US5049898A — Printhead having memory element

Claim 1

Independent Claim 92 words

In an ink jet printhead that is mounted for movement along a path and wherein the printhead has a housing with an ink chamber therein, a plurality of orifii in fluid communication with the ink chamber, and means for expelling ink from the ink chamber through said orifii, an improvement comprising: memory means attached to the housing for storing a datum related to an operational characteristic of the printhead; and data transfer means mounted near the printhead path to read the datum as the printhead moves relative to the data transfer means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 92 words

In an ink jet printhead that is mounted for movement along a path and wherein the printhead has a housing with an ink chamber therein, a plurality of orifii in fluid communication with the ink chamber, and means for expelling ink from the ink chamber through said orifii, an improvement comprising: memory means attached to the housing for storing a datum related to an operational characteristic of the printhead; and data transfer means mounted near the printhead path to read the datum as the printhead moves relative to the data transfer means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

The improvement of claim 1 in which the data transfer means is operable for writing data to the memory means as the printhead moves along the path.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

The improvement of claim 1 in which the memory means comprises a magnetic medium affixed to the outside of said printhead housing.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The improvement of claim 3 in which the magnetic medium has a datum stored thereon relating to the color of ink in the chamber.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

The improvement of claim 1 in which the magnetic medium has a datum stored therein relating to the amount of ink in the chamber.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The improvement of claim 1 in which the memory means has a datum stored therein relating to the relative alignment of the printhead's orifii and its housing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The improvement of claim 1 in which the memory means has a datum stored therein relating to the operating frequency of the printhead.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The improvement of claim 1 in which the memory means has a datum stored therein relating to an attribute of the ink other than its color.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 116 words

In an ink jet printing system having a carriage for carrying an ink jet printhead relative to a printing medium, the carriage including means for orienting the printhead's housing in a predetermined orientation in relation thereto, the printhead including a plurality of orifii and means for expelling ink therefrom in response to firing signals, an improvement method comprising the steps: storing data related to the relative alignment of the printhead's orifii and its housing in a memory mounted to the printhead; retrieving said alignment data from the memory; and compensating the timing of the firing signals in accordance with said alignment data to reduce the effects of any misalignment between the orifii and the printhead housing.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 116 words

In an ink jet printing system having a carriage for carrying an ink jet printhead relative to a printing medium, the carriage including means for orienting the printhead's housing in a predetermined orientation in relation thereto, the printhead including a plurality of orifii and means for expelling ink therefrom in response to firing signals, an improvement method comprising the steps: storing data related to the relative alignment of the printhead's orifii and its housing in a memory mounted to the printhead; retrieving said alignment data from the memory; and compensating the timing of the firing signals in accordance with said alignment data to reduce the effects of any misalignment between the orifii and the printhead housing.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 43 words

The invention of claim 9 which further includes the steps: providing the orifii on an orifice plate bonded to the printhead's housing; sensing the position of an alignment feature on the orifice plate; and storing data relating to said position in the memory.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 159 words

A printer comprising: a printhead mounted to the printer and operable for movement along a path; a control circuit coupled to the printhead for controlling the printhead movement and for providing to the printhead operating signals that represent an operational characteristic of the printhead; a data transfer head mounted to the printer adjacent to the path of the printhead; a memory element for storing data, the memory element being mounted to the printhead and located to pass near the data transfer head as the printhead moves along the path, the data transfer head being controllable for transferring data to and from the memory element as the element passes the head; and a monitoring circuit connected between the printhead and the data transfer head, the monitoring circuit receiving and processing the operating signals and controlling the data transfer head to transfer to and from the memory element data that is representative of changes in the operational characteristics of the printhead.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 159 words

A printer comprising: a printhead mounted to the printer and operable for movement along a path; a control circuit coupled to the printhead for controlling the printhead movement and for providing to the printhead operating signals that represent an operational characteristic of the printhead; a data transfer head mounted to the printer adjacent to the path of the printhead; a memory element for storing data, the memory element being mounted to the printhead and located to pass near the data transfer head as the printhead moves along the path, the data transfer head being controllable for transferring data to and from the memory element as the element passes the head; and a monitoring circuit connected between the printhead and the data transfer head, the monitoring circuit receiving and processing the operating signals and controlling the data transfer head to transfer to and from the memory element data that is representative of changes in the operational characteristics of the printhead.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 55 words

The printer of claim 11 wherein the printhead contains a depletable supply of ink and wherein the operating signals represent the amount of ink contained by the printhead, the monitoring circuit controlling the data transfer head to transfer to and from the memory element data representative of the amount of ink contained by the printhead.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 29 words

The printer of claim 12 further comprising indicator means connected to the monitoring circuit for providing an indication signal whenever the ink amount is defected below a predetermined level.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-09-16	1995-03-18	1995-09-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-09-16	1999-03-18	1999-09-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-09-16	2003-03-18	2003-09-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Printhead having memory element

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