Method for Operating an Imaging Device with a Failed Media Bin Level Sensor

摘要

A method of operating an imaging device having a failed or failing media-full sensor determines whether or not a controller can trust the output signal received from the media-full sensor. A reduced power or intensity level is used to test the media-full sensor and, in particular, the light source to counter the dimming of the light source that occurs due to aging and electrical noise in the system. When the output signal of a photoreceptor is at or below a threshold value, the photo-receptor is considered to have not detected the light beam from the light source and the light beam is deemed not to have been detected even though the photo-receptor may be providing a lower level output signal. Thus, an output signal of the photo-receptor is not trusted and an indication that a media storage area is not full is provided and an imaging operation is carried out.

主权项

1. A method of operating an imaging device having a media storage area, the media storage area including a media-full sensor having a light source and a singe spaced apart photo-receptor aligned with one another at a predetermined height above a floor of the media storage area, the single photo-receptor providing an output signal indicative that the media storage location is one of full of media and not full of media, the method comprising:
emitting from the light source a light beam at a first intensity; determining whether or not the light beam at the first intensity has been detected by the single photo-receptor; and, upon determining that the light beam at the first intensity has not been detected, not trusting the output signal from the single photo-receptor and providing an indication that the media area is not full.