Printing cartridge with capacitive sensor identification
First Claim
Patent Images
3. A printing cartridge that comprises a housing;
- a media colorant supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media colorant; and
an actuating formation positioned on the housing and being capable of actuating a number of capacitive sensors in an array of such sensors, the actuating formation being configured to represent data relating to the media colorant so that a signal generated by the capacitive sensors, when actuated, carries said data relating to the media colorant.
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Abstract
A printing cartridge includes a housing. An actuating formation is positioned on the housing and is capable of actuating a number of capacitive sensors in an array of such sensors. The actuating formation is configured to represent data relating to at least one of: a serial number of the cartridge, a media and a media colorant, so that the capacitive sensors, when actuated, together generate a signal carrying such data.
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Citations
35 Claims
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3. A printing cartridge that comprises
a housing; -
a media colorant supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media colorant; and
an actuating formation positioned on the housing and being capable of actuating a number of capacitive sensors in an array of such sensors, the actuating formation being configured to represent data relating to the media colorant so that a signal generated by the capacitive sensors, when actuated, carries said data relating to the media colorant. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of determining media of a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of actuating a number of capacitive sensors in an array of such sensors with an actuating formation positioned on the printing cartridge, the actuating formation representing data relating to the media in the cartridge, so that the capacitive sensors, when actuated, generate a signal carrying data relating to the media.
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9. A printing cartridge that comprises
a housing; -
a media supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media; and
an actuating formation positioned on the housing and being capable of actuating a number of capacitive sensors in an array of such sensors, the actuating formation being configured to represent data relating to the media so that a signal generated by the capacitive sensors, when actuated, carries said data relating to the media. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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14. A method of determining media and media colorant of a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of actuating a number of capacitive sensors in an array of such sensors with an actuating formation positioned on the printing cartridge, the actuating formation representing data relating to the media and the media colorant in the cartridge, so that the capacitive sensors, when actuated, generate a signal carrying data relating to the media and the media colorant.
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15. A printing cartridge that comprises
a housing; -
media and media colorant supply arrangements positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media and a supply of media colorant, respectively; and
an actuating formation positioned on the housing and being capable of actuating a number of capacitive sensors in an array of such sensors, the actuating formation being configured to represent data relating to the media and the media colorant so that a signal generated by the capacitive sensors, when actuated, carries said data relating to the media and the media colorant.
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20. A printing device that comprises
a body, a printing cartridge being engageable with the body, the printing cartridge having a housing, a media colorant supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media colorant, an actuator formation being positioned on the housing and representing data relating to the media colorant; -
a processor positioned in the body to control operation of a media colorant feed mechanism and a printing mechanism; and
an array of capacitive sensors positioned in the body and being configured so that predetermined combinations of capacitive sensors in the sensor array, when actuated, generate signals carrying data related to the media colorant, such predetermined combinations of capacitive sensors in the sensor array being actuable by the actuator formation positioned on the housing of the printing cartridge when the printing cartridge is engaged with the body so that the array of capacitive sensors generates a signal carrying said data relating to the media colorant of the printing cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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26. A printing device that comprises
a body, a printing cartridge being engageable with the body, the printing cartridge having a housing, a media supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media, an actuating formation being positioned on the housing and representing data relating to the media; -
a processor positioned in the body to control operation of a media feed mechanism and a printing mechanism; and
an array of capacitive sensors positioned in the body and being configured so that predetermined combinations of capacitive sensors in the sensor array, when actuated, generate signals carrying data related to the media, such predetermined combinations of capacitive sensors in the sensor array being actuable by the actuator formation positioned on the housing of the printing cartridge when the printing cartridge is engaged with the body so that the array of capacitive sensors generates a signal carrying said data relating to the media of the printing cartridge.
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31-1. A printing device as claimed in claim 30, in which the array of capacitive sensors is the product of an integrated circuit fabrication process.
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32-2. A printing device as claimed in claim 31, in which the array of capacitive sensors is in the form of a ceramic metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device.
Specification