Printer within a computer keyboard

• US 7,367,729 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• 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): Colilla; Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HA, NGUYEN Q
• Application Number:
  US11/155,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20050232675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 347102-109, 347 1- 4, 400/472, 400/715, 374/109, 271/6, 271/34
• 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 printer is disposed within a housing of a keyboard. The keyboard housing has an upper side bearing a plurality of keypads arranged to interact with a keyboard circuit board located within the housing. A print media entry slot formed through a first side of the housing and a print media ejection slot formed through a second side of the housing opposite the first side provide an entry and exit for a print media transport assembly located between the keyboard circuit board and a bottom side of the housing, the assembly extending across the width of the keyboard circuit board. The assembly is arranged to draw print media through the entry slot.

Claims

1. A printer configured as a peripheral device for a computer, the printer including:

a housing having an upper side bearing a plurality of keypads arranged to interact with a keyboard circuit board located beneath the keypads and within the housing, the keypads and keyboard circuit board forming a keyboard peripheral device for the computer;

a print media entry slot formed through a first side of the housing and a print media ejection slot formed through a second side of the housing opposite the first side;

a print media transport assembly located between the keyboard circuit board and a bottom side of the housing, said assembly arranged to draw print media through the entry slot;

a pagewidth printhead located between the print media entry slot and the print media ejection slot and extending substantially the width of said print media ejection slot for printing onto print media transported by said print media transport assembly; and

a data connector for connecting the printer to the computer for data transmission therebetween,

wherein the print media transport assembly extends substantially beneath the width of the keyboard circuit board.

2. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the print media transport assembly includes a belt disposed about at least two rollers and arranged to transport print media from the entry slot to the printhead.

3. A printer according to claim 2, further including a planar member biased against the belt to maintain planarity of the belt.

4. A printer according to claim 3, wherein the planar member comprises a sprung metal plate.

5. A printer according to claim 2, further including a spiked wheel coupled to one of the at least two rollers and arranged to transport the print media from the printhead through the media ejection slot.