Method and device for determining the quantity of product present in a reservoir, a product reservoir and a device for processing electrical signals intended for such a determination device
US6325477A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 8, 1998 |
| Grant date | Dec 4, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 8, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2002/17583
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A device and a method for determining the quantity of product present in a reservoir, and more particularly determining with precision when there is a predetermined quantity of product in the reservoir. The invention applies to an ink reservoir in an image formation device, such as a printer. According to the invention, the product is connected to a predetermined potential and an electrical field is established through the product present in the reservoir. The electrical field passing through the product is measured in order to produce an electrical signal representing the electrical field, and the resulting electrical signal is processed in order to produce a signal representing the quantity of product present in the reservoir and to detect the interruption of the connection of the product to the predetermined potential, where the interruption corresponds t the predetermined quantity of product in the reservoir.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.