Method and system for estimating toner remaining in a cartridge

1. A method of estimating toner remaining in a toner cartridge installed in a printer, the method comprising:

estimating toner remaining in said toner cartridge installed in said printer using an adaptive term, said adaptive term being an expression comprising a value that is adjusted based on actual printer toner usage for a different toner cartridge previously installed in said printer;

calculating a value for said adaptive term when an amount of toner remaining is known or said toner cartridge is fully depleted; and

comparing said calculated value with a current value of said adaptive term;

wherein, if said calculated value and said current value of said adaptive term are not within a predetermined range, said method further comprises adjusting said current value based on said calculated value of said adaptive term.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using said adaptive term to calculate an estimate of a quantity of toner used prior to estimating toner remaining.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein using said adaptive term to calculate an estimate of a quantity of toner used is performed using a formula in which quantity of toner used=(number indicating wear incurred)·(wear constant)+(number indicating the number and tone of pixels printed)·(pixel constant)·(said adaptive term).

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using said estimate of a quantity of toner used to estimate an amount of toner remaining in said toner cartridge.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising reporting said estimate of an amount of toner remaining to a user.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising tracking a number of pages printed to be used in determining said actual printer toner usage for said toner cartridge previously installed in said printer.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising tracking a number of pixels printed to be used in determining said actual printer toner usage for said toner cartridge previously installed in said printer.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein, if said calculated value and said current value of said adaptive term are within a predetermined range, further comprising validating said current adaptive term.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said adjusting comprises substituting said calculated value for said current value of said adaptive term.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said adjusting comprises averaging said calculated value and said current value of said adaptive term to produce a new current value of said adaptive term.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein, if said calculated value differs from said current value by more than a predetermined limit, said method further comprises treating said calculated value as anomalous.

12. A printer comprising:

a processor;

a print engine;

a toner remaining algorithm for execution by said processor; and

an adaptive term, said adaptive term being an expression comprising a value that is adjusted based on a prior toner usage rate for said printer;

wherein said algorithm uses said adaptive term to produce an estimate of an amount of toner remaining in a toner cartridge;

wherein said algorithm is configured to use said adaptive term to calculate an estimate of a quantity of toner used which is subtracted from a previous estimate of an amount of toner remaining so as to produce a current estimate of an amount of toner remaining in said cartridge; and

wherein said algorithm comprises a formula in which quantity of toner used=(number indicating wear incurred)·(wear constant)+(number indicating the number and tone of pixels printed)·(pixel constant)·(said adaptive term).

13. The printer of claim 12 , wherein said printer is further configured to report said estimate of an amount of toner remaining to a user.

14. The printer of claim 13 , further comprising a network connection for reporting said estimate to said user.

15. The printer of claim 12 , wherein said printer is configured to count a number indicative of cartridge wear and a number of pixels printed that is used to produce said estimate of an amount of toner remaining in said toner cartridge.

16. A printer comprising:

a processor;

a print engine;

a toner remaining algorithm for execution by said processor; and

an adaptive term, said adaptive term being an expression comprising a value that is adjusted based on a prior toner usage rate for said printer;

wherein said algorithm uses said adaptive term to produce an estimate of an amount of toner remaining in a toner cartridge;

wherein said algorithm is configured to calculate a value for said adaptive term when an amount of toner remaining is known or said toner cartridge is fully depleted; and

wherein said algorithm is further configured to compare said calculated value with a current value of said adaptive term and, if said calculated value and said current value do not match within a predetermined range, said algorithm is further configured to adjust said current value based on said calculated value of said adaptive term.

17. The printer of claim 16 , wherein algorithm adjusts said current value by substituting said calculated value for said current value of said adaptive term.

18. The printer of claim 16 , wherein algorithm adjusts said current value by averaging said calculated value and said current value of said adaptive term to produce a new current value of said adaptive term.

19. The printer of claim 16 , wherein, if said calculated value varies from said current value by more than a predetermined limit, said algorithm treats said calculated value as anomalous.