Media measurement with sensor array

A method for measuring one or more dimensions of a stack of medium in a media input location of an imaging system, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a media input location including a planar surface for receiving the stack of medium, the planar surface having a normal;
• providing a light source for emitting a beam of light along a direction that is at a predetermined angle with respect to the normal of the planar surface of the media input location;
• providing an array of photosensors disposed along an array direction that lies in a plane defined by the direction of the beam of light and the normal of the planar surface;
• providing a printing system controller;
• receiving a spatially-varying pattern of light in the photosensors of the photosensor array, the spatially-varying pattern of light having been reflected from a surface that is substantially parallel to the planar surface of the media input location, to provide corresponding electronic signal data from the photosensor array, the electronic signal data varying along the photosensor array;
• transmitting the varying electronic signal data to the printing system controller;
• and
• using the varying electronic signal data to provide a measurement of the one or more dimensions corresponding to the stack of medium.