Stabilization of toner consumption in an imaging device

摘要

An imaging device (10) is enabled to stabilize toner mass usage by implementing a closed loop feedback system. Actual toner mass per area used (240) is compared with a target mass per area reference (250) to produce an error signal (255) for modifying toner consumption (82) in the imaging device. A method for stabilizing toner mass consumption in an imaging device includes calculating first indicia indicative of an actual mass per area (315) of toner consumed in the imaging device, comparing the first indicia with second indicia indicative of a target mass per area (320) of toner consumed, and modifying toner consumption (330) in the imaging device based on the comparing. In a preferred embodiment, a toner level sensed (210) is compared to an original toner reference amount (205) to produce a toner mass used (220). Pixels rendered are tracked to calculate a total area imaged (230) relative to a time frame established in association with the original toner reference amount. The total mass used (220) is divided (235) by the total area imaged (230) to produce the actual mass per area used (240). Toner consumption is modified (82) using laser pulse width modulation or pixel masking such that subsequent actual mass per area of toner consumed approaches the target mass per area (250).