US6404997B1 — Method and apparatus for dynamically controlling …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 84 words

A method of dynamically controlling, image density in an electrophotographic imaging system that includes at least one development station for applying toner to an electrostatic latent image, the method comprising: generating a software behavioral model of at least one of toner concentration, toner dispensing, mixing delay of toner, and transport of toner at various stages during operation of the imaging system; and dynamically adjusting the amount of toner applied to the latent image according to the software behavioral model during a reproduction job stream.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 84 words

A method of dynamically controlling, image density in an electrophotographic imaging system that includes at least one development station for applying toner to an electrostatic latent image, the method comprising: generating a software behavioral model of at least one of toner concentration, toner dispensing, mixing delay of toner, and transport of toner at various stages during operation of the imaging system; and dynamically adjusting the amount of toner applied to the latent image according to the software behavioral model during a reproduction job stream.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the dynamically adjusting step includes: altering electrostatic set points of an electrostatic controller of the imaging system in order to maintain a desired toner density in a developed image.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the dynamically adjusting step further includes: controlling toner concentration in a two-component developer mixture of toner and carrier particles.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the generating step includes: correcting the software behavioral model according to actual measurements of behavior of at least one of toner concentration, dispensing, mixing delay, and transport delay during a reproduction job stream.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the correcting step is repeated periodically during a reproduction job stream.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method as recited in claim 4 , further comprising periodically compensating for long-term drift in a desired toner density using an image density sensor that senses toner density of a developed image.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method as recited in claim 4 , further comprising periodically correcting the software behavioral model according to pixel count information of an original document being reproduced.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 133 words

A method of dynamically controlling image density in an electrophotographic imaging system that includes at least one development station for applying toner to an electrostatic latent image, the method comprising: for each development station, approximating a first time delay between toner concentration sensing and image development, a second time delay between development and toner dispense, a third time delay caused by transport of toner from a toner dispense location to a toner concentration sensor, and a fourth parameter representing the time required to dispensed toner; storing said time delays in a memory to establish a toner delivery model; using said toner delivery model to generate a toner concentration correction signal representing a deviation from as desired toner concentration at a development roll of the imaging system in order to control an electrostatic controller.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 133 words

A method of dynamically controlling image density in an electrophotographic imaging system that includes at least one development station for applying toner to an electrostatic latent image, the method comprising: for each development station, approximating a first time delay between toner concentration sensing and image development, a second time delay between development and toner dispense, a third time delay caused by transport of toner from a toner dispense location to a toner concentration sensor, and a fourth parameter representing the time required to dispensed toner; storing said time delays in a memory to establish a toner delivery model; using said toner delivery model to generate a toner concentration correction signal representing a deviation from as desired toner concentration at a development roll of the imaging system in order to control an electrostatic controller.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 8 wherein the electrophotographic imaging system includes a density sensor that measures print density to generate a density signal, the toner delivery model being further modified in accordance with the density signal.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 8 wherein the imaging system includes an electrostatic development field, and the method further includes adjusting the electrostatic development field by measuring and adjusting a voltage bias on a charge retentive surface.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 8 wherein the method further includes adjusting the electrostatic controller by adjusting exposure level employed to generate the latent image.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 8 further including modifying the toner delivery model by measuring toner density to produce a density signal, and applying the density signal to the toner delivery model to compute adjustments to the correction signal.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 86 words

An apparatus that dynamically controls image density in an electrostatographic imaging system that includes at least one development station for applying toner to an electrostatic latent image, the apparatus comprising: a software model that emulates the behavior of at least one of toner concentration, mixing delay of toner, and transport of toner during a development cycle of the latent image; and a controller that dynamically adjusts the amount of toner particles applied to the latent image according to the software model during a reproduction job stream.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 86 words

An apparatus that dynamically controls image density in an electrostatographic imaging system that includes at least one development station for applying toner to an electrostatic latent image, the apparatus comprising: a software model that emulates the behavior of at least one of toner concentration, mixing delay of toner, and transport of toner during a development cycle of the latent image; and a controller that dynamically adjusts the amount of toner particles applied to the latent image according to the software model during a reproduction job stream.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus as recited in claim 13 , further including an electrostatic control, and said controller being operative to alter electrostatic set points of the electrostatic control to maintain a desired toner density in a developed image.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus as recited in claim 14 , wherein said controller controls toner concentration in a two-component developer mixture of toner and carrier particles.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus as recited in claim 14 , wherein said controller effects correction of said software model according to actual measurements of behavior of at least one of toner concentration, mixing delay, and transport delay during a reproduction job stream.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus as recited in claim 16 , wherein said controller repeats correction during a reproduction job stream.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus as recited in claim 17 , wherein said controller periodically compensates for long-term drift in a desired toner density using an image density sensor that senses toner density in the developed image.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus as recited in claim 18 , wherein said controller periodically corrects behavior of the software model according to pixel count information of an original document being reproduced.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 132 words

An apparatus that dynamically controls toner density in an electrophotographic imaging system comprising: for each developer station, a software model that approximates at least one of a first time delay between toner concentration sensing and image development, a second time delay caused by toner mixing, and a third time delay caused by transport of mixed toner; a memory that stores said time delays to establish a toner delivery model; and a controller that modifies said toner delivery model in response to actual measurements of at least one of said first, second, and third time delays, and that determines a toner density correction signal based on a modified toner delivery model, said controller outputting control signals to adjust an electrostatic field during development of a latent image in response to the correction signal.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 132 words

An apparatus that dynamically controls toner density in an electrophotographic imaging system comprising: for each developer station, a software model that approximates at least one of a first time delay between toner concentration sensing and image development, a second time delay caused by toner mixing, and a third time delay caused by transport of mixed toner; a memory that stores said time delays to establish a toner delivery model; and a controller that modifies said toner delivery model in response to actual measurements of at least one of said first, second, and third time delays, and that determines a toner density correction signal based on a modified toner delivery model, said controller outputting control signals to adjust an electrostatic field during development of a latent image in response to the correction signal.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-06-10	2005-12-10	2006-06-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-06-10	2009-12-10	2010-06-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-06-10	2013-12-10	2014-06-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for dynamically controlling image density

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