Abstract: A method of generating and displaying an animation of an organization's employees allocated to one or more of a plurality of projects is disclosed. The method includes generating a series of organization maps of the organization showing the organization over a period of time. The series includes a historic organization map and a projected organization map. The organization maps include nodes representing individual employees. For each node in each organization map, the color of the node is set to a first color if the node's employee is allocated to a first project, a second color if the node's employee is allocated to a second project, and to a third color if the node's employee is allocated to both the first project and the second project. The series of organization maps is displayed on a color monitor as an animation. Other methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-color ink tank is adapted to replace individual different color ink tanks in a cavity of a given support structure. Elements on the body of the multi-color ink tank have configurations enabling compatibility with the support structure. The elements include empty opposite side portions of the body defining laterally spaced apart bottom openings that adapt the opposite side portions to seat in spaced slots in the cavity over keys therein and an intermediate central recessed region defined between the opposite side portions that adapts the body to straddle an intermediate slot between the spaced slots and a key therein and also straddle partitions in the cavity forming the slots. The elements also include tabs blocking some latches used to releasably lock some individual ink tanks to thereby identify the latch to be used to releasably lock the multi-color ink tank.

Abstract: A method of determining the state of a printhead/cartridge in a thermal inkjet printer. An inkjet printhead undergoes a jetting operation in which a jetting frequency is selected and a corresponding steady state printhead temperature is known. The printhead is heated to the steady state temperature. Then the printhead is jetted with all nozzles for a predetermined period of time. Temperature samples from the printhead are obtained and the change in the printhead temperature for a short period of time is used to determine a slope in the temperature change. From the slope of printhead temperature changes, the ink flow rate through the printhead can be determined. The flow rate of ink through the printhead can be used to determine the various states of the printhead, including out of ink, clogged, deprimed, a taped printhead, etc.

Abstract: A method for detecting ink flow through a printhead, due to a successful purging of the nozzles of a heater chip of the printhead, includes moving the printhead to a location in preparation for a purging operation such that a purge pump is connected in flow communication with heater chip nozzles, setting the manner in which the purge pump operates to suction ink through nozzles of the heater chip from a source of ink, performing a thermal analysis on the heater chip concurrently as the purge pump operates to determine whether ink is flowing through the heater chip nozzles and whether the purge pump should continue to operate, and adjusting the manner in which the purge pump continues to operate in response to the thermal analysis.

Abstract: Methods and systems using printhead tank memory to determine printhead tank configuration are provided in accordance with embodiments of the invention. One example embodiment of the invention may include a printhead ink tank. The printhead ink tank may include a memory tag readable by a printer memory tag reader in communication with a printer controller. The memory tag may further include ink tank configuration instructions that include at least one of an ink tank configuration identifier or at least one ink tank location identifier. The ink tank configuration instructions can cause the printer controller to perform at least one memory operation associated with the memory tag.

Abstract: Methods and systems using printhead tank memory to determine printhead tank configuration are provided in accordance with embodiments of the invention. One example embodiment of the invention may include a printhead ink tank. The printhead ink tank may include a memory tag readable by a printer memory tag reader in communication with a printer controller. The memory tag may further include ink tank configuration instructions that include at least one of an ink tank configuration identifier or at least one ink tank location identifier. The ink tank configuration instructions can cause the printer controller to perform at least one memory operation associated with the memory tag.

Abstract: A method of determining the state of a printhead/cartridge in a thermal inkjet printer. An inkjet printhead undergoes a jetting operation in which a jetting frequency is selected and a corresponding steady state printhead temperature is known. The printhead is heated to the steady state temperature. Then the printhead is jetted with all nozzles for a predetermined period of time. Temperature samples from the printhead are obtained and the change in the printhead temperature for a short period of time is used to determine a slope in the temperature change. From the slope of printhead temperature changes, the ink flow rate through the printhead can be determined. The flow rate of ink through the printhead can be used to determine the various states of the printhead, including out of ink, clogged, deprimed, a taped printhead, etc.

Abstract: Methods and systems using printhead tank memory to determine printhead tank configuration are provided in accordance with embodiments of the invention. One example embodiment of the invention may include a printhead ink tank. The printhead ink tank may include a memory tag readable by a printer memory tag reader in communication with a printer controller. The memory tag may further include ink tank configuration instructions that include at least one of an ink tank configuration identifier or at least one ink tank location identifier. The ink tank configuration instructions can cause the printer controller to perform at least one memory operation associated with the memory tag.

Abstract: A method for detecting ink flow through a printhead, due to a successful purging of the nozzles of a heater chip of the printhead, includes moving the printhead to a location in preparation for a purging operation such that a purge pump is connected in flow communication with heater chip nozzles, setting the manner in which the purge pump operates to suction ink through nozzles of the heater chip from a source of ink, performing a thermal analysis on the heater chip concurrently as the purge pump operates to determine whether ink is flowing through the heater chip nozzles and whether the purge pump should continue to operate, and adjusting the manner in which the purge pump continues to operate in response to the thermal analysis.

Abstract: A multi-color ink tank is adapted to replace individual different color ink tanks in a cavity of a given support structure. Elements on the body of the multi-color ink tank have configurations enabling compatibility with the support structure. The elements include empty opposite side portions of the body defining laterally spaced apart bottom openings that adapt the opposite side portions to seat in spaced slots in the cavity over keys therein and an intermediate central recessed region defined between the opposite side portions that adapts the body to straddle an intermediate slot between the spaced slots and a key therein and also straddle partitions in the cavity forming the slots. The elements also include tabs blocking some latches used to releasably lock some individual ink tanks to thereby identify the latch to be used to releasably lock the multi-color ink tank.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for optimizing the energy supplied to a print head heater are disclosed. A resistance associated with the print head heater or actuator is determined. A range of fire pulse values is determined based at least in part on the determined resistance and a velocity optimization procedure is executed based at least in part on the determined range of fire pulse values. An optimal fire pulse for the print head heater is selected based at least in part on the results of the velocity optimization procedure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for optimizing the energy supplied to a print head heater are disclosed. A resistance associated with the print head heater or actuator is determined. A range of fire pulse values is determined based at least in part on the determined resistance and a velocity optimization procedure is executed based at least in part on the determined range of fire pulse values. An optimal fire pulse for the print head heater is selected based at least in part on the results of the velocity optimization procedure.

Abstract: Methods and systems using printhead tank memory to determine printhead tank configuration are provided in accordance with embodiments of the invention. One example embodiment of the invention may include a printhead ink tank. The printhead ink tank may include a memory tag readable by a printer memory tag reader in communication with a printer controller. The memory tag may further include ink tank configuration instructions that include at least one of an ink tank configuration identifier or at least one ink tank location identifier. The ink tank configuration instructions can cause the printer controller to perform at least one memory operation associated with the memory tag.

Abstract: A method for calibrating as ink sense response of an optical ink sensor device in an imaging apparatus configured to facilitate optical ink sensing for an ink tank having an ink sensing window includes obtaining a calibration response to a reference reflective surface having a known reflectivity, which is associated with a printhead carrier of the imaging apparatus that carries the ink tank, using the optical ink sensor device; and calibrating the ink sense response based on the calibration response.