Non-contact communication between device and cartridge containing consumable component

• US 20030128248A1
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kosugi, Yasuhiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,370,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/19
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns

Abstract

The ink unit of a printer has a memory circuit (memory element) for non-contact communication. The memory circuit has a hold mode M2 in which memory access commands from the transmitter/receiver are not received, and an active mode M4 in which memory access is permitted upon receipt of a memory access command. The memory circuit shifts into active mode M4 if the ID contained in the active mode command matches its own ID when an active mode command containing the cartridge ID is received from the transmitter/receiver while in hold mode M2. The reception of an anti-collision start command from the transmitter/receiver while in hold mode M2 results in a shift to anti-collision mode M3 to check the ID.

Claims

1. A device for receiving at least one cartridge for containing a consumable component, the device comprising:

a cartridge holder that mounts at least one said cartridge containing the consumable component; and

a transmitter/receiver for non-contact communication with the cartridge while proximate to the cartridge,

wherein the cartridge has a memory circuit including an antenna for non-contact communication with the transmitter/receiver while proximate to the transmitter/receiver, a memory for storing an ID of the cartridge and data relating to the consumable component, and a controller for controlling communication with the transmitter/receiver and for controlling access to the memory,

the memory circuit having an anti-collision mode in which the transmitter/receiver checks the ID of the cartridge, and an active mode permitting memory access upon reception of a memory access command from the transmitter/receiver,

the memory circuit shifting from a specific state which is not in anti-collision mode to the active mode without passing through the anti-collision mode.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the memory circuit shifts to the active mode without passing through the anti-collision mode upon receipt of an active mode command including the ID of the cartridge while not in the anti-collision mode.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein after the ID has been checked in the anti-collision mode the memory circuit shifts to the active mode.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the memory circuit has a hold mode in which the memory circuit cannot receive a memory access commands, and

when in the hold mode, the memory circuit, upon receipt of the active mode command, shifts to the active mode.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the memory circuit has an electrical power generating component for generating an electrical power output for the memory circuit in response to high frequency radio signals received from the transmitter/receiver,

the hold mode including a first hold sub-mode in which the electrical power output is generated in the memory circuit in response to the high frequency radio signals received from the transmitter/receiver, and a second hold sub-mode to which the memory circuit, in the first hold sub-mode, shifts upon receiving a predetermined shift command from the transmitter/receiver,

the memory circuit, when in the first hold sub-mode, shifts directly to the active mode upon receipt of the active mode command, and

the memory circuit, when in the second hold sub-mode, shifts directly to the anti-collision mode upon receipt of an anti-collision start command.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein, when the device is first powered on after being shipped, the device carries out a full cartridge anti-collision process in which the ink cartridges that have been mounted are sequentially caused, one at a time, to approach the transmitter/receiver, and in which the ID of each cartridge is checked in the anti-collision mode while a target cartridge targeted for ID check is positioned such that the transmitter/receiver determines the position of the target cartridge.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the full cartridge anti-collision process is carried out each time the device is powered on.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein, when the device is powered on for the second time or thereafter after being shipped, the active mode command is transmitted by the transmitter/receiver to each cartridge, and the ID is checked in the anti-collision mode only for those of the cartridges which have not made an effective response to the active mode command.

9. A device according to claim 4, wherein after any of the cartridges installed in the device have been replaced, the ID of at least the replaced cartridge is checked in the anti-collision mode.

10. A device according to claim 9, further comprising a drive mechanism that moves one of the cartridge holder and the transmitter/receiver to bring the cartridges and transmitter/receiver proximate to each other, and

wherein, after any of the cartridges installed in the device have been replaced, the full anti-collision process is carried out, in which the mounted cartridges are sequentially allowed, one at a time, to approach the transmitter/receiver, and the ID of each cartridge is checked while the transmitter/receiver determines the position of the target cartridges targeted for ID check in the anti-collision mode.

11. A device according to claim 9, further comprising a drive mechanism that moves one of the cartridge holder and the transmitter/receiver to bring the cartridges and transmitter/receiver proximate to each other, and

the transmitter/receiver, after any of the cartridges installed in the device have been replaced, approaches only the replaced cartridges, so as to check the ID in the anti-collision mode without checking the ID of the other cartridges.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein, after any of the cartridges in the device have been replaced the active mode command is transmitted near each cartridge installed in the device, and the ID is checked in the anti-collision mode only for cartridges which have not made an effective response.

13. A device according to claim 4, wherein the transmitter/receiver simultaneously shifts at least two cartridges into the hold mode, but does not simultaneously shift all of the maximum number of cartridges which can be installed in the device into the hold mode.

14. A cartridge for containing a consumable component, comprising:

a memory circuit including an antenna for non-contact communication with an external transmitter/receiver while proximate to the external transmitter/receiver, a memory for storing an ID of the cartridge and data relating to the consumable component, and a controller for controlling communication with the transmitter/receiver and for controlling access to the memory,

the memory circuit having an anti-collision mode in which the transmitter/receiver checks the ID of the cartridge, and an active mode permitting memory access upon reception of a memory access command from the transmitter/receiver,

the memory circuit shifting from a specific state which is not in anti-collision mode to the active mode without passing through the anti-collision mode.

15. A cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the memory circuit shifts to the active mode without passing through the anti-collision mode upon receipt of an active mode command including the ID of the cartridge while not in the anti-collision mode.

16. A cartridge according to claim 14, wherein after the ID has been checked in the anti-collision mode the memory circuit shifts to the active mode.

17. A cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the memory circuit further comprises a hold mode in which the memory circuit cannot receive a memory access commands, and

when in the hold mode, the memory circuit, upon receipt of the active mode command, shifts to the active mode.

18. A cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the memory circuit further comprises an electrical power generating component for generating an electrical power output for the memory circuit in response to high frequency radio signals received from the transmitter/receiver,

the hold mode including a first hold sub-mode in which the electrical power output is generated in the memory circuit in response to the high frequency radio signals received from the transmitter/receiver, and a second hold sub-mode to which the memory circuit, in the first hold sub-mode, shifts upon receiving a predetermined shift command from the transmitter/receiver,

the memory circuit, when in the first hold sub-mode, shifts directly to the active mode upon receipt of the active mode command, and

the memory circuit, when in the second hold sub-mode, shifts directly to the anti-collision mode upon receipt of an anti-collision start command.

19. A cartridge according to claim 14, wherein an anti-collision start command for shifting the memory circuit includes only a portion of the ID which is commonly assigned to a plurality of the cartridges, and

the memory circuit undergoes an anti-collision process at the same time as other memory circuits of other cartridges when a portion of the ID included in the anti-collision start command is the same as a corresponding portion of the ID in the memory circuit.

20. A cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the memory circuit undergoes the anti-collision process at the same time as other memory circuits of other cartridges only when the antennas of each of the cartridges and the antenna of the transmitter/receiver are within approximately 30 mm of each other.

21. A cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the memory access command includes a read command with an entirety of the ID of the cartridge and a write command with the entirety of the ID of the cartridge.

22. A cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the memory access command includes a read command with only a specific portion of the ID of the cartridge and a write command with only a specific portion of the ID of the cartridge.

23. A cartridge according to claim 21, wherein the read command includes a read start address and a quantity of data to be read, and

the memory circuit reads data from the memory according to the read command to supply the data read to the transmitter/receiver.

24. A cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the memory circuit sends the data read and an error code indicating that a read error has occurred back to the transmitter/receiver when only a portion of an amount of the data read requested by the read command has been read.

25. A cartridge according to claim 21, wherein the write command includes a write address and a predetermined amount of data, and

the memory circuit writes the predetermined amount of data in response to the write command and then notifies the transmitter/receiver that the data has been written.

26. A cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the memory circuit generates power from a high frequency radio signal and shifts to the hold mode upon reception of the high frequency radio signal transmitted by the transmitter/receiver antenna within a predetermined distance of not more than approximately 30 mm of the antenna of the memory circuit, and does not operate when the transmitter/receiver antenna is not within the predetermined distance from the antenna of the memory circuit.

27. A cartridge according to claim 14, wherein all commands which the memory circuit can receiver include at least a portion of the ID, and

the memory runs operations in response to a command only when the at least a portion of the ID in the received command is the same with the corresponding ID portion of the cartridge.

28. A cartridge containing a consumable component and having an element for storing data, a plurality of the cartridges being mountable in a cartridge support member of a device having a device main unit, the element being subject to data read or data write operation through non-contact communication between the element and a communication device provided in the device main unit, the cartridge being characterized in that:

the device main unit performs a first procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each of the cartridges to read ID information stored in the element, and a second procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each of the cartridges disposed on the cartridge support member while distinguishing each of the elements based on the ID information that has been read; and

the second procedure is run without the first procedure being run if the ID information stored in the element of a particular cartridge has already been properly read by the device main unit when the communication device starts communicating with the element, so that the element and the communication device communicate with each other while the element is distinguished based on the ID information.

29. A method for identifying a cartridge containing a consumable component and having an element for storing data, a plurality of the cartridges being mountable in a cartridge support member of a device having a device main unit, the element being subject to data read or data write operation through non-contact communication between the element and a communication device provided in the device main unit, comprising the steps of:

performing, using the device main unit, a first procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each of the cartridges to read ID information stored in the element; and

performing, using the device main unit, a second procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each of the cartridges disposed on the cartridge support member while distinguishing each of the elements based on the ID information that has been read,

wherein the second procedure is run without the first procedure being run if the ID information stored in the element of a particular cartridge has already been properly read by the device main unit when the communication device starts communicating with the element, so that the element and the communication device communicate with each other while the element is distinguished based on the ID information.

30. A printer comprising:

a plurality of ink units equipped, respectively, with elements for storing data;

an ink unit support member for supporting the plurality of ink units; and

a communication device for reading or writing data by non-contact communication with the elements,

wherein the printer has a first procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each said ink unit to read ID information stored in the element, and

a second procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each said ink unit supported by the ink unit support member while distinguishing the element based on the ID information that has been read, and

wherein the second procedure is run without the first procedure being run if the ID information stored in the element of a particular said ink unit has already been properly read when the communication device starts communicating with the element, so that the communication device communicates with the element.

31. A printer according to claim 30, wherein the ink units are detachable from the ink unit support member.

32. A printer according to claim 31, wherein after the ID information stored in the elements in each of the ink units has been read upon execution of the first procedure, the second procedure is run without the first procedure being run as long as power-off and power-on of the printer are not carried out and none of the ink units has been replaced, allowing the communication device to communicate with the elements.

33. A printer according to claim 30, wherein the ID information is element-specific data stored in the element before the element is attached to the ink unit.

34. A printer according to claim 30, wherein the ink unit support member is movable, and

the element provided in each of the ink units receives power from the printer only when brought proximate to the communication device by movement of the ink unit support member.

35. A method of identifying a plurality of ink units in a printer, comprising the steps of:

providing the printer, the printer having a plurality of ink units equipped, respectively, with elements capable of for storing data, an ink unit support member for supporting the plurality of ink units, and a communication device for reading or writing data by non-contact communication with the elements;

performing a first procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each said ink unit to read ID information stored in the element; and

performing a second procedure in which the communication means device communicates with the element of each said ink unit supported by the ink unit support member while distinguishing the element based on the ID information that has been read,

wherein the second procedure is run without the first procedure being run if the ID information stored in the element of a particular said ink unit has already been properly read when the communication means device starts communicating with the element, so that the communication means device communicates with the element.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein the ink units are detachable from the ink unit support member.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein after the ID information stored in the elements in each of the ink units has been read upon execution of the first procedure, the second procedure is run without the first procedure being run as long as power-off and power-on of the printer are not carried out and none of the ink units has been replaced, allowing the communication device to communicate with the elements.

38. A method according to claim 35, wherein the ID information is element-specific data stored in the element before the element is attached to the ink unit.

39. A method according to claim 35, wherein the ink unit support member is movable, and

the element provided in each of the ink units receives power from the printer only when brought proximate to the communication device by movement of the ink unit support member.

40. An ink unit having an element for storing data, a plurality of the ink units being mounted in an ink unit support member of a printer having a printer main unit, the element being subject to a data read operation or a data write operation through non-contact communication between the element and a communication device provided in the printer main unit, wherein the ink unit is characterized in that:

the printer main unit carries out a first procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each said ink unit to read ID information stored in the element, and a second procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each said ink unit disposed on the ink unit support member while distinguishing each said element based on the ID information that has been read; and

the second procedure is run without the first procedure being run if the ID information stored in the element of a particular said ink unit has already been properly read by the printer main unit when the communication device starts communicating with the element, so that the element and the communication device communicate with each other as the element is distinguished based on the ID information.

41. An ink unit according to claim 40, wherein the ink unit is detachable from the ink unit support member.

42. An ink unit according to claim 40, wherein the ID information are element-specific data stored in the elements before the elements are attached to the ink units.

43. An ink unit according to claim 40, wherein the ink unit support member is movable, and

the element of the ink unit receives power from the printer main unit only when brought proximate to the communication device by movement of the ink unit support member.

44. An ink unit according to claim 40, wherein the ID information comprises manufacturing data for the ink units.

45. An ink unit according to claim 44, wherein the manufacturing data include data for specifying a year in which the ink unit was manufactured.

46. An ink unit according to claim 44, wherein the manufacturing data include data for specifying a month in which the ink unit was manufactured.

47. An ink unit according to claim 44, wherein the manufacturing data includes data for specifying a day on which the ink unit was manufactured.

48. An ink unit according to claim 44, wherein the manufacturing data includes data for specifying a location where the ink unit was manufactured.

49. An ink unit according to claim 44, wherein the element comprises a writable area where the printer main unit can write data and a nonwritable area where the printer main unit cannot write data, and the manufacturing data are stored in the nonwritable area.

50. An ink unit according to claim 44, wherein a plurality of the ink units are mounted on the unit support member provided in the printer main unit, the ID information stored in the elements of the ink units is read in a non-contact manner by the communication device provided in the printer main unit, and a relationship between a layout sequence of the ink units on the ink unit support member and the ID information stored in the elements provided in the ink units is specified by the printer main unit.

51. A method of identifying a plurality of ink units in a printer, comprising the steps of:

providing the printer, the printer having an ink support member and a printer main unit having a communication device;

providing the ink units, each said ink unit having an element for storing data, the ink units being mounted in the ink unit support member, the element being subject to a data read operation or a data write operation through non-contact communication between the element and the communication device;

performing a first procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each said ink unit to read ID information stored in the element; and

performing a second procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each said ink unit disposed on the ink unit support member while distinguishing each said element based on the ID information that has been read,

wherein the second procedure is run without the first procedure being run if the ID information stored in the element of a particular said ink unit has already been properly read by the printer main unit when the communication device starts communicating with the element, so that the element and the communication means device communicate with each other as the element is distinguished based on the ID information.

52. A method according to claim 51, wherein the ink unit is detachable from the ink unit support member.

53. A method according to claim 51, wherein the ID information are element-specific data stored in the elements before the elements are attached to the ink units.

54. A method according to claim 51, wherein the ink unit support member is movable, and

the element of the ink unit receives power from the printer main unit only when brought proximate to the communication device by movement of the ink unit support member.

55. A method according to claim 51, wherein the ID information comprises manufacturing data for the ink units.

56. A method according to claim 55, wherein the manufacturing data include data for specifying a year in which the ink unit was manufactured.

57. A method according to claim 55, wherein the manufacturing data include data for specifying a month in which the ink unit was manufactured.

