Fluid tilt sensor within ink tank supply item for micro-fluid applications
View Patent ↗A container for holding a volume of fluid and having a housing defining an interior for retaining the volume of fluid; at least one in-tank tilt sensor connected to a controller and disposed inside the housing for generating a signal corresponding to a level of fluid inside the housing; and a support material attached to the housing and connected to the at least one in-tank tilt sensor to mechanically support the at least one in-tank tilt sensor such that the at least one in-tank tilt sensor is not in direct contact with the fluid inside the housing. The in-tank tilt sensor detects a change in fluid level which may only be caused by tilting of the imaging device. When tilting is registered, protective action is taken to prevent fluid from leaking.
1. A method of detecting tilting of a container for holding a volume of fluid, the container for consumable use of the fluid in an imaging device and having a housing defining an interior to retain the volume of fluid and at least two pairs of opposed electrodes disposed on opposing sides of the interior, each pair having a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of fluid existing between said each pair of opposed electrodes, a higher said capacitance corresponding to a higher said amount of fluid existing between said each pair of opposed electrodes, comprising:
obtaining first and second capacitance values one each from said each pair of opposed electrodes;
ascertaining tilt of the housing by determining whether one of the first and second capacitance values increases while the other of the first and second capacitance values decreases over a same time period; and
disabling a fluid supply in the imaging device to prevent the fluid from leaking out if a tilt of the housing is said ascertained.
2. The method of claim 1 , further including simultaneously obtaining the first and second capacitance values from each said pair of opposed electrodes.
3. A method of detecting tilting of a container for holding a volume of fluid, the container for consumable use of the fluid in an imaging device and having a housing defining an interior to retain the volume of fluid and at least two pairs of opposed electrodes disposed on opposing sides of the interior, each pair having a capacitance that varies in response to an amount of fluid existing between said each pair of opposed electrodes, a higher said capacitance corresponding to a higher said amount of fluid existing between said each pair of opposed electrodes, comprising:
obtaining first and second capacitance values one each from said each pair of opposed electrodes;
ascertaining tilt of the housing by determining whether one of the first and second capacitance values increases while the other of the first and second capacitance values decreases over a same time period; and
allowing a fluid supply to flow in the imaging device when a tilt of the housing is corrected or is not said ascertained.
4. The method of claim 3 , further including simultaneously obtaining the first and second capacitance values from said each pair of opposed electrodes.