Patents by Inventor Austin L. Richards

Austin L. Richards has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7224913
    Abstract: A printing system and method includes at least two modules, at least one of which is a marking engine module. In the method, one or more sheets to be printed are submitted. Available paths are determined for one of the one or more sheets and a preferred available path is determined and submitted to one or more of the plurality of modules. A reservation matrix representative of the one of the one or more sheets being scheduled on the preferred available path is updated. The steps of determining the available paths, determining a preferred available path, submitted the preferred available path and updating the reservation matrix are repeated for each subsequent sheet of the one or more sheets of the print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Austin L. Richards
  • Patent number: 6532351
    Abstract: In a printer or copier, a removable module, such as a marking material supply module or a marking device module, is provided with a non-volatile memory chip which retains information about the cumulative use of the module and other performance-related data. The non-volatile memory is accessed through a wireless interface, such as an RF loop or IR detector, which is also associated with the module. The memory can be accessed, through wireless means, either by the printer or copier itself or by an external device, and also while the memory is not installed in a printer or copier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Austin L. Richards, Michael B. Thomson
  • Publication number: 20020094207
    Abstract: In a printer or copier, a removable module, such as a marking material supply module or a marking device module, is provided with a non-volatile memory chip which retains information about the cumulative use of the module and other performance-related data. The non-volatile memory is accessed through a wireless interface, such as an RF loop or IR detector, which is also associated with the module. The memory can be accessed, through wireless means, either by the printer or copier itself or by an external device. The wireless interface can also be used to access a memory which is attached to part which moves within the printer or copier, such as a roller or drum, thus avoiding the use of wire harnesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Austin L. Richards, Michael B. Thomson
  • Patent number: 6351621
    Abstract: In a printer or copier, a removable module, such as a marking material supply module or a marking device module, is provided with a non-volatile memory chip which retains information about the cumulative use of the module and other performance-related data. The non-volatile memory is accessed through a wireless interface, such as an RF loop or IR detector, which is also associated with the module. The memory can be accessed, through wireless means, either by the printer or copier itself or by an external device. The wireless interface can also be used to access a memory which is attached to part which moves within the printer or copier, such as a roller or drum, thus avoiding the use of wire harnesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Austin L. Richards, Michael B. Thomson