a main control program for the printing system, and at least one memory device to store computer code to be executed by the processor. The printing system further includes a network device to receive network print jobs, and a wake circuit to cause the printing system to enter a deep suspend mode in which the printing system consumes less than about 1W of power, and to cause the printing system to wake from the deep suspend mode in response to a set of wake events.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2011Publication date: April 4, 2013Inventors: Mark A. Fahrenkrug, B. Mark Hirst, Vincent Skurdal, Kevin John Sigl
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Publication number: 20120280674Abstract: A snubber circuit comprises a first energy storage device and circuitry coupled to the first energy storage device to facilitate capturing, by the first energy storage device, energy of a switching circuit. The snubber circuit also comprises a second energy storage device coupled to the first energy storage device to store the captured energy. The circuitry additionally facilitates resetting of the first energy storage device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Inventor: B. Mark Hirst
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Patent number: 8253394Abstract: A snubber circuit comprises a first energy storage device and circuitry coupled to the first energy storage device to facilitate capturing, by the first energy storage device, energy of a switching circuit. The snubber circuit also comprises a second energy storage device coupled to the first energy storage device to store the captured energy. The circuitry additionally facilitates resetting of the first energy storage device.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2004Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: B. Mark Hirst
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Patent number: 7541692Abstract: Peripheral devices that have their own power sources. In one embodiment, a peripheral device comprises a processing device, memory, and a power circuit configured to supply power to a peripheral device component, the power circuit including a power source.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2002Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: B. Mark Hirst, Tony Barrett
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Patent number: 7187398Abstract: A method for refining a length of a scan line, where the scan line is produced from a facet of a scanning device. The method includes the steps of: (a) acquiring a plurality of scan line lengths produced from the facet, (b) determining from the plurality of scan line lengths, an average scan line length for the facet, and (c) determining from the average scan line length, a scan line length correction for the facet. A method for measuring a length of a scan line includes the steps of: (a) charging an electrical current integrator to a voltage while a scan line is produced from a facet, (b) measuring the voltage, and (c) determining from the voltage, the length of the scan line produced from the facet.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2005Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Gerard J. Carlson, B. Mark Hirst, Mark Wibbels
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Patent number: 7180534Abstract: Scanning assemblies, printing devices, and related methods are described. In one embodiment, pole pieces are configured to be coupled with an input voltage source that can produce phase-shifted input voltages, the pole pieces defining at least first and second phases. A rotor is operably associated with the pole pieces for rotation. The pole pieces and the rotor are configured as an induction drive system in which a rotational force for rotating the rotor is produced through interaction of rotor-induced eddy currents from each of the first and second phases with respective magnetic fluxes of the other of the first and second phases.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2003Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: B. Mark Hirst
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Patent number: 6853831Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fusing system for fusing toner to a recording medium. The system includes a fuser roller, a pressure roller in contact with the fuser roller, and an external heating roller. In addition, the disclosure relates to a method for heating a fuser roller of a fusing system. The method includes the steps of providing an external heating roller, contacting an outer surface of the fuser roller with the external heating roller, heating the external heating roller, and rotating the external heating roller and the fuser roller such that heat is transferred from the external heating roller to the fuser roller.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2001Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: B. Mark Hirst, Kenneth E. Heath, Mark Wibbels
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Patent number: 6847016Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for managing power in an imaging device. In one embodiment, a system and a method pertain to operating multiple heating elements in a temporally-shifted manner to create an effective drive frequency that exceeds an actual drive frequency at which the heating elements are actually driven.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2003Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: B. Mark Hirst
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Publication number: 20040222213Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for managing power in an imaging device. In one embodiment, a system and a method pertain to operating multiple heating elements in a temporally-shifted manner to create an effective drive frequency that exceeds an actual drive frequency at which the heating elements are actually driven.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2003Publication date: November 11, 2004Inventor: B. Mark Hirst
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Publication number: 20040103326Abstract: Disclosed are peripheral devices that have their own power sources. In one embodiment, a peripheral device comprises a processing device, memory, and a power circuit configured to supply power to a peripheral device component, the power circuit including a power source.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2002Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: B. Mark Hirst, Tony Barrett
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Publication number: 20040103351Abstract: Redundant data storage systems and methods for imaging devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a control/memory system for an imaging device comprises at least two separate components each including its own processor and memory, and a data recovery module configured to restore data to memory within the control/memory system in the event such data are lost or corrupted. In one embodiment, a data recovery method comprises comparing data stored on various different memories of the imaging device, determining if there is an inconsistency between the data of the various different imaging device memories, determining which data are correct and which data are incorrect if there is an inconsistency, and causing the incorrect data to be replaced with the correct data.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2002Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventor: B. Mark Hirst
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Patent number: 6721530Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fusing system for fusing toner to a recording medium. The fusing system includes a fuser roller including a metal layer, a pressure roller in contact with the fuser roller, and an external induction heating element. In addition, the disclosure relates to a method for heating a fuser roller of a fusing system including the steps of positioning an external induction heating element in close proximity to the outer surface of the fuser roller, delivering high frequency current to a coil of the external induction heating element to create a magnetic flux, and directing the magnetic flux toward the fuser roller so as to induce eddy currents within a metal layer of the fuser roller that generate heat within the roller.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2001Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: B. Mark Hirst, Mark Wibbels, Kenneth E. Heath
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Patent number: 6710309Abstract: A means for determining the voltage of a power source is disclosed. A portion of the available power from the power source is applied to a heating element. By measuring a rate of change in the temperature of the heating element the input voltage can be determined.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1996Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: B. Mark Hirst
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Publication number: 20030222079Abstract: A system for inductively heating a belt employs a magnetic flux intensifier that serves to intensify a magnetic field through which an electrically conductive belt is driven in order to heat said belt. A workpiece such as a sheet of paper having partially dried ink (or electrophotographic toner in need of softening) can be placed in association with the belt and thereby heated in order to dry the ink (or fuse the toner).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2002Publication date: December 4, 2003Inventors: Robert J. Lawton, Jose Alvaro Barba Villanueva, B. Mark Hirst
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Patent number: 6635864Abstract: A method for determining a scan line error for a scan line, wherein the scan line is produced from one of a plurality of facets of a rotating reflector of a scanning device. The method comprises the steps of (a) determining a difference between a time of an occurrence of a point in a scan line produced from a first facet and a time of an occurrence of a point in a scan line produced from a second facet, and (b) determining from the difference, a scan line error for the scan line produced from the first facet.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: B. Mark Hirst
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Patent number: 6580895Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fusing system for fusing toner to a recording medium. In one embodiment, the fusing system contains a fuser roller configured as a heat pipe including an inner tube and a coaxial outer tube that is mounted to the inner tube, the inner and outer tubes defining an interior space therebetween that is adapted to contain a liquid and to be evacuated so as be maintained in a vacuum, and a pressure roller in contact with the fuser roller. In another embodiment, the fusing system contains a fuser roller, a pressure roller in contact with the fuser roller, and an external heating roller in contact with the fuser roller, the external heating roller being configured as a heat pipe including an inner tube and a coaxial outer tube that is mounted to the inner tube, the inner and outer tubes defining an interior space therebetween that is adapted to contain a liquid and to be evacuated so as be maintained in a vacuum.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2001Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: B. Mark Hirst, Mark Wibbels, Kenneth E. Heath
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Publication number: 20030095423Abstract: The present invention provides a synchronous full-wave AC rectifier connectable to an AC voltage source. In one embodiment, the synchronous rectifier includes a full-wave diode bridge having four bridge diodes. A power switch is coupled in parallel with each bridge diode, and each power switch has a power switch control gate. A power switch control circuit is coupled in parallel with each bridge diode. Each power switch control circuit provides a first control voltage to its associated power switch control gate to cause the power switch to turn on when the parallel-connected bridge diode is forward biased. Each power switch control circuit provides a second control voltage to its associated power switch control gate to cause the power switch to turn off when the parallel-connect bridge diode is reverse biased. The power switch control circuits turn their associated power switches on and off synchronously with the AC voltage source to provide the full-wave rectified AC output.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2001Publication date: May 22, 2003Inventor: B. Mark Hirst
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Patent number: 6563726Abstract: The present invention provides a synchronous full-wave AC rectifier connectable to an AC voltage source. In one embodiment, the synchronous rectifier includes a full-wave diode bridge having four bridge diodes. A power switch is coupled in parallel with each bridge diode, and each power switch has a power switch control gate. A power switch control circuit is coupled in parallel with each bridge diode. Each power switch control circuit provides a first control voltage to its associated power switch control gate to cause the power switch to turn on when the parallel-connected bridge diode is forward biased. Each power switch control circuit provides a second control voltage to its associated power switch control gate to cause the power switch to turn off when the parallel-connect bridge diode is reverse biased. The power switch control circuits turn their associated power switches on and off synchronously with the AC voltage source to provide the full-wave rectified AC output.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2001Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventor: B. Mark Hirst
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Patent number: 6512913Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fusing system for fusing toner to a recording medium. The fusing system includes a fuser roller including an elastomeric layer and a heat transport layer disposed around the elastomeric layer, the heat transport layer having high thermal capacity, and a pressure roller in contact with the fuser roller. The present disclosure also relates to a fusing method that helps reduce gloss variation of printed media fused to a recording medium with a fusing system. The method includes the steps of forming a heat transport layer having high thermal capacity at an outer surface of a fuser roller of the fusing system, heating the heat transport layer, and transferring heat from the heat transport layer to the recording medium as it passes through a nip of the fusing system.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2001Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: B. Mark Hirst, Mark Wibbels, Kenneth E. Heath