Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Ink Level Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as inkjet printers, face discrepancies in displaying the remaining ink amount due to variations in the use environment, leading to inaccuracies in detecting when the ink level is low.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a control portion that calculates and displays a corrected remaining amount based on the initial ink amount, total discharge amount, and a correction factor accounting for the use environment's atmospheric pressure and temperature, adjusting the calculation per unit discharge amount accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the remaining ink amount is displayed based on a count value from the counter, then the display is simple and easy to implement, but the accuracy of the remaining ink amount display deteriorates due to environmental factors affecting ink consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing a correction amount that varies based on environmental parameters (temperature, humidity) to adjust the displayed remaining ink amount. The control portion calculates a correction amount based on detected environmental conditions and adds it to the calculation remaining amount, thereby adapting the display to actual usage conditions and improving accuracy without fundamentally changing the display mechanism.
2Device complexity
If the remaining ink amount is displayed based on a count value, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of the ink level detection deteriorates due to discrepancies caused by use environment variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the remaining amount detection portion detect actual ink levels and compare them with the displayed calculation remaining amount. When a discrepancy is detected, the system can adjust future calculations based on this feedback, improving reliability while maintaining relatively simple device architecture through software-based correction mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces environmental parameter corrections that modify the calculation remaining amount dynamically. By adjusting the correction amount based on detected environmental conditions (temperature, humidity), the system compensates for environmental effects on ink consumption, thereby improving detection reliability without significantly increasing hardware complexity.
3Measurement precision
If a sensor is used to detect the remaining ink amount, then the accuracy of ink level detection is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by having the liquid container itself provide the detection function through its interaction with the remaining amount detection portion. Instead of requiring a complex external sensing system, the system utilizes the natural properties of the liquid container and its ejection mechanism to detect remaining amounts, thereby achieving accurate detection without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid contained in a liquid container; a display portion configured to display information; a remaining amount detection portion configured to detect that a remaining amount of the liquid contained in the liquid container becomes less than a threshold value; and a control portion configured to control display of the display portion, in which the control portion causes the display portion to display a calculation remaining amount calculated based on an initial amount of storage of the liquid contained in the liquid container, a total discharge amount of the liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head, and a correction amount corresponding to a use environment.