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:
Dec. 09, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 19, 2001
Michael L. Barlow, Duluth, GA (US);
NCR Corporation, Dayton, OH (US);
Abstract
A system determines the level of paper available in paper supply for printing. The system comprises a signal emitter and a variably activated receiver. The receiver alters an electrical parameter such as a resistance in accordance with the portion of the emitted signal received at the receiver. This alterable electrical parameter is in an electrical circuit that generates a signal proportional to the received portion of the emitted signal. An array of variably activated receivers may be arranged opposite a signal emitter to receive the signal portion not blocked by a paper supply. Alternatively, the array of variably activated receivers may be located adjacent to the signal emitter to receive the portion of the emitted signal reflected from the paper supply. The receiver uses the received or reflected signal to generate a signal having a magnitude proportional to the received or reflected signal. The signal from each of the receivers may be summed to generate a signal with a magnitude range that corresponds to the full and empty conditions of the paper supply at its extremes. Thus, the system of the present invention is able to provide a continuously variable signal indicative of the available paper in the supply over its entire range.