Patents by Inventor Niki J. Murrell

Niki J. Murrell 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).

  • Media tray stack height sensor with continuous height feedback and discrete intermediate and limit states
    Patent number: 7374163
    Abstract: A media stack height sensor in an image forming apparatus with a flag arm that is in contact with a top surface a media stack. The arm is coupled to a flag characterized by varying transmissivity. The flag is moveable by the flag arm so that as the position of the arm changes in relation to the stack height, a different portion of the flag is positioned between a transmitter and receiver of an optical sensor disposed within the body of the image forming apparatus. The flag accordingly reduces the amount of optical energy received by the receiver. The receiver output signal indicates the height of the media stack. The flag also includes features that further limit light transmission to the receiver to provide discrete stack height indications such as low, empty, full, or intermediate states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Willliam P. Cook, Daniel L. Carter, Niki J. Murrell, Raymond J. Barry