Patents by Inventor Keith M. Smith

Keith M. Smith 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).

  • Publication number: 20240085949
    Abstract: An apparatus can include a display, a facial interface, and a connector between the display and the facial interface. The facial interface can at least translate or rotate relative to the display via the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Darshan R. Kasar, Samuel G. Smith, Jonathan M. Anderson, Erin M. Bosch, Muhammad F. Hossain, Liam R. Martinez, Andrew Gallaher, Ian A. Guy, Brian Baillargeon, Keith W. Kirkwood, Timothy J. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8098399
    Abstract: A method of controlling a feed rate of a printer, and a printer employing same, wherein the printer includes a feeder motor driving a feeder mechanism and a transport motor driving a transport mechanism. The method includes receiving image data for a first item of print media in a print job, processing the image data to create printable image data, and determining an image preparation time that is a time difference between the time when the printable image data is completed and the time when the start of the image data is first received. The method then further includes determining a current feeder speed based on at least the image preparation time. Following that that determination, the method includes: (i) turning the transport motor on, and (ii) setting a speed of the feeder motor equal to the current feeder speed and thereafter turning the feeder motor on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Keith M. Smith, Gary S. Jacobson, Brad L. Davies, Elaine B. Cristiani
  • Publication number: 20100157327
    Abstract: A method of controlling a feed rate of a printer, and a printer employing same, wherein the printer includes a feeder motor driving a feeder mechanism and a transport motor driving a transport mechanism. The method includes receiving image data for a first item of print media in a print job, processing the image data to create printable image data, and determining an image preparation time that is a time difference between the time when the printable image data is completed and the time when the start of the image data is first received. The method then further includes determining a current feeder speed based on at least the image preparation time. Following that that determination, the method includes: (i) turning the transport motor on, and (ii) setting a speed of the feeder motor equal to the current feeder speed and thereafter turning the feeder motor on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Keith M. Smith, Gary S. Jacobson, Brad L. Davies, Elaine B. Cristiani
  • Patent number: 7690649
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing the feeding and printing of sheets of media, i.e., paper, envelopes, post cards, etc. even though shingled feeds have occurred in the system. The foregoing is accomplished by utilizing two sensors and counters to monitor two sheets of paper to allow two software tasks to stay in synchronization and release the appropriate print data to the printer even when a sheet of paper was not detected in the feeder appears at the print head. The feeder sensor has a counter for its Lead Edge as does the Start of Print Sensor that is in the system's transport paper path. The feeder sensor counter and the start of print counter are incremented and decremented as the paper approaches the sensor and leaves the sensor. If the lead edge counter of the feeder sensor goes negative, then the feeder has shingled and the data for that sheet of paper must be printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Brad L. Davies, Keith M. Smith, Wesley A. Kirschner, Elaine B. Cristiani, Gary S. Jacobson
  • Publication number: 20090046116
    Abstract: A system architecture is provided for a fixed-head mailpiece printer. The printer includes at least two laterally and longitudinally-spaced print heads for depositing ink on a face surface of a mailpiece. The print system architecture includes print application software or software program code operative to render print image data into a plurality of logical rectangular bitmap print buffers. Further, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) remaps each of the logical rectangular bitmap print buffers into one of the print heads based upon its spatial position relative to the mailpiece. Furthermore, the FPGA is operative to control the deposition of ink from the print heads based upon the print image data contained in the print buffers. Moreover, the FPGA minimizes processing time associated with print image rendering to achieve enhanced print system throughput.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Brad L. Davies, Elaine B. Cristiani, Keith M. Smith, Wesley A. Kirschner
  • Publication number: 20090020946
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing the feeding and printing of sheets of media, i.e., paper, envelopes, post cards, etc. even though shingled feeds have occurred in the system. The foregoing is accomplished by utilizing two sensors and counters to monitor two sheets of paper to allow two software tasks to stay in synchronization and release the appropriate print data to the printer even when a sheet of paper was not detected in the feeder appears at the print head. The feeder sensor has a counter for its Lead Edge as does the Start of Print Sensor that is in the system's transport paper path. The feeder sensor counter and the start of print counter are incremented and decremented as the paper approaches the sensor and leaves the sensor. If the lead edge counter of the feeder sensor goes negative, then the feeder has shingled and the data for that sheet of paper must be printed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Brad L. Davies, Keith M. Smith, Wesley A. Kirschner, Elaine B. Cristiani, Gary S. Jacobson
  • Publication number: 20080111842
    Abstract: A method and system for predicting ink usage during a print job for an ink jet printer and displaying information in connection with ink usage on a system monitor. The method steps include determining the initial ink level of an ink cartridge and developing a histogram of ink usage associated with a threshold number of items to be printed. The threshold number is less than the total number of items to be printed and should be an amount representative of each of the print items. The usage associated with the threshold number, i.e., the histogram, may then be extrapolated to evaluate the number of items which can be printed before the ink cartridge is depleted. The number of items which can be printed is then displayed to the user/operator on a system monitor so that a determination can be made concerning whether the print job may be completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Hall, Keith M. Smith
  • Patent number: 7261480
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a self-diagnostic process for determining a print shaft contamination condition such as debris build up on the guide shaft in a shuttle head printer is described. The process can be carried out at several points in time including automatically when the printer is powered-up, at a periodic schedule, and/or at the initiation of a user. The process includes a measurement of the print head speed over a travel distance along the guide shaft. If the speed is lower than a predetermined threshold value, the user is notified that a print shaft contamination condition exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Edward F. Hampton, Keith M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6128649
    Abstract: One or more streams from a number of real-time video streams available to be transmitted across a communications network, are selected for display on respective terminals of a first, and at least one other user. First, a policy of the first user for making the selection, is determined, the policy containing conditions to be evaluated, selectable by the first user. Then, which streams to select for the first user is determined dynamically by evaluating the current conditions according to the first user's policy. Only the selected streams are passed for display on the terminal of the first user, independently of selections made for passing to the other users. Dynamic selection from multiple streams enables the user to concentrate on the content not the form of presentation. Individual control of what is displayed, independent of what other users see, enables tailoring to video conferences to be handled more easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Keith M. Smith, Russell W. Pretty