Device and method for extending light emitting diode printbar life or improving image quality
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorPaul A. HOSIER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device including: a photoreceptor; an LED printbar; and a computer processor for: determining how long LEDs on the printbar are energized while the device is operated to generate an image output; determining that a first plurality of LEDs has been energized less than a second plurality of LEDs; energizing the first plurality of LEDs for a correction time period as the LEDs are aligned with an inter-document zone (IDZ); and de-energizing the second plurality of LEDs during the time period. Energizing the second plurality of LEDs is unrelated to energizing the LEDs for purposes of evaluating an image. The time period is concurrent with operation of the device to generate an image output.
Claims28
A computer-based method for extending light emitting diode (LED) printbar life or improving image quality for a image recording device including a photoreceptor and an LED printbar with a first plurality of LEDs, comprising:
- determining, using a processor for at least one specially programmed computer, how often LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs are energized during a first operational time period in which the image recording device is operated to generate an image output;
- determining, using the processor, that a second plurality of LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs has been energized less than a third plurality of LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs;
- energizing, using the processor, the second plurality of LEDs for a correction time period as the second plurality of LEDs is aligned with an inter-document zone (IDZ) on the photoreceptor;
- and,
- de-energizing, using the processor, the third plurality of LEDs during the correction time period, wherein the correction time period is concurrent with a second operational time period in which the image recording device is operated to generate an image output.
A computer-based method for extending light emitting diode (LED) printbar life or improving image quality for a image recording device including a photoreceptor and an LED printbar with a first plurality of LEDs, comprising:
- determining, using a processor for at least one specially programmed computer, how often LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs are energized during a first operational time period in which the image recording device is operated to generate an image output;
- determining, using the processor, that a second plurality of LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs has been energized less than a third plurality of LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs;
- energizing, using the processor, the second plurality of LEDs for a correction time period;
- and,
- de-energizing, using the processor, the third plurality of LEDs during the correction time period,
- wherein:
- the correction time period is non-concurrent with a second operational time period in which the image recording device is operated to generate an image output;
- and,
- the photoreceptor remains in a first fixed position during the correction time period;
- or,
- wherein:
- the correction time period is non-concurrent with a second operational time period in which the image recording device is operated to generate an image output;
- and,
- toner supply to the photoreceptor is restricted or eliminated during the correction time period.
A computer-based method for extending light emitting diode (LED) printbar life or improving image quality for a image recording device including a photoreceptor and an LED printbar with a first plurality of LEDs, comprising:
- determining, using a processor for at least one specially programmed computer, how often LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs are energized during a first operational time period in which the image recording device is operated to generate an image output;
- determining, using the processor, that a second plurality of LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs has been energized less than a third plurality of LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs;
- using the processor, during a correction time period, to energize the second plurality of LEDs and de-energize the third plurality of LEDs,
- wherein:
- the correction time period is concurrent with the operational time period;
- and,
- the second plurality of LEDs is aligned with an inter-document zone (IDZ) on the photoreceptor;
- or,
- wherein:
- the correction time period is non-concurrent with the operational time period;
- and,
- the photoreceptor remains in a fixed position during the correction time period;
- or,
- wherein:
- the correction time period is non-concurrent with the operational time period;
- and,
- the toner supply to the photoreceptor is restricted or eliminated during the correction time period.
An image recording device with extended light emitting diode (LED) printbar life or improving image quality, comprising:
- a photoreceptor;
- an LED printbar with a first plurality of LEDs;
- and,
- a processor for at least one specially programmed computer, the processor for:
- determining how often LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs are energized during a first operational time period in which the image recording device is operated to generate an image output;
- determining that a second plurality of LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs has been energized less than a third plurality of LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs;
- energizing the second plurality of LEDs for a correction time period as the second plurality of LEDs is aligned with an inter-document zone (IDZ) on the photoreceptor;
- and,
- de-energizing the third plurality of LEDs during the correction time period, wherein the correction time period is concurrent with a second operational time period in which the image recording device is operated to generate an image output.
An image recording device with extended light emitting diode (LED) printbar life or improving image quality, comprising:
- a photoreceptor;
- an LED printbar with a first plurality of LEDs;
- and,
- a processor for at least one specially programmed computer, the processor for:
- determining how often LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs are energized during a first operational time period in which the image recording device is operated to generate an image output;
- determining that a second plurality of LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs has been energized less than a third plurality of LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs;
- energizing the second plurality of LEDs for a correction time period;
- and,
- de-energizing the third plurality of LEDs during the correction time period,
- wherein:
- the correction time period is non-concurrent with a second operational time period in which the image recording device is operated to generate an image output;
- and,
- the photoreceptor remains in a first fixed position during the correction time period;
- or,
- wherein:
- the correction time period is non-concurrent with a second operational time period in which the image recording device is operated to generate an image output;
- and,
- toner supply to the photoreceptor is restricted or eliminated during the correction time period.
An image recording device with extended light emitting diode (LED) printbar life or improving image quality, comprising:
- a photoreceptor;
- an LED printbar with a first plurality of LEDs;
- and,
- a processor for at least one specially programmed computer, the processor for:
- determining how often LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs are energized during a first operational time period in which the image recording device is operated to generate an image output;
- determining that a second plurality of LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs has been energized less than a third plurality of LEDs in the first plurality of LEDs;
- and,
- during a correction time period, energizing the second plurality of LEDs and de-energize the third plurality of LEDs,
- wherein:
- the correction time period is concurrent with the operational time period;
- and,
- the second plurality of LEDs is aligned with an inter-document zone (IDZ) on the photoreceptor;
- or,
- wherein:
- the correction time period is non-concurrent with the operational time period;
- and,
- the photoreceptor remains in a fixed position during the correction time period;
- or,
- wherein:
- the correction time period is non-concurrent with the operational time period;
- and,
- the toner supply to the photoreceptor is restricted or eliminated during the correction time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.