Patent ID: 11947282
Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 8:
9. A method for estimating an amount of toner in a toner reservoir of a toner container of an electrophotographic image forming device, comprising:
selectively generating an impulse force to cause vibration of the toner container;
sensing, by a sensor, the vibration of the toner container; and
determining, by processing circuitry, an estimate of the amount of toner in the toner reservoir of the toner container based on the sensed vibration of the toner container,
wherein the sensing the vibration includes sensing the vibration at a first side of the toner container opposite a second side of the toner container at which the impulse force is generated, the first side of the toner container and the second side of the toner container being positioned at opposite ends of the toner reservoir of the toner container.