Small footprint computer system

• US 6,953,295 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zamtec Limited (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, King, Tobin Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Nolan, Jr., Charles H.
• Application Number:
  US10/974,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20050058489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 400/88, 400/472, 400/489
• 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 compact desktop computer system is provided that has a small footprint due to integration of a pagewidth printer into the computer system'"'"'s keyboard. A data bus interconnects the keyboard and conveys commands from the keyboard to a computer, and signals from the computer to the integrated printer. The keyboard is fitted with a port to receive an ink cartridge that is in fluid communication with the pagewidth printer. The printer includes a transport assembly to move print media from an entry slot to an ejection slot located on opposing sides of the keyboard'"'"'s housing

Claims

1. A compact desktop computer system including;

a keyboard having a housing including an entrance aperture and an exit aperture;

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

an integrated pagewidth printer disposed within said housing;

a computer in communication with the keyboard; and

a data bus interconnecting the keyboard and the computer;

wherein commands from the keyboard to the computer and signals from the computer to the pagewidth printer are transferred over the data bus;

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 compact desktop computer system according to claim 1, wherein the data bus comprises a universal serial bus (USB).

3. A compact desktop computer system according to claim 1, wherein the printer is located within a housing of the keyboard.

4. A desktop computer system according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard includes a port to receive an ink cartridge to replenish the integrated pagewidth printer.

5. A compact desktop computer system including;

a keyboard having a housing in which is located a pagewidth printer;

the housing including an entrance aperture and an exit aperture;

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

a port to receive an ink cartridge formed in the housing to replenish the pagewidth printer; and

a computer in communication with the keyboard by means of a serial data bus;

wherein commands from the keyboard to the computer and signals from the computer to the pagewidth printer are transferred over the serial data bus;

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.