Abstract: An improved cantilever beam optical switch design which provides the function of a variable optical attenuator (VOA). A small degree of intentional misalignment of the waveguide will create different levels of optical attenuation. By finely controlling the misalignment of a selected switched position, a single device may be realized that will provide the functions of both switching and attenuating or just attenuation alone. The optical MEMS device utilizes a latching mechanism in association with a thermal drive actuator for aligning a cantilever beam platform. The integration of the switching function and the VOA function reduce the optical loss which is otherwise unavoidable when the inevitable alterative of a separate switch and a separate VOA must necessarily be employed. The resultant improved device can also be applied for correcting the difference in optical intensity created by the manufacturing tolerances inherent in the fabrication of array waveguide gratings.

Abstract: A printing system (10) includes at least one marking device (22A, 22B, 22C, 22D). Each of the marking devices is configured for applying images to print media. A primary fusing device (24A, 24B, 24C, 24D) is associated with each of the marking devices for applying a primary fusing treatment to the applied images to form printed media. A portion of the printed media may be only partially fused in the primary fusing treatment. A secondary fusing device (26) receives the printed media from the at least one marking device. The secondary fusing device and/or primary fusing device is addressable. A control system (90) may be operably coupled with the secondary fusing device. The control system evaluates whether the printed media is only partially fused and instructs the secondary fusing device to apply a further fusing treatment to the printed media evaluated as being only partially fused.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing addressable fusing and/or heating of a substrate undergoing xerographic processing are disclosed. The apparatus includes a fuser having an array of addressable heating elements in radiative communication with a substrate through a fuser roll or fuser belt. The array of addressable heating elements is operated to selectively heat portions of the substrate to achieve a desired effect on the substrate, such as changing its surface finish, or fusing unfused toner to the substrate. In the case of toner fusing, the array is operated such that substantially only an area covered by the unfused toner is heated. This eliminates the need for blanket fusing, and generally provides for greater flexibility in xerographically processing substrates. Apparatus and methods for performing two-sided selective fusing and/or heating are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for scheduling print jobs for a plurality of printers (40,42,44,46, 48, 50) includes, for each of a plurality of print jobs, determining a number of pages of a first print modality (such as black only printing) and of a second print modality (such as color printing) for the print job. A file header is determined, based on the number of pages of the first and second print modalities in the print job. The file header is associated with the print job and the print job transmitted, along with the file header, to a print job scheduler (10). The scheduler schedules a sequence for printing the plurality of print jobs by the plurality of printers, based on minimizing, for at least one of the plurality of printers, a number of periods of time during the sequence of printing where the at least one printer is in a non-operational mode; and/or maximizing continuous run time for at least one of the printers.

Abstract: A substantially straight beam in an unbuckled state is compressed to cause the beam to buckle using an adjustable compressor. The adjustable compressor applies force to one or both ends of the beam and limits compression on the beam to allow the beam to move between a first buckled state and a second buckled state. The first buckled state and the second buckled state comprise substantially equal magnitude and opposite direction buckling movements from the unbuckled state.

Abstract: A sensor module is able to sense at least one aspect of objects produced by a plurality of object sources. Since one sensor module or set of sensor elements is used to examine out put from the plurality of object sources, sensor to sensor variation is removed as a source of error. In a multi-engine document processor, information from the sensor module is used to adjust process actuators, adjust image data and/or generate scheduling constraints to improve output consistency. For example, facing pages of a document are rendered only on marking engines operating within a predetermined tolerance of one another. Image data may be altered so that related images are within the measured capabilities of a plurality of marking engines. System actuators, such as xerographic actuators, of selected marking engines are adjusted to improve output consistency between marking engines.

Abstract: A waveguide structure has a base having a base height (h) above a substrate and a rectangular waveguide having a waveguide height (H) above the substrate and a waveguide width (W) between opposing sides of the waveguide.

Abstract: A thermal actuator comprises a substantially straight beam. The beam has a beam length and a beam mid-point. The beam comprises a plurality of beam segments. Each beam segment has a beam segment width, the beam thus forming a corresponding plurality of beam segment widths. The beam segment widths vary along the beam length based on a predetermined pattern. As the beam is heated by an included heating means, the beam buckles. The buckling of the beam, in turn, causes the beam mid-point to translate or move in a predetermined direction. The beam mid-point movement, in turn, operates an included optical waveguide switch. The heating means comprises any of Joule heating, eddy current heating, conduction heating, convection heating and radiation heating.

Abstract: A thermal actuator comprises a substantially straight beam. The beam has a beam length and a beam mid-point. The beam comprises a plurality of beam segments with beam segment lengths. Each beam segment has a beam segment neutral axis, thus forming a corresponding plurality of beam segment neutral axes. The beam segment neutral axes are offset along the beam length based on a predetermined pattern. As the beam is heated by an included heating means, the beam buckles. The buckling of the beam, in turn, causes the beam mid-point to translate or move in the predetermined direction. The beam mid-point movement, in turn, operates an included optical waveguide switch. The heating means comprises any of Joule heating, eddy current heating, conduction heating, convection heating and radiation heating.

Abstract: A thermal actuator comprises a plurality of substantially straight and parallel beams arranged to form a beam array. The midpoint of each beam is attached or coupled to an orthogonal coupling beam. Each array beam has a beam heating parameter with a corresponding beam heating parameter value. The beam heating parameter values vary across the beam array based on a predetermined pattern. As the beams are heated by an included heating means, the distribution of beam temperatures in the beam array becomes asymmetric, thus causing the beam array to buckle. The buckling of the beams in the beam array, in turn, causes the attached coupling beam to move in a predetermined direction. The coupling beam motion, in turn, operates an included optical waveguide switch. The beams in the beam array are heated by any of Joule heating, eddy current heating, conduction heating, convection heating and radiation heating.

Abstract: A waveguide structure has a base having a base height (h) above a substrate and a rectangular waveguide having a waveguide height (H) above the substrate and a waveguide width (W) between opposing sides of the waveguide.

Abstract: An optical micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) switch is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the optical MEMS switch is used as an M×N optical signal switching system. The optical MEMS switch comprises a plurality of optical waveguides formed on a shuttle for switching optical states wherein the state of the optical switch is changed by a system of drive and latch actuators. The optical MEMS switch utilizes a latching mechanism in association with a thermal drive actuator for aligning the waveguide shuttle. In use the optical MEMS switch may be integrated with other optical components to form planar light circuits (PLCs). When switches and PLCs are integrated together on a silicon chip, compact higher functionality devices, such as Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexers (ROADMs), may be fabricated.

Abstract: An optical micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) switch is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the optical MEMS switch is used as an M×N optical signal switching system. The optical MEMS switch comprises a plurality of optical waveguides formed on a cantilever beam platform for switching optical states wherein the state of the optical switch is changed by a system of drive and latch actuators. The optical MEMS device utilizes a latching mechanism in association with a thermal drive actuator for aligning the cantilever beam platform. In use the optical MEMS device may be integrated with other optical components to form planar light circuits (PLCs). When switches and PLCs are integrated together on a silicon chip, compact higher functionality devices, such as Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexers (ROADMs), may be fabricated.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system for printing custom colors is provided. An ink mixing station is also provided. The printing system includes multiple ink channels, an ink cartridge sensor for each channel, and a controller. A method for printing custom colors in a printing system with multiple ink cartridges is provided. In another embodiment, the printing system includes an in situ mixed ink channel for receiving two or more ink supply dispensers and a controller. The in situ mixed ink channel includes an supply dispenser sensor and supply valve member for each supply dispenser, a mixing reservoir, a pump motor, and a print head. A method for printing custom colors using an in situ mixed ink channel is provided. The station includes an in situ mixed ink channel and a controller. A method for mixing custom color inks and filling inkjet ink containers in the station is provided.

Abstract: A thermal actuator comprises a substantially straight beam. The beam has a beam length and a beam mid-point. The beam comprises a plurality of beam segments with beam segment lengths. Each beam segment has a beam segment neutral axis, thus forming a corresponding plurality of beam segment neutral axes. The beam segment neutral axes are offset along the beam length based on a predetermined pattern. As the beam is heated by an included heating means, the beam buckles. The buckling of the beam, in turn, causes the beam mid-point to translate or move in the predetermined direction. The beam mid-point movement, in turn, operates an included optical waveguide switch. The heating means comprises any of Joule heating, eddy current heating, conduction heating, convection heating and radiation heating.

Abstract: A thermal actuator comprises a plurality of substantially straight and parallel beams arranged to form a beam array. The midpoint of each beam is attached or coupled to an orthogonal coupling beam. Each array beam has a beam heating parameter with a corresponding beam heating parameter value. The beam heating parameter values vary across the beam array based on a predetermined pattern. As the beams are heated by an included heating means, the distribution of beam temperatures in the beam array becomes asymmetric, thus causing the beam array to buckle. The buckling of the beams in the beam array, in turn, causes the attached coupling beam to move in a predetermined direction. The coupling beam motion, in turn, operates an included optical waveguide switch. The beams in the beam array are heated by any of Joule heating, eddy current heating, conduction heating, convection heating and radiation heating.

Abstract: A thermal actuator comprises a substantially straight beam. The beam has a beam length and a beam mid-point. The beam comprises a plurality of beam segments. Each beam segment has a beam segment width, the beam thus forming a corresponding plurality of beam segment widths. The beam segment widths vary along the beam length based on a predetermined pattern. As the beam is heated by an included heating means, the beam buckles. The buckling of the beam, in turn, causes the beam mid-point to translate or move in a predetermined direction. The beam mid-point movement, in turn, operates an included optical waveguide switch. The heating means comprises any of Joule heating, eddy current heating, conduction heating, convection heating and radiation heating.

Abstract: A multifunction printed sheets interface system with plural sheet input areas for receiving printed sheets from plural printers, plural sheet outputs areas for plural outputs to different sheet processing systems, a sheet position sensing system, and a sheet transporting system providing selectable sheet translation from selected plural sheet input areas to selected plural sheet outputs areas so as to provide selectable sheet feeding from selected printers to selected sheet processing systems, and selectable sheet rotation of selected sheets and selectable sheet merging in a selected sheet sequence of sheets from plural printers. The sheet transporting system has a large planar area with a multiplicity of spaced apart independently operable variable sheet feeding direction and sheet velocity sheet transports, larger than the dimensions of any sheet to be fed thereon to allow simultaneous plural sheet variable transport thereon.

Abstract: A flexible media integration system (10) includes a multifunction flexible media interface system (12). The interface system includes a plurality of flexible media input areas (22, 24, 26) for receiving flexible media (14), such as sheets of paper, from a plurality of associated input processors (16, 18, 20), such as printers or paper feeders. A plurality of flexible media output areas (32, 34) provide outputs to different associated flexible media output processors (36, 38), such as printers or finishers. The interface system also includes a sheet position sensing system (52) and a sheet transporting system (42). The transporting system provides selectable flexible media translation for selectably transporting flexible media from selected ones of the plurality of flexible media input areas to selected ones of the plurality of flexible media output areas so as to provide selectable flexible media feeding from selected flexible media input processors to selected flexible media output processors.

Abstract: A bistable microelectromechanical system (MEMS) based system comprises a micromachined beam having a first stable state, in which the beam is substantially stress-free and has a specified non-linear shape, and a second stable state. The curved shape may comprises a simple curve or a compound curve. In embodiments, the boundary conditions for the beam are fixed boundary conditions, bearing boundary conditions, spring boundary conditions, or a combination thereof. The system may further comprise an actuator arranged to move the beam between the first and second stable states and a movable element that is moved between a first position and a second position in accordance with the movement of the beam between the first and second stable states. The actuator may comprise one of a thermal actuator, an electrostatic actuator, a piezoelectric actuator and a magnetic actuator. The actuator may further comprise a thermal impact actuator or a zippering electrostatic actuator.