Storing printer density control parameters in cartridge memory

• US 7,769,306 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Able, Douglas Anthony, Richardson, William Keith, Wittenauer, Joel Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray; David M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong; Joseph S
• Application Number:
  US11/323,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20070154227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 399/12
• US Class Current: 399/12
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0855 the concentration being measured by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0863 provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0697 being an electronically readable memory

Abstract

Data may be obtained in the form of a printer control density table from a memory within a replacement toner cartridge. The cartridge may include parity bits to ensure the accuracy of the data.

Claims

1. A replacement toner cartridge for a printer having an existing print density control operating point table, comprising:

a memory device, the memory device storing data including an updated print density control operating point table from a programming host; and

a controller coupled to the memory device and configured to perform a parity check on the data stored in the memory device and, when the replacement cartridge is installed in the printer, to send data including the updated print density control operating point table from the memory device to the printer depending upon the parity check wherein, when received by the printer, the updated print density control operating point table overwrites the existing print density control operating point table in the printer.

2. The replacement toner cartridge of claim 1, wherein the programming host is a programmer in a manufacturing facility.

3. The replacement toner cartridge of claim 1, wherein the controller receives a parity bit from the memory device, calculates data parity and compares the calculated data parity to the received parity bit to perform the parity check.

4. The replacement toner cartridge of claim 1, wherein the controller transmits the updated print density control operating point table to the printer when the replacement toner cartridge is installed in the printer and when the data passes the parity check.

5. The replacement toner cartridge of claim 1, wherein the controller transmits an error signal to the printer when the replacement toner cartridge is installed in the printer and when the data fails the parity check.

6. The replacement toner cartridge of claim 1, wherein the controller provides the updated print density control operating point table to the printer in response to a read request from the printer.

7. The replacement toner cartridge of claim 1, wherein the updated print density control operating point table includes data to be used by the printer to determine laser power, duty cycle and developer bias voltage.

8. A method of confirming and sending data from a memory device in a replacement toner cartridge installed in a printer having an existing print density operating point control table, comprising the steps of:

sending a read command to the memory device in the replacement toner cartridge, the memory device having data including an updated print density operating point control table previously programmed by a programming host;

checking parity of the previously programmed data at the toner cartridge; and

transmitting the data to a printer based on the parity check, the data being transmitted with an error message if the parity check fails, and

if no error message is received by the printer, overwriting the existing print density operating point control table in the printer with the updated print density operating point control table.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the programming host device is a programmer in a manufacturing facility.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of checking parity at the replacement toner cartridge comprises:

receiving a parity bit;

calculating a data parity; and

comparing the calculated data parity to the received parity bit.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the printer sends the read command including an address of a requested data and the replacement toner cartridge parity checks and transmits a confirmation message with the requested data to the printer if the parity check passes.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the updated print density control operating point table includes data to be used by the printer to determine laser power, duty cycle and developer bias voltage.