Method and apparatus for transferring information between a printer portion and a replaceable printing component

• US 6,302,527 B1
• Filed: 10/08/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Walker, Ray A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGHIEM, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US09/415,331
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 347/86, 347/87, 347/50, 347/19, 347/7
• US Class Current: 347/50
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 Ink level or ink residue control
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0855 the concentration being measured by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0856 Detection or control means for the developer level
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1882 details of the communication with memory, e.g. wireless communication, protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1889 for auto-setting of process parameters, lifetime, usage
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00987 Remanufacturing, i.e. reusing or recycling parts of the image forming apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1606 for the photosensitive element
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1639 for the fixing unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1823 Cartridges having electronically readable memory

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a replaceable printing component for use in a printing system. The replaceable printing component is configured for containing a supply of printing material for use by the printing system to form images on media. The replaceable printing component includes a sensor for sensing printing material in the replaceable printing component. The sensor provides a sensor output signal that is indicative of a printing material level in the replaceable printing component. Also included is a linking device that is electrically connected to the sensor. The linking device emits a broadcast signal that is indicative of the sensor output signal. The inkjet printing system receives the broadcast signal for determining the printing material level in the replaceable printing component.

Claims

1. An ink level sensing system for determining ink level in an ink reservoir of a replaceable printing component and providing this ink level information to a printing system, the ink level sensing system comprising:

a pair of electrodes for sensing ink level in the ink reservoir of the replaceable printing component; and

a wireless radio frequency interface electrically connected to the pair of electrodes, the wireless radio frequency interface receiving ink level information from the pair of electrodes indicative of the ink level in the ink reservoir of the replaceable printing component and wirelessly transferring the ink level information between the wireless radio frequency interface and a wireless linking device associated with the printing system.

2. The ink level sensing system of claim 1 wherein the wireless radio frequency interface is electrically connected between the pair of electrodes and wherein the pair of electrodes provide an output signal indicative of ink level within the ink reservoir to the wireless radio frequency interface.

3. The ink level sensing system of claim 1 wherein the wireless radio frequency interface includes an antenna for broadcasting a radio frequency signal to the wireless linking device associated with the printing system.

4. The ink level sensing system of claim 1 wherein the wireless radio frequency interface and the pair of electrodes are incorporated into a label that is adhesively applied to the ink reservoir of the replaceable printing component.

5. The ink level sensing system of claim 1 wherein the pair of electrodes are disposed on the ink reservoir to measure electrical continuity through ink within the ink reservoir and wherein continuity within the ink reservoir is dependent on the ink level within the ink reservoir.

6. The ink level sensing system of claim 1 wherein the pair of electrodes are disposed on the ink reservoir to measure capacitance between the pair of electrodes and wherein the capacitance between the pair of electrodes changes with the ink level within the ink reservoir.

7. A replaceable printing component for use in a printing system, the replaceable printing component for containing a supply of printing material for use by the printing system to form images on media, the replaceable printing component comprising:

a sensor for sensing printing material in the replaceable printing component, the sensor providing a sensor output signal indicative of a printing material level in the replaceable printing component; and

a wireless linking device electrically connected to the sensor, the wireless linking device emitting a wireless broadcast signal indicative of the sensor output signal, the printing system having a corresponding wireless linking device for receiving the wireless broadcast signal and determining the printing material level in the replaceable printing component.

8. The replaceable printing component of claim 7 wherein the wireless linking device is a radio frequency linking device for broadcasting a radio frequency signal.

9. The replaceable printing component of claim 7 wherein the replaceable printing component is a replaceable ink reservoir and wherein the sensor provides an output signal indicative of ink within the ink reservoir.

10. The replaceable printing component of claim 7 wherein the replaceable printing component is a replaceable ink reservoir and wherein the sensor includes pair of electrodes disposed on the ink reservoir to measure electrical continuity through ink within the ink reservoir and wherein continuity within the ink reservoir is dependent on ink level within the ink reservoir.

11. The ink level sensing system of claim 7 wherein the replaceable printing component is a replaceable ink reservoir and wherein the sensor includes a pair of electrodes that are disposed on the ink reservoir to measure capacitance between the pair of electrodes and wherein the capacitance between the pair of electrodes changes with ink level within the ink reservoir.

12. A printing system having a printer portion and at least one replaceable printing component, the printer portion and the at least one replaceable printing component exchanging information therebetween, the printing system comprising:

a first wireless link associated with the replaceable printing component, wherein the first wireless link is electrically connected to a sensor for sensing operational status of the replaceable printing component for providing replaceable printing component operational status information; and

a second wireless link associated with the printer portion, the second wireless link receiving the replaceable printing component operational status information through the atmosphere from the first wireless link for determining operational status of the replaceable printing component.

13. The printing system of claim 12 wherein the first wireless link is a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency signal having the replaceable printing component operational status information contained therein and the second wireless link is a radio frequency receiver for receiving the radio frequency signal and determining the operational status of the replaceable printing component based thereon.

14. The printing system of claim 12 wherein the replaceable printing component is a replaceable ink reservoir and wherein the replaceable printing component operational status information is ink level information in the ink reservoir.

15. The printing system of claim 12 wherein the replaceable printing component is a replaceable ink reservoir and wherein the sensor includes a pair of electrodes that are disposed on the ink reservoir to measure electrical continuity through ink within the ink reservoir and wherein continuity within the ink reservoir is dependent on ink level within the ink reservoir.

16. The printing system of claim 12 wherein the replaceable printing component is a replaceable ink reservoir and wherein the sensor includes a pair of electrodes that are disposed on the ink reservoir to measure capacitance between the pair of electrodes and wherein the capacitance between the pair of electrodes changes with ink level within the ink reservoir.

17. The printing system of claim 12 wherein the printer portion is an ink jet printer and wherein the replaceable printing component includes a reservoir portion for containing ink.

18. A method for transferring ink level information for an ink reservoir of a replaceable printing component from the replaceable printing component to a printer portion, the method comprising:

determining the ink level information for the ink reservoir of the replaceable printing component using a pair of electrodes; and

transmitting the ink level information through the atmosphere from a first wireless link associated with the replaceable printing component and electrically connected to the pair of electrodes to a second wireless link associated with the printer portion.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the printer portion is an ink jet printer.

20. The method of claim 18 and further including:

receiving the ink level information at the printer portion using the second wireless link; and

responding to the ink level information accordingly.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of transmitting the ink level information is accomplished using a radio frequency link that defines the first wireless link.