The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 25, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 19, 1997
Daniel Dina, Nampa, ID (US);
Wesley Alan Fujii, Boise, ID (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
An electronic printer having wireless power and communications connections to accessory units to which it is adjacent and with which it is in contact during operation is disclosed. Communications between the printer and the accessory unit, instead of being handled via a cable connection, are achieved using a two-way, infrared (IR) communications link. Power is supplied to the accessory via inductive coupling rather than directly through power cables. As inductive coupling works efficiently only over very short distances, the accessory unit is equipped with a standby battery power so that the accessory may be temporarily separated from the printer (e.g., in order to eliminate media jams) without loss of accessory status data. When the accessory is once again positioned immediately adjacent the printer, the inductive coupling reassumes the role of power provision. The invention eliminates problems associated with cable connections, such as the inadvertent disconnection of a power or communication cable, damage to connectors over the operational lifetime of the printer and its accessory, as well as manufacturing and stocking costs associated with the connector cables.