Patent ID: 6175375
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: G03G,H04N

Abstract:
A method for compensating for printed output darkness shift of an image forming apparatus, said method comprising:(a) providing an electrophotographic print engine having an electromagnetic energy source and a photoreceptor, said electrophotographic print engine exhibiting an initial printer output darkness;(b) determining a control level corresponding to an initial EP operating point resulting from at least one of: (i) an energy density provided at said photoreceptor by said electromagnetic energy source, and (ii) at least one attribute of a component within said electrophotographic print engine; and(c) periodically adjusting said control level after a predetermined quantity of usage of at least one component of said electrophotographic print engine, said periodic adjustment being made to automatically increase or decrease said EP operating point so as to substantially maintain the printer output darkness at its initial value.