CONSUMABLE SUPPLY ITEM WITH CAPACITIVE FLUID LEVEL DETECTION FOR MICRO-FLUID APPLICATIONS
First Claim
1. A consumable supply item for an imaging device to hold an initial or refillable volume of liquid, comprising:
- a rigid housing defining an interior to retain the volume of liquid; and
a pair of opposed electrodes forming a capacitor having a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid existing between the opposed electrodes, wherein a volume space between the opposed electrodes that can be filled with the amount of liquid varies along a length of the electrodes.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of fluid. Its housing defines an interior having a pair of opposed electrodes. The electrodes define a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid between them. A volume space filled by the liquid varies along a length of the electrodes. The design facilitates abrupt changes in capacitance values at each change in the volume space. Devices can recalibrate fluid levels at these changes. Electrode interior surfaces face one another. At least one electrode has an open region, such as a hole or a cutout of material. In another design, a support material connects to each electrode to provide mechanical stability and create a region preventing filling by the liquid. Further embodiments contemplate material selection, construction, and modularity, to name a few.
6 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A consumable supply item for an imaging device to hold an initial or refillable volume of liquid, comprising:
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a rigid housing defining an interior to retain the volume of liquid; and a pair of opposed electrodes forming a capacitor having a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid existing between the opposed electrodes, wherein a volume space between the opposed electrodes that can be filled with the amount of liquid varies along a length of the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A consumable supply item for an imaging device to hold an initial or refillable volume of liquid, comprising:
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a rigid housing defining an interior to retain the volume of liquid; and a pair of opposed electrodes disposed in the interior of the rigid housing forming a capacitor having a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid existing between the opposed electrodes, wherein each of the opposed electrodes has an interior surface area facing the interior surface of the other of the opposed electrodes, the interior surface area of at least one of the opposed electrodes having an open region. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A consumable supply item for an imaging device to hold an initial or refillable volume of liquid, comprising:
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a rigid housing defining an interior to retain the volume of liquid; and a pair of opposed electrodes disposed within the interior to form a capacitor having capacitance values that vary in response to an amount of liquid existing between the opposed electrodes, wherein a volume space between the opposed electrodes that can be filled with the amount of liquid varies from a top to a bottom of the electrodes, the imaging device using the capacitance values that change abruptly at each change in the volume space to recalibrate the existing fluid levels in the rigid housing. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification