Stephen B Witte

US Patent:

6624914, Sep 23, 2003

Filed:

Mar 10, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/522967

Inventors:

Steven W. Hendrix - Jamul CA
Stephen B. Witte - Poway CA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

H04N 104

US Classification:

358484, 358475, 358474, 358497

Abstract:

A scanner system and method are described, wherein two lenses are mounted on a slider positioned in the optical light path between two moving mirrors and the optical sensor. Each mirror is mounted on a moving carriage. The slider is bistable in two alignment positions, one for each lens. The slider is moved by the motion of one of the carriages. As the carriage moves toward the lens slider, a linkage causes the slider to move from the position it is currently in to the other position. This system allows the slider to be shuttled from one position to the other, thereby changing resolutions, using energy provided by the same motor that moves the mirrors.

US Patent:

6650445, Nov 18, 2003

Filed:

Sep 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/399203

Inventors:

Stephen B. Witte - Poway CA
Mark A. Flores - San Diego CA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

H04N 146

US Classification:

358509, 358504, 358475, 358406, 358474, 358497

Abstract:

An optical scanner includes a CCD and a light monitor window (âLMWâ) and a black region adjacent the LMW. The LMW is imaged to provide feedback signals for Red, Green and Blue channels of the CCD. The black region is imaged to remove flare from the feedback signals. The flare-corrected feedback signals may be supplied to gain compensation controls.

US Patent:

6831759, Dec 14, 2004

Filed:

Mar 16, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/527143

Inventors:

Stephen B. Witte - Poway CA
Glenn Gaarder - Ramona CA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

H04N 104

US Classification:

358474, 358487, 358475, 358497

Abstract:

An optical scanner system wherein the central region of the light source is selectively covered up by a mechanically actuated shutter during a transparency scanning mode. By occluding the central portion of the light source, problems with flare and degraded image quality are eliminated. The shutter is actuated to its two positions (normal reflective mode position, transparency mode position) by pins, protrusions, or the scanner walls in the scan module path. When the scan module is driven to the extremes of its travel the shutter is either driven open or closed. A bracket structure is provided to hold the transparent media and a covering light reflective tent, and can include the pin or pins that can protrude into the scanner module path and thus actuate the shutter only when the structure is mounted on to the scanner by the user. The bracket structure can include a lower member that rests directly on the platen glass to align filmstrips, slides, and other transparent media. The tent structure is hinged relative to the lower structure which allows it to be opened and closed to enable insertion of transparent media.

US Patent:

7068402, Jun 27, 2006

Filed:

Jul 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/615565

Inventors:

Stephen B. Witte - Poway CA, US
Mark A. Flores - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

H04N 1/46
H04N 1/04
H04N 1/00

US Classification:

358509, 358514, 358513, 358512, 358505, 358504, 358475, 358497, 358474, 358406

Abstract:

An optical scanner includes a CCD and a light monitor window (“LMW”) and a black region adjacent the LMW. The LMW is imaged to provide feedback signals for Red, Green and Blue channels of the CCD. The black region is imaged to remove flare from the feedback signals. The flare-corrected feedback signals may be supplied to gain compensation controls.

US Patent:

20030001076, Jan 2, 2003

Filed:

Jun 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/888205

Inventors:

Sarah Brandenberger - Boise ID, US
Curt Van Lydegraf - Eagle ID, US
Douglas Keithley - Boise ID, US
Stephen Witte - Poway CA, US

International Classification:

H01L027/00

US Classification:

250/208100

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a system and methodology in which the stepper motor (or a DC motor/encoder combination) of an optical scanning device is replaced by a DC motor which receives feedback information from an extended photodetector used in the scanner, or a proximately close second photodetector. The photodetector of current scanners may be extended (or a second photodetector may be incorporated) to read a margin marking located on, or attached to, the scanner body and the resolution of the extended portion, or separate photodetector, may be increased to accurately capture positioning information. The photodetector of the present invention detects the margin marking, typically located outside of the document scanning area, to determine positional information which is used by the processor to accurately determine position.

US Patent:

20030062467, Apr 3, 2003

Filed:

Nov 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/292197

Inventors:

Sarah Brandenberger - Boise ID, US
Curt Lydegraf - Eagle ID, US
Douglas Keithley - Boise ID, US
Stephen Witte - Poway CA, US

International Classification:

H01L027/00

US Classification:

250/208100

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a system and methodology in which the stepper motor (or a DC motor/encoder combination) of an optical scanning device is replaced by a DC motor which receives feedback information from an extended photodetector used in the scanner, or a proximately close second photodetector. The photodetector of current scanners may be extended (or a second photodetector may be incorporated) to read a margin marking located on, or attached to, the scanner body and the resolution of the extended portion, or separate photodetector, may be increased to accurately capture positioning information. The photodetector of the present invention detects the margin marking, typically located outside of the document scanning area, to determine positional information which is used by the processor to accurately determine position.

US Patent:

54565430, Oct 10, 1995

Filed:

May 2, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/236928

Inventors:

Stephen B. Witte - Poway CA
Damon W. Broder - Austin TX

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

B41J 1978

US Classification:

400577

Abstract:

A backlash control system for a printer medium drive system having a motor-driven gear train for driving medium-engaging rollers. Pinion gears mounted on the motor drive shaft mesh with a main gear and a tension gear, mounted in turn on a main drive and a tension roller. An anti-backlash spring device includes pinch fingers which exert a pinch force on the main and tension gears. The pinch fingers are mounted at ends of a horizontal spring beam secured at an intermediate pivot point. As the motor turns to drive the print medium forward, the pinch force results in bowing of the horizontal beam, tending to exert a restoring force on the main and tension gears. As the motor direction is reversed and stopped, the restoring force results in the main and tension gears being pulled backwards to keep the gear teeth meshed tightly to the pinion gear teeth. The pinch fingers also exert a thrust load axially against the main drive and tension gears.

US Patent:

59077425, May 25, 1999

Filed:

Mar 9, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/815289

Inventors:

Craig T. Johnson - San Diego CA
Gary W. Gragg - San Diego CA
Jeffrey A. Sunamoto - San Diego CA
Stephen B. Witte - Poway CA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G03G 15043

US Classification:

399 51

Abstract:

A lamp control scheme for rapid warmup of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp, to minimize the warmup time while maintaining long lamp service light. The lamp is over-driven with high current for up to a predetermined time limit to accelerate mercury vaporization. The drive current is then reduced to a normal level. The scanner light output is monitored by a sensor circuit, and the system waits until the light output exceeds a minimum output and the light profile is sufficiently stable. The scanner is then calibrated to a white reference, and the closed loop control of the signal level is activated. The scan or copy process is now performed, and the light level control is deactivated as needed. Thereafter, between uses the lower lamp current is 40% of normal level to keep the lamp warm while extending the life of the product. If the product has not been used in a long time, the lamp is turned off.