Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) from Korean Patent Application No. 2004-38333, filed on May 28, 2004, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present general inventive concept relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus using an RF chip.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     An image forming apparatus outputs an image from a monitor, a television set, another image forming apparatus, or a document. In general, the image forming apparatus may be a copying machine, a printer, a scanner or a facsimile. The image forming apparatus is provided with a toner or ink cartridge for forming an image corresponding to printing data. The toner or ink cartridge is provided with a memory for storing required information. The required information stored in the memory contains a manufacturer&#39;s name of the toner or ink cartridge, a product serial number, and a total number of sheets printable with the toner or ink cartridge.  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional process of forming an image performed in an image forming apparatus provided with a cartridge having a memory.  
         [0007]     At operation S 100 , the image forming apparatus determines whether an image forming command is received. The image forming command is transferred from a host computer or an input part provided in the image forming apparatus. If it is determined that the image forming command is received, the process moves to operation S 102 . If it is determined that the image forming command is not received, the process does not proceed.  
         [0008]     At operation S 102 , the image forming apparatus extracts information from the memory of the cartridge. The information extracted from the memory may include a product serial number, manufacturer&#39;s information regarding the cartridge, or the like. Next, at operation S 104 , the image forming apparatus determines whether the cartridge is an approved cartridge using the extracted information.  
         [0009]     In general, a user of the image forming apparatus may attempt to use an imitation cartridge rather than a genuine cartridge so as to reduce costs. The imitation cartridge can cause an error (reject) in the image forming apparatus. Therefore, manufacturers of the image forming apparatus recommend that consumers use the genuine cartridge corresponding to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus stores information regarding usable cartridges and determines whether the mounted cartridge is a usable cartridge by comparing the information extracted from the memory of the cartridge at operation S 102  with the stored information regarding usable cartridges. If it is determined that the cartridge is usable (approved), the process moves to operation S 106 , and if it is determined that the cartridge is not usable, the process moves to operation S 108 .  
         [0010]     At operation S 106 , the image forming apparatus performs the commanded image formation corresponding to printing data input to the image forming apparatus. At operation S 108 , the image forming apparatus interrupts the commanded image formation corresponding to the printing data and simultaneously notifies the user that the cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus is not an approved cartridge.  
         [0011]     As described above, a conventional image forming apparatus performs an operation of merely reading out information stored in a memory of a cartridge. Additionally, because the amount of information stored in the memory is limited, the memory cannot support various other operations.  
         [0012]     Moreover, upon receiving an image forming command, an image forming apparatus performs the commanded image formation corresponding to printing data input to the image forming apparatus regardless of who initiated the image forming command. That is, the image forming apparatus performs the commanded image formation not only when commanded by an authorized user, but also when commanded by an unauthorized user. Thus, an image forming apparatus unnecessarily consumes ink or toner in order to perform an image formation commanded by an unauthorized user. Therefore, it is desirable for an image forming apparatus to discriminate between an authorized user and an unauthorized user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     Accordingly, the present general inventive concept provides a system and method of preventing someone other than an authorized user of an image forming apparatus from using the image forming apparatus.  
         [0014]     The present general inventive concept also provides a system and method of preventing an occurrence of an error in an image forming apparatus caused by using an unapproved cartridge in the image forming apparatus.  
         [0015]     The present general inventive concept also provides a system and method that allow a user to effectively use an image forming apparatus by employing a cartridge providing various operations.  
         [0016]     Additional aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.  
         [0017]     The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept are achieved by providing a system including an external appliance to wiredly or wirelessly transmit a command to perform an action, an RF combo chip to wiredly or wirelessly request the action in response to the transmitted command, and an image forming apparatus to perform the requested action and to wiredly or wirelessly send information concerning the performed action to the RF combo chip.  
         [0018]     The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept are also achieved by providing a method of issuing a command to perform an action including wiredly or wirelessly transmitting a command to perform an action to an RF combo chip, wiredly or wirelessly requesting the action corresponding to the transmitted command, and performing the requested action and wiredly or wirelessly sending information concerning the performed action to the RF combo chip. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating a conventional process of forming an image corresponding to printing data in an image forming apparatus;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating a structure of an RF combo chip according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is schematic view illustrating a cartridge with the RF combo chip attached thereto and communicating with an external appliance according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view illustrating a process of user authenticationaccording to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating a process of performing image formation corresponding to printing data in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     In the following description, like drawing reference numerals are used for like elements even in different drawings. The matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are nothing but the ones provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the general inventive concept. Thus, it is apparent that the present general inventive concept can be carried out without those defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would unnecessarily obscure the general inventive concept.  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  illustrates an RF combo chip  200  according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept. The RF combo chip  200  is divided into a wired part  210 , a wireless part  220  and a storage part  230 . The wired part  210  includes an input part  212 , a signal processing part  214  and an output part  216 . The wireless part  220  includes a receiving part  222 , a signal processing part  224  and a sending part  226 . Although other components may be included in the wired part  210  or the wireless part  220  in addition to the above mentioned components,  FIG. 2  depicts components related to this embodiment of the present general inventive concept.  
         [0027]     The input part  212  of the wired part  210  receives a signal through a wire. The input part  212  transmits the received signal to the signal processing part  214  of the wired part  210 . The signal processing part  214  of the wired part  210  processes the received signal and extracts a command signal. If the extracted command signal is a signal requesting information stored in the storage part  230 , the signal processing part  214  of the wired part  210  reads out the requested information stored in the storage part  230 . If the extracted command signal is a signal requesting that information contained in the received signal be stored in the storage part  230 , the signal processing part  214  of the wired part  210  transmits the information contained in the received signal to the storage part  230  to be stored. Upon reading out the requested information stored in the storage part  230 , the signal processing part  214  of the wired part  210  processes the read-out information and transmits a signal corresponding to the read-out information to the output part  216  of the wired part  210 .  
         [0028]     The output part  216  transmits the signal corresponding to the read-out information received from the signal processing part  214  externally.  
         [0029]     The receiving part  222  of the wireless part  220  receives a signal wirelessly. The receiving part  222  can include an antenna to receive the signal wirelessly. The operations of the receiving part  222  of the wireless part  220  are similar to the operations of the input part  212  of the wired part  210 . However, the input part  212  of the wired part  210  receives the signal through a wire, whereas the receiving part  222  of the wireless part  220  receives the signal wirelessly. The receiving part  222  of the wireless part  220  transmits the received signal to the signal processing part  224  of the wireless part  220 .  
         [0030]     The signal processing part  224  of the wireless part  220  processes the received signal and extracts a command signal. If the extracted command signal is a signal requesting information stored in the storage part  230 , the signal processing part  224  of the wireless part  220  reads out the requested information stored in the storage part  230 . If the extracted command signal is a signal requesting that information contained in the received signal be stored in the storage part  230 , the signal processing part  224  of the wireless part  220  transmits the information contained in the received signal to the storage part  230 . Upon reading out the requested information stored in the storage part  230 , the signal processing part  224  of the wireless part  220  processes the read-out information and transmits a signal corresponding to the read-out information to the sending part  226  of the wireless part  220 . The sending part  226  wirelessly transmits the signal corresponding to the read-out information received from the signal processing part  224  externally. The operations of the sending part  226  of the wireless part  220  are similar to the operations of the output part  216  of the wired part  210 . However, the output part  216  of the wired part  210  transmits the signal through a wire, whereas the sending part  226  of the wireless part  220  transmits the signal wirelessly.  
         [0031]     The storage part  230  stores information. For example, the storage part  230  stores the information transmitted from the signal processing part  214  of the wired part  210  or the signal processing part  224  of the wireless part  220 . Upon receiving a request for the information stored in the storage part  230  from the signal processing part  214  of the wired part  210  or the signal processing part  224  of the wireless part  220 , the storage part  230  transmits the requested information. Although  FIG. 2  depicts a single storage part  230 , two or more storage parts may be provided. For example, the wired part  210  and the wireless part  220  may be respectively provided with separate storage parts. In that event, the separately configured storage parts can be interconnected with each other to share stored information. For example, the signal processing part  214  of the wired part  210  can transmit information to the storage part of the wireless part  220  or read out information stored in the storage part of the wireless part  220 . Similarly, the signal processing part  224  of the wireless part  220  can transmit information to the storage part of the wireless part  210  or read out information stored in the storage part of the wireless part  210 .  
         [0032]     As described above, the RF combo chip  200  is capable of processing not only a signal transmitted through a wire, but also a wirelessly transmitted signal.  
         [0033]      FIG. 3  illustrates an image forming apparatus  310  provided with a cartridge  312  and communicating with an external appliance  300 . The cartridge  312  includes an RF combo chip  200 , and the external appliance  300  is capable of communicating with the RF combo chip  200 .  
         [0034]     The image forming apparatus  310  includes the cartridge  312 , a control part  316  and an image forming part  318 . Although other components can be included in the image forming apparatus  310  in addition to the above-mentioned components,  FIG. 3  depicts components related to this embodiment of the present general inventive concept.  
         [0035]     The cartridge  312  is mounted in the image forming apparatus  310  and includes the RF combo chip  200 . Upon receiving an image formation command initiated by a user to form an image corresponding to printing data, the control part  316  determines whether to perform the commanded image formation corresponding to the printing data. If it is determined to perform the commanded image formation corresponding to the printing data, the control part  316  commands the image forming part  318  to form an image corresponding to the printing data. The process in which the control part  316  determines whether to perform the commanded image formation will be described in greater detail below.  
         [0036]     The control part  316  can read out information stored in the RF combo chip  200  or store information in the RF combo chip  200  using a wire. The information stored in the RF combo chip  200  can include cartridge information regarding the cartridge  312 . The cartridge information can be used to determine whether the cartridge  312  is compatible with the image forming apparatus  310 . The RF combo chip  200  can also store information corresponding to various other operations, such as a user authentication operation. The information corresponding to the various other operations can be transmitted to the RF combo chip  200  from the control part  316  of the image forming apparatus  310  or from the external appliance  300 .  
         [0037]     The image forming part  318  forms the image corresponding to the printing data in response to a control command of the control part  316 .  
         [0038]     The external appliance  300  reads out the information stored in the RF combo chip  200  or transfers information to the RF combo chip  200 . The external appliance  300  and the RF combo chip  200  can communicate wirelessly to reciprocate information, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Accordingly, the external appliance  300  can include a reader (not shown) capable of reading out the information stored in the RF combo chip  200  and a writer (not shown) capable of transmitting information to the RF combo chip  200 .  
         [0039]     Although  FIG. 3  illustrates the case in which the RF combo chip  200  and the external appliance  300  communicate wirelessly with each other, the present general inventive concept is not limited to this case. In other words, the RF combo chip  200  and the external appliance  300  can communicate with each other through various connections, such as a wire.  
         [0040]      FIG. 4  illustrates actions implemented by the external appliance  300  and the RF combo chip  200  according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept. In particular,  FIG. 4  illustrates a process of implementing user authentication, according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept.  
         [0041]     At operation S 400 , the external appliance  300  determines whether to implement a user authentication or not. When the user authentication is implemented, the image forming apparatus performs image formation corresponding to printing data commanded by an authorized user, but does not perform image formation corresponding to printing data commanded by another person other than the authorized user (hereinafter referred to as an “unauthorized user”).  
         [0042]     When the external appliance  300  implements the user authentication, the external appliance  300  determines whether a user is authorized. At operation S 402 , the external appliance  300  commands the RF combo chip  200  to set a locking operation when an unauthorized user commands the image formation corresponding to printing data. In order to determine whether a user is authorized, the RF combo chip  200  stores authorized user information. The authorized user information can be input to the external appliance  300  and transmitted to the RF combo chip  200  to be stored in the RF combo chip  200 . When the user commands the image formation, the user inputs user information to the external appliance  300 . The external appliance  300  reads out the stored authorized user information from the RF combo chip  200 , and compares the input user information with the stored authorized user information to determine whether the user is authorized. As described above, the external appliance  300  sends the command wirelessly to the RF combo chip  200 .  
         [0043]     At operation S 404 , the RF combo chip  200  sets the locking operation in response to the command of the external appliance  300 . When the locking operation is set, the RF combo chip  200  controls the image forming apparatus  310  so that no image formation is performed before the locking function is released. When the locking operation is set, the RF combo chip  200  controls the image forming apparatus  310  by preventing the control part  316  from commanding the image forming part  318  to form an image corresponding to the printing data.  
         [0044]     At operation S 406 , the external appliance  300  commands the RF combo chip  200  to release the locking operation when an authorized user commands the image formation corresponding to printing data. As described above, the external appliance  300  can send the command wirelessly.  
         [0045]     At operation S 408 , the RF combo chip  200  sets a locking release operation in response to the command of the external appliance  300 . By setting the locking release function, the RF combo chip  200  allows the control part  316  of the image forming apparatus  310  to control the image forming part  318  to form an image corresponding to the printing data.  
         [0046]     Although  FIG. 4  illustrates a single RF combo chip  200 , at least two RF combo chips can be similarly applied. In this event, when sending the command to set the locking operation or the locking release operation to the RF combo chips  200 , the external appliance  300  can communicate with all of the RF combo chips  200  simultaneously. That is, the external appliance  300  can send the command to all of the RF combo chips  200  wirelessly. Upon receiving the command of locking or release of locking from the external appliance  300 , the RF combo chips  200  set the locking operation or the locking release operation, as described above.  
         [0047]     Alternatively, each of the RF combo chips  200  may be assigned an identifier and the external appliance  300  may control the RF combo chips  200  independently using the identifiers of the RF combo chips  200 .  
         [0048]     Although  FIG. 4  illustrates the external device  300  communicating with the RF combo chip  200  to perform the user authentication, the present general inventive concept is not limited thereto. For example, the image printing apparatus  310  can communicate with the RF combo chip to perform the user authentication. That is, a user can input the user information to an input part of the image forming apparatus  310 , and the control part  316  can compare the input user information with the authorized user information stored in the RF combo chip  200  to determine whether to set the locking operation or the locking release operation.  
         [0049]      FIG. 5  illustrates an image forming process to print data input to the image forming apparatus  310  according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept.  
         [0050]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , at operation S 500 , the image forming apparatus  310  determines whether an image formation command is issued. The image formation command can be received from the external appliance  300 , such as a host computer, or an input part provided in the image forming apparatus  310 . If it is determined that the image formation command is issued, the process moves to operation S 502 , and if it is determined that the image formation command is not issued, the process does not proceed or continues to check whether an image formation command is issued.  
         [0051]     At operation S 502 , the image forming apparatus  310  reads out cartridge information stored in the RF combo chip  200  installed in the cartridge  312 . The cartridge information read out from the RF combo chip  200  may include a product serial number, information regarding the manufacturer of the cartridge  312 , the total number of sheets printable with the cartridge  312 , the number of sheets already printed with the cartridge  312 , or the like.  
         [0052]     At operation S 504 , the image forming apparatus  310  determines whether the cartridge  312  is an approved cartridge by comparing the cartridge information read out from the RF combo chip  200  with approved cartridge information stored in the image forming apparatus  310 . If it is determined that the cartridge  312  is an approved cartridge, the process moves to operation S 506 , and if it is determined that the cartridge  312  is not an approved cartridge, the process moves to operation S 512 .  
         [0053]     At operation S 506 , the image forming apparatus  310  determines whether a locking operation is set by comparing user information input to the input part of the image forming apparatus  310  or the external appliance  300  with authorized user information stored in the RF combo chip  200  to determine whether a user that issued the image formation command is authorized. If it is determined that the locking operation is set, the process moves to operation S 512 , and if it is determined that the locking operation is released, the process moves to operation S 508 .  
         [0054]     At operation S 508 , the image forming apparatus  310  compares “the total number of sheets printable with a cartridge” information and “the number of sheets already printed with a cartridge” information of the cartridge information. The term, “the total number of sheets printable with a cartridge,” refers to the maximum number of sheets which can be printed using the cartridge, and the term, “the number of sheets already printed with the cartridge” refers to the number of sheets which have already been printed using the cartridge. After the image forming apparatus  310  forms an image corresponding to printing data, the RF combo chip  200  receives updated information of “the number of sheets already printed with the cartridge” from the control part  316  of the image forming apparatus  310 . The RF combo chip  200  stores the updated information of “the number of sheets already printed with the cartridge” therein. As a result of the comparison, if “the total number of sheets printable with a cartridge” is larger than “the number of sheets already printed with a cartridge,” the process moves to operation S 510 , and if “the total number of sheets printable with a cartridge” is smaller than “the number of sheets already printed with the cartridge,” the process moves to operation S 512 .  
         [0055]     At operation S 510 , the image forming apparatus  310  performs the commanded image formation corresponding to the printing data, and at operation S 512 , the image forming apparatus  310  interrupts the commanded image formation corresponding to the printing data.  
         [0056]     Although  FIG. 5  illustrates the case in which the RF combo chip  200  stores “the total number of sheets printable with a cartridge” information and “the number of sheets already printed with the cartridge” information, the present general inventive concept is not limited thereto. For example, the RF combo chip  200  may store information regarding “the number of sheets remaining printable” (i.e., “the total number of sheets printable with a cartridge” minus “the number of sheets already printed with the cartridge”).  
         [0057]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate a process of user authentication using an RF combo chip. However, the RF combo chip can support various operations besides the user authentication. Examples of the various operations which can be implemented using the RF combo chip are described below.  
         [0058]     As an example of operations that can be implemented with the RF combo chip of the present general inventive concept, a user of an external appliance may transmit information corresponding to a specific condition to the RF combo chip provided in a cartridge of an image forming apparatus. The RF combo chip then interrupts operations of the image forming apparatus if the specific condition is satisfied. For example, if information that the maximum number of sheets printable with the cartridge is 100 is transmitted to the RF combo chip from the external appliance as the specific condition, the RF combo chip checks the number of sheets already printed with the cartridge after receiving the specific condition. When the number of sheets already printed with the cartridge becomes, for example, one hundred, the RF combo chip communicates with a control part of the image forming apparatus to interrupt image formation of the image forming apparatus.  
         [0059]     Additionally, the user of the external appliance may transmit time information to the RF combo chip, and the RF combo chip may receive information regarding a present time from the control part of the image forming apparatus in real time. When the transmitted time information and the information regarding the present time coincide with each other, the RF combo chip communicates with the control part of the image forming apparatus to interrupt the image formation of the image forming apparatus.  
         [0060]     As another example of operations that can be implemented with the RF combo chip of the present general inventive concept, user information can be stored in the RF combo chip included in a toner cartridge. If the user replaces the toner cartridge, a reader attached in a restoration box of the image forming apparatus reads the user information stored in the RF combo chip and transmits the user information to an RF combo chip of a new toner cartridge. The RF combo chip of the new toner cartridge can manage the image forming apparatus according to the user information.  
         [0061]     As yet another example of operations that can be implemented with the RF combo chip of the present general inventive concept, if at least two users use one image forming apparatus, each user may select a mode to use. For example, a first user A uses a first mode, and a second user B uses a second mode. The first user A transmits information regarding the first mode and a first identifier corresponding to the first user A to the RF combo chip, and the second user B transmits information regarding the second mode and a second identifier corresponding to the second user B to the RF combo chip. The RF combo chip stores the first and second identifiers and the information regarding the first and second modes. If the first identifier corresponding to the first user A is input, the RF combo chip communicates with the control part of the image forming apparatus to control the image forming apparatus according to the first mode. If the second identifier corresponding to the second user B is input, the RF combo chip communicates with the control part of the image forming apparatus to control the image forming apparatus according to the second mode.  
         [0062]     As described above, according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept, by preventing someone other than an authorized user from using an image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent unnecessary waste of toner or ink. Further, it is also possible to prevent an occurrence of an error in an image forming apparatus, caused by using an unapproved cartridge in the image forming apparatus.  
         [0063]     Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: 3