58. A method according to claim 55, wherein the manufacturing data includes data for specifying a day on which the ink unit was manufactured.

59. A method according to claim 55, wherein the manufacturing data includes data for specifying a location where the ink unit was manufactured.

60. A method according to claim 55, wherein the element comprises a writable area where the printer main unit can write data and a nonwritable area where the printer main unit cannot write data, and the manufacturing data are stored in the nonwritable area.

61. A method according to claim 55, wherein a plurality of the ink units are mounted on the unit support member provided in the printer main unit, the ID information stored in the elements of the ink units is read in a non-contact manner by the communication device provided in the printer main unit, and a relationship between a layout sequence of the ink units on the ink unit support member and the ID information stored in the elements provided in the ink units is specified by the printer main unit.

62. An element for storing data and which is provided in an ink unit, a plurality of which are mountable on an ink unit support member of a printer having a printer main unit, the element being subject to a data read operation or a data write operation through non-contact communication between the element and a communication device provided in the printer main unit, the element being characterized in that:

the printer main unit performs a first procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each ink unit to read ID information stored in the element, and the printer main unit performs a second procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each ink unit disposed on the ink unit support member while distinguishing the element based on the ID information that has been read,

wherein the second procedure is run without the first procedure being run if the ID information stored in the element of a particular said ink unit has already been properly read by the printer main unit when the communication device starts communicating with the element, so that the element and the communication device communicate with each other as the element is distinguished based on the ID information.

63. A computer system comprising:

a computer main unit;

a display connected to the computer main unit; and

a printer connected to the computer main unit, the printer comprising a plurality of ink units respectively equipped with elements for storing data, an ink unit support member for supporting the plurality of ink units, and a communication device for reading or writing data by non-contact communication with the elements,

the printer carrying out a first procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each said ink unit to read ID information stored in the element, and a second procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each said ink unit supported by the ink unit support member while distinguishing the element based on the ID information that has been read,

wherein the second procedure is run without the first procedure being run if the ID information stored in the element of a particular said ink unit has already been properly read when the communication device starts communicating with the element, so that the communication device communicates with the element.

64. A printer comprising:

a plurality of ink units respectively equipped with elements for storing data, an ink unit support member for supporting the plurality of ink units, the ink units being detachable from the ink unit support member, and a communication device for reading or writing data by non-contact communication with the elements, the printer having;

a first procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each said ink unit to read ID information stored in the element, and

a second procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each said ink unit supported by the ink unit support member while distinguishing the element based on the ID information that has been read,

wherein after the ID information stored in the element in each said ink unit has been read upon execution of the first procedure, the second procedure is run without the first procedure being run as long as power-off and power-on of the printer are not carried out and none of the ink units has been replaced, allowing the communication device to communicate with the elements,

wherein the ID information is element-specific data stored in the element before the element is attached to the ink unit, and

the ink unit support member is movable, and the element provided in each said ink unit receives power from the printer only when brought proximate to the communication device by a movement of the ink unit support member.

65. A method of identifying a plurality of ink units in a printer, comprising the steps of:

providing the plurality of ink units respectively equipped with elements for storing data,

providing the printer, the printer having a movable ink unit support member for supporting the plurality of ink units, the ink units being detachable from the ink unit support member, and a communication device for reading or writing data by non-contact communication with the elements, and the element provided in each said ink unit receives power from the printer only when brought proximate to the communication device by a movement of the ink unit support member;

performing a first procedure in which the communication means device communicates with the element of each said ink unit to read ID information stored in the element, wherein the ID information is element-specific data stored in the element before the element is attached to the ink unit, and

performing a second procedure in which the communication device communicates with the element of each said ink unit supported by the ink unit support member while distinguishing the element based on the ID information that has been read,

wherein, after the ID information stored in the elements in each said ink unit has been read upon execution of the first procedure, the second procedure is run without the first procedure being run as long as power-off and power-on of the printer are not carried out and none of the ink units has been replaced, allowing the communication device to communicate with the elements.