Lexmark International, Inc.

Funai Electric Company Ltd.

Ricky Earl Robbins

Mark Joseph Edwards

Brian Keith Owens

Adam Jude Ahne

Marvin Nicholson

Michael Kelley Webb

William Michael Connors

John Thomas Writt

Robert Henry Muyskens

Brian Dale Cook

Jason McReynolds

Douglas Laurence Robertson

Mark Doerre

William George Goff, Iii

Michael Ray Wedding

Hugh Edwin Gilbert

Daivd Ward

A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of ink. A housing defines an interior having a pair of opposed electrodes. The electrodes have a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid between them. A controller energizes one electrode and receives an output reading from the other. The controller processes the reading on board the housing and supplies it as a digital data stream to the imaging device during use. A memory stores calibration values for an empty and full housing. The controller writes back to the memory present fluid levels obtained from the output reading of the electrode. An enable output allows operation or not of a fluid pump in the imaging device. Materials, construction, modularity, and fluid communication ports are further embodiments, to name a few.

Consumable supply item with fluid sensing for micro-fluid applications

An imaging apparatus includes an image capturing system. A controller is communicatively coupled to the image capturing system. A scanner body has a scanner opening. The image capturing system is located adjacent the scanner opening. A document planar member is positioned across the scanner opening. The document planar member is communicatively coupled to the controller. The document planar member has an input operating state wherein the document planar member receives at least one input from a user input object and supplies the at least one input to the controller for further processing.

Imaging apparatus having a document planar member with an input operating state

An imaging apparatus includes an image capturing system. A controller is communicatively coupled to the image capturing system. A scanner body has a scanner opening. The image capturing system is located adjacent the scanner opening. A document planar member is positioned across the scanner opening. The document planar member is communicatively coupled to the controller. The document planar member has a transparent state wherein the document planar member is clear and having a translucent state wherein the document planar member is translucent. The controller executes program instructions to control the document planar member to display scan operation related indicia formed by controlling a first portion of the document planar member to be in the transparent state and controlling a second portion of the document planar member to be in the translucent state.

Imaging apparatus having a document planar member that displays scan operation related indicia

An imaging apparatus includes a scan bar having a scanner head. A drive mechanism is drivably coupled to the scan bar. A controller is communicatively coupled to the scanner head and the drive mechanism. A scanner body has a cover defining a scanner opening in which a document glass is mounted. The scan bar is located below the cover. The scanner body has a home position opening separate from the scanner opening that passes through the cover. A scanner lid is pivotably coupled to the scanner body. The scanner lid has a home protrusion located for mating engagement with the home position opening of the scanner body when the scanner lid is closed to define a home position for the scanner head.

Imaging apparatus having scan lid sensing

A RFID linking device-based switchable sensor can be used to detect an unseated condition of one component with another component. The switchable sensor includes a RFID linking device, such as a RFID tag, with an electrical circuitry mountable on the one component and a switchable device incorporated with two portions of the electrical circuitry physically and electrically separated from one another such that the switchable device is exposed and normally in a first condition disabling the RFID linking device to a communicatively unavailable state. The switchable device is accessible from externally of the switchable sensor and thus switchable to a second condition, due to contact with an actuator element on the other component, enabling the RFID linking device to a communicatively available state in response to the one component being placed in the seated condition with the other component.

RFID linking device-based switchable sensor, component with switchable sensor, and system for detecting component unseated

User-selectable functions for use in output devices to generate background images. One embodiment of the invention provides an image capture and printing device for creating a scanned image of an item or an original image. The device includes a user interface configured to present a plurality of capture-to functions and to receive input from a user indicating a selection of at least one of the plurality of capture-to functions; an image capturer configured to capture an image, where the size, shape, or intensity of the image, or a combination thereof is based upon the selected capture-to function; and a print engine configured to print the captured image as a background layer in a copy.

User-selectable functions for use in output devices to generate background images

A method for determining a printhead gap between a printhead and a sheet of media in an ink jet apparatus that performs bi-directional alignment of the printhead includes determining a first amount of bi-directional misalignment of the printhead at a first unknown printhead gap; changing the printhead gap from the first unknown printhead gap to a second unknown printhead gap by a known printhead gap change amount; determining a second amount of bi-directional misalignment of the printhead at the second unknown printhead gap; and calculating at least one of the first unknown printhead gap and the second unknown printhead gap based on the first amount of bi-directional misalignment, the second amount of bi-directional misalignment, and the known printhead gap change amount.

Method for determining a printhead gap in an ink jet apparatus that performs bi-directional alignment of the printhead

An apparatus for perforating a sheet of print media having a front side and a back side includes a printhead carriage for carrying a printhead. A perforator carriage carries a perforation forming mechanism. An isolation damper having elastic, vibration absorbing, characteristics couples the printhead carriage to the perforator carriage.

Perforation forming mechanism for use in an imaging apparatus

Method for printing an image on a print medium having an edge or an edge portion. A printer adapted to print the image by printing dots is obtained. Dots are printed beyond a preselected distance from the edge or edge portion at a first percent of print dot density. Dots are printed at and within the preselected distance from the edge or edge portion at a varying percent of print dot density, wherein the varying percent steps down and not up at least two times as the distance from the edge or edge portion of dots to be printed decreases. In one example, the printer is an inkjet printer.

Method for borderless printing using a printer adapted to print dots

A power control circuit is connected between a power source and an electronic controller in a device such as a printer and includes a latchable power delivery state for delivering power to an electronic controller of the device. Temporary closure of a switch latches the power control circuit in its power delivery state. The electronic controller subsequently detects temporary closure of the switch and responds with an output signal that unlatches the power control circuit into a power non-delivery state. The power control circuit may include an associated kick-start circuit portion for causing the power control circuit to latch into its power delivery state in response to initial application of power by the power source.

Power control circuit for printers and other devices

A calibration resistor and a capacitance load are placed in parallel across the output of a voltage source and a first decay time is determined for the voltage to reach a second voltage from a first voltage after the voltage source is disconnected. With the calibration resistor electrically removed, N printheads of a printer and the capacitance load are placed in parallel across the voltage source output. In a first example, the voltage across the capacitance load at a second decay time, which is shorter than the first decay time, is determined and indicates at least one possibly shorted printhead when less than the second voltage. In a second example, the voltage across the capacitance load at the first decay time is determined and indicates at least one possibly shorted printhead when less than a third voltage which is less than the second voltage.

Method for detecting a shorted printhead in a printer having at least two printheads

The invention is drawn to a test circuit for an ink jet printer which measures the voltage decay over time. Specifically, the test circuit utilizes a known resistor connected to the power source (voltage) and the printer. The printer functions as a capacitor to complete the test circuit as an RC circuit. After isolating the power source from the test circuit, the voltage decay is monitored to indicate the presence of a short circuit.

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Harrodsburg, KY, United States of America

Ricky Earl Robbins