METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STORING INCREMENT VALUES WITHOUT USING AN INCREMENT COUNTER

• US 20140071491A1
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apex Semiconductor Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Static Control Components Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Gravely, John Willoughby Jr., Stievenart, Richard J., Shelby, Michael Larkin
• Granted Patent: US 9,875,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0863 provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5079 for maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/553 Monitoring or warning means for exhaustion or lifetime end of consumables, e.g. indication of insufficient copy sheet quantity for a job
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1878 Electronically readable memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/4075 Determining remaining quantities of ink or toner

Abstract

Electronic systems, such as printing systems, often use components that have integral memory. The integral memory can be used to store information about the component. In some printing systems this memory includes a portion that stores a value indicative of an amount of a consumable that has been used. Some printing systems do this by using a counter to count the amount of the consumable used and then sending a count command to the memory. The increment count command is processed to increment the value stored within the memory. Disclosed is a method and system for allowing the memory to be updated by a count command without having to increment the value stored. This method allows print cartridges to be used in printing systems that utilize counters without having to increment the counter each time an increment command is received.

Claims

1. A method for storing increment values without using an increment counter comprising:

receiving, at one or more memory modules, a command signal transmitted from a processing device, wherein the command signal includes an increment counter command for instructing the one or more memory modules to increment a counter by a specific amount;

processing the command signal at the one or more memory modules by;

providing multiple storage locations;

determining if each of the multiple storage locations contains a stored value; and

storing in one of the multiple storage locations a value indicative of the specific amount when at least one of the multiple storage locations does not contain a stored value therein; and

outputting a stored base value as an increment count value.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that each of the multiple storage locations contains a respective stored value;

summing each of the respective stored values to determine a total stored value;

updating a total amount by the total stored value;

emptying each of the multiple storage locations so that each storage location does not contain the respective stored value; and

storing in one of the multiple storage locations a value indicative of the specific amount.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the multiple storage locations comprise four or more storage locations.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the increment counter command is indicative of an amount of a consumable used by a printing device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the multiple storage locations are provided on a print cartridge.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a read command signal at the one or more memory modules; and

outputting the increment count value.

7. A method of storing an amount of a consumable used in an imaging device comprising:

receiving, at one or more memory modules, a command signal transmitted from a processing device, wherein the command signal includes an increment counter command for instructing the one or more memory modules to increment a counter by a specific amount;

processing the command signal at the one or more memory modules by;

providing multiple storage locations;

determining if each of the multiple storage locations contains a stored value; and

storing in one of the multiple storage locations a value indicative of the specific amount when at least one of the multiple storage locations does not contain a stored value therein; and

outputting a stored base value as an increment count value.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

determining that each of the multiple storage locations contains a respective stored value;

summing each of the respective stored values to determine a total stored value;

updating a total amount by the total stored value;

emptying each of the multiple storage locations so that each of the multiple storage locations does not contain the respective stored value; and

storing in one of the multiple storage locations a value indicative of the specific amount.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the multiple storage locations comprise four or more storage locations.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the increment counter command is indicative of an amount of a consumable used by the imaging device.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the multiple storage locations are located on a print cartridge or printhead.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

receiving a read command signal at the one or more memory modules; and

outputting the increment count value.

13. A printing system comprising:

at least one print cartridge having an integral memory, wherein the integral memory includes multiple storage locations;

a communication path for providing command signals to the at least one print cartridge; and

a counter for counting an amount of a consumable used by the at least one print cartridge, wherein a host device transmits the command signals to the at least one print cartridge, wherein the command signals include an increment counter command for instructing the integral memory to increment a counter by a specific amount, wherein the increment counter command is processed by determining if each of the multiple storage locations contains a stored value and storing in one of the multiple storage locations a value indicative of the specific amount when at least one of the multiple storage locations does not contain a stored value therein, wherein a stored base value is output as an increment count value.

14. The printing system of claim 13, wherein when each of the multiple storage locations has a stored value therein, the increment counter command is processed by:

summing each of the stored values to determine a total stored value;

updating a total amount by the total stored value;

emptying each of the multiple storage locations so that each of the multiple storage locations does not contain a stored value; and

storing in one of the multiple storage locations a value indicative of the specific amount.

15. The printing system of claim 14 wherein when the host device transmits a specific command signal to the at least print cartridge requesting an amount of consumable used, the value indicative of the specific amount is read.

16. The printing system of claim 13 wherein the multiple storage locations comprises four or more storage locations in the integral memory.

17. The printing system of claim 13 wherein the printing system is a color printing system and the at least one print cartridge comprises two or more print cartridges.

18. The printing system of claim 17, wherein for each print cartridge the printing system the counter counts an amount of consumable used and each print cartridge receives an increment counter command indicative of the amount the of consumable used.

19. The printing system of claim 13 wherein the printing system is an inkjet printing system and the increment counter command is indicative of an amount of ink used.

20. The printing system of claim 13 wherein the printing system is an electrostatic printer and the increment counter command is indicative of an amount of toner used.

21. The printing system of claim 13 wherein the host device is located within the printing system.

22. The printing system of claim 13 wherein the host device is a computer in communication with the printing system.

23. A method for reading a stored value indicative of a total increment count value comprising:

receiving, at one or more memory modules, a command signal transmitted from a processing device, wherein the command signal includes a read command, wherein the one or more memory modules has multiple storage areas and a base storage area; and

outputting a value stored in the base storage area of the one or more memory modules as the total increment count value.

24. A method for reading a stored value indicative of a total increment count value comprising:

receiving, at one or more memory memory modules, a command signal transmitted from a processing device, wherein the command signal includes a read command, wherein the one or more memory modules has multiple storage areas and a base storage area;

adding values stored in the multiple storage areas to a value stored in the base storage area to determine a total value; and

outputting the total value.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the total value is stored in a temporary memory before being outputted and then erased.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the total value is stored as a base value and the values stored in the multiple storage areas are set to empty.