INK DETECTOR VIEWABLE WITH THE HUMAN EYE

摘要

An ink cartridge (1) configured to hold an ink includes a substantially hollow body (23) including an inner space (21) and a substantially continuous inner wall (5). The cartridge (1) further includes an optical prism (2, 2'', 2''') in the inner space (21), disposed at a predetermined distance from the continuous inner wall (5) such that an ink pocket (6) is defined by a prism wall (17) and the continuous inner wall (5). The prism (2, 2'', 2''') includes at least one reflection site (4) formed at an angle configured to reflect light from a light source (3) through the prism (2, 2'', 2''') at a predetermined height relative to a bottom (10) of the body (23). If ink is present in the ink pocket (6) at a level below at least a portion of the reflection site (4), the ink does not block the light reflected off of the portion of the reflection site (4) from traveling across the ink pocket (6) at the predetermined height, such that the reflected light is externally viewable.