Abstract: A dual-speed printer drive mechanism is disclosed. The drive mechanism includes a drive motor, a drive roller for feeding a media sheet toward and through a printing area and a drive transmission for coupling the drive roller to the drive motor for turning the drive roller with different gear reduction ratios. The drive mechanism further includes a gear reduction ratio selector disposed in the drive transmission for selectively turning the drive roller at a first gear reduction ratio for feeding the media sheet to the printing area, and for selectively turning the drive roller at a second gear reduction ratio for feeding the media sheet with precision for image printing while in the printing area.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling rapid partial configuration of reconfigurable devices includes a configuration definition unit and a configuration loading unit. The configuration definition unit defines partial configuration requirements, and contains at least a starting address of configuration data for the partial reconfiguration, data size specifying the number of contiguous locations to be reconfigured, and desired configuration data corresponding to the contiguous locations. The configuration loading unit provides for loading the configuration data into the reconfigurable device according to the partial configuration requirements without providing commands corresponding to any addresses outside of said configuration requirements.

Abstract: In a method for compensating for media linefeed errors in a media feed apparatus, a first correction parameter is applied during a first length of a media feed operation and a second correction parameter, which differs from the first correction parameter, is applied during a second length of the media feed operation.

Abstract: An out of ink signal mechanism for an inkjet printer having at least one inkbag is disclosed. The signal mechanism includes a printed circuit board having a circuit associated with each inkbag, a contact spring and at least one lifter. The contact spring is biased towards the printed circuit board so as to normally close the circuit. The lifter is arranged to contact the contact spring when the inkbag is out of ink so as to move the contact spring to open the circuit and thereby signal an out of ink condition of the printer head of the inkjet printer.

Abstract: An efficient method and electronic circuit for initializing latch arrays in an electronic device including an FPGA and a memory device includes a group of one or more data latches, each including a pair of cross-coupled inverting logic elements, characterized in that it includes a means for simultaneously initializing each data latch to a predetermined logic state, without requiring significant additional circuitry.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a spacing between a printhead and a print medium in a printer is provided. The printhead is mounted in a carriage which is slidable along a guiding rod. The apparatus includes a first and second assembly for adjusting a position of a first and second portion of the carriage, respectively. The second assembly includes a camshaft attached to and slidable with respect to the carriage, one or more cams attached to the camshaft, and a bushing member. A first surface of the bushing member abuts a predefined profile of the cam, and a second surface of the bushing member abuts the guiding rod. The sliding of the camshaft with respect to the carriage causes a distance between the bushing member and the camshaft to vary according to the predefined profile of the cam. Accordingly, the spacing between the printhead and the print medium is adjusted.

Abstract: A method is provided for print quality control. To carry out this method, a printing apparatus with optical detection capability is used. This apparatus includes: advance mechanism for advancing a print medium through a print zone; a carriage assembly having at least one pen for ejecting ink droplets onto the print medium in the print zone; an optical detection unit positioned in the print zone; and a printer controller. The optical detection unit includes an image acquisition module for capturing at least one image of the print zone within a field of view (FOV) and an image processor for performing a pixel array analysis of the captured image. The image analysis is triggered by the printer controller and the result of the analysis is fed back to the printer controller for controlling the printing operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in printing to a rotational media having a surface to be printed to and being rotatable about an axis extending away from the surface is provided. The apparatus includes an engaging arrangement to engage the rotational media so as to impart controlled rotational movement thereto about the axis. The engaging arrangement is configured to be coupled to printer gearing on a printer, such that rotation of the printer gearing on the printer causes rotation of the rotational media when engaged on the engaging arrangement.

Abstract: A dual-speed printer drive mechanism is disclosed. The drive mechanism includes a drive motor, a drive roller for feeding a media sheet toward and through a printing area and a drive transmission for coupling the drive roller to the drive motor for turning the drive roller with different gear reduction ratios. The drive mechanism further includes a gear reduction ratio selector disposed in the drive transmission for selectively turning the drive roller at a first gear reduction ratio for feeding the media sheet to the printing area, and for selectively turning the drive roller at a second gear reduction ratio for feeding the media sheet with precision for image printing while in the printing area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an out of ink signal mechanism for a printer head of an inkjet printer having at least one inkbag. The signal mechanism includes a printed circuit board having a circuit associated with said at least one inkbag, a contact spring and at least one lifter. The contact spring is biased towards the printed circuit board so as to normally close the circuit. The lifter is arranged to contact the contact spring when the inkbag is out of ink so as to move the contact spring to open the circuit and thereby signal an out of ink condition of the printer head of the inkjet printer.

Abstract: An improved multi-stage binary hierarchy decoder characterized in that at least one of the decoding stages subsequent to the first stage is implemented as a Transmission Gate Matrix (TGM) in which a single transmission gate enables an active input from the previous stage to its output, thereby resulting in reduced area requirements when implemented as an integrated circuit.

Abstract: In a method for independently wiping a first and a second printhead of an inkjet printing mechanism, a first and a second wiping assembly separated from each other are provided in the printing mechanism. Furthermore, the wiping of the first printhead by the first wiper and the wiping of the second printhead by the second wiper are separately controlled.

Abstract: An improved multi-stage binary hierarchy decoder characterized in that at least one of the decoding stages subsequent to the first stage is implemented as a Transmission Gate Matrix (TGM) in which a single transmission gate enables an active input from the previous stage to its output, thereby resulting in reduced area requirements when implemented as an integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method for measuring a pen-to-paper spacing in an inkjet printing mechanism is provided. Firstly, a first nozzle of a printhead in the printing mechanism ejects a first ink drop onto a medium at a first ejection velocity when the printhead moves at a first moving velocity along a scanning axis and when the printhead reaches a first position along the scanning axis. Subsequently, a second nozzle of the printhead ejects a second ink drop onto the medium at a second ejection velocity when the printhead moves at a second moving velocity along the scanning axis and when the printhead reaches a second position along the scanning axis. The spacing between the two nozzles along the scanning axis and the spacing between the two positions along the scanning axis are predetermined. Then the spacing between the first and second ink drops on the medium along the scanning axis is measured.

Abstract: In a method for independently wiping a first and a second printhead of an inkjet printing mechanism, a first and a second wiping assembly separated from each other are provided in the printing mechanism. Furthermore, the wiping of the first printhead by the first wiper and the wiping of the second printhead by the second wiper are separately controlled.

Abstract: An efficient method and electronic circuit for initializing latch arrays in an electronic device including an FPGA and a memory device comprising a group of one or more data latches, each comprising a pair of cross-coupled inverting logic elements, characterized in that it includes a means for simultaneously initializing each data latch to a predetermined logic state, without requiring any additional circuit elements with any data latch for this purpose.

Abstract: A method for servicing a printhead of an inkjet printing mechanism is provided. Firstly, a plurality of time difference information is collected by the printing mechanism. Each time difference information represents a period of time passed between end of a last print job and receipt of a succeeding print job. The print jobs are sent from a computer connected to the printing mechanism. Subsequently, the printing mechanism uses the plurality of time difference information to determine a nominal time information representing an amount of time. After the determination of the nominal time information, the printing mechanism periodically performs a first level servicing dependent upon the nominal time information.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling rapid partial configuration of reconfigurable devices, wherein configuration definition means define partial configuration requirements, and contain at least a starting address of configuration data for the partial reconfiguration, data size specifying the number of contiguous locations to be reconfigured, and desired configuration data corresponding to the contiguous locations. Configuration loading means provides for loading the configuration data into the reconfigurable device according to the partial configuration requirements.