Patent ID: 9228831
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: B41J,G01C,G01F

Claim Text:
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, comprising: setting a plurality of allowable values; obtaining a first capacitance measurement value corresponding to a level of fluid on a side of the container; and determining whether the first capacitance measurement value is higher or lower than a reference capacitance thereby indicating tilt or not, wherein the reference capacitance is a previously-saved capacitance measurement value, wherein determining whether the first capacitance measurement value is higher or lower than the reference capacitance includes: comparing the first capacitance measurement value to the reference capacitance such that a first actual variance between the first capacitance measurement value and the reference capacitance is determined; determining if the first actual variance is within the allowable values; saving the first capacitance measurement value into a memory when the first actual variance is within the allowable values such that the first capacitance measurement value becomes a reference capacitance for a succeeding tilt detection; obtaining a second capacitance measurement value after a predetermined period of time when the first actual variance is outside the allowable values; comparing the second capacitance measurement value to the reference capacitance such that a second actual variance between the second capacitance measurement value and the reference capacitance is determined; determining if the second actual variance is within the allowable values; saving the second capacitance measurement value into the memory when the second actual variance is within the allowable values such that the second capacitance measurement value becomes a reference capacitance for the succeeding tilt detection; and indicating a tilt if the second actual variance is outside the allowable values.