US5860038A — Apparatus and method for detecting developing abi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 94 words

An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing means; means for forming an image on the image bearing means; means for emitting light on image formed on the image bearing means; means for receiving reflected light from the image formed on the image bearing means; means for detecting the intensity of the reflected light from the image formed on the image bearing means; means for compensating the detected intensity based on a continuous lighting time of the emitting means; and means for controlling the image forming means in response to the compensated detected intensity.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 94 words

An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing means; means for forming an image on the image bearing means; means for emitting light on image formed on the image bearing means; means for receiving reflected light from the image formed on the image bearing means; means for detecting the intensity of the reflected light from the image formed on the image bearing means; means for compensating the detected intensity based on a continuous lighting time of the emitting means; and means for controlling the image forming means in response to the compensated detected intensity.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image bearing means is a photoconductive element.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 91 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the image forming means includes a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing means, and the detecting means detects a first intensity corresponding to reflected light from a surface of the photoconductive element where toner is not adhered thereon if the photoconductive element and the image forming means are in an ideal condition, a second intensity corresponding to reflected light from a referenced toner image formed on the photoconductive element, and a saturated value of the second intensity.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the detecting means generates a reference value corresponding to the saturated value based on the first and second intensities.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 48 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the image forming means includes a charger for charging the surface of the photoconductive element, an exposing device for exposing the charged surface to form an electrostatic latent image thereon and a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: means for controlling at least one of the charger, the exposing device and the developing device in response to the referenced value.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: a toner replenishing device; and a driver which drives a toner replenishing device; wherein the controlling means controls the driver in response to the compensated detected intensity.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 85 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: a developing bias voltage control device for controlling a developing bias voltage such that when a toner image which is to be formed on the sheet of paper is formed on the phot-conductive element, an AC bias voltage superimposed with a DC bias voltage is applied to the developing device and when the detecting means detects the reflected light from the surface of the photoconductive element, the DC bias voltage is applied to the developing device.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 136 words

An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing means; means for forming a first image and a second image which is different from the first image on the image bearing means; means for emitting light on the first image and the second image in which continuous lighting times applied by the emitting means to the first image and to the second image are different from each other; means for receiving reflected light from the first image and from the second image; means for detecting first and second intensities corresponding to the reflected light from the first and second images, respectively; means for compensating the second detected intensity based on the continuous lighting time of the emitting means; and means for controlling the image forming means in response to the first intensity and the compensated second intensity.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 136 words

An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing means; means for forming a first image and a second image which is different from the first image on the image bearing means; means for emitting light on the first image and the second image in which continuous lighting times applied by the emitting means to the first image and to the second image are different from each other; means for receiving reflected light from the first image and from the second image; means for detecting first and second intensities corresponding to the reflected light from the first and second images, respectively; means for compensating the second detected intensity based on the continuous lighting time of the emitting means; and means for controlling the image forming means in response to the first intensity and the compensated second intensity.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein: image forming conditions of the image forming means for forming the first and second images are the same.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 76 words

An image forming apparatus, comprising: an photocondutctive member; an image forming device which forms an image on the photocondutctive member; a photo-sensor including light a emitting diode which emits light to and receives reflected light from the photocondutctive member; circuitry which compensates an intensity value detected by the photo-sensor based on a continuous lighting time of the light emitting diode; and a controller which controls the image forming device in response to the compensated intensity value.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 76 words

An image forming apparatus, comprising: an photocondutctive member; an image forming device which forms an image on the photocondutctive member; a photo-sensor including light a emitting diode which emits light to and receives reflected light from the photocondutctive member; circuitry which compensates an intensity value detected by the photo-sensor based on a continuous lighting time of the light emitting diode; and a controller which controls the image forming device in response to the compensated intensity value.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 112 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the image forming device includes a charger for charging a surface of the photoconductive member, an exposing device for exposing the charged surface to form an electrostatic latent image thereon, and a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member, and the photo-sensor detects a first intensity corresponding reflected light from the surface of the photoconductive member where toner is not adhered thereon if the photoconductive member and the image forming device are in ideal condition, a second intensity from reflected light from a reference toner image formed on the photoconductive member, and a saturated value of the second intensity.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: second circuitry which generates a reference value corresponding to the saturated value based on the first and second intensities.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: second controller which controls at least one of the charger, the exposing device and the developing device in response to the reference value.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: a toner replenishing device; and a driver which drives the toner replenishing device; wherein the controller controls the driver in response to the compensated intensity value.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 84 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: a developing bias voltage control device for controlling the developing bias voltage such that when a toner image which is to be formed on a sheet of paper is formed on the photoconductive member, an AC bias voltage superimposed with a DC bias voltage is applied to the developing device and when the photo-sensor detects the reflected light from the surface of the photoconductive member, the DC bias voltage is applied to the developing device.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 90 words

An image density control method, comprising the steps of: forming an image on an image bearing device; emitting light on the image formed on the image bearing device; receiving reflected light from the image formed on the image bearing device; detecting an intensity of light reflected from the image formed on the image bearing device; compensating the detected intensity based on a continuous lighting time of the emitted light and generating a compensated value; and controlling an image formation on the image bearing device in response to the compensated value.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 90 words

An image density control method, comprising the steps of: forming an image on an image bearing device; emitting light on the image formed on the image bearing device; receiving reflected light from the image formed on the image bearing device; detecting an intensity of light reflected from the image formed on the image bearing device; compensating the detected intensity based on a continuous lighting time of the emitted light and generating a compensated value; and controlling an image formation on the image bearing device in response to the compensated value.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 119 words

A computer program product, comprising: a computer storage medium and a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to control an image density, the computer program code mechanism comprising: a first computer code segment configured detect an intensity of light reflected from an image formed on an image bearing device by an image forming device; second computer code segment configured to compensate the detected intensity based on a continuous lighting time of light emitted from the image formed on the image bearing device and to generate a compensated value; and a third computer code segment configured to control the image formation on the image bearing device in response to the compensated value.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 119 words

A computer program product, comprising: a computer storage medium and a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to control an image density, the computer program code mechanism comprising: a first computer code segment configured detect an intensity of light reflected from an image formed on an image bearing device by an image forming device; second computer code segment configured to compensate the detected intensity based on a continuous lighting time of light emitted from the image formed on the image bearing device and to generate a compensated value; and a third computer code segment configured to control the image formation on the image bearing device in response to the compensated value.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-01-11	2002-07-13	2003-01-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-01-11	2006-07-13	2007-01-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-01-11	2010-07-13	2011-01-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus and method for detecting developing ability of an image forming apparatus

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