Ink cartridge and ink cartridge set

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an ink cartridge and an ink cartridge set. In particular, the present invention relates to an ink cartridge that is to be used with a variety of ink cartridges as ink replacement in a printer, and an ink set which is to be inserted into a printer.

Background of the Invention

For each <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP1547781A2"><text>EP 1547781 A2</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="EP1547782B1"><text>EP 1547782 B1</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="EP1547784B1"><text>EP 1547784 B1</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="EP2062731B1"><text>EP 2062731 B1</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="EP2319693B1"><text>EP 2319693 B1</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="EP2332727B1"><text>EP 2332727 B1</text></patcit> and <patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="US7237881B2"><text>US 7237881 B2</text></patcit> is known an ink cartridge having an electronic module and having a light emitting device.

In a typical color printer ink set is used, which consists of several different types of cartridges (ink cartridges having different properties, such as ink color, style or quantity) is. The printer has a bus which comprises lines for feeding and for the serial data transfer.

The electronic modules of the ink cartridges are connected via electrical contacts by bus. In the electronic module, a code for the type of cartridge of an ink cartridge is stored, among other things. This code serves as an address of the ink cartridge, through which the ink cartridge on the bus can be selectively driven. After each cartridge replacement, which is terminated by closing the printer cover, a check that the ink cartridges are positioned in the space provided for each type of cartridge position in the printer. To this end, a light sensor is the printer side is provided, against which the present in the printer in the form of an ink cartridge set ink cartridges are positioned one after the other. During this process, the light emitting devices of the ink cartridges are driven by the printer. It is controlled via the address of each to be driven ink cartridge. In response to the control by the printer, the light emitting means of the selected or driven ink cartridge light emits. Provided that the light emitting means of the light sensor located opposite the ink cartridge emits light, the light sensor detects the emitted light. The printer recognizes therefore that at the examined position the correct ink cartridge, that is, the ink cartridge of the checked position associated cartridge type is. Provided that the light emitting means of another, not located above the light sensor ink cartridge emits light, the light sensor, the emitted light not captured. Since the light sensor detects in this case, no light, the printer recognizes therefore that at the examined position not the correct ink cartridge, that is, the ink cartridge of the checked position associated cartridge type is.

However, occurs in accordance with the above teachings on the adverse effect that the scattered light can be detected from adjacent in the ink replacement cartridges illuminated by the light sensor. If instead of be located opposite the light sensor ink cartridge, for example, sends out the adjacent ink cartridge light, the light sensor could detect portions of this light in the form of scattered light. Thus, the printer would erroneously detect a presence of the controlled ink cartridge at the position located above the light sensor and assume a correct positioning or arrangement of the ink cartridge into the printer. Another adverse effect is that due to the selective driving of the ink on the address of each to be driven ink cartridge of the data traffic on the bus can be high at times. This high data traffic on the bus can lead to increased susceptibility to defects in the serial data transmission between the printer and the ink cartridge.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention was made against the background of the above-described prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an ink cartridge and an ink set in which / the one above described erroneous detection does not occur due to stray light. Moreover, the high level of data traffic on the bus and the resulting error rate is to be reduced in serial data transmission.

This object is achieved by an ink cartridge according to the independent claims 1 and 2, and an ink set according to the independent claim. 9 Advantageous modifications of the present invention are defined by the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an ink cartridge is provided which is to be used with a variety of ink cartridges as the ink cartridges set in a printer, comprising: a light emitting device configured to emit light; a receiving device configured to receive signals from the printer and from the ink cartridges; a data processing device that is configured to process the received signals to data; a storage device configured to store the data; a computation device which is configured based on the data processed by the data processing device data and / or stored in the memory means regardless of addresses to be driven from the ink replacement cartridges to a time sequence of a first light emitting state and a different of the first light emission state of the second light emission state determine; and a controller configured to control the light emission means so that the ink cartridge is moved from the first light emission state into the second light emission state or from the second light emitting state to said first light emission condition.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an ink cartridge is provided which is to be used with a variety of ink cartridges as the ink cartridges set in a printer, comprising: a light emitting device configured to emit light; a receiving device configured to receive signals from the printer and from the ink cartridges; a data processing device that is configured to process the received signals to data; a storage device configured to store the data; a calculating means configured to determine a time sequence of a first light emitting state and a different of the first light emission state of the second light emission state based on the data processed by the data processing device data and / or stored in the memory means regardless of the own address of the ink cartridge; and a controller configured to control the light emission means so that the ink cartridge is moved from the first light emission state into the second light emission state or from the second light emitting state to said first light emission condition.

According to a third aspect of the present invention further comprises the ink cartridge to a determination means configured to on the signals from the printer, which are received by the receiving device to determine the type of the printer from a plurality of predefined types of printers based.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the receiving device, the data processing means, memory means, calculation means, the control means and the determining means are implemented in an integrated circuit.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the data stored in the data storage means comprise constants, algorithms, the time sequence of the first light emission state and the second light emitting state and a time sequence of the addresses to be controlled from the ink replacement cartridges.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the light emitting device is configured to emit light in the first light state and to emit no light emission in the second light emission state.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the control means is configured to control the light emitting means so that the transition from the first light emission state into the second light emission state and / or from the second light emission state to the first light emission state is carried out smoothly.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the control means is configured to control the light emitting means so that the transition from the first light emission state into the second light emission state and / or from the second light emission state to the first light emission state is carried out stepwise.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention is an ink set which is to be inserted into a printer, provided, comprising: a plurality of ink cartridges according to one of the first to eighth aspects.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the control means is configured each of the plurality of ink cartridges, in order to control the light emitting means of each ink cartridge so that the ink cartridges are brought simultaneously from the first light emission state into the second light emission state and from the second light emitting state in the first light emission state ,

Brief Description of Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in an exemplary manner with reference to the appended drawings.

<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> shows a block diagram of an ink cartridge according to one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention in interaction with a printer, wherein the representation of the printer is limited to the components that interact with the ink cartridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The structure of the ink cartridge of the invention is to related <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> described. As in<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> shown, the ink cartridge 1 of the invention an electronic module 2. The electronics module 2 comprises a light emitting means 3, an integrated circuit 4 and contacts the eleventh The integrated circuit 4 has a receiving means 5, a data processing device 6, a storage device 7, a calculating means 8, a determination means 9 and control means 10th In the integrated circuit 4, the receiving device 5, the data processing device 6, the storage device 7, the calculating device 8, the determination means 9 and the control means 10 are connected with each other. In addition, the receiving device 5, the data processing device 6, the storage device 7, the calculating device 8, the determination means 9 and the control means 10 with the contacts 11 are in communication. In addition, the control device 10 is connected to the light emitting means 3 in connection.

The receiving device 5, the data processing device 6, the memory device 7, the calculating means 8, the determination means 9 and the control device 10 can function blocks of an integrated circuit type CPLD ( "Complex Programmable Logic Device"), FPGA ( "Field Programmable Gate Array"), ASIC ( "Application-specific Integrated Circuit") or a microcontroller be.

In other words, the function of the integrated circuit 4, by a programmable logic device such as CPLD ( "Complex Programmable Logic Device") or FPGA can be realized ( "Field Programmable Gate Array"). According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the function of the integrated circuit 4 may be realized by a tamper-proof circuit such as ASIC ( "Application Specific Integrated Circuit"). According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the function of the integrated circuit 4 can be realized by a microcontroller. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the integrated circuit 4 may be integrated in an existing circuit.

The ink cartridge 1 can be used with a variety of ink cartridges as ink replacement in a printer 12th

When the ink cartridge 1 having a plurality of ink cartridges as the ink cartridges set in a printer 12, is then available the electronic module 2 on the contacts 11 to a serial interface 14 of the printer 12 and a power supply 15 of the printer 12 in connection. Via the serial interface 14, the serial data transmission between the ink cartridge 1 and the printer 12 will be held. Through the supply 15 is a supply voltage is applied to the ink cartridge first

The light emitting device 3 emits light. The light emitting device 3 can occupy two different light emission states. In a first light emission state, the light emitting device 3 emits light, while it does not emit light in a second light emission condition. In the light emitting device 3 may be an LED ( "light emitting diode"). Other light sources that emit light in the visible region, or light sources that emit light in the non-visible range, may also be used. The light emitting device 3 is mounted on the outside of the ink cartridge housing. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light emitting means 3 may be integrated in the ink cartridge housing. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light-emitting device 3 may be arranged in the interior of the ink cartridge 1, and by a transparent window in the ink cartridge housing at least in the luminous state visible from the outside.

If the ink cartridge 1 with a plurality of ink cartridges as ink replacement in a printer 12, then the ink cartridge 1 can received by the receiving device 5 signals from the printer 12 and the other of the employed as ink replacement in the printer 12 plurality of ink cartridges. The signals from the printer 12 are received by the receiving device 5 via the contacts 11, which are connected via the serial interface 14 of the printer 12 to the printer 12.

The data processing means 6 processes the received signals to data.

The memory means 7 can be realized as a non-volatile memory such as a ROM ( "read only memory"). In the storage device 7, the processed data is stored non-volatile.

The calculating device 8 determines a chronological sequence of the first light emission state and the second light emission state based on the data processed by the data processing device 6 data and / or stored in the storage device 7 data. The addresses to be driven out of the ink replacement cartridges can not be used for this determination. That is, the time sequence of the first light emitting state and the second light-emitting state is determined independently of the addresses to be driven out of the ink replacement ink cartridges. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the determination of the temporal sequence without using the own address of the ink cartridge 1. That is, the temporal sequence of the first light emission state and the second light emission state is carried out is determined irrespective of the own address of the ink cartridge first

The control device 10 controls the light emitting means 3 so that the ink cartridge 1 is brought from the first light emission state into the second light emission state or from the second light emitting state to said first light emission condition. This control is based on the determined by the calculating means 8 temporal sequence of the first light emission state and the second light emission condition. That is, the light emitting device 3 begins with a transmission of light or stops emitting light based on a temporal sequence of the first light emission state and the second light emission condition. As previously described, the addresses of the to be driven out of the ink replacement ink cartridges or the unique address of the ink cartridge 1 of this does not matter.

The control device 10 controls the light emitting means 3 so that the transition from the first light emission state into the second light emission state and / or from the second light emission state to the first light emission state is carried out smoothly. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control means 10 controls the light emitting means 3 so that the transition from the first light emission state into the second light emission state and / or from the second light emission state to the first light emission state is carried out stepwise.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control device 10 switches the light emitting device 3 of the first light emission state into the second light emission state or from the second light emission state to the first light emission state after a predetermined delay time. The delay time is preferably between 0 and 1 second, and has a resolution of at least 50 milliseconds. The delay time may be derived from the clock signal of the controller 10 or from the clock signal of the bus.

The determining means 9 determines the type of the printer 12 from a plurality of predefined types of printers based on the signals from the printer 12, which are received by the receiving device. 5 Information about the predefined types of printers may be stored in the memory means. 7

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the data stored in the storage device 7 data, which include constants, algorithms, the time sequence of the first light emission state and the second light emission state, as well as a time sequence of addresses to be driven from the ink replacement cartridges.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an ink cartridge set to be inserted into a printer 12, a plurality of ink cartridges according to the invention. The control device 10 of each of the plurality of ink cartridges controls the

Light emitting means 3 of the respective ink cartridge 1 such that the ink cartridges are brought simultaneously from the first light emission state into the second light emission state and from the second light emitting state to said first light emission condition.

With the ink cartridge described above according to the invention occurs no erroneous detection on the basis of scattered light from neighboring lit cartridges if it is with a variety of ink cartridges as ink replacement in a printer.

In addition, there is a reduction of the data traffic on the bus, thereby reducing the error rate in serial data transmission between the printer and the ink cartridge.