Integrated circuit printhead for an ink jet printer including an integrated identification circuit
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit for use in thermal ink jet printheads for providing identifiable characteristics of individual print cartridges containing such a printhead to a printhead controller, comprising:
- an array circuit heating an ink reservoir to produce a pattern of ink jets, the array circuit including a plurality of resistor cells arranged in a predetermined number of rows and columns;
a plurality of row and column lines coupled to the array circuit for selectively driving at least one of the resistor cells; and
an identification circuit including a plurality of programmable paths, at least one of the programmable paths corresponding and coupled to each row line at a first end of the programmable paths and coupled at a second end of the programmable paths to a common node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit for use in the printhead of an ink jet printer includes an array circuit for heating an ink reservoir to produce a pattern of ink jets, the array circuit including a plurality of resistor cells arranged into rows and columns. A corresponding number of row and column lines are coupled to the integrated circuit array for selecting and energizing the resistor cells according to the desired printing pattern. An identification circuit integrated into the same substrate as the array circuit includes one or more programmable paths, the programmable paths corresponding and coupled to each row line. The programmable paths each include the serial combination of a programmable fuse and an active device. The opposite end of the programmable paths are coupled together at a common node, which in turn is coupled to an output circuit for providing a single output signal in response to a polling of the row lines. The identification circuit can be programmed and polled without adversely affecting or energizing the array circuit.
289 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit for use in thermal ink jet printheads for providing identifiable characteristics of individual print cartridges containing such a printhead to a printhead controller, comprising:
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an array circuit heating an ink reservoir to produce a pattern of ink jets, the array circuit including a plurality of resistor cells arranged in a predetermined number of rows and columns; a plurality of row and column lines coupled to the array circuit for selectively driving at least one of the resistor cells; and an identification circuit including a plurality of programmable paths, at least one of the programmable paths corresponding and coupled to each row line at a first end of the programmable paths and coupled at a second end of the programmable paths to a common node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An integrated circuit for use in thermal ink jet printheads for providing identifiable characteristics of individual print cartridges containing such a printhead to a printhead controller, comprising:
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an array circuit for heating an ink reservoir to produce a pattern of ink jets, the array circuit including a plurality of actively controlled resistor cells arranged in a predetermined number of rows and columns; a plurality of row and column lines coupled to the array circuit for selectively driving at least one of the resistor cells; an identification circuit including a plurality of programmable paths, a first end of each programmable path being coupled to a respective row line, a second end of each programmable path being coupled together to form a common node; and an output means having an input coupled to the common node and an output for providing an output signal in response to a polling of the row lines, the output signal being multiplexed onto an existing interconnect pad of the printhead.
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11. A method for identifying characteristics of an integrated circuit thermal ink jet printhead, having an array circuit for heating an ink reservoir to produce a pattern of ink jets, the array circuit including a plurality of resistor cells arranged in a predetermined number of rows and columns and a plurality of row and column lines coupled to the array circuit for selectively driving at least one of the resistor cells, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one programmable path coupled to each row line; and programming the programmable paths according to a predetermined pattern indicative of the characteristics of the printhead by; (a) forming a short-circuit path in response to a first logic state for passing a signal current; and (b) forming an open-circuit path in response to a second logic state for blocking the flow of a signal current. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification