Collapsible container and sensor
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsDennis R Esterberg, Matthew J Janssen, Jeffrey A Nielsen, Norman L Berger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One example of a printhead assembly includes a housing including sidewalls, nozzles to eject ink drops, a collapsible container, and a sensor assembly. The collapsible container is within the housing to supply ink to the nozzles. The collapsible container includes flexible sidewalls and a spring assembly between the flexible sidewalls. The sensor assembly is coupled to the housing and includes a sensor to provide a sensor signal indicating the amount of ink within the collapsible container.
Claims19
A printhead assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- nozzles to eject ink drops;
- a collapsible container within the housing to supply ink to the nozzles, the collapsible container comprising flexible sidewalls and a spring assembly between the flexible sidewalls;
- and
- a sensor assembly coupled to the housing out of contact with and spaced from the collapsible container, the sensor assembly comprising a sensor to provide a sensor signal indicating the amount of ink within the collapsible container absent any contact between the sensor assembly and the collapsible container.
A fluid supply assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a collapsible container within the housing to supply fluid to an output port, the collapsible container comprising flexible sidewalls and a spring assembly between the flexible sidewalls;
- and
- a sensor assembly coupled to the housing, the sensor assembly comprising a sensor to provide a sensor signal indicating the amount of fluid within the collapsible container, wherein the sensor assembly comprises:
- a printed circuit board comprising an integrated inductive coil;
- a capacitor coupled in parallel with the inductive coil;
- and
- a signal line port electrically coupled to the printed circuit board.
A printhead assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- nozzles to eject ink drops;
- a collapsible container within the housing to supply ink to the nozzles, the collapsible container comprising flexible sidewalls and a spring assembly between the flexible sidewalls;
- and
- a sensor assembly coupled to the housing, the sensor assembly comprising a sensor to provide a sensor signal indicating the amount of ink within the collapsible container, wherein the sensor assembly comprises:
- a printed circuit board comprising an integrated inductive coil;
- a capacitor coupled in parallel with the inductive coil;
- and
- a signal line port electrically coupled to the printed circuit board.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.