Electrophotography – Diagnostics – Consumable
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-10
2001-09-25
Grainger, Quana M. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Diagnostics
Consumable
C399S009000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295423
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to peripheral units such as laser printers and the like. More particularly, the invention concerns systems and methods for monitoring the lifetime of various components of such peripheral units and generating notifications in a manner that can be defined by a user or client of the peripheral unit.
BACKGROUND
Peripheral tinits come in many shapes and sizes and are typically configured for use with a computer or in a networked environment comprising a plurality of computers. Examples of peripheral units include printers, such as laser printers, facsimile machines, copiers, and the like. Peripheral units typically have individual constituent components that themselves have a finite lifetime. These constituent components are referred to in this document as a “consumable”. When the lifetimes of such components have expired, they must be replaced. Replacing used components often times means that the peripheral unit must go offline for a period of time so that the component can be replaced. This, in turn, can adversely affect productivity insofar as the peripheral unit cannot often be used during these down times. Further adversely affecting productivity is the fact that some components must be special ordered because they are not kept on hand. In addition, some components may require a specialized technician for proper installation. Thus, it has become desirable to ascertain, in advance, when particular components of a peripheral unit ,ire approaching the end of their useful lifetime. In this manner, users of the peripheral unit can take measures to ensure that appropriate replacement components arc on hand thereby reducing the peripheral unit's downtime.
There have been efforts in the past to develop systems and methods for ascertaining the useful lifetime of a component of a peripheral unit. In the context of peripheral units that comprise laser printers, an example includes a sensor for sensing the toner that is utilized by the laser printer. Exemplary systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5.862,431, 5,815,768, and 5,794,094, the disclosures of high are incorporated by reference herein. These and other systems typically monitor the toner. When the toner level reaches a predetermined, hardwired threshold, a notification can be generated that the toner is low. The notification can be manifest in the form of a printer panel indicator.
One problem that is associated with past systems and methods for detecting consumable lifetimes is that they are typically inflexible. Specifically, they do not enable a user or client to set their own thresholds for determining when a consumable component is approaching the end of its useful lifetime. There are many factors that can affect the lifetime of consumable component. For example, some components may have a history of lasting longer or shorter than the lifetimes that are indicated by the components' specifications. Additionally, the use frequency of the peripheral unit can most definitely affect the rate at Which the component wears out. Specifically, peripheral units that experience a higher rate of use have components that wear out quicker than peripheral units that experience a lower rate of use. In addition to factors that affect the lifetime of a consumable component, other factors can contribute to the down time that is experienced by the peripheral unit when a component wears out. Specifically, product lead times can adversely affect downtime. Specifically, if a particular component must be ordered for replacement, and it typically takes one day to order and receive a component, then there will most certainly be a down time of one day when the component expires.
This invention arose out of concerns associated with providing improved methods and systems for monitoring the lifetime of various components of peripheral units and generating notifications when one or more of the components is approaching the end of its useful lifetime.
SUMMARY
Methods and apparatus for generating, notifications associated with the lifetime of peripheral unit consumables ire described. In the described embodiments, users or clients are able to define and adjust their own threshold values that are associated with with a consumable's lifetime. This provides flexibility insofar as being able to consider circumstances that are outside of those circumstances that directly bear upon the operation of the consumable, e.g. product lead times and the like.
In one embodiment, a lifetime monitoring mechanism is provided and monitors the lifetime of a peripheral unit consumable that is associated with operation of the peripheral unit. The lifetime monitoring mechanism is configured with a user-manipulable, threshold-defining mechanism that is configured to receive user input and, responsive to the user input, define a threshold value for the lifetime monitoring mechanism. The peripheral unit's use of the consumable is monitored using the lifetime monitoring mechanism. A determination is made when the peripheral unit's use of the consumable reaches the threshold value and, responsive thereto, a notification is generated.
In another embodiment, an image-forming apparatus is provided and its use of a consumable is monitored. Input is received from a client of the image-forming apparatus and, responsive thereto, a threshold value is defined that provides a measure of remaining consumable that is associated with operation of the image-forming apparatus. When the consumable reaches the threshold value, a notification is generated for the client.
In yet another embodiment, an image-forming system includes an image-forming apparatus that is configured to form images. A lifetime monitoring mechanism is operably associated with the image-forming apparatus and is configured to monitor the lifetime of an image-forming apparatus consumable that is associated with operation of the image-forming apparatus. A user-manipulable, threshold-defining mechanism is provided and is operably coupled with the lifetime monitoring mechanism. The threshold-defining mechanism is configured to receive user input and, responsive thereto, defines a threshold value for the lifetime monitoring mechanism. A warning generator is provided and is configured to generate a notification when the consumable that is associated with operation of the image-forming reaches the threshold value.
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Burquist Joseph L.
Haines Robert E.
Rodriguez Santiago
Grainger Quana M.
Hewlett--Packard Company
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