Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining registration errors in the cross process direction of a printer. A first straight line is obtained by detecting line centers of a first plurality of dashes in a test pattern. A second straight line is obtained by detecting a line center positions of a second plurality of dashes in the test pattern. A difference between the off-set of the first straight line and the off-set of the second straight line is used in determining registration errors.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide calibration for a linear array sensor. A test pattern having a plurality of lines is used. Comparison between expected and measured spacing between a pair of neighboring lines is used to determine sensor position displacement.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, exemplary interconnects and methods for interconnection are provided that can include contacts formed by fiber bundles. The exemplary interconnects can be used to form separable or non-separable electro-mechanical connections between one or more of the generally accepted six levels of interconnection. In various embodiments, the exemplary interconnects can allow management of the thermal properties of the electronic devices. Exemplary interconnects can also provided reduced thickness allowing redundancy and additional compliance as desired.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide calibration for a linear array sensor. A test pattern having a plurality of lines is used. Comparison between expected and measured spacing between a pair of neighboring lines is used to determine sensor position displacement.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a connector or circuit includes a substrate having a plurality of conductive members and a plurality of non-conductive members. The conductive members include a plurality of conductive fibers in association with a polymer material. The conductive members and the non-conductive members are disposed in the substrate member and are selectively situated with respect to each other forming a modular matrix configuration of contacts suitable for an array or association with other circuitry.

Abstract: An electrostatic type voltmeter for measuring the potential on a surface, the voltmeter including a probe; a support for supporting the probe in spaced relationship with the surface, the probe having a plurality of spacing element sites thereon for measuring a distance between each of the plurality of spacing element sites and a corresponding area on the surface opposite of each of the plurality of spacing element sites; a plurality of electrostatic element sites, intermixed and adjacent to the plurality of spacing element sites on the probe, for measuring a voltage between each of the plurality of spacing element sites and an area on the surface adjacent to the corresponding area opposite of each of the plurality of spacing element sites. A processor for compensating an output signal of the probe in response to the measurements received from the plurality of spacing element sites and the plurality of electrostatic element sites.

Abstract: A sheet curl measurement system and method and an automatic sheet decurling system controlled thereby for the printed paper sheets output of printer. The sheet curl may be remotely sensed without contacting or interfering with the motion of the sheets in their normal sheet path, using a simple but accurate optical sheet curl sensor operating on a portion of the moving sheet at an angle thereto and perpendicularly thereto, with displacement insensitive optics, in both an angular direction substantially parallel to the sheet movement direction and an angular direction substantially transverse to the sheet movement direction, with ratioing of the two output signals.

Abstract: An electrostatic type voltmeter for measuring the potential on a surface, the voltmeter including a probe; a support for supporting the probe in spaced relationship with the surface, the probe having a plurality of spacing element sites thereon for measuring a distance between each of the plurality of spacing element sites and a corresponding area on the surface opposite of each of the plurality of spacing element sites; a plurality of electrostatic element sites, intermixed and adjacent to the plurality of spacing element sites on the probe, for measuring a voltage between each of the plurality of spacing element sites and an area on the surface adjacent to the corresponding area opposite of each of the plurality of spacing element sites. A processor for compensating an output signal of the probe in response to the measurements received from the plurality of spacing element sites and the plurality of electrostatic element sites.

Abstract: In color printing with a color registration system for the registration of plural color images on an image bearing surface, such as a photoreceptor belt of a color printer, chevron shaped registration marks are imaged on the image bearing surface, which registration marks correspond to the color images and are sensed by a registration marks sensor as the image bearing surface moves in its process direction. The registration marks sensor has chevron shaped optical sensing areas provided by a matching pair of spaced apart elongated bi-cell detectors in a generally chevron shaped pattern. Each of these spaced apart elongated bi-cell detectors has a parallelogram shaped optical sensing area. That parallelogram shaped sensing area is defined by elongated parallelogram sides extending at the same angle as one leg of the chevron shaped registration marks, and parallelogram ends which are parallel to the process direction, so as to provide higher color registration accuracy.

Abstract: In color printing with a color registration system for the registration of plural color images on an image bearing surface, such as a photoreceptor belt of a color printer, registration marks are imaged on the image bearing surface, which registration marks correspond to the color images and are sensed by a registration marks sensor. In an initial gross registration mode the system first automatically images first registration marks, in the form of expanded chevron targets, which are greatly expanded in the process direction so as to avoid overlapping marks even if there is initial gross misregistration, to thus provide wider initial misregistration latitude for the sensor. When an acceptable initial registration is achieved, the system automatically switches to imaging more closely spaced and more frequent second registration marks, preferably regular chevron targets, providing higher registration accuracy.

Abstract: An electrical component has at least one end adapted to be electrically connected to another component. The electrical component includes a support with a plurality of electrically conductive fibers having at least a portion thereof extending outwardly therefrom. The free end of the conductive fibers has a metal electroplated thereon to facilitate soldering of the electrical component to a printed circuit board. The other ends of the fibers have conductive adhesive bonded thereto.

