Capacitive toner level sensor

US8718496B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Lexmark International, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Raymond Jay Barry · Lexington, US
• James Anthany Carter, II · Lexington, US
• Gregory Alan Cavill · Winchester, US
• Michael Craig Leemhuis · Nicholasville, US
• Benjamin Keith Newman · Lexington, US
• Joshua Carl Poterjoy · Mount Joy, US
• Jason Carl True · Lexington, US
• Keisha Josephine Thomas · Hillsboro, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 30, 2011
• Grant date: May 6, 2014
• Expiry date: Jan 26, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03G2215/0888
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A toner container including a first electrode disposed within the toner container, a second electrode electrically connected to the first electrode and disposed within the toner container, and a sense electrode disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The sense electrode and the first electrode form a first capacitor having a first capacitance that changes in response to a change in toner amount existing therebetween. The sense electrode and the second electrode form a second capacitor having a second capacitance that changes in response to a change in toner amount existing therebetween.