Patents by Inventor Steven L. Lidke

Steven L. Lidke 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: 6789876
    Abstract: An improved, large-format digital inkjet print engine that includes a group of co-operating print engine subassemblies that embody various novel elements that both discreetly and cumulatively advance the current art. The group of subassemblies and sensors cooperate to produce high quality graphic images using a plurality of different colors of ink and different types of print media at speeds several times faster than similar conventional inkjet printers. In addition, the use of cooperating elements permit the manufacture of complex, large-format digital color inkjet print engines that are less expensive to fabricated, operated, and serviced. The present invention finds use in large-format digital color printing and imaging, where successful repeatable printing requires precise placement of droplets of ink, toner or other marking material on a print medium such as paper, vinyl, film, or similar substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventors: Aaron G. Barclay, Dale G. Nordenstrom, Daniel L. Jankovich, Dennis B. Shell, Ivor F. Matz, John L. Knaack, Kerry R. Anderson, Kevin R. Campion, Larry W. Gonier, Mark E. Olsen, Peter E. Malecha, Peter N. Ladas, Richard J. Bigaoutte, Robert A. Schmidt, Steven L. Lidke, Wade A. Kragtorp
  • Publication number: 20030007023
    Abstract: An improved, large-format digital inkjet print engine that includes a group of co-operating print engine subassemblies that embody various novel elements that both discreetly and cumulatively advance the current art. The group of subassemblies and sensors cooperate to produce high quality graphic images using a plurality of different colors of ink and different types of print media at speeds several times faster than similar conventional inkjet printers. In addition, the use of cooperating elements permit the manufacture of complex, large-format digital color inkjet print engines that are less expensive to fabricated, operated, and serviced. The present invention finds use in large-format digital color printing and imaging, where successful repeatable printing requires precise placement of droplets of ink, toner or other marking material on a print medium such as paper, vinyl, film, or similar substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Aaron G. Barclay, Dale G. Nordenstrom, Daniel L. Jankovich, Dennis B. Shell, Ivor F. Matz, John L. Knaack, Kerry R. Anderson, Kevin R. Campion, Larry W. Gonier, Mark E. Olsen, Peter E. Malecha, Peter N. Ladas, Richard J. Bigaoutte, Robert A. Schmidt, Steven L. Lidke, Wade A. Kragtorp
  • Patent number: 5805183
    Abstract: A scanning head ink jet printer utilizes variable paper advance interlacing. The printer includes a plurality of heads each having a plurality of rows of uniformly spaced ink jets which print different colors. A printing medium is advanced in a series of non-uniform distances (d.sub.1, d.sub.2, d.sub.3, d.sub.4) the sum of which is equal to the total number of uniformly-spaced ink jets (n) of one of the colors times the uniform spacing (s) of one pixel row from an adjacent pixel row. In a specific embodiment, a total advance of the printing medium is equal to the total number of uniformly-serial spaced ink jets of one color is 48, the spacing is four pixels, and the non-uniform distances include 49, 49, 45 and 49 pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: LaserMaster Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Lidke, Jeff D. Pagel, Paul R. Erickson
  • Patent number: 5790150
    Abstract: A printer controller for an ink jet printer controls a print head to selectively print only a portion of the print dots at pixels locations in a print swath during each pass of a print carriage across a print medium. At least four passes are made before the print medium is advanced to a new print swath. The portion of the pixel locations for each pass are chosen such that no pixel location to be printed on that pass is orthogonally or diagonally adjacent to any other pixel location to be printed in the same pass. To improve linear print speed, the print carriage is moved across the print medium at a speed that is greater than a maximum firing rate for the print head divided by a print dot density for the ink jet printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Colorspan Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Lidke, Paul R. Erickson, Jeff D. Pagel
  • Patent number: 5751303
    Abstract: A hot melt ink jet printer capable of handling 54 inch media widths and printing at a minimum resolution of 300 dots per inch. The ink jet printer of the present invention includes a printing medium handling system for transporting the printing medium through the printer. The printing medium handling system includes a paper tensioning system for maintaining a constant tension in the printing medium as the printing medium is advanced past the print heads for imaging and also subsequently as the printing medium is post-image heated. A readable/writable memory unit accompanies the supply of printing medium and provides information indicative of the color characteristics, handling characteristics, and/or related characteristics associated with the printing medium for use by a controller at each important control point of the paper path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Lasermaster Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Erickson, Brian W. Kleve, Robert Schaffer, Steven L. Lidke, Robert L. Skubic
  • Patent number: 5499305
    Abstract: Pixels in a grayscale image are identified for coalescing based on a corresponding value in a threshold matrix. This threshold matrix value is then used to determine both the color and number of pixels to be coalesced at this location. Grayscale pixels are then coalesced based on pixels which will ultimately be the same color as the identified pixel. The coalesced grayscale image is then compared on a pixel-by-pixel basis to corresponding values in the threshold matrix to determine a halftone image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Lasermaster Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Lidke, Reed R. Esau