Hand-held Patents (Class 347/109)
  • Patent number: 7578591
    Abstract: A tip to be placed on a fluid-ejection device is filled with fluid. The fluid may be introduced into a substantially hollow body of the tip at a first end of the body. The body of the tip has a second end at which a fluid-ejection mechanism is disposed to eject the fluid as controlled by the fluid-ejection device. The fluid may be introduced into the substantially hollow body of the tip through of the fluid-ejection mechanism disposed at the second end of the body of the tip. The tip may further be identified and/or serviced, and the tip and/or the fluid-ejection device my further be validated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Blair M. Kent, James P. Axtell, Trudy Benjamin, David Lowe, Preston Seu
  • Patent number: 7572003
    Abstract: A hand held personal digital assistant (PDA) that has a body section housing an information storage means, display means joined to the body section by a hinge connection and a print engine with a printhead and a print roll cartridge that has a cylindrical former defining ink reservoirs for storing respective types of ink and bearing a wound length of print media on which ink stored in the ink reservoirs is printed by the printhead. The cylindrical former has a longitudinal axis and the hinge connection has a hinge axis, the longitudinal axis and the hinge axis being collinear for compact incorporation of the print roll cartridge into a PDA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7572004
    Abstract: A print engine includes a printhead assembly. The printhead assembly includes an ink ejection printhead. A chassis assembly includes a molding defining ink supply channels for supplying respective inks to the printhead. A print roll cartridge includes a core defining internal ink reservoirs and print media wound upon the core. The cartridge is configured to be releasably mounted to the chassis so that ink from the reservoirs is supplied to respective ink supply channels before being printed upon the print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20090195630
    Abstract: A hand-held modular printer system for printing a stored image. The printer system comprises a memory module in which the image is stored; a printer module releasably interconnected with the memory module; and a print media dispenser module defining a print media outlet at one end thereof. The printer module has an elongate body defining an entry slot along one longitudinal side thereof and an exit slot along an opposite longitudinal side thereof. The printer module further comprises a print media passage extending transversely through the elongate body, and a printer arranged across the print media passage. The print media dispenser is adapted to be releasably interconnected with the printer module along a longitudinal side thereof so that the print media outlet is in register with the entry slot, the dispenser module being configured to store a stack of sheets of print media and comprising a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a sheet of print media through the outlet and into the passage for printing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley
  • Patent number: 7564020
    Abstract: A light detector system for use with a work-piece is provided. The light detector system can include a housing and at least one sensor coupled to the housing. The sensor can be responsive to a light source to generate a signal that indicates a location of the light source with respect to the housing. The light detector system can also comprise a marker coupled to the housing. The marker can be responsive to the signal to mark the location of the light source on a surface of the work-piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Margarita Sergyeyenko
  • Patent number: 7559476
    Abstract: A thin MFP includes a scanning module, a printing module, a paper advance module, a paper switch module and a paper-guiding module all disposed in a casing thereof. Both the scanning module and the printing module are fixed on the same plane. The paper advance module has a first paper advance box and a second paper advance box for guiding paper into the casing, respectively. The paper switch module mates with the paper advance module for selectively guiding paper from the first paper advance box or the second paper advance box. The paper-guiding module mates with the paper switch module for guiding paper from the paper switch module to the scanning module for scanning or to the printing module for printing. Whereby, the size of the thin MFP is reduced by changing the disposition of the scanning module and the printing module and sharing the paper-guiding module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ching-Hui Chen, Yan-Liang Guo
  • Patent number: 7556370
    Abstract: A personal digital assistant includes a body containing a memory for storing the personal digital assistant information, a printhead for printing stored information, a display for displaying the stored information. The body includes a bay for receiving a print media cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7556371
    Abstract: An ink jet printer that includes a printhead configured to eject ink. The printhead is housed in a housing. A capping device is pivotally fastened with respect to the housing to be pivotal into and out of capping engagement with the printhead. The mechanism includes an arm pivotally mounted with respect to the housing and a capping leg extending transversely from the arm to cap the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20090141112
