Patent US5859710A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5859710A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Digital copying system using a high speed data bus without the use of data buffers
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1996-03-20
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Granted: 1999-01-12
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Expires: 2016-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A copier for rendering an image of an object onto a physical medium includes a scanner, a printer and an external processor. The scanner and the printer are coupled to the external processor by a high-speed serial bus having a latency and a maximum signal transmission rate sufficient to enable transmission to the external processor of digital image signals generated by the scanner which represent the image of the object without prior interim storage of the digital image signals in a buffer on board the scanner. The high-speed serial bus further has a latency and a maximum signal transmission rate sufficient to enable transmission of the digital image signals from the external processor to the printer for rendering the digital image signals onto the physical medium without prior interim storage of the digital image signals in a buffer on board the printer. In an embodiment, the external processor is capable of processing the digital image signals and the scanner is capable of transmitting the digital image signals without prior on-board digital processing of the digital image signals in the scanner and the printer is capable of rendering the digital image signals without prior on-board digital processing of the digital image signals in the printer.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric C. Hannah
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:28
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00204; H04N1/00236; H04N1/00238; H04N1/00241
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A copier for rendering an image of an object onto a physical medium, comprising: (a) a scanner; (b) a printer; and (c) an external processor, wherein: the scanner and the printer are coupled to the external processor by a high-speed serial bus having a latency and a maximum signal transmission rate sufficient to: enable transmission to the external processor of digital image signals generated by the scanner which represent the image of the object without prior interim storage of the digital image signals in a buffer on board the scanner and; enable transmission of the digital image signals from the external processor to the printer for rendering the digital image signals onto the physical medium without prior interim storage of the digital image signals in a buffer on board the printer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A copier for rendering an image of an object onto a physical medium, comprising: (a) a scanner; (b) a printer; and (c) an external processor, wherein: the scanner and the printer are coupled to the external processor by a high-speed serial bus having a latency and a maximum signal transmission rate sufficient to: enable transmission to the external processor of digital image signals generated by the scanner which represent the image of the object without prior interim storage of the digital image signals in a buffer on board the scanner and; enable transmission of the digital image signals from the external processor to the printer for rendering the digital image signals onto the physical medium without prior interim storage of the digital image signals in a buffer on board the printer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The copier of claim 1, wherein a separate internal full-frame buffer is absent from at least one of the scanner and the printer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The copier of claim 1, wherein the maximum signal transmission rate of the high-speed serial bus is high enough and the latency of the high-speed serial bus is low enough to transmit the digital image signals in real time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The copier of claim 1, wherein the maximum signal transmission rate of the high-speed serial bus is high enough and the latency of the high-speed serial bus is low enough to transmit the digital image signals to the printer at a rate required by the printer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
The copier of claim 1, wherein the scanner is capable of transmitting the digital image signals to the external processor over the high-speed serial bus in real time, the external processor is capable of processing the digital image signals in real time, and the printer is capable of receiving the digital image signals over the high-speed serial bus and rendering the digital image signals onto the physical medium in real time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The copier of claim 1, wherein the external processor is capable of processing the digital image signals and the scanner is capable of transmitting the digital image signals without prior on-board digital processing of the digital image signals in the scanner and the printer is capable of rendering the digital image signals without prior on-board digital processing of the digital image signals in the printer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The copier of claim 6, wherein a separate internal digital image signal processor is absent from at least one of the scanner and the printer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The copier of claim 6, wherein the image comprises graphics and the external processor can perform at least one of digital image signal compression, color transformation from an RGB format to one of a YUV and YIQ format, digital image signal decompression and image enhancement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The copier of claim 1, wherein the high-speed serial bus has a maximum digital signal transmission rate of at least 750 Megabits per second.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
The copier of claim 7, wherein a separate internal full-frame buffer is absent from at least one of the scanner and the printer and the scanner is capable of transmitting the digital image signals to the external processor over the high-speed serial bus in real time, the external processor is capable of processing the digital image signals in real time, and the printer is capable of receiving the digital image signals over the high-speed serial bus and rendering the digital image signals onto the physical medium in real time.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for rendering an image of an object onto a physical medium, comprising the steps of: (a) generating digital image signals representing the image of the object using a scanner; (b) transmitting the digital image signals from the scanner to an external processor; (c) processing the digital image signals by the external processor; (d) transmitting the processed digital image signals from the external processor to a printer; and (e) printing processed digital image signals onto the physical medium by the printer, wherein: steps (b) and (d) each comprise the step of transmitting digital image signals over a high-speed serial bus and steps (b) and (e) occur without prior local interim storage of the digital image signals in a local interim storage device.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for rendering an image of an object onto a physical medium, comprising the steps of: (a) generating digital image signals representing the image of the object using a scanner; (b) transmitting the digital image signals from the scanner to an external processor; (c) processing the digital image signals by the external processor; (d) transmitting the processed digital image signals from the external processor to a printer; and (e) printing processed digital image signals onto the physical medium by the printer, wherein: steps (b) and (d) each comprise the step of transmitting digital image signals over a high-speed serial bus and steps (b) and (e) occur without prior local interim storage of the digital image signals in a local interim storage device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11, wherein steps (b) and (e) occur without local processing of the digital image signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of steps (b) and (d) comprise transmitting the digital image signals in real time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11, wherein step (d) comprises the step of transmitting the digital image signals at a rate required by the printer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 11, wherein steps (a)-(e) occur substantially in real time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 11, wherein step (c) comprises the step of at least one of: (1) digital signal compression; (2) color transformation from an RGB format to one of a YUV and YIQ format; (3) digital signal decompression; and (4) image enhancement.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the high-speed serial bus has a maximum digital signal transmission rate of at least 750 Megabits per second.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
177 words
A copier for rendering an image of an object onto a physical medium, comprising: (a) means for generating digital image signals representing the image of the object using a scanner; (b) means for transmitting the digital image signals from the scanner to an external processor; (c) means for processing the digital image signals; (d) means for transmitting the processed digital image signals from the external processor to a printer; and (e) means for printing processed digital image signals onto the physical medium, wherein: means (b) and (d) have a latency and a maximum signal transmission rate sufficient to: enable transmission to the external processor of digital image signals generated by the scanner which represent the image of the object without prior interim storage of the digital image signals in a storage means in the scanner; and enable transmission of the processed digital image signals from the external processor to the printer for rendering the processed digital image signals onto the physical medium without prior interim storage of the digital image signals in storage means in the printer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
177 words
A copier for rendering an image of an object onto a physical medium, comprising: (a) means for generating digital image signals representing the image of the object using a scanner; (b) means for transmitting the digital image signals from the scanner to an external processor; (c) means for processing the digital image signals; (d) means for transmitting the processed digital image signals from the external processor to a printer; and (e) means for printing processed digital image signals onto the physical medium, wherein: means (b) and (d) have a latency and a maximum signal transmission rate sufficient to: enable transmission to the external processor of digital image signals generated by the scanner which represent the image of the object without prior interim storage of the digital image signals in a storage means in the scanner; and enable transmission of the processed digital image signals from the external processor to the printer for rendering the processed digital image signals onto the physical medium without prior interim storage of the digital image signals in storage means in the printer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The copier of claim 18, wherein a separate full-frame interim storage means is absent from at least one of the scanner and the printer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
104 words
The copier of claim 18, wherein means (b) and (d) comprise a high-speed serial bus having a latency and a maximum signal transmission rate sufficient to: enable transmission to the external processor of digital image signals generated by the scanner which represent the image of the object without prior digital processing of the digital image signals in processing means in the scanner; and enable transmission of the processed digital image signals from the external processor to the printer for rendering the processed digital image signals onto the physical medium without prior digital processing of the digital image signals in processing means in the printer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The copier of claim 20, wherein a separate digital processing means for processing the digital image signals is absent from the scanner and the printer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The copier of claim 18, wherein means (d) transmits the digital image signals at a rate required by the printer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The copier of claim 18, wherein means (a)-(e) operate substantially in real time.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
42 words
The copier of claim 18, wherein means (c) comprises means for at least one of: (1) digital signal compression; (2) color transformation from an RGB format to one of a YUV and YIQ format; (3) digital signal decompression; and (4) image enhancement.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The copier of claim 18, wherein means (b) and (d) have a maximum digital signal transmission rate of at least 750 Megabits per second.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5231663A
Cited
US5532844A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-11 | 2002-07-13 | 2003-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-11 | 2006-07-13 | 2007-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-11 | 2010-07-13 | 2011-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |