Abstract:
A printing system utilizes printing material cartridges with memory to provide a way to uniquely identify the contents of a printing device cartridge and optimize printing parameters for use with the printing material. Newly developed printing materials and printing solutions therefor can be provided to printing devices that were manufactured prior to the development of the new printing material. Additionally, all cartridges can be physically similar without regard for the type of printing material contained therein, so no special manufacturing is required for each different printing material.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/410,989, entitled “Non-Contact Acumen Features,” filed Oct. 1, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,562 by Robert Haines, a co-applicant of this application, and others. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention generally relates to printing material cartridges installable into printing devices, and more particularly, to printing material cartridges having a memory. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Most types of printing devices are equipped with replaceable printing material cartridges that hold printing material for the printing process. Such printing material cartridges include toner cartridges that contain laser printer toner, ink cartridges that contain different types of ink, and ribbon cartridges that include inked ribbons. 
     Many of these printing material cartridges contain printing materials that are specifically engineered to perform a certain type of printing task. For example, some printing material cartridges may contain a printing material that is particularly suited for use with a certain type of print medium. Other printing material cartridges may contain a printing material that is useful for print jobs that do not require premium print quality and is made primarily to conserve printing material. 
     For each of these special types of printing material cartridges, variable print parameters in the printing device must be set to optimum levels so that the printing device properly utilizes the specialty printing material. The combination of settings of print parameters is known as the printing solution for the printing material. 
     Typically, the printing material cartridge is constructed with physical design features so that the printing device can identify the cartridge as containing specialty printing material and make appropriate configuration changes to offer the proper printing solution for the printing material. However, providing unique physical design features for various printing material cartridges presents significant disadvantages for manufacturers and users alike. 
     One problem with customizing cartridges with physical design features is that only the specialty printing materials and printing solutions known to the printing device manufacturer at the time of manufacture can be accommodated in the printing device. There is no way to utilize newly developed specialty printing materials in printing devices that were manufactured before the new specialty printing materials were developed, either because the printing device cannot be altered to accept a printing material cartridge with new physical characteristics or because the printing device cannot know the printing solution for the new specialty printing material. 
     Another problem is that unique parts must be designed, integrated and marketed for each printing device cartridge design. This makes the specialty printing materials more expensive for the user and discourages the use of the specialty printing materials. Using a specialty printing material with a generic printing solution can cause damage to a printing device and/or produce unacceptable output. 
     SUMMARY 
     A printing system utilizes printing material cartridges with memory to provide a way to uniquely identify the contents of a printing device cartridge and optimize printing parameters for use with the printing material. In addition, data stored in the cartridge memory may be used to control the operation and status of a printer in which the cartridge is installed. 
     Printing material cartridges are made which have memory placed on the cartridge itself or within the label affixed to the cartridge. This memory is used to store various information regarding the cartridge, such as the number of pages that have been printed using the cartridge so that the printer may estimate how many more pages may be printed using the same cartridge. Another example of a way in which such memory is utilized is that the memory may store the model number of the cartridge so that the printing device may recognize the cartridge as valid or invalid for use with that printing device. 
     The present invention contemplates utilizing this memory to store printer settings that should be used when printing with the printing material contained in the printing material cartridge to obtain optimum performance. Newly developed printing materials and printing solutions for them can be provided to printing devices that were manufactured prior to the development of the new printing material. Also, all cartridges can be physically similar without regard for the type of printing material contained therein. Therefore, no special manufacturing is required for each specialty printing material. 
     In one implementation described herein, data stored in the cartridge memory is used to halt printer operations in particular situations, such as when operation of a printer configured in a certain way will cause damage if used with the specialty toner contained in the cartridge or if use of the specialty toner is inadvisable for any other reason. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like components and/or features. 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a laser printer. 
     FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a laser printer toner cartridge. 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a printing system utilizing the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a process to optimize printer parameter settings for use with a specific printing material. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a laser printer  30  in which the present invention may be implemented. The invention may further be implemented in other units that employ printing devices, such as scanners, photocopiers, facsimile machines, and the like. For purposes of discussion, the invention is described in the context of laser printers. 
     FIG. 2 shows a toner cartridge  32  that is installable in the laser printer  30 . The toner cartridge  32  has a label  34  that contains information identifying the toner cartridge  32  to a user. The label  34  typically recites the name of the manufacturer, the model number of the cartridge, etc. Although the invention is shown and described herein embodied as a printer toner cartridge for a laser printer, it is noted that the invention may be embodied as any printing material cartridge (toner cartridge, ink cartridge, ribbon cartridge, etc.) installable in a printing device (printer, copier, fax machine, etc.). 
     A memory tag  36  is located underneath the label  34  on the toner cartridge  32 , although the memory tag  36  may be placed on the toner cartridge  32  at any location which may be practical for the purposes described herein. The memory tag  36  is preferably a radio frequency identification (RFID) memory tag. RFID memory tags and applications therefor are well known in the art. Further aspects of the RFID memory tag  36  structure and its functionality in the present invention will become clearer as the discussion progresses. 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram of printing system  40  with toner cartridge  32  installed therein. The cartridge  32  is replaceable and may be removed and replaced by another toner cartridge (not shown). The toner cartridge  32  includes the memory tag  36  and a toner supply  42 . 
     As previously stated, the memory tag  36  is an RFID memory tag, although it is noted that the memory tag  36  may be conventional semiconductor memory or a magnetic strip. The RFID memory tag  36  has component memory  44 , a processor  46 , and an antenna coil  48 . The component memory  44  has printing material data  50  and a manufacturer identifier  51  stored therein. The format and function of the printing material data  50  will be described in further detail below. 
     The RFID memory tag  36  is designed to operate in conjunction with an interrogating device, also known as an interrogator. An interrogator is a device that provides power to, reads from and/or writes to the memory tag  36 . Examples of interrogators include a memory tag reader or scanner, a memory tag writing device which stores data on the memory tag  36 , and the like. In the present example, the laser printer  30  includes an interrogator  52 . 
     The interrogator  52  emits a radio frequency field that provides power to the memory tag  36  via the antenna coil  48 . The memory tag  36 , therefore, does not require its own power supply, a feature that adds to the cost efficiency and practicality of utilizing RFID memory for the memory tag  36 . 
     Communications between the interrogator  52  and the RFID memory tag  36  are transmitted and received via the radio frequency field and the antenna coil  48  utilizing standard RFID method and protocol, such as promulgated in ISO 14443 and ISO 15693. Therefore, physical contact between the memory tag  36  and the printer  30  is not required for the printer  30  to communicate with the memory tag  36 . 
     It is noted that if the magnetic strip (not shown) is used in place of the RFID memory tag  36 , the printer  30  would necessarily be equipped with a magnetic strip reader to effectuate the transfer of information from the toner cartridge  32  to the printer  30 . Likewise, if conventional semiconductor memory (not shown) is used in place of the RFID memory tag  36 , the printer  30  would be required to have a memory contact so that information located in the memory could be electronically transferred to the printer  30 . 
     The printer  30  has a printer memory  54  that contains variable printer parameter settings  56 . The settings can be altered to provide an optimum printing solution for different types of toner, print media, environmental conditions, etc. The printer memory  54  also contains an optimizer  60  that, when executed on a printer processor  62 , optimizes the variable printer parameter settings  58  for use under certain conditions or with certain printing materials. The optimizer  60  is also configured to compare a printer configuration with the printing material data  50  and to determine if there is a mismatch between the two. A mismatch occurs when using the printing material having properties identifies by the printing material data  50  is inadvisable because the printer  30  or some component will be damaged, because the printing quality may be inferior, or because any other reason that a user may wish to reconsider using the printing material with the printer  30 . 
     The printer  30  includes a software power switch  66  that may be activated to turn electrical power to the printer  30  on, or de-activated to turn power to the printer  30  off. The printer also includes a display  68  that may be used to display messages to a printer user. A manufacturer list  70  is stored in the printer memory  54  and identifies one or more approved manufacturers. The manufacturer list  70  is used to identify printer components that are compatible with the printer  30 . Practical use of the manufacturer list  70  will be described in greater detail below. 
     It is noted that although the functional components of the printing system  40  are shown in specific locations, the functional components may be located on the printer  30 , the toner cartridge  32 , or a location external to the printing system  40  provided the functionality of the printing system  40  is preserved. 
     FIG. 4 depicts a flow diagram of a process to optimize printer parameter settings for use with a specific printing material and/or to control the printer  30  depending on the specific printing material. At step  100 , the printing material data  50  is stored in the component memory  44  of the toner cartridge  32 . This step is accomplished by the manufacturer of the toner cartridge  32  during the manufacturing process. The printing material data  50  is data indicative of one or more special characteristics of the toner contained in the toner cartridge  32  or of the toner cartridge  32  itself. 
     For example, low pile height toners are available which comprise smaller toner particles than conventional toner. When a low pile height toner is used in a printing process, approximately the same amount of toner particles is used that would be used with a conventional toner. Because the low pile height toner has smaller toner particles, a smaller volume of toner will be used to print a page, resulting in lighter print, which is acceptable for some users. As a result of using a smaller volume of toner for a print job, the life of the toner cartridge will be extended. 
     However, extended cartridge life is undesirable for some customers. Customers who print under conditions that cause high photoconductor wear would not benefit from extending the life of the cartridge because the photoconductor would wear out before the toner supply  44  is exhausted. To extend the life of a toner cartridge for these customers requires constructing the toner cartridge  32  with a high durability photoconductor, which will last as long as the toner. 
     A manufacturer does not want to burden normal printer users with the additional cost of a cartridge with a high durability photoconductor. Therefore, the manufacturer differentiates between normal toner cartridges and toner cartridges having more expensive components by use of the printing material data  50 . In the present example, the printing material data  50  provides an indication to the printer  30  whether the toner cartridge  32  contains a low pile height toner. 
     The optimizer  60  is configured to determine if the printer  30  is configured in such a way that the configuration does not support—or should not be used with—the low pile height toner. If the two are incompatible, the optimizer  60  determines that there is a mismatch and a response action is initiated. The response action may include displaying a user warning message to a printer user, or rendering the printer  30  inoperable by shutting off power to the printer  60  via the power switch  66 . 
     Other examples of specialty toners include toners that are specially formulated to print on a special, alternate print medium. Use of some alternate print media causes excessive buildup of debris on printer components, such as the photoconductor. Specialty toners are made which contain a scrubbing agent additive that abrades such buildup and enables the printer to function with the alternate print medium without damaging the printer  30  or its components. In this case, the printing material data  50  would provide an indication to the printer  30  that the toner cartridge  32  contains a toner with a scrubbing agent additive, thereby enabling the printer  30  to print using an alternate print medium. 
     If the optimizer  60  determines that there is a mismatch between a configuration of the printer  30  and the toner with a scrubbing agent, then a response action is initiated. The response action may comprise displaying a user warning message or shutting down the printer  30 . The response action can be any other action necessitated by using the specialty toner with the printer configuration. 
     Other types of toner may require a specific setting of a certain printer parameter. For instance, some toners produce better results when a development bias  64  of the printer is set to an optimum voltage level. For these toner cartridges, the printing material data  50  would provide an indication to the printer  30  that the development bias  64  of the printer should be set to the optimum voltage level. 
     If the development bias  64  cannot be set to the optimum voltage level, then the optimizer  60  detects a mismatch and a response action is initiated. The response action includes, but is not limited to, displaying a user warning message indicating that the toner should not be used with the printer, or 
     Continuing with FIG. 4, the user installs the toner cartridge  32  into the printer  30  (step  102 ) and the interrogator  52  reads the printing material data  50  from the component memory  44  (step  104 ). At step  106 , the printer  30  determines if utilizing the printer  30  with its current configuration and with the specialty toner contained in the toner supply  42  of the toner cartridge  32  constitutes a mismatch, i.e., would cause damage to the printer  30 , would necessitate a user warning message, or would require the printer  30  to be shut down for any other reason. For example, if the printer  30  contains a component that should not be used with certain types of toner, and the toner supply  42  includes one such type of toner, it may be desirable to display a user warning or to shut down the printer  30  to avoid damage to the particular component of the printer  30 . If a response action, i.e., a warning or shutdown, is advisable (“Yes” branch, step  106 ), then a response action is initiated at step  108 . A response action may be de-activating the power switch  66  to shut off electrical power to the printer  30  (in case of shutdown), or displaying a warning message to the user on the display  68  of the printer  30 . Otherwise (“No” branch, step  106 ), the printer  30  remains operational in a normal mode. 
     In one implementation, a warning is displayed or a printer shutdown occurs in an event wherein the manufacturer identifier  51  does not conform to a pre-defined standard. For example, the printer  30  may be configured to operate normally only if the manufacturer identifier  51  identifies a valid or approved manufacturer. If the manufacturer identifier  51  identifies an invalid or non-approved manufacturer, a warning may issue or the printer  30  may be shut down. This situation might occur where it is known that use of a certain manufacturer&#39;s products are likely to cause damage to the printer  30 . 
     In one implementation, the manufacturer identifier  51  is compared to the manufacturer list  70  to determine if the cartridge manufacturer  51  is an approved manufacturer. If the manufacturer identifier  51  is contained in the manufacturer list  70 , then printing may resume in normal mode. If not, a mismatch is detected and a response action is initiated at step  108 . 
     At step  110 , the printer  30  determines if it can optimize the variable printer parameter settings  58  using the printing material data  50 . This would depend on if the printer  30  has been programmed to recognize the printing material data  50  and alter the variable printer parameter settings  58  based on the printing material data  50 . 
     If the printer  30  does not recognize the printing material data  50 , it determines that it cannot alter the variable printer parameter settings  58  and the optimization process is terminated (“NO” branch, step  110 ). If, however, the printer  30  recognized the printing material data  50  (“YES” branch, step  110 ), the optimizer  60  alters the variable printer parameter settings  58  to an optimal printing solution for the toner contained in the toner cartridge  32  (step  112 ). 
     Although the invention has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or steps described. Rather, the specific features and steps are disclosed as preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention.