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:
Jun. 30, 2009
Filed:
Sep. 14, 2006
Paul Etter, Lexington, KY (US);
Kerry Leland Embry, Midway, KY (US);
Raymond Jay Barry, Lexington, KY (US);
Richard G. Boyatt, Iii, Nicholasville, KY (US);
Paul Etter, Lexington, KY (US);
Kerry Leland Embry, Midway, KY (US);
Raymond Jay Barry, Lexington, KY (US);
Richard G. Boyatt, III, Nicholasville, KY (US);
Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, KY (US);
Abstract
A capacitive sensor to detect toner volume levels in a toner container within an image forming device includes opposed electrodes disposed within the interior of the toner container. The opposed electrodes form a capacitor characterized by an inherent capacitance that varies in response to an amount of toner that exists between the opposed electrodes. A corresponding sensor circuit is electrically coupled to the opposed electrodes and adapted to sense an instantaneous capacitance of the capacitor to determine the amount of toner that exists between the opposed electrodes. The opposed electrodes may have different shapes and configurations, including for example, plates disposed within the toner container or the interior walls of the container itself. The sensor circuit is configured to apply an alternating current signal to the opposed electrodes and sense an output voltage that is indicative of an instantaneous capacitance of the capacitor corresponding to toner volume within the container.