Jeffrey L Trask
Land Surveyors in Boise, ID

5898505, Apr 27, 1999

Jan 24, 1997

8/788767

Qian Lin - Santa Clara CA
Brian Hoffmann - Boise ID
Jeffrey L. Trask - Boise ID

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

H04N 1405

358298

A print apparatus performs a halftoning action on a raster pixel image. The print apparatus includes a super-pixel data base for storing plural n. times. n superpixels, each superpixel corresponding to a subset (or "bucket") of gray level pixel values. The method comprises the steps of: logically tiling a dither matrix across the raster pixel image and outputting a threshold value which, logically and positionally corresponds to a given image pixel value. The given image pixel value is then quantized into a selected bucket of pixel values which encompass the given image pixel value. A proportionality value is then determined which identifies the relative position of the given image pixel value within the selected bucket of pixel values. The outputted threshold value is then compared to the determined proportionality value, and the selected bucket number is incremented to a next sequential bucket number if the proportionality value exceeds the threshold value. A superpixel is next selected that is identified by the selected bucket number or the next sequential bucket number, as the case may be.

5252995, Oct 12, 1993

Sep 3, 1992

7/939814

Jeffrey L. Trask - Boise ID
Gary L. Vondran - Boise ID

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

G01D 1506

346157

A multi-color, electrostatic, laser printing system employs a method for enhancing color representations at boundaries of pixels with different colors. The system employs a charged electrostatic surface that is selectively discharged by application of a modulated laser beam. The system performs the steps of: identifying a pixel of a first color that bounds a pixel of a second color, the first color being a secondary color; decreasing applied laser power to the electrostatic surface at the secondary color pixel site in the process of applying underprint and overprint toners to produce the secondary color; and inhibiting the decrease of applied laser power when applying the overprint toner if the second color pixel is a primary color that is the same as the color of the overprint toner of the secondary color pixel. A similar inhibition action occurs when an isolated primary color pixel or a thin pixel line is found so as to assure proper development.

6034711, Mar 7, 2000

Mar 6, 1996

8/611892

Jeffrey L. Trask - Boise ID
Brian Hoffmann - Boise ID

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

G03G 1501

347240

A test page, system, and method are used to set a color density level of a laser printer, by producing a dot gain test pattern. The laser printer has at least one primary color. The dot gain test pattern is self-indicating and thus requires no external reference in order to determine a correct color density level. A preferred embodiment of the dot gain test pattern includes (a) a stable pattern having a color density which is stable with respect to changes in the laser printer operating conditions, and (b) a sensitive pattern having a color density which is sensitive to changes in the operating conditions, wherein the sensitive pattern in reference to the stable pattern indicates the density level of the laser printer for the at least one primary color. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment, the stable pattern includes a uniform coarse dot pattern, and the sensitive pattern includes a gradient of fine dot densities, the gradient printed adjacent to the coarse dot pattern, wherein a correct density level of the laser printer for the at least one primary color is indicated when a mid-spectrum area of the fine dot gradient appears to blend into the coarse dot pattern.

5754751, May 19, 1998

Mar 7, 1996

8/612377

Marcus A. Smith - Boise ID
Jeffrey L. Trask - Boise ID

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

G06K 956, G06K 964, G06F 1500, B41B 1500

395109

A software/firmware based method for determining gray level values to be assigned to a binary pixel image initially creates a linked list of templates, each template associated with a gray level value to be assigned to an image pixel value. Each template may include a central pixel value and plural neighbor pixel values or just plural neighbor values. However, each template is a listing of entries of template pixel values that are generally arranged in increasing concentric circles about the central pixel value. Each template entry includes a field for a template pixel value, a field for a template pixel address and a link field for a next template entry, in the event of a non-match determination between the associated template pixel value and an image pixel value. The method selects an image pixel window from the binary image and compares a central image pixel in the window with a logically, correspondingly located template pixel value. If a match is found, a next image pixel is compared against a next template entry to determine if a match occurs.

5657430, Aug 12, 1997

Mar 7, 1996

8/612037

Marcus A. Smith - Boise ID
Brian E. Hoffmann - Boise ID
Jeffrey L. Trask - Boise ID

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

C06K 1500

395102

A binary pixel bitmap image is converted to a multi-bit gray level pixel image at a level of resolution that is reproducible by a laser printer. An edge smoothing procedure is employed by the laser printer and comprises the steps of: deriving from font contours of the image, a binary pixel bitmap of the image at a higher level of resolution than is output by the laser printer; logically stepping an m. times. n pixel window across pixel groups of the higher resolution binary pixel bitmap and, at each step, determining a count of pixels of one binary kind that are present within the pixel window; converting each count of pixels to a corresponding modulation signal; and controlling a laser in the laser printer in accordance with each modulation signal so that an edge smoothed gray level image is produced at the printer's level of output resolution.

5802435, Sep 1, 1998

Oct 22, 1996

8/734933

Jeffrey L. Trask - Boise ID
Hiroyuki Honda - Hachioji, JP
Kenji Sato - Hachioji, JP

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

G03G 1501

399224

A lockout mechanism for preventing an operator from filling a toner hopper in an electrographic printing device until the hopper is at least empty enough to accept the entire contents of a toner cartridge. An interlock mechanism takes advantage of the already existing selector shaft to selectively de-activate lockout members in response to a low toner level transducer. The printing device includes a plurality of tones hoppers. Each provided with a lockout member which is pivotable between a locked out position and a refill position. The locked out position has the lockout members interfering with a connection between toner cartridges and the top of toner hoppers. The lockout members are held in their locked out positions by cam follower members, which are slidable between an upward locked out position and a downward refill position. The slider member interacts with the cam follower members, via follower pins and notches, to lock the cam follower members in their upwards position or to allow them to move down against the selector cams.

7676171, Mar 9, 2010

Apr 26, 2007

11/796090

Richard L. Swantner - Boise ID, US
Jeffrey L. Trask - Boise ID, US

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

G03G 15/00, G06F 3/12

399 85, 358 113

A method for printing images on at least one substrate using an apparatus having a plurality of print modes, wherein at least one of the print modes is a monochrome printing mode and another of the print modes is a color printing mode, the method comprising: printing a first portion of the images in a first of the print modes; determining whether the images being printed in the first mode meet a predetermined criteria; switching the apparatus into a second of the print modes when the images then being printed in the first print mode meet the predetermined criteria; and printing a second portion of the images using the apparatus in the second of the print modes after the switching.

4583660, Apr 22, 1986

Sep 27, 1982

6/423892

Marcus A. La Barre - Boise ID
Jeffrey L. Trask - Boise ID
Roger D. Archibald - Boise ID

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

B65G 2732

222 1

An apparatus and method is disclosed to facilitate the dispensing of powders, particularly toner in a photocopy machine, which must be vibrated to prevent clumping. A powder container is shown with a unique neck baffle, and sloping sides so that the flow of powder is substantially regular when the vibration is turned on and the flow will stop when the vibration is turned off. A method and apparatus for adjusting the natural frequency of the container system is shown so that the amplitude of vibration does not significantly increase as the dispenser is emptied and the flow of powder is thereby maintained at a relatively constant rate.

5793406, Aug 11, 1998

Mar 6, 1996

8/611890

Jeffrey L. Trask - Boise ID
Rulon G. Esplin - Eagle ID
David S. Pitou - Meridian ID
Richard H. Benear - Boise ID
James A. Kazakoff - Boise ID
Brian Hoffmann - Boise ID

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

B41J 247

347252

Fine pulse width modulation (PWM) adjustments in the output of a laser printer are accomplished by receiving values from a bit map and modifying the values in accordance with values in a lookup table (LUT). The lookup table is subdivided into a plurality of blocks, and a selection of the blocks is made in accordance with external values. This allows the output of a pulse width modulation circuit to be adjusted to a precision that is greater than that afforded by the bit size of the values from the bit map. The use of plural blocks in the lookup table permits adjustments in the output of the pulse width modulation circuit in accordance with external factors such as relative humidity, sensitivity of an optical photoreceptor, and developer life.

5687054, Nov 11, 1997

Jun 25, 1996

8/670395

Mikihiko Takada - Hachioji, JP
Yukio Okamoto - Hachioji, JP
Jeffrey L. Trask - Boise ID

Konica Corporation
Hewlett Packard Company

G03G 2100

361225

Since the first cleaning member 24g scrapes off the foreign materials adhered to the corona charging electrode, and following that, the second cleaning member 24h wipes off the scraped foreign materials, the layered foreign materials firmly adhered on the corona charging electrode 22 is removed. Accordingly, image formation in electrophotographic apparatus or the like is suitably carried out, and image quality deterioration of the recorded image is suppressed.