Printhead having memory element
First Claim
1. In an ink jet printhead that is mounted for movement along a path and wherein the printhead has a housing with an ink chamber therein, a plurality of orifii in fluid communication with the ink chamber, and means for expelling ink from the ink chamber through said orifii, an improvement comprising:
- memory means attached to the housing for storing a datum related to an operational characteristic of the printhead; and
data transfer means mounted near the printhead path to read the datum as the printhead moves relative to the data transfer means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disposable printing assembly includes a memory element in which data characterizing the assembly can be stored. This data can characterize the identity of the assembly, or one or more of its operational characteristics. Such operational characteristics for an illustrative ink jet printhead assembly may include the color of ink in the printhead, its amount, or the position of the ink jet orifice plate on the printhead body. This data can then be read from the printhead by a read/write element in a printer and can be used or displayed as desired. The datum characterizing the position of the orifice plate, for example, can be used to controllably delay certain of the firing signals provided to the printhead to compensate for any misalignment. The datum characterizing ink amount can be updated by the write head to reflect use of ink during printing and can warn the user of an impending exhaustion of ink.
553 Citations
13 Claims
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1. In an ink jet printhead that is mounted for movement along a path and wherein the printhead has a housing with an ink chamber therein, a plurality of orifii in fluid communication with the ink chamber, and means for expelling ink from the ink chamber through said orifii, an improvement comprising:
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memory means attached to the housing for storing a datum related to an operational characteristic of the printhead; and data transfer means mounted near the printhead path to read the datum as the printhead moves relative to the data transfer means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In an ink jet printing system having a carriage for carrying an ink jet printhead relative to a printing medium, the carriage including means for orienting the printhead'"'"'s housing in a predetermined orientation in relation thereto, the printhead including a plurality of orifii and means for expelling ink therefrom in response to firing signals, an improvement method comprising the steps:
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storing data related to the relative alignment of the printhead'"'"'s orifii and its housing in a memory mounted to the printhead; retrieving said alignment data from the memory; and compensating the timing of the firing signals in accordance with said alignment data to reduce the effects of any misalignment between the orifii and the printhead housing. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A printer comprising:
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a printhead mounted to the printer and operable for movement along a path; a control circuit coupled to the printhead for controlling the printhead movement and for providing to the printhead operating signals that represent an operational characteristic of the printhead; a data transfer head mounted to the printer adjacent to the path of the printhead; a memory element for storing data, the memory element being mounted to the printhead and located to pass near the data transfer head as the printhead moves along the path, the data transfer head being controllable for transferring data to and from the memory element as the element passes the head; and a monitoring circuit connected between the printhead and the data transfer head, the monitoring circuit receiving and processing the operating signals and controlling the data transfer head to transfer to and from the memory element data that is representative of changes in the operational characteristics of the printhead. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification