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:
Oct. 16, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 28, 1998
Applicant:
Inventor:
Preston D. Seu, Vancouver, WA (US);
Assignee:
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B41J 2/195 ; B41J 2/175 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B41J 2/195 ; B41J 2/175 ;
Abstract
An inkjet printing system includes a permanent or semi-permanent inkjet pen containing small glass beads for ink containment and to provide backpressure to the ink. The inkjet pen walls are transparent, and the printer has an optical sensor that detects changes in reflectivity in the glass beads. The glass beads change in reflectivity depending on whether or not they are saturated with ink. The change in reflectivity therefore functions as an effective out-of-ink detector. When an out of ink indication is made, the printer executes a refill of the pen. Two embodiments of refill mechanisms are disclosed: a trailing tube design, and a take-a-sip design.