Prism-Based Liquid Residual Detection with Self-Calibrating Light Volume
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing devices face challenges in accurately detecting the residual state of ink due to ink mist adhering to calibration reflection plates, leading to errors in light volume measurement and broadening the error range between light received from the ink cartridge prism and the calibration reflecting unit.
Innovation Solution
A liquid consumption device with a prism, light emitting unit, and control unit that adjusts the light emitting volume based on the light volume of reflected light from the prism's outer surface, allowing for precise detection of liquid residual state even if the prism becomes dirty, and enabling uniform adjustment across multiple liquid containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a calibration reflecting unit is used to detect liquid residual state, then measurement precision is improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates over time due to ink mist adhering to the reflection plate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful function of the calibration reflecting unit by using the prism's outer surface reflection instead. The prism is removed from the liquid container, and its outer surface is used as the reflection surface, eliminating the problem of ink mist accumulation on the calibration plate while maintaining detection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The prism is designed as a disposable component that is replaced along with the liquid container. This ensures that any dirt or ink mist accumulation on the prism surface is reset with each new container, maintaining consistent detection precision without requiring maintenance of the calibration system.
2Measurement precision
If individual calibration adjustments are performed for each liquid container, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The prism serves multiple functions: it acts as both the optical element for light reflection and the calibration reference surface. This universal design eliminates the need for separate calibration reflecting units and individual calibration adjustments for each container, reducing device complexity while maintaining precision.
3Device complexity
If the light emitting volume is fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to prism dirtiness
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of the prism's reflection characteristics when the liquid container is first installed. This initial calibration captures the current state of the prism surface, and the control unit adjusts the light emitting volume accordingly before actual liquid residual state detection begins, ensuring precision without complex continuous adjustments.
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
Ensures accurate and precise detection of liquid residual state over time by adjusting light emitting volume according to the prism's dirtiness and allowing for quick determination across multiple containers without individual adjustments, reducing the risk of dirt accumulation and improving long-term precision.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting unit configured to radiate the light to the prism
Implementation Method 2
the light volume of reflected light that was reflected by an outer surface of the prism and received by the light receiving unit
Implementation Method 3
The prism is provided to the liquid container, and configured to receive light that is made incident from outside and to emit the incident light again toward the outside according to a liquid residual state inside the liquid container
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid consumption device includes a liquid container, a prism, a light emitting unit, a light receiving unit and a control unit. The prism is provided to the liquid container, and configured to receive light that is made incident from outside and to emit the incident light toward the outside according to a liquid residual state inside the liquid container. The control unit is configured to determine a threshold value of the liquid container for determining a light radiation volume by the light emitting part and/or the liquid residual state, based on a light volume of reflected light reflected by an outer surface of the prism and received by the light receiving unit upon radiation of the light by the light emitting unit. The control unit is configured to determine the liquid residual state based on a light volume of the light received by the light receiving unit.