CN216783086U - Consumable chip, consumable box and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a consumptive material chip, consumptive material box and image forming device, the consumptive material chip includes: the first chip comprises a controller, a second memory, a first end and a third end, wherein the first end is used for being connected with the image forming device, the second memory is electrically connected with the third end, and the third end is used for being connected with the image forming device; the second chip comprises a second end and a fourth end, the second end is used for connecting a fixed signal end, and the fourth end is electrically connected with the third end; the controller is used for controlling the fourth end and the third end to be disconnected according to the first value and controlling the fourth end and the third end to be connected according to the second value. In the embodiment of the application, for a second chip with multiple functions, the second end of the second chip loses the selection function by setting the fixed signal for the second end, and the second chip receives the signal sent by the image forming device under the appropriate condition by setting different signal values for the first end of the first chip, so that the second chip is reused.

Description

Consumable chip, consumable box and image forming device

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of image processing, in particular to a consumable chip, a consumable box and an image forming device.

Background

Along with the gradual enhancement of people's environmental protection consciousness, more and more discarded consumptive material box, like the ink horn, the consumptive material can be recycled by repetition like ink, carbon powder etc. has reduced the pollution to the environment, has improved resource utilization simultaneously.

In order to ensure that the recycled consumable cartridge can be identified again by the image forming apparatus (e.g., reused) and ensure the accuracy of the data such as the remaining amount of the printing material, it is usually necessary to add a regeneration chip (or compatible chip, grafting chip, etc.) to the consumable cartridge. Since the regeneration chip typically does not have a printhead (or other type of fluid ejection chip), there is no control circuitry (nozzle control circuitry) for forming the various layers of nozzles and controlling the nozzles for fluid ejection. Therefore, when the image forming apparatus needs to read or write data, the data in the chip memory is often read or written, and when the image forming apparatus needs to perform an ejection operation, an ejection signal is sent to the original chip, and an ejection element (such as a heater resistor, a piezoelectric element, and the like) on the print head is activated by a nozzle control circuit of the original chip to eject the consumable to complete a desired image.

Conventionally, the image forming apparatus is electrically connected to a memory DATA terminal (such as a DATA terminal or an ID terminal) of the recycling chip, and is electrically disconnected from a memory DATA terminal (such as a DATA terminal or an ID terminal) of the original chip to ensure that the image forming apparatus reads and writes DATA of the memory of the recycling chip; the image forming device is electrically connected with the input end (such as a control end) of the nozzle control circuit of the original chip, so that the consumable materials can be sprayed through the original chip when the consumable materials are required to be sprayed.

The existing novel original chip has no single ID function, can read and write data in a memory, and has the function of selecting whether an injection element of the original chip receives an injection signal to perform injection action. The above-mentioned method of directly disconnecting the ID terminal of the original chip and connecting the ID terminal of the regenerated chip makes the original chip or the consumable box unable to be reused.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

In view of this, the present application provides a consumable chip, a consumable cartridge and an image forming apparatus, so as to solve the problem in the prior art that the original chip or the consumable cartridge cannot be reused by directly disconnecting the ID terminal of the original chip and connecting the ID terminal of the regenerated chip.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a consumable chip, including:

the first chip comprises a controller, a second memory, a first end and a third end, wherein the first end is used for being connected with an image forming device and receiving a first value and a second value sent by the image forming device, the second memory is electrically connected with the third end, and the third end is used for being connected with the image forming device;

the second chip comprises a second end and a fourth end, the second end is used for connecting a fixed signal end, and the fourth end is electrically connected with the third end;

the controller is electrically connected with the first end and the fourth end respectively, and is used for controlling the fourth end and the third end to be disconnected according to the first value and controlling the fourth end and the third end to be connected according to the second value.

In a possible implementation manner, the controller is electrically connected with the switch circuit and used for controlling the on-off of the switch circuit, and the fourth end is electrically connected with the third end through the switch circuit.

In a possible implementation manner, the first chip further includes a fifth end, the fifth end is electrically connected to the switch circuit and the controller, and the controller controls the on/off of the switch circuit through the fifth end.

In a possible implementation manner, the controller controls the on/off of the switch circuit through the third terminal.

In a possible implementation manner, the first chip further includes a sixth end, the sixth end is electrically connected to the controller and the second end, respectively, and the sixth end is the fixed signal end.

In one possible implementation, the second terminal is used for connecting a fixed signal terminal of the image forming apparatus.

In one possible implementation, the first chip further includes a first memory, and the first memory is electrically connected to the first terminal.

In a possible implementation manner, the fixed signal corresponding to the fixed signal terminal is one or a combination of the following signals:

a voltage signal, a current signal, a power signal, and a frequency signal.

In a possible implementation manner, when the fixed signal is a voltage signal, the second terminal is connected to a power terminal or a ground terminal.

In a possible implementation manner, the mobile terminal further includes a second switch circuit, the third terminal is electrically connected to the second memory through the second switch circuit, and the controller controls on/off of the second switch circuit.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a consumable cartridge comprising a housing, the consumable cartridge comprising the consumable chip of any one of the first aspects.

In a possible implementation manner, the chip package further includes a first substrate and a second substrate, the first chip is disposed on the first substrate, the second chip is disposed on the second substrate, and the first substrate and the second substrate are disposed on the housing.

In a possible implementation manner, the first substrate includes a first surface and a second surface, the first chip is disposed on the second surface, the first surface is provided with a first pad electrically connected to the first end and the third end, the second substrate is provided with a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface is provided with a second pad electrically connected to the first pad and the second chip, the first surface faces the image forming device, the second surface faces the third surface, and the fourth surface faces the consumable box casing.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an image forming apparatus including the consumable cartridge of any one of the second aspects.

In the embodiment of the application, for a second chip with multiple functions, the second end of the second chip loses the selection function by setting the fixed signal for the second end, and the second chip receives the signal sent by the image forming device under the appropriate condition by setting different signal values for the first end of the first chip, so that the second chip is reused.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments will be briefly described below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art to obtain other drawings based on these drawings without inventive labor.

Fig. 1 is an application scenario diagram provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is an application scenario diagram of a second chip according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a connection structure between a consumable chip and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a connection structure between a consumable chip and an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a connection structure between a consumable chip and an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a connection structure between a consumable chip and an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a connection structure between a consumable chip and an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic view of a connection structure of a consumable chip according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

For better understanding of the technical solutions of the present application, the following detailed descriptions of the embodiments of the present application are provided with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It should be understood that the embodiments described are only a few embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

The terminology used in the embodiments of the present application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. As used in the examples of this application and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It should be understood that the term "and/or" as used herein is merely one type of associative relationship that describes an associated object, meaning that three types of relationships may exist, e.g., A and/or B, may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates that the former and latter related objects are in an "or" relationship.

In order to facilitate those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of the present application, an application scenario of the embodiment of the present application is first explained as follows:

embodiments of the present application are directed to scenarios in which a consumable cartridge used by an image forming apparatus is reused, examples of which include: any one of devices having a printing function or a jet consumable, such as an ink jet printer, a laser printer, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) printer, a copier, or a multifunction peripheral facsimile.

Fig. 1 is a view of an application scenario provided in an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 1, an image forming apparatus 100 generally includes: the consumable cartridge 110, the main body 120, and the printhead 130, wherein the consumable cartridge 110 is detachably installed in the main body 120 of the image forming apparatus 100, the consumable cartridge 110 is internally provided with an original chip 111, the original chip is a chip carried by the consumable cartridge 110 when the consumable cartridge 110 leaves a factory, data such as a chip model and printing parameters are stored in the original chip 111, the consumable cartridge 110 can be identified by the image forming apparatus 100 (for example, the image forming apparatus 100 can print data using the consumable cartridge 110), and the image forming apparatus 100 can also write data into a memory of the original chip 111, for example, data such as consumable consumption condition is recorded. For the consumable cartridge with the printhead 130 integrated with the original chip 111, the original chip 111 further includes a nozzle control circuit for performing an ejection operation, and the original chip 111 receives an ejection signal from the image forming apparatus 100 and performs the ejection operation through the nozzle control circuit; in the structure in which the print head 130 and the original chip 111 are separated from each other, the nozzle control circuit is generally disposed on the print head 130, the original chip 111 and the nozzle control circuit on the print head 130 are electrically connected to send an ejection signal to the nozzle control circuit, and the nozzle control circuit performs an ejection operation according to the ejection signal. Fig. 1 is merely an example, and the printhead 130 may be disposed on the image forming apparatus 100 or integrated on the consumable cartridge 110, and in this application, the term "printhead" may generally refer to a printhead die or an overall assembly including a plurality of dies mounted on a support structure. A sheet (die) (also referred to as an "Integrated Circuit (IC) sheet") includes a substrate on which various layers for forming nozzles and/or nozzle control circuits for controlling fluid ejection by the nozzles are provided, and the original chip 111 may include the nozzle control circuits, memories, and the like, so that the original chip 111 may be integrated with the various layers for forming the nozzles on one semiconductor substrate, and the original chip 111 is electrically connected to the image forming device 110 through pads (or pads); alternatively, the original chip 111 may include a memory electrically connected to the nozzle control circuit on the chip through a pad. The nozzle control circuit is also provided with a plurality of jetting elements (such as thermistors, piezoelectric elements and the like) for jetting fluid, and the selected jetting elements complete fluid jetting action after receiving jetting signals.

As the printing operation proceeds, consumables (such as ink, toner, etc.) are gradually consumed, and when the amount of consumables is reduced to a certain extent, the image forming apparatus 100 determines that the consumable cartridge 110 is exhausted according to the data change in the memory, so that the continuous use of the consumable cartridge 110 is rejected, for example, one or more parameters such as the chip model, serial number, consumable characteristic parameter, etc. of the original chip 111 cannot be identified by the image forming apparatus 100, that is, the image forming apparatus 100 cannot identify the discarded consumable cartridge 110, and the consumable cartridge 110 cannot be used continuously; in yet another situation, the consumable cartridge 110 can be identified by the image forming apparatus 100 and then used continuously, but some data in the original chip 111 cannot be modified, even if the consumable cartridge 110 is refilled with the consumable, the data cannot be rewritten, so that the data of the refilled consumable cartridge is different from the data in the original chip 111, which may cause an error, for example, when the ink amount in the original chip 111 is left by 40%, the ink is refilled to 100%, and when the ink amount in the image forming apparatus is reduced to 1%, the user is prompted to use up the ink to replace the consumable cartridge, however, the ink in the actual consumable cartridge is nearly 60%, which is not in line with the actual state, and affects the user experience.

Therefore, in order to ensure that the consumable cartridge 110 is re-identified by the image forming apparatus 100 and to avoid data errors as much as possible, a recycling chip 112, also called a compatible chip, a grafting chip, or the like, needs to be provided on the consumable cartridge 110. The image forming apparatus 100 operates with the reproduction chip 112 when communicating with the chip on the consumable cartridge 110 and reading and writing data in the memory, and operates with the original chip 111 when the image forming apparatus 100 controls to complete the ejection operation. The data end (ID end) of the memory of the existing original chip 111 and the input end (control end) of the nozzle control circuit are respectively controlled by corresponding ends (ports, contacts and the like are also available), the ID end corresponding to the image forming device 100 is electrically connected with the ID end of the regeneration chip 112 and is disconnected with the ID end of the original chip 111, and thus, the data read and written by the image forming device 100 are the data of the regeneration chip 112; the control terminal corresponding to the image forming apparatus 100 is connected in parallel to the control terminals of the reproduction chip 112 and the original chip 111, so that the ejection operation is completed by the original chip 111, and since the reproduction chip is connected in parallel and the nozzle control circuit is not provided in the reproduction chip, the reception of the ejection signal by the original chip 111 is not affected; the control terminals of the image forming apparatus 100 and the original chip 111 may be directly electrically connected without being electrically connected to the reproduction chip 112. Disconnecting the ID terminals of the image forming apparatus 100 and the original chip 112 is a repetitive reproduction method with low cost, simple reproduction process, and high efficiency.

However, in the conventional original chip 111, the ID terminal is not only used for reading and writing data, but also has other functions, such as selecting whether or not the ejection element of the original chip is to perform the ejection operation by receiving the ejection signal, and the above-mentioned direct disconnection of the electrical connection between the image forming apparatus 100 and the ID terminal of the recycled chip does not allow such an original chip or a consumable cartridge to be reused. Further, there is also a possible mode in which the control terminal is not only for controlling the nozzle control circuit to perform the ejection operation, but also may be a memory data terminal for reading and writing the memory data of the original chip, and if the image forming apparatus 100 is caused to read and write the data of the reproduction chip 112 by a simple off mode, the ejection operation cannot be performed by the original chip 111. Therefore, it is difficult to make use of such consumable cartridges or recycled chips simply, efficiently, or at low cost.

As shown in FIG. 2, in an application scenario diagram, a data port T0 of the image forming apparatus 200 is electrically connected to a second port T2 of a second chip 210 on the consumable cartridge, when the second port T2 receives a first value, internal logic of the second chip 210 changes, and the image forming apparatus 200 can read and write data from and into a memory in the second chip 210; when the second terminal T2 receives the second value, the internal logic of the second chip 210 changes, the image forming apparatus 200 sends the ejection signal to the second chip 210, the second chip 210 performs the ejection operation through the nozzle control circuit (or sends the ejection signal to the nozzle control circuit at the print head to perform the ejection operation), a plurality of terminals are provided between the image forming apparatus 200 and the second chip 210 in addition to the second terminal T2, the connection relationship between each terminal and the image forming apparatus is conveniently called a control line, such as an address line, an excitation line, a precharge line, etc., and further includes lines required for the operation of the second chip 210, such as a power line, a ground line, a clock line, etc., the corresponding terminals are an address terminal, an excitation terminal, a precharge terminal, a ground terminal, a power terminal, a clock terminal, etc., through which the image forming apparatus 200 can read and write data of a memory cell corresponding to a certain address, the ejection element corresponding to a certain address may be activated.

To reform transform this kind of consumptive material chip, consumptive material box, because second end T2 has different performances when receiving different values, and to the consumptive material chip after reforming transform, only need be by the work of second chip when needing to carry out the injection action, by the work of regeneration chip when reading and writing data. Therefore, by modifying the chip so that the second terminal T2 of the second chip loses its selection function and always receives a second value, that is, a second chip internal logic changes, it is possible to perform an ejection operation in a state where the corresponding ejection element controlled by the second terminal T2 receives an ejection signal from the image apparatus, and the second chip receives an ejection signal from the image apparatus, which is also referred to as a selected state. The second value may also be a selected state value, which may be a voltage, a current, a power, a frequency, etc., and the corresponding second value is a high level, a low level, a high current, a low current, a high power, a low power, a high frequency, a low frequency, etc., where the high level and the low level are relative, for example, a first value as long as the voltage is higher than or equal to 1.8V, and a non-selected state, and as long as the voltage received by the second terminal T2 is any value higher than or equal to 1.8V, the non-selected state is all, and the voltages of 1.9V, 2.0V, 3.3V, and even higher may be the first value; the second value is set as long as the voltage is lower than or equal to 1.2V, and the selected state is set as long as the voltage received by the second terminal T2 is any value lower than or equal to 1.2V, and the voltages of 1.1V, 1V, 0.5V, 0V, and the like may be set as the second value. Therefore, the first value and the second value may be specific values or may be a range of values that maintain a fixed state, and the signal that maintains the second chip in a state of selecting the corresponding ejection element is referred to herein as a fixed signal, and when the signal that maintains the selected state is at a high level, the fixed signal is a voltage value higher than or equal to the minimum required high level, and at this time, the fixed signal is preferably connected to the power source terminal of the consumable chip; when the signal for maintaining the selected state is at a low level, the fixed signal is preferably connected to the ground of the consumable chip, and the fixed signal is at a voltage value lower than or equal to the minimum required low level. Besides voltage, the fixed signal may also be current, power, frequency, etc., and the description of the principle is basically the same as the example of voltage, but the signal mode is different, so the description is not repeated.

Based on the above analysis, as shown in fig. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, in some examples, a consumable chip 311 includes a first chip 320 and a second chip 330, the first chip 320 is a recycled chip, an grafted chip, a compatible chip, or the like, the second chip 330 is an original chip, an OEM chip, or the like, and the first chip 320 includes a first terminal T1; the second chip 330 includes a second end T2, a fourth end T4; the first terminal T1 is used for connecting to the image forming apparatus 300, and receives a first value signal and a second value signal from the image forming apparatus 300 (the image forming apparatus herein can be understood as the main body of the image forming apparatus, i.e., the portion of the image forming apparatus other than the consumable cartridge), and the second terminal T2 is used for receiving a fixing signal generated by a fixing signal terminal, i.e., the second terminal T2 can be connected to the fixing signal terminal to obtain the fixing signal, so that the second chip has a fixing function corresponding to the fixing signal, e.g., performs an ejecting operation, etc.

In one possible implementation, the fixed signal terminal may be a signal terminal of the image forming apparatus 300, and the fixed signal terminal outputs a signal that enables the second terminal T2 to receive the second value.

In one possible implementation, the fixed signal terminal may be a signal terminal of the first chip 320. As shown in fig. 5, the first chip 320 further includes a sixth terminal T6, the sixth terminal T6 is electrically connected to the controller 322 and the second terminal T2, respectively, the sixth terminal T6 is a fixed signal terminal, and outputs a signal that enables the second terminal T2 to receive a second value.

In a possible implementation manner, the fixed signal terminal may be a power terminal, a ground terminal (as shown in fig. 4), and the like, which is not particularly limited by the embodiment of the present application.

The first chip 320 further includes a third terminal T3 and a second memory 3212, the third terminal T3 being electrically connected to the second memory 3212, and the third terminal T3 being used for connecting the image forming apparatus 300. The image forming apparatus 300 may read and write data in the second memory 3212 through the third terminal T3, and the data may be consumable data such as a consumable remaining amount, a consumable identification, and the like.

The first chip 320 further includes a controller 322, and the controller 322 is electrically connected to the first terminal T1 and the fourth terminal T4, respectively. The connection or disconnection between the third terminal T3 and the fourth terminal T4 is controlled by whether the signal received by the first terminal T1 has the first value or the second value. Specifically, when the image forming apparatus 300 needs to read and write data in the second memory 3212 controlled by the first terminal T1, the first value is sent to the consumable chip 311, the first terminal T1 receives the first value, and the controller 322 controls the third terminal T3 and the fourth terminal T4 to be disconnected according to the first value, at this time, the image forming apparatus 300 can read and write data in the second memory 3212 through the third terminal T3; when the image forming apparatus 300 needs to control the ejection units controlled by the first terminal T1, a second value is sent to the consumable chip 311, the first terminal T1 receives the second value, and the controller 322 controls the third terminal T3 and the fourth terminal T4 to be conducted according to the first value, at this time, the image forming apparatus 300 may send an ejection signal to the second chip 330 to control the corresponding ejection units to complete the ejection operation.

That is, when the first terminal T1 receives the first value (or the non-selected state value), the signal of the fourth terminal T4 is not transmitted to the image forming apparatus 300; when the first terminal T1 receives the second value (or the selected state value), the fourth terminal T4 receives a signal transmitted from the image forming apparatus 300.

Note that, in the embodiment of the present application, the second chip 330 is in a state of waiting for reception of the ejection signal from the image forming apparatus 300 at any time without performing the selection operation by the second terminal T2 always receiving the second value (selected state value), and the second memory 3212 controlled by the first terminal T1 can be read and written in a specific state.

Specifically, the connection or disconnection between the third terminal T3 and the fourth terminal T4 can be controlled in various ways.

In one embodiment, when the first terminal T1 receives the first value and the fourth terminal T4 receives the read signal, it is intended to send the signal in the second chip 330 to the image forming apparatus 300, and the first chip 320 intercepts the data sent by the second chip 330 to the image forming apparatus 300, so that the image forming apparatus 300 cannot receive the signal of the fourth terminal T4, i.e., the signal of the fourth terminal T4 cannot be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 300; when the first terminal T1 receives the second value, the first chip 320 sends the data sent from the image forming apparatus 300 to the fourth terminal T4, so that the fourth terminal T4 can receive the signal sent from the image forming apparatus 300, and at this time, the signal sent from the image forming apparatus 300, more specifically, the ejection signal.

In another embodiment, the consumable chip 311 is further provided with a switch circuit 323 (see fig. 6 and 7), the fourth terminal T4 is electrically connected to the third terminal T3 through the switch circuit 323, and the controller 322 is electrically connected to the switch circuit 323 to control on/off of the switch circuit 323. Specifically, when the first terminal T1 receives the first value, the first chip 320 controls the switch circuit 323 to turn off through the controller 322, so that the fourth terminal T4 is disconnected from the third terminal T3, and the signal of the fourth terminal T4 cannot be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 300; when the first terminal T1 receives the second value, the first chip 320 controls the switch circuit 323 to be turned on by the controller 322, so that the fourth terminal T4 and the third terminal T3 are turned on, and the fourth terminal T4 can receive a signal, more specifically, an injection signal, sent by the image forming apparatus 300.

For example, when the image forming apparatus 300 needs to read and write data in the second memory 3212, a first value is sent to the first terminal T1, and the controller 322 receives the first value and controls the switch circuit 323 to be turned off, or the switch circuit 323 may be kept normally off, and the controller 322 does not control the switch circuit 323 to be turned on, and data read and written by the image forming apparatus 300 in the second memory 3212 and memory data in the second chip 330 controlled by the fourth terminal T4 are not read by the image forming apparatus 300; when the image forming apparatus 300 needs to control the ejection operation of the ejection unit controlled by the fourth terminal T4, a second value is sent to the first terminal T1, the controller 322 receives the second value and controls the switch circuit 323 to be turned on, and at this time, the image forming apparatus 300 sends the ejection signals of the corresponding ejection units to the third terminal T3 and the fourth terminal T4, and since the first chip 320 does not have a nozzle control circuit, the final image formation is not affected even if the ejection signals are received, and the fourth terminal T4 receives the ejection signals and transmits the ejection signals to the second chip 330 or the nozzle control circuit in the print head to control the corresponding ejection units to complete the ejection operation. The arrangement mode enables the second chip 330 with the collinear memory and the nozzle unit or the corresponding consumable box to be utilized, can avoid data crosstalk and normal use of the corresponding injection unit, can reduce or eliminate the need of modifying the memory in the second chip 330, simplifies the modification process, reduces the modification cost and improves the modification efficiency. In addition, a second switch circuit may be disposed between the third terminal T3 and the second memory 3212, the second switch circuit is turned on when the controller 322 receives a first value, so that the third terminal T3 communicates with the second memory 3212, and the second switch circuit is turned off when the controller receives a second value, so that the third terminal T3 communicates with the second memory 3212; the second switch circuit may be kept normally open or normally open, and only changes under a specific condition, for example, the second switch circuit is kept normally open, when the controller 322 receives the first value, the controller 322 controls the second switch circuit to be turned on, the image forming apparatus 300 can read and write the data in the second memory 3212, when the controller 322 receives the second value, the controller 322 controls the second switch circuit to be turned off, and the image forming apparatus 300 can receive the injection signal through the fourth terminal T4 of the second chip 330 to complete the injection operation, thereby avoiding crosstalk or data error.

With the above arrangement, the second terminal T2 can be made to have a second chip and a consumable cartridge that select whether or not to select the corresponding ejecting unit, by not giving the condition of selection to the second chip 330, and always making it in the selected state, and receiving the ejection signal from the image forming apparatus under appropriate conditions to control the corresponding ejecting unit to perform the ejecting operation. The disconnection method prevents data crosstalk, reduces data errors or printing errors caused by timing errors or delays in the selection process of the second chip 330, and has the advantages of simple production process, low modification cost and high accuracy.

In a specific implementation, the data read from and written to the second memory 3212 may be one or more of the control lines, and the injection signal may be sent to the fourth terminal T4. In another case, the control line for reading and writing data in the second memory 3212 and the control line for sending an ejection signal to the fourth terminal T4 are the same control line, and if the control line is turned off, the image forming apparatus 300 cannot use the ejection element controlled by the fourth terminal T4, resulting in a decrease in quality of a printed image; if the control line is electrically connected in parallel to a control line for reading and writing data of the second memory 3212, the data in the second chip 330 controlled by the fourth terminal T4 will interfere with the data of the second memory 3212, resulting in the failure of the image forming apparatus 300 to identify the consumable chip 311 or data error. Generally, in order to avoid data crosstalk between two terminals connected in parallel, the data state of the memory of the second chip 330 may be modified, and the data output in the modified state does not affect reading of the data of the second memory 3212 by the image forming apparatus 300, for example, the data is rewritten into a high level state or a low level state, when the data is rewritten into the high level state, the data of the memory of the second chip is generally rewritten by laser irradiation disconnection or FIB cutting by a focused ion beam, the modification process is complicated, the cost is high, and special equipment is required, which may adversely affect the modification.

As shown in fig. 6, the controller 322 may send a conducting signal to the switch circuit 323 through one of the third terminal T3 or a control line, and control the switch circuit 323 through the original port, such as the third terminal T3 and/or a port corresponding to another control line, without increasing the ports, so as to simplify the circuit; the explanation is given by taking the example of sending the on signal through the third terminal T3: the signal terminal T9 of the image forming apparatus 300 is electrically connected to the third terminal T3, in order to avoid crosstalk between the on signal and the signal transmitted from the image forming apparatus 300 to the third terminal T3 or the fourth terminal T4, the on signal transmits an on signal in an idle period before the signal terminal T9 transmits the signal, the switch circuit 323 maintains an on state after receiving the on signal, and when the ejection signal does not need to be transmitted to the second chip 330 (for example, when the controller 322 receives the first value again, or the controller 322 receives a signal to stop the ejection operation, etc.), the controller 322 transmits an off signal (or does not transmit the on signal, and the switch circuit 323 is turned off) in another idle period to turn off the switch circuit 323; the switch circuit 323 is kept normally closed after receiving the conducting signal and normally open after receiving the disconnecting signal, so that the switch circuit 323 is ensured to be conducted when needed. The ports corresponding to other control lines are used for controlling, corresponding on-off signals and off-signals are sent when the switch is not used or in an idle time period, and the on-off control of the switch circuit can be completed by using one port or two, three or even a plurality of ports. Such a switch circuit 323 may be a flip-flop, such as a D flip-flop, RS flip-flop, JK flip-flop, T flip-flop, or other switch circuit or device. It should be noted that, when the switch circuit 323 is turned on and off by using the original port, the port for implementing the on and off function may be understood as the control terminal (i.e., the fifth terminal T5 mentioned below) of the switch circuit 323 disposed on the first chip 320.

When the idle time interval is short or not, it is not enough for the controller 322 to send the on signal and the off signal through the third terminal T3 or other corresponding ports of the control line, so that the control method becomes inconvenient or cannot achieve the corresponding control. Then, as shown in fig. 7, a fifth terminal T5 may be disposed on the first chip 320, the fifth terminal T5 is electrically connected to the switch circuit 323 and the controller 322, respectively, and a signal of the fifth terminal T5 is controlled by the controller 322; when the controller 322 receives the first value, the controller 322 does not send the turn-on signal of the switch circuit 323 through the fifth terminal T5, and when the controller 322 receives the second value, the controller 322 sends the turn-on signal to the switch circuit 323 through the fifth terminal T5, so that the fourth terminal T4 of the second chip 330 is electrically connected to the image forming apparatus 300; when the ejection signal does not need to be sent to the second chip 330 (for example, when the controller 322 receives the first value again, or the controller 322 receives a signal to stop the ejection operation, or the like), the controller 322 sends an off signal (or does not send a conduction signal, the switching circuit 323 is turned off) to the switching circuit 323 through the fifth terminal T5, so that the switching circuit 323 is turned off; the switch circuit 323 is kept normally closed after receiving the conducting signal and normally open after receiving the disconnecting signal, so that the switch circuit 323 is ensured to be conducted when needed. The number of the fifth terminals T5 may be one, two, three, or more, as long as the corresponding control and on-off functions can be realized, and the specific switch form is not limited. The control end of the switch circuit 323 of the independent fifth end T5 is used, so that the limitation of idle time intervals of the ports can be avoided, data collision and crosstalk can be avoided, and the control efficiency and accuracy are improved.

