Electrophotography – Machine operation – Operator interface
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-23
2004-06-01
Chen, Sophia S. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Machine operation
Operator interface
C399S008000, C399S011000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06744998
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of printers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various devices that incorporate data processors or are coupled to data processing networks require a users active participation in connection with operations. The extent of required participation differs, depending on the type of device. In connection with printing devices such as laser printers, color printers, photocopiers, facsimile machines and combination devices with print capabilities, the user's participation may involve relatively complex operations.
One type of operation involves setup procedures. These can include setting various default conditions, selecting options for a particular job such as paper size or orientation, color calibration steps, entering source or destination information, and various other selections. A different kind of operation that advantageously relies on actions by the user may involve diagnostic and fault recovery procedures, namely identifying, isolating and correcting operational problems, a familiar example being the clearing of paper jams. A third type of operation may concern regular maintenance procedures such as changing supplies of toner or other pigment, cleaning print heads and paper paths, etc.
For high volume and/or high speed printers and other devices, the extent of user involvement is higher than for less capable devices because there are more options, e.g., for selection of media size or orientation, collating of multiple copy output and the like. There are also more potential trouble spots, because each added choice or capability is likely to have one or more associated actuators, switches, alternative paper paths or other element that may occasionally cause a fault condition or need service. There are also other complications, such as the possible fitting out of such devices with options that may need to be installed or debugged in a relatively unique or customized way. Sometimes such unique aspects include third party or aftermarket additions, which might be supplied by parties other than the original manufacture.
High capacity printers, photocopiers and multipurpose sheet and image processing devices typically have a cabinet with access doors, removable drawers or cartridges, and a user interface display device of some kind. The doors and drawers, and other movable parts, often have associated limit switches or photodetector source/detector pairs for providing a signal to a controller to sense and indicate their states and/or positions. Strategic points along one or more paper paths may have similar sensors for monitoring the progress of a job involving movement of paper, paper feeders, printing heads or other movable elements. A controller coupled to such switches and sensors infers information about the apparatus, and may signal an alert in the event of various conditions. Such an alert could point out an impending condition such as “toner supply low,” or a condition likely to prevent proper operation such as “paper cartridge not loaded” or may indicate the occurrence of a fault such as “paper jam.” Such apparatus can be sophisticated about detecting the nature of such problems and in signaling to the attendant where the problem lies.
The printer controller provides triggering signals to activate actuators, and monitors operations based on the sensor signals, according to a stored program. The program is affected by the respective sensors and also by the dictates of inputs such as user-operated switches or stored data or data received from an eternally-coupled processor, network or other data source. Before commencing a print operation, the controller might sense the state or position of the printer's doors or functional parts, the presence of paper cartridges or paper therein, and otherwise determine whether the printer is in condition for operation. If the printer is not ready, an alarm or other message signals the user and points out the deficiency (e.g., paper supply empty or cabinet door open, etc.).
During a print operation, the controller might sense the progress of the paper along a feed path that is expected based upon the activation of various actuators that are intended to feed paper along a predetermined path when operating properly. The controller senses for the progress of the print medium according to a programmed sequence of expected paper positions and perhaps expected time delays, based on the controller's signals for effecting paper feed and other similar printing operations. Even if a print operation was commenced normally, the apparent failure of the print medium (e.g., a sheet of paper) to progress from one expected position to a next expected position within a given time, may be sensed and caused to trigger an alarm or other message signal. Additionally, operation of the printer may be suspended until some action is detected that is expected and necessary according to the controller program, such as opening and closing a cabinet door or removing a piece of paper from some position at which it is considered jammed.
Sensed deficiencies in initial condition, and operational faults during printer operation, advantageously generate an alarm and also present sufficient information on the nature and location of the fault to enable the attendant to identify and correct many types of faults. Several techniques are used to identify the location of a fault. For example, warning lamps may be mounted at selected positions on the apparatus, including at paper path positions normally concealed behind cabinet doors. The lamps are illuminated by the controller to indicate to a user that attention is needed at that particular location, e.g., along a feed path or so as to maintain a nearby element of the printer.
Similar location-identifying warnings can be displayed physically apart from the printer mechanism on an analogous diagram or the like. For example, a light emitting diode (LED) or liquid crystal display (LCD) panel on some apparatus depicts an outline of all or part of the printer, such as the access doors and/or the paper feed path, with controllable light emitters, blinking LCD display lines or the like to show the area that needs attention.
Diagnostic displays as described tend to alert the attendant and can help to localize problems. The displays can have some specific instructions involved, for example blinking or animating the opening of a panel or door in the area of a jam to be cleared. However, such displays have a predetermined and fixed level of detail. The display normally does not expound on the nature of a problem. For users that have never encountered a particular problem before and thus lack any frame of reference, a diagrammatic display may be inadequate. A textual display also may fail to instruct the user sufficiently to enable correction of the problem because it assumes that the user knows certain minimal things such as the location of the access doors. More complex displays are possible, for example with blinking diagrams, text and other aspects, but this also can be baffling to an inexperienced user.
On the other hand, an experienced user may find detailed information to be annoying. Simple warnings and displays are most helpful to experienced users, who have previously encountered a problem in the identified location and have an idea about how to deal with it. It would be advantageous to provide a form of warning and instruction that is apt for users of a wide range of experience levels. That is, warning and instruction techniques need to be rich in detail for novices and at the same time should permit an experienced user to quickly and efficiently proceed to correction of a given condition.
Photocopy machines and similar print devices are known with relatively extensive LCD displays of text and diagrams. Such a display that includes sensed condition display elements and extensive diagnostic text descriptions and instructions is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,314,249 and 6,185,379—Lay et al. These text descriptions and instructions are helpful but require some knowledge
Chen Sophia S.
Hewlett--Packard Development Company, L.P.
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