Ethernet and USB powered printers and methods for supplying ethernet and USB power to a printer

• US 8,587,825 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Poole, David L., Fox, Douglas A., Ehrhardt, Robert A. Jr., Brown, Eugene K., DeMay, Rod, Ham, John, Lynch, Gary F., Thielen, Donald V.
• Primary Examiner(s): ABAD, FARLEY J
• Application Number:
  US11/336,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20060164447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,860 Days
• Field of Search: 710/62, 358/1.2, 358/1.5, 358/1.9, 358/3.09
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1215 achieving increased printing speed, i.e. reducing the time between printing start and printing end
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1221 with regard to power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1286 via local network
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/4055 Managing power consumption, e.g. standby mode computer driven power saving management for a printer G06F3/1221; power saving in a data processing device in general G06F1/32

Abstract

Ethernet and Universal Serial Bus (USB) powered printing devices are provided. In particular, Ethernet and USB powered printers and methods of Ethernet powering of printers that support high speed printing and/or data intensive printing. Such high-speed and/or data intensive printing operations are able to be Ethernet or USB powered by providing for a power storage unit within the printer device that is able be charged during non-printing periods and provide for necessary energy bursts to support such higher powered processes. In addition, the present invention provides for devices and methods that allow for printers to operate with main power provided by conventional power mains and for back-up or secondary power to be supplied by Ethernet or USB power. Additionally, the invention provides for Ethernet or USB powering, both primary and back-up, of the data and configuration settings in the printer control and image generating electronics. In the back-up power mode, the Ethernet or USB power insures that data and configurations are not lost during periods of main power outage. The invention also provides a printer and method that can optimize a printing operation, e.g., by adjusting the speed of the printing operation according to the power required for the operation and/or the power available.

Claims

1. A printing device capable of obtaining power from at least one of an Ethernet network transmission line and a USB connection, the printing device comprising:

a power and data interface in communication with a port, the port being one of a standard powered Ethernet communication port that is compliant with IEEE 802.3af, and a four-pin USB communication port, the power and data interface being configured to separate data transmission from power transmission;

a first power converter in communication with the power and data interface;

a printer control and image generating circuit in data communication with the power and data interface and in communication with the first power converter, the printer control and image generating circuit configured to;

determine an amount of required power for an upcoming operation of the printing device;

determine, from communications with at least the first power converter, available power from the first power converter that is generated based on the power transmission that is available to the printing device for the upcoming operation; and

determine printing control parameters based on the required power and the available power;

a print mechanism in data communication with the printer control and image generating circuit configured to receive print control and image data from the printer control and image generating circuit;

a power storage unit in communication with the print mechanism; and

the power storage controller in communication with the first power converter and the power storage unit.

2. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the first power converter is in electrical communication with the print mechanism.

3. The printing device of claim 2, wherein power supplied to the power storage unit is limited to power being supplied by at least one of a standard Ethernet network transmission line that is compliant with IEEE 802.3af and a standard four-pin USB connection.

4. The printing device of claim 1, wherein power supplied to the printer control and image generating circuit is limited to power being supplied by at least one of a standard Ethernet network transmission line that is compliant with IEEE 802.3af and a standard four-pin USB connection.

5. The printing device of claim 1, wherein power supplied to the print mechanism is limited to power being supplied by the power storage unit.

6. The printing device of claim 1, further comprising a second power converter in communication with the power storage unit and the print mechanism, the second power converter configured to transform power storage potential to required print mechanism voltages.

7. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the first power converter is configured to receive power via the port up to a maximum power level of the port, and the power storage unit is configured to provide power to the print mechanism at a power level that is greater than the maximum power level of the port.

8. The printing device of claim 7, wherein the port has a maximum power level of 13 watts or less.

9. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the printer control and image generating circuit is configured to adjust the required power by changing the print mechanism'"'"'s speed.

10. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the printer control and image generating circuit is configured to determine the required power according to a print density requirement for the upcoming operation.

11. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the first power converter is configured to provide a maximum power that is less than a total power required for energizing each of a plurality of printhead elements of the print mechanism, and wherein the printer control and image generating circuit is configured to selectively energize groups of the printhead elements at different times such that power required for energizing the groups selected is less than the total power.

12. The printing device of claim 1, further comprising an Alternating Current-Direct Current (AC-DC) converter in electrical communication with an electrical transmission line and in electrical communication with the first power converter.

13. The printing device of claim 12, wherein the electrical transmission line provides primary power to the printer control and image generating circuitry and at least one of a standard Ethernet network transmission line that is compliant with IEEE 802.3af and a standard four-pin USB connection provides secondary power to the printer control and image generating circuitry.

14. The printing device of claim 12, further comprising a second power converter in electrical communication with the AC-DC converter and the print mechanism.

15. The printing device of claim 14, wherein power supplied to the power storage unit is limited to power being supplied by the electrical transmission line.

16. The printing device of claim 12, wherein the electrical transmission line provides primary power to the print mechanism and at least one of a standard Ethernet network transmission line that is compliant with IEEE 802.3af and a standard four-pin USB connection provides secondary power to the print mechanism.

17. A printing device capable of obtaining power from at least one powered interface, the printing device comprising:

a power and data interface in communication with a standard powered communication port, the power and data interface being configured to separate data transmission from power transmission;

a first power converter in communication printer control and image generating circuit;

a controller in communication with first power converter, the controller configured to;

determine an amount of required power for an upcoming operation of the printing device;

determine, from communications with at least the first power converter, available power from the first power converter that is generated based on the power transmission that is available to the printing device for the upcoming operation for the upcoming operation; and

determine printing control parameters based on the required power and the available power;

a power storage controller in communication with the first power converter;

a power storage unit in communication with the power storage controller; and

a print mechanism configured to;

communicate with the power storage unit; and

receive electrical power from the power storage unit, wherein the power storage controller is configured to charge the power storage unit from the power transmission.

18. The printing device of claim 17, wherein power supplied to the print mechanism is limited to power being supplied by the power storage unit.

19. The printing device of claim 17, further comprising a second power converter in electrical communication with the power storage unit and the print mechanism, the second power converter configured to transform power storage potential to required print mechanism voltages.

20. The printing device of claim 17, wherein:

the first power converter is configured to receive power via the standard-powered communication port at a maximum power level of the standard-powered communication port, the standard-powered communication port is a standard port, and

the power storage unit is configured to provide power to the print mechanism at a power level that is greater than the maximum power level of the standard-powered communication port.

21. The printing device of claim 17, wherein the printing device is configured to adjust the required power by changing the print mechanism'"'"'s speed.

22. The printing device of claim 17, wherein the printing device is configured to determine the required power according to a print density requirement for the upcoming operation.

23. The printing device of claim 17, wherein the first power converter is configured to provide a maximum power that is less than a total power required for energizing each of a plurality of printhead elements of the print mechanism, and wherein the printer device is configured to selectively energize groups of the printhead elements at different times such that power required for energizing the groups selected is less than the total power.

24. A printing device capable of obtaining power from at least one of an Ethernet network transmission line and a USB connection, the printing device comprising:

a power and data interface in communication with at least one of a standard powered Ethernet communication port that is compliant with IEEE 802.3af and a standard four-pin USB communication port, the power and data interface being configured to separate data transmission from power transmission;

a first power converter in communication with the power and data interface;

a printer control and image generating circuit in data communication with the interface and in communication with the first power converter, the printer control and image generating circuit configured to;

determine an amount of required power for an upcoming operation of the printing device;

determine, from communications with at least the first power converter, available power from the first power converter that is generated based on the power transmission that is available to the printing device for the upcoming operation; and

determine printing control parameters based on the required power and the available power, wherein the printing control parameters are used to generate print control and image data;

an Alternating Current-Direct Current (AC-DC) converter in communication with an electrical transmission line and in communication with the first power converter; and

a print mechanism in data communication with the printer control and image generating circuit and in communication with the AC-DC converter.

25. The printing device of claim 24, wherein the electrical transmission line provides primary power to the printer control and image generating circuitry and the at least one of the standard powered Ethernet communication port and the standard four-pin USB communication port provides secondary power to the printer control and image generating circuitry.

26. The printing device of claim 24, further comprising a second power converter in electrical communication with the AC-DC converter and the print mechanism.

27. A method for providing at least one of Ethernet power and USB power to at least a portion of a printer device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a standard powered communication port of a printer device, a signal having a voltage component, the signal being at least one of a standard Ethernet network signal that is compliant with IEEE 802.3af and a standard USB signal;

converting, by a first power converter, the voltage component of the signal to a supply voltage;

storing the supply voltage in a power storage unit;

determining an amount of required power for an upcoming operation of the printing device;

determining available power to the printing device;

determining, from communications with at least the first power converter, available power from the first power converter that is generated based on the voltage component of the signal that is available to the printing device for the upcoming operation;

determining printing control parameters based on the required power and the available power; and

providing operating power to a printer control and image generating circuit in the form of the supply voltage.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of segregating the voltage component from a data component of the signal.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of providing operating power to the printer control and image generating circuit in the form of the supply voltage further provides for providing sole operating power to the printer control and image generating circuit in the form of the supply voltage.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of providing operating power to the printer control and image generating circuit in the form of the supply voltage further provides for providing back-up operating power to the printer control and image generating circuit in the form of the supply voltage.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of providing operating power to a print mechanism in the form of the supply voltage.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of providing operating power to the print mechanism in the form of the supply voltage further provides for providing sole operating power to the print mechanism in the form of the supply voltage.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of providing operating power to the print mechanism in the form of the supply voltage further provides for providing back-up operating power to the print mechanism in the form of the supply voltage.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the providing operating power to the printer control and image generating circuit comprises providing the operating power being greater than a maximum power of the signal received at the printer device.

35. The method of claim 27 further comprising adjusting the required power by changing the print mechanism'"'"'s speed.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein said determining the required power comprises determining the required power according to a print density requirement for the upcoming operation.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein said providing operating power to the printer control and image generating circuit comprises providing the operating power at a level less than a total power required for operating each of a plurality of printhead elements of the printer device, and further comprising selectively energizing groups of the printhead elements at different times such that the power required for energizing the select groups is less than the total power.

38. A method for providing at least one of Ethernet power and USB power to at least a portion of a printer device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a standard powered communication port of a printer device, a signal having a voltage component, the signal being at least one of a standard Ethernet network signal that is compliant with IEEE 802.3af and a standard USB signal;

converting, by a first power converter, the voltage component of the signal to a supply voltage;

providing the supply voltage to a power storage controller;

storing the supply voltage at a power storage unit;

determining an amount of required power for an upcoming operation of the printing device;

determining, from communications with at least the first power converter, available power from the first power converter that is generated based on the voltage component of the signal that is available to the printing device for the upcoming operation;

determining printing control parameters based on the required power and the available power; and

providing operating power to the print mechanism in the form of the supply voltage stored at the power storage unit.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of providing operating power to the print mechanism in the form of the supply voltage stored at the power storage unit further comprises providing sole operating power to the print mechanism in the form of supply the voltage stored at the power storage unit.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of providing operating power to the print mechanism in the form of the supply voltage stored at the power storage unit further comprises providing back-up operating power to the print mechanism in the form of the supply voltage stored at the power storage unit.

41. The method of claim 38 further comprising the step of converting the supply voltage stored at the power storage unit to a print mechanism operating voltage.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein providing the operating power comprises providing the operating power at a power level greater than a maximum power of the signal received at the standard powered communication port.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein receiving the signal comprises receiving 13 watts or less of power.

44. The method of claim 38 further comprising adjusting the required power by changing the print mechanism'"'"'s speed.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said determining the required power comprises determining the required power according to a print density requirement for the printing operation.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein said providing the operating power comprises providing the operating power at a level less than a total power required for operating each of a plurality of printhead elements of the print mechanism, and further comprising selectively energizing groups of the printhead elements at different times such that the power required for energizing the select groups is less than the total power.

47. A printing device configured to adjust the speed of a printing operation according to a power required for performing the printing operation, the printing device comprising:

a port, the port being one of a standard powered Ethernet communication port that is compliant with IEEE 802.3af and a standard four-pin USB communication port;

a power storage unit;

a power storage controller in communication with the power storage unit, wherein the power storage controller is configured to charge the power storage unit from power received at the port;

a power converter configured to receive power from at least one of the port and the power storage unit and to convert the power received from the port to a supply voltage;

the print mechanism in communication with the power converter and configured to receive at least some of the power from the power converter at the supply voltage; and

a controller in communication with the print mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to;

determine a required power for a printing operation of the print mechanism;

determine, from communications with at least the first power converter, available power from the first power converter that is available to the printing device for the printing operation; and

adjust a speed of the print mechanism according to the required power and the available power, such that the required power does not exceed the available power from at least one of the power converter and the storage unit to the print mechanism.

48. The printing device of claim 47, wherein the controller is configured to determine the required power according to a print density requirement for the printing operation.

49. The printing device of claim 48, wherein the controller is configured to determine the print density requirement for the upcoming operation according to a number of print elements required for performing the upcoming operation.

50. The printing device of claim 47, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the required power of the print mechanism during operation of the print mechanism and adjust the required power by increasing the speed of the print mechanism if the required power is less than the amount of the power available and decreasing the speed of the print mechanism if the required power is greater than the amount of power available.