US5109476A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Color printer with synchronous and asynchronous stages
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1990-10-15
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Granted: 1992-04-28
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Expires: 2010-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A printer includes a RIP for converting a received stream of image instructions into electrical image signals and a hybrid marking engine with at least one stage operable in an asynchronous mode, wherein a page can be processed in portions, and at least one stage restricted to synchronous operation, wherein the synchronous stage runs at a predetermined fixed speed during its entire processing of a page. The marking engine may be electrostatographic device having an asynchronous writer stage and a synchronous development stage, transfer stage, or fusing stage. The transfer stage may operate asynchronously from the developer such that there is an indeterminate time period between the development operation and the transfer operation.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 10:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/12; G06K15/129; G06K15/1238; G06K15/1257; G06K15/1261; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/0062; G06K2215/0065; G06K2215/0077
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A printer adapted to produce printed pages from received electronically encoded stream of image instructions, said printer comprising: means for converting a received stream of image instructions into electrical image signals; a hybrid marking engine having: at least one stage operable in an asynchronous mode wherein a page can be non-continuously processed in portions, and at least one stage restricted to synchronous operation wherein the stage runs at a predetermined, continuous fixed speed during its entire processing of a page; and means for applying the image signals to the asynchronous mode stage of the marking engine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A printer adapted to produce printed pages from received electronically encoded stream of image instructions, said printer comprising: means for converting a received stream of image instructions into electrical image signals; a hybrid marking engine having: at least one stage operable in an asynchronous mode wherein a page can be non-continuously processed in portions, and at least one stage restricted to synchronous operation wherein the stage runs at a predetermined, continuous fixed speed during its entire processing of a page; and means for applying the image signals to the asynchronous mode stage of the marking engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A printer as defined in claim 1 wherein: the printer is adapted to receive the electronically encoded image instructions as page description language input signals; and said converting means is adapted to convert page description language input signals into a rasterized stream of electrical image signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A printer as defined in claim 2 wherein said converting means is adapted to convert page description language input signals into a rasterized stream of electrical image signals by a complex page-description language rendering algorithm which forms a bit map and which requires more time to process a page than is required for the synchronous stage to process a page.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A printer as defined in claim 1 wherein said signal applying means comprises buffer means for storing less than a full page of electrical image signals produced by said converting means before being applied to said asynchronous stage of the marking engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A printer as defined in claim 4 wherein said buffer means is at least one line store.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A printer as defined in claim 1 wherein: said stage operable in an asynchronous mode write data; and said stage restricted to synchronous operation makes the written data visible.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
A printer adapted to produce printed pages from received electronically encoded stream of image instructions, said printer comprising: means for converting a received stream of image instructions into electrical image signals; a hybrid electrostatographic marking engine having: a writer stage operable in an asynchronous mode wherein an electrostatic image of a page can be non-continuously processed in portions, and at least one stage restricted to synchronous operation wherein the stage runs at a predetermined, continuous fixed speed during its entire processing of a page; and means for applying the image signals to the writer stage of the marking engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
A printer adapted to produce printed pages from received electronically encoded stream of image instructions, said printer comprising: means for converting a received stream of image instructions into electrical image signals; a hybrid electrostatographic marking engine having: a writer stage operable in an asynchronous mode wherein an electrostatic image of a page can be non-continuously processed in portions, and at least one stage restricted to synchronous operation wherein the stage runs at a predetermined, continuous fixed speed during its entire processing of a page; and means for applying the image signals to the writer stage of the marking engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A printer as defined in claim 7 wherein said synchronous stage includes means for developing the electrostatic image of an entire page in one, continuous operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A printer as defined in claim 7 further comprising means for developing the electrostatic image and wherein said synchronous stage includes means for transferring a developed electrostatic image of an entire page to a receiver sheet in one, continuous operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A printer as defined in claim 7 further comprising means for developing the electrostatic image and transferring the developed electrostatic image to a receiver sheet and wherein said synchronous stage includes means for fixing a transferred developed image of an entire page in one, continuous operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A printer as defined in claim 7 wherein said synchronous stage includes: means for developing the electrostatic image of an entire page in one, continuous operation; and means for transferring a developed electrostatic image of an entire page to a receiver sheet in one, continuous operation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A printer as defined in claim 11 wherein said transferring means operates asynchronously from said developing means such that there is an indeterminate time period between the development operation and the transfer operation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
A hybrid marking engine adapted to produce printed pages from a received stream of electrical image signals; said marking engine comprising: at least one stage operable in an asynchronous mode wherein a page can be non-continuously processed in portions: and at least one stage restricted to synchronous operation wherein the stage runs at a predetermined, continuous fixed speed during its entire processing of a page.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
A hybrid marking engine adapted to produce printed pages from a received stream of electrical image signals; said marking engine comprising: at least one stage operable in an asynchronous mode wherein a page can be non-continuously processed in portions: and at least one stage restricted to synchronous operation wherein the stage runs at a predetermined, continuous fixed speed during its entire processing of a page.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
A hybrid marking engine as defined in claim 13 wherein: the marking engine is an electrostatographic device; the asynchronous stage is a writer, wherein an electrostatic image of a page can be processed in portions, and the synchronous stage includes means for developing the electrostatic image of an entire page in one, continuous operation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
A hybrid marking engine as defined in claim 13 wherein: the marking engine is an electrostatographic device; the asynchronous stage is a writer, wherein an electrostatic image of a page can be processed in portions, and the synchronous stage includes means for transferring a developed electrostatic image of an entire page to a receiver sheet in one, continuous operation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
A hybrid marking engine as defined in claim 13 wherein: the marking engine is an electrostatographic device; the asynchronous stage is a writer, wherein an electrostatic image of a page can be processed in portions, and the synchronous stage includes includes means for fixing a developed and transferred image of an entire page in one, continuous operation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-04-28 | 1995-10-28 | 1996-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-28 | 1999-10-28 | 2000-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-28 | 2003-10-28 | 2004-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |