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. 26, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 17, 1998
Applicant:
Inventors:
Arno Muller, Westport, CT (US);
Eswaran C. N. Nambudiri, Ryebrook, NY (US);
Peter A. Pagliaro, West Haven, CT (US);
Assignee:
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B41J 2/9393 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B41J 2/9393 ;
Abstract
An apparatus and method for monitoring operation of an ink jet printhead. An ink jet printer is controlled to eject a periodic sequence of ink jet curtains through an illuminated gap. Variations in the intensity of the illumination caused by the ink jet curtains are detected to generate a signal representative of the opaqueness of the curtains. The signal is compared to a reference and if insufficient opaqueness is detected a poor print quality signal is generated. In one embodiment a feedback loop is established during a calibration mode to adjust the nominal level of illumination.