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1. 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; anda 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; anda 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; anda 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.
2. The ink cartridge determination system of claim 1, wherein the at least one ink cartridge comprises a first ink cartridge and a second ink cartridge, and a shape of the first light altering portion of the first ink cartridge is different than a shape of the first light altering portion of the second ink cartridge.
3. The ink cartridge determination system of claim 2, wherein a thickness of the first light altering portion, in the insertion direction, of the first ink cartridge is different than a thickness of the first light altering portion, in the insertion direction, of the second ink cartridge.
4. The ink cartridge determination system of claim 3, wherein the determiner is configured to determine the type of the at least one ink cartridge based on a time period during which the first light altering portion blocks at least a portion of the light emitted from the light-emitting element.
5. The ink cartridge determination system of claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge further comprises an ink chamber configured to store ink therein, and the determiner is configured to determine an initial amount of ink stored in the ink chamber by determining the type of the at least one ink cartridge.
6. The ink cartridge determination system of claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge further comprises:a case defining an ink chamber formed therein, wherein the at least one ink chamber is configured to store ink therein; anda plate positioned in front of the case with respect to the insertion direction, wherein the plate comprises the first light altering portion.
7. The ink cartridge determination system of claim 6, wherein the at least one ink cartridge further comprises at least one elastic member, and the plate is coupled to the case via the at least one elastic member.
8. The ink cartridge determination system of claim 1, wherein the at least one ink cartridge further comprises a case defining an ink chamber formed therein, and the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein, wherein the second light altering portion is positioned in the case, and is configured to move between a first position at which the second light altering portion intersects the optical path and a second position at which the second light altering portion is away from the optical path in accordance with an amount of ink stored in the ink chamber.
9. The ink cartridge determination system of claim 8, wherein the at least one ink cartridge further comprises a pivotable member positioned in the case, and the pivotable member is configured to pivot in accordance with the amount of ink stored in the ink chamber, wherein the second light altering portion is positioned at an end of the pivotable member, and is configured to move in accordance with a pivotal movement of the pivotable member.
10. An ink cartridge comprising:a first light altering portion configured to permit a first amount of a light coming from a first side of the ink cartridge to reach a second side of the ink cartridge opposite the first side of the ink cartridge, wherein an intensity of the first amount is less than or equal to a predetermined value;a second light altering portion configured to permit a second amount of the light coming from the first side of the ink cartridge to reach the second side of the ink cartridge, wherein an intensity of the second amount is less than or equal to the predetermined value; anda light passing portion configured to permit a third amount of the light coming from the first side of the ink cartridge to reach the second side of the ink cartridge, wherein an intensity of the third amount is greater than the predetermined value, and the first light altering portion, the light passing portion, and the second light altering portion are configured to sequentially intersect an optical path of the light.
11. The ink cartridge of claim 10, wherein the first light altering portion is indicative of the type of the ink cartridge.
12. The ink cartridge of claim 11, further comprising an ink chamber configured to store ink therein, wherein the first light altering portion is indicative of an initial amount of ink stored in the ink chamber.
13. The ink cartridge of claim 10 further comprising:a case defining at least one ink chamber formed therein, wherein the at least one ink chamber is configured to store ink therein; anda plate positioned in front of the case with respect to an insertion direction, wherein the plate comprises the first light altering portion.
14. The ink cartridge of claim 13, further comprising at least one elastic member, and the plate is coupled to the case via the at least one elastic member.
15. The ink cartridge of claim 10, further comprising a case defining an ink chamber formed therein, and the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein, wherein the second light altering portion is positioned in the case, and is configured to move between a first position at which the second light altering portion intersects the optical path and a second position at which the second light altering portion is away from the optical path in accordance with an amount of ink stored in the ink chamber.
16. The ink cartridge of claim 15, further comprising a pivotable member positioned in the case, and the pivotable member is configured to pivot in accordance with the amount of ink stored in the ink chamber, wherein the second light altering portion is positioned at an end of the pivotable member, and is configured to move in accordance with a pivotal movement of the pivotable member. |
