Agere Systems has developed a single-chip controller for inkjet and thermal fax applications.
Today’s inkjet fax machines use as many as three printed circuit board assemblies to manage a variety of printing, processing and communications tasks.
Agere’s PI-301 system-on-a-chip (SoC) combines multiple discrete controllers, memory and modem functions, enabing all the electronics to fit on a single board, reducing overall electronics costs by 30 to 50% when compared to existing inkjet fax designs.
Agere’s PI-301 SoC manages image acquisition and processing, print mechanics – including scan control, print engine control, cartridge movement, ink firing, and paper feed and positioning – as well as fax modem functionality and advanced display features.
Engineering samples of the PI-301 chip are expected to be available in first calendar quarter 2004, with volume production beginning in second calendar quarter.
Unit pricing for the chip will be under $10 in sample quantities.
