An apparatus to detect the remaining amount of developer in a developing
unit is provided. The apparatus includes a light emitting prism and a
light receiving prism placed opposite to each other in a developer store
space of the developing unit and forming a light emitting path and a
light receiving path, respectively. A light emitting element irradiates
light through the light emitting prism, and a light receiving element
receives a light signal through the light receiving prism. An antistatic
agent is coated on a light emitting window of the light emitting prism
and a light receiving window of the light receiving prism, respectively,
to substantially prevent developer from attaching on the light emitting
window and the light receiving window. Because the developer is not stuck
on the light receiving window and the light emitting window to which the
light signal is transmitted, an accurate light signal may be transmitted
from the light emitting window to the light receiving window, thereby
substantially preventing printing defects caused by detection errors from
occurring.