Patent Application
20090190935
The present invention relates to remanufacturing and modifying imaging process cartridges, such as printer toner cartridges, and more particularly to a system and techniques for providing a universal cartridge chip for an imaging process cartridge including a memory element adapted for use in multiple types of imaging process cartridges.
Imaging process cartridges such as toner cartridges are typically designed to fit into one type of laser printer or family of laser printers. For example, the same toner cartridge may be used in an HP4200 or HP4300 monochrome laser printer. As different printer models are introduced, the printer manufacturer may decide not to alter the physical characteristics of the toner cartridge but instead change some of the electronic components such as an electronic chip or cartridge chip on the imaging process cartridge instead. In one instance, the printer manufacturer may use a completely different chip on the same toner cartridge to differentiate between printer types. Alternatively, the printer manufacturer may employ the same cartridge chip but change the data stored within the cartridge chip. Even though a toner cartridge for use in one imaging device may use the same toner and all of the same operating components as an imaging process cartridge for another printer the cartridge chip may render it incompatible.
Typically, the printer communicates with the cartridge chip to access information stored within a memory component on the cartridge chip. The information stored on the cartridge chip may provide the printer with information relating to the yield of the imaging process cartridge, the printer type, type of toner (in the case of a color imaging process cartridge) and the like. The amount of information stored on the cartridge chip may be dependent upon the size of the memory resident on the cartridge chip.
Imaging process cartridges are typically designed to provide the consumer a certain number of print copies before the toner or ink is exhausted. The total number of prints varies depending on the type, quality and density of the print provided by the printer. The cartridge chip may be a “one time use” device. Thus, when the imaging process cartridge depletes its toner or ink to a predetermined level, the cartridge chip may cease to function. By limiting the cartridge chip to a single use, the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM's) may prevent the imaging process cartridge from simply being refilled with toner or ink and placed back into service. After all of the toner or ink is spent, the imaging process cartridges are either thrown away or recycled.
An emerging industry has developed that deals with the recycling of imaging process cartridges. Typically, the imaging process cartridge is recycled by an imaging process cartridge remanufacturer, who receives spent imaging process cartridges and refurbishes them. During the refurbishing of the imaging process cartridge, the imaging process cartridge is disassembled, cleaned, repaired and reassembled. Worn or broken components such as OPC drums, wiper blades, cartridge chips and the like are generally repaired or replaced. The last steps of the refurbishment process typically include refilling and repackaging the refurbished imaging process cartridge, and distributing the refurbished imaging process cartridges into the marketplace.
In order to simplify the manufacturing or remanufacturing process, cartridge chips may be designed to be compatible with a variety of imaging process cartridge types. Accordingly, there exists a need in the industry to take advantage of the similar designs of a cartridge chips installed on various imaging process cartridges.
The present disclosure recognizes this need and discloses an imaging process cartridge which uses a universal cartridge chip that may be installed and positioned in two or more orientations. The universal cartridge chip is able to detect its orientation and based on the orientation the imaging process cartridge may operate in different modes.
A method of operating an imaging process cartridge installed in an imaging device, the imaging process cartridge having a universal cartridge chip is disclosed. The method determines a physical orientation of the universal cartridge chip when the universal cartridge chip is mounted on the imaging process cartridge in a first position or a second position. The method configures the universal cartridge chip to operate in a first mode of operation if the universal cartridge chip is mounted in the first position. The method further configures the universal cartridge chip to operate in a second mode of operation if the universal cartridge chip is mounted in a second position.
A universal cartridge chip is disclosed. The universal chip has an input/output (I/O) circuit and a controller coupled to the I/O circuit. The controller also has an orientation determination circuit wherein the orientation determination circuit receives communication information from the I/O circuit. The universal cartridge chip determines if it is installed in a first orientation or a second orientation based on the communication information.
An imaging process cartridge for use in an imaging device is disclosed. The imaging process cartridge has a universal cartridge chip affixed on the imaging process cartridge. The universal cartridge chip has an orientation logic circuit, which causes the imaging process cartridge to operate in a first mode when the orientation logic circuit determines that the universal cartridge chip is mounted in a first orientation. The imaging process cartridge operates in a second mode when said when the orientation logic circuit determines the universal cartridge chip is mounted in a second orientation.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, as well as further features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
The following detailed description of preferred embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention. In the discussion that follows, specific systems and techniques for repairing, manufacturing or remanufacturing an imaging process cartridge, such as a toner cartridge are used as examples. Other embodiments having different structures and operations for the repair, remanufacture and operation of other types of replaceable imaging components and for various types of imaging devices, such as laser printers, inkjet printers, copiers, facsimile machines and the like, do not depart from the scope of the present invention.
