System and method for detecting a media supply
AssigneeCarestream Health, Inc.
InventorsAndrei Beletsky, James R. Gilbertson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for detecting the level of a media supply in a printer has a frame having a support for seating the printer thereon. A first light source is positioned on the support and is energizable to direct a first beam of light into the printer. A first detector is positioned on the support and provides an analog signal in response to reflection of the first beam of light from within the printer. A control logic processor is in signal communication with the first detector and compares the analog signal to a stored/predetermined value and reports a low media condition according to the comparison.
Claims16
A system for detecting a media supply level in a printer, comprising:
- a frame having a support for seating the printer thereon;
- a first light source positioned on the support and energizable to direct a first beam of light into a portion of the printer;
- a first detector positioned on the support providing an analog signal in response to a reflection of the first beam of light from within the printer;
- and
- a control logic processor in signal communication with the first detector and adapted to compare the analog signal to a predetermined value and report a media supply level condition in response to the comparison.
A method for detecting the level of a media supply in a printer, the method comprising:
- providing a frame having a support for seating the printer thereon;
- coupling a first light source and a first detector to the support;
- energizing the first light source to direct a first beam of light into the printer;
- acquiring an analog signal from the first detector in response to a reflection of the first beam of light from a portion of the printer;
- comparing the analog signal to a predetermined value;
- and
- in response to the comparison, reporting a media supply level condition on a display.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.