US4780731A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrophotographic printer comprising an exposure energy correcting means for the optical character generator
Assignee: Canon Production Printing Germany GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1986-09-18
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Granted: 1988-10-25
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Expires: 2006-09-18
Abstract
Abstract An electrophotographic printer having an optical character generator and an exposure energy correcting means formed of a light-emitting diode strip for the optical character generator. Upon call-in of a balancing routing, an automatic balancing of the light-emitting elements occurs by use of a photoelement which acquires a radiant intensity transmitted onto the recording medium by every light-emitting element under prescribed normal operating conditions, and which supplies corresponding signals to a control means coupled to the light-emitting element. The control means then assigns every light-emitting element an individual actuation time and stores this in a switching time memory. Upon actuation, every light-emitting element thus supplies the same radiant energy to the recording medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Edmund Creutzmann
- 👤 Manfred Maier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:26
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/435; B41J2/447; B41J2/45; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/12; G06K15/1238; G06K15/1242; G06K15/1247
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A non-mechanical printer means, comprising: image generating means for generating an image formed of individual points on a recording medium by use of a plurality of light-emitting elements of an optical character generator; a correction means for automatically balancing the light-emitting elements by controlling a turn-on time of the light-emitting elements by calling in an individually correctable actuation time from a switching time memory means; said correction means including photoelement means positioned for acquiring radiant intensity transmitted onto the recording medium by every light-emitting element given prescribed normal operation conditions and for supplying corresponding signals for each light-emitting element to a control means connected to control the light-emitting elements through said switching time memory means; said control means allocating an individual activation time to each and every light-emitting element and storing the activation time in said switching time memory means for individually controlling each connected light-emitting element so that a same radiant energy is directed towards the recording medium by all light-emitting elements; and a compensation means connected to all light-emitting elements for acquiring operating parameters of the image generating means and uniformly defining a common electrical opeating parameter for all light-emitting elements based upon said operating parameters.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A non-mechanical printer means, comprising: image generating means for generating an image formed of individual points on a recording medium by use of a plurality of light-emitting elements of an optical character generator; a correction means for automatically balancing the light-emitting elements by controlling a turn-on time of the light-emitting elements by calling in an individually correctable actuation time from a switching time memory means; said correction means including photoelement means positioned for acquiring radiant intensity transmitted onto the recording medium by every light-emitting element given prescribed normal operation conditions and for supplying corresponding signals for each light-emitting element to a control means connected to control the light-emitting elements through said switching time memory means; said control means allocating an individual activation time to each and every light-emitting element and storing the activation time in said switching time memory means for individually controlling each connected light-emitting element so that a same radiant energy is directed towards the recording medium by all light-emitting elements; and a compensation means connected to all light-emitting elements for acquiring operating parameters of the image generating means and uniformly defining a common electrical opeating parameter for all light-emitting elements based upon said operating parameters.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A non-mechanical printer means according to claim 1 wherein said photoelement means is coupled to an electromotive means which moves said photoelement means into a radiation path of the light-emitting elements as needed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A non-mechanical printer means according to claim 1 wherein said photoelement means has a relatively small-area as compared to an area covered by all light-emitting elements and is moved successively through a radiation path of all of the light-emitting elements via an electromotive means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A non-mechanical printer means according to claim 1 wherein said photoelement means has an area sufficiently large to acquire radiation from all light-emitting elements simultaneously.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A non-mechanical printer means according to claim 4 wherein means are provided for mounting said photoelement means such that it is swivelable into and out of position for receiving radiation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A non-mechanical printer means according to claim 1 wherein said operating parameters acquired by the compensation means are speed of the recording medium and operating temperature of the light-emitting elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A non-mechanical printer means according to claim 1 wherein said operating parameters acquired by the compensation means include at least one of the parameters speed of the recording medium and operating temperature of the light-emitting elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A non-mechanical printer means according to claim 7 wherein the optical character generator has a temperature sensing means coupled thereto, an output of the tempeature sensing means being connected to said compensation means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
121 words
A non-mechanical printer means according to claim 1 wherein said correction means comprises a photoelement arranged behind a focusing optics and means for moving the photoelement through a region of radiation of the light emitting elements; said control means comprising an allocated memory means for storing said acquired radiant intensities of the light-emitting elements, said control means assigning an actuation time to each radiant intensity of each of the light-emitting elements and for depositing this actuation time in said switching time memory means; driver means for driving the light-emitting elements connected to the switching time memory means; and said compensation means acquiring at least one of the operating parameters operating temperature of the printer means and speed of the recording medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A non-mechanical printer means according to claim 1 wherein said printer means comprises an electrophotographic printer means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
175 words
A non-mechanical printer means, comprising: a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged to form characters by radiating light onto a photoconductive surface; each light-emitting element being connected to a switching time memory means for storing a switching time determining an amount of time by which each of the light-emitting elements is individually activated; printer control means connected to each of the switching time memory means for activating the various light-emitting elements to create characters; photoconductive means for sensing a light intensity from at least some of the light-emitting elements and for outputting corresponding signals; said corresponding signals being connected to a control means for assigning individual actuation times to each of said corresponding signals corresponding to light radiating from said at least some light-emitting elements and for depositing the individual actuation times in each respective switching time memory means; and a compensation means connected in common to the light-emitting elements for acquiring operating parameters of the image generating means and uniformly defining a common electrical operating parameter for the light-emitting elements based upon said operating parameters.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
175 words
A non-mechanical printer means, comprising: a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged to form characters by radiating light onto a photoconductive surface; each light-emitting element being connected to a switching time memory means for storing a switching time determining an amount of time by which each of the light-emitting elements is individually activated; printer control means connected to each of the switching time memory means for activating the various light-emitting elements to create characters; photoconductive means for sensing a light intensity from at least some of the light-emitting elements and for outputting corresponding signals; said corresponding signals being connected to a control means for assigning individual actuation times to each of said corresponding signals corresponding to light radiating from said at least some light-emitting elements and for depositing the individual actuation times in each respective switching time memory means; and a compensation means connected in common to the light-emitting elements for acquiring operating parameters of the image generating means and uniformly defining a common electrical operating parameter for the light-emitting elements based upon said operating parameters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A non-mechanical printer means according to claim 11 wherein said control means includes means for storing said corresponding signals in sequence of sampling.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A non-mechanical printer means according to claim 11 wherein said photoconductive means comprises a photoelement which is mechanically moved so as to scan all radiant intensities from all light-emitting diodes of the non-mechanical printer means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A non-mechanical printer means according to claim 11 wherein said photoconductive means has an area sufficient to receive radiant intensity from all light-emitting elements simultaneously.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A non-mechanical printer means according to claim 11 wherein said photoconductive means receives light radiation from all light-emitting elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
189 words
A non-mechanical printer means, comprising: means for generating an image formed of individual points on a recording medium by use of a plurality of light-emitting elements of an optical character generator; a correction means for automatically balancing the light-emitting elements by controlling a turn-on time of the light-emitting elements and calling in an individually correctable actuation time from a switching time memory means; additional monitoring light-emitting elements being provided which are not employed for character formation; photoelement means positioned for acquiring radiant intensity transmitted from said monitoring light-emitting elements given prescribed normal operating conditions and for supplying corresponding signals to a control means connected to control the light-emitting elements through said switching time memory means; said control means allocating an individual activation time to every light-emitting element and storing the activation time in said switching time memory means for controlling a connected light-emitter element so that a same radiant energy is directed towards the recording medium; and said monitoring light-emitting elements being connected in parallel to at least some of said light-emitting elements employed for forming characters such that they are driven in common by a printer control means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
189 words
A non-mechanical printer means, comprising: means for generating an image formed of individual points on a recording medium by use of a plurality of light-emitting elements of an optical character generator; a correction means for automatically balancing the light-emitting elements by controlling a turn-on time of the light-emitting elements and calling in an individually correctable actuation time from a switching time memory means; additional monitoring light-emitting elements being provided which are not employed for character formation; photoelement means positioned for acquiring radiant intensity transmitted from said monitoring light-emitting elements given prescribed normal operating conditions and for supplying corresponding signals to a control means connected to control the light-emitting elements through said switching time memory means; said control means allocating an individual activation time to every light-emitting element and storing the activation time in said switching time memory means for controlling a connected light-emitter element so that a same radiant energy is directed towards the recording medium; and said monitoring light-emitting elements being connected in parallel to at least some of said light-emitting elements employed for forming characters such that they are driven in common by a printer control means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A non-mechanical printer means according to claim 16 wherein said printer control means statistically actuates the monitoring light-emitting elements in a same pattern as the light-emitting elements for character generation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A non-mechanical printer means according to claim 16 wherein said monitoring light-emitting elements are arranged on a common carrier element together with the light-emitting elements for character generation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
171 words
A non-mechanical printer means, comprising: a plurality of character generating light-emitting elements; a plurality of monitoring light-emitting elements; the character and monitoring light-emitting elements each connecting to respective switching time memory means for storing an actuation time; all of the switching time memory means associated with the character generating light-emitting elements connecting to a printer control means for actuating the character-generator light-emitting elements for character generation; the monitoring light-emitting elements being commonly connected to respective ones of said character generating switching time memories at said printer control means; a photoconductive drum arranged to receive radiant light from said character generating light-emitting elements; a photoconductive element arranged to receive radiant light from said monitoring light-emitting elements; and a control means connected to said photoelement for storing signals corresponding to the amount of radiant light received from the monitoring light-emitting elements and for assigning actuation times to said signals, and for forwarding said actuation times to said switching time memory means associated with said monitoring light-emitting elements and said character generating light-emitting elements.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
171 words
A non-mechanical printer means, comprising: a plurality of character generating light-emitting elements; a plurality of monitoring light-emitting elements; the character and monitoring light-emitting elements each connecting to respective switching time memory means for storing an actuation time; all of the switching time memory means associated with the character generating light-emitting elements connecting to a printer control means for actuating the character-generator light-emitting elements for character generation; the monitoring light-emitting elements being commonly connected to respective ones of said character generating switching time memories at said printer control means; a photoconductive drum arranged to receive radiant light from said character generating light-emitting elements; a photoconductive element arranged to receive radiant light from said monitoring light-emitting elements; and a control means connected to said photoelement for storing signals corresponding to the amount of radiant light received from the monitoring light-emitting elements and for assigning actuation times to said signals, and for forwarding said actuation times to said switching time memory means associated with said monitoring light-emitting elements and said character generating light-emitting elements.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-25 | 1992-04-25 | 1992-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-25 | 1996-04-25 | 1996-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-25 | 2000-04-25 | 2000-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |