Patent Description:
As a computer peripheral apparatus and the development of the imaging technology, an image formation device is broadly used due to advantages such as high speed and low cost of single-page imaging. According to different functions, the image formation device may include a printer, a copy machine, a multifunction machine, etc. According to different imaging principles, the image formation device may include a laser printer, an inkjet printer, a dot matrix printer, etc..

It is desired to solve the problem of the insufficient resources in the imaging processor of the image formation device without increasing the cost.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a consumable chip and a control method thereof, a consumable, an image formation device, and a storage medium, which are used to solve the problem of insufficient resources in an imaging processor module of an image formation device in the prior art.

The first aspect of the present invention provides a consumable chip applied to a consumable for providing a consumable product to an image formation device, the consumable chip comprising: a memory used to store information of the consumable product of the image formation device; and a controller configured to control the consumable chip to generate a predetermined signal to cause the image formation device to perform a target operation according to the predetermined signal, the consumable chip being mounted at the consumable, and the consumable being detachably mounted at the image formation device.

Optionally, performing the target operation by the image formation device includes: controlling an action of an engine member of the image formation device and/or display of a display panel.

According to present invention, the consumable chip includes: a first port configured to communicate with an imaging controller of the image formation device; and a second port configured to output the predetermined signal to an engine member of the image formation device to control the engine member to perform a target operation corresponding to the predetermined signal.

Optionally, the memory stores a plurality of sets of image formation engine control parameters; and the consumable chip is configured to: read attribute information of the image formation device stored in the image formation device; determine a corresponding target image formation engine control parameter based on the attribute information of the image formation device; and generate the predetermined signal according to the determined target image formation engine control parameter.

Optionally, the predetermined signal includes at least one of: a pulse width modulation signal for controlling a motor, a pulse width modulation signal for controlling a developing roller, a level control signal for controlling an electromagnet, a level control signal for controlling a pickup roller, or a level control signal for controlling a relay, or a level control signal for controlling an electromagnet.

Optionally, the controller is further configured to: detect whether a cover of the image formation device is open; and in response to the cover of the image formation device being open, stop a read and write operation of the memory.

The second aspect of the present invention provides a control method of a consumable chip, the consumable chip being mounted at a consumable, and the consumable being detachably mounted at an image formation device comprising: generating a predetermined signal to the image formation device to cause the image formation device to perform a target operation according to the predetermined signal.

According to present invention, generating the predetermined signal to the image formation device to cause the image formation device to perform the target operation according to the predetermined signal includes: outputting the predetermined signal to an engine member of the image formation device to control the engine member to perform the target operation corresponding to the predetermined signal.

Optionally, a memory of the consumable chip further stores a plurality of sets of image formation engine control parameters; and generating the predetermined signal to the image formation device to cause the image formation device to perform the target operation according to the predetermined signal includes: reading attribute information of the image formation device stored in the image formation device; determining a corresponding target image formation engine control parameter based on the attribute information of the image formation device and generating the predetermined signal according to the determined target image formation engine control parameter.

Optionally, the consumable chip comprises a memory, the method further comprising: detecting whether a cover of the image formation device is open, the image formation device including a memory; and in response to the cover of the image formation device being open, stopping a read and write operation of the memory.

The third aspect of the present invention provides a consumable, including the consumable chip, comprising a housing, a consumable accommodation unit being arranged in the housing, and a consumption product being accommodated in the consumable accommodation unit.

Optionally, the consumable comprising a developing cartridge, a developer being accommodated in the consumable accommodation unit of the developing cartridge.

Optionally, the consumable comprising a drum assembly including a photosensitive unit, the photosensitive unit being the consumption product.

The fourth aspect of the present invention provides an image formation device comprising: a frame, an imaging unit and a consumable mounting unit being arranged in the frame, the consumable is installed in the consumable mounting unit.

The fifth aspect of the present invention provides a storage medium storing a program that, while the program is running, control the device on which the storage medium is located to perform the method described above for consumable chips.

Understandably, in the present invention, the controller of the consumable chip may be used to replace the imaging controller to generate the predetermined signal. Thus, the resources of the consumable chip may be sufficiently used. The problem of the insufficient resources of the imaging controller of the image formation device in the existing technology may be solved without increasing the cost. The consumable chip may have high reliability and be practical.

In order to better understand the technical solutions of the present invention, embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below in connection with the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> and <FIG> introduce and illustrate a structure of an image formation device.

As shown in <FIG>, for convenience of description, A1 is a left side surface of the image formation device, B1 is a front surface of the image formation device, C1 is an upper surface of the image formation device. A right side surface is opposite to A1. A rear surface is opposite to B1. A lower surface is opposite to C1. A2 is a left side surface of a process cartridge. B2 is a front surface of the process cartridge. C2 is an upper surface of the process cartridge. A right side surface is opposite to A2. A rear surface is opposite to B2. A lower surface is opposite to C2.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an image formation device <NUM>, including a frame, a processing cartridge mounting member <NUM>, a paper cassette <NUM>, a paper conveying mechanism (not shown), and a gate cover <NUM>. The frame may be also referred to as a body or main body of the image formation device <NUM>. The process cartridge mounting member <NUM> is located in the frame. The paper cassette <NUM> is located below the process cartridge mounting member <NUM>. The paper conveying mechanism (not shown) may be also arranged between the process cartridge mounting member <NUM> and the paper cassette <NUM>. The gate cover <NUM> is located at a front surface of the frame and connected by a pivot relative to the frame. When the gate cover <NUM> is in an open state shown in <FIG>, the process cartridge <NUM> (i.e., consumables) is able to be mounted to or taken out from the process cartridge mounting member <NUM>. When the gate cover <NUM> is rotated relative to the pivot toward the rear surface to a closed state, the process cartridge <NUM> is stably mounted at the process cartridge mounting member <NUM>. A first communication circuit <NUM> for contact communication with a first chip in the process cartridge <NUM> and a second communication circuit <NUM> for contact communication with a second chip in the process cartridge <NUM> are also arranged in the process cartridge mounting member <NUM>. In embodiments of the present invention, the process cartridge <NUM> may be a split type. That is, the process cartridge <NUM> may include a developing cartridge <NUM> for accommodating developer and a drum assembly <NUM> for installing a photosensitive drum. The image formation device <NUM> of embodiments of the present invention further includes a power switch <NUM>, an operation panel <NUM>, a display panel <NUM>, and a paper discharge member <NUM>. The power switch is located at a front surface of the frame and close to the right side surface and the upper surface. The operation panel <NUM>, the display panel <NUM>, and the paper discharge member <NUM> are located on the upper surface of the frame.

As shown in <FIG>, the image formation device <NUM> further includes a transfer roller, a paper cassette, a paper feed roller (a pickup roller) <NUM>, a conveyor roller, a correction roller, a laser, a fixing unit, a discharge paper cassette, a conveyor roller, a conveyor roller, and a conveyor roller, etc. The process cartridge <NUM> includes a photosensitive drum, a charging roller, a developing roller, etc..

The paper cassette may be configured to store paper P. The paper feed roller (pickup roller) <NUM> may be configured to convey the stored paper P to a conveying path. The conveyor roller may be configured to convey paper P to a clamp area between the photosensitive drum and the transfer roller. Imaged paper may be discharged to the discharge paper cassette after passing through the fixing unit. The correction roller may be configured to align and correct a feed edge of the paper to prevent the paper from skewing and affecting image formation quality.

The charging roller may be configured to charge a surface of the photosensitive drum. The laser emits a laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum. The developing roller may be configured to develop a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum. When paper P passes through the clamp area between the photosensitive drum and the transfer roller, the photosensitive drum may transfer the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum to paper P under the action of the transfer roller. The fixing unit may be configured to fix the toner image on paper P. Fixed paper P may be discharged through the charge paper cassette and stacked by a convey function of the conveyor rollers.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a connection between a consumable chip <NUM> and an image formation device <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the consumable chip <NUM> includes a controller <NUM> having an information processing function and a memory <NUM> configured to store consumable-related information. The image formation device <NUM> includes an imaging controller <NUM> and a controller <NUM>. For example, the imaging controller <NUM> may be a System on Chip (SoC) configured to control the imaging of the image formation device <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be communicatively connected to the imaging controller <NUM>. Thus, the data in the memory <NUM> may be transmitted to the image formation device <NUM>, or the data in the image formation device <NUM> may be written into the memory <NUM>.

Wherein, the image formation device <NUM> may represent a device that is configured to, for example, print print data generated by a computer on a recording medium such as printing paper. The image formation device <NUM> may include but is not limited to, a copy machine, a printer, a fax machine, a scanner, and a multifunction peripheral that is configured to perform the above functions in a single apparatus. The image formation device <NUM> may include an inkjet printing image formation device <NUM>, a laser printing image formation device <NUM>, or another type of image formation device <NUM>.

Wherein, the consumable chip <NUM> may be arranged at the process cartridge <NUM> (i.e., consumable). The consumable chip <NUM> of embodiments of the present invention may be applied to an ink cartridge/liquid container of an inkjet image formation device <NUM>, or a drum/toner cartridge of a larger image formation device <NUM>.

Wherein, the memory <NUM> may be a non-volatile memory <NUM>. The memory <NUM> may be connected to the controller <NUM>. When the consumable chip <NUM> is powered off, the data stored in the memory <NUM> will not be lost. The non-volatile memory <NUM> may include a NOR flash (flash memory), a NAND flash (flash memory), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), a non-volatile static RAM (NVSRAM), etc..

The memory <NUM> may generally store related information such as a production date, a manufacturer, a device code, a chip serial number, a consumption information threshold, a consumable installation date, a consumable installed identification, a consumable color verification information, capacity information, and consumable information of the consumable chip. Some of the related information stored in the memory <NUM> listed above may be unnecessary, which is not limited to the present invention.

In the existing technology, the imaging controller <NUM>, such as an SoC, as a core controller of the image formation device <NUM>, may be usually configured to perform processing an operation related to data transmission and reception, command transmission and reception, and engine control. For example, how an interface device (including but not limited to a USB port, a wired network port, a wireless network port, etc.) is called through an application program to send and receive data, a command, a state, etc., and also obtain a received printing parameter through the application program, and parse commands that are used to control the engine mechanism to perform specific functions, such as an LSU exposure parameter, a pickup roller rotation parameter, etc. Therefore, the image formation device <NUM> also requires more resources for the imaging controller <NUM>, such as a number of PINs, a number of pulse width modulation (PWM) waves, a communication interface, etc. Since the imaging controller in the existing technology often has the problem of insufficient resources, a controller CPU is usually added to the image formation device <NUM> to share the execution tasks of the imaging controller <NUM>. Thus, the processing speed is accelerated, but the cost is increased at the same time. Therefore, it is desired to solve the problem of insufficient resources of the imaging controller <NUM> of the image formation device <NUM> in the existing technology.

Based on the problem, embodiments of the present invention provide a technical concept of using a consumable chip <NUM> to share the execution tasks of the imaging controller <NUM>, which can solve the problem of insufficient resources of the imaging controller <NUM> of the image formation device <NUM> in the existing technology without increasing the cost.

Specifically, in some embodiments, a controller <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM> of embodiments of the present invention may be configured to generate a predetermined signal. Thus, the image formation device <NUM> may perform a target operation according to the predetermined signal. The consumable chip <NUM> may be mounted at the consumable. The consumable may be detachably mounted at the image formation device <NUM>.

Wherein, the consumable chip <NUM> may include a first port and a second port. The first port may be configured to communicate with the imaging controller <NUM> in the image formation device <NUM>. The second port may be configured to output the predetermined signal to the engine member in the image formation device <NUM> to control the engine member to perform the target operation corresponding to the predetermined signal. The target operation performed by the image formation device <NUM> includes, but is not limited to, controlling actions of the engine member and/or display of the display panel <NUM> in the image formation device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the engine member of the image formation device <NUM> includes, but is not limited to, at least one of a motor (not shown in <FIG>), a cleaning roller (not shown in <FIG>), a charging roller, a laser (LSU), a developing roller, a transfer roller, fixing roller (fixing unit), a feeding roller (pick-up roller) <NUM>, a conveyor roller, conveyor rollers, a correction roller, a high-pressure plate (not shown in <FIG>), an electromagnet (not shown in <FIG>), or a relay (not shown in <FIG>).

Understandably, in the present invention, the controller <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM> may be configured to replace the imaging controller <NUM> to generate the predetermined signal. The resources of the consumable chip <NUM> may be sufficiently used, while the problem of insufficient resources of the imaging controller <NUM> may be solved at the same time. Therefore, the problem of insufficient resources of the imaging controller <NUM> of the image formation device <NUM> in the existing technology is solved without increasing the cost. Reliability is high, and practicability is strong.

To be sure, the term "replace" of embodiments of the present invention may be an entire replacement or partial replacement of a whole control process of a functional circuit of the image formation device, or an entire replacement or partial replacement of a control process of a certain part of a functional circuit or a certain functional circuit, which is not limited by embodiments of the present invention.

The consumable chip <NUM> of the present invention is further described in embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention may be combined with each other arbitrarily if embodiments of the present invention are not contradictory to each other.

In method <NUM>, the imaging controller <NUM> uses the consumable chip <NUM> to generate a pulse broadband modulation signal.

Usually, in some embodiments, the engine member may need to be controlled by a PWM signal. When the interface resources of the imaging controller <NUM> are insufficient, in embodiments of the present invention, the consumable chip <NUM> may be used to generate the PWM signal needed by the engine member in the image formation device <NUM> to reduce the occupation of resources of the imaging controller <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, method <NUM> includes the following processes.

At a1, the imaging controller <NUM> (e.g., the SoC in <FIG>) sends a control instruction to the controller <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM>. Wherein, the control instruction includes parameter information for image formation engine control.

Wherein, before the imaging controller <NUM> (e.g., SoC) sends the control instruction to the consumable chip <NUM>, the imaging controller <NUM> needs to control the consumable chip <NUM> to be powered on. In some embodiments, the consumable chip <NUM> may be powered by the image formation device <NUM>.

Wherein, in embodiments of the present invention, the imaging controller <NUM> may be configured to pre-store a plurality of sets of image formation engine control parameters. The imaging controller <NUM> may be configured to read the information of the consumables in the consumable chip <NUM> and/or attribute information stored in the imaging controller <NUM> and/or an imaging command issued by the user through the operation panel of the terminal. The imaging controller <NUM> may be further configured to match a corresponding target engine control parameter in the plurality of sets of image formation engine control parameters. The image formation engine control parameter may include but is not limited to at least one of a high voltage parameter, a fixing parameter, or an LSU optical power parameter. The high voltage parameter may include at least one of a charging high voltage parameter, a developing high voltage parameter, a transfer high voltage parameter, or a fixing high voltage parameter. The attribute information stored in the image formation device <NUM> may include, such as model, region, usage time, etc., of the image formation device <NUM>. The imaging command may include information such as a paper type, a number of pages, and font density.

Taking the high voltage parameter as an example, the consumable chip <NUM> may be configured to send the information of the consumable to the SoC. The SoC may be configured to select the appropriate high voltage parameter according to various factors such as the font density, the paper type, the toner material, the printing environment, etc. The SoC may be further configured to send the control instruction having the high voltage parameter to the controller <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM>. After receiving the control instruction, the controller <NUM> may be configured to generate a PWM signal corresponding to the high voltage parameter to the high voltage plate in the image formation device <NUM>. Thus, the high voltage plate may be configured to adjust the high voltage needed by the engine member (e.g., charging roller <NUM>, developing roller <NUM>, transfer roller <NUM>, fixing roller (fixing unit <NUM>), etc.)) during the entire imaging process. For example, if the toner material A needs a voltage of 1000V, the controller <NUM> may send a PWM signal with a duty ratio of <NUM>% to the high voltage plate. If the toner material B needs a voltage of 500V, the controller <NUM> may send a PWM signal with a duty ratio of <NUM>% to the high voltage plate. The PWM signal may include a cycle and a duty ratio. Different high voltage parameters may correspond to different PWM signals. By adjusting the cycle and the duty ratio of the PWM signal, the high voltage may be controlled.

Wherein, the SoC may issue the control instruction through an integrated circuit bus (IIC, and also referred to as I2C Bus).

At b1, the consumable chip <NUM> generates the PWM signal required by the engine member (e.g., a motor) according to the control instruction to control the action of the engine member in the image formation device <NUM>.

It also needs to know, in some embodiments, another signal related to the control of the engine member, such as an enable signal, a direction signal, and a power signal, may be generated by the SoC. In some other embodiments, the another signal may be generated by the consumable chip <NUM>, which is not limited by the present invention.

In method <NUM>, the imaging controller <NUM> generates a level control signal by using the consumable chip <NUM>.

Before the imaging controller <NUM> (e.g., SoC) sends a control instruction to the consumable chip <NUM>, the imaging controller <NUM> may first need to control the consumable chip <NUM> to be powered on. Generally, the consumable chip <NUM> may be powered by the image formation device <NUM>.

It needs to know, A general printing process may include that the user issues a print command to the driver by operating the operation panel of the terminal, and the driver parses the print command to obtain data such as paper type, number of pages, font density, etc. The parsed data may be sent to the imaging controller <NUM>. The imaging controller <NUM> may control the printing operation according to the printing state. Three printing states may include <NUM>) a sleep state, in which the engine member wakes up the printer to perform a normal printing operation, <NUM>) a standby state, in which the normal printing operation is directly performed, <NUM>) a system errors detection state, in which the error is reported to return to the imaging controller <NUM> and then return to the driver. The display panel of the terminal may eventually show a system error and does not perform the printing operation.

With reference to <FIG>, the method includes the following processes.

At a2, the imaging controller <NUM> (e.g., SoC) sends a control instruction to the controller <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM>. The control instruction carries the level control parameter information. The imaging controller <NUM> determines a time sequence of the signals according to the state of the engine member, generates the level control parameter information, and generates the control instruction carrying the level control parameter information to the controller <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM>.

At b2, the consumable chip <NUM> generates a level control signal of the engine member (e.g., a pickup roller <NUM>, a relay, an electromagnet) according to the control instruction to control an operation state of the engine member in the image formation device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, by taking the control of the pickup roller <NUM> as an example, when the normal printing operation is performed, the image formation device <NUM> is heated, the laser <NUM> (LSU) starts laser scanning, the motor is started, and the engine member is applied with a high voltage. At this time, the consumable chip <NUM> provides a low-level signal to control a fixed hook at the pickup roller <NUM> to release the pickup roller <NUM> to perform a pickup operation.

Understandably, in embodiments of the present invention, the consumable chip <NUM> may directly generate the level control signal to control the operation state of the engine member without occupying the resources of the imaging controller <NUM>. Thus, the problem of the insufficient sources of the imaging controller <NUM> of the image formation device <NUM> in the existing technology without increasing the cost. The method has high reliability and strong practicability.

In method <NUM>, the imaging controller <NUM> controls the display of the display panel <NUM> of the image formation device <NUM> by using the consumable chip <NUM>.

Specifically, in some embodiments, the consumable information may be stored in the memory <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM>. In the existing technology, current consumable state information may be displayed by using the consumable information recorded by the image formation device <NUM>. In embodiments of the present invention, consumption information of the consumable may be transmitted to a panel controller according to the consumable information stored in the consumable chip <NUM> to control the current consumable state information displayed by the display panel <NUM>.

Understandably, in the present invention, the current consumable state information displayed by the display panel <NUM> may be controlled by the consumable chip <NUM>, which can further reduce the resource occupation of the imaging controller <NUM>. Meanwhile, the current consumable state information displayed by the display panel <NUM> may be determined by using the consumable information stored in the consumable chip <NUM>. Thus, compared to the consumable information recorded in the image formation device <NUM>, the current consumable state information may be more accurate.

In method <NUM>, the consumable chip <NUM> is configured with a power-off protection mechanism.

The consumable chip <NUM> still performs read and write operations on the memory <NUM> when the image formation device <NUM> is powered on. When the consumable chip <NUM> has a sudden power failure, in order to avoid data loss, embodiments of the present invention provide an additional protection mechanism to the consumable chip <NUM>. Thus, whether the image formation device <NUM> has an open cover may be detected more directly and quickly to reduce time lag. Therefore, internal data of the memory <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM> may be effectively stored.

In some embodiments, the power-off protection mechanism may include the following processes. By adding a cover open detection function to the consumable chip <NUM>, the consumable chip <NUM> may be directly used to detect whether the image formation device <NUM> has the open cover. If the cover is opened, the reading and writing of the consumable chip <NUM> may be stopped to protect the parameter of the consumable chip <NUM> from being damaged. Otherwise, the reading and writing of the consumable chip <NUM> may be continued.

As shown in <FIG>, a control method of a consumable chip by using the controller <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM> as an execution body includes the following processes.

At S10, the consumable chip is powered on.

At S20, the consumable chip detects whether the image formation device (e.g., a printer) has the open cover.

At S30, if the image formation device has the open cover, reading and writing operations of the memory are stopped.

At S50, if the image formation device does not have the open cover, the reading and writing operations of the memory are continued.

A specific process includes as follows. A signal line of the switch sensor of the image formation device <NUM> may be connected to the consumable chip <NUM>. The consumable chip <NUM> may detect whether the image formation device <NUM> has the open cover through the switch sensor. For example, if the consumable chip <NUM> receives a high level (e.g., a high-level signal), the image formation device <NUM> may not have the open cover. If the consumable chip <NUM> receives a low level (e.g., a low-level signal), the image formation device <NUM> may have the open cover. If the image formation device <NUM> is determined to have the open cover, the reading and writing of the memory <NUM> may be stopped to protect the parameter of the consumable chip <NUM> from being damaged. Otherwise, the reading and writing of the memory <NUM> may be continued.

In method <NUM>, the memory <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM> may store a plurality of sets of image formation engine control parameters.

A difference between Method <NUM> and Method <NUM> is that the image formation engine control parameters of Method <NUM> may be stored in the imaging controller <NUM> or the storage unit corresponding to the imaging controller <NUM>. However, the image formation engine control parameters of Method <NUM> may be stored in the memory <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM>.

Specifically, in some embodiments, the controller <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM> may be configured to read the attribute information of the image formation device <NUM> in the storage unit of the image formation device <NUM> and/or obtain the imaging command issued by the terminal operation panel and/or the consumable information stored in the memory <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM>, and parameter rules stored in the consumable chip <NUM>. Thus, the controller <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM> may be configured to determine the corresponding target image formation engine control parameter from the plurality of sets of image formation engine control parameters. The controller <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM> may be further configured to generate the PWM signal to the corresponding engine member based on the determined target image formation engine control parameter.

Wherein, the attribute information of the image formation device <NUM> may include, for example, the model, region, and usage time of the image formation device <NUM>. The image formation engine control parameter may include, but is not limited to, at least one of a high voltage parameter, a fixing parameter, or an LSU optical power parameter. The high voltage parameter may include at least one of a charging high voltage parameter, a developing high voltage parameter, a transfer high voltage parameter, or a fixing high voltage parameter. The imaging command may include information such as the paper type, the number of pages, and the font density.

For example, the image formation engine control parameter may be a high voltage parameter. When the controller <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM> controls the high voltage, the controller <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM> may obtain the corresponding high voltage parameter from the memory <NUM> in the consumable chip <NUM>. Therefore, the consumable chip <NUM> may share the tasks of the SoC. Thus, the hardware resources of the consumable chip <NUM> may be sufficiently utilized, and the cost may be saved. At the same time, the memory <NUM> of the consumable chip <NUM> may store the high voltage parameter. The consumable chip <NUM> may be configured to send the PWM signal corresponding to the high voltage parameter to the high voltage plate. Thus, the response time may be reduced.

In the existing technology, the imaging controller (e.g., SoC) of the image formation device <NUM> may be configured to read the consumable parameter of the consumable chip <NUM> and/or the attribute information stored in the imaging controller and/or the imaging command issued by the operation panel of the image formation device <NUM>, so as to determine which set may be used as the image formation engine control parameter. After the image formation device <NUM> is sold, if the parameter stored in the image formation device <NUM> needs to be updated, the firmware of the image formation device <NUM> needs to be updated. Thus, professional maintenance personnel may be required, and the update may also fail.

However, in embodiments of the present invention, the consumable chip <NUM> may be configured to store and determine the engine control parameter. The consumables may be used as consumption products and may continue to be produced after being used up. Therefore, newly generated consumables may be updated with the "image formation engine control parameter" at any time before leaving the factory. In connection with the latest consumption products or the latest debugging results, the latest image formation engine control parameter may be determined. The latest image formation engine control parameter may be used to improve the image quality of the image formation device <NUM>.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a control method of a consumable chip. The control method may be applied to the consumable chip. The consumable chip may be mounted at the consumable. The consumable may be detachably mounted at the image formation device. The consumable may be configured to provide the consumption product to the image formation device. The method may include generating a predetermined signal to the image formation device so that the image formation device performs a target operation according to the predetermined signal.

In an alternative embodiment, performing the target operation by the image formation device includes controlling the actions of the engine member of the image formation device and/or the display of the display panel.

In an alternative embodiment, generating the predetermined signal to the image formation device so that the image formation device performs the target operation according to the predetermined signal includes outputting the predetermined signal to the engine member of the image formation device to control the engine member to perform the target operation corresponding to the predetermined signal.

In an alternative embodiment, the memory may also store the plurality of sets of image formation engine control parameters. Generating the predetermined signal to the image formation device so that the image formation device performs the target operation according to the predetermined signal includes reading the attribute information of the image formation device stored in the image formation device, determining the corresponding target image formation engine control parameter based on the attribute information of the image formation device, and generating the predetermined signal according to the determined target image formation engine control parameter.

In an alternative embodiment, the predetermined signal may include at least one of a PWM signal for controlling the motor, a PWM signal for controlling the developing roller, and a level control signal for controlling the electromagnet, a level control signal for controlling the pickup roller, a level control signal for controlling the relay, or a level control signal for controlling the electromagnet.

In an alternative embodiment, the consumable chip may include a memory. The method further includes detecting whether the cover of the image formation device is in an open state.

If the cover of the image formation device is in an open state, the reading and writing operation of the memory may be stopped.

Understandably, in embodiments of the present invention, the consumables may be detachably mounted at the image formation device. The consumable chip may be a chip mounted at the consumable. The consumable chip may be configured to generate the predetermined signal to the image formation device so that the image formation device may perform the target operation according to the predetermined signal. Thus, the problem of the insufficient resources of the imaging controller of the image formation device in the existing technology may be solved without increasing the cost.

It needs to know, for other embodiments and/or further technical details of the control method of the consumable chip, references may be made to the corresponding content of the consumable chip above, which is not repeated here.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a consumable chip. The consumable chip may be mounted at the consumable. The consumable may be detachably mounted at the image formation device. The consumable may be used to provide the consumption product to the image formation device. The consumable chip may include a generation circuit.

The generation circuit may be configured to generate the predetermined signal to the image formation device, so that the image formation device may perform the target operation according to the predetermined signal.

In an alternative embodiments, performing the target operation by the image formation device includes controlling the actions of the engine member of the image formation device and/or the display of the display panel.

In an alternative embodiment, the generation circuit may include a first generation sub-circuit.

The first generation sub-circuit may be configured to output the predetermined signal to the engine member of the image formation device, so as to control the engine member to perform the target operation corresponding to the predetermined signal.

In an alternative embodiment, the memory may also store the plurality of sets of image formation engine control parameters. The generation circuit may include a read sub-circuit and a second generation sub-circuit.

The read circuit may be configured to output the predetermined signal to the engine member in the image formation device, so as to control the engine member to perform the target operation corresponding to the predetermined signal.

The second generation sub-circuit may be configured to determine the corresponding target image formation engine control parameter based on the attribute information of the image formation device and generate the predetermined signal according to the determined target image formation engine control parameter.

In an alternative embodiment, the predetermined signal may include at least one of a PWM signal for controlling the motor, a PWM signal for controlling the developing roller, a level control signal for controlling the electromagnet, a level control signal for controlling the pickup roller, a level control signal for controlling the relay, or a level control signal for controlling the electromagnet.

In an alternative embodiment, the consumable chip may further include a detection circuit and a stop circuit.

The detection circuit may be configured to detect whether the cover of the image formation device is in an open state.

The stop circuit may be configured to stop the reading and writing operation of the memory if the cover of the image formation device is in an open state.

For other contents of the consumable chips provided of embodiments of the present invention, references may be made to the corresponding description above, which is not repeated here.

As shown in <FIG>, embodiments of the present invention provide a consumable chip <NUM>. The consumable chip <NUM> of embodiments of the present invention includes a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and a computer program <NUM> stored in the memory <NUM> and executed by the processor <NUM>. When the computer program <NUM> is executed by the processor <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may be caused to implement a control method of the consumable chip of embodiments of the present invention. In some other embodiments, when the computer program is executed by the processor <NUM>, the functions of the circuits/sub-circuits of the consumable chip <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be realized, which is not repeated here.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an image formation system. The image formation system may include an image formation device <NUM> and a data transmission apparatus for transmitting data to the image formation device <NUM>. The transmission apparatus may include a terminal, e.g., a computer <NUM>.

The image formation device <NUM> may include a printer or another device for printing and imaging, graphic copying, laser coding, or medical images. The computer <NUM> may include a terminal having a printing function such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA). The present invention does not limit specific forms of the image formation device and the computer. A connection between the computer <NUM> and the image formation device <NUM> may be a wireless connection such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth or may be a wired connection through a USB data cable. In embodiments of the present invention, the USB communication manner may be improved. For another communication manner that has a similar problem as the USB communication manner, the technical solution of embodiments of the present invention may be adopted.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a consumable, including a housing and a consumable chip. A consumable accommodation unit may be arranged in the housing. The consumable accommodation unit may accommodate the consumption product. The consumable chip may be configured to execute the above control method. The consumable may include a developing cartridge. The consumable accommodation unit in the developing cartridge may accommodate the developer. The consumable may include a drum assembly. A photosensitive unit may be accommodated in the drum assembly. The photosensitive unit may be a consumable. For details, references may be made to the above specification, which is not repeated here.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an image formation device. The consumable of embodiments of the present invention may be mounted at the image formation device. For details, references may be made to the above specification, which is not repeated here.

Although not covered by the appended claims, examples of the present invention provide a storage medium. The storage medium may include a stored program. When the program is executed, the apparatus where the storage medium is located may be controlled to execute the above control method executed by the consumable chip. The method executed by the consumable chip has been described above, which is not repeated here.

Claim 1:
A consumable chip (<NUM>, <NUM>) applicable to a consumable (<NUM>) for providing a consumable product to an image formation device (<NUM>), the consumable (<NUM>) being detachably mounted at the image formation device (<NUM>), the consumable chip (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a memory (<NUM>, <NUM>) used to store information of the consumable product of the image formation device (<NUM>);
a controller (<NUM>) configured to control the consumable chip (<NUM>, <NUM>) to generate a predetermined signal to cause the image formation device (<NUM>) to perform a target operation according to the predetermined signal,
characterized in that,
the consumable chip (<NUM>, <NUM>) includes:
a first port configured to communicate with an imaging controller (<NUM>) of the image formation device (<NUM>); and
a second port configured to output the predetermined signal to an engine member of the image formation device (<NUM>) to control the engine member to perform a target operation corresponding to the predetermined signal.