Impeller blade for calibrating light sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10241032-B2
Application number	US-201515540530-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2015
Priority date	Jan 23, 2015
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

In some examples, an apparatus can include a light transmitter, a light sensor aligned along a light transmittance axis of the light transmitter, an impeller positioned between the light transmitter and the light sensor. The impeller can in some examples include a blade to pass through the light transmittance axis during rotation of the impeller. The blade can in some examples be translucent to permit calibration of the light sensor based on a comparison of a first light sensor reading when the blade intersects the light transmittance axis and a second light sensor reading when the blade does not intersect the light transmittance axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a light transmitter;
a light sensor aligned along a light transmittance axis of the light transmitter;
an impeller positioned between the light transmitter and the light sensor, the impeller including a blade to pass through the light transmittance axis during rotation of the impeller,
wherein the blade is translucent to permit calibration of the light sensor based on a comparison of a first light sensor reading when the blade intersects the light transmittance axis and a second light sensor reading when the blade does not intersect the light transmittance axis,
wherein the blade is to wipe an outside surface of the light transmitter and an outside surface of the light sensor as the blade passes through the light transmittance axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light sensor is to measure light absorption of a printer fluid between the light transmitter and the light sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the light sensor is to measure light absorption of printer ink between the light transmitter and the light sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the blade includes a portion having a thickness substantially equal to a gap thickness between the light transmitter and the light sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the gap thickness is approximately 1 millimeter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the blade includes a portion having a thickness substantially less than a gap thickness between the light transmitter and the light sensor to allow printer fluid to be positioned between the light transmitter and the light sensor as the blade passes through the light transmittance axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the gap thickness is approximately 1 millimeter and the thickness of the portion is approximately 0.8 millimeters.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the impeller includes a first blade to pass through the light transmittance axis during a first portion of a revolution of the impeller and a second blade to pass through the light transmittance axis during a second portion of the revolution of the impeller, and
wherein the first and second blades are translucent to permit calibration of the light sensor based on a comparison of a first light sensor reading when the first blade intersects the light transmittance axis, a second light sensor reading when the second blade intersects the light transmittance axis, and a third light sensor reading when neither the first blade nor the second blade intersect the light transmittance axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first blade includes a portion having a thickness substantially equal to a gap thickness between the light transmitter and the light sensor so as to wipe the outside surface of the light transmitter and the light sensor as the first blade passes through the light transmittance axis, and
wherein the second blade includes a portion having a thickness substantially less than the gap thickness to allow printer fluid to be positioned between the light transmitter and the light sensor as the second blade passes through the light transmittance axis.

10. An apparatus comprising:
a first plate including a first surface;
a second plate including a second surface substantially parallel to the first surface;
a light transmitter integrated into the first surface;
a light sensor integrated into the second surface and facing the light transmitter;
an impeller rotatably mounted between the first surface and the second surface, the impeller including a blade to block, during a first time period, a gap between the light transmitter and the light sensor and to at least partially reveal, during a second time period, the gap between the light transmitter and the light sensor to allow printer fluid between the light transmitter and the light sensor,
wherein the blade includes a portion that is translucent to permit calibration of the light sensor based on a comparison of a first light sensor reading during the first time period and a second light sensor reading during the second time period
wherein the blade is to wipe printer fluid from an outer surface of the light transmitter and an outer surface of the light sensor as the blade passes between the light transmitter and the light sensor.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the blade is to completely reveal, during the second time period, the gap between the light transmitter and the light sensor.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the outer surface of the light transmitter is substantially flush with the first surface of the first plate and the outer surface of the light sensor is substantially flush with the second surface of the second plate.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Indigo Bv
• Hp Indigo Bv

Inventors

• Fisher Gil

Classifications

• G01N21/59

  Transmissivity (G01N21/25 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N21/276 Primary

  with alternation of sample and standard in optical path · CPC title

• G01N21/85

  Investigating moving fluids or granular solids · CPC title

• G01F1/065

  with radiation as transfer means to the indicating device, e.g. light transmission · CPC title