Mobile device with printhead for receiving data via modulate light signal

• US 20060252456A1
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, King, Tobin Allen
• Application Number:
  US11/124,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20060252456A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0096 Portable devices

Abstract

A mobile device comprising: a processor for outputting print data; a replaceable printhead cartridge including a photosensor and a printhead for printing onto print media; and a light emitting device for receiving the print data and converting it into a modulated light signal; wherein the photosensor and the light emitting device are positioned and orientated such that, in use, the photosensor receives the modulated light signal, the printhead being configured to print on the basis of the print data encoded in the modulated light signal.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a processor for outputting print data;

a replaceable printhead cartridge including a photosensor and a printhead for printing onto print media; and

a light emitting device for receiving the print data and converting it into a modulated light signal;

wherein the photosensor and the light emitting device are positioned and orientated such that, in use, the photosensor receives the modulated light signal, the printhead being configured to print on the basis of the print data encoded in the modulated light signal.

2. A mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting device is a light emitting diode.

3. A mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting device is an organic light emitting diode.

4. A mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the photosensor is mounted directly to the printhead within the print cartridge.

5. A mobile device according to claim 1, further including:

a receptacle for holding the cartridge;

an energy storage device;

first electrical contacts connected to receive electrical power from the energy storage device; and

second electrical contacts disposed on or in the printhead cartridge;

the first and second contacts being configured and arranged to electrically engage each other when the cartridge is installed in the receptacle.

6. A mobile device according to claim 5, wherein the energy storage device is a battery.

7. A mobile device according to claim 5, wherein the electrical power received by the cartridge via the first and second electrical contacts is used to power ink ejection mechanisms in the printhead.

8. A mobile device according to claim 7, wherein the ink ejection mechanisms are microelectromechanical systems.

9. A mobile device according to claim 8, wherein each of the ink ejection mechanisms includes a thermal bend actuator.

10. A mobile device according to claim 8, wherein each of the ink ejection mechanisms includes a heater for ejecting ink by vaporisation.

11. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein the drive shaft has a media engagement surface for enhanced contact friction with the media substrate.

12. A mobile device according to claim 1 further comprising a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead, and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the media substrate, wherein the capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media substrate such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media.

13. A mobile device according to claim 1 further comprising a print engine controller with a light emitting beacon, and the printhead comprises:

an array of nozzles for ejecting ink;

print data circuitry for providing the nozzles with print data; and

,

a photosensor for optically receiving the print data from the beacon.

14. A mobile device according to claim 1 wherein

the drive shaft is driven by a piezo-electric resonant linear drive system.

15. A mobile device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and

,

a position sensor for providing the print engine controller with a signal indicative of the position of the media substrate relative to the printhead;

such that,

the print engine controller differentiates the signal to derive the speed of the media substrate relative to the printhead and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the speed.

16. A mobile device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead;

wherein during use,

the print engine controller senses the number of complete and partial rotations of the drive shaft and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the angular velocity of the drive shaft.

17. A mobile device according to claim 1 further comprising at least one ink reservoir, the at least one reservoir comprising:

a housing defining an ink storage volume;

one or more baffles dividing the ink storage volume into sections, each of the sections having at least one ink outlet for sealed connection to the printhead; and

,

at least one conduit establishing fluid communication between the ink outlets of adjacent sections.

18. A mobile device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a media feed assembly for feeding the sheet of media substrate along a feed path past the printhead;

a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and

,

a sensor for reading coded data on at least part of the media substrate and generating a signal indicative of at least one dimension of the sheet, and transmitting the signal to the print engine controller;

such that,

the print engine controller uses the signal to initiate the printing when the sheet is at a predetermined position relative to the printhead.

19. A mobile device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and

,

a dual sensing facility for reading coded data on at least part of the media substrate before, as well as after, it has past the printhead.