US5794094A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Accurate toner level feedback via active artificial intelligence
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1997-05-08
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Granted: 1998-08-11
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Expires: 2017-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A toner detecting system includes an image forming apparatus having a toner reservoir. A toner sensor of the system has a toner sensing element positioned to detect toner amount within the toner reservoir. A pixel counter of the system is configured to count pixels used when forming images. A processor of the system associates counted pixels with previous toner use. The associated counted pixels and previous toner use cooperate to enable enhanced toner level characterization of remaining available toner level. A method for detecting toner level within a toner-reservoir of an image forming device according to the toner detecting system is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Darius Boockholdt
- 👤 Howard G. Hooper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:37
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0848; G03G15/0856; G03G15/0862; G03G15/55; G03G15/553; G03G15/556; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00025; G03G2215/00118
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A toner level detecting system, comprising: an image forming apparatus having a toner reservoir; a toner sensor having a toner sensing element positioned to detect toner amount within the toner reservoir; a pixel counter configured to count pixels used when forming images; and a processor associating counted pixels with previous toner use, the associated counted pixels and previous toner use enabling enhanced toner level characterization of remaining available toner level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A toner level detecting system, comprising: an image forming apparatus having a toner reservoir; a toner sensor having a toner sensing element positioned to detect toner amount within the toner reservoir; a pixel counter configured to count pixels used when forming images; and a processor associating counted pixels with previous toner use, the associated counted pixels and previous toner use enabling enhanced toner level characterization of remaining available toner level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The toner level detecting system of claim 1 wherein the pixel counter is configured to count pixel values comprising a particular toner hue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The toner level detecting system of claim 1 wherein the pixel counter is configured to count a plurality of toner hues.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The toner level detecting system of claim 1 further comprising a data management system comprising the processor, memory, an experiential database of user print job characteristics, and an artificial intelligence model, the toner sensor providing a toner level feedback usable to calibrate detected pixel count toner usage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The toner level detecting system of claim 1 further comprising an experiential database of user print job characteristics associating counted pixels with categorized print jobs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The toner level detecting system of claim 5 wherein the print jobs are categorized by the source from which the print job was received.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The toner level detecting system of claim 1 further comprising an artificial intelligence model configured to learn individual print job characteristics of each user usable to quantify toner usage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The toner level detecting system of claim 7 wherein the artificial intelligence model comprises a neural network model configured to project print job pixel use, the projected use enabling projection of future print job capabilities based upon detected toner amount and projected use.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The toner level detecting system of claim 1 further comprising a control panel display of the printer usable to display the characterized remaining available toner level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The toner level detecting system of claim 1 further comprising a display of a computer used to send a print job request to the printer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The toner level detecting system of claim 1 wherein the toner level detecting system is implemented within a computer network environment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
A printing device, comprising: an electrostatic image carrying device for carrying a latent image; a developing unit for developing the latent image; a toner supply reservoir for supplying a toner; a toner level detecting system comprising an image forming apparatus having a toner reservoir; a toner sensor having a toner sensing element positioned to detect toner amount within the toner reservoir; a pixel counter configured to count pixels used when forming images; and a processor associating counted pixels with previous toner use, the associated counted pixels and previous toner use enabling enhanced toner level characterization of remaining available toner level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
A printing device, comprising: an electrostatic image carrying device for carrying a latent image; a developing unit for developing the latent image; a toner supply reservoir for supplying a toner; a toner level detecting system comprising an image forming apparatus having a toner reservoir; a toner sensor having a toner sensing element positioned to detect toner amount within the toner reservoir; a pixel counter configured to count pixels used when forming images; and a processor associating counted pixels with previous toner use, the associated counted pixels and previous toner use enabling enhanced toner level characterization of remaining available toner level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The printing device of claim 12 further comprising a data management system comprising the processor, memory, an experiential database of user print job characteristics, and an artificial intelligence model, the toner sensor providing a toner level feedback usable to calibrate detected pixel count toner usage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The printing device of claim 12 further comprising an experiential database of user print job characteristics associating counted pixels with categorized print jobs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The printing device of claim 12 further comprising an artificial intelligence model configured to learn individual print job characteristics of each user usable to quantify toner usage.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for detecting toner level within a toner reservoir of an image forming device, comprising the steps of: providing a toner sensor within a toner reservoir of an image forming apparatus; incrementally detecting toner amount within the toner reservoir via the toner sensor; counting pixels used to form images with a determined amount of toner removed from the toner reservoir; and calculating toner amount by adjusting the incrementally detected toner amount with an estimated amount of removed toner based at least in part on the number of counted pixels.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for detecting toner level within a toner reservoir of an image forming device, comprising the steps of: providing a toner sensor within a toner reservoir of an image forming apparatus; incrementally detecting toner amount within the toner reservoir via the toner sensor; counting pixels used to form images with a determined amount of toner removed from the toner reservoir; and calculating toner amount by adjusting the incrementally detected toner amount with an estimated amount of removed toner based at least in part on the number of counted pixels.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of displaying the calculated toner amount.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of storing a binary data stream used to form an image in memory, pixels of the binary data stream being counted.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of storing a laser pulse modulation stream used to form an image in memory, pixels of the laser pulse modulation stream being counted.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the image comprises a gray scale image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-10 | 2002-02-09 | 2002-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-10 | 2006-02-09 | 2006-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-10 | 2010-02-09 | 2010-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |