The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 06, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 19, 1999
Braulio Soto, LaCenter, WA (US);
Stephen P. Stemple, Vancouver, WA (US);
Hewlett-Packard, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A detection system for measuring a dry time of a printing composition used by a printing device is disclosed. An embodiment of the detection system includes a source, a sensor, and a controller. The source is configured to transmit a first light signal toward a quantity of printing composition deposited on a print medium. A sensor is configured to detect a second light signal reflected by the printing composition in response to illumination by the first light signal, the second light signal having a magnitude that decreases to a substantially constant value as the printing composition dries over a period of time. The sensor is also configured to convert the second light signal into an electrical signal having a value proportional to the magnitude of the second light signal. The controller is coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the electrical signal from the sensor over the period of time the printing composition dries. The controller is also configured to determine a dry time for the printing composition based upon the electrical signal. A printing device including the detection system is also disclosed. A method of measuring a dry time of a printing composition used by a printing device is additionally disclosed. Further characteristics and features of the detection system, printing device, and method are described herein, as are examples of various alternative embodiments.