Method and apparatus for storing and retrieving information on a replaceable printing component

• US 6,039,430 A
• Filed: 09/03/1998
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Childers, Winthrop D., Helterline, Brian L., Bullock, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilten, John S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ghatt, Dave A.
• Application Number:
  US09/148,039
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 347/7, 347/14, 347/17, 347/19, 400/207, 400/208, 400/208 E
• US Class Current: 347/19
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17509 Whilst mounted in the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically

Abstract

An ink jet printing system including a replaceable printing component for use in the printing system. The replaceable printing component includes a memory portion associated therewith for storing information that does not relate directly to normal operation of the printing system. Also included is a control portion for providing information to the memory portion associated with the replaceable printing component.

Claims

1. A replaceable printer component for use in an ink jet printing system, the ink jet printing system having a control portion for controlling operation of the printing system, the replaceable printer component including:

a linking portion connectable to the control portion for transferring information between the replaceable printer component and ink jet printing system; and

a storage device coupled to the linking portion, the storage device configured to interact with the control portion to receive information from the control portion, wherein the information the storage device receives from the control portion is not directly related to the operation of the printing system.

2. The replaceable printer component of claim 1 wherein the information the storage device receives from the control portion is information used in marketing the printing system.

3. The replaceable printer component of claim 1 wherein the information the storage device receives from the control portion is information used in maintenance of the printing system.

4. The replaceable printer component of claim 1, wherein the information the storage device receives from the control portion includes information directed to printer components used in the printing system.

5. The replaceable printer component of claim 1 wherein the replaceable component is an ink container for supplying ink to the ink jet printing system.

6. The replaceable printer component of claim 1 wherein the replaceable component is a printhead for selectively depositing printing fluid in response to control signals.

7. The replaceable printer component of claim 1 wherein the linking portion is an electrical connection for electrically connecting the replaceable printing component with the control portion of the printing system.

8. The replaceable printer component of claim 1 wherein the storage device receives product identification information specifying a particular printer portion within the printing system.

9. The replaceable printer component of claim 1 wherein the storage device receives page count information specifying number of pages printed.

10. The replaceable printer component of claim 1 wherein the storage device receives installation date information for the replaceable printer component.

11. The replaceable printer component of claim 1 wherein the storage device receives count information indicative of the number of times the the replaceable printer component has been removed from and reinserted into the printing system.

12. An ink jet printing system, the ink jet printing system including:

a replaceable printing component for use in the printing system, the replaceable printing component including a memory portion for storing information that does not relate directly to normal operation of the printing system; and

a control portion for providing the information to the memory portion of the replaceable printing component.

13. The ink jet printing system of claim 12 wherein the information the memory portion receives from the control portion is information used in marketing the printing system.

14. The ink jet printing of claim 12 wherein the information the memory portion receives from the control portion is information used in maintenance of the printing system.

15. The ink jet printing system of claim 12 wherein the replaceable printing component is an ink container for supplying ink to the ink jet printing system.

16. The ink jet printing system of claim 12 wherein the replaceable printing component is a printhead for selectively depositing printing fluid in response to control signals.

17. The ink jet printing system of claim 12 further including a further replaceable printing component, the further printing component providing parameter information to the control portion, wherein the control portion provides the parameter information of the further printing component to the memory portion of the replaceable printing component for storage of the parameter information in the memory portion.

18. A method for collecting data from an ink jet printing system, the method including:

transferring information from the printing system to a memory portion associated with a replaceable printing component; and

removing the replaceable printing component from the printing system and reading information in the memory portion transferred from the printing system.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein transferring information from the printing system includes transferring information that is not directed to normal operation of the printing system.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein reading information in the memory portion transferred from the printing system is performed by a memory reading device different from the printing system.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein transferring information from the printing system includes transferring information relating to a second replaceable printing component to the memory portion associated with the replaceable printing component.

22. An ink jet printing system for depositing ink on print media, the ink jet printing system having a control portion for controlling operation of the printing system, the ink jet printing system including:

a first replaceable printer component having a first information storage device, the first information storage device containing information stored therein;

a second replaceable printer component having a second information storage device, the second information storage device containing information stored therein;

wherein the control portion retrieves information from the first information storage device of the first replaceable printing component and stores the information from the first replaceable printer component in the second information storage device; and

wherein the second information storage device contains printer usage information that is not directly related to the operation of the printing system.