Abstract: Systems and methods are described which allow information to be assembled on an application infrastructure topology. This application infrastructure topology may be assembled from information collected on various application infrastructure components in the application infrastructure. Information may be collected on an application infrastructure component in an application infrastructure by examining communications intended for, or originating with, the application infrastructure component. Information may also be collected on an application infrastructure component by querying an agent on the application infrastructure component. By exploiting the protocol of the network, these queries may be issued with a minimum of intrusiveness. The data on the various application infrastructure components may then be aggregated, and information on the application infrastructure topology assembled.

Abstract: Printmode selection systems and methods are described. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving user input that pertains to selection of a printmode that is not a pre-defined printmode for a particular printer; and providing the user with feedback that pertains to a selected printmode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for printing a reactive ink and a fixer or a second reactive ink onto a substrate from a single orifice plate. The reactive ink(s) and the fixer react to form a precipitate which is soluble in at least one of the fixer or the ink(s).

Abstract: Various embodiments of a wiper apparatus and method for cleaning a printhead are provided. In one embodiment, the wiper apparatus includes a wiper having a leading contact surface, a trailing contact surface, and a capillary passageway that extends at least partially along an axis that intersects the leading contact surface and the trailing contact surface.

Abstract: A gray inkjet ink having a black colorant and at least one cyan, magenta, or yellow colorant. By adjusting the amount of cyan, magenta, or yellow colorant in the inkjet ink, a gray inkjet ink having a neutral, warm, cool, or sepia tone is produced. At least one gray inkjet ink is used in a black ink set or an eight-color ink set to produce black and white images having high resolution. Methods of producing black and white images having desired gray tones are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for placing fluid droplets onto a surface in which at least one of a group of nozzles is substantially aligned with a first of parallel line segments on the surface moving in a first direction relative to the nozzles; at least one droplet is ejected from the first nozzle onto a target on the first segment; the group of nozzles is moved in a second direction having a component orthogonal to the first direction to respectively align first and second nozzles in the group with a second segment and with the first segment; the and fluid droplets are ejected from the nozzles onto targets on the segments, the center to center spacing of the targets along the segments equaling one or a multiple of the center to center spacing of the nozzles orthogonal to the segments.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling hot swapped circuit boards to receive multiple power voltages from a backplane and supply the multiple power voltages to devices on the circuit board in a predictable sequence. An apparatus according to the invention would include a circuit board having an electrical connector, a sequencing circuit, and an element. The electrical connector of the circuit board receives the multiple power voltages from another circuit board, such as a backplane or motherboard. The sequencing circuit receives the multiple power voltages from the electrical connector. When a part of the sequencing circuit receives a signal indicating that the sequencing circuit has received a first power voltage, the sequencing circuit provides a second power voltage to the element electrically coupled to the sequencing circuit.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printer for printing an image on a receiver and method of assembling the printer. The printer comprises a print head defining a first chamber and a second chamber therein. The first chamber contains a working fluid and the second chamber contains an ink body. A flexible membrane separates the first chamber and the second chamber. A first transducer in the first chamber induces a first pressure wave in the working fluid that flexes the membrane into the second chamber to pressurize the ink body and eject an ink drop from the second chamber through an outlet. A second transducer in the first chamber induces a second pressure wave that flexes the membrane into the second chamber to damp the first pressure wave transmitted into the second chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for placing fluid droplets onto a surface in which at least one of a group of nozzles is substantially aligned with a first of parallel line segments on a surface moving in a first direction relative to said nozzles; at least one droplet is ejected from said first nozzle onto a target on said first segment; said group of nozzles is moved in a second direction having a component orthogonal to said first direction to respectively align first and second nozzles in said group with a second segment and with said first segment; and fluid droplets are ejected from said nozzles onto targets on said segments, the center to center spacing of said targets along said segments equaling one or a multiple of the center to center spacing of said nozzles orthogonal to said segments.

Abstract: A system and method for segregating communication traffic to prevent a first type of communications (e.g., best-effort, connection-less, UDP) from limiting or restricting the amount of bandwidth available to a second type (e.g., flow-controlled, connection-oriented, TCP). Either or both types of communications are conducted in separate sets of channels corresponding to an Ethernet quality or class of service, an InfiniBand virtual lane, an ATM virtual circuit or other logical channel.

Abstract: A system and method for providing dynamic rate flow control. An originating entity sets requested and target rates of communication within a communication sent to a destination entity. The requested and target rates may be expressed in terms of a “time to next communication” (e.g., a period of delay between transmission of successive communications). Intermediate devices (e.g., switches, routers) may decrease a target rate (thereby increasing the time between communications) but not the requested rate. Through a feedback process, the destination entity (or an intermediate entity) reports the target rate, and possibly the requested rate, back to the originator, which may accept and implement a reduced rate of communication, select a different communication channel, etc.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printer having enhanced heat removal capability and method of assembling the printer. The thermal inkjet printer includes a thermal inkjet print bead adapted to hold an ink body therein. A heating element is adapted to be in fluid communication with the ink body for generating heat to heat the ink body. A vapor bubble forms in the ink body to eject an ink drop when the heating element causes the ink body to reach a predetermined temperature. Presence of the vapor bubble forces on ink drop out the printer to form an image on a recording medium. A conductive heat removal structure is in thermal communication with the heating element and is also in fluid communication with the ink body. Heat generated by the heating element is transferred from the heating element and into the heat removal structure. The heat removal structure then surrenders the heat to the ink body, which functions as an “infinite” heat sink.

Abstract: A system and method for providing hot swap capability with minimal changes in a system which uses existing circuitry and drivers. In one embodiment, a computer system has a host processor and a hot-swap-capable device, each coupled to a Compact PCI bus. The device includes one or more pre-existing circuits (ASICs and/or standard off-the-shelf circuits) and corresponding pre-existing drivers. A hot-swap-capable bus bridge is interposed between the circuits and the Compact PCI bus to provide hot swap functionality while allowing the pre-existing circuits and drivers to be used without modification. In one embodiment, an Intel 21554 is used as the hot-swap-capable bus bridge. The 21554 is programmed to emulate a transparent bridge. Modified drivers in the OBP firmware and OS software allow the system to recognize the 21554 in this transparent configuration and to probe the secondary side of the 21554 for the circuits.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printer having enhanced heat removal capability and method of assembling the printer. The thermal inkjet printer includes a thermal inkjet print head adapted to hold an ink body therein. The heating element is adapted to be in fluid communication with the ink body for generating heat to heat the ink body. A vapor bubble forms in the ink body to eject an ink drop when the heating element causes the ink body to reach a predetermined temperature. Presence of the vapor bubble forces an ink drop out the printer to form an image on a recording medium. A conductive heat removal structure is in thermal communication with the heating element and is also in fluid communication with the ink body. Heat generated by the heating element is transferred from the heating element and into the heat removal structure. The heat removal structure then surrenders the heat to the ink body, which functions as an “infinite” heat sink.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printer for printing an image on a receiver and method of assembling the printer. The printer comprises a print head defining a first chamber and a second chamber therein. The first chamber contains a working fluid and the second chamber contains an ink body. A flexible membrane separates the first chamber and the second chamber. A first transducer is disposed in the first chamber and is in communication with the working fluid for inducing a first pressure wave in the working fluid that in turn flexes the membrane into the second chamber. When the membrane flexes into the second chamber, the membrane transmits the first pressure wave into the second chamber, so as to pressurizes the ink body. When the ink body is pressurized, an ink drop is ejected from the second chamber through an outlet that is in communication with the second chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for comparing identifications of circuit boards in a midplane. When a first circuit board and a second circuit board are inserted into opposite sides of the midplane, an incompatibility between the first circuit board and the second circuit board may damage or impair the operation of one or both of the first circuit board and the second circuit board. To solve this problem, a first identification is stored on the first circuit board and a second identification is stored on the second circuit board. If the first identification of the first circuit board and the second identification of the second circuit board indicate an incompatibility, then one or both of the first circuit board and the second circuit board is/are prevented from fully powering up.

Abstract: A test pattern is scanned to find ideal print-medium advance for a pen (or other marking device). The pattern has a medium; and, marked on it, image patches each with overlapped swaths stepped by different distances. At best there are different-color pens; and for each distance a set of patches, each with a patch for each color (preferably area fills at sensitive tones by color). All patches in a set are best adjacent along a scan direction, with alignment lines above each set across the whole pattern, and a nozzle-conditioning patch at each image patch. A processor prints the pattern, operates a sensor and uses its signals to find optimum advance. The system finds and prints with ideal advance for a most-active pen; or weighs pen activity to find an optimum for all pens based on certain statistical and/or prospective choices.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device has a firing chamber with a feature disposed therewithin.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise a reservoir system for supplemental fluids in a system (such as an inkjet printer) in which supplies of a supplemental fluid are included in two or more replaceable primary fluid containers (such as ink containers). A controller may then selectively connect a supply of the supplemental fluid to the device utilizing the supplemental fluid (such as a fixer applicator). The present invention allows the use of supplemental fluid such as a fixer in an inkjet printer, giving all of the print quality durability, and throughput (drytime) advantages of a two-part system, without the printer user being aware that the printing system requires this additional consumable.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device has a firing chamber with a feature disposed therewithin.