Patents by Inventor Brian Lester
Brian Lester 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).
-
Publication number: 20210181656Abstract: A toner sealing system is described including a seal having first and second alignment features. The seal is selectably installable on one of a first toner container of a first type and a second toner container of a second type. The first alignment feature is matable with a first corresponding alignment feature on the first toner container when the seal is installed on the first toner container for aligning the seal to the first toner container. The second alignment feature is matable with a second corresponding alignment feature on the second toner container when the seal is installed on the second toner container for aligning the seal to the second toner container. Embodiments include those wherein the first alignment feature does not align the seal to the second toner container, and the second alignment feature does not align the seal to the first toner container.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2021Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: BRIAN LESTER BOETTCHER, DAVID LEE MERRIFIELD
-
Publication number: 20210124301Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A first electrical contact and a second electrical contact are positioned on a first longitudinal end of the housing. The first electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry positioned on the housing. The second electrical contact is electrically connected to an imaging component positioned on the housing. The first electrical contact is positioned higher than the second electrical contact. A first drive coupler and a second drive coupler are positioned on a second longitudinal end of the housing. The first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are positioned higher than a first rotational axis of the first drive coupler. The first electrical contact is positioned higher than a second rotational axis of the second drive coupler and the second electrical contact is positioned lower than the second rotational axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2021Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventors: MARK WILLIAM AMANN, BRIAN LESTER BOETTCHER, JAMES ANTHANY CARTER, II, BENJAMIN CHARLES DEVORE, DARIN MICHAEL GETTELFINGER
-
Publication number: 20210116844Abstract: A toner sealing system is described including a seal having first and second alignment features. The seal is selectably installable on one of a first toner container of a first type and a second toner container of a second type. The first alignment feature is matable with a first corresponding alignment feature on the first toner container when the seal is installed on the first toner container for aligning the seal to the first toner container. The second alignment feature is matable with a second corresponding alignment feature on the second toner container when the seal is installed on the second toner container for aligning the seal to the second toner container. Embodiments include those wherein the first alignment feature does not align the seal to the second toner container, and the second alignment feature does not align the seal to the first toner container.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Applicant: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: BRIAN LESTER BOETTCHER, DAVID LEE MERRIFIELD
-
Patent number: 10962905Abstract: A toner sealing system is described including a seal having first and second alignment features. The seal is selectably installable on one of a first toner container of a first type and a second toner container of a second type. The first alignment feature is matable with a first corresponding alignment feature on the first toner container when the seal is installed on the first toner container for aligning the seal to the first toner container. The second alignment feature is matable with a second corresponding alignment feature on the second toner container when the seal is installed on the second toner container for aligning the seal to the second toner container. Embodiments include those wherein the first alignment feature does not align the seal to the second toner container, and the second alignment feature does not align the seal to the first toner container.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2020Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Brian Lester Boettcher, David Lee Merrifield
-
Publication number: 20210063955Abstract: An assembly for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing and a rotatable component. A bushing has an opening defined by an inner circumferential surface of the bushing. A shaft of the rotatable component is received in the opening such that the inner circumferential surface rotatably supports the shaft. A first mating feature is positioned on an outer surface of the bushing that is opposite the inner circumferential surface of the bushing. The first mating feature is positioned between an inner axial end of the bushing and an outer axial end of the bushing relative to a rotational axis of the rotatable component. The first mating feature of the bushing is in contact with a second mating feature on the housing. Contact between the first and second mating features defines an axial position of the bushing relative to the housing along the rotational axis of the rotatable component.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: BRIAN LESTER BOETTCHER, BRIAN LEE HAWES
-
Publication number: 20210049495Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for performing non-classical computations. The methods and systems generally use a plurality of spatially distinct optical trapping sites to trap a plurality of atoms, one or more electromagnetic delivery units to apply electromagnetic energy to one or more atoms of the plurality to induce the atoms to adopt one or more superposition states of a first atomic state and a second atomic state, one or more entanglement units to quantum mechanically entangle at least a subset of the one or more atoms in the one or more superposition states with at least another atom of the plurality, and one or more readout optical units to perform measurements of the superposition states to obtain the non-classical computation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventors: Jonathan KING, Benjamin BLOOM, Krish KOTRU, Brian LESTER, Maxwell PARSONS
-
Publication number: 20210049494Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for performing non-classical computations. The methods and systems generally use a plurality of spatially distinct optical trapping sites to trap a plurality of atoms, one or more electromagnetic delivery units to apply electromagnetic energy to one or more atoms of the plurality to induce the atoms to adopt one or more superposition states of a first atomic state and a second atomic state, one or more entanglement units to quantum mechanically entangle at least a subset of the one or more atoms in the one or more superposition states with at least another atom of the plurality, and one or more readout optical units to perform measurements of the superposition states to obtain the non-classical computation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventors: Jonathan KING, Benjamin BLOOM, Krish KOTRU, Brian LESTER, Maxwell PARSONS
-
Patent number: 10908551Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A first electrical contact and a second electrical contact are positioned on a first longitudinal end of the housing. The first electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry positioned on the housing. The second electrical contact is electrically connected to an imaging component positioned on the housing. The first electrical contact is positioned higher than the second electrical contact. A first drive coupler and a second drive coupler are positioned on a second longitudinal end of the housing. The first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are positioned higher than a first rotational axis of the first drive coupler. The first electrical contact is positioned higher than a second rotational axis of the second drive coupler and the second electrical contact is positioned lower than the second rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Mark William Amann, Brian Lester Boettcher, James Anthany Carter, II, Benjamin Charles Devore, Darin Michael Gettelfinger
-
Publication number: 20210026291Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a photoconductive drum and a boss that protrudes outward from a first longitudinal end of the toner cartridge at a rotational axis of the photoconductive drum. An outermost axial segment of the boss along the rotational axis includes a partial cylinder having a cross-sectional shape of a circular segment. An outer circumferential surface of the partial cylinder is convex to a bottom of the toner cartridge and forms a bottom contact surface of the boss that is unobstructed to contact and sit in a corresponding V-block in an image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The outermost axial segment of the boss includes clearance above a topmost portion of the partial cylinder and within the radius of the outer circumferential surface of the partial cylinder permitting the clearance to accommodate one or more features in the image forming device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Inventors: MARK WILLIAM AMANN, BRIAN LESTER BOETTCHER
-
Publication number: 20210018864Abstract: An assembly for use in an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. The housing includes a wall having an inner surface forming a boundary of the reservoir and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. A toner agitator is positioned in the reservoir and has a rotatable shaft. The shaft includes an end portion that passes through an opening in the wall. A gear is mounted on the end portion of the shaft outside of the reservoir and is rotatably coupled to the shaft. An annular seal encircles and is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the shaft. The annular seal is positioned between an inner axial face of the gear and the outer surface of the wall. The inner axial face of the gear contacts the annular seal and presses the annular seal against the outer surface of the wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2020Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: BRIAN LESTER BOETTCHER, BRIAN LEE HAWES, DAVID LEE MERRIFIELD
-
Publication number: 20210011397Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a developer roll and a toner adder roll. First and second drive gears are rotatably connected to and coaxial with the developer roll and toner adder roll, respectively. The toner cartridge includes a drive coupler exposed to receive rotational motion when the toner cartridge is installed in an image forming device. Gear teeth of the first drive gear are directly meshed with gear teeth of the drive coupler of the toner cartridge. The second drive gear is rotatably connected to the drive coupler through a pair of idler gears.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: JEFFREY ALAN ABLER, BRIAN LESTER BOETTCHER, BRIAN LEE HAWES
-
Patent number: 10891556Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for performing non-classical computations. The methods and systems generally use a plurality of spatially distinct optical trapping sites to trap a plurality of atoms, one or more electromagnetic delivery units to apply electromagnetic energy to one or more atoms of the plurality to induce the atoms to adopt one or more superposition states of a first atomic state and a second atomic state, one or more entanglement units to quantum mechanically entangle at least a subset of the one or more atoms in the one or more superposition states with at least another atom of the plurality, and one or more readout optical units to perform measurements of the superposition states to obtain the non-classical computation.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2019Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: ATOM COMPUTING INC.Inventors: Jonathan King, Benjamin Bloom, Krish Kotru, Brian Lester, Maxwell Parsons
-
Publication number: 20200412369Abstract: Techniques for implementing robust quantum logic gates are provided and described. In some aspects, a quantum logic gate between a plurality of cavities comprising a first cavity and a second cavity is implemented by performing a first beam splitter operation between the first cavity and the second cavity using a coupling transmon that is dispersively coupled to both the first cavity and the second cavity, and performing a controlled phase shift operation between the second cavity and an ancilla transmon that is dispersively coupled to the second cavity but not dispersively coupled to the first cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2019Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicant: Yale UniversityInventors: Liang Jiang, Steven M. Girvin, Brian Lester, Yvonne Gao, Robert J. Schoelkopf lll
-
Publication number: 20200379404Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A first latch-receiving shelf is positioned on a first longitudinal end of the housing and a second latch-receiving shelf is positioned on a second longitudinal end of the housing. Contact surfaces on top portions of the first and second latch-receiving shelves are positioned to contact corresponding first and second latches in an image forming device. The contact surface of the first latch-receiving shelf is positioned lower than a first rotational axis of a first drive coupler of the toner cartridge and higher than a second drive coupler of the toner cartridge. The contact surface of the second latch-receiving shelf is positioned lower than at least a portion of a first electrical contact of the toner cartridge and higher than at least a portion of a second electrical contact of the toner cartridge.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: MARK WILLIAM AMANN, BRIAN LESTER BOETTCHER, JAMES ANTHANY CARTER, II
-
Patent number: 10838355Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a photoconductive drum and a boss that protrudes outward from a first longitudinal end of the toner cartridge at a rotational axis of the photoconductive drum. An outermost axial segment of the boss along the rotational axis includes a partial cylinder having a cross-sectional shape of a circular segment. An outer circumferential surface of the partial cylinder is convex to a bottom of the toner cartridge and forms a bottom contact surface of the boss that is unobstructed to contact and sit in a corresponding V-block in an image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The outermost axial segment of the boss includes clearance above a topmost portion of the partial cylinder and within the radius of the outer circumferential surface of the partial cylinder permitting the clearance to accommodate one or more features in the image forming device.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Mark William Amann, Brian Lester Boettcher
-
Patent number: 10809662Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a first positioning slot positioned on a first side of a housing of the toner cartridge for receiving a first corresponding positioning rib in an image forming device for defining an axial position of a photoconductive drum relative to the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. A second positioning slot is positioned on a second side of the housing for receiving a second corresponding positioning rib in the image forming device for defining an axial position of a developer roll relative to the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The first and second positioning slots extend upward from a bottom of the housing near a longitudinal end of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2020Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Mark William Amann, Brian Lester Boettcher, David Lee Merrifield
-
Publication number: 20200310330Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A first electrical contact and a second electrical contact are positioned on a first longitudinal end of the housing. The first electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry positioned on the housing. The second electrical contact is electrically connected to an imaging component positioned on the housing. The first electrical contact is positioned higher than the second electrical contact. A first drive coupler and a second drive coupler are positioned on a second longitudinal end of the housing. The first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are positioned higher than a first rotational axis of the first drive coupler. The first electrical contact is positioned higher than a second rotational axis of the second drive coupler and the second electrical contact is positioned lower than the second rotational axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: MARK WILLIAM AMANN, BRIAN LESTER BOETTCHER, JAMES ANTHANY CARTER, II, BENJAMIN CHARLES DEVORE, DARIN MICHAEL GETTELFINGER
-
Patent number: 10782643Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A first latch-receiving shelf is positioned on a first longitudinal end of the housing and a second latch-receiving shelf is positioned on a second longitudinal end of the housing. Contact surfaces on top portions of the first and second latch-receiving shelves are positioned to contact corresponding first and second latches in an image forming device. The contact surface of the first latch-receiving shelf is positioned lower than a first rotational axis of a first drive coupler of the toner cartridge and higher than a second drive coupler of the toner cartridge. The contact surface of the second latch-receiving shelf is positioned lower than at least a portion of a first electrical contact of the toner cartridge and higher than at least a portion of a second electrical contact of the toner cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Mark William Amann, Brian Lester Boettcher, James Anthany Carter, II
-
Publication number: 20200278639Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a first positioning slot positioned on a first side of a housing of the toner cartridge for receiving a first corresponding positioning rib in an image forming device for defining an axial position of a photoconductive drum relative to the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. A second positioning slot is positioned on a second side of the housing for receiving a second corresponding positioning rib in the image forming device for defining an axial position of a developer roll relative to the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The first and second positioning slots extend upward from a bottom of the housing near a longitudinal end of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventors: MARK WILLIAM AMANN, BRIAN LESTER BOETTCHER, DAVID LEE MERRIFIELD
-
Publication number: 20200249620Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a photoconductive drum and a boss that protrudes outward from a first longitudinal end of the toner cartridge at a rotational axis of the photoconductive drum. An outermost axial segment of the boss along the rotational axis includes a partial cylinder having a cross-sectional shape of a circular segment. An outer circumferential surface of the partial cylinder is convex to a bottom of the toner cartridge and forms a bottom contact surface of the boss that is unobstructed to contact and sit in a corresponding V-block in an image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The outermost axial segment of the boss includes clearance above a topmost portion of the partial cylinder and within the radius of the outer circumferential surface of the partial cylinder permitting the clearance to accommodate one or more features in the image forming device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Inventors: MARK WILLIAM AMANN, BRIAN LESTER BOETTCHER