Patents by Inventor Michael L. Bullock
Michael L. Bullock 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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Publication number: 20030082426Abstract: A fuel cell apparatus in accordance with a present invention includes an information storage device. A method of operating a host device in accordance with a present invention includes the step(s) of writing data to, and/or accessing data on, a fuel cell apparatus information storage device. A system in accordance with a present invention includes a host device and a fuel cell apparatus with an information storage device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2001Publication date: May 1, 2003Inventors: Michael L. Bullock, Winthrop D. Childers
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Publication number: 20030082416Abstract: A system in accordance with a present invention includes a host device and a fuel cell apparatus with an information storage device. A method of operating a host device in accordance with a present invention includes the step(s) of writing data to, and/or accessing data on, a fuel cell apparatus information storage device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2001Publication date: May 1, 2003Inventors: Michael L. Bullock, Winthrop D. Childers
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Publication number: 20030082427Abstract: The present invention concerns a fuel supply for a fuel cell. The fuel supply includes a fuel storage area configured to hold a fuel solution, a fuel solution outlet configured to pass the fuel solution from the fuel storage area, a waste storage area, a waste inlet configured to pass waste into the waste storage area, and a movable barrier separating the fuel storage area and the waste storage area. The movable barrier is configured to move as fuel solution is passed from the fuel storage area and waste solution is passed into the waste storage area to simultaneously decrease the volume of the fuel storage area and increase the volume of the waste storage area.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2001Publication date: May 1, 2003Inventors: Ravi Prasad, Qin Liu, Loren E. Johnson, Michael L. Bullock, Winthrop D. Childers, L. Chris Mann, Joseph W. Tsang
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Publication number: 20030058314Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a replaceable printing component for use in a printing system having at least one replaceable printing component. The replaceable printing component is of the type sold through a plurality of sales channels. The replaceable printing component includes a radio frequency link for receiving information indicative of a particular sales channel of a plurality of sales channels. Also included in the replaceable printing component is an electrical storage device for storing information indicative of the particular sales channel. The electrical storage device provides information indicative of the particular sales channel for reordering the replaceable printing component.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2002Publication date: March 27, 2003Inventors: Ray A. Walker, Robert E. Haines, Michael L. Bullock
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Publication number: 20030035017Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an ink jet printing system configured for receiving replaceable printing component. The ink jet printing system includes a replaceable printing component having an electrical storage device associated therewith. The electrical storage device has a data field therein specifying data organization within the electrical storage device. Also included is a printer portion configured to receive the replaceable printing component. The printer portion is adapted to read the data field within the electrical storage device and selectively access data within the electrical storage device based on the specified data organization.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2002Publication date: February 20, 2003Inventors: Brian L. Helterline, Winthrop D. Childers, Michael L. Bullock, Ronald R. Paulsen
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Patent number: 6494562Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a replaceable printing component for use in a printing system having at least one replaceable printing component. The replaceable printing component is of the type sold through a plurality of sales channels. The replaceable printing component includes a radio frequency link for receiving information indicative of a particular sales channel of a plurality of sales channels. Also included in the replaceable printing component is an electrical storage device for storing information indicative of the particular sales channel. The electrical storage device provides information indicative of the particular sales channel for reordering the replaceable printing component.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1999Date of Patent: December 17, 2002Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Ray A. Walker, Robert E. Haines, Michael L. Bullock
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Patent number: 6488352Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an ink jet printing system configured for receiving replaceable printing components. The ink jet printing system includes a replaceable printing component having an electrical storage device associated therewith. The electrical storage device has a data field therein specifying data organization within the electrical storage device. Also included is a printer portion configured to receive the replaceable printing component. The printer portion is adapted to read the data field within the electrical storage device and selectively access data within the electrical storage device based on the specified data organization.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1998Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Brian L. Helterline, Winthrop D. Childers, Michael L. Bullock, Ronald R. Paulsen
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Publication number: 20020154915Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise containers for consumable substances having electronic memory components programmed with coded information designating recycle information. The electronic memory components may be read-only-memories (ROMs); programmable read-only-memories (PROMs); electrically erasable programmable read-only-memories (EEPROMs); non-volatile random-access-memories (NVRAMs); volatile random-access-memories (RAMs) with a battery; or any other type of electronic memory. The electrical interfaces to the memory components preferably comprise serial data links, which may be either hard-wired data links through electrical connectors, or wireless data links.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2001Publication date: October 24, 2002Inventors: Michael L. Bullock, Antonio J. Villegas
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Publication number: 20020024571Abstract: A large variety of ink delivery systems for an existing inkjet printing system are provided. The ink delivery systems include ink reservoirs of varying configuration and size which are capable of accommodating a variety of ink use rates. Each ink delivery system also has an electrical connector and an information storage device which are suitable for the various ink use rates. The information storage device may be a memory device circuit that provides enabling information to the printing system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2001Publication date: February 28, 2002Inventors: Winthrop D. Childers, Michael L. Bullock, Eric L. Gasvoda, Norman E. Pawlowski, Ovidiu Talpos
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Publication number: 20020024570Abstract: Alternative methods for refurbishing a single-use ink delivery container for a printing system are described. The refurbishing methods include electrical and mechanical reconfiguration or replacement of original elements on the ink delivery container. Each method utilizes an existing ink fluid outlet, electrical connector and an information storage device on the ink delivery container.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2001Publication date: February 28, 2002Inventors: Winthrop D. Childers, Michael L. Bullock, Norman E. Pawlowski, Jeffrey L. Thielman
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Patent number: 6345891Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an ink container for providing ink to an ink-jet printer. The ink container includes an electrical storage device for providing ink container parameters to the ink-jet printer. The electrical storage device contains a configuration parameter for specifying an ink container configuration and an ink volume parameter for specifying an ink volume for the ink container.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2000Date of Patent: February 12, 2002Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Winthrop D. Childers, Ray A. Walker, Michael L. Bullock, Brian L. Helterline
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Publication number: 20020001093Abstract: The present disclosure deals with a replaceable printing component for an ink-jet printing system. The ink-jet printing system is of the type having at least one replaceable component. The replaceable component includes an electrical storage device that is responsive to printing system control signals for transferring information between the printing component and the ink-jet printing system. The replaceable printing component includes a non-protected and a protected electrical storage portion. The non-protected electrical storage portion is responsive to write control signals for storing information provided to the non-protected electrical storage portion. The protected electrical storage portion has a protected state,in response to an occurrence of a write protect active signal. In the protected state the protected electrical storage device prevents storage of information in the protected electrical storage portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2001Publication date: January 3, 2002Inventors: Michael L. Bullock, Brian Helterline
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Patent number: 6322205Abstract: A large variety of ink delivery systems for an existing ink-Jet printing system are provided. The ink delivery systems include ink reservoirs of varying configuration and size which are capable of accommodating a variety of ink use rates. Each ink delivery system also has an electrical connector and an information storage device which are suitable for the various ink use rates. The information storage device may be a memory device circuit that provides enabling information to the printing system.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1998Date of Patent: November 27, 2001Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Winthrop D. Childers, Michael L. Bullock, Eric L. Gasvoda, Norman E. Pawlowski, Jr., Ovidiu Talpos
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Patent number: 6318850Abstract: Alternative methods for refurbishing a single-use ink delivery container for a printing system are described. The refurbishing methods include electrical and mechanical reconfiguration or replacement of original elements on the ink delivery container. Each method utilizes an existing ink fluid outlet, electrical connector and an information storage device on the ink delivery container.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1998Date of Patent: November 20, 2001Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Winthrop D. Childers, Michael L. Bullock, Norman E. Pawlowski, Jr., Jeffrey L. Thielman
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Patent number: 6305795Abstract: The present invention is an ink container for use in an ink jet printing system. The printing system has a printhead under control of printing system electronics and an ink container receiving station for providing ink to the printhead. The replaceable ink container includes a plurality of container interfacing features positioned on the ink container to engage corresponding ink container receiving station interfacing features. The ink container interfacing features are disposed and arranged to allow a plurality of different sizes of the ink container to be installed at a particular location of the receiving station. The ink container also includes an information storage device that provides information indicative of a volume of ink contained in said ink container.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1999Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Inventors: Winthrop D. Childers, Michael L. Bullock, Bruce Cowger, John A. Underwood, Susan M. Hmelar, James E. Clark, Paul D. Gast, John A. Barinaga, David O. Merrill
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Publication number: 20010015738Abstract: The present invention is an ink container for use in an ink jet printing system. The printing system has a printhead under control of printing system electronics and an ink container receiving station for providing ink to the printhead. The replaceable ink container includes a plurality of container interfacing features positioned on the ink container to engage corresponding ink container receiving station interfacing features. The ink container interfacing features are disposed and arranged to allow a plurality of different sizes of the ink container to be installed at a particular location of the receiving station. The ink container also includes an information storage device that provides information indicative of a volume of ink contained in said ink container.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 1999Publication date: August 23, 2001Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANYInventors: WINTHROP D. CHILDERS, MICHAEL L. BULLOCK, BRUCE COWGER, JOHN A. UNDERWOOD, SUSAN M. HMELAR, JAMES E. CLARK, PAUL D. GAST, JOHN A. BARINAGA, DAVID O. MERRILL
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Patent number: 6271928Abstract: The present disclosure deals with a replaceable printing component for an ink-jet printing system. The ink-jet printing system is of the type having at least one replaceable component. The replaceable component includes an electrical storage device that is responsive to printing system control signals for transferring information between the printing component and the ink-jet printing system. The replaceable printing component includes a non-protected and a protected electrical storage portion. The non-protected electrical storage portion is responsive to write control signals for storing information provided to the non-protected electrical storage portion. The protected electrical storage portion has a protected state in response to an occurrence of a write protect active signal. In the protected state the protected electrical storage device prevents storage of information in the protected electrical storage portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1998Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Michael L. Bullock, Brian Helterline
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Publication number: 20010010532Abstract: The present invention is a replaceable ink container for use in an off-axis printing system. The printing system is responsive to electrical signals from the replaceable ink container for controlling printer parameters. The ink container has a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to the direction of insertion into the printing system. The replaceable ink container includes a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the leading edge toward a first side. The plurality of electrical contacts are configured for engaging corresponding electrical printer contacts associated with the printing system. Also included is a fluid outlet disposed on the leading edge toward a second side opposite the first side and spaced from the plurality of electrical contacts. The fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the replaceable ink container. The fluid outlet is configured for engaging a fluid inlet associated with the printing system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2001Publication date: August 2, 2001Inventors: Robert L. Battey, Michael L. Bullock, John A. Barinaga, James E. Clark, John A. Underwood, Paul David Gast, Susan M. Hmelar, David O. Merrill
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Patent number: 6227638Abstract: Methods for electrically refurbishing a depleted single-use printer ink container for a printing system allow the ink container to be refilled and re-used. The memory device provides a signal when coupled to the printing system that indicates the volume of ink left in the container. The original memory device is not resettable by the printer. Four ways are described to refurbish the first memory device: (1) erase the memory with an irradiation source and reprogram; (2) remove the memory along with its electrical contacts; (3) leave the memory device and contacts in place and mount a new source of signals and contacts on top of the first set of electrical elements; or (4) sever continuity between the first electrical contacts and the first memory device and connect a second source of signals to the contacts. The new source of signals could be an emulator or a substitute memory device. The emulator or new memory device may be mounted to the ink container, or located remotely.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1998Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Winthrop D. Childers, Michael L. Bullock
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Patent number: 6203147Abstract: The present invention is a replaceable ink container for use in an off-axis printing system. The printing system is responsive to electrical signals from the replaceable ink container for controlling printer parameters. The ink container has a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to the direction of insertion into the printing system. The replaceable ink container includes a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the leading edge toward a first side. The plurality of electrical contacts are configured for engaging corresponding electrical printer contacts associated with the printing system. Also included is a fluid outlet disposed on the leading edge toward a second side opposite the first side and spaced from the plurality of electrical contacts. The fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the replaceable ink container. The fluid outlet is configured for engaging a fluid inlet associated with the printing system.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 1997Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Robert L. Battey, Michael L. Bullock, John A. Barinaga, James E. Clark, John A. Underwood, Paul David Gast, Susan M. Hmelar, David O. Merrill