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:
May. 14, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 13, 1999
NEC Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A toner density sensor, including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, detects toner density even for a liquid developer having a low transmission factor. The toner density sensor includes a liquid developer tank for retaining liquid developer, a diluting liquid tank for retaining diluting liquid which is a base material of the liquid developer, and a mixing chamber connected to the tanks through two separate valve/pump assemblies which are opened and closed by a controller. A circulation passage is formed in the mixing chamber and has disposed therein a third pump and a transparent cell element. A quantity of light transmitted by the light emitting element and passing through liquid developer in the transparent cell element is measured by the light receiving element on an opposite side of the transparent cell element.