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:
Apr. 06, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 04, 2002
Philip Scot Carter, Lexington, KY (US);
Benjamin Keith Newman, Lexington, KY (US);
William Keith Richardson, Salvisa, KY (US);
Jason Carl True, Lexington, KY (US);
Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, KY (US);
Abstract
Toner usage is measured with good accuracy. Printing tends to darken with the depletion of toner from a source. A toner cartridge employed in a printer ( ) has the capability at the cartridge of determining the amount toner used. In an embodiment this is by a torsion spring ( ) drive to a toner paddle ( ). At turn-on and cover open, the amount of toner is measured at the cartridge ( ). That is stored in NVRAM ( ) when it is very different from the current amount stored in NVRAM. At certain amount levels observed at the cartridge the amount in NVRAM is revised to the new amount. Between those levels the amount of toner used is tracked by counting pels ( ). Use amounts are converted to operating factors in a table ( ), and the operating factors are applied to the printer to keep the darkness of printing more constant. Writing to NVRAM is minimized.