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:
Jan. 24, 2006
Filed:
Jul. 08, 2003
Tetsuhito Ikeda, Tokyo, JP;
Shinji Takagi, Kanagawa, JP;
Toshiharu Inui, Kanagawa, JP;
Kentaro Yano, Kanagawa, JP;
Masao Kato, Kanagawa, JP;
Tetsuhito Ikeda, Tokyo, JP;
Shinji Takagi, Kanagawa, JP;
Toshiharu Inui, Kanagawa, JP;
Kentaro Yano, Kanagawa, JP;
Masao Kato, Kanagawa, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An inkjet printing apparatus is adapted to use a non-contact method for detecting the presence and the amount of liquid, in the form of ink droplets discharged from a printhead or ink tank, using electromagnetic waves in the form of infrared rays. The apparatus and method employ an infrared sensor to detect infrared radiation emitted by the ink in proportion to the amount of ink present. The apparatus and method further employ one of various shielding members to prevent the intrusion of infrared radiation noise into the infrared sensor field of detection, and, in some aspects, a fan to control air flow within the field of detection. The result is less noise in the detection signals of the infrared sensor, and therefore a more sensitive and more reliable liquid detection method and liquid detection apparatus.