Computer Keyboard with integral printer

• US 6,923,583 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, King, Tobin Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Nolan, Jr., Charles H.
• Application Number:
  US10/974,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20050058490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 400/489, 400/472, 400/88
• US Class Current: 400/472
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14 Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14314 Structure of ink jet print heads with electrostatically actuated membrane
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16 Production of nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1601 Production of bubble jet print heads B41J2/1606, B41J2/162 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1626 etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1628 dry etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1629 wet etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1631 photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1632 machining
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1635 dividing the wafer into individual chips
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1637 molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1639 sacrificial molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1642 thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1643 thin film formation by plating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1645 thin film formation by spincoating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1646 thin film formation by sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1648 Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 : Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 : Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 : Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/041 : Electromagnetic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 : Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/44 : Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/46 : Printing mechanisms combined with apparatus providing a visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/28 : Multiple-action keys, e.g. keys depressed by two or more amounts or movable in two or more directions to effect different functions or selections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 : in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 : Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 : Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 : Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 : Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 : by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 : multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 : Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 : using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 : 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 : by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 : by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 : Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/56 : using storage elements with more than two stable states represented by steps, e.g. of voltage, current, phase, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 : Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

A computer keyboard to control a remote computer includes a housing that contains a printer assembly. The printer assembly includes a printhead support having a number of ink galleries and a pagewidth printhead supported by the printhead support and supplied by the ink galleries. A port to receive an ink cartridge is formed in the housing and communicates with the ink galleries in order to replenish them. In a preferred embodiment the pagewidth printhead comprises a multi-color printhead and each of the ink galleries is dedicated to store different color inks.

Claims

1. A computer keyboard to control a remote computer, said keyboard including:

a housing including, an entrance aperture and an exit aperture;

a print media transport path extending from said entrance aperture to said exit aperture;

the housing containing a printer assembly, said assembly including;

a printhead support having a number of ink galleries, and

a pagewidth printhead supported by the printhead support and in communication with the number of ink galleries; and

a port to receive an ink cartridge formed in the housing in communication with the ink galleries;

wherein the printhead is disposed in an operative position relative to the print media transport path for printing onto print media as said print media is transported from said entrance aperture to said exit aperture;

and wherein said print media passes wholly within said housing as said print media

is transported along said print media transport path.

2. A computer keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the pagewidth printhead comprises a multi-color printhead and wherein the number of ink galleries are each dedicated to store different color inks.

3. A computer keyboard according to claim 2, further including a controller circuit arranged to control the pagewidth printhead in response to signals from said remote computer.

4. A computer keyboard according to claim 3, wherein the controller circuit is responsive to a serial bus port for receiving the signals from the remote computer.

5. A computer keyboard according to claim 4, wherein signals from the keyboard are transmitted to the remote computer by means of the serial bus port.

6. A computer keyboard according to claim 1, including means to releasably lock the printer assembly in place relative to the housing.

7. A computer keyboard to control a remote computer, said keyboard including:

a housing including an entrance aperture and an exit aperture;

a print media transport path extending from said entrance aperture to said exit aperture;

the housing containing a printer assembly, said assembly including;

a printhead support having a number of ink galleries each dedicated to contain differently colored inks,

a pagewidth printhead supported by the printhead support and in communication with the number of ink galleries, and

a controller circuit arranged to control the pagewidth printhead in response to commands from the remote computer,

a port to receive an ink cartridge formed in the housing in communication with the ink galleries; and

a data port coupled to the controller circuit to convey signals between the controller circuit and the remote computer and between a keyboard circuit and the remote computer;

wherein the printhead is disposed in an operative position relative to the print media transport path for printing onto print media as said print media is transported from said entrance aperture to said exit aperture;

and wherein said print media passes wholly within said housing as said print media is transported along said print media transport path.