Method and system for estimating toner remaining in a cartridge
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorDavid R. Kendall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of estimating a quantity of toner remaining in a toner cartridge includes using an adaptive term, a value of which is adjusted based on actual printer toner usage. A printer configured to produce an estimate of an amount of toner remaining in a toner cartridge installed in that printer includes a toner remaining algorithm; and an adaptive term, a value of which is adjusted based on actual printer toner usage rate. The algorithm uses the adaptive term to produce the estimate of an amount of toner remaining in the toner cartridge.
Claims19
A method of estimating toner remaining in a toner cartridge installed in a printer, the method comprising:
- estimating toner remaining in said toner cartridge installed in said printer using an adaptive term, said adaptive term being an expression comprising a value that is adjusted based on actual printer toner usage for a different toner cartridge previously installed in said printer;
- calculating a value for said adaptive term when an amount of toner remaining is known or said toner cartridge is fully depleted;
- and
- comparing said calculated value with a current value of said adaptive term;
- wherein, if said calculated value and said current value of said adaptive term are not within a predetermined range, said method further comprises adjusting said current value based on said calculated value of said adaptive term.
A printer comprising:
- a processor;
- a print engine;
- a toner remaining algorithm for execution by said processor;
- and
- an adaptive term, said adaptive term being an expression comprising a value that is adjusted based on a prior toner usage rate for said printer;
- wherein said algorithm uses said adaptive term to produce an estimate of an amount of toner remaining in a toner cartridge;
- wherein said algorithm is configured to use said adaptive term to calculate an estimate of a quantity of toner used which is subtracted from a previous estimate of an amount of toner remaining so as to produce a current estimate of an amount of toner remaining in said cartridge;
- and
- wherein said algorithm comprises a formula in which quantity of toner used=(number indicating wear incurred)·(wear constant)+(number indicating the number and tone of pixels printed)·(pixel constant)·(said adaptive term).
A printer comprising:
- a processor;
- a print engine;
- a toner remaining algorithm for execution by said processor;
- and
- an adaptive term, said adaptive term being an expression comprising a value that is adjusted based on a prior toner usage rate for said printer;
- wherein said algorithm uses said adaptive term to produce an estimate of an amount of toner remaining in a toner cartridge;
- wherein said algorithm is configured to calculate a value for said adaptive term when an amount of toner remaining is known or said toner cartridge is fully depleted;
- and
- wherein said algorithm is further configured to compare said calculated value with a current value of said adaptive term and, if said calculated value and said current value do not match within a predetermined range, said algorithm is further configured to adjust said current value based on said calculated value of said adaptive term.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.