Power control for a fuser of an imaging device
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorJEFFREY THOMAS HINES
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An imaging device includes a fuser having a heater connected to a power source via a switch. A controller generates a heater control signal for driving the heater. The heater control signal changes between a first state indicating for the heater to be turned on and a second state indicating for the heater to be turned off. A latch circuit receives the heater control signal and latches the switch on when the heater control signal is in the first state such that the switch causes current to pass through from the power source to the heater. The latch circuit keeps the switch on until a next zero crossing is detected.
Claims20
A method for controlling power delivered to a fuser in an imaging device, the fuser having a heater connected to a power source via a switch, the method comprising:
- receiving a heater control signal for driving the heater to generate heat, the heater control signal changing between a first state indicating for the heater to be turned on and a second state indicating for the heater to be turned off;
- and
- in response to receiving the heater control signal in the first state, sending a drive signal to the switch for latching the switch to an on state until a zero crossing of an alternating current (AC) voltage of the power source is detected to allow current from the power source to flow through the heater to turn on the heater from a time that the heater control signal in the first sate is received to a time that the zero crossing is detected.
A method for controlling power delivered to a fuser in an imaging device, the fuser having a heater connected to a power source via a switch, the method comprising:
- generating, by a controller, a heater control signal for driving the heater to generate heat, the heater control signal changing between a first state indicating for the heater to be turned on and a second state indicating for the heater to be turned off;
- receiving, by a latch, the heater control signal;
- in response to receiving the heater control signal in the first state by the latch, latching the switch to an on state;
- and
- resetting the latch to unlatch the switch from the on state to an off state to turn off the heater when a zero crossing of an alternating current (AC) voltage of the power source is detected.
An imaging device, comprising:
- a fuser having a heater for generating heat to fuse toner images onto sheets of media;
- a power source for supplying power to the heater;
- a switch connected between the heater and the power source for selectively allowing current to pass from the power source through the heater;
- a controller operative to generate a heater control signal for driving the heater to generate heat without synchronizing the generation of the heater control signal with zero crossings of an alternating current (AC) voltage of the power source, the heater control signal changing between a first state indicating for the heater to be turned on and a second state indicating for the heater to be turned off;
- and
- a latch connected to the controller to receive the heater control signal therefrom, wherein the latch is operative latch the switch to an on state in response to receiving the heater control signal in the first state and unlatch the switch from the on state to an off state upon detection of a zero crossing of the AC voltage of the power source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.