Method for controlling an imaging apparatus

Electrophotography – Machine operation – Accounting

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C399S085000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06243548

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a method for controlling an imaging apparatus and, more specifically, to a method for collecting and analyzing data regarding use of the imaging apparatus and controlling the operation and various functions of the imaging apparatus based on the collected usage data.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many imaging apparatus, such as electrophotographic printers and copiers, ink jet printers and the like, utilize various operating modes and perform different functions that require a “warm-up” time when the imaging apparatus is not in a fully operational state. For example, an imaging apparatus may utilize a ready or operating mode and a standby mode. The operating mode corresponds to the imaging apparatus being in a fully operational status and ready to generate output. The standby mode corresponds to a reduced status in which the imaging apparatus remains powered up, but one or more of its imaging components is not ready to operate. For example, the temperatures of the apparatus' thermal components, such as a fuser or a heated ink jet print head, may be lowered. In an electrophotographic printer or copier, the laser mirrors may require “spinning up” before the imaging process may proceed. These situations are also encountered when the imaging apparatus is turned on from the off status.
Placing an imaging apparatus in a standby mode has the advantages of reducing power consumption and reducing thermal wear on the thermally sensitive components of the apparatus. For example, in a solid ink jet color printer, the temperature of the print head during printing and in the operating mode between print jobs may be in the range of about 140° C. In a standby mode, the temperature of the print head maybe lowered to a range of between about 95° C. and about 105° C., thereby reducing thermal wear and power consumption.
When an imaging apparatus is in a standby made, the imaging apparatus must return to the operating mode before imaging can begin. This imposes an undesirable delay on the imaging process. For example, in the Phaser® 360 solid ink color printer manufactured by Tektronix, Inc., the assignee of the present application, the printer can require approximately five minutes to raise the temperatures of the print head and associated ink reservoirs from the standby mode to the operating mode.
It is desirable to avoid warm up delays whenever possible. It is also desirable to maximize the time in a standby mode between imaging commands to minimize thermal wear and power consumption. One attempt to address these needs has involved the use of a timer to track the elapsed time between print commands. For example, the Phaser® 360 printer remains in the operating mode for a fixed period of time (four hours) after a print command is received, and thereafter enters the standby mode. When the next print command is received, the printer must warm-up from the standby mode before printing can begin.
Using a timer to control whether the printer is in an operating or a standby mode inevitably creates situations in which a print command is received while the imaging apparatus is in the standby mode. A timer also maintains the imaging apparatus in the operating mode for a fixed period of time regardless of whether imaging commands are typically received during this period. In this regard, the timer may keep the imaging apparatus in the operating mode even though print commands are rarely received during this period.
What is needed is an intelligent usage tracking system that is capable of monitoring actual use over a period of time and controlling the imaging apparatus based on prior use to minimize warm-up delays and maximize time in a standby mode.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a method for controlling an imaging apparatus.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a method for collecting data regarding use of the imaging apparatus during a period of time.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a method for utilizing the collected data to place the imaging apparatus in one of at least two modes.
It is a feature of the present invention that the method intelligently tracks user activity to customize the operation of the imaging apparatus according to usage patterns.
It is another feature of the present invention that the method periodically updates user activity information to reflect current usage.
It is an advantage of the present invention that the method minimizes undesirable warm-up delays by predicting typical usage periods and controlling the imaging apparatus to be in the operating mode for those periods.
It is another advantage of the present invention that the method reduces thermal wear on the imaging apparatus by maximizing time in one or more standby modes.
It is another advantage of the present invention that the method reduces power consumption by maximizing time in one or more standby modes.
It is still another advantage of the present invention that the method minimizes time in the operating mode when the imaging apparatus is not executing an imaging command.
To achieve the foregoing and other aspects, features and advantages, and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, a method for controlling an imaging apparatus based on an intelligent usage tracking system is provided. The method monitors use of the imaging apparatus over a period of time and uses the collected data to predict future use. The collected data is used to control the imaging apparatus to minimize warm-up delays and to maximize time in one or more standby modes.
Still other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those to skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, simply by way of illustration of one of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. And now for a brief description of the drawings.


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“Lexmark's ‘MarkTrack’ Software Tracks Printer Usage Throughout the Enterprise”, The Hard Copy Observer vol. 8, No. 8, 8/98, p. 41.
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“Tektronix Bets the Ranch on a Bevy of New Color Printers”, The Hard Copy Observer vol. 8, No. 11, 11/98, p. 57-69.

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