Michael T Dobbs

US Patent:

57423067, Apr 21, 1998

Filed:

Jul 31, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/508435

Inventors:

Ronald S. Gompertz - Camas WA
Mark S. Hickman - Vancouver WA
Michael D. Dobbs - Vancouver WA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

B41J 221
B41J 2938

US Classification:

347 43

Abstract:

An imaging inkjet cartridge system for an inkjet printing mechanism provides near photographic image quality, as well as crisp black text and line art. In a multi-pen carriage, typically for a tri-chamber full color (e. g. cyan, magenta and yellow) cartridge and a monochrome (e. g. black) cartridge, the monochrome cartridge may be replaced with an imaging inkjet cartridge. The full color cartridge carries full colorant concentrations of inks, while the imaging cartridge carries ink formulations having reduced colorant concentrations, such as cyan and magenta, with either a full or a reduced colorant concentration of black ink. The carriage may also carry all three cartridges (full color, black and imaging). Pens containing other color and concentration combinations may also be interchanged. A method is provided of retrofitting or upgrading an inkjet printing mechanism by replacing or interchanging cartridges, such as by replacing the monochrome cartridge with an imaging inkjet cartridge.

US Patent:

57679886, Jun 16, 1998

Filed:

Feb 13, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/601421

Inventors:

Michael D. Dobbs - Vancouver WA
Gary K. Cutler - Battle Ground WA
David B. Patton - Vancouver WA
Wallace T. Thrash - Portland OR
Chris A. Rasmussen - Vancouver WA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

H04N 104

US Classification:

358474

Abstract:

A scanner is housed in a similar body to that of a removable printer ink jet cartridge and can be inserted in place thereof. The scanner includes a light source mounted on the scanner housing which is able to emit light through an aperture in the housing, a CCD array mounted on the housing to receive light reflected off the image, a lens positioned between the image and the CCD for focusing the reflected light on the CCD, scanner electronics coupled to the CCD array for converting the analog output of the CCD to image data, and means for selecting between optically scanning media or printing thereupon. The scanner electronics transmits the image data to a printer CPU via a flexible interconnect which is normally used to select the individual nozzles of the removable printer cartridge. The printer CPU can forward the image data to a host personal computer for permanent storage in a first mode or store the image data in printer memory for contemporaneous reproduction in a second copy mode.

US Patent:

60394269, Mar 21, 2000

Filed:

Aug 9, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/694944

Inventors:

Michael D Dobbs - Vancouver WA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

B41J 29393

US Classification:

347 19

Abstract:

The described method and apparatus permit much cheaper and quicker print mode selection by at least semi-automating the process. In accordance with one preferred method, a set of sample images produced by different print modes are printed on the media and the user selects the highest print quality from the samples. In accordance with another preferred method, an optical detector makes the print mode selection by examining the printed samples. In accordance with yet another preferred method, the optical detector examines the medium itself for characteristics such as density, reflectivity, fibers, etc. and automatically selects a print mode that is compatible with the print medium.