Patent Publication Number: US-2012026223-A1

Title: Method and Apparatus for Spoofing Imaging Devices

Description:
The present application is a continuation-in-part of allowed U.S. application Ser. No. 12/195,644, filed on Aug. 21, 2008, which is a continuation of allowed U.S. application Ser. No. 11/588,485, filed on Oct. 27, 2006, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention generally relates to imaging systems, and more particularly to apparatus and techniques for spoofing an imaging device. 
     One typical prior art ink jet printing system includes a printer having a printhead and a replaceable ink container. The printhead receives a supply of ink from the replaceable ink container and, under the control of the printer, deposits or ejects drops of ink onto the print media to form images and text. The replaceable ink container may include an electrical storage device readable by the printer. The electrical storage device may store an ink scale parameter identifying an ink container volume range from a plurality of volume ranges. The electrical storage device may also store a fill proportion parameter identifying the proportion of the selected ink container volume range that represents the ink volume associated with the replaceable ink container. After reading the ink scale parameter and the fill proportion parameter from the electrical storage device, the printer determines the initial ink volume held in the replaceable ink container using these two parameters. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a method of spoofing an imaging device adapted for reading data from an electrical storage device to determine a volume of ink in an ink container comprises providing a replacement electrical storage device for use with the ink container, the replacement electrical storage device comprising memory locations; and responding, by the replacement electrical storage device, to reads of memory locations of the replacement electrical storage device by returning data to the imaging device which causes the imaging device to calculate an inaccurate initial volume of ink stored in the ink container. 
     Additionally, the replacement electrical storage device may comprise an ink container volume parameter specifying an ink volume range of the ink container; and an inaccurate fill proportion parameter in the replacement electrical storage device not indicative of a fill proportion for the selected ink volume range. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method spoofing an imaging device adapted for reading data from an electrical storage device to determine a volume of ink in an ink container comprises providing a replacement electrical storage device for use with the ink container, the replacement electrical storage device comprising memory locations; responding, by the replacement electrical storage device, to reads of memory locations of the replacement electrical storage device by returning at least partially inaccurate data to the imaging device; and calculating, by the imaging device, an incorrect initial volume of ink stored in the ink container. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method spoofing an imaging device adapted for reading data from an electrical storage device to determine a volume of ink in an ink container comprises providing a replacement electrical storage device for use with the ink container, the replacement electrical storage device comprising memory locations; and responding, by the replacement electrical storage device, to reads of memory locations of the replacement electrical storage device by returning an inaccurate fill proportion parameter to the imaging device. 
     In another aspect of the present invention a system of spoofing an imaging device adapted for reading data from an electrical storage device to determine a volume of ink in an ink container comprises an ink container filled with a first volume of ink and a replacement electrical storage device for use with the ink container, the replacement electrical storage device comprising memory locations, wherein the replacement electrical storage device responds to reads of memory locations of the replacement electrical storage device by returning data to the imaging device which causes the imaging device to calculate a second volume of ink stored in the ink container, wherein the first volume of ink is greater than the second volume of ink. This system allows a remanufacturer to provide an ink container with more ink than the container was originally filled with. This system also allows for a replacement ink container that holds more ink than the original equipment manufacturer ink container. 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention, as well as further features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an exemplary prior art printing system shown with the cover removed; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  depict a schematic representation of the prior art ink jet printing system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a schematic block diagram of the ink-jet printing system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a circuit comprising a replacement electrical storage device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a graph of the percentage of ink remaining as reported by the printer for different initial ink volume determinations in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  shows three tables corresponding to the three curves of  FIG. 5  in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description of preferred embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention. In the discussion that follows, specific systems and techniques for spoofing an ink jet printer reading data from an electrical storage device associated with an ink container are disclosed. Other embodiments having different structures and operations for the spoofing of other types of imaging systems, such as laser printers, copiers, facsimile machines and the like, do not depart from the scope of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a prior art ink jet printing system  10  as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,687, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The prior art ink-jet printing system  10  includes a printer portion  12  having a plurality of replaceable printing components  14  installed therein. The plurality of replaceable printing components  14  include a plurality of printheads  16  for selectively depositing ink in response to control signals and a plurality of ink containers  18  for providing ink to each of the plurality of printheads  16 . Each of the plurality of printheads  16  is fluidically connected to each of the plurality of ink containers  18  by a plurality of flexible conduits  20 . 
     Each of the plurality of printheads  16  is mounted in a scanning carriage  22 , which is scanned past a print media (not shown) as the print media is stepped through a print zone. As the plurality of printheads are moved relative to the print media, ink is selectively ejected from a plurality of orifices in each of the plurality of printheads  16  to form images and text. 
     The prior art ink jet printing system  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is configured to receive ink containers  18  having different ink volumes. This is accomplished using several methods, such as, the use of ink containers  18  that are different sizes with each size having a different volume associated therewith. Another technique for providing different ink volumes is to use ink containers  18  of the same size, but vary a volume of ink in each of the ink containers. The prior art teaches that it is critical that the ink container  18  provides a volume of ink that matches a proper use model for the particular application. Because ink jet inks typically have a limited storage life once inserted into the printer it is important that the ink container be sized sufficiently large to prevent inconveniencing the user with frequent ink container changes and sufficiently small to prevent ink from becoming stale with age. When ink jet inks have exceeded the storage life and have become stale these inks cannot reliably produce high quality output images. 
     One aspect of the prior art system is a method and apparatus for storing information on the replaceable printing components  14  for updating operation parameters of the printer portion  12 . An electrical storage device is associated with each of the replaceable printing components  14 . The electrical storage device contains information related to the particular replaceable printer component  14 . Installation of the replaceable printing component  14  into the printer portion  12  allows information to be transferred between the electrical storage device and the printing portion  12  to ensure high print quality as well as to prevent the installation of non-compatible replaceable printing components  14 . The information provided from the replaceable printing component  14  to the printing portion  12  tends to prevent operation of the printing system  10  in a manner which damages the printing system  10  or which reduces the print quality. 
     Although the printing system  10  shown in  FIG. 1  makes use of ink containers  18  which are mounted off of the scanning carriage  22 , other types of printing system configurations may be utilized. One such configuration is one where the replaceable ink containers  18  are mounted on the scanning carriage  22 . Alternatively, the printhead  16  and the ink container  18  may be incorporated into an integrated printing cartridge that is mounted to the scanning carriage  22 . 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  depict a simplified schematic representation of the prior art ink-jet printing system  10  of the prior art shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 2A and 2B  are simplified to illustrate a single printhead  16  and a single ink container  18  for accomplishing the printing of a single color. For the case where more than one color is desired a plurality of printheads  16  are typically used each having an associated ink container  18  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The prior art ink-jet printing system  10  includes a printer portion  12  having replaceable printing components  14 . The replaceable printing components  14  include a printhead  16  and an ink container  18 . The printer portion  12  includes an ink container receiving station  24  and a controller  26 . With the ink container  18  properly inserted into the ink container receiving station  24 , an electrical and a fluidic coupling is established between the ink container  18  and the printer portion  12 . The fluidic coupling allows ink stored within the ink container  18  to be provided to the printhead  16 . The electrical coupling allows information to be passed between the ink container  18  and the printer portion  12  to ensure the operation of the printer portion  12  is compatible with the ink contained in the ink container  18  thereby achieving high print quality and reliable operation of the printing system  10 . 
     The controller  26  controls the transfer of information between the printer portion  12  and the ink container  18 . In addition, the controller  26  controls the transfer of information between the printhead  16  and the controller  26 . Finally, the controller  26  controls the relative movement of the printhead  16  and the print media as well as selectively activating the printhead to deposit ink on print media. The controller  26  is typically implemented with a microprocessor or some form of programmable controller. 
     The ink container  18  includes a reservoir  28  for storing ink therein. A fluid outlet  30  is provided that it is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir  28 . The fluid outlet  30  is configured for connection to a complimentary fluid inlet  32  associated with the ink container receiving station  24 . 
     The printhead  16  includes a fluid inlet  34  configured for connection to a complimentary fluid outlet  36  associated with the printing portion  12 . With the printhead  16  properly inserted into the scanning carriage  22  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) fluid communication is established between the printhead and the ink container  18  by way of the flexible fluid conduit  20 . 
     Each of the replaceable printing components  14  such as the printhead  16  and the ink container  18  include an information storage device  38  such as an electrical storage device or memory  38  for storing information related to the respective replaceable printer component  14 . A plurality of electrical contacts  40  are provided, each of which is electrically connected to the electrical storage device  38 . With the ink container  18  properly inserted into the ink container receiving station  24 , each of the plurality of electrical contacts  40  engage a corresponding plurality of electrical contacts  42  associated with the ink container receiving station  24 . Each of the plurality of electrical contacts  42  associated with the ink container receiving station  24  are electrically connected to the controller  26  by a plurality of electrical conductors  44 . With proper insertion of the ink container  18  into the ink container receiving station  24 , the memory  38  associated with the ink container  18  is electrically connected to the controller  26  allowing information to be transferred between the ink container  18  and the printer portion  12 . 
     Similarly, the printhead  16  includes an information storage device  38  such as an electrical storage device associated therewith. A plurality of electrical contacts  40  are electrically connected to the electrical storage  38  in a manner similar to the electrical storage device  38  associated with the ink container  18 . With the printhead  16  properly inserted into the scanning carriage  22  the plurality of electrically contacts  40  engage a corresponding plurality of electrical contacts  42  associated with the printing device  12 . Once properly inserted into the scanning carriage, the electrical storage device  38  associated with the printhead  16  is electrically connected to the controller  26  by way of a plurality of electrical conductors  46 . 
     Although electrical storage devices  38  associated with each of the ink container  18  and the printhead  16  are given the same element number to indicate these devices are similar, the information stored in the electrical storage device  38  associated with the ink container  18  will, in general, be different from the information stored in the electrical storage device  38  associated with the printhead  16 . Similarly, the information stored in electrical storage device  38  associated with each ink container of the plurality of ink containers  18  will in general be different and unique to the particular ink container of the plurality of ink containers  18 . The particular information stored on each electrical storage device  38  will be discussed in more detail later. 
       FIG. 3  represents a block diagram of the prior art printing system  10  shown connected to an information source or host computer  48 . The host computer  48  is shown connected to a display device  50 . The host  48  can be a variety of information sources such as a personal computer, work station, or server to name a few, that provides image information to the controller  26  by way of a data link  52 . The data link  52  may be any one of a variety of conventional data links such as an electrical link or an infrared link for transferring information between the host  48  and the printing system  10 . 
     The controller  26  is electrically connected to the electrical storage devices  38  associated with each of the printhead  16  and the ink container  18 . In addition, the controller  26  is electrically connected to a printer mechanism  54  for controlling media transport and movement of the carriage  22 . The controller  26  makes use of parameters and information provided by the host  48 , the memory  38  associated with the ink container  18  and memory  38  associated with the printhead  16  to accomplish printing. 
     The host computer  48  provides image description information or image data to the printing system  10  for forming images on print media. In addition, the host computer  48  provides various parameters for controlling operation of the printing system  10 , which is typically resident in printer control software typically referred to as the “print driver”. In order to ensure the printing system  10  provides the highest quality images it is necessary that the operation of the controller  26  compensate for the particular replaceable printer component  14  installed within the printing system  10 . It is the electric storage device  38  that is associated with each replaceable printer component  14  that provides parameters particular to the replaceable printer component  14  that allows the controller  26  to utilize these parameters to ensure the reliable operation of the printing system  10  and ensure high quality print images. 
     Among the parameters, for example which can be stored in electrical storage device  38  associated with the replaceable printing component  14  are the following: actual count of ink drops emitted from the printhead  16 ; a date code associated with the ink container  18 ; date code of initial insertion of the ink container  18 ; system coefficients; ink type/color: ink container size; age of the ink; printer model number or identification number; cartridge usage information; just to name a few. 
     The electrical storage device  38  shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  is a four terminal device. Alternatively, the electrical storage device  38  can be a two terminal device. One such two terminal device includes a power and ground terminals. Clock signals and data signals are provided on the power terminal. 
     The technique of the prior art allows ink volume information to be passed between the replaceable consumable  14  and the controller  26  in an efficient and reliable manner. The prior art teaches that it is frequently desirable to pass very accurate ink volume information between the replaceable consumable  14  and the controller  26 . For example, in the case where the replaceable consumable  14  is the ink container  18 , the prior art teaches it is necessary to have accurate ink volume information associated with the ink supply  28  passed to the controller  26  when the ink container  18  is initially inserted into the printing system  10 . This information is used by the printing system  10  to compute remaining ink in the ink supply  28  based on ink usage. Therefore, the prior art teaches it is critical that very accurate ink volume information be associated with the ink supply  28  and that this information is accurately provided to the controller  26 . The controller  26  uses this ink volume information as a basis for determining an out-of-ink condition. The prior art teaches it is important that this out-of-ink condition be determined accurately such that the printer is not operated without ink. Operation of the printer without ink can cause reliability problems or, if long enough, produce catastrophic failure. 
     The technique of the prior art must not only be capable of providing accurate ink volume information but also capable of providing accurate ink volume information over a large ink volume range. The ink volume range varies with the particular printing application. For example, large format printing requires ink containers that are typically several liters in size as a convenience to the user. Significantly smaller ink containers would require greater frequency of ink container replacement which if frequent enough can be an inconvenience to the user. 
     In the case of a desktop printer application for home use the ink container  18  may contain a significantly lower volume of ink on the order of 100 cubic centimeters (cc&#39;s) or less. Ink containers of larger volume for this application would likely exceed their shelf life or storage period thereby resulting in reduced print quality. In addition, ink use rate for a given application depends on the particular usage for the individual user. 
     The techniques of the prior art may be used for storing ink volume information in the electrical storage device  38 . An ink scale parameter is first determined for the ink volume associated with the ink container  18 . The ink scale parameter identifies an ink container volume range from a plurality of ink container volume ranges. The ink container scale parameter may be a two-bit binary value that is used to uniquely identify each of four ink container volume ranges. For example, the two-bit binary value of 00 may represent an ink container volume range from 0-255.75 cubic centimeters (cc&#39;s), a value of 01 may respresent an ink containter volume range from 0-511.50 cc&#39;s, a value of 10 may respresent a value of 10 may represent an ink container volume range of 0-1023 cc&#39;s, and an ink container scale parameter value equal to  11  may represent an ink container volume range from 0-2,046 cubic centimeters. 
     A fill proportion parameter is then determined for the supply of ink for the ink container  18 . The fill proportion parameter identifies the proportion of the selected ink container volume range that represents the ink volume associated with the ink container  18 . The fill proportion parameter may be a 10-bit binary value. This 10-bit binary value can uniquely identify up 1,024 unique values. An ink volume resolution associated with the ink container  18  then varies with the ink container volume range. 
     The ink scale and the fill proportion parameters are stored in the electrical storage device  38  associated with the ink container  18 . 
     As discussed previously, the printing system  10  is capable of accepting ink containers  18  that have varying ink container volumes. The technique of the prior art allows the particular ink volume associated with the ink container  18  to be accurately specified using minimal resources in the electrical storage device  38 . 
     In operation, the printing system when powered up or when the ink container  18  is newly installed represented by step  64  a memory read request is initiated by the controller  26 . This read request directs the electrical storage device  38  to provide the ink container scale parameter and the fill proportion parameter to the controller  26 . The controller  26  interprets this information to determine the volume of ink associated with the ink container  18 . The printing system  10  is then ready for accepting a print command from the host. Further details of the prior art printing system are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,687. 
     As described above, after reading the ink scale parameter and the fill proportion parameter from the electrical storage device  38 , the printer  10  determines the initial ink volume held in the ink container  18  using these two parameters. The printer  10  may then use a computational drop count technique to estimate and report to the user the amount of ink remaining during the use of the ink container  18 . To prevent the printhead  16  from running dry, the printer  10  may use a separate, physical measurement system (possibly separate from the computational technique and not dependent on the initial volume determination) that actually determines when the ink container  18  is low or out of ink, and then halts printing to prevent damage to the printhead  16 . 
     The present invention provides techniques for spoofing or deceiving a printer by causing the printer to calculate an incorrect initial volume of ink held in the ink container  18 . In various situations it may be advantageous to spoof the printer regarding the initial volume of ink stored in an ink container. By causing the printer calculate an inaccurate initial volume of ink greater than the actual volume of ink remaining, the printer may report to the user a greater amount of ink remaining. Conversely, by causing the printer calculate an inaccurate initial volume of ink less than the actual volume of ink remaining, the printer may report to the user a lesser amount of ink remaining. Such inaccurate reporting may be advantageous in order to modify customer behavior, meet customer expectations or confuse competitors. 
