Patents by Inventor Michael John Webb

Michael John Webb 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).

  • Printhead Controller For Controlling Printhead On Basis Of Thermal Sensors
    Publication number: 20090244162
    Abstract: A printhead controller is provided for supplying dot data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink. The printhead module includes a plurality of thermal sensors. Each of the thermal sensors is configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles. The printhead controller is configured to modify operation of at least some of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold. The printhead module is a thermal inkjet printhead module and each of the nozzles includes a thermal ink ejection mechanism. Each thermal sensor comprises at least part of one of the thermal inkjet mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley, Michael John Webb, Mark Jackson Pulver, John Robert Sheahan
  • Printhead IC with de-activatable temperature sensor and maintenance mode
    Patent number: 7591523
    Abstract: A printhead IC is provided which has an array of nozzles, drive circuitry for receiving print data and sending drive pulses of electrical energy to the array of nozzles in accordance with the print data, and a temperature sensor connected to the drive circuitry to adjust the drive pulse profile in response to the temperature sensor output. During use, the temperature sensor can be de-activated after a period of use. The drive circuitry is configured to operate in two modes, a printing mode in which the drive pulses it generates are printing pulses, and a maintenance mode in which the drive pulses are de-clog pulses, such that, the de-clog pulse has a longer duration than the printing pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Brian Christopher Morahan, Alireza Moini, Timothy Peter Gillespie, Michael John Webb, Kia Silverbrook
  • PRINTHEAD CONTROLLER FOR NOZZLE FAULT CORRECTION
    Publication number: 20090213154
    Abstract: A printhead controller is provided for supplying print data to a printhead having first and second rows of inkjet nozzles configured to print ink of a similar color. The controller is configured to supply the print data to the printhead such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley, Mark Jackson Pulver, John Robert Sheahan, Michael John Webb
  • PRINTHEAD HAVING SEQUENCED NOZZLE FIRING ON INTEGRATED CIRCUIT
    Publication number: 20090213155
    Abstract: A printhead is provided having an integrated circuit having at least one row comprising a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to fire signals, and a controller for supplying the fire signals to the integrated circuit such that (a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of nozzles, then (b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set, then in the event n is an even number, (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles in each set has been fired, or in the event n is an odd number, (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in each set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Mark Jackson Pulver, John Robert Sheahan, Kia Silverbrook, Michael John Webb
  • Printer Having Sequenced Printhead Nozzle Firing
    Publication number: 20090201327
    Abstract: A printer is provided having a printhead having a plurality of sets of n adjacent printing nozzles in at least one nozzle row, and a controller for supplying fire signals to said nozzles, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal is provided by the controller in accordance with the sequence: nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n?1), . . . , nozzle position x.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Mark Jackson Pulver, Simon Robert Walmsley, John Robert Sheahan, Michael John Webb, Kia Silverbrook
  • Inkjet printer having nozzle displacement correction
    Patent number: 7556331
    Abstract: An inkjet printer is provided which has a printhead module and printer controller. The printhead module has a plurality of inkjet nozzles, with at least one of the nozzles being rotationally displaced relative to a carrier of the printhead module. The printer controller determines and communicates ink dot data to the inkjet nozzles, and is configured to determine the rotational displacement, determine at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates for an error in ink dot displacement caused by the determined rotational displacement, and alter the output of the ink dots based on the correction factor to at least partially compensate for the rotational displacement. The correction factor is at least partially based on a thickness of media being printed on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, John Robert Sheahan, Michael John Webb, Mark Jackson Pulver
  • Printer controller for causing expulsion of ink from nozzles in groups, starting at outside nozzles of groups
    Patent number: 7549715
    Abstract: A printer controller for supplying one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, such that: (a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of nozzles; (b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set; (c) in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles in each set has been fired; and (d) in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in each set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Mark Jackson Pulver, Richard Thomas Plunkett, John Robert Sheahan, Kia Silverbrook, Michael John Webb
  • Printhead module having operation controllable on basis of thermal sensors
    Patent number: 7549718
    Abstract: A printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printhead module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley, Michael John Webb, Mark Jackson Pulver, Richard Thomas Plunkett, John Robert Sheahan
  • INKJET PRINTER HAVING PRINTHEAD WITH MULTIPLE CONTROLLERS
    Publication number: 20090122091
    Abstract: An inkjet printer is provided having a printhead having inkjet nozzles and a plurality of controllers configured to process print data for printing and to output the processed data to the printhead. The plurality of controllers are connected to a common input of the printhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley, John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Michael John Webb
  • Printhead having sequenced nozzle firing
    Patent number: 7524007
    Abstract: A printhead is provided having at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent printing nozzles. Each nozzle is configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n?1), . . . , nozzle position x].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Mark Jackson Pulver, Simon Robert Walmsley, John Robert Sheahan, Michael John Webb, Richard Thomas Plunkett, Kia Silverbrook
  • Printer With Rotated Ejection Nozzle Correction
    Publication number: 20090096822
    Abstract: A printer is provided having a printhead and controller. The printhead has a plurality of printhead modules each having a plurality of ejection nozzles. The nozzles of at least one of the printhead modules is rotationally displaced relative to the other printhead modules. The controller communicates ejection data to the ejection nozzles in accordance with a cumulative correction factor for each printhead module, including printhead modules having non-rotationally displaced nozzles, to at least partially compensate for the rotational displacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Mark Jackson Pulver, John Robert Sheahan, Simon Robert Walmsley, Michael John Webb
  • Printhead module capable of printing a maximum of channels of print data
    Patent number: 7517036
    Abstract: A printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into: a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a first number of the channels; and a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a second number of the channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Michael John Webb, John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Kia Silverbrook, Richard Thomas Plunkett
  • PRINTER CONTROLLER FOR CORRECTION OF ROTATIONALLY DISPLACED PRINTHEAD
    Publication number: 20090085941
    Abstract: A printer controller is provided for supplying ejection data to a printhead mounted to a carrier and having a plurality of ejection nozzles. The printer controller is configured to determine a rotational displacement of the printhead relative to the carrier, determine a correction factor at least partially based on a thickness of media being printed on so as to at least partially compensate for the determined rotational displacement, and alter the supply of the ejection data based on the correction factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Mark Jackson Pulver, Michael John Webb, John Robert Sheahan
  • PRINTHEAD HAVING DISPLACED NOZZLE ROWS
    Publication number: 20090073225
    Abstract: A printhead is provided having a plurality of nozzle rows which have displaced row portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Mark Jackson Pulver, John Robert Sheahan, Simon Robert Walmsley, Kia Sliverbrook, Michael John Webb
  • PRINT ENGINE HAVING PRINTHEAD CONTROL MODES
    Publication number: 20090058901
    Abstract: A print engine is provided which has a printhead capable of printing a maximum of n channels of print data and a controller. Each channel is associated with rows of printing nozzles of the printhead. The controller controls the printhead to print in: a first mode, in which the printhead receives from the controller, print data for a first number of the channels; and a second mode, in which the printhead receives from the controller, print data for a second number of the channels less than the first number and dummy data for a portion of each nozzle row associated with the remaining number of the channels. The first number is less than n.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Michael John Webb, John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Kia Silverbrook
  • PRINTHEAD MODULE HAVING OPERATION CONTROLLABLE ON BASIS OF THERMAL SENSORS
    Publication number: 20090058909
    Abstract: A printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink is provided. The printhead module has a plurality of thermal sensors. Each thermal sensor is configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles. The printhead module is configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a threshold. The printhead module is a thermal inkjet printhead module and each of the nozzles includes a thermal ink ejection mechanism. Each thermal sensor comprises at least part of one of the thermal inkjet mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: John Robert Sheahan, Kia Silverbrook, Mark Jackson Pulver, Michael John Webb, Simon Robert Walmsley
  • Printhead module having horizontally grouped firing order
    Patent number: 7484831
    Abstract: A printhead module having a plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead module being configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of each subsequent row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Michael John Webb, Richard Thomas Plunkett, Kia Silverbrook
  • PRINTHEAD HAVING GROUPED NOZZLE FIRING
    Publication number: 20090009549
    Abstract: A printhead having a plurality of rows of nozzles is provided. The nozzles in each row are grouped into fire groups. The printhead is configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Mark Jackson Pulver, John Robert Sheahan, Michael John Webb, Kia Silverbrook
  • Printer controller for nozzle displacement correction
    Patent number: 7472978
    Abstract: A printer controller is provided for supplying dot data to at least one printhead module and at least partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module due to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead module relative to a carrier. The printer controller is configured to determine the rotational displacement, determine at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates for an error in ink dot displacement caused by the determined rotational displacement, and alter the output of the ink dots based on the correction factor to at least partially compensate for the rotational displacement. The correction factor is at least partially based on a thickness of media being printed on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, Mark Jackson Pulver, Michael John Webb, John Robert Sheahan
  • PRINT ENGINE PIPELINE SUBSYSTEM OF A PRINTER CONTROLLER
    Publication number: 20080316515
    Abstract: Provided is a print engine pipeline subsystem of a printer controller. The subsystem includes a print engine pipeline controller for reading and writing print engine pipeline registers, and a contone decoder unit for expanding JPEG compressed continuous tone (“contone”) layers. Also included are a lossless bi-level decoder for expanding compressed bi-level layers, a line loader unit for expanding page images for a printhead, and a printhead interface for sending dot data to the printhead and for providing line synchronization between multiple printer controllers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Kia Silverbrook, Michael John Webb