Patent ID: 8422930

Claim:
Apparatus for heating toner on a receiver having an ignition energy, comprising: a. an energy source for providing input energy; b. a membrane disposed adjacent to the receiver and adapted to: i. receive the input energy from the energy source; ii. store a portion of the input energy, wherein the stored portion of the input energy is less than the ignition energy; and iii. radiate emitted energy that is absorbed by the toner, the receiver, or a combination thereof, wherein the absorption causes the temperature of the toner to rise above a desired temperature; c. wherein the membrane comprises a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments differing from the other segments in at least one of surface treatment, thickness, membrane material, emissivity, or radiation emissive output; and d. a fixture for holding the energy source and the membrane, including a membrane transport for moving the membrane so that a selected segment is disposed between the energy source and the receiver.