Within the printer industry, printer manufacturers have employed various techniques to differentiate between toner cartridges for use in the same or different printers. These techniques range from altering the physical dimensions and shape of the imaging process cartridge to changing the cartridge chip mounted on the imaging process cartridge. As new printer models are developed, “new” toner cartridges may also be introduced. In some cases, the new toner cartridge may contain exactly the same components and have the same general physical design as those of the previous printer model. However, the new toner cartridge may have a different cartridge chip installed. Changing the cartridge chip allows the printer manufacturer to differentiate between a previously introduced toner cartridge and those of newer printer models. This may allow the printer manufacturer to increase profit margins by charging the consumer a premium for the new toner cartridge.
In some color laser printers, the various toner cartridges may be identical with the exception of the color of toner and the cartridge chip. For example, within the HP2600 color laser printer there are no physical restrictions preventing the installation of a black toner cartridge in any of the other three toner cartridge locations (cyan, magenta or yellow). Even though the various toner cartridges fit interchangeably within a color laser printer, an error message may be displayed by the printer if a cyan toner cartridge is installed in the black toner location of the color laser printer. For example, in the HP2600 color laser printer, the error message “INCORRECT CARTRIDGE TYPE” is displayed by the printer when a black toner cartridge is inserted in the cyan toner cartridge location.
Referring to
As shown in
As mentioned previously, the universal cartridge chip 150′ may have contacts 250 on both sides of the PCB 210 electrically coupled to the integrated circuit 260. The universal cartridge chip 150′ may be installed on the toner cartridge 100 in two additional orientations, mirroring the orientations displayed in
In an alternative embodiment, the universal cartridge chip 150′ may be rotated 180 degrees from the orientation shown in
For ease of illustration, the functionality of the universal cartridge chips 150 and 150′ are discussed using universal cartridge chip 150 as an illustrative example. The functionality of universal chip 150′ mirrors that of universal chip 150 with the added task of monitoring all four contacts 250. This is discussed in greater detail in subsequent paragraphs.
A functional block diagram 400 of the universal cartridge chip 150 is displayed in
Different printers may utilize various communications techniques to communicate with the cartridge chips on the toner cartridges. The I/O circuitry 420 contains the various components necessary to provide the communication interface between the controller 410 and the printer. In some toner cartridges, communication information may be sent to and from the printer using electrical signals. In the present invention, the communication information may also be referred to as data. In the universal cartridge chip 150 of
When data is sent by the printer to the universal cartridge chip 150, the controller 410 receives the data signals from the I/O circuitry 420. The data is then decoded and interpreted by the controller 410. After interpreting the data, the controller 410 has deciphered the information sent by the printer and the controller 410 performs the requested function.
One exemplary function performed by the controller 410 may be to receive a read instruction from the printer, access a location in memory 430, read the data stored at the location in the memory 430 and send the data back to the printer. Additionally, the printer may instruct the controller 410 to write a different value to the location in the memory 430 which may have been previously read. Alternatively, the controller 410 may be required to monitor certain conditions on the toner cartridge 150 and report these conditions to the printer when requested.
The HP2600 color laser printer communicates with the universal cartridge chip 150 by sending a data and clock signal through the contacts 250. The data comprises a pulse width modulated (PWM) data stream. The clock and data signals are extracted and formatted by the I/O circuitry 420 and are presented to the orientation circuitry 450 to determine the orientation of the universal cartridge chip 150. The output of the orientation circuitry 450 is then sent to the controller 410 to make the final determination of the universal cartridge chip orientation. When the data is sent from the universal cartridge chip 150 to the printer, the I/O circuitry 420 is used by the controller 410 to reverse the process and embed the data in the modulated PWM data stream.
Exemplary data and clock waveforms 500 and 550 respectively, sent by the HP2600 color laser printer to the universal cartridge chip 150, are displayed in
In order for the universal cartridge chip 150 or 150′ to function in the various orientations (as previously described regarding
In a preferred embodiment, the orientation logic circuit 450 has two D flip-flops 605 and 610. The electrical signal from each of the contacts 250 is distributed to the D and clk inputs of the flip-flops 605, 610. In this example, flip-flop 605 receives the electrical signal from the data pulses at the D input and the clock pulses are coupled to the CLK input. Flip-flop 610 receives the electrical signal from clock pulses at the D input and the data pulses at the CLK input. The output 625 of flip-flop 605 and the output 630 of flip-flop 610 are sent to the controller 410. The controller monitors the outputs (625 and 630) to determine which flip-flop (605 or 610) has the data pulses connected to the D input and the clock pulses connected to the clk input.
In the HP2600 color laser printer the period of the data pulses are typically shorter than the period of the clock pulses. Because the data pulses have a shorter width than the clock pulses, the rising edge of the data pulses will lead the rising edge of the clock pulses. The rising edges of the data pulses are displayed at 520 in the timing diagram 500 of
Flip-flop 605 is connected to the proper signals (i.e. data signals are transmitted to the D input and the clock signals are transmitted to the clk input). Thus, the output 625 will eventually transition to a “0” at some point in the data transmission sequence. Referring to the voltage waveforms 500 and 550, this may occur after the first rising clock pulse 520.
After the controller 410 has determined which output (625 or 630) of the flip-flops (605 or 610) has transitioned to a “0”, the controller 410 may initialize the toner cartridge to perform in one or more operational modes. The modes of operation may relate to the orientation of the installed universal cartridge chip 150. For example, if output 625 transitions to a “0,” the controller 410 may determine that the contact 250 coupled to the input of flip-flop 605 is transmitting the data signals and the contact 250 coupled to the clk input of flip-flop 605 is transmitting the clock signals. In this example, the universal cartridge chip 150 may be installed in the orientation as shown in
When the controller 410 has made this determination, the controller 410 may then configure the toner cartridge 100 to operate in a particular mode of operation. In one embodiment, the mode of operation may correspond to the color of toner in the toner cartridge 100. For example, in one mode of operation the controller 410 may cause the toner cartridge 100 to function as a black toner cartridge. In this embodiment, the controller 410 may access a location in memory 430 where a value corresponding to a black toner cartridge is stored. The controller 410 sends this value to the printer in order to allow the toner cartridge to function in the black toner cartridge location in the printer. If the controller 410 does not relay the black toner data to the printer (when the toner cartridge 100 is installed in the black toner cartridge location in the printer) the printer may not recognizing the toner cartridge 100 as being a black toner cartridge and may disable the toner cartridge 100. Alternatively, the controller 410 may cause the toner cartridge to function as a cyan, yellow or magenta toner cartridge. The controller 410 may access a location in memory 430 corresponding to the particular color (cyan, magenta or yellow) and send the particular value to the printer.
Referring back to
If the universal cartridge chip 150′ were installed on the toner cartridge 100 as shown in
In yet another alternative embodiment as displayed in
Utilizing one universal cartridge chip 150 or 150′, the manufacturer or remanufacturer may simplify the manufacturing or remanufacturing process by reducing the number of chips required to support multiple imaging process cartridges. Instead of stocking individual cartridge chips for each color toner cartridge, the manufacturer or remanufacturer may need only one universal cartridge chip 150′ to support all four color toner cartridges for the same printer.
If the universal cartridge chip 700 has contacts on both sides of the PCB 710, the controller 410 may be able to configure the toner cartridge to operate in a third or fourth mode of operation based on the third or forth orientation. By having a single universal cartridge chip 700 used on both the HP4200 and HP4300 printer, the manufacturer may be able to stock one chip to allow the universal cartridge chip 700 to operate in a high yield or low yield mode of operation for the HP4200 or a high yield or low yield mode of operation for the HP4300 toner cartridges.
On the HP4200 or HP4300 toner cartridge, the universal cartridge chip 700 is mounted flush against a mounting surface (not shown). Because the integrated circuit 760 may extend away from the PCB 710, the mounting surface may need to be hollowed out should the universal cartridge chip 700 be installed with the integrated circuit 760 pressed against the mounting surface. The universal cartridge chip 700 may be installed with the integrated circuit 760 mounted against the HP4200 or HP4300 toner cartridge when contacts are positioned on the opposite side of the integrated circuit 760. Alternatively, the integrated circuit 760 may be designed such that it is relatively flush with the PCB 710.
In the HP4200 or HP4300 printer application, a slightly different modulation technique is used by the printer to communicate with the controller 410. In this instance, the I/O circuitry 420 decodes the modulated signals and feeds the signals into the orientation logic circuitry 430. The orientation logic circuitry 430 then determines which contacts 750 are conducting which signals. Based on which contacts 750 are conducting the particular signals, the controller 410 determines the orientation of the universal cartridge chip 700.
After the orientation is determined, the controller 410 may operate in one of a number of modes. The modes may be based on the print yield of the toner cartridge. For example, if the universal cartridge chip 700 is installed in a first orientation, the controller 410 may configure the toner cartridge 100 to operate in a first mode of operation corresponding to a low yield toner cartridge configuration. When the controller 410 configures the toner cartridge to operate as a low yield cartridge, the controller accesses a location in memory 430 corresponding to the low yield value. The controller 410 reads this value and sends the low yield value to the printer. The printer then allows the toner cartridge to operate as a low yield cartridge.
Alternatively if the controller 410 determines that the universal cartridge chip 700 is installed in a second orientation, the controller may configure the toner cartridge to operate in a second mode of operation corresponding to a high yield toner cartridge configuration. Similar to the process described for the low yield cartridge, the controller 410 may access a high yield location in memory 430. After reading the data in the high yield memory location, the controller 410 transmits this value to the printer. The printer reads the value and allows the toner cartridge to operate as a high yield cartridge.
In addition to the aforementioned imaging process cartridge types, the present invention may be applied to other printer models such as the HP3000, HP3600, HP3800 color printers or the HP 1300, HP1320, HP2300 monochrome printers and the like.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and that the invention has other applications in other environments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. The following claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specific embodiments described herein.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/654,130, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11654130 | Jan 2007 | US |
| Child | 12418646 | US |
