Abstract: A printer has a media transport with a rigid, air-transmissive platen. A movable air-transmissive flexible web overlays the platen. A suction device communicates with the platen to draw air through the web and through the platen such that a sheet of media carried on the web is biased toward the platen. A valve sheet overlays or underlies the platen, and includes a plurality of shut-off elements, each movable in response to temperature changes between a closed position in which the element contacts a portion of the platen to prevent air flow through that portion of the platen, and an open position, in which the element is spaced apart from the platen to admit air to the platen portion. The shut off elements may include resistive heaters and bimetallic strips, so that application of electricity generates heat to flex the strip to an open position.

Abstract: Codeword synchronization and scrambler synchronization in a block-coded serial communications link are accomplished by (i) substituting a specific comma control codeword for a selected codeword value occurring in the output of a scrambler receiving an input data stream, and (ii) using selected polarity-independent bits of the block-coded scrambled bit stream to convey samples of the scrambler state. Inversion of received control codewords indicates polarity inversion somewhere along the link, enabling automatic polarity correction to be applied.

Abstract: A method allows selection of printing features at print time. Upon a user selecting to perform a first print job from an application, a print dialog box is displayed. Upon the user closing the print dialog box without canceling the first print job, a media-type pop-up dialog box is displayed. The media-type pop-up dialog box allows a user to specify which type of media is to be used for printing the first print job. Upon the user changing selection of media-type, print parameters for the first print job are changed. Upon the user closing the media-type pop-up dialog box without canceling the first print job, the first print job is printed.

Abstract: An environmental condition detection system for a hardcopy device, such as an inkjet printing mechanism, includes an environmental condition sensor having an optical property which changes in response to a change in an environmental condition, for instance humidity or temperature. The system also has an optical sensor which detects changes in the optical property and generates a signal for a controller that responds by changing an operating parameter of the hardcopy device. A hard copy device having such a environmental condition detection system is also provided, along with a method of determining an environmental condition within which a hardcopy device is operating.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for calibrating an output from a sensor array in a scanner. The system comprises a processor circuit having a processor and a memory. Stored on the memory and executable by the processor is the scanner calibration logic. The scanner calibration logic comprises logic for determining a minimum dark value for the sensor array, and logic for determining an optimum exposure time of a number of light sources associated with the sensor array. The scanner calibration logic also includes logic for determining a maximum white value for the sensor array at the exposure time, and logic for setting an analog offset based upon the minimum dark value. The scanner calibration logic further comprises logic for setting an analog gain associated with the sensor array based on a sensor output range from the minimum dark value to a maximum white value.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques are disclosed for aligning the operation of the ink jet printhead cartridges of a multiple printhead ink jet swath printer that includes a print carriage that is movable along a horizontal carriage scan axis, (b) first and second ink jet printhead cartridges supported by the movable carriage for printing onto a print media that is selectively movable along a vertical media scan axis, and (c) an optical sensor supported by the movable carriage.

Abstract: A system for and a method of empirically measuring the capacity of multiple servers in a cluster including at least one capacity prober for measuring the load capacity of each server and for forwarding the relative weights to a load balancer for the cluster. During off peak operating hours, one at a time each server in the cluster is taken off line and stress tested to measure the capacity of the server. The remaining servers in the cluster remain on line to service customers. The relative weights for each of the servers are collected and updated in the load balancer. In this way, the operation of the cluster is better optimized.

Abstract: To accurately position printheads (C,M,Y,K) of an inkjet printer 100 in the capping area of their service station (130), the position of service station insert members (e.g. 130K) is determined by an optical sensor (117) detecting a through hole (132K) in the cartridge lid (131), and the separation (j) of the optical sensor and the printheads (e.g. K) is precisely determined. The separation (j) is determined by using the printhead nozzles to print lines (144,146) in the directions of the scan and media axes, scanning the lines with the optical sensor (117), and calculating from the results the separation (j). The results of locating the four reference holes (132C, 132M, 132Y, 132K) of the service station insert members may be averaged.

Abstract: A system for connecting NPN sensors to current sinking inputs of a controller, and connecting PNP sensors to current sourcing inputs of a controller. A sensor output inverter uses back-to-back optoisolators and a voltage divider to generate an output signal at ground voltage when a ten to thirty volt reference voltage is applied to the input, and an output signal at the reference voltage when a ground voltage is applied to the input. The inverter circuit is preferably overmolded or potted in an in-line package using industry-standard three-pin male and female DIN-style connectors as output and input connectors respectively. The reference voltage and ground voltage are supplied to the inverter via these connectors. The sensor output inverter can be connected to a mating termination block, either directly or via cordsets, to form a water-resistant, submersible, sensor termination system.

Abstract: An audio user interface is provided in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate. To facilitate user navigation in the audio field, sound sources are arranged to indicate their location in the audio field relative to a preset reference (such as the user's current facing direction or straight-ahead facing direction) by a corresponding audio indication such as an approximate relative bearing—for example “upper left”. The audio indication given by a sound source is arranged to change dynamically as the sound source and/or the present reference changes position.

Abstract: An audio user interface is provided in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate. The location of each sound source is specified relative to an associated one of multiple audio-field references. The offset of each of these audio-field references relative to a presentation reference is independently controllable whereby to adjust the rendering position of the associated sound sources in the audio field. The offset of each audio-field reference is controlled in response to user input and/or to achieve a particular stabilisation of the associated sound source; this stabilisation may be different for different ones of the audio-field references. One audio-field reference can be dedicated to an audio-cursor sound source. Another audio-field reference can be dedicated to world-stabilised sound sources through which compass direction can be announced.

Abstract: A client computer system is suitable for connection to a data processing network having a controlling system. The controlling system is operable to issue a wake-up request to the client computer system. The wake-up request is issued by means of a wireless connection between the controlling system and the client computer system. The client computer system, on receipt of the wake-up request, powers itself on so as to allow normal operation of the client computer system.

Abstract: There is provided a method for determining the end of life of a pen having a printhead with a plurality of nozzles. The method includes performing a drop detection on the printhead to check if any nozzle of the printhead is malfunctioning and storing the result of the drop detection together with the results of previous drop detections to keep a history of the health status of each nozzle. The method also includes evaluating the history of the health status of each nozzle of the printhead, and deciding whether or not to mark the pen as an end of life pen.

Abstract: Multiple-pass printing is performed with no print medium advance between selected pairs of printing passes. In some embodiments, an entire printing operation (20, 30) can be conducted in one multiple-pass mode. Alternatively, a switch from n-pass to m-pass mode may occur during a printing operation (50, 70, 90) but with a uniform print medium advance throughout. Different printing masks are used for the different stages.

Abstract: A distributed telemetry method is effected by coordinating the taking of readings of a parameter by mobile phone users, the parameter readings being then sent to a service system together with location information on the users. Collating the readings and location information enables a representation to be generated of the geographic variation of the measured parameter. Incentives can be offered to encourage cell phone users to participate in the telemetry method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the correction of planar focus in an electronic still or video camera. The camera includes: a detector array an objective lens arranged to direct optical radiation from an object plane onto the detector the lens defining an optical axis of the camera and the object plane being at an oblique angle to the optical axis movement device to change the relative orientation of the detector with respect to the lens so that the detector and lens may be moved relatively toward or away from each other along the optical axis and also tilted with respect to each other with at least one degree of freedom and focus detection device connected to the detector to detect when a portion of an image falling on the detector is in focus.

Abstract: A fast and economical thermal inkjet printer prints on elongate print media, such as on a strip of paper from a roll, by moving a fluid jet print cartridge a determined dimension longitudinally of the length dimension of the paper strip while printing. In order to print a document that is wider than the width the print cartridge can print in a single scan of the paper, the cartridge is dithered among selected lateral positions within the width of the paper strip, and successively is scanned lengthwise of the paper strip to print in each successive longitudinal printing “swath.” A capstan of the printer advances the paper strip in steps of unit dimension along the length of the paper strip, which unit dimension may be substantially equal to the determined dimension of print cartridge movement while printing, so that documents having a length greater than the determined dimension can be printed in successive parts each of a length equal to this unit dimension.