Patents by Inventor Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
Julie Ann Gordon Whitney 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).
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Patent number: 9639031Abstract: An imaging apparatus, including a transfer roll; and first and second rolls, each first roll and second roll being disposed relative to the transfer roll, the second roll forming a transfer nip with the transfer roll and the first roll being disposed upstream relative to the second roll in a media feed direction. During a toner transfer operation, the transfer roll is coupled to a predetermined voltage and the first and second rolls are coupled to at least one voltage reference so that an electric field is generated between the transfer roll and the first roll and between the transfer roll and the second roll, the first roll being associated with an electrical characteristic such that the electric field generated between the transfer roll and the first roll is limited during the toner transfer operation relative to the electric field generated between the transfer roll and the second roll.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2016Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Kerry L. Embry, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
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Patent number: 9501001Abstract: A device for transferring images from an image donating member to an image receiving medium comprises a substrate, at least two electrodes disposed on the substrate, and at least one layer of coating disposed on the substrate having an outer surface for forming a nip region with the image donating member. The at least two electrodes are controllable to produce an electric field and control a position thereof at the nip region to allow transfer of an image from the image donating member to the image receiving medium in an image transfer operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Christopher Michael Bennett, Gerald Floyd Davis, Kurt Daniel Lambert, Niko Jay Murrell, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
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Patent number: 9451111Abstract: A method of determining a media class using an optical translucence sensor (OTS) in an imaging device. A media sheet for processing by a media processing device (MPD) in the imaging device passes through an OTS positioned on a media path prior to the MPD. The OTS has an output that is periodically sampled in several predefined interest zones to provide a plurality of intrinsic variables related to the media sheet. The intrinsic variables are combined with extrinsic variables to form a variables data set that is normalized then fed to a controller having a predefined set of media class determining equations for determining a media class for the media sheet. A media class determining equation is provided for each class of media expected to be used in the imaging device. The determined media class is then used to set one or more operating parameters for the media processing device.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2015Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Ryan Thomas Bradley, James Lee Combs, Niko Jay Murrell, Franklin Joseph Palumbo, Daniel Steinberg, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
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Patent number: 9400455Abstract: An imaging device includes a moving surface for transferring a developed toner image during an image transfer operation, a sensing unit for detecting the amount of residual toner remaining on the moving surface after the image transfer operation, and a cleaning unit for selectively cleaning the residual toner from the moving surface. A controller coupled to the sensing unit and the cleaning unit selectively adjusts an operating characteristic of the cleaning unit based on the amount of residual toner detected by the sensing unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Roger S Cannon, Kerry L Embry, Heidi L Hays, William Claiborne Ryle, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
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Patent number: 9367005Abstract: An operational imaging device and method using a predetermined set of operating parameter determining (OPD) equations forming an OPD equation set for providing one or more operational parameter values for processing of a media sheet. The OPD equation set, stored in the operational imaging device, is solved using values for a set of N variables measured by an operational sensor set in the operational imaging device. Each equation solution determines a value for one of the operating parameters. The OPD equation set is generated by a training system using a continuum training engine. A training data set containing measured variable values of the set of N variables is collected using by a training sensor set. The training data set includes empirical best match data values for the one or more operational parameters based on a comparison of a model image to images produced by a training imaging device.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2014Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Niko Jay Murrell, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney, Ryan Thomas Bradley
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Publication number: 20160104013Abstract: A localization method and system, including determining at least two phases associated with at least two response signals transmitted by a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag at different frequencies in response to a plurality of interrogation signals transmitted by a reader; determining a first distance estimate of a distance between the RFID tag and the reader based on a signal strength measured from a first response signal of the at least two response signals; based upon the first distance estimate, generating a set of phase data points that follows a substantially periodic function over a range of frequencies; and determining a second distance estimate of the distance based upon the at least two phases and the periodic function.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2014Publication date: April 14, 2016Inventors: John Thomas Fessler, Johne Michelle Parker, Ann Michelle Whitney, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
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Publication number: 20160102964Abstract: A localization method and system, including determining phases of a plurality of response signals at a plurality of frequencies received from a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in response to interrogation signals by a reader at the plurality of frequencies; calculating a first distance estimate of a distance between the RFID tag and the reader based on a signal strength measured from a first response signal of the plurality of response signals; based on the phases and the first distance estimate, calculating a phase slope; and determining a second distance estimate of the distance based upon the phase slope.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2014Publication date: April 14, 2016Inventors: John Thomas Fessler, Zachary Charles Nathan Kratzer, Johne Michelle Parker, Ann Michelle Whitney, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
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Publication number: 20160044195Abstract: An operational imaging device and method for sensing a media type in a predetermined media set using a predetermined set of media type determining equations solved using measured values for a set of N variables measured by an operational sensor set in the operational imaging device. The solution of the equation set determines a media type. After a media type is determined, one or more operational parameters of the imaging device is selected for processing of a sheet of the determined media type. The equation set is generated by a training system using a classifier training engine. A plurality of training data sets containing measured variable values for each media type is collected under various conditions by a training sensor set that measures the set of N variables. After generation, the media type determining equation set is stored in memory of the operational imaging device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2014Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Niko Jay Murrell, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney, Ryan Thomas Bradley, Nikhil Bajaj
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Publication number: 20160003932Abstract: A localization method and system, including calculating a first distance estimate of a distance between a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a reader based on information associated with at least one of a plurality of response signals received from the RFID tag in response to interrogation signals by the reader at a plurality frequencies, measuring a signal strength of each of the received plurality of response signals to create a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) signature, predicting an error in the first distance estimate using the RSSI signature, and determining a final distance estimate of the distance by modifying the first distance estimate based on the predicted error.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2015Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Julie Ann Gordon Whitney, John Thomas Fessler, Zachary Charles Nathan Kratzer, Johne' Michelle Parker, Nathan Bradley Jacobs, Ann Michelle Whitney
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Publication number: 20160004193Abstract: An operational imaging device and method using a predetermined set of operating parameter determining (OPD) equations forming an OPD equation set for providing one or more operational parameter values for processing of a media sheet. The OPD equation set, stored in the operational imaging device, is solved using values for a set of N variables measured by an operational sensor set in the operational imaging device. Each equation solution determines a value for one of the operating parameters. The OPD equation set is generated by a training system using a continuum training engine. A training data set containing measured variable values of the set of N variables is collected using by a training sensor set. The training data set includes empirical best match data values for the one or more operational parameters based on a comparison of a model image to images produced by a training imaging device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2014Publication date: January 7, 2016Applicant: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Niko Jay Murrell, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney, Ryan Thomas Bradley
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Publication number: 20150331367Abstract: A device for transferring images from an image donating member to an image receiving medium comprises a substrate, at least two electrodes disposed on the substrate, and at least one layer of coating disposed on the substrate having an outer surface for forming a nip region with the image donating member. The at least two electrodes are controllable to produce an electric field and control a position thereof at the nip region to allow transfer of an image from the image donating member to the image receiving medium in an image transfer operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2015Publication date: November 19, 2015Inventors: Christopher Michael Bennett, Gerald Floyd Davis, Kurt Daniel Lambert, Niko Jay Murrell, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
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Publication number: 20150186694Abstract: A RFID based system, including an RFID tag to communicate with a reader and having a motion-based generator generating current upon the device being moved. When the object moves, the RFID tag is configured to transmit at least one signal to the reader using the current generated by the motion-based generator to indicate that the object is in use. The RFID tag may include an energy scavenging circuit such that the RFID tag is also capable of being interrogated by the reader and perform additional operations, independent of the motion-based generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2013Publication date: July 2, 2015Applicant: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: John Thomas Fessler, Keith Bryan Hardin, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
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Publication number: 20150186693Abstract: A system for radio frequency identification localization. The system may include a modeling engine that employs one or more machine learning algorithms for receiving information associated with a plurality of reference tags; training, using one of the one or more machine learning algorithms, a prediction engine based upon the received information associated with the plurality of reference tags to output predicted tag locations; receiving information associated with the unknown tag; inputting the information associated with the unknown tag to the prediction engine; and determining a location of the unknown tag based upon an output of the prediction engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2013Publication date: July 2, 2015Applicant: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Bryan Michael Blair, John Thomas Fessler, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
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Publication number: 20150010318Abstract: An imaging device includes a moving surface for transferring a developed toner image during an image transfer operation, a sensing unit for detecting the amount of residual toner remaining on the moving surface after the image transfer operation, and a cleaning unit for selectively cleaning the residual toner from the moving surface. A controller coupled to the sensing unit and the cleaning unit selectively adjusts an operating characteristic of the cleaning unit based on the amount of residual toner detected by the sensing unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2013Publication date: January 8, 2015Inventors: Roger S Cannon, Kerry L Embry, Heidi L Hays, Claiborne Ryle, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
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Patent number: 8588667Abstract: An imaging apparatus having a toner transfer station, including a donating member for donating toner forming an image; and a transfer roll which serves to form a transfer nip in which toner is transferred from the donating member to a media sheet disposed in the transfer nip between the donating member and the transfer roll, wherein a product of a resistivity of the transfer nip and a dielectric constant thereof is greater than or equal to a product of a resistivity of the media sheet and a dielectric constant thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2010Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Lexmark International, IncInventors: Julie Ann Gordon Whitney, Kerry Leland Embry, Bartley Charles Gould, II, Frank Marion Hughes, Brandon Alden Kemp, Kurt Daniel Lambert, Niko Jay Murrell
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Patent number: 8483602Abstract: A transfer station for toner transfer in an electrophotographic imaging device includes an endless transfer belt transported about an endless path through the imaging device, a transfer roll adjacent one surface of the transfer belt, and a backup roll adjacent an opposite surface of the transfer belt opposite from the transfer roll such that the transfer roll and backup roll form a transfer nip effecting transfer of toner. For the purpose of improved overtransfer performance, an outer layer of a thin polymer coating is applied to at least one of the transfer belt and the rolls so as to be located within the transfer nip with transfer of toner. The polymer layer has a thickness from about 5 ?m to about 200 ?m, surface resistivity from about 1E08 to about 1E12 Ohm/cm and breakdown strength greater than 500 V.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2009Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: David William Hullman, Brandon Alden Kemp, Niko Jay Murrell, Ryan James Nelson, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
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Backup roll with capacitive coating and an imaging device transfer station employing the backup roll
Patent number: 8433227Abstract: A toner transfer station of an electrophotographic imaging device employs a backup roll having an inner electrically grounded cylindrical metal base core and an outer surface layer disposed about the inner base core. The outer surface layer may be formed of a polyurethane elastomer material to provide a capacitive coating with a thickness greater than 15 microns, a dielectric constant less than 12 and a resistivity of less than 3.00E+13 Ohm-cm.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2009Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Bryan Michael Blair, Bartley Charles Gould, II, Peter Brown Pickett, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney -
Patent number: 8126342Abstract: A system for tailoring a transfer nip electric field includes a transfer roll, a backup roll forming a transfer nip with the transfer roll, and a pre-nip roll positioned upstream from the transfer and backup rolls and the transfer nip such that a toner image-supporting transfer belt moving past the pre-nip, transfer and backup rolls separately makes contact with, wraps partially around, and rotates each of the rolls as a media sheet is fed into the transfer nip after first passing through a gap defined between the pre-nip and transfer rolls such that by presetting the position, geometry and charge of the pre-nip roll relative to the transfer and backup rolls and the transfer belt an electrical field at the transfer nip can be tailored for enhanced toner transfer from the transfer belt to the media sheet.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2008Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Fenley Gibson, Brandon Alden Kemp, Brad Edward Mattingly, Michael Todd Phillips, Peter Brown Pickett, Gregory Lawrence Ream, Christopher Michael Smith, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
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Publication number: 20110318070Abstract: An imaging apparatus having a toner transfer station, including a donating member for donating toner forming an image; and a transfer roll which serves to form a transfer nip in which toner is transferred from the donating member to a media sheet disposed in the transfer nip between the donating member and the transfer roll, wherein a product of a resistivity of the transfer nip and a dielectric constant thereof is greater than or equal to a product of a resistivity of the media sheet and a dielectric constant thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Inventors: Julie Ann Gordon Whitney, Kerry Leland Embry, Bartley Charles Gould, II, Frank Marion Hughes, Brandon Alden Kemp, Kurt Daniel Lambert, Niko Jay Murrell
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Publication number: 20110070000Abstract: A transfer station for toner transfer in an electrophotographic imaging device includes an endless transfer belt transported about an endless path through the imaging device, a transfer roll adjacent one surface of the transfer belt, and a backup roll adjacent an opposite surface of the transfer belt opposite from the transfer roll such that the transfer roll and backup roll form a transfer nip effecting transfer of toner. For the purpose of improved overtransfer performance, an outer layer of a thin polymer coating is applied to at least one of the transfer belt and the rolls so as to be located within the transfer nip with transfer of toner. The polymer layer has a thickness from about 5 ?m to about 200 ?m, surface resistivity from about 1E08 to about 1E12 Ohm/cm and breakdown strength greater than 500 V.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Inventors: David William Hullman, Brandon Alden Kemp, Niko Jay Murreli, Ryan James Nelson, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney