Zih Corporation

Zebra Technologies Corporation

Zih Crop.

Robert A Ehrhardt

David L Poole

Douglas A Fox

Rod DeMay

John Ham

Gary F Lynch

Donald V Thielen

Eugene K Brown

Robert S Gawelczyk

James M Rehberger

Mark B Urban

Derek J Hampson

Dan Monnier

Kenneth Folke Ullenius

Dale William Skamra

Robert Edward Lass, Jr

Daniel F Donato

Dwight David Dipert

Ashok K Charles

David Scott Schmitt

An example method includes comparing, via circuitry, a first signal indicative of a first amount of light received by a first light sensor to a second signal indicative of a second amount of light received by a second light sensor, wherein the second light sensor is to compensate for an environmental change by detecting the second amount of light transmitted by a light source regardless of a presence or absence of an object in the conveyance path; determine, via the circuitry, whether a reflection loss is present based on the comparing of the first and second signals; and if the circuitry detects the reflection loss based on the comparing of the first and second signals, generating a presence indication.

Clear card sensors

An example disclosed method includes providing power transmissions from a power storage unit to a power converter of a printing device, the power converter to supply an available amount of power to a print mechanism, the print mechanism having separately controllable print elements; determining a required amount of power for an upcoming print operation that involves energizing the print elements, the print elements including a first group of the print elements and a second group of the print elements; when the required amount of power is less than or equal to the available amount of power, performing the print operation by simultaneously energizing the print elements; and when the required amount of power is greater than the available amount of power, performing the print operation by alternately energizing the first group of the print elements at first times and the second group of the print elements at second times.

Methods and apparatus for supplying power to a printer

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for sensing clear or transparent media in printers. In one embodiment, a media conveyance apparatus is provided comprising a light sensor positioned on a first side of a media conveyance path; a light source positioned on a second side of the media conveyance path; and presence determination circuitry. The media conveyance apparatus is configured such that the light sensor and the light source are positioned such that media may pass between the light sensor and the light source along the media conveyance path. The media conveyance apparatus is further configured such that the light sensor provides signals to the presence determination circuitry indicating an amount of light received from the light source and the presence determination circuitry determines a reflection loss based on the signals received from the light sensor and further determines whether the reflection loss satisfies a loss threshold. The media conveyance apparatus is further configured so that if the presence determination circuitry determines the reflection loss satisfies the loss threshold, the presence determination circuitry outputs a media present indication.

Systems, devices, and related methods for shaping near field interrogation signals are discussed herein. An example spindle supported near field communication (NFC) device includes a spindle configured to mount to a mounting surface, the spindle having an axis of rotation; a beam shaping NFC device including: a ferromagnetic core portion coaxial with the spindle; a coil disposed around the core portion, the coil to generate a near field interrogation signal; a first ferromagnetic flange portion to direct the near field interrogation signal in directions extending radially from the axis and to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending in a first axial direction associated with the axis; and a second ferromagnetic flange portion to direct the near field interrogation signal in the directions extending radially from the axis and to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending in a second axial direction associated with the axis.

Spindle supported near field communication device

Provided herein are devices, systems, methods and various means, including those related to printer systems and, more particularly, relate to methods, apparatuses, systems and other means for monitoring a printer ribbon. Some embodiments use a multi-element detector, which is configured to detect a particular type of light emitted from a light emitter. The multi-state detector can include two sensors, one of which includes a polarizer filter that blocks polarized light. Embodiments can be used to determine, among other things, whether or not a printer ribbon is installed in a printer without the use of a snap plate.

Methods and apparatus to detect an ink ribbon based on types of light

Ethernet and Universal Serial Bus (USB) powered printing devices are provided. In particular, Ethernet and USB powered printers and methods of Ethernet powering of printers that support high speed printing and/or data intensive printing. Such high-speed and/or data intensive printing operations are able to be Ethernet or USB powered by providing for a power storage unit within the printer device that is able be charged during non-printing periods and provide for necessary energy bursts to support such higher powered processes. In addition, the present invention provides for devices and methods that allow for printers to operate with main power provided by conventional power mains and for back-up or secondary power to be supplied by Ethernet or USB power. Additionally, the invention provides for Ethernet or USB powering, both primary and back-up, of the data and configuration settings in the printer control and image generating electronics. In the back-up power mode, the Ethernet or USB power insures that data and configurations are not lost during periods of main power outage. The invention also provides a printer and method that can optimize a printing operation, e.g., by adjusting the speed of the printing operation according to the power required for the operation and/or the power available.

Ethernet and USB powered printers and methods for supplying Ethernet and USB power to a printer

Systems, devices, and related methods for shaping near field interrogation signals are discussed herein. Some embodiments may provide for a spindle supported near field communication (NFC) device including a spindle configured to mount to a mounting surface, and a beam shaping NFC device. The beam shaping NFC device may include: a ferromagnetic component including a core portion, wherein the core portion defines a core cavity and the spindle is inserted within the core cavity; and a wire coil disposed around the core portion. The ferromagnetic component may be configured to concentrate near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil toward a near field interrogation region and away from the mounting surface, or other components capable of causing interference or degradation of the near field interrogation signals.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for providing a high speed adaptive thermal printhead interface. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program instructions, the computer program instructions being configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to determine identifier information for a connected printhead; retrieve printhead interface configuration data for a configurable printhead interface based at least in part on the identifier information; configure printhead interface circuitry in accordance with the printhead interface configuration data; and enable communication with the printhead through the configurable printhead interface.

High speed adaptive thermal printhead interface

Systems, devices, and related methods for shaping near field interrogation signals are discussed herein. Some embodiments may provide for a printer that includes a housing and a beam shaping near field communication (NFC) device secured with the interior surface. The beam shaping NFC device may include a ferromagnetic component including a core portion and a bottom flange portion. The beam shaping NFC device may further include a wire coil disposed around the core portion. The ferromagnetic component may concentrate near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil toward a near field interrogation region and away from nearby conductive components, such as the interior surface of the printer.

Beam shaping near field communication device

Communication port powered printers and methods of powering of printers that support high speed printing and/or data intensive printing are discussed herein. Some embodiments may provide for a power storage unit within the printer device that is able be charged during non-priming periods and provide for necessary energy bursts to support such higher powered processes. Some embodiments may provide for devices and methods that allow for printers to operate with main power provided by conventional power mains and for back-up or secondary power to be supplied by the communication port. Some embodiments may further provide for configuration settings in printer control electronics based on the available power from the communication port.

Tri-state detector for detecting types of light

A print head for use with a printer. The print head includes an input that receives data or commands associated with printing from the printer. A memory component of the print head is connected in communication with the input and is configured to bi-directionally communicate information to the printer via the input. For example, the memory component may be soldered to a circuit of a print head and connected to a data line normally used to communicate print data to the print head. In this manner, the print head may hold configuration information in the memory module for easy upgrades without an additional dedicated communication line. Also, printers may be upgraded, and print heads retrofit, with the memory component without installation of a dedicated input or communication line.

Memory system and method for consumables of a printer

Ethernet and USB powered printers and methods for supplying ethernet and USB power to a printer

Various edge detection arrangements are disclosed, including an edge detection method and arrangement that utilizes outputs of commonly illuminated reference and edge sensors as the inputs for a comparator. The reference sensor is configured to have a wide field of view and the edge sensor is configured to have a narrow, high gain, field of view. Therefore, the reference sensor has a broad signal response to an edge passage and the edge sensor a steep and narrow signal response. When the two signals are biased to cross each other, the comparator output changes state, indicating passage of an edge. Because the reference sensor provides a base signal level directly related to the real time illumination level that the edge sensor also receives, the reference sensor provides a switch point along the transition ramp of the edge sensor that integrates a majority of the random error sources.

Self calibrating media edge sensor

An apparatus for driving and tensioning a ribbon includes a supply spindle for supplying a ribbon, a supply dancer assembly for applying tension to the ribbon, a printhead, a take-up dancer assembly for applying tension to the ribbon, and a take-up spindle for collecting spent ribbon. The supply dancer assembly is positioned downstream of the supply spindle. The printhead is positioned downstream of the supply dancer assembly. The take-up dancer assembly is downstream of the printhead. The take-up spindle is downstream of the take-up dancer assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Palatine, IL, United States of America

Robert A Ehrhardt