Image forming apparatus for storing sampling values and method therefor

摘要

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a density detection pattern and a reference pattern on an image carrier by a developer; a light-receiving unit configured to receive reflection light of light emitted toward the image carrier, and output a signal corresponding to an amount of received light; a sampling unit configured to sample the signal output from the light-receiving unit, and store sampling values in the storage unit; a detection unit configured to detect the reference pattern; and a determination unit configured to determine a sampling value corresponding to reflection light from the density detection pattern of the color among the sampling values stored in the storage unit, based on a detection time of the reference pattern.

主权项

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit configured to form, for each of a plurality of colors, a density detection pattern for detecting a density and a reference pattern for specifying a position of the density detection pattern on an image carrier by a developer; a light-receiving unit configured to receive reflection light of light emitted toward the image carrier, and output a signal corresponding to an amount of received light; a sampling unit configured to sample the signal output from said light-receiving unit; a storage unit configured to store sampling values sampled by the sampling unit; a detection unit configured to detect the reference pattern formed on the image carrier by comparing the signal corresponding to the amount of received light with a threshold; and a determination unit configured to determine, for at least one of the plurality of colors, a sampling value corresponding to reflection light from the density detection pattern of the color among the sampling values stored in said storage unit, based on a detection time of the reference pattern of the color detected by said detection unit.