Abstract: A replaceable unit for an image forming apparatus according to one example embodiment includes a housing and at least one transmissive member positioned on an exterior of the housing. The at least one transmissive member is arranged to receive optical energy from the image forming apparatus and has a transmissivity for modifying an amount of the optical energy that leaves the at least one transmissive member relative to an amount of the optical energy received by the at least one transmissive member. The at least one transmissive member indicates information relating to a characteristic of the replaceable unit.

Abstract: A system for customizing settings of an electronic device includes a replaceable component having an optical member for receiving optical energy. The optical member has an optical characteristic for modifying an amount of the optical energy that leaves the optical member relative to an amount of the optical energy received by the optical member. A support is located on an outer casing of the electronic device and the replaceable component is mountable on the support. The system further includes an optical sensor including a detector positioned to receive the amount of the optical energy leaving the optical member when the replaceable component is mounted on the support. A controller determines one or more predetermined settings to be applied to the electronic device based at least upon the amount of the optical energy received by the detector.

Abstract: A media diverter system for an imaging device including a single motor coupled to one of a plurality of diverter assemblies for sequentially directing media sheets from an input path to one of a plurality of output destinations. Each diverter assembly includes a gate moveable between a first and a second position for opening a path between an input and a first and a second output, respectively, a pivot arm coupled to the gate, and a drive gear providing a lobe having up and down camming surfaces on which the pivot arm travels. The single drive motor rotatably is coupled to the drive gears, and, as the drive motor is driven, the drive gears synchronously rotate and corresponding gates are moved to one of a first and a second position for providing a media path from an input of the system to a selected one of the output destinations.

Abstract: A system for customizing settings of an electronic device includes a replaceable component having an optical member for receiving optical energy. The optical member has an optical characteristic for modifying an amount of the optical energy that leaves the optical member relative to an amount of the optical energy received by the optical member. A support is located on an outer casing of the electronic device and the replaceable component is mountable on the support. The system further includes an optical sensor including a detector positioned to receive the amount of the optical energy leaving the optical member when the replaceable component is mounted on the support. A controller determines one or more predetermined settings to be applied to the electronic device based at least upon the amount of the optical energy received by the detector.

Abstract: A system for customizing settings of an electronic device includes a replaceable component having an optical member for receiving optical energy. The optical member has an optical characteristic for modifying an amount of the optical energy that leaves the optical member relative to an amount of the optical energy received by the optical member. A support is located on an outer casing of the electronic device and the replaceable component is mountable on the support. The system further includes an optical sensor including a detector positioned to receive the amount of the optical energy leaving the optical member when the replaceable component is mounted on the support. A controller determines one or more predetermined settings to be applied to the electronic device based at least upon the amount of the optical energy received by the detector.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing having a reservoir for storing consumable material and an outlet for exiting the consumable material from the reservoir; a rotatable shaft disposed inside the reservoir and positioned along a length of the housing; and one or more magnetic members disposed within the housing and coupled to the shaft so as to rotate therewith. The one or more magnetic members generate a magnetic field and when rotating indicate information about the replaceable unit. The information is based upon the presence or absence of the one or more magnetic members relative to one or more predetermined locations for receiving a magnetic member within the housing.

Abstract: A system for customizing settings of an electronic device includes a replaceable component having an optical member for receiving optical energy. The optical member has an optical characteristic for modifying an amount of the optical energy that leaves the optical member relative to an amount of the optical energy received by the optical member. A support is located on an outer casing of the electronic device and the replaceable component is mountable on the support. The system further includes an optical sensor including a detector positioned to receive the amount of the optical energy leaving the optical member when the replaceable component is mounted on the support. A controller determines one or more predetermined settings to be applied to the electronic device based at least upon the amount of the optical energy received by the detector.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an image forming apparatus according to one example embodiment includes a housing and at least one transmissive member positioned on an exterior of the housing. The at least one transmissive member is arranged to receive optical energy from the image forming apparatus and has a transmissivity for modifying an amount of the optical energy that leaves the at least one transmissive member relative to an amount of the optical energy received by the at least one transmissive member. The at least one transmissive member indicates information relating to a characteristic of the replaceable unit.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing having a reservoir for storing consumable material and an outlet for exiting the consumable material from the reservoir; a rotatable shaft disposed inside the reservoir and positioned along a length of the housing; and one or more magnetic members disposed within the housing and coupled to the shaft so as to rotate therewith. The one or more magnetic members generate a magnetic field and when rotating indicate information about the replaceable unit. The information is based upon the presence or absence of the one or more magnetic members relative to one or more predetermined locations for receiving a magnetic member within the housing.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image capturing system. A controller is communicatively coupled to the image capturing system. A scanner body has a scanner opening. The image capturing system is located adjacent the scanner opening. A document planar member is positioned across the scanner opening. The document planar member is communicatively coupled to the controller. The document planar member has an input operating state wherein the document planar member receives at least one input from a user input object and supplies the at least one input to the controller for further processing.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image capturing system, and a controller communicatively coupled to the image capturing system. A scanner body has a scanner opening. The image capturing system is located adjacent the scanner opening. An LCD document glass is adjacent to the scanner opening. The LCD document glass is communicatively coupled to the controller. The LCD document glass is controlled to be in a transparent state wherein the LCD document glass is clear and a translucent state wherein the LCD document glass is darkened.

Abstract: A scanning device including a controller and a light source operatively coupled to the controller. The light source is shaped and located such that at least part of the light emitted from the light source is reflected off of a document to be scanned, and the light source has a maximum output when the light source is fully warmed up. The scanning device further includes a receptor operatively coupled to the controller, the receptor being located to receive the light reflected from the document to be scanned such that the at least part of the visual properties of the document to be scanned are transmitted to the receptor in a scanning process. The controller is configured to selectively allow the scanning process to proceed when an output of the light source is less than about 80% of the maximum output.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image capturing system. A controller is communicatively coupled to the image capturing system. A scanner body has a scanner opening. The image capturing system is located adjacent the scanner opening. A document planar member is positioned across the scanner opening. The document planar member is communicatively coupled to the controller. The document planar member has an input operating state wherein the document planar member receives at least one input from a user input object and supplies the at least one input to the controller for further processing.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image capturing system, and a controller communicatively coupled to the image capturing system. A scanner body has a scanner opening. The image capturing system is located adjacent the scanner opening. An LCD document glass is adjacent to the scanner opening. The LCD document glass is communicatively coupled to the controller. The LCD document glass is controlled to be in a transparent state wherein the LCD document glass is clear and a translucent state wherein the LCD document glass is darkened.

Abstract: An apparatus for perforating a sheet of print media having a front side and a back side includes a printhead carriage for carrying a printhead. A perforator carriage carries a perforation forming mechanism. An isolation damper having elastic, vibration absorbing, characteristics couples the printhead carriage to the perforator carriage.

Abstract: A memory module, a printer assembly, and a method for storing a computer code for a printer-controller application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having a non-ROM memory control. The memory module has ROM memory cells and a non-ROM to ROM interface operatively connected to the ROM memory cells. The printer assembly has the above-described ASIC, the above-described memory module, and a transmission cable operatively connected to the non-ROM memory control of the ASIC and the non-ROM to ROM interface of the memory module. The method stores non-final versions of the computer code in a memory module having non-ROM memory cells, which allows the code to be changed during development, and stores the final version of the computer code in the above-described memory module having the ROM memory cells.

Abstract: An edge-to-edge imaging method includes generating a reflectance profile of a mid-frame of an imaging apparatus by taking optical readings along the mid-frame with no print media present in a direction substantially orthogonal to the sheet feed direction, the reflectance profile distinguishing between the media support surface and the waste ink collection trough; taking optical readings across the mid-frame in the direction substantially orthogonal to the sheet feed direction with the sheet of print media present; comparing the optical readings taken with the sheet of print media present with the reflectance profile of the mid-frame; and applying an algorithm to adjust an amount of ink overspray along the lateral edges of the sheet of print media based on a result of the comparing.

Abstract: One method operates a printer-controller application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) by applying a predetermined voltage to an analog input pin which identifies a desired operating mode (such as, but not limited to, one of at least several test modes) of the ASIC. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converts the voltage to a digital output which is used to configure the ASIC to operate in the desired operating mode. Another method operates a printer by applying a predetermined voltage to an analog input pin of an ADC which identifies the printer (such as, without limitation, the particular make or the particular make and model of the printer). The digital output of the ADC is used to configure a printer-controller ASIC to operate with the identified printer (such as, but not limited to, setting the maintenance cycle timing and/or setting the default printing mode required by the identified printer).

Abstract: A multiple output spread spectrum clock circuit is provided that reduces electromagnetic emissions when two different clocks operate at frequencies which overlap one another. Two such clock circuits are controlled so as to introduce a phase difference between the clocks as they operate through their spread spectrum profiles. The “best” phase differences are around 18%, or around 50%, between adjacent spread spectrum clock outputs. The phase difference can be controlled by starting the first clock (SSCG #1) at one point in time, while temporarily delaying the start of the second clock (SSCG #2) until the appropriate moment; alternatively, it can be controlled by starting both clocks at the same moment in time, however, SSCG #1 begins at one point in the spread spectrum profile, while SSCG #2 begins at a different point in its spread spectrum profile.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting faulty nozzles in an ink jet printer includes an ink jet print head having a plurality of ink jet nozzles disposed adjacent a print medium. The print head prints a reference image on the print medium formed by ink droplets ejected from many of the nozzles. The print head also prints individual test images corresponding to each nozzle by ejecting ink droplets from each of the nozzles separately and sequentially. A print head scan mechanism scans the print head in a first direction relative to the print medium as the test images are printed. A print medium advance mechanism moves the print medium in a second direction between the printing of the reference image and the printing of the test images, where the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. In this manner, the apparatus leaves nonprinted areas on the print medium between the reference image and the individual test images.