Encoder control system for printers and related methods
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Alan Adkins, Lucas David Barkley, Hugh Edwin Gilbert, Michael Anthony Marra, III
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Abstract
An analog encoder system repeatedly switches back and forth between monitoring of first and second encoder output signals to track movement of a structure associated with the encoder. An energization level of an encoder light element may be controlled in accordance with which encoder output signal is being monitored.
Claims27
In a system including an encoder having a single light source and first and second encoder channel outputs, the first encoder channel producing a first encoder output signal that varies in accordance with light received from the single light source, the second encoder channel producing a second encoder output signal that also varies in accordance with light received from the single light source, the encoder associated with a structure such that the first and second encoder output signals vary as the structure moves, a method for tracking movement of the structure using the first and second encoder output signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) monitoring only one of the first and second encoder output signals at a time;
- (b) during monitoring of the first encoder output signal, energizing the single light source at a first energization level;
- (c) during monitoring of the second encoder output signal, energizing the single light source at a second energization level which is different than the first energization level.
A method for tracking movement of a structure using first and second encoder output signals produced by respective channels of an encoder that includes a light source, the first and second encoder output signals varying according to an energization level of an encoder light element, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) monitoring only one of the first and second encoder output signals at a time;
- (b) storing first and second energization levels for use in energizing the encoder light element;
- (c) during monitoring of the first encoder output signal, energizing the encoder light element according to the first stored energization level;
- and
- (d) during monitoring of the second encoder output signal, energizing the encoder light element according to the second stored energization level.
A method for controlling an encoder in a position tracking system in which first and second encoder output signals are produced by respective channels of the encoder, the first and second encoder output signals varying according to an energization level of an encoder light element, and only one of the first and second encoder output signals is monitored at any given time, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) during monitoring of the first encoder output signal, energizing the encoder light element at a first energization level;
- (b) during monitoring of the second encoder output signal, energizing the encoder light element at a second energization level which is different than the first energization level.
An encoder system for tracking movement of a structure, the system comprising:
- a light element emitting light when energized;
- a firsts channel output for producing a first encoder output signal as function of light received by a first photo sensor;
- a second channel output for producing a second encoder output signal as a function of light received by a second photo sensor;
- a controller repeatedly switching back and forth between monitoring of the first encoder output signal and monitoring of the second encoder output signal, the controller operatively connected to control an energization level of the light element, the controller setting an energization level of the light element at a first level when monitoring the first encoder output signal, the encoder setting the energization level of the light element at a second level when monitoring the second encoder output signal, the first level being different than the second level.
An encoder control system for use with a position tracking system in which an encoder produces first and second encoder channel output signals according to light received from a light element and movement of a structure is tracked by only monitoring one of the first and second encoder output signals at any given time, the system comprising:
- a controller storing a first channel energization value for the light element and a second channel energization value for the light element, the controller setting an energization level of the light element according to the first channel energization value when the first encoder output signal is being monitored by the position tracking system, the controller setting the energization level of the light element according to the second channel energization value when the second encoder output signal is being monitored by the position tracking system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.