Replaceable printer component

• US 20040212651A1
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Bruce L., Skeie, Tom A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,182,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/19
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns

Abstract

A replaceable printer component comprises a printer component and a memory. The printer component is configured for removable installation into, and for electronic communication with, a printer. The memory is configured for storing a first unique identifier that represents one or more printers for which use of the printer component is exclusively authorized.

Claims

1. A replaceable printer component comprising:

a printer component configured for removable installation into, and for electronic communication with, a printer; and

a memory configured for storing a printer unique identifier that represents at least one printers for which use of the printer component is exclusively enabled.

2. The printer component of claim 1 wherein the memory is configured for storing a plurality of printer unique identifiers in association with a plurality of printers, including the at least one printer, with each printer unique identifier representing a different printer of the plurality of printers for which use of the printer component is exclusively enabled.

3. The printer component of claim 1 comprising at least one of an ink reservoir, an ink supply, a toner reservoir, a toner supply, a printhead, and a printhead assembly.

4. The printer component of claim 1 wherein the memory of the printer component comprises a permanent read only memory component configured for a one-time writing of the printer unique identifier into the memory.

5. The printer component of claim 1 wherein the memory of the printer component is configured to store a serial number of the printer as the printer unique identifier of the printer.

6. The printer component of claim 1 wherein the memory is configured to stores a component unique identifier that uniquely represents the printer component wherein the component unique identifier is also configured for storage in a memory of the printer for tracking by the printer of use of the printer component with the printer.

7. The printer component of claim 1 and further comprising for use with the printer component:

a read/write tool comprising;

a memory configured for storing the printer unique identifier; and

a read/write head configured for writing the printer unique identifier into the memory of the printer component.

8. A printer comprising:

a printing mechanism comprising a replaceable printer component including at least one of an ink cartridge, an ink supply, a toner reservoir, a toner supply, a printhead, and a printhead assembly, the replaceable printer component including a memory;

a memory configured to store a first unique identifier that represents the printer;

wherein use of the printer with the replaceable printer component is enabled only when the printer identifies the first unique identifier in the memory of the printer component.

9. The printer of claim 8 and further comprising:

a printer component monitor including at least one of;

an index of a plurality of first unique identifiers, including the first unique identifier;

a read/write manager comprising;

an assignment function configured for assigning a printer component with one or more first unique identifiers, with each first unique identifier uniquely corresponding to a different printer; and

a selective electronic locking function configured for selectively electronically locking the printer component for exclusive use with one of the different printers based on the first unique identifiers.

10. The printer of claim 8 wherein the printer component monitor is configured for electronically confirming that the printer component removably installed within the printer has same first unique identifier as the printer.

11. A replaceable printer component comprising:

means for supplying at least one printer function; and

means for storing a printer unique identifier that represents at least one printer for which use of the printer component is exclusively enabled.

12. The printer component of claim 11 wherein the means for supplying comprises at least one of an ink supply a toner reservoir, a toner supply, an inkjet cartridge, a printhead, and a printhead assembly.

13. The printer component system of claim 11 and further comprising:

means for electronically enabling exclusive use of the printer component by the at least one printer upon electronic confirmation by the at least one printer that the means for storing of the printer component stores the printer unique identifier.

14. A method of managing a printer component, the method comprising:

providing a replaceable printer component configured with a memory and configured for removable installation into, and electronic communication with, a first printer; and

electronically writing into the memory of the printer component a first printer unique identifier that represents the first printer so that, upon removable installation of the printer component into the first printer, and upon electronic confirmation that a memory of the printer component stores the first printer unique identifier, use of the printer component with the first printer is electronically enabled.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein electronically writing into the memory comprises at least one of:

electronically preventing use of the printer component with a second printer having a second printer unique identifier different than the first printer unique identifier; and

electronically preventing use of the printer component with a third printer that does not have a printer unique identifier.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein providing a replaceable printer component comprises:

providing the replaceable printer component as at least one of an ink jet cartridge, an ink supply, a printhead, and a printhead assembly.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein providing a replaceable printer component comprises:

removably installing the replaceable printer component into the first printer.

18. The method of claim 14 and further comprising:

providing a plurality of printers, including the first printer, and a corresponding plurality of printer unique identifiers, including the first printer unique identifier, with each one of the printer unique identifiers representing a corresponding printer and stored in a memory of each of the corresponding printers; and

electronically authorizing use of the replaceable printer component with one of the plurality of printers only when the printer component is removably installed within one of the printers and upon electronic confirmation that the printer component has the corresponding printer unique identifier stored in its memory.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein electronically writing the printer unique identifier comprises:

providing at least one of a computing device and a web site to electronically transmit the printer unique identifier, through at least one of a network communication link and a direct communication link, to the first printers for electronically writing the first printer unique identifier into the memory of the first printer.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein electronically writing into the memory of the printer component comprises:

storing within a memory of a read/write tool the first printer unique identifier that represents the first printer for which use of an array of the replaceable printer components will be exclusively authorized; and

electronically writing, from the memory of the read/write tool, the first printer unique identifier into the memory of each one of the printer components of the array of printer components.

21. A method of tracking use of printer components comprising:

providing a replaceable printer component that is configured for removable installation into a printer and for electronic communication with the printer, and having a memory configured for storing a unique identifier of each printer into which the printer component is removably installed;

removably installing the printer component sequentially in a plurality of printers, with each printer having a different unique identifier; and

electronically writing, during the installation of the printer component into each printer, the unique identifier of that printer into the memory of the printer component.

22. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of managing a replaceable printer component, the method comprising:

electronically writing from a first printer a unique identifier, representing the first printer, permanently into a memory of a printer component that is removably installed in the first printer; and

electronically enabling use of the printer component with the first printer only when the printer component has the unique identifier of the first printer stored in the memory of the printer component.

23. The medium of claim 22 and further comprising:

electronically preventing use of the printer component with a second printer having a second printer unique identifier that is different than the first printer unique identifier.

24. A replaceable printer component comprising:

a printer component configured for removable installation into, and for electronic communication with, a printer; and

a memory configured for storing a plurality of printer unique identifiers in association with a plurality of printers with each printer unique identifier representing a different printer of the plurality of printers for which use of the printer component is exclusively enabled.

25. A replaceable printer component comprising:

a printer component configured for removable installation into, and for electronic communication with, a printer; and

a memory configured for storing a printer unique identifier that represents at least one printer for which use of the printer component is exclusively enabled and configured for storing a component unique identifier that uniquely represents the printer component wherein the component unique identifier is configured for storage in a memory of the at least one printer for tracking, by the at least one printer, of use of the printer component with the at least one printer.