CONSUMABLE SUPPLY ITEM WITH FLUID SENSING FOR MICRO-FLUID APPLICATIONS

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A consumable supply item for an imaging device to hold an initial or refillable volume of liquid, comprising:
a housing defining an interior to retain the volume of liquid; a pair of opposed electrodes attached to the housing having a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of liquid existing between the opposed electrodes; and a controller on the housing configured to energize one electrode of the pair of opposed electrodes and receive an output reading from the other electrode of the pair of opposed electrodes, the output reading corresponding to said amount of liquid existing between the opposed electrodes that the controller supplies during use to the imaging device.