Abstract: A windowed shutter on a micro-electro-mechanical system improves output current of a non-contacting electrostatic voltmeter. The output current is increased by increasing the area modulated by the micro-electro-mechanical shutter system and by increasing the speed of that modulation. The increase in the area modulated by the windowed shutter is in direct proportion to the number of windows used. Moreover, the speed of the modulation is increased by increasing the resonant frequency of the system. Less shutter mass increases the frequency thus increasing shutter movement over time.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrical component having an axial direction and two ends for making electrical contact with another component comprising a plurality of electrically conductive fibers in a matrix, the plurality of the fibers being oriented in the matrix in a direction substantially parallel in the axial direction of the component and being continuous from one end of the component to the other end to provide a plurality of electrical point contacts at each end of the component, wherein the component further includes magnetic particles.

Abstract: A sensor system for measuring physical properties of paper. The paper property sensor system includes a surface and a diaphragm opposed to each other. The small diaphragm includes a first pair and a second pair p-type piezoresistors. Each piezoresistor of the first pair has a longitudinal axis and is located perpendicular to and very close to one of the long edges of the diaphragm. Each piezoresistor of the second pair has a longitudinal axis and is located between and parallel to first pair of piezoresistors, and away from the short edges of the diaphragm. Coupling the first pair of piezoresistors with the second pair via a Wheatstone bridge produces a voltage representative of the shear force exerted by a sheet.

Abstract: A device for transferring electrical charge from an electrically conductive element to a rotating element is provided. The device has a body including a pultruded composite member having a multiplicity of electrically conductive fibers provided with a polymer matrix. The plurality of conductive fibers is oriented within the polymer matrix in a longitudinal direction of the pultruded composite member. The fibers each extend in a substantially parallel direction, parallel to a first axis. The body includes a first contact area. The body defines an aperture therein. The body has a second contact area on the periphery of the aperture spaced from the first contact area and a support. The support is secured to the body for supporting the body. The first contact area is for contact with the conductive element and the second contact area is for contact with the rotating element. The fibrillated portion is coincident with at least one of the first contact area or said second contact area.

Abstract: A device for transferring electrical charge between a first element and a second element is provided. The elements have relative rotational motion therebetween. The device has a body including a multiplicity of electrically conductive fibers. A substantial portion of the fibers extend in a substantially parallel direction, parallel to a first axis. The body includes a first contact area. The body defines an aperture therein. The body further includes a second contact area on the periphery of the aperture spaced from the first contact area. The first contact area is for contact with the first element and the second contact area is for contact with the second element.

Abstract: A system for transporting a sheet of material including an actuator, a position sensing system, and a tactile sensor system. The actuator imparts a known force to a sheet, moving it through to the position sensing system, which measures the sheet velocity at various points. Afterward, the sheet moves through the tactile sensor system, which determines the coefficient of friction of the sheet. Given these quantities, a controller can determine the mass of the sheet, which can be used alter the performance of the sheet transport system.

Abstract: A system for measuring the mass of a sheet of material including an actuator, a position sensing system, and a tactile sensor system. The actuator imparts a known force to a sheet, moving it through to the position sensing system, which measures the sheet velocity at various points. Afterward, the sheet moves through the tactile sensor system, which determines the coefficient of friction of the sheet. Given these quantities, a controller can determine the mass of the sheet, which can be used alter the performance of a reproductive machine. A second embodiment of the mass measuring system includes an actuator, a position sensing system, and a subsystem for eliminating friction. The actuator applies a force to a sheet to move it into and through the subsystem. The position sensing system incorporated in the subsystem senses the acceleration of the sheet. Given this quantity, a controller can determine the mass of the sheet.

Abstract: A contacting electrostatic voltmeter suitable for sampling positive or negative potentials on an electrostatically charged surface. The electrostatic voltmeter includes a selectively controllable actuation mechanism that enables the use of a contacting electrostatic voltmeter to sample the surface of an electrostatically charged member, moving relative thereto, within a predetermined space. The invention finds particular use in a printing system, where it enables charge monitoring during printing yet avoids disturbance to charged latent image areas on the imaging member.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrical component for making electrical contact with another component comprising a composite member including a plurality of electrically conductive, nonmetallic fibers in an electrically conductive metallic matrix wherein said composite member has an axial direction and a DC volume resistivity of less than about 100 micro ohm cm, said plurality of conductive fibers being oriented in said matrix in a direction substantially parallel to each other and to the axial direction of said member and said fibers being continuous from one end of said member to the other end to provide a plurality of electrical contact points at each end of said member, at least one end of said member having a brush-like structure of said plurality of fibers wherein said brush-like structure is at least substantially free of the metallic matrix, thereby providing a distributed filament contact wherein the terminating ends of the fibers in the brush-like structure define an electrically contacting surface.