Warning device for printers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for detecting a printer error, comprising the steps of:
- a) electrically connecting a printer to a computer via a cable made up of a plurality of wires;
b) electrically tapping a cable wire via a modular warning device;
c) monitoring the electrical state of the cable wire with the modular warning device;
d) determining, via the modular warning device, whether the electrical state of the cable wire indicates a normal state or a printer error state; and
e) activating an alarm, via the modular warning device, if the electrical state of the cable wire indicates a printer error.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular peripheral error warning device for use with printers having a CENTRONICS parallel port. The peripheral error warning device monitors various voltages of connecting wires that interface with the computer and the printer and includes an interface box, an alarm box and a power supply. Activation of an alarm, such as a buzzer or LED, will occur if the monitored voltage corresponds to printer error, such as a paper jam. Correction of the printer error results in deactivation of the alarm.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for detecting a printer error, comprising the steps of:
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a) electrically connecting a printer to a computer via a cable made up of a plurality of wires; b) electrically tapping a cable wire via a modular warning device; c) monitoring the electrical state of the cable wire with the modular warning device; d) determining, via the modular warning device, whether the electrical state of the cable wire indicates a normal state or a printer error state; and e) activating an alarm, via the modular warning device, if the electrical state of the cable wire indicates a printer error. - View Dependent Claims (2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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3. A device for detecting a printer error, where a printer is electrically connected to a computer via a cable made up of a plurality of connecting wires, comprising:
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an interface module having a body, means for receiving a computer cable made up of a plurality of wires adapted to be received by the computer and secured to said body, means for receiving a printer cable made up of a plurality of connecting wires adapted to be received by the printer and secured to said body and interfacing wires secured to said body electrically coupled to said computer cable and said printer cable, whereby the computer is electrically coupled to the printer via said computer cable, said printer cable and said interfacing connecting wires; one or more tapping wires connected to said interfacing wires and attached to said body; computing means for receiving electrical signals from said one or more tapping wires, said computing means determines the printer state from the received electrical signals and transmits an activation signal if the printer is in an error state; and an alarm electrically coupled to said computing means, said alarm activated by the activation signal, said alarm and said computing means supplied by an electrical source external of said computer cable and said printer cable. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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4. A printer system, comprising:
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a computer having a computer parallel port; a computer cable made up of a plurality of wires electrically coupled to said computer parallel port; an interface module having a body, a plurality of interfacing wires and one or more tapping wires, said computer cable electrically coupled to said body, said plurality of interfacing wires electrically coupled to said computer cable and said tapping wires connected to said interfacing wires; a printer having a printer parallel port; a printer cable made up of a plurality of wires electrically coupled to said printer parallel port and electrically coupled to said interfacing wires so that said computer parallel port is electrically coupled to said printer parallel port; and computing means for receiving electrical signals from said tapping wires, said computing means determines the printer state from said electrical signal and transmits an activation signal if the printer is in an error state, said computing means attached to said body. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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5. A method for detecting a printer error, where said printer is electrically connected to a computer via a cable made up of a plurality of wires, comprising the steps of:
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a) monitoring the electrical states of a first wire and a second wire externally of the printer and the computer; b) determining whether the electrical state of the first wire indicates a normal state or a printer error state; c) determining whether the electrical state of the second wire indicates a normal state or an override state; and d) activating an alarm if the determined electrical state of the first wire indicates a printer error state and the determined electrical state of the second wire is in a normal state. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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Specification