US5278394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fixing temperature controller for controlling a heater relative to two preset temperature levels
Assignee: Tokyo Electron Ltd
•
Filing: 1991-10-16
•
Granted: 1994-01-11
•
Expires: 2011-10-16
Abstract
Abstract A fixing temperature controller comprising a heater for heating a fixing roller, a measuring circuit for detecting the fixing temperature of the fixing roller to produce detected temperature data, a first register for storing reference data for designating a fixing temperature for the fixing roller, a control circuit for comparing the reference data with the detected temperature data from the measuring circuit, and selectively activating the heater based on the comparison result. Particularly, the controller further comprises a second register for storing second reference data lower than the first reference data, and a selector for selecting one of the first and second reference data. The selector selects the first reference data and the control circuit activates the heater when it is detected that the detected temperature data<the reference data, and the selector selects the second reference data and the control circuit deactivates the heater when it is detected that the detected temperature≧the reference data.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigeru Morino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:29
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1917; G05D23/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
A fixing temperature controller comprising: heater means for heating a fixing unit; sensing means for sensing a fixing temperature of said fixing unit and for periodically producing temperature data representing a sensed temperature; and control means for detecting the temperature data produced by said sensing means, said control means including means for enabling said heater means when said control means detects that the sensed fixing temperature has not increased above a first preset temperature level, and means for disabling said heater means when said control means detects that the sensed fixing temperature has increased above the first preset temperature level, said disabling of the heater means by said control means being continued until the sensed fixing temperature has decreased to a second preset temperature level which is lower than said first preset temperature level; said control means further including: data generating means for generating first and second reference data respectively representing said first and second preset temperature levels; selecting means for selecting one of said first and second reference data, said first reference data being selected initially; and a single comparator for comparing the temperature data produced by said sensing means with the one selected reference data selected by said selecting means, for generating a first-level signal when said temperature data produced by said sending means is less than the one selected reference data, and for generating a second-level signal when said temperature data produced by said sensing means is greater then the one selected reference data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
A fixing temperature controller comprising: heater means for heating a fixing unit; sensing means for sensing a fixing temperature of said fixing unit and for periodically producing temperature data representing a sensed temperature; and control means for detecting the temperature data produced by said sensing means, said control means including means for enabling said heater means when said control means detects that the sensed fixing temperature has not increased above a first preset temperature level, and means for disabling said heater means when said control means detects that the sensed fixing temperature has increased above the first preset temperature level, said disabling of the heater means by said control means being continued until the sensed fixing temperature has decreased to a second preset temperature level which is lower than said first preset temperature level; said control means further including: data generating means for generating first and second reference data respectively representing said first and second preset temperature levels; selecting means for selecting one of said first and second reference data, said first reference data being selected initially; and a single comparator for comparing the temperature data produced by said sensing means with the one selected reference data selected by said selecting means, for generating a first-level signal when said temperature data produced by said sending means is less than the one selected reference data, and for generating a second-level signal when said temperature data produced by said sensing means is greater then the one selected reference data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The controller of claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes: a temperature sensor formed in contact with a fixing roller of said fixing unit; and converting means for periodically converting an output signal from said temperature sensor to said temperature data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The controller of claim 2, wherein: said converting means includes signal generating means for generating an update signal for each conversion; and said control means further includes latching means for latching a signal from said comparing means in response to said update signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The controller of claim 3, wherein said selecting means includes a selector for selecting the first reference data when the first-level signal is latched by said latching means and for selecting the second reference data when the second-level signal is latched by said latching means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The controller of claim 1, wherein said data generating means includes first and second register means for storing said first and second reference data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The controller of claim 1, wherein said data generating means includes: first and second register means for storing one of first and second reference data corresponding to a difference between said first and second reference data; and addition means for adding the data supplied from said first and second register means to output another one of said first and second reference data which is not stored in said first register means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The controller of claim 1, wherein said fixing unit comprises a fixing roller, and said heater means is incorporated in said fixing roller of said fixing unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The controller of claim 1, wherein said selecting means selects said second reference data when said single comparator generates said second-level signal so that said single comparator then compares the temperature data produced by said sensing means with said second reference data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The controller of claim 1, wherein said control means includes means for setting said first and second preset temperature level in advance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The controller of claim 9, wherein said first and second preset temperatures levels are predetermined and fixed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
155 words
A fixing temperature controller comprising: heater means for heating a fixing unit; sensing means for sensing a fixing temperature of said fixing unit and for periodically producing digital temperature data representing a sensed temperature; and a single comparator for comparing the digital temperature data produced by said sensing means with respective digital reference data representing first and second preset temperature levels, said first preset temperature level being higher than said second present temperature level; and control means for enabling said heater means when said single comparator detects that the sensed fixing temperature has not increased above said first preset temperature level, and for disabling said heater means when said single comparator detects that the sensed fixing temperature has increased above said first preset temperature level, said disabling of said heater means being continued until the sensed fixing temperature has decreased to said second preset temperature level which is lower than said first preset temperature level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
155 words
A fixing temperature controller comprising: heater means for heating a fixing unit; sensing means for sensing a fixing temperature of said fixing unit and for periodically producing digital temperature data representing a sensed temperature; and a single comparator for comparing the digital temperature data produced by said sensing means with respective digital reference data representing first and second preset temperature levels, said first preset temperature level being higher than said second present temperature level; and control means for enabling said heater means when said single comparator detects that the sensed fixing temperature has not increased above said first preset temperature level, and for disabling said heater means when said single comparator detects that the sensed fixing temperature has increased above said first preset temperature level, said disabling of said heater means being continued until the sensed fixing temperature has decreased to said second preset temperature level which is lower than said first preset temperature level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The controller of claim 11, wherein said sensing means includes: a temperature sensor formed in contact with a fixing roller of said fixing unit; and converting means for periodically converting an output signal from said temperature sensor to said digital temperature data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
126 words
The controller of claim 11, wherein said control means includes: data generating means for generating said first and second digital reference data respectively representing said first and second preset temperature levels; and selecting means for selecting one of said first and second digital reference data, said first digital reference data being selected initially; and said single comparator comparing the digital temperature data produced by said sensing means with the one selected digital reference data selected by said selecting means for generating a first-level signal when the temperature data produced by said sensing means is less than the one selected reference data, and for generating a second-level signal when the digital temperature data produced by said sensing means is greater then the one selected digital reference data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The controller of claim 13, wherein said selecting means selects said second reference data when said single comparator generates said second-level signal so that said single comparator then compares the temperature data produced by said sensing means with said second reference data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The controller of claim 12, wherein: said converting means includes signal generating means for generating an update signal for each conversion; and said control means further includes latching means for latching a signal from said single comparator in response to said update signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The controller of claim 15, wherein said selecting means includes a selector for selecting the first reference data when the first-level signal is latched by said latching means, and for selecting the second reference data when the second-level signal is latched by said latching means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The controller of claim 13, wherein said data generating means includes first and second register means for storing said first and second digital reference data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
74 words
The controller of claim 13, wherein said data generating means includes: first and second register means for storing one of first and second digital reference data corresponding to a difference between said first and second digital reference data; and addition means for adding the data supplied from said first and second register means to output another one of said first and second digital reference data which is not stored in said first register means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The controller of claim 11, wherein said fixing unit comprises a fixing roller, and said heater means is incorporated in said fixing roller of said fixing unit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The controller of claim 11, wherein said control means includes means for setting said first and second preset temperature level in advance.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The controller of claim 20, wherein said first and second preset temperatures levels are predetermined and fixed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3925139A
Cited
US4270693A
Cited
US4374321A
Cited
US4388692A
Cited
US4493984A
Cited
DE3317941A1
Cited
US4504010A
Cited
US4598195A
Cited
US4549074A
Cited
US4564749A
Cited
JPS607453A
Cited
JPS61169027A
Cited
JPS61215569A
Cited
US5039842A
Cited
US5006695A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-01-10 | 1997-07-12 | 1998-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-10 | 2001-07-12 | 2002-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-10 | 2005-07-12 | 2006-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |