Patents Represented by Attorney R. Hutter

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  • Operation scheduling system for a digital printing apparatus, where new constraints can be added
    Patent number: 6097500
    Abstract: A scheduling system determines the order of specific operations in a printing apparatus which is capable of outputting simplex or duplex prints. If the actuation of a module associated with the apparatus, such as stapling or switching paper supplies, requires a delay in the operation of the apparatus, this delay is entered as at least one deliberately blank pitch in the schedule. The scheduling system creates a special finite state machine which can take into account delays of arbitrary length caused by the actuation of one or more modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Markus P. J. Fromherz
  • Network print server with page-parallel decomposing
    Patent number: 6084688
    Abstract: A network printing system is available to a large population of users submitting jobs thereto at random times. The system includes a first decomposer facility, such as for PostScript.TM. or PDF interpretation, and a second decomposer facility, such as for PCL interpretation. The first decomposer facility is capable of parallel interpretation of multiple page images within a job, while the second decomposer facility may not be. A buffer manager arbitrates the operation of the decomposer facilities, so that page images of different page description languages or other image formats are processed optimally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Nan M. Stumbo, Mark R. Reinhart, Naveed Ismail, Chien-kuo E. Chuang, Khanh P. Dinh, Jim I. Benjamin
  • Guarding for a CMOS photosensor chip
    Patent number: 6066883
    Abstract: In a CMOS-based photosensor chip, the area between the last photosensor in a linear array of photosensors and the edge of the chip can be a source of unintended charge generation affecting the last photosensor. A guardring, in the form of a biased diffusion area, prevents the unwanted leakage of charge from the edge area to the end photosensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Hosier, Jagdish C. Tandon, Scott L. Tewinkle
  • Thermal ink-jet printhead with lateral thermal insulation for the heating elements
    Patent number: 6039436
    Abstract: In an ejector for a thermal ink-jet printhead, a heating element exposing an area to liquid ink in the printhead includes an insulative layer around the lateral edges thereof, particularly those edges not having conductors associated therewith. This insulation creates a more uniform temperature distribution over the heating area, resulting in a uniform nucleation of a vapor bubble within the liquid ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Andrews, Peter A. Torpey, Cathie J. Burke, Eduardo M. Freire
  • System for removing color bleed in a television image adapted for digital printing
    Patent number: 6031581
    Abstract: An image data modification technique addresses certain image defects characteristic of still images derived from original video sources, such as television or videotape. Color bleeding, caused by an inability of chrominance signals to change from pixel to pixel as quickly as luminance signals, is addressed by processing the chrominance signal to have slopes closer to a change in the luminance signal for the same small area of the image. The technique can be employed on the image data for a single frame of video image, and does not require information from previous or subsequent frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Harrington
  • Centralized print server for interfacing one or more network clients with a plurality of printing devices
    Patent number: 6020973
    Abstract: A method for use with a printing system of a type in which one or more clients communicate with a plurality of printers by way of a network and print server is provided. The print server includes a communications layer with a plurality of connectivity modules, and each of the connectivity modules communicates with at least one of the plurality of printers. The method includes the steps of generating a document processing function call in the print server, in response to a request from one of the one or more clients, and selecting one of the plurality of connectivity modules. In turn, the document processing function call is transmitted to the selected one of the plurality of connectivity modules; and, in response to analyzing the document processing function call with the communications interface, a set of information is obtained with the selected connectivity module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Levine, Barry G. Gombert, James L. Mayer
  • System for managing fuser modules in a digital printing apparatus
    Patent number: 6016409
    Abstract: A fuser module, being a fuser subsystem installable in a xerographic printing apparatus, includes an electronically-readable memory permanently associated therewith. The control system of the printing apparatus reads out codes from the electronically-readable memory at install to obtain parameters for operating the module, such as maximum web use, voltage and temperature requirements, and thermistor calibration parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Beard, Porfirio J. Perez, James F. Smoak, Edward C. Hanzlik, Paul M. Fromm, Ihor Kulbida
  • Ink-jet copier in which an original image is prescanned for optimized printing
    Patent number: 6016205
    Abstract: In a digital copier in which the copies are made with a reciprocating ink-jet printhead, the original image to be copied is pre-scanned at high speed and low resolution, to identify an area in the original image having white space. If the white-space area in the original image is sufficiently large, the action of the printhead can be adapted to skip the corresponding area in the copy sheet in the printing process, thus increasing the overall throughput of the digital copier. An analogous technique can be used to identify non-halftone or non-color portions of an original image, which can be printed with fewer than a maximum number of passes of the printhead over a specific area of the copy sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Morton Silverberg, George J. Roller
  • Exposure control for a raster output scanner in a multicolor electrophotographic printer
    Patent number: 6011576
    Abstract: A system controls the laser-induced discharging of pixel-sized image areas on a photoreceptor in a multi-color xerographic printer where multiple layers of toner are placed on the photoreceptor surface. A light collector, disposed to collect light either reflected from or passing through the photoreceptor, detects conditions in which the laser must pass through one or more layers of previously-placed toner to discharge the photoreceptor. When such a condition is detected, the system increases either the intensity or exposure duration of the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: James J. Appel
  • Workflow management system wherein ad-hoc process instances can be generalized
    Patent number: 6003011
    Abstract: In workflow management software, task objects describing a successfully-completed workflow process instance are copied. The copied task objects are then generalized in the relevant variables thereof, so that the entire workflow process is thus generalized for direct re-use in an amended workflow process definition. In this way, ad-hoc amendments to the workflow process, such as those initiated by the persons who collaborate in the work process, can be easily incorporated into a new work process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Sunil K. Sarin, Alexis Layton
  • Xerographic fuser module with integral sheet decurler
    Patent number: 6002913
    Abstract: A fuser module for a compact printer or copier includes therein a decurler which shares a common drive means with the fuser rolls. The decurler comprises a set of deformable rollers disposed on a decurling roll, the total length of deformable rollers being less than 25% of the effective length of the decurling roll. The module pivots open for jam clearance from either the fuser rolls or decurler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Pawlik, Michael E. Piccirilli, Robert G. Pirwitz, Dennis N. Muck, Dan Salotto
  • System for organizing codes representing selectable colors in a digital printing apparatus
    Patent number: 5995716
    Abstract: In a color-management system, such as for a color digital printer, digital codes describing combinations of two colors are retained in a specific format. The three primary-color stimuli forming each color of the color pair are described as binary numbers, and the binary numbers are combined to yield a single orderable number. With this format, codes describing color pairs can be readily retained in a searchable table, preferably an AVL-balanced tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Harrington, R. Victor Klassen, Stephen C. Morgana
  • Print image data middle-ware
    Patent number: 5991516
    Abstract: In a digital printing system there is a natural hierarchical relationship to the data representing jobs, documents, pages, and page image data (separations). Instead of grouping data by the imposed hierarchical method, the page image data is organized into "bursts," a burst being defined as a series of page images which can be printed without requiring that the digital printer be reconfigured to enable or disable specific printer functions or features. The printer is supplied with a burst whenever a burst is available without regard for job or document boundaries. This method allows the printer to be supplied with image data at optimal speeds and minimizing first-page-out time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Randall M. Desmond, Marc R. Grosso
  • Error diffusion in color printing where an intra-gamut colorant is available
    Patent number: 5982992
    Abstract: In a digital printing apparatus in which primary colorants are selected by an error-diffusion process, a method takes into account situations in which a colorant is selectable from within the gamut defined by certain other primary colorants. In the case of a printer in which, in addition to CMYK colorants, a mid-gray colorant is also selectable, the method avoids the problem in which an error-diffusion algorithm mandates the simulation of colors outside the gamut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Brian L. Waldron
  • System to remove artifacts in a digital image derived from a television signal
    Patent number: 5959683
    Abstract: An image data modification technique addresses certain image defects characteristic of still images derived from original video sources, such as television or videotape. A lack of vertical alignment of pixels in a single frame, causing a "wobble" or "jitter" artifact in the image, is detected and corrected by a series of algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Harrington
  • Ink supply system for a thermal ink-jet printer
    Patent number: 5959649
    Abstract: A system for supplying liquid ink to a thermal ink-jet printing apparatus comprises a housing defining a single chamber having a ventilation port and an outlet port. A medium occupies at least a portion of the chamber, the medium being adapted to retain a quantity of liquid ink. A scavenger member is disposed across the outlet port, providing a capillary force greater than that of the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Dietl, Michael Carlotta
  • Circuit for adapting 4-color image signals to an 8-color digital printing apparatus
    Patent number: 5960161
    Abstract: In an ink-jet printing apparatus, an arrangement of logic gates disposed between a source of rasterized image signals and printing hardware allows real-time conversion of CMYK image signals for application to an ink-jet printhead which is capable of CMY, RGB, and process and pure black outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Bloomberg, Jefferey J. Gauronski
  • System for clearing an image data buffer in a high-speed digital printing apparatus
    Patent number: 5946459
    Abstract: A system for clearing a buffer for holding bitmap data output by a decomposer or interpreter in a digital printing apparatus exploits a decompressor chip. Instead of having the processor directly write blank data into the buffer to clear the buffer, a "buffer clear" software utility sends compressed blank image data to the decompressor chip, which in turn decompresses the blank image and writes the decompressed blank image to the necessary location in the buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: David Plakosh
  • Ink-jet printhead allowing selectable droplet size
    Patent number: 5933166
    Abstract: A thermal ink-jet printhead includes ejectors wherein a heating surface is disposed within a channel retaining liquid ink. The heating element within each ejector includes a converter for converting applied electrical energy to heat energy, and a distributor, for distributing the heat energy over a portion of the heating surface. The structure of the heating element allows the effective area of nucleation within the heating area, the size of which directly affects the volume of the ejected liquid ink droplet, to be varied with voltage and/or pulse width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Andrews, Peter A. Torpey, Cathie J. Burke
  • Shared-data environment in which each file has independent security properties
    Patent number: 5930801
    Abstract: A shared-data system, such as could be used with an intranet or internet, in which a large quantity of files available in a file system are each individually assigned an identification number. This identification number is then converted into a non-location-based URL, such as a simple scalar number, which can be retained in a user's network browser. Further, each file has associated therewith an individual data object, by which an owner of a particular file can specify read and write access to the file. The system enables new users to create their own accounts to access the file system, without causing a general security breach. The use of location-independent URLs to identify files enables individual users to organize the files independently, and also avoids "stale" web links which occur when websites are reorganized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Brian C. Falkenhainer, Mitchell Garnaat