Patent ID: 6263170
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: B41J,G03G

Abstract:
An apparatus for identifying/detecting a consumable component in a host device comprising:an electrical circuit having a passive circuit element in the consumable component and remaining circuit elements in the host device, the remaining circuit elements being electrically coupled to the passive circuit element via electrical contacts when the consumable component is in the host device, the electrical circuit having an input and an output; anda characterization circuit having an input coupled to the output of the electrical circuit such that, when the electrical circuit is energized by a test signal applied to its input, the characterization circuit identifies/detects the consumable component as a function of the output from the electrical circuit and the test signal,wherein the characterization circuit comprises:means for comparing the output from the electrical circuit with a threshold voltage to produce an enable signal; andmeans for combining the enable signal with the test signal to identify/detect the consumable component.