Abstract: A reactor comprising an energy source, a plasma unit positioned relative to the energy source, and a processing vessel connected to the plasma unit. The energy source has a generator that produces a plasma energy and a transmitter to transmit the plasma energy. The plasma unit has a first portion or transmissive portion through which the plasma energy can propagate, a second portion or distributor portion having a plurality of outlets, and a chamber in fluid communication with the plurality of outlets. The chamber is generally between or within the first and second portions. The plasma energy can pass through at least the first portion and into the chamber to create a plasma in the chamber. The second portion can also be transmissive or opaque to the plasma energy. The processing vessel includes a workpiece holder across from the outlets of the second portion of the plasma unit.

Abstract: Image forming devices, image forming device consumable assemblies and image forming device communication methods are provided.

Abstract: Image forming devices, image forming device fabrication methods and image forming device operational methods are described. In one embodiment, an image forming device includes an image engine configured to use a consumable to form hard images, and circuitry configured to control imaging of the hard images using the image engine operating in one of a first operational mode having a first consumable consumption rate and a second operational mode having a second consumable consumption rate different than the first consumable consumption rate, wherein the circuitry is further configured to switch the imaging of the hard images from the first operational mode to the second operational mode to reduce consumption of the consumable and responsive to the presence of a defined device status condition pertinent to the formation of hard images using the image forming device.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for reducing the creation of electrostatic memory. In one embodiment, a system and a method pertain to determining whether print content is to be repeated across consecutive pages, and if the print content is to be repeated, controlling a print engine of the imaging device to reduce electrostatic memory on a photoconductor member of the print engine.

Abstract: Method GEDAP (Genotyping Based on Diagnostic Amplification Products) for detecting and/or preventing genotyping errors on the basis of the amplification products of a polymorphic locus. The method is based on the joint analysis of homoduplexes and Diagnostic Additional Products (DAPs) generated from the amplification of a polymorphic locus. The method is highly effective for detecting and/or preventing genotyping errors due to total or partial non-amplifications occurring during amplification procedures such as the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

Abstract: Estimating toner levels. A method embodiment includes maintaining a running pulse width count, sensing a toner level, and comparing the running pulse width count with an expected pulse width count to estimate a toner level. If the estimated toner level deviates from the sensed toner level, the running pulse width count and the sensed toner level are used to estimate the remaining toner level.

Abstract: Image forming devices, image forming device fabrication methods and image forming device operational methods are described. In one embodiment, an image forming device includes an image engine configured to use a consumable to form hard images, and circuitry configured to control imaging of the hard images using the image engine operating in one of a first operational mode having a first consumable consumption rate and a second operational mode having a second consumable consumption rate different than the first consumable consumption rate, wherein the circuitry is further configured to switch the imaging of the hard images from the first operational mode to the second operational mode to reduce consumption of the consumable and responsive to the presence of a defined device status condition pertinent to the formation of hard images using the image forming device.

Abstract: Image forming devices, image forming device consumable assemblies and image forming device communication methods are provided.

Abstract: A printing system utilizes memory integrated into a replaceable component to store printing device usage data. The manufacturer of the printing device retrieves the data when the component is returned to the manufacturer for recycling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for matching the gloss level of a printed region of a media substrate surface to the gloss level of a non-printed region of the media substrate surface are provided. Optical reflection intensities are measured in both printed and non-printed regions of the media substrate surface and read by a gloss sensing device which communicates the intensities to a printer controller. The printer controller compares the reflection intensities for the two regions to determine if they are substantially equivalent. If they are not substantially equivalent, the printer controller instructs alterations in printing parameters, e.g., temperature and/or pressure of fuser rollers, in an effort to establish equivalence.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for enabling a burst mode in a printing device to accelerate a first page out time for a print job. A warm up period typically allowed in a laser printer is used to heat up a fuser to an optimum temperature. When certain printing conditions exist, burst mode enables the printer to omit the warm up period and operate with the fuser at a lower temperature. The lower temperature is acceptable for most printing conditions without degrading print quality. If the print conditions indicate the warm up period is desirable, then burst mode is not enabled. Print conditions include temperature, humidity, print job length, print job coverage, print job media size, simplex/duplex mode, and the like.

Abstract: A method, a computer readable medium and an apparatus for modifying a printing process in response to an environmental condition received via a network. In the method, the environmental condition is received via the network and the printing process is modified in response to the environmental condition. In the computer readable medium, software embedded in the medium includes executable code to perform the above mentioned method. In the apparatus, a printing device is configured to apply a colorant to a print medium and a controller is configured to modify the printing device based on the environmental condition received via the network.

Abstract: A method, a computer readable medium and an apparatus for modifying a printing process in response to an environmental condition received via a network. In the method, the environmental condition is received via the network and the printing process is modified in response to the environmental condition. In the computer readable medium, software embedded in the medium includes executable code to perform the above mentioned method. In the apparatus, a printing device is configured to apply a colorant to a print medium and a controller is configured to modify the printing device based on the environmental condition received via the network.

Abstract: A method, a computer readable medium and an apparatus for modifying a printing process in response to an environmental condition received via a network. In the method, the environmental condition is received via the network and the printing process is modified in response to the environmental condition. In the computer readable medium, software embedded in the medium includes executable code to perform the above mentioned method. In the apparatus, a printing device is configured to apply a colorant to a print medium and a controller is configured to modify the printing device based on the environmental condition received via the network.

Abstract: A method of modifying an electrophotographic process in response to an environmental factor within an electrophotographic area of a printing device is disclosed. The method includes sensing the environmental factor within the electrophotographic area of the printing device and modifying the electrophotographic process in response to the sensed environmental factor. A computer readable medium on which is embedded computer software is also disclosed. The software is executable to perform the above mentioned method. A system for performing the above mentioned method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An amount of toner remaining within a toner cartridge is determined by sensing an environmental factor, determining a pulse width count, and determining a corrected pulse width count based on the pulse width count and the environmental factor. In addition, the amount of toner remaining within the toner cartridge is calculated based on the corrected pulse width count and a predetermined starting amount of toner in the toner cartridge.

Abstract: The invention includes a method, a computer readable medium and an apparatus for correcting a pulse width count. In one respect, the invention includes a method for correcting a pulse width count in response to an environmental factor. The method comprises determining the pulse width count and calculating a corrected pulse width count based on the pulse width count and the environmental factor. In another respect, the invention includes a computer readable medium on which is embedded computer software capable of automatically correcting a pulse width count in response to an environmental factor. The software performs the above method. In yet another respect, the invention is an apparatus for performing the above method.

Abstract: The invention includes a method, a computer readable medium and an apparatus for correcting a half tone pulse width count. In one respect, the invention includes a method for correcting a half tone pulse width count. The method comprises determining the half tone pulse width count, determining a half tone level, and calculating a corrected pulse width count based on the half tone pulse width count and the half tone level. In another respect, the invention includes a computer readable medium on which is embedded computer software capable of automatically correcting a half tone pulse width count. The software performs the above method. In yet another respect, the invention includes an apparatus for performing the above method.

Abstract: The invention includes a method, a computer readable medium, and an apparatus of estimating toner usage based on pulse width count and pulse edge count. In one respect, the invention includes a method for estimating toner usage. The method comprises determining a pulse width count, determining a pulse edge count, and calculating a toner usage value based on the pulse width count and the pulse edge count. In another respect, the invention includes a computer readable medium on which is embedded computer software. The software comprises a program. The program performs the above mentioned method. In yet another respect, the invention includes a system. The apparatus may be configured to perform the above mentioned method.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating notifications associated with the lifetime of peripheral unit consumables are described. In the described embodiments, users or clients are able to define and adjust their own threshold values that are associated with a consumable's lifetime. In one embodiment, a lifetime monitoring mechanism is provided and monitors the lifetime of a peripheral unit consumable that is associated with operation of the peripheral unit. The lifetime monitoring mechanism is configured with a user-manipulable, threshold-defining mechanism that is configured to receive user input and, responsive to the user input, define a threshold value for the lifetime monitoring mechanism. The peripheral unit's use of the consumable is monitored using the lifetime monitoring mechanism. A determination is made when the peripheral unit's use of the consumable reaches the threshold value and, responsive thereto, a notification is generated.