Thermal sense resistor for a replaceable printer component

• US 6,966,622 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Dodd, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THINH H
• Application Number:
  US09/967,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20030063297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 347/14, 347/17, 347/19, 347/23, 347/86, 399/8, 399/9, 399/12, 399/24, 399/25, 399/31, 399/77, 399/90, 399/115, 399/27, 399/110, 399/113, 340/540, 714/801, 714/763, 714/716, 714/773
• US Class Current: 347/19
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges

Abstract

A replaceable printer component (14) includes a thermal sense resistor (14B) having a first resistance. A resistance modifier (510) coupled to the thermal sense resistor modifies the first resistance.

Claims

1. A replaceable printer component comprising:

a thermal sense resistor having a first resistance;

a resistance modifier coupled to the thermal sense resistor for modifying the first resistance; and

a memory that stores a plurality of fusible bits representing the first resistance and pen uniqueness information that uniquely identifies an inkjet cartridge.

2. The replaceable printer component of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fusible bits are set by blowing a resistor to modify the first resistance.

3. The replaceable printer component of claim 1, wherein the memory is a ROM.

4. The replaceable printer component of claim 1, wherein the replaceable printer component is an inkjet printhead assembly.

5. The replaceable printer component of claim 1, wherein the replaceable printer component is an inkjet cartridge.

6. The replaceable printer component of claim 1, wherein the resistance modifier is a conductor for shorting a portion of the thermal sense resistor.

7. The replaceable printer component of claim 1, wherein the thermal sense resistor includes a serpentine-shaped portion having a plurality of transition regions.

8. The replaceable printer component of claim 7, wherein the resistance modifier is a conductor positioned near at least one of the plurality of transition regions for shorting a portion of the thermal sense resistor.

9. An inkjet cartridge comprising:

an inkjet printhead for selectively depositing ink drops on print media;

an ink supply for providing ink to the inkjet printhead;

a thermal sense resistor coupled to the inkjet printhead and having an adjustable resistance that may be adjusted multiple times; and

a memory device that stores a resistance value representing the adjustable resistance and a pen uniqueness value representing the inkjet cartridge.

10. The inkjet cartridge of claim 9, wherein the resistance value is represented using a plurality of fusible bits.

11. The inkjet cartridge of claim 10, wherein the plurality of fusible bits are set by blowing a resistor to modify the adjustable resistance.

12. The inkjet cartridge of claim 9, wherein the adjustable resistance is capable of being adjusted after manufacture of the memory device.

13. The inkjet cartridge of claim 9, further comprising a controller coupled to the inkjet printhead for adjusting the resistance value and determining when a new inkjet cartridge has been installed.

14. A printhead comprising:

a memory device coupled to the printhead that stores a plurality of bits representing a resistance value and an inkjet identifier; and

a thermal sense resistor having a resistance capable of being adjusted by changing one or more of the plurality of bits stored in the memory device.

15. The printhead of claim 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of bits is a fusible bit capable of being blown in the memory device to adjust the resistance of the thermal sense resistor.

16. The printhead of claim 14, wherein the resistance is capable of being adjusted after manufacture of the memory device.

17. The printhead of claim 14, further comprising a controller coupled to the memory device for adjusting the one or more of the plurality of bits.

18. The printhead of claim 14, further comprising a controller coupled to the memory device for determining when a new inkjet cartridge or printhead has been installed.

19. The printhead of claim 14, further comprising a controller coupled to the memory device and configured to use the inkiest identifier to determine when a new inkjet cartridge or printhead has been installed.

20. The printhead of claim 14, wherein the inkjet identifier uniquely identifies an inkjet cartridge or printhead.