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. 27, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 03, 2008
Tatsuya Hotogi, Suntou-gun, JP;
Shimpei Matsuo, Tokyo, JP;
Eijiro Ohashi, Yokohama, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus comprises a developer carrier () for developing an electrostatic latent image by supplying an image carrier with developer inside a developer container (); an electrode member () opposing the developer carrier () via a space accommodating the developer; an inverter (); a transformer () for transforming an AC voltage from the inverter (); a rectifying circuit () for rectifying the output of the transformer and generating a DC voltage for image formation; a DC voltage applying unit () for applying the AC voltage, which is output from the transformer, to the electrode member (); and a developer remaining-amount detection unit () for detecting amount of developer remaining inside the developer container () based upon electrostatic capacitance between the developer carrier () and electrode member ().