Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a paper tray for holding print media; a pick roller for moving the print media through a paper transport path; and an encoder disk, which senses motion of the print media, disposed in the paper transport path and in direct contact with the print media as the print media passes through the paper transport path.

Abstract: A method for forming a reservoir for holding ink in an ink tank, the method includes providing a housing; inserting a spring into the housing such that a first end of the spring contacts a back wall of the housing; placing a first surface of a plate against a second end of the spring; bringing a flexible sheet into contact with an edge of a side wall of the housing; welding the flexible sheet to the edge of the side wall of the housing while applying a first level of vacuum between the flexible sheet and the back wall of the housing; and applying heat to the flexible sheet in a region corresponding to the plate while applying a second level of vacuum between the flexible sheet and the back wall of the housing, wherein the second level of vacuum is greater than the first level.

Abstract: A large-size face is immediately detected from a subject image. An image processing circuit of an imaging device detects a human face from a subject image and performs AWB, AE, and AF. The image processing circuit has processing for detecting a relatively-large-size face, processing for detecting a relatively-medium-size face, and processing for detecting a relatively-small-size face. When detecting a face, the image processing circuit first repeats, a plurality of times, processing for detecting a relatively-large-size face and outputting a detection result; performs processing for detecting a relatively-medium-size face and outputting a detection result; repeats, a plurality of times, processing for detecting a relatively-large-size face and outputting a detection result; and subsequently performs processing for detecting a relatively-small-size face and outputting a detection result.

Abstract: A die-mount substrate for at least one inkjet printhead die, the die-mount substrate includes a die mount surface; an ink receiving surface opposite the die mount surface; at least one latchable projection extending from a first end wall which is disposed between the die mount surface and the ink receiving surface; at least one extension from a second end wall opposite the first end wall; and a plurality of ink passageways extending from the ink receiving surface to the die mount surface.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a carriage guide including a carriage guide direction; an inkjet nozzle array that is movable back and forth along the carriage guide direction; an ink tank for providing ink to the inkjet nozzle array; and a holding receptacle for the ink tank, the holding receptacle includes a base surface for supporting the ink supply, the base surface including a first end and a second end that is opposite the first end; a latch including a latching member proximate the first end of the base surface for retaining the ink tank in the holding receptacle; and a wall that includes an ink inlet port configured to receive ink from the ink tank, wherein the wall is proximate the second end of the base surface.

Abstract: A method for monitoring relative position of a carriage and a recording medium in an inkjet printing system having a roller for advancing the recording medium along a recording medium advance direction, the method includes sending light from a light source toward at least a portion of the roller; receiving reflected light in a two-dimensional sensor mounted on the carriage; sending a signal from the two-dimensional sensor to a controller, wherein the signal indicates the pattern of reflected light received by the two-dimensional sensor; comparing the received signal by the controller to a signal stored in memory; and calculating a shift between the received signal and the signal stored in memory.

Abstract: An ink tank for an inkjet printer includes a first end wall having an ink outlet port; a second end wall opposite the first end wall; a first sidewall that extends a first length from the first end wall to the second end wall; a second sidewall that extends a second length from the first end wall, wherein the second length is less than the first length; and a connecting wall that forms a recess and that connects the second end wall and the second sidewall.

Abstract: A method for selectively sequencing the rendering of an image for a print system includes determining a status field indicator for media type used in the print system; and pre-rendering an image according to the status field indicator, when the status field indicator includes a recognized media type. Additionally, the method identifies media type of a sheet of recording media that the image will be printed upon before rendering the image, when the status field indicator is absent of any recognized media type.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes (a) a media support defining a surface; (b) an inkjet printhead oriented to eject ink toward a print region proximate the defined surface; (c) a carriage that is movable along a carriage scan direction; (d) a monitor for tracking the position of the carriage; (e) a light source directed toward the defined surface; (f) a light sensing device mounted on the movable carriage; and (g) an energy supply that provides a time-varying energy as a function of the position of the light sensing device relative to the light source in order to provide substantially uniform illumination from the light source toward a field of view of the light sensing device.

Abstract: A printing device includes a first array of dot forming elements disposed on a substrate along an array direction at a first array-direction spacing to provide a first dot forming resolution R1 for dots of a first color; and a group of N arrays of dot forming elements, wherein the dot forming elements in each array of the group of N arrays are disposed on the substrate along the array direction at a second array-direction spacing to provide a dot forming resolution equal to R1/N; at least one of the N arrays of dot forming elements forms dots of a different color than at least one of the other arrays of the N arrays in the group; and N is greater than 1.

Abstract: A seal for at least one outlet port of an ink tank, the seal includes a seal member; and a seal retainer further includes a housing for the seal member; a first attachment member on a first side of the housing; a second attachment member on a second side of the housing, the second side being opposite the first side; a handle including a free end and a hinged end opposite the free end; and a hinge member disposed between the housing and the hinged end of the handle.

Abstract: A method for providing uniform or substantially uniform illumination to a field of view of a light sensing device that is moving with respect to a light source, the method comprises the steps of (a) providing an inkjet printhead to eject ink for printing; (b) providing a monitor to track the position of the light sensing device relative to the light source; and (c) providing an energy supply that provides a time-varying energy as a function of the position of the light sensing device relative to the light source in a manner that provides substantially uniform illumination from the light source toward a field of view of the light sensing device.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a media support defining a surface; an inkjet printhead oriented to eject ink toward the defined surface; a carriage that is movable along a carriage scan direction; a light source directed at the defined surface and positioned on a first side of the defined plane to provide an illuminated portion of the plane extending substantially along the carriage scan direction; a light sensing device mounted on the movable platform on a second side of the defined plane that is opposite the first side, which sensing device functions to sense media type by sensing light emitted from the light source and transmitted across the defined plane and to light sensing device; memory for storing patterns representing particular media types; and a processor for comparing signals from the light sensor to patterns stored in the memory in order to identify media type.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly for use in an inkjet printer, the inkjet printhead assembly includes an array of nozzles disposed along a nozzle array direction; an ink chamber including an ink outlet that is fluidly connected to the array of nozzles; and an air-permeable membrane positioned in the ink chamber at an angle that is inclined relative to the nozzle array direction.

Abstract: A method of controlling in a printer the maintenance of an inkjet printhead supplied with fluid from a plurality of fluid sources, the method includes the steps of (a) monitoring the usage of the plurality of fluid sources; (b) identifying a preferred fluid source for use in a maintenance operation based on the monitored usage of the plurality of fluid sources; and (c) performing the maintenance operation using a first quantity of fluid from the preferred fluid source.

Abstract: A printhead frame for an inkjet printhead assembly, the printhead frame includes a holding receptacle for at least one replaceable ink tank, the holding receptacle including a plurality of ink inlet ports disposed on a first wall; a plurality of ink chambers corresponding to the plurality of ink inlet ports, wherein at least a first ink chamber is adjacent the first wall and is directly opposite a first ink inlet port, a second ink chamber is not adjacent the first wall, and the first wall includes a first hole to fluidly connect the first ink inlet port and the first ink chamber; and a second wall adjoining the first wall and forming a part of the second ink chamber, the second wall including a first groove; wherein the first wall includes a second hole to fluidly connect a second ink inlet port and the first groove; and wherein the second wall includes a first hole to fluidly connect the second ink chamber and the first groove.

Abstract: A printed wiring member includes a dielectric substrate; a patterned copper layer formed on the dielectric substrate. The patterned copper layer includes i) contact pads for wire bonding; ii) connector pads for making electrical connection with an electrical connector; and iii) conductor traces between contact pads and corresponding connector pads. A nickel coating is formed on the contact pads and the connector pads, and a gold layer is formed on the nickel coating on the contact pads and the connector pads. A palladium deposit is formed on the gold layer on at least the connector pads.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system includes a roller for advancing a recording medium along a recording medium advance direction; an inkjet printhead that ejects drops of ink; a carriage for moving the printhead along a carriage scan direction that is substantially perpendicular or perpendicular to the recording medium advance direction; one or more motors for driving the roller and moving the carriage; a two-dimensional sensor mounted on the carriage which two-dimensional sensor is configured to sense either: a) the recording medium; b) the roller and the recording medium; or c) the roller; and a controller for receiving electrical signals from the two-dimensional sensor and for controlling the one or more motors.

Abstract: A detachably mountable ink tank for an inkjet printhead, the ink tank includes a housing for enclosing a reservoir for liquid ink; a rim extending outwardly from the housing; an ink supply port enclosed within the rim; and an ink fill port enclosed within the rim, wherein the ink fill port is configured to receive an ink fill tube to provide liquid ink to the reservoir.

Abstract: The method includes forming first size drops by applying drop forming pulses during a unit time period ?0; forming second size drops by applying drop forming pulses during a second size drop time period, ?m, which is a multiple, m, of the unit time period; forming the corresponding plurality of drop forming energy pulse sequences so as to form non-print drops and print drops; delaying the timing of the drop forming energy pulses sent to the transducers of the second group relative to the drop forming energy pulses sent to the transducers of the first group by a delay time ?L, characterized by ?L being equal to d*?0 where d is 1½ to 9½, when printing at a first speed and ?L is approximately equal to f*?0 times where f is 1½ to 9½, f is greater than d when printing at a speed slower than the first speed.