Patent Description:
An ink cartridge is a member of an inkjet printer, which is used to store ink for printing and then complete the printing. The ink cartridge can be an integrated ink cartridge with a head or a splitting ink cartridge. The integrated ink cartridge integrates a nozzle on the cartridge. When the ink runs out and the integrated ink cartridge needs to be replaced, the nozzle will be replaced accordingly. Therefore, high printing accuracy and printing quality can be achieved, but the cost of the integrated ink cartridge is relatively high. In order to reduce the cost of the integrated ink cartridge, a used ink cartridge can be recycled and reused. In generally, a recycled ink cartridge is usually an old ink cartridge that cannot be used immediately due to damage of a resistance of a chip on the ink cartridge. As a result, the ink cartridge is often scrapped and cannot be used again.

<CIT> discloses an electronic chip used together with a circuit board belonging to an imaging cartridge, an imaging cartridge and a method for restoring the imaging cartridge, and the electronic chip includes: a substrate, a second storage element, and a back contact terminal. If the electronic chip matches the circuit board on the imaging cartridge, the substrate of the electronic chip covers only one part of at least one first connection terminal of the circuit board, and exposes a contact part of the first connection terminal and used for electrical contact with a probe of an imaging device. The back contact terminal arranged on the reverse side of the substrate of the electronic chip partially covers the first connection terminal and is electrically connected to the first connection terminal. A second storage element of the electronic chip passes via the back contact terminal and is electrically connected to the partially covered first connection terminal.

<CIT> discloses devices and methods for refurbishing a used print cartridge for further use in a printing device. An electronic patch is attached to a circuit on the used print cartridge. The electronic patch includes contact pads that are positioned to electrically contact pads on the circuit of the used print cartridge. The electronic patch also includes a control chip and an embedded memory array that replaces one or more functions of the memory on the used print cartridge, allowing the used print cartridge to be refilled with printing ink and reused in a printer.

<CIT> and <CIT> disclose a regeneration chip. The regeneration chip includes a second contact, a first contact, and a conversion circuit electrically connected with the second contact and the first contact, the second contact is electrically connected with a printer with a second model, the first contact is electrically connected with the former chip contacts, and the conversion circuit can receive and convert an electric signal from the second contact and the first contact.

<CIT> discloses a repairing chip. The repairing chip includes a substrate and a memory unit arranged on the substrate, and the substrate includes a front side and a back side. When the repairing chip is installed in an ink cartridge, a side of the substrate near the ink cartridge is the back side, a side of the substrate away from the ink cartridge is the front side. The repairing chip further includes a memory unit contact, which is connected to the memory unit and arranged on the front side of the substrate; a signal passable contact, which is arranged on the front side and the back side of the substrate, signals at corresponding positions on the front side and the back side of the substrate being in communication via the signal passable contact; and a skeletonized portion, which is in a form of a hole in the substrate.

<CIT> discloses an adapter chip. The adapter chip is a soft board with IC, chip contacts are provided both on an inner side and an outer side of the soft board, and printed lines are provided on the soft board to enable the IC and the chip contacts to be connected with each other. The soft board is bonded to an original chip so that the chip contacts on the inner side of the soft board are connected to corresponding contacts of the original chip, and the chip contacts on the outer side of the soft board are connected to chip contacts of the printer.

There is no effective solution yet to solve this problem of low utilization rate of the recycled ink cartridge.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, an ink cartridge is further provided. The ink cartridge includes an ink cartridge body, a chip of the ink cartridge and a repair chip. The repair chip includes a substrate, a first contact point, a second contact point, a first tin point, a second tin point and a repair resistor. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The first contact point and the second contact point are located on the first surface. The first tin point, the second tin point and the repair resistor are located on the second surface. The first tin point is corresponding to the first contact point, and the second tin point is corresponding to the second contact point. The first tin point is connected with a first end of the repair resistor, and the second tin point is connected with a second end of the repair resistor. The first contact point and the second contact point are configured for electrically connecting with a printer, respectively. The first contact point is connected with the first tin point, and the second contact point is connected with the second tin point. The ink cartridge body is connected with the chip of the ink cartridge. The first tin point and the second tin point are configured to connect with chip contact points of a chip of the ink cartridge, respectively. The second surface is bonded to a surface of the chip of the ink cartridge.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the chip contact points of the chip of the ink cartridge include a contact point to be repaired and a grounding contact point. The first tin point is connected with the contact point to be repaired, and the second tin point is connected with the grounding contact point.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the ink cartridge is provided with a first groove, and the repair resistor is embedded in the first groove.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a thickness of the repair resistor matches a depth of the first groove.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second surface is further provided with a chip crystal, and the chip crystal is embedded in a second groove disposed on the ink cartridge.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the repair resistor is embedded in a first groove disposed on the ink cartridge, and the second groove and the first groove are the same one.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first contact point is connected with the first tin point via a through hole filled with a conductor, and the second contact point is connected with the second tin point via a through hole filled with a conductor.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the repair chip is provided with a locating portion. The locating portion includes a hole structure or a groove structure. The locating portion is configured to preposition the substrate when mounting the repair chip. The ink cartridge is provided with a positioning seat, and the locating portion coincides with a center of the positioning seat.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the substrate is a flexible substrate.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a printer is further provided. The printer includes a printer body, an ink cartridge body, a chip of the ink cartridge and a repair chip. The repair chip includes a substrate, a first contact point, a second contact point, a first tin point, a second tin point and a repair resistor. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The first contact point and the second contact point are located on the first surface. The first tin point, the second tin point and the repair resistor are located on the second surface. The first tin point is corresponding to the first contact point, and the second tin point is corresponding to the second contact point. The first tin point is connected with a first end of the repair resistor, and the second tin point is connected with a second end of the repair resistor. The first contact point and the second contact point are configured for electrically connecting with the printer body, respectively. The first contact point is connected with the first tin point, and the second contact point is connected with the second tin point. The ink cartridge body is connected with the chip of the ink cartridge. The first tin point and the second tin point are configured to connect with chip contact points of the chip of the ink cartridge, respectively. The second surface is bonded to a surface of the chip of the ink cartridge.

The above repair chip, ink cartridge and printer have the following advantages: the repair resistor is located on the repair chip, the contact points are located on the first surface of the substrate, the tin points corresponding to the contact points are located on the second surface of the substrate, the repair resistor is connected with the tin points, and the tin points are connected with the chip contact points of the chip of the ink cartridge. As a result, a damaged resistor of the chip of the ink cartridge can be repaired, the recycled ink cartridge can be used normally after filling ink, and the utilization rate of the recycled ink cartridge is improved.

To describe and illustrate embodiments and/or examples of the present disclosure made public here better, reference may be made to one or more of the figures. The additional details or examples used to describe the figures should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the present disclosure, the embodiments and/or examples currently described, and the best model of the present disclosure as currently understood.

In the figures, <NUM> represents a repair chip, <NUM> represents a substrate, <NUM> represents a first surface, <NUM> represents a second surface, <NUM> represents a first contact point, <NUM> represents a second contact point, <NUM> represents a first tin point, <NUM> represents a second tin point, <NUM> represents a repair resistor, <NUM> represents a locating portion, <NUM> represents a chip crystal, <NUM> represents an ink cartridge body, <NUM> represents a chip of an ink cartridge, <NUM> represents a first groove, and <NUM> represents a printer body.

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure are clearly and completely described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

It should be understood that in the description of the present disclosure, an orientation or a position relationship indicated by location words such as "center, up, down, left, right, vertical, horizontal, inside and outside" are based on an orientation or a position relationship shown in the attached figures, which is only for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description. These location words do not indicate and imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, so it cannot be understood as a restriction on the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the terms "first", "second" and "third" are used only for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood to indicate or imply relative importance.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that unless otherwise expressly stated and qualified, the terms "disposed", "joined" and "connected" are to be understood broadly. For example, the connection can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integrated connection. It can also be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection. It can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediary. It can be an internal connection of two components. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present disclosure may be understood on a case-by-case basis by the skilled in the art.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as a skilled person in the art would understand. The terminology used in the description of the present disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to limit the present disclosure.

In an embodiment, a repair chip applied to an ink cartridge is provided. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a first surface of a repair chip in an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a second surface of a repair chip in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the repair chip <NUM> includes a substrate <NUM>, a first contact point <NUM>, a second contact point <NUM>, a first tin point <NUM>, a second tin point <NUM> and a repair resistor <NUM>. The substrate <NUM> has a first surface <NUM> and a second surface <NUM> opposite to each other. The first contact point <NUM> and the second contact point <NUM> are located on the first surface <NUM>. The first contact point <NUM> is corresponding to a contact point to be repaired, which is connected with a damaged resistor on a chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge. A detection method of the contact point to be repaired includes: the ink cartridge can be mounted in a printer, and the conductivity of multiple contact points on the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge can be detected by the printer. If a pull-down resistance connected with the contact point on the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge is too large or damaged, the printer will not pass a detection. Alternatively, the pull-down resistance can be judged by measuring a resistance value between two contact points on the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge, so as to determine the contact point to be repaired.

The first tin point <NUM>, the second tin point <NUM> and the repair resistor <NUM> are located on the second surface <NUM>. The first tin point <NUM> is corresponding to the first contact point <NUM>, and the second tin point <NUM> is corresponding to the second contact point <NUM>. The first tin point <NUM> is connected with a first end of the repair resistor <NUM>, and the second tin point <NUM> is connected with a second end of the repair resistor <NUM>. The first contact point <NUM> and the second contact point <NUM> are configured for electrically connecting with the printer, respectively. The first contact point <NUM> is connected with the first tin point <NUM>, and the second contact point <NUM> is connected with the second tin point <NUM>. The first contact point <NUM> can be connected with the first tin point <NUM> via a through hole filled with a conductor provided on the substrate <NUM> along a thickness direction of the substrate <NUM>. The first contact point <NUM> can be connected with the first tin point <NUM> through a wiring layer on the substrate <NUM>. It is understood that the second contact point <NUM> can also be connected with the second tin point <NUM> in the manner described above.

The first tin point <NUM> and the second tin point <NUM> are configured to connect with chip contact points of the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge, respectively. The connection mode can be welding. The tin points and the chip contact points are welded through a welding device. A number of the tin points and a number of the chip contact points are the same, and an arrangement of the tin points is corresponding to an arrangement of the chip contact points. The second surface <NUM> of the substrate <NUM> is bonded to a surface of the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge. After the ink cartridge is regenerated, the repair of the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge can be judged by using the printer again for verification.

In the above embodiment, the repair resistor <NUM> is located on the repair chip <NUM>, the contact points are located on the first surface <NUM> of the substrate <NUM>, the tin points corresponding to the contact points are located on the second surface <NUM> of the substrate <NUM>, the repair resistor <NUM> is connected with the tin points, and the tin points are connected with the chip contact points of the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge. As a result, a damaged resistor of the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge can be repaired, the recycled ink cartridge can be normally used after filling ink, and the utilization rate of the recycled ink cartridge is improved. At the same time, the repair chip <NUM> does not contain a crystal and a cost of the repair chip <NUM> is low.

In an embodiment, the chip contact points of the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge include a contact point to be repaired and a grounding contact point. The first tin point <NUM> is connected with the contact point to be repaired, and the second tin point <NUM> is connected with the grounding contact point. The contact point to be repaired can be a contact point connected with the damaged resistor on the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge, and the contact point to be repaired can be one or more.

In an embodiment, the repair resistor <NUM> is embedded in a first groove <NUM> disposed on the ink cartridge. At the same time, a thickness of the repair resistor <NUM> matches a depth of the first groove <NUM>, resulting in that the repair resistor <NUM> can be inserted into the first groove <NUM> to avoid extrusion or damage to the surface of the repair chip <NUM> applied to the ink cartridge. The first groove <NUM> disposed on the ink cartridge can be distributed on one side of the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge, resulting in that multiple repair resistors <NUM> can be embedded in the first groove <NUM>, avoiding repeating the groove on the ink cartridge when multiple repair resistors <NUM> are disposed on the repair chip <NUM>.

In an embodiment, <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a first surface of another repair chip in an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a second surface of another repair chip in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the second surface <NUM> of the repair chip <NUM> is further provided with a chip crystal <NUM>, and the chip crystal <NUM> is embedded in a second groove disposed on the ink cartridge. A thickness of the chip crystal <NUM> matches a depth of the second groove. In addition, the second groove and the first groove <NUM> can be the same one, i.e., the chip crystal <NUM> may also share a groove with the repair resistor <NUM>. The repair chip <NUM> can be applied to the ink cartridge where part of the data carried by the crystal of the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge is lost, resulting in that the chip crystal <NUM> can replace at least the part of the lost data and the ink cartridge can continue to be used normally.

In an embodiment, the repair chip <NUM> is provided with a locating portion <NUM>. The locating portion <NUM> includes a hole structure or a groove structure. The locating portion <NUM> is located on the top of the substrate <NUM>. A number of the locating portions <NUM> can also be two, and the two locating portions <NUM> are located on both sides of the substrate <NUM>, respectively. Of course, the number of the locating portions <NUM> can be set according to the actual needs, and the present disclosure does not make excessive restrictions.

The locating portion <NUM> is configured to preposition the substrate <NUM> when mounting the repair chip <NUM>. Specifically, the locating portion <NUM> locates a coding writing device and the repair chip <NUM> when the coding writing device writes codes to the repair chip <NUM>. The ink cartridge is provided with a positioning seat, and the locating portion <NUM> is disposed to coincide with a center of the positioning seat. The locating portion <NUM> is coordinated with the positioning seat, resulting in that the repair chip <NUM> is fixedly connected with the ink cartridge.

In an embodiment, the substrate is a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate can be made of a soft material such as polyimide or polyester film, resulting in that the substrate <NUM> has a certain flexibility.

In another embodiment, an ink cartridge is provided. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of an ink cartridge in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the ink cartridge includes an ink cartridge body <NUM>, a chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge and a repair chip <NUM>. The repair chip <NUM> includes a substrate <NUM>, a first contact point <NUM>, a second contact point <NUM>, a first tin point <NUM>, a second tin point <NUM> and a repair resistor <NUM>. The substrate <NUM> has a first surface <NUM> and a second surface <NUM> opposite to each other. The first contact point <NUM> and the second contact point <NUM> are located on the first surface <NUM>. The first tin point <NUM>, the second tin point <NUM> and the repair resistor <NUM> are located on the second surface <NUM>. The first tin point <NUM> is corresponding to the first contact point <NUM>, and the second tin point <NUM> is corresponding to the second contact point <NUM>. The first tin point <NUM> is connected with a first end of the repair resistor <NUM>, and the second tin point <NUM> is connected with a second end of the repair resistor <NUM>. The first contact point <NUM> and the second contact point <NUM> are configured for electrically connecting with a printer, respectively. The first contact point <NUM> is connected with the first tin point <NUM>, and the second contact point <NUM> is connected with the second tin point <NUM>. The ink cartridge body <NUM> is provided with a first groove <NUM>, and the first groove <NUM> can be embedded in the repair resistors <NUM> and/or chip crystals <NUM>. The ink cartridge body <NUM> is connected with the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge. The first tin point <NUM> and the second tin point <NUM> are configured to connect with chip contact points of the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge, respectively. The second surface <NUM> of the substrate <NUM> is bonded to a surface of the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge. After the ink cartridge is regenerated, the repair of the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge can be judged by using the printer again for verification.

In an embodiment, the chip contact points of the chip <NUM> of the ink cartridge include a contact point to be repaired and a grounding contact point. The first tin point <NUM> is connected with the contact point to be repaired, and the second tin point <NUM> is connected with the grounding contact point.

Claim 1:
An ink cartridge, comprising an ink cartridge body (<NUM>), a chip (<NUM>) of the ink cartridge and a repair chip (<NUM>); wherein
the repair chip (<NUM>) comprises a substrate (<NUM>), a first contact point (<NUM>), a second contact point (<NUM>), a first tin point (<NUM>), a second tin point (<NUM>) and a repair resistor (<NUM>);
the substrate (<NUM>) has a first surface (<NUM>) and a second surface (<NUM>) opposite to each other;
the first surface (<NUM>) is provided with the first contact point (<NUM>) and the second contact point (<NUM>);
the second surface (<NUM>) is provided with the repair resistor (<NUM>), the first tin point (<NUM>) corresponding to the first contact point (<NUM>), and the second tin point (<NUM>) corresponding to the second contact point (<NUM>); the first tin point (<NUM>) is connected with a first end of the repair resistor (<NUM>), and the second tin point (<NUM>) is connected with a second end of the repair resistor (<NUM>);
the first contact point (<NUM>) and the second contact point (<NUM>) are configured for electrical connection with a printer, respectively; the first contact point (<NUM>) is connected with the first tin point (<NUM>), and the second contact point (<NUM>) is connected with the second tin point (<NUM>);
the ink cartridge body (<NUM>) is connected with the chip (<NUM>) of the ink cartridge; the first tin point (<NUM>) and the second tin point (<NUM>) are configured to connect with chip contact points of the chip (<NUM>) of the ink cartridge, respectively; and the second surface (<NUM>) is bonded to a surface of the chip (<NUM>) of the ink cartridge;
the chip contact points of the chip (<NUM>) comprise a contact point to be repaired and a grounding contact point, the first tin point (<NUM>) is connected with the contact point to be repaired, and the second tin point (<NUM>) is connected with the grounding contact point.