Ink Container Light-Emitting Unit Brightness Standardization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid containers for ink tanks in recording apparatuses face challenges in accurately informing users about ink levels due to variations in light emission from LEDs, leading to potential misinterpretation of remaining ink quantities, especially with multiple ink tanks.
Innovation Solution
The liquid container incorporates a light-emitting unit with a storage unit that controls the amount of light emitted, using a light guide member and IC package to standardize light output across multiple containers, reducing brightness variations and ensuring accurate information presentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple ink tanks with LEDs are provided to inform users of ink levels, then information presentation capability is improved, but brightness variation between LEDs causes user misinterpretation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent measures the actual light emission parameters of each LED and adjusts the driving current or pulse width modulation (PWM) duty cycle to compensate for manufacturing variations. This parameter adjustment ensures that all LEDs emit consistent brightness levels, allowing users to accurately interpret ink level information without being misled by brightness differences between individual LEDs.
2Ease of operation
If LEDs are used to indicate ink levels in multiple ink tanks, then user awareness of ink status is improved, but manufacturing variations cause inconsistent light emission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism where the light emission from each LED is measured (either during manufacturing or in-use), and this measurement is used to adjust the driving parameters of that specific LED. This closed-loop feedback approach compensates for manufacturing variations and ensures consistent brightness across all LEDs, making ink level checking reliable and easy for users.
3Device complexity
If simple LED structures are used in ink tanks, then device complexity is reduced, but light emission variation degrades information presentation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables each LED to self-adjust its emission characteristics through individualized parameter settings stored in memory or lookup tables. Each LED effectively serves itself by compensating for its own manufacturing variations, eliminating the need for complex external calibration systems while maintaining accurate information presentation across all ink tanks.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables consistent and accurate presentation of ink level information to users, preventing misinterpretation and ensuring reliable operation of recording apparatuses by standardizing light emission across multiple ink tanks.
Implementation Method 1
a light-emitting unit that emits light on the basis of an input signal supplied through the electrical contact
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid container that can present various information using illumination of a light-emitting unit includes an IC package having a storage element and the light-emitting unit. The storage element stores information used for controlling the amount of light emitted from an LED included in the light-emitting unit, so that variation in brightness of the light-emitting unit can be reduced and the information can be adequately presented.