Drop detector

US9259925B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P. · US

Inventors

• Alexander Govyadinov · Corvallis, US
• Brett E. Dahlgren · Albany, US
• Anton Nicholas Clarkson · Corvallis, US
• Steven H. Walker · Camas, US
• Daniel Burger · Leingarten, DE
• Trudy Benjamin · Portland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 27, 2011
• Grant date: Feb 16, 2016
• Expiry date: May 27, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B41J2202/20
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In one example, a drop detector includes a light source for illuminating drops passing through a drop zone, multiple light detectors near the light source for detecting light scattered off drops passing through the drop zone, and multiple lenses each configured to focus light from the drop zone on one of the light detectors. In one example, each light detector is arranged in the same plane with all of the other light detectors. In one example, the lenses are configured to focus light from two different spaces in the drop zone on different detectors or groups of detectors. In one example, the lenses are configured to focus light from a single space in the drop zone on multiple detectors.