Printing cartridge with switch array identification
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A printing cartridge that comprisesa housing;
- and an array of micro-electromechanical switch actuators positioned on the housing, the switch actuators being positioned to represent data relating to at least one of;
a serial number of the cartridge, a media and a media colorant, the switch actuators being configured so that the switch actuators can actuate a predetermined combination of micro-electromechanical switches in the array to generate a signal carrying such data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A printing cartridge includes a housing. An array of switch actuators is positioned on the housing. The array of switch actuators represents data relating to at least one of: a serial number of the cartridge, a media and a media colorant so that when a switch array is actuated by the array of switch actuators, a signal carrying such data can be generated.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A printing cartridge that comprises
a housing; - and
an array of micro-electromechanical switch actuators positioned on the housing, the switch actuators being positioned to represent data relating to at least one of;
a serial number of the cartridge, a media and a media colorant, the switch actuators being configured so that the switch actuators can actuate a predetermined combination of micro-electromechanical switches in the array to generate a signal carrying such data.
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2. A method of determining a media colorant of a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of mechanically actuating, with micro-electromechanical switch actuators, a combination of micro-electromechanical switches within an array of micro-electromechanical switches in a printing device, upon engagement of a printing cartridge with the printing device, the array of switches being configured so that predetermined combinations of switches, when actuated, generate respective signals carrying data relating to the media colorant.
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3. A printing cartridge that comprises
a housing; -
a media colorant supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media colorant; and
an array of micro-electromechanical switch actuators positioned on the housing, the switch actuators being positioned to represent data relating to the media colorant and being configured so that the switch actuators can actuate a predetermined combination of switches in a micro-electromechanical switch array to generate a signal carrying such data. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of determining media of a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of mechanically actuating a combination of micro-electromechanical switches, with micro-electromechanical switch actuators, within an array of micro-electromechanical switches in a printing device upon engagement of the printing cartridge with the printing device, the array of switches being configured so that predetermined combinations of switches, when actuated, generate respective signals carrying data relating to the media.
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9. A printing cartridge that comprises
a housing; -
a media supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media; and
an array of micro-electromechanical switch actuators positioned on the housing, the switch actuators being positioned to represent data relating to the media and being configured so that the switch actuators can mechanically actuate a predetermined combination of micro-electromechanical switches in a switch array to generate a signal carrying such data. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of determining media and media colorant of a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of mechanically actuating a combination of micro-electromechanical switches, with micro-electromechanical switch actuators, within an array of micro-electromechanical switches in a printing device upon engagement of the printing cartridge with the printing device, the array of switches being configured so that predetermined combinations of switches, when actuated, generate a signal carrying data relating to the media and the media colorant.
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15. A printing cartridge that comprises
a housing; -
media and media colorant supply arrangements positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media and a supply of media colorant, respectively; and
an array of micro-electromechanical switch actuators positioned on the housing, the switch actuators being positioned to represent data relating to the media and the media colorant so that the switch actuators can actuate a predetermined combination of micro-electromechanical switches in a switch array to generate a signal carrying such data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A printing device which comprises
a body, a printing cartridge being engageable with the body, the printing cartridge having a housing, a media colorant supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media colorant, an array of micro-electromechanical switch actuators being positioned on the housing and representing data relating to the media colorant; -
a processor positioned in the body to control operation of a media colorant feed mechanism and a printing mechanism; and
a micro-electromechanical switch array positioned in the body and being configured so that predetermined combinations of switches in the switch array, when actuated, generate signals carrying data related to the media colorant, such predetermined combinations of switches in the switch array being mechanically actuable by the array of switch actuators positioned on the housing of the printing cartridge when the printing cartridge is engaged with the body so that the switch array generates a signal carrying said data relating to the media colorant of the printing cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A printing device which comprises
a body, a printing cartridge being engageable with the body, the printing cartridge having a housing, a media supply arrangement positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media, an array of micro-electromechanical switch actuators being positioned on the housing and representing data relating to the media; -
a processor positioned in the body to control operation of a media feed mechanism and a printing mechanism; and
a micro-electromechanical switch array positioned in the body and being configured so that predetermined combinations of micro-electromechanical switches in the switch array, when actuated, generate signals carrying data related to the media, such predetermined combinations of switches in the switch array being actuable by the array of switch actuators positioned on the housing of the printing cartridge when the printing cartridge is engaged with the body so that the switch array generates a signal carrying said data relating to the media of the printing cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A printing device which comprises
a body, a printing cartridge being engageable with the body, the printing cartridge having a housing, media colorant and media supply arrangements positioned within the housing and containing a supply of media and media colorant, an array of micro-electromechanical switch actuators being positioned on the housing and representing data relating to the media colorant and the media; -
a processor positioned in the body to control operation of media colorant and media feed mechanisms and a printing mechanism; and
a micro-electromechanical switch array positioned in the body and being configured so that predetermined combinations of micro-electromechanical switches in the switch array, when actuated, generate signals carrying data related to the media colorant and the media, such predetermined combinations of switches in the switch array being mechanically actuable by the array of switch actuators positioned on the housing of the printing cartridge when the printing cartridge is engaged with the body so that the switch array generates a signal carrying said data relating to the media colorant and the media of the printing cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification