Abstract: An appliance including a motor drive, a power supply circuit electrically coupling the motor drive to a power supply, a cabinet having an opening, a door for opening and closing the opening of the cabinet, and a door lock. When the door lock is in a locked position, the door lock is configured to secure the door and close a pathway of the power supply circuit thereby enabling a current to travel from the power supply through a pre-charge circuit to the motor drive.

Abstract: An appliance including a motor drive, a power supply circuit electrically coupling the motor drive to a power supply, a cabinet having an opening, a door for opening and closing the opening of the cabinet, and a door lock. When the door lock is in a locked position, the door lock is configured to secure the door and close a pathway of the power supply circuit thereby enabling a current to travel from the power supply through a pre-charge circuit to the motor drive.

Abstract: Automatic refresh of a completed load of articles (e.g., laundry) left in a washing machine or dryer that has been idle for a period of time is provided. After a certain amount of time has elapsed following completion of a laundry cycle, the laundry is refreshed by restarting the appliance. All or a portion of a cycle of the appliance may be repeated in order to refresh the articles. User adjustable options can be provided for e.g., the length of the idle time, when the refresh is executed, and other options as well.

Abstract: Method for determining enhanced printing functions on a hand-held inkjet printer having one or more optical sensors configured to measure speed and distance across the page. Collecting a first frame of individual pixel data, mapping the first frame of individual pixel data into a pixel map memory, processing the first frame of individual pixel data to perform additional print quality features. These additional features can be categorized in three main categories: 1) sensing non-printing elements, 2) sensing pre-printed elements, and 3) sensing print elements.

Abstract: A hand-held micro-fluid ejection device for ejecting a fluid onto a substrate surface in a plurality of physical orientations between the ejection device and a substrate surface, and methods for controlling the geometric accuracy of printing using a hand-held printing apparatus. Various spatial and dynamic orientations of the ejection device are measured, such as rotation angle, yaw angle, and velocity and acceleration vectors. Threshold limits are established for the orientations and printing is disabled if the measured values exceed the threshold limits.

Abstract: A phone jack connection detection system and method of operating the same, including a phone jack circuit having a data access arrangement circuit in communication with at least two pins, a stimulus input in communication with the phone jack circuit, the stimulus input being adapted to communicate a stimulus to the phone jack circuit, and a detection circuit in communication with the phone jack circuit, the detection circuit being adapted to detect a response of the phone jack circuit to the stimulus and notify a user of the status of the connection.

Abstract: Method of printing from a printer, where the printer includes one or more maintenance firings from a printhead nozzle. Formatting a print job to be printed in determining which nozzles on a printhead require maintenance during printing of the print job. Modifying the formatted print job to include one or more maintenance firings for the nozzles requiring maintenance.

Abstract: Methods for selecting elements of information displayed on a computer screen for printing by a hand-held printer that preferably incorporates the capability of a computer mouse to more efficiently capture and print such information thereby minimizing the time and effort required for printing such information.

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: Methods and apparatus for monitoring the print quality maintenance of hand-held printers and insuring the performance of periodic maintenance to maintain optimal print quality.

Abstract: A hand-held micro-fluid ejection device for manually ejecting fluid droplets onto a substrate during relative translational motion between the ejection device and a target area on the substrate. The ejection device includes a frequency generator to set a designated frequency signal for fluid droplet ejection by the device. The frequency generator is configured to operate open-loop with respect to the relative translational motion between the ejection device and the target area. An electronic processor uses the designated frequency signal to drive a micro-fluid ejection head that produces a predetermine droplet pattern. In some embodiments a manual tuner is provided to adjust the designated frequency. In some embodiments the designated frequency signal includes more than one component to control different elements of fluid being ejected.

Abstract: A hand-held micro-fluid ejection device for ejecting a fluid onto a substrate surface in a plurality of physical orientations between the ejection device and a substrate surface and methods for controlling the geometric accuracy of printing using a hand-held printing apparatus. Various spatial and dynamic orientations of the ejection device are measured, such as rotation angle, yaw angle, and velocity and acceleration vectors. Threshold limits are established for the orientations and printing is disabled if the measured values exceed the threshold limits.

Abstract: Method for determining enhanced printing functions on a hand-held inkjet printer having one or more optical sensors configured to measure speed and distance across the page. Collecting a first frame of individual pixel data, mapping the first frame of individual pixel data into a pixel map memory, processing the first frame of individual pixel data to perform additional print quality features. These additional features can be categorized in three main categories: 1) sensing non-printing elements, 2) sensing pre-printed elements, and 3) sensing print elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for perforating a sheet of media includes a perforation forming mechanism including at least one perforation device. The perforation forming mechanism is configured to drive the perforation device through the sheet of media to extend through the sheet of media by a distance.

Abstract: A media eject system for a printer having an output tray includes an edge wing for supporting an edge of media exiting the printer, the edge wing movable between support and non-support positions. A kicker engages a trailing edge of media and moves the media into the tray. The kicker is movable between a retracted position and an extended position and operable to move the media into the tray by movement of the kicker from the retracted position to the extended position. A controller determines a print condition including at least one of a media type and a print format, and adjusts a position of the wing dependent upon the print condition.

Abstract: A multi-function media eject system and method for operation particularly useful for ink jet printers. At the start of a print job, the media type and print format are determined. If the media is either banner paper or envelope, or if the print format is draft quality printing, wings and kickers of the eject system are disabled, so the media exits the printer without support from the wings or influence from the kickers.

Abstract: A multi-function media eject system and method for operation particularly useful for ink jet printers. At the start of a print job, the media type and print format are determined. If the media is either banner paper or envelope, or if the print format is draft quality printing, wings and kickers of the eject system are disabled, so the media exits the printer without support from the wings or influence from the kickers.

Abstract: A multi-function media eject system and method for operation particularly useful for ink jet printers. At the start of a print job, the media type and print format are determined. If the media is either banner paper or envelope, or if the print format is draft quality printing, wings and kickers of the eject system are disabled, so the media exits the printer without support from the wings or influence from the kickers.