Printing cartridge with pressure sensor array identification

• US 7,325,897 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Meier; Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garcia, Jr.; Rene
• Application Number:
  US10/485,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20040212652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,009 Days
• Field of Search: 347/19, 347/86
• US Class Current: 347/19
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/044 Cassettes or cartridges containing continuous copy material, tape, for setting into printing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1626 etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1628 dry etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1629 wet etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1631 photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1632 machining
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1635 dividing the wafer into individual chips
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1637 molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1642 thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1643 thin film formation by plating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1645 thin film formation by spincoating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1646 thin film formation by sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1648 Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 : Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/041 : Electromagnetic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 : Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 : Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/50 : with both developing and finishing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 : in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 : Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 : Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 : by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 : multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 : using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 : 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/56 : using storage elements with more than two stable states represented by steps, e.g. of voltage, current, phase, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 : with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 : for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 : using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2154 : the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 : Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

A printing cartridge (1230) includes a housing (1231). An array (1232) of pressure sensor actuators (1236) is positioned on the housing. The array of pressure sensor 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 pressure sensor array is actuated by the array of the pressure sensor actuators, a signal carrying such data can be generated.

Claims

1. A printing cartridge comprising

a housing containing print media and ink;

and

an array of pressure sensor actuators positioned on the housing, the pressure sensor actuators being positioned to represent data relating to a characteristic of the media and/or ink, so that the pressure sensor actuators can actuate a predetermined combination of pressure sensors in a pressure sensor array to generate a signal carrying such data,

wherein the data represented by the array of pressure sensor actuators relates to at least one of;

a serial number identifying print media, a type of print media, and a length of print media.

2. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data represented by the array of pressure sensor actuators further relates to at least one of:

a serial number identifying the ink, a type of ink, a viscosity of the ink, a surface tension of the ink, optical characteristics of the ink and an optimal ink drop volume corresponding to a type of media.

3. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 1, in which the array of pressure sensor actuators is in the form of an array of projections that are positioned on the cartridge to bear against the array of pressure sensors when the printing cartridge is engaged with a printing device.

4. A printing cartridge as claimed in claim 3, in which each projection in the array of projections is dimensioned to bear against a corresponding pressure sensor in the form of a micro electro-mechanical pressure sensor.

5. A method of determining a characteristic of print media contained in a printing cartridge, the method comprising the step of actuating a combination of pressure sensors within an array of pressure sensors in a printing device upon engagement of the printing cartridge with the printing device, the array of pressure sensors being configured so that predetermined combinations of pressure sensors, when actuated, generate respective signals carrying data relating to the media.

6. A printing device that comprises

a body for receiving a printing cartridge;

and

an array of pressure sensors positioned in the body and being configured so that predetermined combinations of pressure sensors in the pressure sensor array, when actuated, generate signals carrying data related to a characteristic of ink and/or print media contained in the print cartridge,

wherein predetermined combinations of pressure sensors in the pressure sensor array are actuable by an array of pressure sensor actuators positioned on the printing cartridge when the printing cartridge is engaged with the body,

wherein the array of pressure sensors is in the form of a micro electro-mechanical system.

7. A printing device as claimed in claim 6, in which each pressure sensor is configured to be actuable by a projection defining one of the pressure sensor actuators bearing against the pressure sensor.