Abstract: Thermal printheads need a power and/or a data cable to deliver energy to the thermal printhead to print. With a wireless thermal printhead, however, a printer can run without using a power or a data cable. By removing the cable, benefits include shrinking the printer size, increasing durability of the printer and making it easier to change a thermal printhead.

Abstract: A printer that includes systems for detecting transparent medium may include a medium dispenser for transporting print medium along a transport pathway to a print station which receives the print medium. Transmitters and receivers may be positioned on opposite sides of the transport pathway for scanning the print medium with a light beam. The sensor arrangement may be configured to detect deflection of the light beam when a transparent print medium is transported on the transport pathway between the transmitter and the receiver. The results of the scan may be communicated to a controller to facilitate proper print settings.

Abstract: Printing a graphic media product is described. The media product has an indicia marked on a media substrate. An installation of a supply of the media substrate is detected. A sensor is activated based on the detection of the installation. The activated sensor measures a width of the installed media substrate. A center position of the media substrate is computed based on the measured width. The marking of the indicia upon the media substrate is aligned relative to the computed center position of the media substrate.

Abstract: A print media holder device has first and second grip members. Permanent magnets are attached to the first and second grip members. An electromagnet is disposed between the first and second grip members, where when the electromagnet is selectively energized the permanent magnets attached to the first and second grip members are repelled in a manner that increases the outer dimension of the print media holder device to grip a media core.

Abstract: A method for evaluating an output pattern printed on a medium is described. A reference pattern is stored. The output pattern is printed on the medium based correspondingly on the stored reference pattern. A scan based instance of the output pattern is rendered, which has a set of features at least corresponding to the printed output pattern and zero or more features additional thereto. A difference image, having the zero or more features of the rendered scan instance, is computed based on a comparison of the rendered scan instance to the stored reference pattern. Upon the zero or more features including at least one feature, the computed difference image is evaluated in relation to a proximity of at least one feature to locations pixels of the reference pattern.

Abstract: Printing a graphic media product is described. The media product has an indicia marked on a media substrate. An installation of a supply of the media substrate is detected. A sensor is activated based on the detection of the installation. The activated sensor measures a width of the installed media substrate. A center position of the media substrate is computed based on the measured width. The marking of the indicia upon the media substrate is aligned relative to the computed center position of the media substrate.

Abstract: Printing a graphic media product is described. The media product has an indicia marked on a media substrate. An installation of a supply of the media substrate is detected. A sensor is activated based on the detection of the installation. The activated sensor measures a width of the installed media substrate. A center position of the media substrate is computed based on the measured width. The marking of the indicia upon the media substrate is aligned relative to the computed center position of the media substrate.

Abstract: A label printing device and method include a proportional-integral-derivative controller and a variable speed printer motor. The variable speed printer motor is connected to the proportion-integral-derivative controller, and has an automatically optimized printing speed determined by a print duration history of one or more previously completed print jobs.

Abstract: A system and method for printing an indicia on a graphic medium is described. A print mechanism is operable for marking multiple printouts of the indicia at a target position on the graphic medium, and for outputting a printed media product. The printed media product has a first output group of the marked printouts, and continuous with the output of the first group of printouts, at least one output group of the printouts marked subsequent to the first output group. A controller is operable for adjusting the print mechanism in response to an input related to an evaluation of the printouts marked on the first output group. The adjustment conforms a position at which the printouts are marked in the at least one subsequent output group spatially to the target position.

Abstract: A guided barcode printer diagnostic and servicing system and method includes a software application for a smart phone that simplifies the process of detecting problems with and servicing a malfunctioning barcode printer. Illustrated, audible, and/or written instructions prompt the user to obtain photographs, video recordings, and/or audio samples of the malfunctioning printer. Data processing algorithms extract diagnostic data from the photographs, video recordings, and/or audio samples. The diagnostic data is compared to known printer problem data stored in a database. If a potential problem is identified, a likely repair solution is presented with easy-to-follow servicing instructions. If a potential problem is not identified, additional troubleshooting steps are performed by the user, if needed, until the barcode printer is fixed or it is determined that a skilled service technician is needed.

Abstract: A method for evaluating an output pattern printed on a medium is described. A reference pattern is stored. The output pattern is printed on the medium based correspondingly on the stored reference pattern. A scan based instance of the output pattern is rendered, which has a set of features at least corresponding to the printed output pattern and zero or more features additional thereto. A difference image, having the zero or more features of the rendered scan instance, is computed based on a comparison of the rendered scan instance to the stored reference pattern. Upon the zero or more features including at least one feature, the computed difference image is evaluated in relation to a proximity of at least one feature to locations pixels of the reference pattern.

Abstract: A print media holder device has first and second grip members. Permanent magnets are attached to the first and second grip members. An electromagnet is disposed between the first and second grip members, where when the electromagnet is selectively energized the permanent magnets attached to the first and second grip members are repelled in a manner that increases the outer dimension of the print media holder device to grip a media core.

Abstract: A method for evaluating an output pattern printed on a medium is described. A reference pattern is stored. The output pattern is printed on the medium based correspondingly on the stored reference pattern. A scan based instance of the output pattern is rendered, which has a set of features at least corresponding to the printed output pattern and zero or more features additional thereto. A difference image, having the zero or more features of the rendered scan instance, is computed based on a comparison of the rendered scan instance to the stored reference pattern. Upon the zero or more features including at least one feature, the computed difference image is evaluated in relation to a proximity of at least one feature to locations pixels of the reference pattern.

Abstract: A piezoelectric tactile input device and method in a computing environment. An embodiment disclosed herein includes a touch screen having several piezoelectric regions within a piezoelectric material layer that may generate a voltage when deformed in a localized area. The piezoelectric layer may be disposed between sensor layers of rows and columns of sensor traces for detecting the voltage generated at any particular piezoelectric region. The detected voltage signals may then be used to extrapolate the position of the localized area in which the piezoelectric layer was deformed (e.g., from a finger touch or a stylus). Further, because the piezoelectric layer generates a greater voltage in the presence of a greater pressure, the device may further decipher a relative level of force for the tactile input on the touch screen and detect multiple touch locations.

Abstract: A radio-frequency identification (RFID) system includes an RFID tag, an RFID reader, and a controller. The RFID reader employs a plurality of phase-offset or phase-diverse channels to improve detection of data transmitted from the RFID tag to the RFID reader. A controller selects the channel that provides the best signal-to-noise ratio and decodes the data provided by the RFID tag using the selected channel.

Abstract: A computing device that includes at least one input/output device automatically configures itself based on acquired data the represents a geographic position of the computing device. The computing device acquires environment identification data and performs at least one of a configuration command and a power state command on the input/output device based on the acquired environment identification data.

Abstract: A printer capable of operation with linered and/or liner-less media. Powder coated media surfaces, a silicone platen roller and tear-off blade are either designed into the media path or retrofitted into a linered media capable printer. To remove the requirement for realignment between the media path extrusion and the print head a media path extrusion cover designed to snap on to the media path extrusion is utilized.

Abstract: A scanning device has a field-replaceable antenna provided in a door/antenna module. The housing of the device has an outer shell defining an interior space and an access opening extending through the shell and communicating with the space. The door is removably secured to an outer surface of the shell and covers the access opening. An antenna is carried by the door and has a cable extending therefrom into the space. The cable has an outer end with a connector configured to engage a component located in the space. The door is attached to the shell by means of a pair of screw fasteners. The antenna may be externally and pivotally mounted on the door or mounted internally in the door. Preferably, the door has a gasket that seals against an outer surface of the shell to seal the access opening.

Abstract: An ejector is operable to move an ejector member against a data card in engagement with a connector to move the card along a pathway into an ejected position out of engagement with the connector. A latch member is mounted on the connector and has a blocking portion with a latch position in which it extends into the pathway to block movement of the card. The ejector includes a slide button that engages a lever to pivot the lever so that one end of the lever pushes on the card to push the card toward its ejected position. The positive latch action of the latch member prevents such movement unless the latch member is disengaged. The latch member preferably includes a leaf spring having a spring force that resists movement of its free outer end from a blocking position. A projection on the spring may be engaged to depress the spring into an unlatch position.