1. A device for measuring the quantity of residual toner received in a toner cartridge comprising:
a controller for selecting one among a plurality of preset values for each correction coefficient, which is weighted depending on the length of time the toner cartridge has been in printing service, and calculating the quantity of residual toner using the selected values for a plurality correction coefficients and the counted number of dots of a print data; and
a residual toner data memory, wherein the quantity of residual toner calculated by the controller is updated and stored in the residual toner data memory.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of values for the correction coefficients include a plurality of values for a transferred toner quantity correction coefficient (k1) and a plurality of values for a waste toner quantity correction coefficient (k2), which are respectively weighted depending on the length of time the toner cartridge has been in printing service.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of values for the correction coefficients further include a plurality of values for a paper-feeding mode correction coefficient (k3) which are applied differently depending on whether single-sided printing or double-sided printing is performed.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the controller comprises:
a coefficient memory for storing the plurality of preset values for the correction coefficients;
a counter unit for counting the number of dots and the number of pages for print data; and
an operation unit for selecting one value for each correction coefficient among the plurality of values for the correction coefficients stored in the coefficient memory and calculating the quantity of residual toner using the selected values for the correction coefficients and the number of dots of print data counted by the counter unit, the operation unit updating and storing the calculated quantity of residual toner in the data memory.
5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the coefficient memory further stores a plurality of values for a resolution coefficient (k4), which changes depending on print data resolution, and the operation unit selects one value among the plurality of values for the resolution coefficient to calculate the quantity of residual toner additionally using the selected value for the resolution correction coefficient.
6. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the coefficient memory further stores a plurality of values for a density correction coefficient (k5), which changes depending on print data density, and the operation unit selects one among the plurality of values of the density correction coefficient to calculate the quantity of residual toner additionally using the selected value for the density correction coefficient.
7. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the coefficient memory further stores a plurality of values for a toner saving mode correction coefficient (k6), which changes depending on toner saving mode, and the operation unit selects one among the plurality of values for the toner saving mode correction coefficient to calculate the quantity of residual toner additionally using the selected value for the toner saving mode correction coefficient.
8. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the coefficient memory further stores a plurality of values for an environmental correction coefficient (e), which changes depending on environmental condition preset according to at least one of temperature and humidity, and the operation unit selects one of the plurality of values for the environmental correction coefficient depending on at least one of the temperature and the humidity to calculate the quantity of residual toner additionally using the selected environmental correction coefficient.
9. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the residual toner data memory is mounted on a side of the toner cartridge.
10. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display unit for externally displaying the quantity of residual toner calculated by the controller.
11. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a toner cartridge for containing toner;
a residual toner data memory for storing data information related to intrinsic information of the toner cartridge and data information related to the quantity of residual toner, the residual toner dater memory being mounted on a side of the toner cartridge;
a controller for calculating the quantity of residual toner using a plurality of preset values for a transferred toner quantity correction coefficient (k1), a waste toner quantity correction coefficient (k2), and a paper-feeding mode coefficient, each of which changes depending on the length of time the toner cartridge has been in printing service, and the counted number of dots of print data, wherein the controller updates and stores the calculated quantity of residual toner in the residual toner data memory; and
a display unit for externally displaying the quantity of residual toner calculated by the controller.
12. An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the controller calculates the quantity of residual toner additionally using one or more values each selected among a plurality of values preset for a resolution coefficient (k4) changed depending on print data resolution, a density correction coefficient (k5) changed depending on print data density, a toner saving mode correction coefficient (k6) changed depending on toner saving mode, and an environmental correction coefficient (e) changed depending on environmental condition preset according to at least one of temperature and humidity.
13. An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a manipulation panel for allowing a user to input information so that the controller can select one value for each of the plurality of correction coefficients.
14. A method of measuring the quantity of residual toner, the method comprising:
counting the number of dots of print data;
selecting one value for each of a plurality of preset correction coefficients, each coefficient being weighted depending on the length of time a toner cartridge has been in printing service;
calculating the quantity of residual toner using the selected values for the correction coefficients and the counted number of dots; and
storing the calculated quantity of residual.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein selecting one value for each correction coefficient comprises:
selecting one of a plurality of values for a transferred toner quantity correction coefficient (k1);
selecting one of a plurality of values for a waste toner quantity correction coefficient (k2); and
selecting one of a plurality of values for a paper-feeding mode correction coefficient (k3) which is applied differently depending on whether printing in single-sided mode or double-sided mode is performed.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein selecting one value for each correction coefficient further comprises:
selecting one of a plurality of values for a resolution correction coefficient (k4) changed depending on preset print data resolution.
17. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein selecting one value for each correction coefficient further comprises:
selecting one of a plurality of values for a density correction coefficient (k5) changed depending on preset print data density.
18. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein selecting one value for each correction coefficient further comprises:
selecting one of a plurality of values of a saving mode correction coefficient (k6) changed depending on preset toner saving mode.
19. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein selecting one value for each correction coefficient further comprises:
selecting one of a plurality of values of an environmental correction coefficient (e) changed depending on at least one of temperature and humidity.
20. A method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising externally displaying the calculated quantity of residual toner.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An optical unit, comprising:
a body that defines an interior of the optical unit;
an aperture defining an opening in the body;
a sensor positioned in the interior;
at least one optical member positioned in the interior; and
a reflective surface within the interior,
wherein the reflective surface is positioned to redirect light from a first path to a second path, the second path different from the first path and intersecting the sensor.
2. The optical unit of claim 1, wherein the first path passes through the aperture.
3. The optical unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical member comprises a surface configured to provide a lens effect.
4. The optical unit of claim 3, wherein the at least one optical member comprises a lens and the reflective surface comprises a mirror separate from the lens.
5. The optical unit of claim 3, wherein the at least one optical member comprises a first surface that provides the lens effect and a second surface, the second surface corresponding to the reflective surface that redirects the light from the first path to the second path, the first path intersecting the first surface and passing through a body of the at least one optical member.
6. The optical unit of claim 5, wherein the at least one optical member comprises a third surface, the second path intersecting the third surface.
7. The optical unit of claim 1, further comprising an adjustment mechanism to adjust a position of the reflective surface within the optical unit.
8. The optical unit of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface is included in an interior portion of the body of the optical unit.
9. A stereo optical unit, comprising:
a body that defines an interior of the stereo optical unit;
an aperture defining an opening in the body;
a sensor;
a lens assembly comprising at least one lens positioned between the beam splitter and the sensor;
a mirror; and
a beam splitter,
wherein the beam splitter and mirror are positioned between the aperture and the lens assembly, the mirror positioned to redirect light traveling along a first path that intersects the mirror onto a second path that intersects the beam splitter, and
wherein the beam splitter is configured to redirect light traveling along the second path onto a third path that intersects the lens assembly and is further configured to pass at least some light on a fourth path, the fourth path intersecting the beam splitter and the lens assembly.
10. The stereo optical unit set forth in claim 9, wherein the mirror is positioned to intersect the first path while allowing light on the fourth path to pass to the beam splitter.
11. The stereo optical unit set forth in claim 9, wherein the mirror and beam splitter are positioned to direct light passing through the aperture and reflected from a reflective member at different angles to arrive at different angles at the sensor.
12. The stereo optical unit set forth in claim 10, further comprising an illumination system, the illumination system configured to provide a first point source separated from a second point source by a distance.
13. The stereo optical unit set forth in claim 12, wherein the illumination system comprises a first diode corresponding to the first point source and a second diode corresponding to the second point source.
13. The stereo optical unit set forth in claim 12, wherein the mirror has a length equal to twice the distance between the first and second point sources.
14. The stereo optical unit set forth in claim 12, wherein the first point source and second point source are separated by the distance along a length of the stereo optical unit and along a width of the stereo optical unit.
15. The stereo optical unit set forth in claim 12, wherein the mirror and beam splitter are positioned so that light from the first point source and light from the second point source, as reflected from a reflective member, is directed to different portions of the sensor after entering the aperture.
16. The stereo optical unit set forth in claim 12, interfaced to a processor, wherein the processor directs the illumination system to emit light from the first and second point sources at different times.
17. A position detection system comprising:
a panel defining a touch area;
a first optical unit comprising a body that defines an interior of the optical unit, an aperture defining an opening in the body, a sensor positioned in the interior, at least one optical member positioned in the interior, and a reflective surface within the interior, wherein the reflective surface is positioned to redirect light from a first path within the body of the first optical unit to a second path within the body of the first optical unit, the second path different from the first path and intersecting the sensor; and
a stereo optical unit comprising a body that defines an interior of the stereo optical unit, an aperture defining an opening in the body, a sensor, a lens assembly positioned between the aperture and the sensor, a mirror, and a beam splitter,
wherein the beam splitter and mirror are positioned between the aperture and the lens assembly, the mirror positioned to redirect light traveling along a first path within the body of the stereo optical unit and which intersects the mirror onto a second path within the body of the stereo optical unit and which intersects the beam splitter, and
wherein the beam splitter is configured to (i) redirect light traveling along the second path onto a third path within the body of the stereo optical unit and which intersects the lens assembly and is further configured to (ii) pass at least some light onto a fourth path within the body of the stereo optical unit, the fourth path intersecting the beam splitter and the lens assembly.