The switching circuit 230 may be any type of switch, such as a Field Effect Transistor (FET), a triode, a thyristor, various types of flip-flops, and the like.

By providing the switch circuit 323, when the image forming apparatus 300 reads data in the second memory 3212, the switch circuit 323 is turned off, and the memory data in the second chip 330 is not read, so that the reading of the data by the image forming apparatus 300 is not disturbed, in which case the memory data in the second chip 330 does not need to be rewritten and the reading of the data is not affected, because the data in the memory is not read by the image forming apparatus 300 regardless of the data stored in the second chip 330, and thus the data state in the memory does not become irrelevant, which can greatly improve the repair time and repair efficiency for the second chip 330 and reduce the repair cost.

As shown in fig. 3-7, the first chip 320 corresponding to the consumable chip 311 described above further includes a first memory 3211, the first memory 3211 is electrically connected to the first terminal T1, and when the first terminal T1 receives the first value (non-selected state value), the image forming apparatus 300 can read and write data in the second memory 3212, and also can read and write data in the first memory 3211, specifically, data in the first memory 3211 or the second memory 3212, which can be determined according to the addresses of the memory cells. The first memory 3211 and the second memory 3212 may be two separate memories, for example, the memories have different physical addresses and are physically isolated from each other; or, the first memory 3211 and the second memory 3212 are two different areas or different address segments of a memory, and how the memories are divided is not limited. The first Memory 3211 and/or the second Memory 3212 may be volatile Memory such as Random Access Memory (RAM) or Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), or may be nonvolatile Memory such as Read-Only Memory (ROM) or Read-Only Memory (otp ROM), such as One Time programmable ROM, Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), or may also include Flash Memory (Flash), fuse (fuse)/antifuse (anti-fuse) Memory. The first terminal T1 is a read/write port of the first memory 3211 and a port through which an injection unit controlling the controlled fourth terminal T4 can receive an injection signal; the third terminal T3 is a read/write port of the second memory 3212 and a port for transmitting an injection signal to the fourth terminal T4, and the multifunctional second chip or corresponding consumable cartridge with one port is effectively utilized in the above manner.

It should be noted that, the print head has a plurality of nozzles and corresponding ejecting units, for example, 300, 600, 800, 1200, 2000, 3000, etc. ejecting units, only some of the ejecting units may be controlled by the first terminal T1, and other ejecting units may receive the ejecting signal of the image forming apparatus directly (or indirectly) without being controlled by the signal received by the first terminal T1, or all of the ejecting units may be controlled by the first terminal T1; the second memory 3212 controlled by the first terminal T1 may have the same number of memory cells as the number of ejection cells controlled by the first terminal T1 and have the same address data, reducing the use of terminals.

When the second chip 330 is integrated with the printhead, the second chip 330 further includes a nozzle control circuit including a plurality of ejection cells, and the fourth terminal T4 is electrically connected to at least some of the ejection cells for transmitting ejection signals to the connected ejection cells, and may be included in the above-mentioned consumable chip 311.

As shown in FIG. 8, in one embodiment, a consumable chip 311 is provided, the consumable chip 311 includes a first chip 320 and a second chip 330, the first chip 320 includes a first substrate 324, a first terminal T1, and a memory, the second chip 330 includes a second substrate 334, a second terminal T2, and a fourth terminal T4, the first terminal T1 is disposed on the first substrate 324, the second terminal T2, and the fourth terminal T4 is disposed on the second substrate 334, and the second terminal T2 is connected to a fixed signal terminal.

The first chip 320 further includes a controller 322, the controller 322 is electrically connected to the first terminal T1, and the controller 322 is configured to intercept data sent by the fourth terminal T4 to the image forming apparatus 300 and to forward ejection data sent by the image forming apparatus to the fourth terminal T4 according to a value received by the first terminal T1; or, the first chip 320 further includes a switch circuit 323, and the controller 322 controls on/off of the switch circuit 323. The controller 322 is disposed on the first substrate 324.

The first chip 320 further includes a third terminal T3 and a second memory 3212, the third terminal T3 is electrically connected to the second memory 3212, the third terminal T3 is also electrically connected to the fourth terminal T4 through a switch circuit 323, and the switch circuit 323 is controlled by the controller 322 to perform on/off operation. The third terminal T3 may be provided in the first substrate 324, and the second memory 3212 may be provided separately or integrally in the controller 322.

The first chip 320 further includes a first memory 3211, the first terminal T1 is electrically connected to the first memory 3211, and the first memory 3211 may be separately disposed on the first substrate 324, or may be integrated with the second memory 3212 or the first memory 3211.

The first chip 320 further includes a fifth terminal T5, the fifth terminal T5 is electrically connected to the controller 322, and the switch circuit 323 is electrically connected to the fifth terminal T5.