    Abstract: An electronic brush (10) for dispensing ink (22) onto a writable medium (30) employs an electronic-brush housing (12), at least one ink dispenser (20) coupled to the electronic-brush housing, an electronic-brush scanner (14) coupled to the electronic-brush housing, and a controller (16). The controller is in electrical communication with the ink dispenser and the electronic-brush scanner. A position of the electronic brush is determined based on at least one position indicator in a first portion of a dispensed image that is scanned by the electronic-brush scanner and communicated to the controller. An ink-dispense signal is sent from the controller to the ink dispenser based on the determined electronic-brush position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N V
    Inventors: Anthonie H. Bergman, Hubertus M.R. Cortenraad
  • Publication number: 20090109271
    Abstract: A printer having a head and a handle are disclosed. In one embodiment, the handle has a convex side and a concave side. In another embodiment, the head is pivotable relative to the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Anthony D. Studer, John A. Devos, William E. Lewey, Suzanne Spencer Middleton, Dennis A. Iverson, Jeffrey J. Buresh
  • Patent number: 7524051
    Abstract: A hand-operated printer includes a body, a printhead mounted to the body, a target sight mounted to the body, and a display device mounted to the body. The display device is configured to display an image and a representation of the target sight in relation to the image, and wherein the relation between the representation of the target sight and the image that are displayed on the display device corresponds to a relationship between the target sight and a print position for the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Jude Ahne, Miles Edward Anderson, Edmund Hulin James, III, Michael Kelley Webb, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 7517046
    Abstract: A printhead of a mobile telecommunications device with an array of nozzles for printing a media substrate; a capper assembly movable between a capped position coveting the nozzles and an uncapped position spaced from the nozzles; wherein, the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7517080
    Abstract: A hand-held modular printer system is provided for printing a stored image. The printer system includes a memory module in which the image can be stored. A printer module can be releasably interconnected with the memory module. The printer module includes an elongate body defining a transverse print media passage and a printer which is arranged within the body so that the stored image can be printed onto print media which passes through the passage. A print media dispenser module defines a print media outlet and can be releasably interconnected with the printer module so that the outlet is in register with the passage. The dispenser module is configured to store a stack of sheets of print media and includes a dispensing mechanism which can be used to dispense an outermost sheet of the stack through the outlet and into the passage for printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley
  • Publication number: 20090086003
    Abstract: Provided is a hand held personal digital assistant (PDA). The PDA includes body and display sections interconnected via a hinge section, as well as an internal printer arranged in the body section. The internal printer includes a printhead, a motor driver and media transport device arrangement for transporting print media from a roll of print media past the printhead, and a motor driver and guillotine motor arrangement for severing the printed print media from the roll of media. Also included is a microcontroller for controlling the printhead and respective motor driver arrangements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Publication number: 20090073249
    Abstract: Provided is a stamp including a compressible housing having an upper housing portion telescopically receiving a lower housing portion defining an opening. The stamp also includes a printhead and ink cartridge arrangement housed within the lower housing, said printhead displaceable between a protected position within the housing and a printing position in which the printhead is exposed via the opening for printing. Also included is a mechanical arrangement comprising a pair of arms fixed at one end to a top of the printhead and at another end to the upper housing, so that when the upper housing is moved toward the lower housing, the arms move the printhead from the protected position to the printing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20090047997
    Abstract: A telecommunications device includes a printer configured to print visible information and invisible coded data tags on print media. An image sensor is configured to sense the printed data tags. A contact sensor includes a switch that is configured to close through contact so that the image sensor can sense at least one data tag. A controller decodes information relating to the sensed data tag. In one embodiment, the printer includes a replaceable printhead cartridge defining ink supply reservoirs, and a quality assurance integrated circuit is configured to authenticate the integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun
  • Publication number: 20090040286
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus include a handheld printer manipulated by an operator to print an image on a media. A controller correlates a location of a printhead to the image and causes printing or not, including referencing a memory of firing data for fluid firing actuators of the printhead. A position sensor provides input to the controller to assist in navigation. The controller figures an ideal position of a center of an actuator chip, defining the fluid firing actuators, and an actual position during use. Individual fluid firing actuators are known relative to the center by way of a calculated offset. Predicted positions, as well as ascertained velocities and accelerations are other noteworthy aspects. Resolving firing data for actual locations of each actuator is also contemplated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Theresa Joy L. Tan, Eduardo M. Gallofin, JR., Aldrin B. Manlosa, Archibald P. Sayo, Michael D. Stilz
  • Publication number: 20090027476
    Abstract: Provided is a personal digital assistant. A printer is arranged in a body section. The printer includes a printhead, a motor driver and a media transport device arrangement for transporting print media from a roll of print media past the printhead. A motor driver and guillotine motor arrangement sever the printed print media from the roll of media. A microcontroller controls the printhead and respective motor driver arrangements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20090027475
    Abstract: A personal digital assistant (PDA) includes a body housing circuitry and an internal printer. The body bears a keypad and defines a print media ejection slot. A display is pivotally connected to the body about a hinge joint so that the display can be folded over the keypad. A releasable retainer portion is hingedly secured to the body. A print engine is housed within the body. The print engine is configured to transport the print media past the internal printer during printing and out through the print media ejection slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7481528
    Abstract: A digital toy kit includes a picture book and a digital printing toy. At least one of the pages on the picture book includes one or more pictures and words. The digital printing toy includes a frame member that has a cavity, an ink jet printing head that has one or more nozzles, a memory storing a plurality of objects, a display area, a selection button operative to select an object, and a printing control circuit. The ink jet printing head can be activated to move inside the cavity of the frame member when it is pressed against a chosen page on the picture book. The printing control circuit controls the nozzles on ink jet printing head to project an ink pattern on the chosen page on the picture book when the ink jet printing head moves inside the cavity of the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Inventors: Nong-Qiang Fan, Jie Xiao
  • Patent number: 7470021
    Abstract: A hand-held printer includes an elongate body defining an ink ejection slot through which ink can be ejected. An ink cartridge defines a plurality of ink reservoirs for storing respective types of ink. A printhead module defines a plurality of ink distribution channels in fluid communication with respective reservoirs. The printhead module includes a printhead in fluid communication with the ink distribution channels and mounted within the body so that ink can be ejected through the ink ejection slot. A movement sensor is operatively mounted to the printhead module and senses movement of the printhead module along print media so that the printhead module can eject ink responsive to the sensed movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7470019
    Abstract: A mobile device including: (a) an inkjet printhead; (b) a print media feed path for directing print media past the printhead in a feed direction during printing; and (c) a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between: a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead; and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print media, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead; wherein the capper is moved between the capped and uncapped position by an edge of the print media as it moves through the feed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King, Gregory Michael Tow
  • Publication number: 20080316290
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus include a handheld printer manipulated by an operator to print an image on a media. An inkjet printhead and two position sensors front one another in a triangular configuration thereby providing a large printable area compared to the prior art. A frame commonly mounts the printhead and sensors and is biased to keep an acceptable paper to printer gap during use. A forward opening door accepts the printhead before printing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Daniel Brown, Gary Lee Noe, William Henry Reed
  • Patent number: 7466444
    Abstract: A mobile telecommunications device comprising: a first receiver for receiving signals from a mobile telephony system; a first transmitter for transmitting signals over the mobile telephony system; and a sylus allowing the user to use the mobile telecommunications device as a writing or drawing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7465109
    Abstract: A hand held personal digital assistant is provided having body and display sections interconnected via a hinge section, a pagewidth inkjet printhead disposed in the body section, and a supply of print media disposed in the hinge section. By disposing the print media supply in the hinge, a fully functional in-built printer is provided whilst making the personal digital assistance compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7461934
