Microprocessor controlled high voltage power supply

A power supply comprising:

• a direct current input power source for generating power;
• a plurality of converting means, each responsive to a voltage control signal, for converting the direct current power supplied by said direct current input power source into alternating current power;
• a plurality of transformers, each including primary windings to which the alternating current power of an associated converting means is supplied, and secondary windings for producing a high voltage output in response to the alternating current power supplied to the primary windings;
• means, associated with each of said plurality of transformers, for approximating the potential of the high voltage output produced by each transformer as a function of the voltage applied across the windings of at least one of said transformers and generating an analog voltage signal indicative thereof;
• and
• a microcontroller for receiving the analog voltage signals generated by said potential approximating means, and for producing the plurality of voltage control signals, wherein each voltage control signal is regulated as a function of the analog voltage signal and a voltage set-point value for the high voltage output of a particular transformer, wherein said microcontroller includes
• an output port suitable for generating a plurality of voltage control signals as pulse-width modulated signals;
• and
• an analog-to-digital converter for converting multiplexed analog voltage signals into digital values for comparison to associated voltage set-point values.

An electrophotographic imaging apparatus, comprising:

• a photoconductive member;
• means for charging the photoconductive member;
• means for exposing the charged photoconductive member to record an electrostatic latent image thereon;
• means for developing the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive member with toner;
• means for transferring the toner image from the photoconductive member to a support member;
• a power supply including a plurality of outputs suitable for providing direct current power to the charging means, developing means and transferring means, and a microcontroller for controlling the voltage potential of each of the outputs, said microcontroller including an output port suitable for generating a plurality of voltage control signals as pulse-width modulated signals to control the voltage potentials on the outputs, and an analog-to-digital converter for converting a plurality of multiplexed analog voltage signals representing the voltage potential on the outputs into digital values for comparison to voltage set-point values uniquely associated therewith;
• and
• a master controller for controlling operation of the charging, imaging, development and transfer means, the master controller being capable of altering the voltage set-point for each of the charging, imaging, development and transfer means in response to variations within the electrophotographic imaging apparatus.