       FIG. 4  shows a circuit  100  in accordance with the present invention. The circuit  100  comprises a replacement electrical storage device  102  and contacts  106  attached to a circuit board  104 . The replacement electrical storage device  102  may be suitably implemented as a memory device, a custom or semi-custom integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, or the like. The circuit  100  may be utilized as a replacement for the electrical storage device  38  and associated components of the prior art and may be attached to the ink container  18  when the ink container  18  is refilled with ink. Alternatively, the circuit  100  may be attached to a new ink container  18 . 
     The replacement electrical storage device  102  may mimic at least a subset of the operation and functionality of electrical storage device  38  in order to allow operation of the printer system  10  with a refilled ink container  18  or a new ink container  18  having the device  102 . For example, the replacement electrical storage device  102  may operate as a memory element, allowing read and write accesses to various memory locations. For certain memory locations in the replacement electrical storage device  102  which are read by the printer system  10 , the electrical storage device  102  may store (and provide to the printer) the same data stored in the electrical storage device  38 . For other memory locations in the replacement electrical storage device  102  which are read by the printer system  10 , the electrical storage device  102  may store (and provide to the printer) data which differs from the data stored in the electrical storage device  38 . 
     To spoof the printer system  10  into determining an inaccurate initial volume of ink stored in the ink container, the replacement electrical storage device  102  may return to the printer system  10  an inaccurate fill proportion parameter which is not indicative of a fill proportion for a selected ink volume range. For example, if the fill proportion parameter is 50% of the accurate fill proportion parameter, the printer system  10  will calculate an inaccurate initial volume of ink stored in the ink container  18  which is generally 50% of the actual initial volume of ink.  FIG. 5  depicts a graph of the percentage of ink remaining as reported by the printer for different initial volume determinations. Curve  500  of  FIG. 5  shows the ink remaining percentage of the ink container  18  for the case of the inaccurate initial ink volume determination of 50% of the actual ink volume, in comparison to curve  502  which corresponds to the prior art determination of the accurate initial ink volume. Additionally, if the fill proportion parameter is 50% of the accurate fill proportion parameter for a particular ink tank size, the ink container volume parameter specifying an ink volume range of the ink container  18  may be doubled, causing the printer system  10  to calculate an inaccurate initial volume of ink stored in the ink container  18  which is 150% of the actual volume of the ink held in the ink container  18 . Curve  504  of  FIG. 5  shows the ink remaining percentage of ink container  18  for the case of the inaccurate initial ink volume determination of 150% of the actual initial ink volume. 
     Note that while both curves  500 ,  502  and  504  begin at 100% in  FIG. 5 , the printer  10  believes that the ink container  18  having the inaccurate fill proportion parameter of 50% was initially filled with a volume of ink generally 50% that of the actual ink volume. Additionally, the printer  10  believes that the ink container  18  having both the fill proportion parameter is 50% of the accurate fill proportion parameter for a particular ink tank size and the doubled ink container volume parameter was initially filled with a volume of ink generally 150% of the actual ink volume. See Tables  600 ,  602  and  604  of  FIG. 6  showing cartridge (ink container) volume as determined by the printer for these three cases, where the actual initial ink volume for each case is approximately the same, but the initial ink volume determined by the printer varies significantly. 
     Thus, by setting either or both of the fill proportion parameter and the ink container volume parameter to an inappropriate value, the printer system  10  is spoofed into making an inaccurate determination of the initial volume of ink stored in the ink container  18 . Additionally, as ink is consumed during the printing process, the printer will continue to report to the user a generally inaccurate amount of ink remaining until an ink low situation is detected, as seen in  FIG. 5 . 
     The embodiments described above may be used in an ink container that has been refilled or in a previously unused container. Typically, ink containers are filled with a volume of ink that is lower than the total amount of ink that may fit into the container. When refilling a used ink container, it may be desirable to add more ink than an amount originally stored. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that any arrangement that is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and that the invention has other applications in other environments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. The following claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specific embodiments described herein.