Patents by Inventor Ronald D. Stephens, Jr.

Ronald D. Stephens, Jr. 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: 6962401
    Abstract: Various embodiments include methods and systems for monitoring a production line for non-printing events, and responsive to detecting an event, ascertaining whether an operation can be effected with an inkjet printer stationed along the production line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kurt E. Thiessen, Robert Fogarty, Ronald D. Stephens, Jr., Josep-Maria Serra, Mark McGarry
  • Patent number: 6644764
    Abstract: A document printing and verification system and method. The system includes a printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium, and an inkjet printer apparatus for printing an invisible identification pattern such as a barcode on the print medium which is invisible to the naked eye under normal ambient illumination. A scanner apparatus is positioned for producing an image of the identification image for verification use. The scanner apparatus includes a light source for illuminating an imaging zone with light including nonvisible energy components and a camera sensitive to nonvisible light from the print medium to form an image of the nonvisible identification image. The inkjet printhead is a high resolution printhead adapted to provide inkjet barcode printing resolution at least as high as 600 dots per inch, improving edge acuity of the pattern, and permits very high density information to be imprinted on the document page. The inkjet ink includes a UV dye and an FR/IR dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Ronald D. Stephens, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6439688
    Abstract: A technique of forming a bar of a bar code on print media by a printing device having a plurality of colorants. Each one of the individual bars has a leading edge and a trailing edge that help to define a central region of the bar. The relative locations of the leading edge and trailing edge are determined and a first colorant, usually black, is deposited at the leading edge. A composite of the first colorant, and the other printhead colorants, are deposited in the central region while the first colorant is deposited at the trailing edge. A bar of a bar code produced by this technique has a clearly defined leading and trailing edge for bar code readers to measure while the central region of the bar includes a composite of colorants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Vives, Ronald D Stephens, Jr., Xavier Bruch
  • Patent number: 6239822
    Abstract: A replaceable ink supply module which provides replenishment of an inkjet printhead includes a collapsible bag, an enclosure box, a connective tube, and an on/off valve. These four components are incorporated into a composite sealed system which remains intact during shipment, storage, installation and operation. The collapsible bag is placed inside of the protective enclosure box and has an end-connect outlet permanently attached to one end of the connective tube. The other end of the connective tube carries a permanently attached on/off valve designed for periodic engagement with an inlet valve of an inkjet printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Elizabeth Zapata, Mark E. Young, Robert Giles, Felix Ruiz, Rosa Calatayud, Ronald D. Stephens, Jr., Erich Coiner, Max S. Gunther
  • Patent number: 6179401
    Abstract: An inkjet printing system which provides feedback to enable the user to determine whether various replaceable components such as print cartridges, valve holders, and service station cassettes have been installed in proper position. The system includes a printhead carriage and a first sensor feedback device to determine whether a printhead is installed in an operable position on the carriage. The system also includes at least one off-carriage ink supply to which a printhead or printheads on the carriage is/are periodically connected for periodically providing ink to the printheads and a second sensor feedback device to determine whether the replaceable. off-carriage ink supplies are installed in an operable position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Ronald D. Stephens, Jr., Don Boutin, Manel Martinez, Brian Canfield, Amy Van Liew
  • Patent number: 6120132
    Abstract: An ink replenishment kit and method for an inkjet printer includes a replaceable ink supply module providing replenishment of an inkjet printhead, The module includes a collapsible bag, an enclosure box, a connective tube, and an on/off valve. These four components are incorporated into a composite sealed system which remains intact during shipment, storage, installation and operation. A coupler is provided to securely attach a print cartridge inlet with the on/off valve to hold them together in an open position allowing ink to be replenished into the print cartridge from the collapsible bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Erich E. Coiner, Paul S. Wu, Max S. Gunther, Ronald D. Stephens, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6076920
    Abstract: A replaceable ink supply module which provides replenishment of an inkjet printhead includes a collapsible bag, an enclosure box, a connective tube, and an on/off valve. These four components are incorporated into a composite sealed system which remains intact during shipment, storage, installation and operation. The collapsible bag is placed inside of the protective enclosure box and has an end-connect outlet permanently attached to one end of the connective tube. The other end of the connective tube carries a permanently attached on/off valve designed for periodic engagement with an inlet valve of an inkjet printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Elizabeth Zapata, Mark E Young, Robert R Giles, Felix Ruiz, Rosa Calatayud, Ronald D. Stephens, Jr., Max Stephen Gunther, Erich Coiner
  • Patent number: 6065824
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a replaceable ink cartridge for providing ink to an ink-jet printer. The replaceable ink cartridge includes a memory associated with the replaceable ink container. The memory has a single data terminal and a reference terminal. The memory is responsive to control signals provided to a single data terminal relative to the reference terminal by the ink-jet printer for providing a data signal representative of stored information to the single data terminal relative to the reference terminal. The data signal is sensed by the ink-jet printer for adjusting printer operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Michael L. Bullock, Winthrop D Childers, Bartley Mark Hirst, Ronald D Stephens, Jr., Antoni Gil Miquel
  • Patent number: 5835817
    Abstract: A printer/copier apparatus is adapted to receive a replacement ink cartridge that is employed during the printing/copying operation. The apparatus includes a receptacle with a first connector that is coupled to a processor which controls operation of the apparatus. The cartridge includes a second connector which mates with the first connector and a serial access memory that is connected to the second connector. Data transfers are enabled both from and to the memory to enable access and modification of data stored therein that is indicative of cartridge usage, calibration, and to parameters for controlling operation of the apparatus. The invention is applicable to replaceable apparatus used with laser and ink jet printers, copiers, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Company
    Inventors: Michael L. Bullock, Winthrop D. Childers, B. Mark Hirst, Ronald D. Stephens, Jr., Antoni Gil Miquel
  • Patent number: 5699091
    Abstract: A printer/copier apparatus is adapted to receive a replacement ink cartridge that is employed during the printing/copying operation. The apparatus includes a receptacle with a first connector that is coupled to a processor which controls operation of the apparatus. The cartridge includes a second connector which mates with the first connector and a serial access memory that is connected to the second connector. Data transfers are enabled both from and to the memory to enable access and modification of data stored therein that is indicative of cartridge usage, calibration, and to parameters for controlling operation of the apparatus. The invention is applicable to replaceable apparatus used with laser and ink jet printers, copiers, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Michael L. Bullock, Winthrop D. Childers, B. Mark Hirst, Ronald D. Stephens, Jr., Antoni Gil Miquel
  • Patent number: D426850
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Erich Coiner, Max S. Gunther, Rosa Calatayud, Ronald D. Stephens, Jr.