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. 14, 2011
Filed:
Apr. 27, 2007
Charles H. Mcconica, Corvallis, OR (US);
Erick B. Kinas, Camas, WA (US);
Jefferson P. Ward, Brush Prairie, WA (US);
Steven T. Castle, Philomath, OR (US);
Loren E. Johnson, Corvallis, OR (US);
Jayprakash C. Bhatt, Corvallis, OR (US);
Charles H. McConica, Corvallis, OR (US);
Erick B. Kinas, Camas, WA (US);
Jefferson P. Ward, Brush Prairie, WA (US);
Steven T. Castle, Philomath, OR (US);
Loren E. Johnson, Corvallis, OR (US);
Jayprakash C. Bhatt, Corvallis, OR (US);
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
An ink level sensing device and associated method. The ink level sensing device includes a near infrared illumination source that emits near infrared light, and a container configured to accommodate a supply of ink containing light absorption material. The device further includes a protruding chamber adjacent to the container. The protruding chamber is configured to accommodate a portion of the supply of ink accommodated by the container. The device also includes a sensor that is configured to receive a signal based on an amount of the light that passes through the protruding chamber. The method includes emitting a light from a near infrared illumination source and directing the light toward a protruding chamber of the ink supply. The method further includes sensing an amount of the light that passes through the protruding chamber in the ink supply.