Coded ribbon cartridge, decoder, and ribbon ink capacity indicator with LCD display
First Claim
1. A method for selectively regulating printer operation of a printer, comprising:
- a) applying a resistive ink identifier to an exterior surface of an ink cartridge, the resistive ink identifier having a resistive value corresponding to at least one operational characteristic of the ink cartridge;
b) installing the ink cartridge into a printer;
c) sensing the resistive value of the resistive ink identifier, where the resistive value corresponds to a physical characteristic of the ribbon; and
d) selectively regulating printing functions in response to the sensed resistive value.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for adaptively controlling printer functions of a dot matrix printer in response to sensing the type of printer ink cartridge being used. An identifying resistive value is applied to surface of the cartridge and installed within the printer. The printer includes contacts that include sensors and sensor circuitry useful to detect a presence of the resistive indicator and the resistive value thereof. The sensed resistive value is used to directly control printer functions, and/or to access stored data or printer control routines specific to the type of cartridge, or desired performance characteristics. Stored information, which may be appended by other sensed information such as printer usage data, is used to selectively regulate printer operation to achieve maximum efficiency and performance from the particular ink cartridge.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for selectively regulating printer operation of a printer, comprising:
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a) applying a resistive ink identifier to an exterior surface of an ink cartridge, the resistive ink identifier having a resistive value corresponding to at least one operational characteristic of the ink cartridge;
b) installing the ink cartridge into a printer;
c) sensing the resistive value of the resistive ink identifier, where the resistive value corresponds to a physical characteristic of the ribbon; and
d) selectively regulating printing functions in response to the sensed resistive value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 31, 32, 33)
a) communicating data responsive to the sensed resistive value to a memory; and
b) accessing stored printer control information in the memory, the stored information corresponding to operational parameters specific to the type of cartridge being used; and
c) regulating printer operation in response to the stored printer control information.
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11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of regulating printing functions comprises:
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sensing printer usage data on an ongoing basis; and
varying printer operation in response to the sensed printer usage data.
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12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of sensing printer usage data comprises sensing the number of characters which have been printed by the printer.
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13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of varying printer operation comprises the step of regulating print head impact force in response to sensed printer usage data.
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31. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of regulating printer functions comprises sensing printer usage data.
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32. The method as recited in claim 31, further comprising the step of displaying information representative of printer usage data.
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33. The method as recited in claim 32, further comprising the step of displaying information representative of the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge.
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14. A method for selectively regulating printer operation of a printer, comprising:
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a) applying a resistive ink identifier to an exterior surface of an ink cartridge, the resistive ink identifier having a resistive value corresponding to at least one operational characteristic of the ink cartridge;
b) installing the ink cartridge into a printer;
c) sensing the resistive value of the resistive ink identifier, where the resistive value corresponds to a physical characteristic of the ribbon;
d) wherein the resistive value of the resistive ink identifier is a function of a physical characteristic of the identifier; and
e) selectively regulating printing functions in response to the sensed value. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
a) communicating data responsive to the sensed resistive value to a memory; and
b) accessing stored printer control information in the memory, the stored information corresponding to operational parameters specific to the type of cartridge being used; and
c) regulating printer operation in response to the stored printer control information.
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24. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of regulating printing functions comprises:
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sensing printer usage data on an ongoing basis; and
varying printer operation in response to the sensed printer usage data.
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25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of sensing printer usage data comprises sensing the number of characters which have been printed by the printer.
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26. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of varying printer operation comprises the step of regulating print head impact force in response to sensed printer usage data.
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27. A method for selectively regulating printer operation of a printer, comprising:
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a) applying a resistive ink identifier to an exterior surface of an ink cartridge, the resistive ink identifier having a resistive value corresponding to at least one operational characteristic of the ink cartridge;
b) installing the ink cartridge into a printer;
c) sensing the resistive value of the resistive ink identifier, where the resistive value corresponds to a physical characteristic of the ribbon; and
d) selectively regulating printing functions in response to the sensed resistive value;
e) wherein the step of regulating printer functions comprises the steps of sensing the number of characters which have been printed by the printer and varying printer operation in response to the sensed number of characters. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A method for selectively regulating printer operation of a printer, comprising:
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a) applying a resistive ink identifier to an exterior surface of an ink cartridge, the resistive ink identifier having a resistive value corresponding to at least one operational characteristic of the ink cartridge;
b) installing the ink cartridge into a printer;
c) sensing the resistive value of the resistive ink identifier, where the resistive value corresponds to a physical characteristic of the ribbon; and
d) selectively regulating printing functions in response to the sensed resistive value;
e) wherein the step of regulating printer functions comprises sensing printer usage data on an ongoing basis and regulating print head impact force in response to sensed printer use to the sensed printer usage data. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification