Ethernet and USB powered printers and methods for supplying ethernet and USB power to a printer

• US 20060164447A1
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Ham, John, Poole, David L., Lynch, Gary F., Brown, Eugene K., Thielen, Donald V., Fox, Douglas A., Ehrhardt, Robert A. Jr., DeMay, Rod
• Granted Patent: US 8,587,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/5
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1215 achieving increased printing speed, i.e. reducing the time between printing start and printing end
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1221 with regard to power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1286 via local network
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/4055 Managing power consumption, e.g. standby mode computer driven power saving management for a printer G06F3/1221; power saving in a data processing device in general G06F1/32

Abstract

Ethernet and Universal Serial Bus (USB) powered printing devices are provided. In particular, Ethernet and USB powered printers and methods of Ethernet powering of printers that support high speed printing and/or data intensive printing. Such high-speed and/or data intensive printing operations are able to be Ethernet or USB powered by providing for a power storage unit within the printer device that is able be charged during non-printing periods and provide for necessary energy bursts to support such higher powered processes. In addition, the present invention provides for devices and methods that allow for printers to operate with main power provided by conventional power mains and for back-up or secondary power to be supplied by Ethernet or USB power. Additionally, the invention provides for Ethernet or USB powering, both primary and back-up, of the data and configuration settings in the printer control and image generating electronics. In the back-up power mode, the Ethernet or USB power insures that data and configurations are not lost during periods of main power outage. The invention also provides a printer and method that can optimize a printing operation, e.g., by adjusting the speed of the printing operation according to the power required for the operation and/or the power available.

Claims

1. A printing device capable of obtaining power from at least one of an Ethernet network transmission line and a USB connection, the printing device comprising:

a power and data interface in communication with a port, the port being one of a powered Ethernet communication port and a USB communication port, the interface being configured to separate data transmission from power transmission;

a first power converter in communication with the power and data interface;

a printer control and image generating circuit in data communication with the interface and in electrical communication with the power converter; and

a print mechanism in data communication with the printer control and image generating circuit that receives print control and image data from the circuit.

2. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the first power converter is in electrical communication with the print mechanism.

3. The printing device of claim 1, wherein power supplied to the printer control and image generating circuit is limited to power being supplied by the at least one Ethernet network transmission line and a USB connection.

4. The printing device of claim 2, wherein power supplied to the print mechanism is limited to power being supplied by the at least one Ethernet network transmission line and a USB connection.

5. The printing device of claim 1, further comprising:

a power storage unit in electrical communication with the print mechanism; and

a power storage controller in electrical communication with the first power converter and the power storage unit that receives supply voltage from the first power converter and provides the supply voltage to the power storage unit.

6. The printing device of claim 5, wherein power supplied to the print mechanism is limited to power being supplied by the power storage unit.

7. The printing device of claim 5, further comprising a second power converter in electrical communication with the power storage unit and the print mechanism that transforms power storage potential to required print mechanism voltages.

8. The printing device of claim 5, wherein the first power converter is configured to receive power via the communication port at a maximum power level of the communication port, and the power storage unit is configured to provide power to the print mechanism at a power level that is greater than the maximum power level of the communication port.

9. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the printing control and image generating circuit is configured to determine a required power for a printing operation and adjust the speed of the print mechanism according to the required power.

10. The printing device of claim 9, wherein the printing control and image generating circuit is configured to determine the required power according to a print density requirement for the printing operation.

11. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the first power converter is configured to provide a maximum power that is less than a total power required for energizing each of a plurality of printhead elements of the print mechanism, and wherein the printer control and image generating circuit is configured to selectively energize groups of the printhead elements at different times such that the power required for energizing the select groups is less than the total power.

12. The printing device of claim 1, further comprising an Alternating Current-Direct Current (AC-DC) converter in electrical communication with an electrical transmission line and in electrical communication with the first power converter.

13. The printing device of claim 12, wherein the electrical transmission line provides the primary power to the printer control and image generating circuitry and the at least one Ethernet network transmission line and USB connection provides secondary power to the printer control and image generating circuitry.

14. The printing device of claim 12, further comprising a second power converter in electrical communication with the AC-DC converter and the print mechanism.

15. The printing device of claim 14, wherein power supplied to the print mechanism is limited to power being supplied by the electrical transmission line.

16. The printing device of claim 12, further comprising:

a power storage unit in electrical communication with the print mechanism; and

a power storage controller in electrical communication with the first power converter and the power storage unit that receives supply voltage from the first power converter and provides the supply voltage to the power storage unit.

17. The printing device of claim 16, wherein the electrical transmission line provides the primary power to the print mechanism and the at least one Ethernet network transmission line and USB connection provides the secondary power to the print mechanism.

18. The printing device of claim 16, further comprising a second power converter in electrical communication with the power storage unit and the print mechanism that transforms power storage potential to required print mechanism voltages.

19. A printing device capable of obtaining power from at least one powered interface, the printing device comprising:

a power and data interface in communication with the powered interface, the power and data interface being configured to separate data transmission from power transmission;

a first power converter in communication with the power and data interface;

a power storage controller in electrical communication with the first power converter;

a power storage unit in electrical communication with the power storage controller; and

a print mechanism in electrical communication with the power storage unit that receives electrical power from the power storage unit.

20. The printing device of claim 19, further comprising a printer control and image generating circuit in data communication with the powered interface and in electrical communication with the power converter.

21. The printing device of claim 19, wherein power supplied to the print mechanism is limited to power being supplied by the power storage unit.

22. The printing device of claim 19, further comprising a second power converter in electrical communication with the power storage unit and the print mechanism that transforms power storage potential to required print mechanism voltages.

23. The printing device of claim 19, wherein the first power converter is configured to receive power via the communication port at a maximum power level of the communication port, and the power storage unit is configured to provide power to the print mechanism at a power level that is greater than the maximum power level of the communication port.

24. The printing device of claim 19, wherein the printing device is configured to determine a required power for a printing operation and adjust the speed of the print mechanism according to the required power.

25. The printing device of claim 24, wherein the printing device is configured to determine the required power according to a print density requirement for the printing operation.

26. The printing device of claim 19, wherein the first power converter is configured to provide a maximum power that is less than a total power required for energizing each of a plurality of printhead elements of the print mechanism, and wherein the printer device is configured to selectively energize groups of the printhead elements at different times such that the power required for energizing the select groups is less than the total power.

27. A printing device capable of obtaining power from at least one of an Ethernet network transmission line and a USB connection, the printing device comprising:

a power and data interface in communication with at least one of a powered Ethernet communication port and a USB communication port, the power and data interface being configured to separate data transmission from power transmission;

a first power converter in communication with the power and data interface;

a printer control and image generating circuit in data communication with the interface and in electrical communication with the power converter;

an Alternating Current-Direct Current (AC-DC) converter in electrical communication with an electrical transmission line and in electrical communication with the first power converter; and

a print mechanism in data communication with the printer control and image generating circuit and in electrical communication with the AC-DC converter.

28. The printing device of claim 27, wherein the electrical transmission line provides the primary power to the printer control and image generating circuitry and the at least one Ethernet network transmission line and USB connection provides secondary power to the printer control and image generating circuitry.

29. The printing device of claim 27, further comprising a second power converter in electrical communication with the AC-DC converter and the print mechanism.

30. The printing device of claim 27, wherein power supplied to the print mechanism is limited to power being supplied by the electrical transmission line.

31. A method for providing at least one of Ethernet power and USB power to at least a portion of a printer device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a printer device, a signal having a voltage component, the signal being at least one of an Ethernet network signal and a USB signal;

converting the voltage component of the signal to a supply voltage; and

providing operating power to a printer control and image generating circuit in the form of the supply voltage.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of segregating the voltage component from a data component of the signal.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of providing operating power to a printer control and image generating circuit in the form of the supply voltage further provides for providing sole operating power to a printer control and image generating circuit in the form of the supply voltage.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of providing operating power to a printer control and image generating circuit in the form of the supply voltage further provides for providing back-up operating power to a printer control and image generating circuit in the form of the supply voltage.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of providing operating power to a print mechanism in the form of the supply voltage.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of providing operating power to a print mechanism in the form of the supply voltage further provides for providing sole operating power to a print mechanism in the form of the supply voltage.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of providing operating power to a print mechanism in the form of the supply voltage further provides for providing back-up operating power to a print mechanism in the form of the supply voltage.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the providing step comprises providing the operating power being greater than the maximum power of the signal received at the printer device.

39. The method of claim 31, further comprising determining a required power for a printing operation and adjusting the speed of the printer device according to the required power.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said determining step comprises determining the required power according to a print density requirement for the printing operation.

41. The method of claim 31, wherein said providing step comprises providing the operating power at a level less than a total power required for operating each of a plurality of printhead elements of the printer device, and further comprising selectively energizing groups of the printhead elements at different times such that the power required for energizing the select groups is less than the total power.

42. A method for providing at least one of Ethernet power and USB power to at least a portion of a printer device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a printer device, a signal having a voltage component, the signal being at least one of an Ethernet network signal and a USB signal;

converting the voltage component of the signal to a supply voltage;

providing the supply voltage to a power storage controller;

storing the supply voltage at a power storage unit; and

providing operating power to a print mechanism in the form of supply voltage stored at the power storage unit.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of providing operating power to a print mechanism in the form of supply voltage stored at the power storage unit further comprises providing sole operating power to a print mechanism in the form of supply voltage stored at the power storage unit.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of providing operating power to a print mechanism in the form of supply voltage stored at the power storage unit further comprises providing back-up operating power to a print mechanism in the form of supply voltage stored at the power storage unit.

45. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of converting the supply voltage stored at the power storage unit to print mechanism operating voltage.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the second providing step comprises providing the operating power being greater than the maximum power of the signal received at the printer device.

47. The method of claim 42, further comprising determining a required power for a printing operation and adjusting the speed of the print mechanism according to the required power.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said determining step comprises determining the required power according to a print density requirement for the printing operation.

49. The method of claim 42, wherein said second providing step comprises providing the operating power at a level less than a total power required for operating each of a plurality of printhead elements of the print mechanism, and further comprising selectively energizing groups of the printhead elements at different times such that the power required for energizing the select groups is less than the total power.

50. A printing device configured to adjust the speed of a printing operation according to a power required for performing the printing operation, the printing device comprising:

a power converter in communication with a power source;

a print mechanism in communication with the power converter and configured to receive power from the power converter; and

a controller in communication with the print mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to determine a required power for a printing operation of the print mechanism and adjust a speed of the print mechanism according to the required power such that the required power does not exceed an amount of power available from the power converter to the print mechanism.

51. The printing device of claim 50, wherein the controller is configured to determine the required power according to a print density requirement for the printing operation.

52. The printing device of claim 51, wherein the controller is configured to determine the print density requirement for the printing operation according to a number of print elements required for performing the printing operation.

53. The printing device of claim 50, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the required power of the print mechanism during operation of the print mechanism and adjust the speed of the print mechanism according to the required power by increasing the speed of the print mechanism if the required power is less than the amount of power available and decreasing the speed of the print mechanism if the required power is greater than the amount of power available.