Mobile device having dual optical sensing pathways

• US 7,572,077 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• 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): Evanisko; Leslie J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marini; Matthew G
• Application Number:
  US11/853,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20080030529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 400/88, 347/107, 347/2, 347/101, 347/213, 347/29, 341/13
• 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 is provided having a printhead for printing onto a print medium, a media path for directing the print medium past the printhead for printing, an optical sensor, a first optical pathway for directing first optical image information to the optical sensor from print medium within an area of the media path, and a second optical pathway for directing second optical image information to the optical sensor from print medium within an area external to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a printhead for printing onto a print medium;

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

an optical sensor;

a first optical pathway for directing first optical image information to the optical sensor from print medium within an area of the media path; and

a second optical pathway for directing second optical image information to the optical sensor from print medium within an area external to the mobile device.

2. A mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the first optical pathway is arranged to direct illumination to said area of the media path and the second optical pathway is arranged to direct illumination to said area external to the mobile device.

3. A mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the first and second optical pathways respectively incorporate first and second illumination sources.

4. A mobile device according to claim 3, wherein the first and second illumination sources are infrared light sources.

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

6. A mobile device according to claim 5, wherein the first optical pathway includes a periscope arrangement of mirrors.

7. A mobile device according to claim 1, further comprising 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.

8. A mobile device according to claim 7, further comprising a shutter-closing mechanism configured to close the shutter in response to the print medium moving through at least part of the media path.

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

10. A mobile device according to claim 1 configured to removably receive a print cartridge which incorporates the printhead.

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

12. A mobile device according to claim 10, wherein the print cartridge further incorporates the optical sensor.

13. A mobile device according to claim 10, wherein the print cartridge includes a media drive mechanism for engaging print medium to be printed by the printhead.

14. A mobile device according to claim 13, further comprising drive means for driving the media drive mechanism of the received print cartridge.

15. A mobile device according to claim 14, wherein the drive means is configured to engage a driven wheel of the media drive mechanism when the print cartridge is received by the mobile device.