Patent ID: 7562972

Claim:
An ink cartridge, comprising: a first signal blocking portion; a second signal blocking portion; a third signal blocking portion, wherein the first signal blocking portion is configured to either prevent a first signal from passing therethrough or to alter a path of the first signal when the first signal blocking portion receives the first signal, the second signal blocking portion is configured to either prevent a second signal from passing therethrough or to alter a path of the second signal when the second signal blocking portion receives the second signal, and the third signal blocking portion is configured to either prevent the second signal from passing therethrough or to alter a path of the second signal when the third signal blocking portion receives the second signal; a case having at least a portion of an ink chamber defined therein, wherein the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein, and a non-signal blocking portion is formed between the second signal blocking portion and the third signal blocking portion, wherein at least a portion of the non-signal blocking portion is formed at an exterior of the ink cartridge; an ink supply portion configured to supply the ink from an interior of the ink chamber to an exterior of the ink chamber, wherein the second signal blocking portion is positioned between the first signal blocking portion and the ink supply portion; and a translucent portion having an inner space formed therein, wherein the inner space of the translucent portion is configured to be in fluid communication with the interior of the ink chamber, and the third signal blocking portion is positioned within the inner space of the translucent portion, wherein the non-signal blocking portion extends from the second signal blocking portion to the third signal blocking portion, wherein the third signal blocking portion is configured to indicate whether a predetermined amount of ink remains in the ink chamber, and wherein the third signal blocking portion is configured to move with respect to each of the first signal blocking portion and the second signal blocking portion.