Patent ID: 8317289
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An imaging device comprising: a source of print media having a fluorescent characteristic, the fluorescent characteristic enabling the print media to emit light at an emission wavelength in response to being illuminated by light at an activating wavelength, the activating wavelength being different than the emission wavelength; a media transport system configured to transport the print media along a media path; a plurality of ink jets, each ink jet in the plurality of ink jets being configured to eject drops of substantially clear ink in response to a drive signal, the plurality of inkjets being associated with the media path for ejecting drops of substantially clear ink onto the print media; and a fluorescence sensor associated with the media path, the fluorescence sensor including (i) a light emitter for illuminating the print media and the drops of substantially clear ink ejected onto the media by the plurality of ink jets with light of the activating wavelength, and (ii) a light detector for detecting a fluorescence intensity of light received from the print media and the drops of substantially clear ink ejected onto the print media in the emission wavelength, the fluorescent intensity corresponding to a drop mass value for the drops of clear ink ejected onto the print media by the plurality of ink jets, the fluorescence sensor being configured to output signals indicative of the detected fluorescence intensity; and a controller operable to receive the signals from the fluorescence sensor, the controller being configured to modify at least a portion of at least one drive signal of the plurality of ink jets based on the drop mass value indicated by the fluorescence sensor.