One embodiment of the present invention provides a cooling system in an imaging device having an element that generates heat. The cooling system comprises a thermoelectric generator and a cooling device. The thermoelectric generator is thermally coupled to the element to convert the heat generated
One embodiment of the present invention provides a cooling system in an imaging device having an element that generates heat. The cooling system comprises a thermoelectric generator and a cooling device. The thermoelectric generator is thermally coupled to the element to convert the heat generated by the element to electrical energy. The cooling device is powered by the electrical energy to thereby cool the imaging device.
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What is claimed is: 1. A cooling system in a print imaging device having an element that generates heat, the cooling system comprising: a thermoelectric generator thermally coupled to the element to convert heat from the element to electrical energy, wherein a first surface of the thermoelectric ge
What is claimed is: 1. A cooling system in a print imaging device having an element that generates heat, the cooling system comprising: a thermoelectric generator thermally coupled to the element to convert heat from the element to electrical energy, wherein a first surface of the thermoelectric generator is mechanically coupled and thermally coupled to a housing of the imaging device and a second surface is thermally coupled only to the element to thereby allow removal of the element from the imaging device; a cooling device powered by the electrical energy to thereby cool the print imaging device; and a controller adapted to receive and configured to monitor a level of electrical energy from a power supply internal to the imaging device, configured to receive the electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator, and configured to cause the cooling device to be normally powered by the electrical energy from the power supply and to be alternately powered by the electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator upon detecting the level of electrical energy from the power supply is substantially at or below a threshold level. 2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the threshold level is substantially equal to zero. 3. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the cooling device to be alternately powered by the electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator upon detecting that electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator is at a level greater than the level of electrical energy from the power supply. 4. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric generator comprises: a Peltier device operating in a Seebeck mode. 5. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein a heat conducting elastomer has a first major surface adhered to the second surface of the thermoelectric generator and a second major surface that contacts the element. 6. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy comprises a voltage. 7. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cooling device is configured to reduce the temperature of the element. 8. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cooling device comprises at least one exhaust fan to generate an air flow. 9. A print imaging system comprising: a heat source; a cooling system comprising: a thermoelectric generator thermally coupled to the heat source to convert heat from the heat source to electrical energy, wherein a first surface of the thermoelectric generator is mechanically coupled and thermally coupled to a housing of the print imaging system and a second surface is thermally coupled only to the heat source; and a cooling device powered by the electrical energy to thereby cool the print imaging system; and a controller adapted to receive and configured to monitor a level of electrical energy from a power supply internal to the imaging system, configured to receive the electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator, and configured to cause the cooling device to be normally powered by the electrical energy from the power supply and to be alternately powered by the electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator upon detecting the level of electrical energy from the power supply is substantially at or below a threshold level. 10. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein the threshold level is substantially equal to zero. 11. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the cooling device to be alternately powered by the electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator upon detecting that electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator is at a level greater than the level of electrical energy from the power supply. 12. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein the heat source comprises a print element. 13. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein the thermoelectric generator comprises: a Peltier device operating in a Seebeck mode. 14. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein a heat conducting elastomer has a first major surface adhered to the second surface of the thermoelectric generator and a second major surface that contacts the heat source. 15. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein the electrical energy comprises a voltage. 16. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein the cooling device is configured to reduce the temperature of the heat source. 17. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein the cooling device comprises at least one exhaust fan that generates an air flow. 18. A laser printer comprising: a fuser that generates heat; a cooling system comprising: a thermoelectric generator thermally coupled to the fuser to convert heat from the fuser to electrical energy, wherein the thermoelectric generator has a first surface mechanically coupled and thermally coupled to a housing of the laser printer and a second surface thermally coupled only to the fuser to thereby allow removal of the fuser from the laser printer; and a cooling device powered by the electrical energy to thereby cool the laser printer; and a controller adapted to receive and configured to monitor a level of electrical energy from a power supply internal to the laser printer, configured to receive the electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator, and configured to cause the cooling device to be normally powered by the electrical energy from the power supply and to be alternately powered by the electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator upon detecting the level of electrical energy from the power supply is substantially at or below a threshold level. 19. The laser printer of claim 18, wherein the threshold level is substantially equal to zero. 20. The laser printer of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the cooling device to be alternately powered by the electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator upon detecting that electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator is at a level greater than the level of electrical energy from the power supply. 21. The laser printer of claim 18, wherein the thermoelectric generator comprises: a Peltier device operating in a Seebeck mode. 22. The laser printer of claim 18, wherein a heat conducting elastomer has a first major surface adhered to the second surface of the thermoelectric generator and a second major surface that contacts the fuser. 23. The laser printer of claim 18, wherein the electrical energy comprises a voltage. 24. The laser printer of claim 18, wherein the cooling device is configured to reduce the temperature of the fuser. 25. The laser printer of claim 18, wherein the cooling device comprises at least one exhaust fan that generates an air flow. 26. A fuser system suitable for use with an imaging system, the fuser system comprising: a fuser assembly that generates heat; a cooling system comprising: a thermoelectric generator thermally coupled to the fuser assembly to convert heat from the fuser assembly to electrical energy, wherein the thermoelectric generator has a first surface mechanically coupled and thermally coupled to a housing of the imaging system and a second surface thermally coupled only to the fuser assembly to thereby allow removal of the fuser assembly from the fuse system; and a cooling device powered by the electrical energy to thereby cool the fuser assembly; and a controller adapted to receive and configured to monitor a level of electrical energy from a power supply, configured to receive the electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator, and configured to cause the cooling device to be normally powered by the electrical energy from the power supply and to be alternately powered by the electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator upon detecting the level of electrical energy from the power supply is substantially at or below a threshold level. 27. The fuser system of claim 26, wherein the threshold level is substantially equal to zero. 28. The fuser system of claim 26, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the cooling device to be alternately powered by the electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator upon detecting that electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator is at a level greater than the level of electrical energy from the power supply. 29. The fuser system of claim 26, wherein the thermoelectric generator comprises: a Peltier device operating in a Seebeck mode. 30. The fuser system of claim 26, wherein a heat conducting elastomer has a first major surface adhered to the second surface of the thermoelectric generator and a second major surface that contacts the fuser assembly. 31. The fuser system of claim 26, wherein the electrical energy comprises a voltage. 32. The fuser system of claim 26, wherein the cooling device is configured to reduce the temperature of the fuser. 33. The fuser system of claim 26, wherein the cooling device comprises at least one exhaust fan that generates an air flow. 34. A method of cooling a print imaging device comprising: positioning a thermoelectric generator so as to have a first surface mechanically and thermally coupled to housing of the print imaging device and a second surface only thermally coupled to a print element of the print imaging device, wherein the thermoelectric generator converts heat from the print element to electrical energy; cooling the print imaging device with a cooling device; monitoring a level of electrical energy provided by a power supply; and powering the cooling device normally with the electrical energy from the power supply and alternately powering the cooling device with the electrical energy from the converting upon detecting a level of electrical energy from the power supply is at or below a threshold level. 35. The method of claim 34, further comprising: positioning the cooling device proximate to the print element to reduce the temperature of the print element. 36. A cooling system in an imaging device having a print element that generates heat, the cooling system comprising: means for converting heat generated by the print element to electrical energy; means for both mechanically and thermally coupling a first surface of the means for converting heat to a housing of the imaging device and for only thermally coupling a second surface of the means for converting heat to the print element; means for monitoring a level of electrical energy from a power supply; and means for cooling the imaging device that is normally powered by the electrical energy from the power supply and alternately powered by the electrical energy from the heat converting means upon detecting a level of electrical energy from the power supply is at or below a threshold level.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (16)
Anderton Richard L. (West Jordan UT) Curtis Steven E. (Salt Lake City UT), Apparatus for cooling charge coupled device imaging systems.
Grimm, Jeff; Dieball, Kent; Needham, Duane; Johnson, Tyron; Stone, Marvin, Method and system to control flow from individual nozzles while controlling overall system flow and pressure.
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