IP Library Granted Patent US 12,336,084
Granted Patent B2
US 12,336,084 · App. 17/560,531 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Humidity-adjusted power supply

Inventor: Hendrikus Adrianus Anthonius Verheijen (Helden, NL)
Assignee: Xerox Corporation
H05K1/0212H05K1/0213H05K2201/10151
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,336,084
App. No.
17/560,531
Filed
Dec 23, 2021
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3761
USPC
219/209
Abstract

A humidity-adjusted power supply includes a power supply circuit (e.g., relatively higher-voltage circuit) connected to a printed circuit board. The power supply circuit is adapted to provide output voltage to a voltage load. The humidity-adjusted power supply also includes a humidity control circuit (e.g., relatively lower-voltage circuit) connected to the printed circuit board adjacent the power supply circuit. The humidity control circuit outputs a heater control signal to a heater that is also connected to the printed circuit board. The heater is in a location to receive the heater control signal from the humidity control circuit. The power supply circuit and the humidity control circuit are positioned, relative to each other, on the printed circuit board to experience the same environmental conditions.

Claims (34)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a relatively higher-voltage circuit adapted to provide output voltage to a load;

a relatively lower-voltage circuit adjacent the relatively higher-voltage circuit, wherein the relatively lower-voltage circuit outputs a heater control signal; and

a heater connected to receive the heater control signal from the relatively lower-voltage circuit,

wherein the relatively higher-voltage circuit and the relatively lower-voltage circuit are positioned, relative to each other, to experience same environmental conditions,

wherein the relatively higher-voltage circuit includes a transformer providing the output voltage,

wherein the relatively lower-voltage circuit comprises a humidity sensor and an amplifier connected to the humidity sensor,

wherein the amplifier is connected to receive:

a first input from the humidity sensor; and

a second input comprising a portion of the output voltage from the transformer that is a proportional voltage that is lower than, and proportional to, the output voltage,

wherein the relatively lower-voltage circuit further comprises a signal converter connected to the amplifier and the heater, and

wherein the signal converter supplies the heater control signal to the heater based on output from the amplifier.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the relatively higher-voltage circuit and the relatively lower-voltage circuit have components sized and connected to experience proportional current changes as environmental conditions change.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board, wherein the relatively higher-voltage circuit and the relatively lower-voltage circuit are connected to the printed circuit board, and wherein the heater is one of:

connected to an outer surface of the printed circuit board; or

located within the printed circuit board.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the same environmental conditions include at least humidity.

5. A printer comprising:

a load comprising printing components;

a relatively higher-voltage circuit adapted to provide output voltage to the load;

a relatively lower-voltage circuit adjacent the relatively higher-voltage circuit, wherein the relatively lower-voltage circuit outputs a heater control signal; and

a heater connected to receive the heater control signal from the relatively lower-voltage circuit,

wherein the relatively higher-voltage circuit and the relatively lower-voltage circuit are positioned, relative to each other, to experience same environmental conditions,

wherein the relatively higher-voltage circuit includes a transformer providing the output voltage,

wherein the relatively lower-voltage circuit comprises a humidity sensor and an amplifier connected to the humidity sensor,

wherein the amplifier is connected to receive:

a first input from the humidity sensor; and

a second input comprising a portion of the output voltage from the transformer that is a proportional voltage that is lower than, and proportional to, the output voltage,

wherein the relatively lower-voltage circuit further comprises a signal converter connected to the amplifier and the heater, and

wherein the signal converter supplies the heater control signal to the heater based on output from the amplifier.

6. The printer according to claim 5 , wherein the relatively higher-voltage circuit and the relatively lower-voltage circuit have components sized and connected to experience proportional current changes as environmental conditions change.

7. The printer according to claim 5 , further comprising a printed circuit board, wherein the relatively higher-voltage circuit and the relatively lower-voltage circuit are connected to the printed circuit board, and wherein the heater is one of:

connected to an outer surface of the printed circuit board; or

located within the printed circuit board.