Patent ID: 6155664
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An apparatus for comparing characteristics of an inkjet printhead cartridge with characteristics of a remote ink cartridge, the apparatus comprising:a printhead disposed on the printhead cartridge, the printhead having an array of nozzles, each nozzle having an ejection element for causing ink in the nozzle to be ejected from the nozzle and onto a print medium;a primary ink reservoir disposed on the inkjet printhead cartridge, the primary ink reservoir containing a first quantity of ink in fluid communication with the array of nozzles;a printhead cartridge memory device which stores first information related to characteristics of the printhead cartridge, the printhead memory device disposed on the inkjet printhead cartridge;a secondary ink reservoir disposed on the remote ink cartridge, the secondary ink reservoir containing a second quantity of ink in intermittent fluid communication with the primary ink reservoir;a remote ink cartridge memory device which stores second information related to characteristics of the remote ink cartridge, the remote ink cartridge memory device disposed on the remote ink cartridge; anda printer controller that interfaces at least with the printhead, the printhead cartridge memory device, and the remote ink cartridge memory device, that accesses the first information from the printhead cartridge memory device, that accesses the second information from the remote ink cartridge memory device, that compares the first information to the second information, that determines the compatibility of the printhead cartridge and the remote ink cartridge, and that generates printer control signals according to the compatibility of the printhead cartridge and the remote ink cartridge.