Information storage device and image forming cartridge for image forming apparatus

• US 8,947,716 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geehy Microelectronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Apex Microelectronics Company Limited (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Dongjie
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas D
• Application Number:
  US14/083,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20140078552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 15/50 Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control sequencing control G03G21/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/553 Monitoring or warning means for exhaustion or lifetime end of consumables, e.g. indication of insufficient copy sheet quantity for a job
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/556 for toner consumption, e.g. pixel counting, toner coverage detection or toner density measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/4075 Determining remaining quantities of ink or toner

Abstract

The present invention provides an information storage device and an image forming cartridge for an image forming apparatus. The information storage device comprises at least two communication interfaces, at least two storage units, a detection unit, a first control unit and a second control unit, wherein the communication interfaces are configured to connect with a controller in the image forming apparatus and establish an information communication path between the first control unit and the controller in the case of being connected with the controller; the storage units and the communication interfaces are arranged corresponding to each other; the detection unit is connected with each foregoing communication interface; the first control unit and the second control unit are respectively connected with each foregoing storage unit and the detection unit. By adoption of the information storage device, the quality of executing the task of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

Claims

1. An information storage device for an image forming apparatus, comprising at least two communication interfaces, at least two storage units, a detection unit, a first control unit and a second control unit, wherein

the communication interfaces configured to connect with a controller in the image forming apparatus, in the state that the communication interfaces are connected with the controller, set up a communication path between the first control unit and the controller;

the storage units are arranged in accordance with the communication interfaces and configured to store variable information and backup information of an image forming cartridge in the image forming apparatus, in which the variable information at least includes first product information and image forming change information, and the backup information at least includes initial state information of the image forming cartridge;

the detection unit connected with each foregoing communication interface and configured to detect the state of each foregoing communication interface and generate a first trigger signal and a second trigger signal when determining and acquiring that one communication interface is connected with the controller;

the first control unit respectively connected with each foregoing storage unit and the detection unit and configured to acquire the variable information in the storage unit corresponding to the communication interface connected with the controller when receiving the first trigger signal, send the variable information to the controller, and send updated image forming change information sent by the controller through said communication interface to the storage unit corresponding to said communication interface so that the information can be stored into the storage unit; and

the second control unit respectively connected with each foregoing storage unit and the detection unit and configured to at least rewrite the image forming change information in the storage unit corresponding to the communication interface disconnected with the controller into the backup information when receiving the second trigger signal.

2. The information storage device for the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the second control unit specifically configured to at least rewrite the image forming change information in the storage unit corresponding to the communication interface disconnected with the controller into the backup information when the second trigger signal is received and the predetermined condition is met.

3. The information storage device for the image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the image forming change information and the backup information in each foregoing storage unit at least include an identical type of variable information;

and

the second control unit specifically includes;

a first acquisition subunit configured to respectively acquire corresponding backup information and corresponding image forming change information from each storage unit corresponding to each communication interface disconnected with the controller when receiving the second trigger signal, and respectively compare the identical type of variable information in the image forming change information and the backup information in the corresponding storage unit so as to acquire the difference values of various variable;

a first determination subunit configured to generate a first trigger sub-signal when determining and acquiring that at least one difference value of the variable is more than the predetermined threshold; and

a first information reset subunit configured to at least rewrite the image forming change information in the corresponding storage unit into the backup information when receiving the first trigger sub-signal.

4. An image forming cartridge arranged inside an image forming apparatus, characterized in that:

an information storage device according to claim 3 arranged on the image forming apparatus;

a controller on the image forming apparatus connected with one communication interface in the information storage device; and

the controller configured to receive variable information in a storage unit corresponding to a communication interface connected with the controller, sent by a first control unit in the information storage device, and send generated updated image forming change information to the storage unit corresponding to said communication interface through the communication interface so that the information can be stored into the storage unit.

5. The information storage device for the image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

a flag is also stored into each foregoing storage unit;

and

the second control unit specifically includes;

a second acquisition subunit configured to acquire the flag from each foregoing storage unit when receiving the second trigger signal, and rewrite the flag in the corresponding storage unit from a first state to a second state when determining and acquiring that the communication interface corresponding to the storage unit is connected with the controller;

a second determination subunit configured to generate a second trigger sub-signal when determining and acquiring that the flag in the storage unit corresponding to the communication interface disconnected with the controller is in the second state; and

a second information reset subunit configured to at least rewrite the image forming change information in the corresponding storage unit into the backup information when receiving the second trigger sub-signal.

6. An image forming cartridge arranged inside an image forming apparatus, characterized in that:

an information storage device according to claim 5 arranged on the image forming apparatus;

a controller on the image forming apparatus connected with one communication interface in the information storage device; and

the controller configured to receive variable information in a storage unit corresponding to a communication interface connected with the controller, sent by a first control unit in the information storage device, and send generated updated image forming change information to the storage unit corresponding to said communication interface through the communication interface so that the information can be stored into the storage unit.

7. The information storage device for the image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the backup information stored into each foregoing storage unit also includes the estimated service life, and the image forming change information at least includes the expiration date;

the information storage device further comprises;

a first information update unit configured to read the estimated service life and the expiration date in each foregoing storage unit so as to acquire the expiration date to be updated; and

the second control unit further configured to rewrite the expiration date in the image forming change information in the storage unit corresponding to the communication interface disconnected with the controller into the expiration date to be updated when receiving the second trigger signal.

8. An image forming cartridge arranged inside an image forming apparatus, characterized in that:

an information storage device according to claim 7 arranged on the image forming apparatus;

a controller on the image forming apparatus connected with one communication interface in the information storage device; and

the controller configured to receive variable information in a storage unit corresponding to a communication interface connected with the controller, sent by a first control unit in the information storage device, and send generated updated image forming change information to the storage unit corresponding to said communication interface through the communication interface so that the information can be stored into the storage unit.

9. The information storage device for the image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the backup information stored into each foregoing storage unit also includes the estimated service life, and the image forming change information at least includes the shelf life;

the information storage device further comprises;

a second information update unit configured to read the estimated service life and the shelf life in each foregoing storage unit so as to acquire the shelf life to be updated; and

the second control unit further configured to rewrite the shelf life in the image forming change information in the storage unit corresponding to the communication interface disconnected with the controller into the shelf life to be updated.

10. An image forming cartridge arranged inside an image forming apparatus, characterized in that:

an information storage device according to claim 9 arranged on the image forming apparatus;

a controller on the image forming apparatus connected with one communication interface in the information storage device; and

the controller configured to receive variable information in a storage unit corresponding to a communication interface connected with the controller, sent by a first control unit in the information storage device, and send generated updated image forming change information to the storage unit corresponding to said communication interface through the communication interface so that the information can be stored into the storage unit.

11. An image forming cartridge arranged inside an image forming apparatus, characterized in that:

an information storage device according to claim 2 arranged on the image forming apparatus;

a controller on the image forming apparatus connected with one communication interface in the information storage device; and

the controller configured to receive variable information in a storage unit corresponding to a communication interface connected with the controller, sent by a first control unit in the information storage device, and send generated updated image forming change information to the storage unit corresponding to said communication interface through the communication interface so that the information can be stored into the storage unit.

12. The information storage device for the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the backup information stored into each foregoing storage unit also includes second product information;

and

the second control unit specifically configured to rewrite the image forming change information in the storage unit corresponding to the communication interface disconnected with the controller into the initial state information of the image forming cartridge and rewrite the first product information into the second product information, when receiving the second trigger signal, or, when the second trigger signal is received and the predetermined condition is met.

13. An image forming cartridge arranged inside an image forming apparatus, characterized in that:

an information storage device according to claim 12 arranged on the image forming apparatus;

a controller on the image forming apparatus connected with one communication interface in the information storage device; and

the controller configured to receive variable information in a storage unit corresponding to a communication interface connected with the controller, sent by a first control unit in the information storage device, and send generated updated image forming change information to the storage unit corresponding to said communication interface through the communication interface so that the information can be stored into the storage unit.

14. The information storage device for the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the number of the communication interfaces and the number of the storage units are respectively two;

each foregoing communication interface, each foregoing storage unit, the detection unit, the first control unit and the second control unit are respectively arranged on a circuit board; and

both the two communication interfaces are arranged on a wall surface on the same side of the circuit board.

15. An image forming cartridge arranged inside an image forming apparatus, characterized in that:

an information storage device according to claim 14 arranged on the image forming apparatus;

a controller on the image forming apparatus connected with one communication interface in the information storage device; and

the controller configured to receive variable information in a storage unit corresponding to a communication interface connected with the controller, sent by a first control unit in the information storage device, and send generated updated image forming change information to the storage unit corresponding to said communication interface through the communication interface so that the information can be stored into the storage unit.

16. The information storage device for the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the number of the communication interfaces and the number of the storage units are respectively two;

each foregoing communication interface, each foregoing storage unit, the detection unit, the first control unit and the second control unit are respectively arranged on a circuit board; and

the two communication interfaces are respectively arranged on wall surfaces on different sides of the circuit board.

17. An image forming cartridge arranged inside an image forming apparatus, characterized in that:

an information storage device according to claim 16 arranged on the image forming apparatus;

a controller on the image forming apparatus connected with one communication interface in the information storage device; and

the controller configured to receive variable information in a storage unit corresponding to a communication interface connected with the controller, sent by a first control unit in the information storage device, and send generated updated image forming change information to the storage unit corresponding to said communication interface through the communication interface so that the information can be stored into the storage unit.

18. An image forming cartridge arranged inside an image forming apparatus, characterized in that:

an information storage device according to claim 1 arranged on the image forming apparatus;

a controller on the image forming apparatus connected with one communication interface in the information storage device; and

the controller configured to receive variable information in a storage unit corresponding to a communication interface connected with the controller, sent by a first control unit in the information storage device, and send generated updated image forming change information to the storage unit corresponding to said communication interface through the communication interface so that the information can be stored into the storage unit.