Patents by Inventor Richard Thomas Plunkett

Richard Thomas Plunkett 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).

  • Patent number: 7399043
    Abstract: A printer controller for supplying dot data to a printhead in a predetermined order, the printhead comprising at least first and second printhead modules, each of which comprises a plurality of printing nozzles and being disposed adjacent each other such that a printing width of the printhead is wider than a printing width of either of the printhead modules, the printer controller being configured to order and time supply of the dot data to the printhead modules in accordance with their respective widths, such that a difference in relative widths of the printhead modules is at least partially compensated for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Richard Thomas Plunkett
  • Patent number: 7390071
    Abstract: A printer controller for supplying data to a printhead module including at least one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed, the printer controller being configured to control order and timing of the data supplied to the printhead such that the dropped row is compensated for during printing by the printhead module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Mark Jackson Pulver, Richard Thomas Plunkett, John Robert Sheahan, Kia Silverbrook, Michael John Webb
  • Publication number: 20080123969
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing the noise induced in a particular section or level of a signal bandwidth. The section is isolated from the rest of the signal data, by resealing this data to produce a buffer section adjacent the section with little or no data in it. The signal is then transmitted to the output device where all data is the buffer section is considered to be the result of noise, and is mapped back to the predetermined level. The signal data is inversely rescaled to move data back into the buffer section. In this way, more of the data that was input at the predetermined level, will also be at the predetermined level afterwards, thereby correcting noise induced in that level by noise inducing transmission techniques such as JPEG compression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Richard Thomas Plunkett, Raul Evelio Vera
  • Patent number: 7377608
    Abstract: An inkjet printer is disclosed in which a protector is provided for a capping facility for a printhead within the printer. The protector comprises a covering member which is arranged to engage with the capping facility during intervals when the capping facility is not engaged with the printhead, whereby the capping member is protected against loss of contained moisture and ingress of contaminating material. In one of its embodiments the printer has a protector for a capping facility in the form of a capping mechanism for a printhead having a plurality of ink-delivery nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Richard Thomas Plunkett
  • Patent number: 7377609
    Abstract: A printer controller for supplying dot data to at least one printhead module and at least partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module due to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead module relative to a carrier, the printer being configured to access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module; determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at least one of the at least one printhead modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the correction factor, thereby to at least partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and supply the dot data to the printhead module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Richard Thomas Plunkett, Mark Jackson Pulver, Michael John Webb, Kia Silverbrook, John Robert Sheahan
  • Patent number: 7374266
    Abstract: A method of at least partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due to erroneous rotational displacement of a printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the printhead module, the method comprising the steps of determining the rotational displacement; determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates for the ink dot displacement; and using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least partially compensate for the rotational displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Michael John Webb, Richard Thomas Plunkett, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080111844
    Abstract: A printer controller is provided for supplying one or more control signals to a printhead module. The printhead module includes at least one row that has a plurality of adjacent sets of n?1 adjacent nozzles. Each of the nozzles is configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal. The printer controller is configured to supply, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n+1), . . . , nozzle position (n?1), nozzle position (2n?1)].
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Mark Jackson Pulver, Richard Thomas Plunkett, John Robert Sheahan, Kia Silverbrook, Michael John Webb
  • Publication number: 20080094451
    Abstract: A printhead IC for an inkjet printer, the inkjet printer having a PEC for sending print data to the printhead IC in accordance with a predetermined data transmission protocol, the printhead IC comprising: an array of nozzles for ejecting drops of printing fluid onto a media substrate; and, drive circuitry for driving the array of nozzles; wherein, the circuitry is configured to receive print data in any one of a plurality of different data transmission protocols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Brian Christopher Morahan, Alireza Moini, Timothy Peter Gillespie, Michael John Webb, Marcelle Louisa Gannon, Richard Thomas Plunkett, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7328956
    Abstract: A printer comprising a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at least one printhead module including at least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data and process the print data to output dot data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are connected to a common input of the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley, John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Richard Thomas Plunkett, Michael John Webb
  • Patent number: 7322666
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead is provided having elongate printhead modules arranged to successively abut one another at respective longitudinal ends with a vertical offset and controllers for controlling the printhead modules. Each module has a plurality of ink ejection nozzles. A first controller is configured to receive and process print data to generate first ink dot data and a second controller is configured to receive and process print data to generate second ink dot data and to generate third ink dot data including the second dot data and at least some of the first dot data. The first controller is arranged to output the first dot data to at least a first printhead module and the second controller. The second controller is arranged to output the third dot data to at least a second printhead module which abuts the first printhead module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Richard Thomas Plunkett, John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Kia Silverbrook, Michael John Webb
  • Publication number: 20080007786
    Abstract: Efficiently processing contone image data by determining one or more characteristics of the image data and using these characteristics to manipulate the dither matrix so that the printed image is enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: Richard Thomas Plunkett, Simon Robert Walmsley, Kia Silverbrook, Raul Evelio Vera
  • Patent number: 7314261
    Abstract: A printhead module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n?1), . . . , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Mark Jackson Pulver, Simon Robert Walmsley, John Robert Sheahan, Michael John Webb, Richard Thomas Plunkett, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7290852
    Abstract: A printhead module including at least one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Mark Jackson Pulver, John Robert Sheahan, Simon Robert Walmsley, Richard Thomas Plunkett, Kia Silverbrook, Michael John Webb
  • Patent number: 7281330
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are capable of being combined in pairs to form bilithic pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying out each of the plurality of printhead modules on a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is right-handed and at least another is left-handed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Mark Jackson Pulver, Simon Robert Walmsley, Michael John Webb, Richard Thomas Plunkett, John Robert Sheahan
  • Patent number: 7281777
    Abstract: A printhead module for receiving dot data to be printed using at least two different inks and control data for controlling printing of the dot data, the printhead module including a communication input for receiving the dot data for the at least two colors and the control data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Mark Jackson Pulver, John Robert Sheahan, Simon Robert Walmsley, Richard Thomas Plunkett, Michael John Webb
  • Patent number: 7278697
    Abstract: A printer controller configured to generate dot data for supply to a printhead which includes at least a first printhead integrated circuit and a second printhead integrated circuit positioned adjacent each other either side of a join region, the printer controller configured to transfer dot data to each of the first printhead integrated circuit and the second printhead integrated circuit at a rate proportional to the relative lengths of the first printhead integrated circuit and the second printhead integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Richard Thomas Plunkett
  • Patent number: 7275805
    Abstract: A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined by its geometric shape in plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Mark Jackson Pulver, John Robert Sheahan, Simon Robert Walmsley, Richard Thomas Plunkett, Kia Silverbrook, Michael John Webb
  • Patent number: 7267417
    Abstract: A printer controller for receiving first data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be printed, the print controller including at least two serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one printhead, wherein each of the serial outputs is configured to supply dot data for at least two channels of the at least one printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Mark Jackson Pulver, Simon Robert Walmsley, Michael John Webb, Richard Thomas Plunkett, John Robert Sheahan
  • Patent number: 7252353
    Abstract: A printer controller for supplying dot data to a printhead module comprising at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction of intended media travel relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the second pair of rows, the printer controller being configurable to supply dot data to the printhead module for printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley, Richard Thomas Plunkett, Mark Jackson Pulver, John Robert Sheahan, Michael John Webb
  • Patent number: 7188928
    Abstract: A printer comprising: a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the printhead modules being parallel to each other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein the first printhead module is longer than the second printhead module; at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data and process the print data to output dot data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data to both the first printhead module and the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Richard Thomas Plunkett, John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Kia Silverbrook, Michael John Webb