    Abstract: A compressible stamp includes a housing. The housing has two parts which are moveable with respect to each other. One of the parts defines an opening. A selector switch is arranged on the housing and is configured to select indicia to be printed. A printhead is movably mounted within the housing. Responsive to relative movement between the two parts during compression of the housing, the printhead is able to move across the opening to print the selected indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7461985
    Abstract: A hand operated marking device is provided for printing upon print media. The marking device includes a pair of housings which are movably interconnected together so that a first one of the housings is further received within a second one of the housings responsive to compression of the housings between a hand and the print media. A printer is located within the first housing and includes a movable printhead configured to print ink. A selector arrangement is operatively mounted to the second housing and enables selection of an indicia, from a plurality of possible indicia, to be printed by the printhead. A moving mechanism is housed within at least one of the housings and moves the printhead along the print media responsive to the compression of the housings so that the selected indicia is printed upon the print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080296391
    Abstract: Various embodiments relating to a modular marking apparatus and method are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Gregory J. May, Anthony D. Studer, Gary G. Lutnesky, Kevin E. Swier
  • Patent number: 7458678
    Abstract: A body is provided for a portable computational device. The body includes a housing bearing a control panel to control the operation of the portable computational device. The body defines a print media exit slot, and a bay located opposite the exit slot. A print engine is mounted relative to the housing and is configured to receive a print roll cartridge so that the print roll cartridge is received within the bay. The print roll cartridge stores ink and print media. The print engine includes an elongate printhead arranged to print the ink onto the print media. A feed arrangement is configured to feed the print media from the print roll cartridge, in register with the printhead during printing, and out through the exit slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080291258
    Abstract: An elongate hand-held printer device for printing on a medium when a user moves said device over the medium. The device includes an upper and a lower moulding configured to complementarily receive each other to define a housing, said housing defining an ink ejection slot along, and a printhead module housed in the housing. The module has a plurality of micro-electromechanical ejection devices for operatively ejecting ink via the ink ejection slot. The device also includes an ink supply cartridge housed in the housing, the cartridge for supplying the printhead module with ink, as well as an optical encoder wheel to facilitate regulation of a printing rate of the printhead module as the device is moved along the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7448746
    Abstract: A hand held personal digital assistant including: memory for storing information; a display; a pagewidth print head; a processor for processing information to generate dot data and supply it to the printhead; a receptacle including an ink interface, the receptacle being configured to receive a cartridge containing at least one ink, the ink being supplied to the printhead via the ink interface; a user interface configured to enable; retrieval of the information from the memory for display on the display; printing of the displayed information; and input of further information for storage, display and printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7448748
    Abstract: A cartridge for a pen-like modular printing device is provided. The printing device includes a chassis defining a print media feed path, a feed mechanism to feed said media along the feed path, a feed path width printhead for printing on said media, and a controller for controlling the feed mechanism and printhead. The cartridge defines at least one ink reservoir which is operatively arranged in fluid communication with the printhead via ink channels defined in the chassis. The cartridge further has an integrated circuit for monitoring ink levels in the reservoir, with the integrated circuit operatively arranged in signal communication with the controller. The cartridge is shaped and configured to be received in the pen-like chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7448747
    Abstract: A hand held personal digital assistant including: memory for storing information; a display; a pagewidth print head; a processor for processing information to generate dot data and supply it to the printhead; a receptacle including an ink interface, the receptacle being configured to receive a cartridge containing at least one ink, the ink being supplied to the printhead via the ink interface; a user interface configured to enable; retrieval of the information from the memory for display on the display; printing of the displayed information; and input of further information for storage, display and printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7445394
    Abstract: A pen-like device includes a tubular body and a replaceable cartridge configured to be received within the body. The cartridge includes an ink supply, in turn, including a tube defining a plurality of internal chambers containing respective types of ink. A stylus nib is configured to retract into the body when pressed upon print media. A printhead is mounted in fluid communication with the ink supply and is configured to print ink upon the print media responsive to retraction of the stylus nib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7441885
    Abstract: A portable device for viewing and printing digital photo images is provided which has a digital storage device for storing digital photo images, a display screen for displaying the digitally stored images, and a printer having a pagewidth ink jet print head for printing the digitally stored images onto print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7441969
    Abstract: A printing apparatus comprising an outer case having a cylindrical inner surface, an inner case inside the outer case and having a cylindrical outer surface facing and spaced by a predetermined distance from the cylindrical inner surface of the outer case; a paper path formed between the inner surface of the outer case and the outer surface of the inner case; a paper feed unit feeding a sheet of paper along the paper path; a printing unit rotatably mounted inside and about a central axis of the inner case; and a rotating unit rotating the printing unit. The length and width of the printing apparatus is less than the length and width of the sheet of paper, thereby providing true compactness and portability without sacrificing print quality. Continuous rotating printing unit provides significant increase in print speed without sacrificing print quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heui-keun Choh, Gee-young Sung
  • Publication number: 20080259148
    Abstract: A fluid-ejection device includes a handheld and/or mountable enclosure, a removable tip having a fluid-ejection mechanism, a first fitting extending from the enclosure and receptive to placement of the removable tip thereon, and a controller situated within the enclosure to cause the removable tip to eject the fluid. The fluid-ejection device may also include tip-extension assembly having an electrical cable connecting to the controller and having a second fitting receptive to placement of the removable tip thereon. The electrical cable permits the removable tip to be located substantially independently of the enclosure. The fluid-ejection device may further include tubings fluidically couplable with the removable tip through at least one of the first and second fittings to provide fluid to the removable tip and to regulate backpressure of the fluid within the removable tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Nielsen, Blair M. Kent, George Melchiorsen, Paul E. Watts, Paul Joseph Bruinsma
  • Publication number: 20080259149
    Abstract: The invention provides a monolithic fluid injection device and method for fabricating and operating thereof. The device comprises a substrate and a structural layer disposed thereon to form a fluid chamber therebetween for storing a fluid therein. The device further comprises a liquid level control unit formed on the structural layer and a nozzle passed through the liquid level control unit and structural layer to communicate with the fluid chamber. The liquid level control unit adjusts liquid level of fluid in the nozzle to eject a droplet with various volume and direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: QISDA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chung-Cheng Chou, Wai Wang
  • Publication number: 20080262719
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for a handheld image translation device are described herein. The handheld image translation device may include a position module to determine positioning information including both translation and rotation information based at least in part on captured navigational measurements. A print module of the handheld image translation device may cause print forming substances to be deposited based at least in part on the positioning information. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: James D. Bledsoe, James Mealy, Asher Simmons
  • Publication number: 20080246827
    Abstract: Provided is a modular pen-shaped imaging and printing assembly, the assembly having imaging and printing modules operatively linked via a serial bus interface through male and female connectors of each module. The assembly includes a timer module having a chassis molding, an LCD mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) within the chassis molding, and a microcontroller mounted on the PCB for managing timing functions. Also included is a control button via which a user is able to instruct the microcontroller to increment of decrement timing units maintained by the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley
  • Patent number: 7431519
    Abstract: A portable electronic device and associated charging stand assembly where the portable electronic device has an inbuilt printer and the associated charging stand recharges the device battery and refills the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7431449
    Abstract: A mobile telecommunications device comprising: a first transmitter for transmitting signals over a mobile telephony system, and a first receiver for receiving signals from a mobile telephony system; a first monochrome image sensor device for sensing coded data and for outputting raw data based on said sensed data; and a transmitter controller operable to control the first transmitter to transmit output data based at least partially on said sensed data via the mobile telephony system to a computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun, Tobin Allen King
  • Publication number: 20080238971
    Abstract: Methods for selecting elements of information displayed on a computer screen for printing by a hand-held printer that preferably incorporates the capability of a computer mouse to more efficiently capture and print such information thereby minimizing the time and effort required for printing such information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Brian Dale Cook, Douglas Laurence Robertson, Barry Baxter Stout
  • Publication number: 20080231682
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus include a handheld printer manipulated by an operator to print an image on a media. A controller correlates a location of a printhead to the image and causes printing or not. A position sensor provides input to the controller. Its signal typifies pixels in a matrix frame indicating a current position frame and, over time, a previous position frame. The controller compares the two frames to find a presence of the previous in the current. To improve computational efficiency, the controller reduces a relative size of both frames before comparing. Specific reduction techniques contemplate converting a matrix frame of pixels indicative of previous and current locations into smaller matrices, including one-dimensional forms. Possible search areas within the current frame to look for the previous frame utilize knowledge about the movement history of the printer. Position sensor signal validity and controller architectures are other noteworthy features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Michelin de la Pefia Grandeza, Vincent Peter Crisostomo Valentus, William Henry Reed
  • Patent number: 7422384
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a protective case, a media source disposed in the protective case, the media source supplying an image receptive media, an encoder configured to detect an advancement of the image receptive media, and a pen coupled to the protective case, the pen including an immovable print head configured to deposit ink onto the image receptive media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development, L.P.
    Inventors: Wesley Schalk, Mike M. Morrow
  • Publication number: 20080198215
    Abstract: A printing device (1) is provided having a housing (2) and an inkjet printing head (3) which is arranged therein. The printing device is used to print electronically stored data, for example in an internal device memory, on a printing area. The inkjet printing head (3) can be displaced in relation to a printing area in a direction of printing and can be arranged fixed or adjustable in the housing (2) in relation therewith, such that no separate drive is required for advancement thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: ERNST REINER GMBH & CO. KG FEINMECHANIK UND APPARA
    Inventors: Guido Nopper, Klaus Stebinger, Hans-Jurgen Scherzinger
  • Patent number: 7399129
    Abstract: A hand-operated printer includes a body. A printhead is mounted to the body. A display device is mounted to the body, and a user interface is communicatively coupled to the display device. The user interface provides a user input to the display device that is based on movement of the hand-operated printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: John Thomas Writt
  • Patent number: 7393098
    Abstract: A writing instrument comprising a liquid spray head and a processor unit serving to activate the spray head. The instrument further comprises measurement means for measuring the distance between the spray head and the medium, and movement detector means, the processor unit being adapted to activate the liquid spray head when at least the measurement means determine that the distance between the spray head and the medium is less than a predetermined maximum value, the processor unit also being adapted to manage activation of the spray head as a function of the movement detected by the movement detector means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Société BIC
    Inventors: Xavier Bich, Alain Rosenzweig, Kurt Rath
  • Patent number: 7387383
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is featured with excellent operability of storage at the time of non-use, as well as excellent operability of charging the battery, in addition to such advantages as thin and battery-driven, and preferably suitable for portable use. A cradle provided for this image forming apparatus functions as a placement stand when an ink jet printer, which is provided with a battery charger mounted thereon, is inserted in the direction designated appropriately at the time of non-use. When the ink jet printer having the battery charger thus mounted thereon is contained in the cradle, the contact point portion of the battery charger and the contact terminal portion of the cradle are electrically connected. Therefore, the battery incorporated in the battery charger is charged when the AC adopter cable is inserted into the CDL-DCin jack of the cradle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Kan, Yasufumi Tanaami
  • Patent number: 7385713
    Abstract: A hand-held modular camera assembly includes a camera module configured to capture an image. A printer module is configured to print the captured image upon one or more sheets of print media. A dispenser module is configured to be releasably attached to the printer module. The dispenser module is configured to hold a stack of the sheets of print media. Furthermore, the dispenser module includes a manual feed mechanism to feed an outermost sheet of print media from the stack and to the printer module for printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley, Paul Lapstun