Image forming apparatus

• US 20050191064A1
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HP Printing Korea Co., Ltd. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Young-min, Park, Sang-Cheol
• Granted Patent: US 7,394,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/12
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1882 details of the communication with memory, e.g. wireless communication, protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/166 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1892 Presence detection

Abstract

An image forming apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a mainboard on which a reader is integrally installed, and a RFID (radio frequency identification) tag is installed on a cartridge within a distance capable of radio communication with the reader. Therefore, the image forming apparatus is designed such that the reader acting as a radio communication device is integrally formed on the mainboard, such that a cable connecting the reader and the mainboard is not required, and noise resulting from the cable can be prevented.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a cartridge;

a reader performing a radio communication with the cartridge;

a mainboard on which the reader is integrally installed; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag installed on the cartridge within a distance capable of radio communication with the reader.

2. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is installed on a bottom of the cartridge.

3. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mainboard is installed under the cartridge, the radio communication being performed between the reader and the RFID tag.

4. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is installed on a side of the cartridge.

5. The image forming apparatus of claim 4, wherein the mainboard is installed beside the cartridge, the radio communication being performed between the reader and the RFID tag.

6. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing surrounding the mainboard on which the reader is installed.

7. The image forming apparatus of claim 6, wherein the housing has an opening in a predetermined portion, for facilitating radio communication between the reader and the RFID tag.

8. The image forming apparatus of claim 7, wherein the housing is made of a non-conductive material around the opening thereof and the remaining portion of the housing is made of a conductive material.

9. The image forming apparatus of claim 7, wherein the housing is made of a non-conductive material.

10. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reader is formed into modules according to functions, such that the reader can be selectively installed on the mainboard and detached therefrom.