Apparatus and method for detecting developing ability of an image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an image bearing means;
• means for forming a first image and a second image which is different from the first image on the image bearing means;
• means for emitting light on the first image and the second image in which continuous lighting times applied by the emitting means to the first image and to the second image are different from each other;
• means for receiving reflected light from the first image and from the second image;
• means for detecting first and second intensities corresponding to the reflected light from the first and second images, respectively;
• means for compensating the second detected intensity based on the continuous lighting time of the emitting means;
• and
• means for controlling the image forming means in response to the first intensity and the compensated second intensity.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an photocondutctive member;
• an image forming device which forms an image on the photocondutctive member;
• a photo-sensor including light a emitting diode which emits light to and receives reflected light from the photocondutctive member;
• circuitry which compensates an intensity value detected by the photo-sensor based on a continuous lighting time of the light emitting diode;
• and
• a controller which controls the image forming device in response to the compensated intensity value.

An image density control method, comprising the steps of:

• forming an image on an image bearing device;
• emitting light on the image formed on the image bearing device;
• receiving reflected light from the image formed on the image bearing device;
• detecting an intensity of light reflected from the image formed on the image bearing device;
• compensating the detected intensity based on a continuous lighting time of the emitted light and generating a compensated value;
• and
• controlling an image formation on the image bearing device in response to the compensated value.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a computer storage medium and a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to control an image density, the computer program code mechanism comprising:
• a first computer code segment configured detect an intensity of light reflected from an image formed on an image bearing device by an image forming device;
• second computer code segment configured to compensate the detected intensity based on a continuous lighting time of light emitted from the image formed on the image bearing device and to generate a compensated value;
• and
• a third computer code segment configured to control the image formation on the image bearing device in response to the compensated value.