Patents by Inventor Marvin Nicholson

Marvin Nicholson 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).

  • Patent number: 9919534
    Abstract: A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of ink. A housing defines an interior having a pair of opposed electrodes. The electrodes have a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid between them. A controller energizes one electrode and receives an output reading from the other. The controller processes the reading on board the housing and supplies it as a digital data stream to the imaging device during use. A memory stores calibration values for an empty and full housing. The controller writes back to the memory present fluid levels obtained from the output reading of the electrode. An enable output allows operation or not of a fluid pump in the imaging device. Materials, construction, modularity, and fluid communication ports are further embodiments, to name a few.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Marvin Nicholson, Jason McReynolds, Robert Muyskens, Mark Doerre, Ricky A. Robbins, David Ward
  • Patent number: 9895899
    Abstract: A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of ink. A housing defines an interior having a pair of opposed electrodes. The electrodes have a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid between them. A controller energizes one electrode and receives an output reading from the other. The controller processes the reading on board the housing and supplies it as a digital data stream to the imaging device during use. A memory stores calibration values for an empty and full housing. The controller writes back to the memory present fluid levels obtained from the output reading of the electrode. An enable output allows operation or not of a fluid pump in the imaging device. Materials, construction, modularity, and fluid communication ports are further embodiments, to name a few.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Marvin Nicholson, Jason McReynolds, Robert Muyskens, Mark Doerre, Ricky Robbins, David Ward
  • Publication number: 20150375516
    Abstract: A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of ink. A housing defines an interior having a pair of opposed electrodes. The electrodes have a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid between them. A controller energizes one electrode and receives an output reading from the other. The controller processes the reading on board the housing and supplies it as a digital data stream to the imaging device during use. A memory stores calibration values for an empty and full housing. The controller writes back to the memory present fluid levels obtained from the output reading of the electrode. An enable output allows operation or not of a fluid pump in the imaging device. Materials, construction, modularity, and fluid communication ports are further embodiments, to name a few.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Marvin Nicholson, III, Jason McReynolds, Robert Muyskens, Mark Doerre, Ricky A. Robbins, David Ward
  • Publication number: 20150352856
    Abstract: A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of ink. A housing defines an interior having a pair of opposed electrodes. The electrodes have a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid between them. A controller energizes one electrode and receives an output reading from the other. The controller processes the reading on board the housing and supplies it as a digital data stream to the imaging device during use. A memory stores calibration values for an empty and full housing. The controller writes back to the memory present fluid levels obtained from the output reading of the electrode. An enable output allows operation or not of a fluid pump in the imaging device. Materials, construction, modularity, and fluid communication ports are further embodiments, to name a few.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Marvin NICHOLSON, Jason MCREYNOLDS, Robert MUYSKENS, Mark DOERRE, Ricky ROBBINS, David WARD
  • Patent number: 9132656
    Abstract: A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of ink. A housing defines an interior having a pair of opposed electrodes. The electrodes have a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid between them. A controller energizes one electrode and receives an output reading from the other. The controller processes the reading on board the housing and supplies it as a digital data stream to the imaging device during use. A memory stores calibration values for an empty and full housing. The controller writes back to the memory present fluid levels obtained from the output reading of the electrode. An enable output allows operation or not of a fluid pump in the imaging device. Materials, construction, modularity, and fluid communication ports are further embodiments, to name a few.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Marvin Nicholson, III, Jason McReynolds, Robert Muyskens, Mark Doerre, Rickey Robbins, David Ward
  • Patent number: 9108423
    Abstract: A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of ink. A housing defines an interior having a pair of opposed electrodes. The electrodes have a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid between them. A controller energizes one electrode and receives an output reading from the other. The controller processes the reading on board the housing and supplies it as a digital data stream to the imaging device during use. A memory stores calibration values for an empty and full housing. The controller writes back to the memory present fluid levels obtained from the output reading of the electrode. An enable output allows operation or not of a fluid pump in the imaging device. Materials, construction, modularity, and fluid communication ports are further embodiments, to name a few.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Marvin Nicholson, III, Jason McReynolds, Robert Muyskens, Mark Doerre, Ricky Robbins, Daivd Ward
  • Publication number: 20140183087
    Abstract: A fluid tank for micro-fluid ejection devices is provided. The fluid tank includes housing with an interior surface coating. The interior surface coating has a highly hydrophobic to super hydrophobic surface with water contact angle of greater than about 120° and surface energy of less than about 20 mJ/m2. The interior surface coating includes nanoparticles and hydrophobic materials. The fluid tank is suitable as ink container having ink level measurement system, and allows an accurate and quickly responsive ink level measurement system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sean Terrance Weaver, Jason T. McReynolds, Marvin Nicholson, III, Samuel Shawn Preston
  • Patent number: 8491111
    Abstract: A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of fluid. Its housing defines an interior having a pair of opposed electrodes. The electrodes define a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid between them. A volume space filled by the liquid varies along a length of the electrodes. The design facilitates abrupt changes in capacitance values at each change in the volume space. Devices can recalibrate fluid levels at these changes. Electrode interior surfaces face one another. At least one electrode has an open region, such as a hole or a cutout of material. In another design, a support material connects to each electrode to provide mechanical stability and create a region preventing filling by the liquid. Further embodiments contemplate material selection, construction, and modularity, to name a few.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Trevor Gray, Jason Vanderpool, Robert Muyskens, David Ward, Gregory Webb, Marvin Nicholson, III, Jason McReynolds
  • Publication number: 20120306973
    Abstract: A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of ink. A housing defines an interior having a pair of opposed electrodes. The electrodes have a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid between them. A controller energizes one electrode and receives an output reading from the other. The controller processes the reading on board the housing and supplies it as a digital data stream to the imaging device during use. A memory stores calibration values for an empty and full housing. The controller writes back to the memory present fluid levels obtained from the output reading of the electrode. An enable output allows operation or not of a fluid pump in the imaging device. Materials, construction, modularity, and fluid communication ports are further embodiments, to name a few.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Marvin Nicholson, III, Jason Mcreynolds, Robert Muyskens, Mark Doerre, Ricky Robbins, Daivd Ward
  • Publication number: 20120306974
    Abstract: A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of ink. A housing defines an interior having a pair of opposed electrodes. The electrodes have a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid between them. A controller energizes one electrode and receives an output reading from the other. The controller processes the reading on board the housing and supplies it as a digital data stream to the imaging device during use. A memory stores calibration values for an empty and full housing. The controller writes back to the memory present fluid levels obtained from the output reading of the electrode. An enable output allows operation or not of a fluid pump in the imaging device. Materials, construction, modularity, and fluid communication ports are further embodiments, to name a few.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Marvin Nicholson, III, Jason McReynolds, Robert Muyskens, Mark Doerre, Ricky A. Robbins, Daivd Ward
  • Publication number: 20120218356
    Abstract: A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of fluid. Its housing defines an interior having a pair of opposed electrodes. The electrodes define a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid between them. A volume space filled by the liquid varies along a length of the electrodes. The design facilitates abrupt changes in capacitance values at each change in the volume space. Devices can recalibrate fluid levels at these changes. Electrode interior surfaces face one another. At least one electrode has an open region, such as a hole or a cutout of material. In another design, a support material connects to each electrode to provide mechanical stability and create a region preventing filling by the liquid. Further embodiments contemplate material selection, construction, and modularity, to name a few.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Trevor Gray, Jason Vanderpool, Robert Muyskens, David Ward, Gregory Webb, Marvin Nicholson, III, Jason McReynolds
  • Publication number: 20090129807
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a print engine for printing an image on a sheet of media. A sheet feed mechanism is configured to feed the sheet of media through the print engine. A controller is communicatively coupled to the sheet feed mechanism and the print engine to operate the sheet feed mechanism and the print engine in a selected one of a plurality of operation modes. The plurality of operation modes include a continuum representing a plurality of traditional printing modes, the continuum being defined in terms of print quality versus mode throughput rate wherein a decrease in print quality corresponds to an increase in mode throughput rate. A Green Mode is located outside the continuum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Marvin Nicholson, III, John Thomas Writt
  • Publication number: 20090005115
    Abstract: An electronic module for facilitating wireless facsimile data transfer between an external machine and a telephone line outlet includes a phone line interface configured for connection to the telephone line outlet. An analog fax modem is configured to both transmit outgoing facsimile data and receive incoming facsimile data via the phone line interface. A wireless transceiver is configured to wirelessly transmit the incoming facsimile data to the external machine and is configured to wirelessly receive the outgoing facsimile data from the external machine. A routing device is communicatively coupled to each of the analog fax modem and the wireless transceiver. The routing device is configured to route the incoming facsimile data within the electronic module from the analog fax modem to the wireless transceiver, and is configured to route the outgoing facsimile data within the electronic module from the wireless transceiver to the analog fax modem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Yan Po Chan, Marvin Nicholson, III
  • Patent number: 6908164
    Abstract: A power control circuit is connected between a power source and an electronic controller in a device such as a printer and includes a latchable power delivery state for delivering power to an electronic controller of the device. Temporary closure of a switch latches the power control circuit in its power delivery state. The electronic controller subsequently detects temporary closure of the switch and responds with an output signal that unlatches the power control circuit into a power non-delivery state. The power control circuit may include an associated kick-start circuit portion for causing the power control circuit to latch into its power delivery state in response to initial application of power by the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh E. Gilbert, Marvin Nicholson, III, Ricky E. Robbins, Michael K. Webb
  • Publication number: 20040135834
    Abstract: A power control circuit is connected between a power source and an electronic controller in a device such as a printer and includes a latchable power delivery state for delivering power to an electronic controller of the device. Temporary closure of a switch latches the power control circuit in its power delivery state. The electronic controller subsequently detects temporary closure of the switch and responds with an output signal that unlatches the power control circuit into a power non-delivery state. The power control circuit may include an associated kick-start circuit portion for causing the power control circuit to latch into its power delivery state in response to initial application of power by the power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Hugh E. Gilbert, Marvin Nicholson, Ricky E. Robbins, Michael K. Webb