Mobile device with first and second optical pathways

• US 7,284,921 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Yan; Ren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marini; Matthew
• Application Number:
  US11/124,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20060251457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 347/2, 347/107, 347/101, 347/213, 347/29
• US Class Current: 400/88
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras

Abstract

A mobile device including: a printhead for printing onto a print medium, the print medium including coded data; a media path for directing the print medium past the printhead for printing; an optical sensor; a first optical pathway for directing optical image information to the sensor to enable it to read at least some of the coded data from the print medium while at least some of the print medium is within the media path; and a second optical pathway for directing optical image information to the sensor to enable it to read coded data from the print medium when the print medium is not in the media path.

Claims

1. A mobile device including:

a printhead for printing onto a print medium, the print medium including coded data;

a media path for directing the print medium past the printhead for printing;

an optical sensor,

a first illumination source arranged to illuminate an area of the media path and a second illumination space arranged to illuminate an area external to the mobile device;

a first optical pathway for directing first optical image information to the optical sensor print medium which is within said area of the media path illuminated by the first illumination source; and

a second optical pathway for directing second optical image information to the optical sensor from print medium within said area external to the mobile device illuminated by the second illumination source,

wherein the optical sensor is configured to sense the coded data of the print medium from either of said first and second optical image information.

2. A mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second illumination sources are infrared light sources.

3. A mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the first optical pathway includes at least one mirror.

4. A mobile device according to claim 3, wherein the first optical pathway includes a periscope arrangement of mirrors.

5. A mobile device according to claim 1, further including a shutter selectively operable to reduce or prevent the second optical image information from reaching the sensor via the second optical pathway during at least part of a printing procedure.

6. A mobile device according to claim 5, further including a shutter-closing mechanism configured to close the shutter in response to the print medium moving through at least part of the media path.

7. A mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second optical pathways share a common optical pathway portion.

8. A mobile device according to claim 1, further including a printer.

9. A mobile device according to claim 8, wherein the printer takes the form of a replaceable cartridge.

10. A mobile device according to claim 9, wherein the replaceable cartridge includes at least one ink reservoir.

11. A mobile device according to claim 10, wherein the replaceable cartridge incorporates the optical sensor.

12. A mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the replaceable cartridge includes a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between:

a capped 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 print medium, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;

wherein the capper is moved between the capped and uncapped position by an edge of the print medium as it moves through the media path.

13. A mobile device according to claim 12, wherein in the capped position the capper is resiliently urged into the capping relationship.

14. A mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the capping mechanism is configured such that the capper is displaced in the feed direction as it moves from the capped position to the uncapped position.

15. A mobile device according to claim 9, wherein the replaceable cartridge includes a media drive mechanism for engaging print medium to be printed by the printer.

16. A mobile device according to claim 15, further including drive means for driving the media drive mechanism, the drive means not forming part of the replaceable cartridge.

17. A mobile device according to claim 16, wherein the media drive mechanism includes a driven wheel configured to engage the drive means when the replaceable cartridge is installed in the mobile device.