Patent ID: 8052261

Claim:
An ink cartridge determination system comprising: a cartridge mounting portion; an optical sensor positioned at the cartridge mounting portion, wherein the optical sensor comprises: a light-emitting element configured to emit a light; and a light-receiving element configured to receive the light emitted from the light-emitting element, wherein an optical path is formed between the light emitting element and the light-receiving element, and the optical sensor is configured to output a first signal when an intensity of the light received by the light-receiving element is greater than a threshold value, and to output a second signal when the intensity of the light received by the light-receiving element is less than or equal to the threshold value; at least one ink cartridge configured to be inserted into the cartridge mounting portion in an insertion direction, wherein the at least one ink cartridge comprises: a first light altering portion configured to permit a first amount of the light emitted from the light-emitting element to reach the light-receiving element, wherein an intensity of the first amount is less than or equal to the threshold value; a second light altering portion configured to permit a second amount of the light emitted from the light-emitting element to reach the light-receiving element, wherein an intensity of the second amount is less than or equal to the threshold value; and a light passing portion configured to allow a third amount of the light emitted from the light-emitting element to pass therethrough and reach the light-receiving element, wherein an intensity of the third amount is greater than the threshold value, and the first light altering portion, the light passing portion, and the second light altering portion are configured to sequentially intersect the optical path of the optical sensor when the ink cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion; and a determiner configured to determine a type of the at least one ink cartridge based on a time profile of a signal outputted from the optical sensor during insertion of the at least one ink cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion.