Consumable supply item
First Claim
1. A consumable supply item, comprising:
- a housing defining an interior that retains a volume of liquid and that comprises an opening;
a cover piece that blocks the opening;
a controller on the cover piece;
a pair of opposed electrodes disposed within the housing and having a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid existing between the opposed electrodes, each electrode of the pair of opposed electrodes comprising;
a first element that protrudes from a front surface of the cover piece and that is electrically connected to the controller; and
at least one second element that is attached to the cover piece and that protrudes from the front surface of the cover piece; and
wherein the controller;
electrically energizes one electrode of the pair of opposed electrodes and obtains an output reading from the other electrode of the pair of opposed electrodes that corresponds to a liquid level;
upon the condition that the output reading is a first reading, determines a value of the output reading as corresponding to a preset liquid level; and
upon the condition that the output reading is a second or later reading, determines a value of the output reading relative to a prior determined value of the output reading as corresponding to a liquid level that is depleting, increasing, maintaining a level or empty.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of ink. A housing defines an interior having a pair of opposed electrodes. The electrodes have a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid between them. A controller energizes one electrode and receives an output reading from the other. The controller processes the reading on board the housing and supplies it as a digital data stream to the imaging device during use. A memory stores calibration values for an empty and full housing. The controller writes back to the memory present fluid levels obtained from the output reading of the electrode. An enable output allows operation or not of a fluid pump in the imaging device. Materials, construction, modularity, and fluid communication ports are further embodiments, to name a few.
57 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A consumable supply item, comprising:
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a housing defining an interior that retains a volume of liquid and that comprises an opening; a cover piece that blocks the opening; a controller on the cover piece; a pair of opposed electrodes disposed within the housing and having a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid existing between the opposed electrodes, each electrode of the pair of opposed electrodes comprising; a first element that protrudes from a front surface of the cover piece and that is electrically connected to the controller; and at least one second element that is attached to the cover piece and that protrudes from the front surface of the cover piece; and wherein the controller; electrically energizes one electrode of the pair of opposed electrodes and obtains an output reading from the other electrode of the pair of opposed electrodes that corresponds to a liquid level; upon the condition that the output reading is a first reading, determines a value of the output reading as corresponding to a preset liquid level; and upon the condition that the output reading is a second or later reading, determines a value of the output reading relative to a prior determined value of the output reading as corresponding to a liquid level that is depleting, increasing, maintaining a level or empty. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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electrically energizing one electrode of a pair of opposed electrodes, the pair of opposed electrodes disposed within a consumable supply item for an imaging device and having a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid existing within the consumable supply item, each electrode of the pair of opposed electrodes comprising; a first element that protrudes from a front surface of a cover piece on the consumable supply item and that is electrically connected to a controller configured to electrically energize at least one of the pair of opposed electrodes; and at least one second element that is attached to the cover piece and that protrudes from the front surface of the cover piece; obtaining an output reading from the other electrode of the pair of opposed electrodes that corresponds to a liquid level; upon the condition that the output reading is a first reading, determining a value of the output reading as corresponding to a preset liquid level; and upon the condition that the output reading is a second or later reading, determining a value of the output reading relative to a prior determined value of the output reading as corresponding to a liquid level that is depleting, increasing, maintaining a level or empty. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification