Method and device for determining the quantity of product contained in a reservoir, for example in an ink reservoir for a printer
US6351716B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 9, 1998 |
| Grant date | Feb 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 9, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/17566
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Determining the quantity of an electrically conductive product contained in a reservoir made of electrically insulating material having at least one storage cavity. A resonant circuit is formed, including a capacitive arrangement formed at least part from the reservoir. A measurement procedure is defined according to which a plurality of excitation signals are applied to the resonant circuit having different frequencies, and a plurality of measurement signals are made. A processing procedure is defined which identifies the instantaneous resonant frequency of the resonant circuit, measures the width, for a given amplitude level, of the resonance peak, and derives therefrom an item of information representing the quantity of product contained in the storage cavity. At least one determination cycle is effected, consisting of triggering the measurement procedure and the processing procedure, and capturing the instantaneous value of the item of information.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.