Cartridge having integrated circuit for enabling validation thereof by a mobile device

• US 20050264622A1
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Walmsley, Simon Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,370,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically

Abstract

A replaceable print cartridge for installation in a mobile device, the print cartridge comprising: a printhead; at least one ink reservoir; and a first integrated circuit that permanently stores an identifier that is relatively unique to that integrated circuit; such that, upon installation in the mobile device, the mobile device is able to determine the identifier.

Claims

1. A replaceable print cartridge for installation in a mobile device, the print cartridge comprising:

a printhead;

at least one ink reservoir; and

a first integrated circuit that permanently stores an identifier that is relatively unique to that integrated circuit;

such that, upon installation in the mobile device, the mobile device is able to determine the identifier.

2. A print cartridge according to claim 1, further including one or more contacts for operative connection with one or more corresponding complementary contacts in the mobile device upon installation, the mobile device being able to interrogate the first integrated circuit via the at least one contact.

3. A print cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a second integrated circuit for interrogating the first integrated circuit to determine the identifier, the first integrated circuit being configured to enable authenticated communication between itself and the second integrated circuit.

4. A print cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the first integrated circuit includes non-volatile memory that stores a first bit-pattern, the first bit pattern having been generated by:

(a) applying a one way function to a second bit-pattern associated with the device, thereby to generate a first result;

(b) applying a second function to the first result and the first bit-pattern, thereby to generate a second result; and

(c) storing the second result in the memory, thereby indirectly storing the first bit-pattern.

5. A print cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the one way function is more cryptographically secure than the second function.

6. A plurality of print cartridges according to claim 1, wherein each of the first integrated circuits includes secret information used in authentication by the mobile device of the cartridge associated with that integrated circuit, the secret information in each chip being located in a different location in the memory relative to a plurality of the other chips.

7. A print cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the printhead is a pagewidth printhead.

8. A print cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the printhead prints in at least three colors.

9. A print cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the printhead prints in cyan, magenta and yellow.

10. A print cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between:

a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead; and

an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print medium, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead;

wherein the capper is moved between the capped and uncapped position by an edge of the print medium as it moves through the feed path.

11. A print cartridge according to claim 10, wherein in the capped position the capper is resiliently urged into the capping relationship.

12. A print cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the capping mechanism is configured such that the capper is displaced in the feed direction as it moves from the capped position to the uncapped position.

13. A print cartridge according to claim 12, wherein the capping mechanism is further configured such that the capper is simultaneously displaced in a direction away from the printhead as it is displaced in the feed direction.

14. A print cartridge according to claim 13, wherein the capping mechanism is subsequently displaced in a direction opposite the feed direction in the uncapped position.

15. A print cartridge according to claim 14, further including a locking mechanism for holding the capper in the uncapped position whilst the print medium is being printed on by the printhead.

16. A print cartridge according to claim 15, wherein the locking mechanism includes at least one cam mounted for rotation between an unlocked position and a locked position, the at least one cam being configured such that, in the unlocked position, it extends at least partially into the feed path when print medium is not present, the at least one cam being positioned and configured to engage an edge of the print medium as the print medium is fed through the feed path such that the at least one cam is rotated by the print medium into the locked position, such that, in the locked position, the capper is held in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the print medium is clear of the printhead.

18. A print cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the at least one cam is mounted for rotation about an axis that is substantially normal to the print medium as it engages the cam in the feed path.

19. A print cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one baffle dividing the at least one ink reservoir into a plurality of sections, each of the sections in each ink reservoir being in fluid communication with each of the other sections in that ink reservoir via an aperture; and

at least one porous insert in each of the at least one reservoirs, such that substantially all of each ink reservoir is filled with the at least one porous insert.

20. A print cartridge according to claim 1, wherein each reservoir includes a single porous insert including at least one recessed portion, each recessed portion being configured to engage one of the baffles in the reservoir.

17. A print cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the cam is resiliently biased to return to the unlocked position once the print medium edge moves past a predetermined position in the feed path, thereby causing the capper to return to the capped position.