Abstract: An output driver circuit for a semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the output driver is coupled to an output terminal of the semiconductor device and consists of an N-channel pull-down transistor and a P-channel pull-up transistor formed in an N-well in a P-type substrate. A tie-down region formed in the N-well is selectively coupled to a supply potential by means of a decoupling transistor, and during normal operation of the driver maintains the supply voltage bias of the N-well. An overdrive detection circuit is coupled to the output terminal. Upon detection of an overdrive condition on the output terminal, such as a voltage exceeding a predetermined maximum, or excessive current injected into the output terminal (or both), the overdrive detection circuit deasserts a control signal applied to the gate of the decoupling transistor, thereby decoupling the N-well from the supply potential. In one embodiment, the decoupling transistor is not coupled to the output terminal.

Abstract: An environmental condition detection system for a hardcopy device, such as an inkjet printing mechanism, includes an environmental condition sensor having an optical property which changes in response to a change in an environmental condition, for instance humidity or temperature. The system also has an optical sensor which detects changes in the optical property and generates a signal for a controller that responds by changing an operating parameter of the hardcopy device. A hard copy device having such a environmental condition detection system is also provided, along with a method of determining an environmental condition within which a hardcopy device is operating.

Abstract: An ink drop detector includes a sensing target which is imparted with an electrical stimulus when struck by at least one ink drop burst which has been ejected from an ink drop generator. The detector also includes electronics coupled to the sensing target which characterize the electrical stimulus in terms of a mathematical phase. Methods for analyzing ink ejected from an ink drop generator, and a method for optimizing ink drop generator firing frequency are also provided.

Abstract: A shared redundancy prefetch scheme to provide a reduced number of fuses. DDR SDRAMs allow burst addressing at various burst lengths. DDR SDRAMs generally implement LEFT and RIGHT segment column addressing. In DDR SDRAMs which implement redundant memory arrays, fuses may be used to provide access to the redundant columns. Because burst addressing may begin with a RIGHT segment address, two different columns may be accessed on the same clock cycle. By providing a compare scheme which implements separate compare logic for the lower bits of the LEFT and RIGHT segments and compares these bits to a common fuse set used for both the LEFT and RIGHT segments, the number of fuses in the redundant DDR SDRAM scheme can be reduced.

Abstract: An ink drop detector includes a sensing target which is imparted with an electrical stimulus when struck by at least one ink drop burst which has been ejected from an ink drop generator. The detector also includes electronics coupled to the sensing target which characterize the electrical stimulus in terms of a mathematical phase. Methods for analyzing ink ejected from an ink drop generator, and a method for optimizing ink drop generator firing frequency are also provided.

Abstract: A method of transferring a plurality of data bits from memory cells to a data pad via a plurality of output paths. Each of the output paths receives the data bits in parallel and selects one bit among the data bits. Selected bits from each of the output paths is transferred to an output select. A plurality of timing signals are activated in sequence based on alternate phases of two enable signals to serially transfer the data bits from the output select to the data pad.

Abstract: A faucet for a water dispenser has a seat secured on a front housing. The seat has at least one nozzle formed therein. At least one button is provided above the seat to control the nozzle's on/off modes when a user presses the button inwards. The button has a slot longitudinally defined therein and a locking key is movably received in the slot. The locking key has a finger extending downwards and blocked by the front housing. The button cannot be pressed when the locking key in a locked position, and can be pressed when the locking key is moved to an unlocked position to retract the finger.

Abstract: A sensor includes an ink drop sensing element integral to a printed circuit board. Sensing circuitry is coupled to the printed circuit board and may be configured to receive electrical signals from the sensing element. A method of manufacturing such an ink drop sensor and a printing mechanism having such an ink drop sensor are also provided.

Abstract: A cleaning system is provided for cleaning ink residue from a sensor in a printing mechanism which deposits ink on the sensor, which comprises a scraper member having a head which, through relative motion of the head and sensor, gathers ink residue from the sensor; a flexible member having plural cleaning segments which, through relative motion and engagement of the flexible member and the head, flexes and collects ink residue from the head with the cleaning segments; wherein the flexible member comprises first and second springs, the first spring comprises a coil spring defining an interior space; and the second spring comprises a coil spring located in the interior space of the first spring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for masking data written to a memory device that reduces the effective write cycle time of the memory device is disclosed. Firing of the column selects is pre-empted, thereby masking data to be written to a memory device. By pre-empting the column selects, the margin required for disabling a write driver can be eliminated, thereby reducing the effective write cycle. Additionally, data masking can be performed on a per-byte basis by associating independent column selects with each data byte on multi-byte wide devices, e.g., ×16 or ×32.

Abstract: Determining inkjet printer pen turn-on voltages is disclosed. An inkjet printer has a number of pens, and a number of sets of nozzles in each pen. Each set of nozzles of a pen is fired at each of a number of voltages, to obtain a voltage-value curve for each set of nozzles. A nozzle turn-on voltage for each set of nozzles is determined based on a maximum slope of its voltage-value curve. The turn-on voltage for each pen is determined based on the nozzle turn-on voltages of the voltage-value curves for its sets of nozzles.

Abstract: A bulldozer-type cleaning system is provided for removing ink residue from an electrostatic drop detecting sensor which detects ink droplets contacting the detector. A scraper head scrapes the ink residue from the sensor, and then contacts a flexible, compliant cleaning member, illustrated as a coil spring. The spring is secured at each end and is stretched when pushed by the scraper head. This stretching flexation allows the spring to trap the ink residue between the coils. As the scraper head retracts, the resulting contracting flexation of the spring squeezes the ink residue from between the coils. Any ink residue remaining on the coils dries and then flakes off the coils when the spring is stretched again during the next cleaning stroke of the scraper head. An inkjet printing mechanism having such a cleaning system, and a method of cleaning a sensor are also provided.

Abstract: A sensor includes an ink drop sensing element integral to a printed circuit board. Sensing circuitry is coupled to the printed circuit board and may be configured to receive electrical signals from the sensing element. A method of manufacturing such an ink drop sensor and a printing mechanism having such an ink drop sensor are also provided.

Abstract: A sensor configuration for use in detecting ink droplets ejected from an ink drop generator is provided. The sensor configuration includes a sensing element configured to receive a biasing voltage which creates an electric field from the sensing element to the ink drop generator. The sensor configuration also includes a sensing amplifier coupled to the sensing element, whereby the sensing element in imparted with an electrical stimulus when at least one ink droplet is ejected in the presence of the electric field, and thereafter passes in close proximity to the sensing element without substantially contacting the sensing element. Sensor configurations with a separate electrically biasing element which may or may not contact the ink droplets are also provided. Additionally, a printing mechanism having such sensor configurations and a method of making ink drop detection measurements are also provided.

Abstract: An environmental condition detection system for a hardcopy device, such as an inkjet printing mechanism, includes an environmental condition sensor having an optical property which changes in response to a change in an environmental condition, for instance humidity or temperature. The system also has an optical sensor which detects changes in the optical property and generates a signal for a controller that responds by changing an operating parameter of the hardcopy device. A hard copy device having such a environmental condition detection system is also provided, along with a method of determining an environmental condition within which a hardcopy device is operating.