Patent · US Expired

Miniature portable interactive printer

US6010257A · kind A · utility

59Cited by
23References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 6, 1998
Grant dateJan 4, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 6, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J3/36
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An intelligent, portable printer is provided having a controller and a printing mechanism. The controller includes a microprocessor which communicates with a terminal, which may be remote from the printer and may include or be a host computer, via cable, radio, or optical interfaces. The terminal supplies application programs and data representing commands and information to be printed. In one embodiment, the controller of the printer can operate the printer mechanism in accordance with received data when the data is preceded by a command addressing the product-type predefined for the printer. In another embodiment, the controller operates responsive to a wake-up signal from the terminal for automatically turning on the printer from a low powered state. In a further embodiment, an antenna in the printer receives RF signals from the terminal and circuitry is provided for enabling power to the controller from the printer's power source when the RF signals received represent a wake-up signal or code, thereby turning on the printer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.