Memory system and method for consumables of a printer
First Claim
1. A print head for use with a printer, said print head comprising:
- a print head circuit comprising;
a plurality of connections, the connections comprising;
a clock connection for receiving a clock signal from the printer;
a unidirectional data connection for receiving a data signal comprising print data from the printer;
a latch connection for receiving a latch signal from the printer; and
at least one memory component comprising;
a data input disposed in communication with said latch connection;
wherein the print head circuit is configured to;
(A) receive the latch signal from the printer to the print head circuit via said latch connection when the printer is printing, and (B) allow communication of information bi-directionally between said memory component data input and the printer via said latch connection, wherein the information comprises at least one of use data or operational data.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A print head for use with a printer. The print head includes an input that receives data or commands associated with printing from the printer. A memory component of the print head is connected in communication with the input and is configured to bi-directionally communicate information to the printer via the input. For example, the memory component may be soldered to a circuit of a print head and connected to a data line normally used to communicate print data to the print head. In this manner, the print head may hold configuration information in the memory module for easy upgrades without an additional dedicated communication line. Also, printers may be upgraded, and print heads retrofit, with the memory component without installation of a dedicated input or communication line.
-
Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A print head for use with a printer, said print head comprising:
a print head circuit comprising; a plurality of connections, the connections comprising; a clock connection for receiving a clock signal from the printer; a unidirectional data connection for receiving a data signal comprising print data from the printer; a latch connection for receiving a latch signal from the printer; and at least one memory component comprising; a data input disposed in communication with said latch connection; wherein the print head circuit is configured to;
(A) receive the latch signal from the printer to the print head circuit via said latch connection when the printer is printing, and (B) allow communication of information bi-directionally between said memory component data input and the printer via said latch connection, wherein the information comprises at least one of use data or operational data.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
10. A printer system for printing indicia on printable media, said printer system comprising:
-
a printer having at least one communications connection; a print head associated with the printer, the print head comprising; a print head circuit comprising a clock connection for receiving a clock signal from the printer, a unidirectional data connection for receiving a data signal comprising print data from the printer, and a latch connection for receiving a latch signal from the printer; and at least one memory component comprising a data input disposed in communication with said latch connection, wherein the print head circuit is configured to;
(A) receive the latch signal from the printer to the print head circuit via said latch connection when the printer is printing, and (B) allow communication of information bi-directionally between said memory component data input and the printer via the latch connection, wherein the information comprises at least one of use data or operational data. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for communicating information between a printer and a print head comprising a print head circuit, said method comprising:
-
receiving at the print head circuit a data signal comprising print data via a unidirectional data connection, a clock signal from the printer via a clock connection, and a latch signal from the printer via a latch connection when the printer is printing; providing a memory component attached to the print head, the memory component comprising a data input disposed in communication with said latch connection; and communicating information bi-directionally between the printer and the data input of the memory component via said latch connection, wherein the information comprises at least one of use data or operational data. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A print head for use with a printer, comprising:
-
a print head for receiving data or commands from a printer and controlling said print head for printing, said print head circuit comprising; a plurality of connections, the connections comprising; a clock connection for receiving a clock signal; a unidirectional data connection for receiving a data signal comprising print data from the printer; a latch connection for receiving a latch signal from the printer; and at least one memory component comprising; a data input disposed in communication with said latch connection;
wherein the print head circuit is configured to;
(A) receive the latch signal from the printer to the print head circuit via said latch connection when the printer is printing, and (B) allow communication of information bi-directionally between said memory component data input and the printer via said latch connection, wherein the information comprises at least one of use data or operational data. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A method for communicating information between a printer and a print head comprising a print head circuit and a memory, said method comprising:
-
in response to the printer performing a print job; receiving a clock signal from the printer at a clock connection of the print head circuit; receiving a data signal from the printer at a data connection of the print head circuit; receiving a latch signal from the printer at a latch connection of the print head circuit; in response to the printer not performing a print job; communicating bi-directionally between a data input of the memory and the printer via the latch connection. - View Dependent Claims (31)
-
Specification