# US 2018/0022116 A1 · Determining printer platen type > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0022116 A1 - Document ID: US20180022116A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/546,092 - Filed: 2015-04-08 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-08 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Inventors: Carles Flotats Vilagrasa; Francesc Melia Sune; David Toussaint - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022116A1 ## CPC - B41J 11/06: Flat page-size platens {or smaller flat platens having a greater size than line-size platens (B41J11/0085 takes precedence)} - B41J 13/0009: {control of the transport of the copy material} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract In one example, a printer having a removably-installable platen. The platen has a platen type. A surface of the platen has a feature that is indicative of the platen type. The printer includes a single platen-type-discriminating sensor. The sensor detects a distinguishing characteristic of the feature. A controller determines the platen type from the distinguishing characteristic. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A printer, comprising: a platen removably installable in the printer and having a platen type; a surface of the platen having a feature indicative of the platen type; a single platen-type-discriminating sensor, the sensor to detect a distinguishing characteristic of the feature; and a controller to determine the platen type from the distinguishing characteristic. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The printer of claim 1, wherein the sensor is further to detect whether the platen is properly installed in the printer, and wherein the controller is further to prevent operation of the printer unless the platen is properly installed in the printer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The printer of claim 1, wherein the sensor is spaced apart from a substrate-receiving surface of the platen at a stationary position within the printer during a sensing operation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The printer of claim 1, wherein a spacing between a planar surface of the feature and the sensor is different for different types of properly-installed platens. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The printer of claim 4, wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor spaced apart from the platen, and wherein the distinguishing characteristic is a distance from the ultrasonic sensor to the feature when the platen is properly installed in the printer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The printer of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor, wherein the feature is disposed at a first distance from the ultrasonic sensor when the platen is properly installed in the printer, and at a second distance from the ultrasonic sensor when the platen is improperly installed in the printer; wherein the sensor is to further determine a measured distance between the ultrasonic sensor and the feature, and wherein the controller is further to prevent operation of the printer if the measured distance is the second distance. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The printer of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a line sensor spaced apart from the surface, and wherein a pattern or a color of the feature is different for different platen types. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The printer of claim 7, wherein the line sensor is mounted on a scanning carriage of the printer which moves relative to the surface during a sensing operation. ### Claim 9 A printer, comprising: plural platens removably installable in the printer, each of the plural platens having a corresponding platen type; a feature indicative of the printzone type disposed at a surface of each of the plural platens in a location that is the same for all platen types; plural sensors, each sensor associated with a corresponding one of the plural platens to detect a distinguishing characteristic of the feature of the corresponding platen, the characteristic indicative of the platen type; and a controller to prevent operation of the printer unless all the plural platens have the same platen type. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The printer of claim 9, wherein a substrate printable by the printer has a width, wherein each of the plural platens spans a portion of the width, and wherein the plural platens collectively span the width. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The printer of claim 9, wherein each sensor is further to detect whether the corresponding platen is properly installed in the printer, and wherein the controller is further to prevent operation of the printer unless all the plural platens are properly installed in the printer. ### Claim 12 A method of printing, comprising: detecting, in a printer having a single platen-type-discriminating sensor, a distinguishing characteristic of a feature of a surface of a platen removably installed in the printer and having a platen type, the distinguishing characteristic indicative of the platen type; determining from the distinguishing characteristic, using a controller of the printer, the platen type; and printing on a substrate on the platen using print parameters corresponding to the platen type. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, comprising: detecting, using the sensor, whether the platen is properly installed in the printer, and inhibiting printing unless the platen is properly installed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the platen is a plurality of platen and the sensor is a corresponding plurality of sensors, wherein the determining the platen type includes determining the platen type of each of the plurality of platen, and wherein the inhibiting includes inhibiting printing unless all of the plurality of platen have the same platen type. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the detecting the distinguishing characteristic, determining the platen type, detecting whether the platen is properly installed in the printer, and inhibiting are performed responsive to a power-up of the printer and as part of a transition of the printer from a not ready state to a ready state.