Inkjet printer for detecting the type of print media

An inkjet printer comprising:

• (a) top ends of support pins for supporting a media surface;
• (b) a inkjet printhead oriented to eject ink toward the media surface;
• (c) a carriage that is movable along a carriage scan direction;
• (d) a light source directed at the media surface and positioned on a first side of the media surface to provide an illuminated portion of the media surface extending substantially along the carriage scan direction;
• (e) a light sensing device mounted on the carriage on a second side of the media surface that is opposite the first side, which sensing device functions to sense media type by sensing light emitted from the light source and transmitted across the media surface and to light sensing device;
• (f) memory for storing patterns representing particular media types;
• and
• (g) a processor for comparing signals from the light sensor to patterns stored in the memory in order to identify media type, wherein the light source is positioned at a lower height relative to the top ends of the support pins.

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) top ends of support pins for supporting a media surface;
• (b) a platform that is movable along a scan direction;
• (c) a light source directed at the media surface and positioned on a first side of the media surface to provide an illuminated portion of the media surface extending substantially along the scan direction;
• (d) a light sensing device mounted on the movable platform on a second side of the media surface that is opposite the first side, which sensing device functions to sense media type by sensing light emitted from the light source and transmitted across the media surface and to light sensing device;
• (e) memory for storing patterns representing particular media types;
• and
• (f) a processor for comparing signals from the light sensor to patterns stored in the memory in order to identify media type;
• wherein the light source is a first light source and further comprising a second light source displaced a predetermined distance from the first light source, and the first and second light sources are oriented in substantially opposite directions to provide a substantially uniform lighted region on the media surface.