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:
Feb. 19, 2013
Filed:
Jul. 29, 2009
Matthew a Shepherd, Vancouver, WA (US);
Alexander Govyadinov, Corvallis, OR (US);
Erick B Kinas, Camas, WA (US);
Paul Richards, Corvallis, OR (US);
Tom Deskins, Albany, OR (US);
Steven H Walker, Camas, WA (US);
Matthew A Shepherd, Vancouver, WA (US);
Alexander Govyadinov, Corvallis, OR (US);
Erick B Kinas, Camas, WA (US);
Paul Richards, Corvallis, OR (US);
Tom Deskins, Albany, OR (US);
Steven H Walker, Camas, WA (US);
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
In one embodiment, a drop detection method includes: moving a light source along a first side of the drop zone to illuminate drops passing through a drop zone; and, without blocking any part of the drop zone, detecting light scattered off the drops as the drops pass through the drop zone. In another embodiment, a drop detector includes: a light source on a first side of the drop zone for illuminating drops passing through a drop zone; a light detector on the first side of the drop zone near the light source and a movable carriage carrying the light source and the light detector. The light detector is exposed to the drop zone for detecting light scattered off drops as the drops pass through the drop zone. The carriage is movable along the first side of the drop zone in a direction transverse to the drop direction.