Patents Examined by Benjamin R. Fuller
  • Patent number: 6729710
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus for effecting recording on a recording material by ejecting ink through a plurality of ejection outlets in units of band with relative scanning movement between a recording head and the recording material, the ink jet recording apparatus, includes obtaining means for obtaining scanning interval information relating to time period required for recording a connecting portion between a band of a certain scan of the recording head and a band of the next scan of the recording head; and reducing means for reducing an amount of the ink shot to a neighborhood of the connecting portion on the basis of the scanning interval information obtained by the obtaining means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Chikuma, Naoji Otsuka, Tsutomu Takahashi, Kiichiro Takahashi, Hitoshi Nishikori
  • Patent number: 6705691
    Abstract: In an ink-jet printing method and ink-jet printer for printing an image on a printing medium by driving print elements of a printhead and ejecting ink in accordance with an image signal, the timing of driving the plurality of print elements of the printhead is divided into a plurality of timings, and print elements, of the plurality of print elements, which are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance are selected as one group at each of the plurality of timings. The print elements belonging to the selected group are energized and driven. The dispersed print elements are changed a predetermined period of time after the driving, and the changed print elements are driven. This driving operation is repeatedly executed for all the print elements of the printhead to print an image corresponding to the image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Yamane, Yutaka Koizumi
  • Patent number: 6692111
    Abstract: An electrical interconnect for an inkjet printhead comprising an ink-ejecting semiconductor die is described. The ink-ejecting die further comprises a substrate having an opposing upper surface, lower surface, and a thin film stack. The upper surface of the substrate is beveled on at least one edge such that a lower portion of the bevel is below an upper portion of the bevel. A conductive material trace is disposed on top of at least a portion of the upper surface and the thin film stack and on the bevel towards the lower portion of the bevel. An electrical conductor is coupled to the conductive material trace at a predetermined location below the upper portion of the bevel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Timothy E. Beerling, Marvin G. Wong, Wan Sin Ng, Juliana Arifin, Jiansan Sun, Arief Budiman Suriadi, Naoto Kawamura
  • Patent number: 6688738
    Abstract: Methods for reducing cavitation in impulse or drop on demand ink jetting devices are provided. Impulse ink jet compositions including antioxidant are also provided which are suitable for printing clear, well-defined alphanumeric text or low spread, narrow bar width bar codes on porous substrates such as Kraft paper or corrugated cardboard. The antioxidant additive lowers the dissolved oxygen level in the ink, thereby enhancing the jetting performance of the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
    Inventors: Deverakonda S. Sarma, James E. Fox, Alan L. Hudd, Thyagaraja Sarada, Brian Salisbury, Eda E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6682190
    Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus an inkjet printhead ejects ink into a print-zone. A drive shaft, located upstream of the printhead, has a longitudinal axis, a first radius over a central length, and a second radius less than the first radius at a first recess and a second recess. Each recess is peripheral to the central length. A plurality of pinch devices stabilize the media against the drive shaft. A first guide and a second guide, spaced from the longitudinal axis, are aligned with and extend into the first recess and second recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Steve O Rasmussen, Robert M. Yraceburu, Steven P Downing, Stuart D. Spencer, Jason S. Belbey, Vance M Stephens
  • Patent number: 6683313
    Abstract: This Invention relates to a ultraviolet water sterilization device having a sterilization chamber module into a modularized configuration each module having two water-through ports, one port is used as a water inlet and the other port as an outlet of the sterilization chamber. The sterilization chamber may be formed into a single-wall configuration or a casing configuration. Inside the sterilization chamber are distributed n≧1 ultraviolet lamps with glass sleeves. Each chamber module may be used individually or in combination of two, three or more modules in a large chamber to meet the need of sterilization for a large water volume. Each module can be also arranged in separate sections so as to lessen manufacturing difficulties and simplify the assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Fujian Newland Entech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jian Chen, Ziji Yan
  • Patent number: 6672707
    Abstract: A modular printhead for a digital printer wherein the modules (2) may be mechanically aligned using specifically designed frame (3) supporting the modules (2). The frame (3) having a plurality of mounting sites (19) for mounting respective printhead modules (2) to the frame (3); wherein, at least one of the mounting sites (19) having mechanical adjustment mechanism (15, 16, 17 and 18) for reducing input movements to effect minute adjustments of the position of the printhead module (2) with respect to the frame (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6663208
    Abstract: An ink-jet head controller generates drive waveforms selectively at predetermined print cycles to cause ink ejection from a cavity. A waveform generator generates a plurality of waveform signals, including a waveform signal extending over two adjacent print cycles, and a waveform selector selects and outputs to the ink-jet head one of a plurality of waveform signals, based on whether dot data for two adjacent print cycles indicates ink ejection. The waveform selector selects a waveform signal extending over two adjacent print cycles when dot data for a current print cycle indicates ink ejection while dot data for a next print cycle indicates no ink ejection. In addition, a plurality of drive pulses cause ejection of a plurality of ink droplets to form a dot outputted after a certain delay from the start of the current print cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Suzuki, Masatomo Kojima, Akira Iriguchi
  • Patent number: 6659579
    Abstract: In a franking machine comprising a base and a disposable head provided with ink jet printing means, a method of printing postal indicia is proposed, comprising the following steps: activating said disposable head in response to determined parameters of identification extracted from memory means of this head and recognized as valid by said base, sending towards said disposable head from said base franking data representative of postal indicia to be printed, comprising static data and dynamic data, calculating in said base the number of droplets to be projected in order to print the dynamic data and add this number to that corresponding to the printing of the static data, previously memorized in said memory means, to obtain a total number of droplets to be projected for printing said postal indicia, determining the volume of ink consumed corresponding to that total number of droplets to be projected and memorize this volume of consumed ink in said memory means, and calculating the remaining volume of ink i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Neopost Industrie
    Inventor: Karine Marquis
  • Patent number: 6661015
    Abstract: In a particle projection lithography system, an alignment system is used to determine alignment parameters to measure the position and shape of an optical image of a pattern of structures formed in a mask and imaged onto a target by means of a broad particle beam, by means of an apparatus with a plurality of alignment marks adapted to produce secondary radiation upon irradiation with radiation of said particle beam. In order to allow for a variation of the alignment parameters along the optical axis, the alignment marks are positioned outside the aperture of the alignment system for the part of the beam that generates said optical image, arranged at positions to coincide with particle reference beams projected through reference beam forming structures provided on the mask while said optical image is projected onto the target, and situated on at least two different levels over the target as seen along the directions of the respective reference beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: IMS-Ionen Mikrofabrikations Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Chalupka, Gerhard Stengl, Hans Loschner, Robert Nowak, Stefan Eder
  • Patent number: 6655772
    Abstract: A printing apparatus in which a printhead and a print medium intermittently move relatively to each other, and the printhead performs printing on the print medium during the relative movement. The temperature of the printhead is detected, the detected temperature is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and start of new relative movement accompanied by printing is controlled in correspondence with the result of comparison. The threshold value is set in correspondence with information regarding the number of pixels for which the printhead can perform printing during one relative movement. By this arrangement, reduction of output speed can be suppressed as much as possible, and inconveniences due to temperature rise of the printhead can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Danzuka, Yoshihiro Takada, Kenshi Hata, Katsushi Hara, Yukimichi Someya
  • Patent number: 6652055
    Abstract: When a plurality of heaters in the printing head are driven and the pulse width is controlled according to a change in the voltage drop corresponding to the number of driven heaters, the control range of the pulse width is properly determined to ensure a stable ink ejection. More specifically, the driving bit number for each block representing the number of heaters to be driven is counted; and based on this count value, a table is referenced to determine the pulse width of a single pulse. Then, in an inappropriate range of pulse width where the ink ejection amount varies largely, the single pulse is changed into a double pulse by referencing the table with the pulse width to obtain a double pulse driving waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Oikawa
  • Patent number: 6644784
    Abstract: A printer device contains a combination of variously configured mechanisms for delivering recording information onto a recording medium. For example, the printer device contains both thermal inkjet printheads and piezoelectric printheads. In this example, each of the thermal inkjet printheads and piezoelectric printheads are connected to separate fluid supplies to thereby enable each of the printheads to eject fluids having various characteristics onto a recording medium. Thus, the various fluids may be applied onto the recording medium from both the thermal inkjet printheads and the piezoelectric printheads in a substantially continuous manner during a single printing operation to thereby increase both throughput and printing options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark Andreas Van Veen, Jaime E. Dorman
  • Patent number: 6622577
    Abstract: Single coil magnetostrictive force or strain sensors. The single coil sensors have one electrical coil to both excite the magnetrostrictive circuit and detect changes in the permeability of the circuit arising from forces applied to the circuit or induced to strain a portion of the circuit, The sensor may be instructed to sense either or both compressive or tensile forces applied to the magnetostrictive circuit. Thin foils or plating applied to non-magnetically permeable materials may comprise part or all of the magnetostrictive circuit to provide an exceptionally inexpensive and light weight structure for the sensor. A permanent magnet may be incorporated into the structure to provide a sensor capable of measuring dynamic force, especially those of impact, explosion and relatively high frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Inventor: Mehmet H. Uras
  • Patent number: 6615654
    Abstract: A moisture sensing device for detecting moisture on a moisture collecting surface including an air pump for accelerating the formation of moisture on the moisture collecting surface. The moisture sensing device includes a moisture sensor that is operably positionable relative to a moisture collecting surface. The device also includes an air pump for accelerating the formation of moisture on the moisture collecting surface. A small pump can direct a flow of air over the moisture collecting surface to accelerate the formation of moisture through condensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry Charles Buchanan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6601442
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring engine performance utilizes a monitoring micro-controller that integrates with an engine/vehicle controller to receive data indicative of the current operating conditions of the engine/vehicle. A duty cycle map is defined within the micro-controller by a plurality of sectors bounded by a specific performance curve based on two or more engine operating parameters, such as engine torque and speed. Each sector corresponds to a range of values for the specific operating parameters. During iterations of the monitoring routine, current data indicative of the specific engine operating parameters is sensed and compared with the range of values for each duty cycle sector. A duty cycle parameter, such as elapsed time or fuel consumption, is maintained for each sector. When the current engine operating conditions fall within a particular target sector, its corresponding duty cycle parameter is updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott G. Decker, Gregory G. Greathouse, John M. Irons
  • Patent number: 6588869
    Abstract: A printer includes a housing which has a user access surface. Attached to the housing is a printer which includes a paper path. The printer also includes a paper input tray and a paper output tray. Both the paper trays are accessible from the user access surface. The user access surface also has an access panel within the user access surface. The paper path is positioned within the housing so that it is accessible through the access panel. The printer cartridges which contain the material used to make an image on the paper, such as a toner cartridge for use with a laser printer or one or more ink wells for use with an ink jet printer, are also positioned within the housing of the printer so as to be near the user access surface. The printer cartridges are accessible through the access panel. Optionally, the printer cartridges could also be accessed through a special panel in the user access surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Gateway, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjay Batra, Brian A. Bennett, Anton Poole
  • Patent number: 6588282
    Abstract: The novel peak strain detection linear displacement sensor system for smart structures is designed to provide monitoring of the strain in structures and reporting their strain histories. The system comprises the use of micro miniature, high resolution, passive peak strain detector. A displacement sensor, such as a differential variable reluctance transducer, is used and the sliding core of the unit is constrained so that it shows the maximum movement in one direction. Once positioned and attached, mechanical movement of the core will always occur in response to structural deformation. The system comprises attachment devices and a body clamp and core extender and compressor, a housing, a spring loaded collar, a sensor core and a measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Microstrain, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven W. Arms
  • Patent number: 6578942
    Abstract: In the system of this application, a liquid crystal temperature sensor is applied to the exterior of the print head cartridge of a printing system to give an optical indication of the temperature at the print head that is readable by an optical scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard H. Tuhro, Frederick A. Donahue
  • Patent number: 6568779
    Abstract: In droplet deposition apparatus comprising one or more independently actuable ink ejection chambers, electrical signals are applied to reduce variation in the temperature of the droplet fluid between chambers and with variations in droplet ejection input data. Short potential difference pulses, suitable for influencing the temperature of the droplet fluid in a chamber, can be generated by application of longer duration voltages to ink chamber actuation means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: XAAR Technology Limited
    Inventors: Robert Mark Pulman, Stephen Temple, Laura Ann Webb