The specific fixed signal terminal, each terminal, the operation mode, and the like are the same as those described above, and are not described herein again.

When it is required to be described, the switch circuit 323 or the second switch circuit may be disposed in the first chip 322 to be integrated, or may be disposed separately, and the specific disposition is not limited.

In one embodiment, a method for controlling a consumable chip is also provided, wherein when a first value is received, data of a second chip cannot be transmitted to an image forming apparatus, and when a second value is received, an ejection signal sent by the image forming apparatus of the first chip is transmitted to the second chip. The content of the specific control method has already been described in the above description of the consumable chip 311, and is not repeated herein.

Corresponding to the above consumable chip, the embodiment of the application also provides a consumable box, which comprises the consumable chip in the above embodiment. The consumable cartridge can be installed in an image forming apparatus, and includes a housing for accommodating consumables (such as ink, toner, etc.), a first substrate 324 and a second substrate 334, wherein the first chip 322 is disposed on the first substrate 324, the second chip is disposed on the second substrate 334, and the first substrate 324 and the second substrate 334 are disposed on the housing.

The first substrate 324 includes a first surface and a second surface, the first chip 322 is disposed on the second surface, the first surface is provided with a first pad electrically connected to the first end and the third end, the second substrate is provided with a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface is provided with a second pad electrically connected to the first pad and the second chip, the first surface faces the image forming device, the second surface faces the third surface, and the fourth surface faces the consumable box housing.

For details of the consumable chip, reference may be made to the description of the above embodiments, and for brevity, the details are not repeated herein.

Corresponding to the consumable cartridge, the embodiment of the application also provides an image forming device which comprises the consumable cartridge in the embodiment.

By adopting the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application, for the second chip with multiple functions, the second end of the second chip loses the selection function by setting the fixed signal for the second end, and the second chip receives the signal sent by the image forming device under the proper condition by setting different signal values for the first end of the first chip, so that the second chip is reused.

In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and system may be implemented in other manners. For example, the above-described system embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, a division of modules is merely a logical division, and an actual implementation may have another division, for example, multiple modules or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not implemented. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or modules, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

Other embodiments of the present application will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the application disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the application and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the application being indicated by the following claims.

It will be understood that the present application is not limited to the precise arrangements described above and shown in the drawings and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims (14)

1. A consumable chip, comprising:

the first chip comprises a controller, a second memory, a first end and a third end, wherein the first end is used for being connected with an image forming device and receiving a first value and a second value sent by the image forming device, the second memory is electrically connected with the third end, and the third end is used for being connected with the image forming device;

the second chip comprises a second end and a fourth end, the second end is used for connecting a fixed signal end, and the fourth end is electrically connected with the third end;

the controller is electrically connected with the first end and the fourth end respectively, and is used for controlling the fourth end and the third end to be disconnected according to the first value and controlling the fourth end and the third end to be connected according to the second value.

2. The consumable chip of claim 1, further comprising a switching circuit, wherein the controller is electrically connected to the switching circuit for controlling the switching of the switching circuit, and the fourth terminal is electrically connected to the third terminal through the switching circuit.

3. The consumable chip of claim 2, wherein the first chip further comprises a fifth terminal, the fifth terminal is electrically connected to the switch circuit and the controller, and the controller controls the on/off of the switch circuit through the fifth terminal.

4. The consumable chip of claim 2, wherein the controller controls the switching of the switching circuit through the third terminal.

5. The consumable chip of claim 1, wherein the first chip further comprises a sixth terminal electrically connected to the controller and the second terminal, respectively, the sixth terminal being the fixed signal terminal.

6. The consumable chip of claim 1, wherein the second terminal is configured to connect to a fixed signal terminal of the image forming apparatus.

7. The consumable chip of claim 1, wherein the first chip further comprises a first memory, the first memory being electrically connected to the first end.

8. The consumable chip of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the fixed signal corresponding to the fixed signal terminal is one or a combination of the following signals:

a voltage signal, a current signal, a power signal, and a frequency signal.

9. The consumable chip of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the second terminal is connected to a power or ground terminal when the fixed signal is a voltage signal.

10. The consumable chip of any one of claims 1-7, further comprising a second switching circuit, wherein the third terminal is electrically connected to the second memory through the second switching circuit, and the controller controls the second switching circuit to be turned on or off.

11. A consumable cartridge comprising a housing, characterized in that it comprises a consumable chip according to any one of claims 1-10.

12. The consumable cartridge of claim 11, further comprising a first substrate and a second substrate, the first chip disposed on the first substrate, the second chip disposed on the second substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate disposed on the housing.

13. The consumable cartridge of claim 12, wherein the first substrate comprises a first face and a second face, the first chip is disposed on the second face, the first face is provided with first pads electrically connected to the first end and the third end, the second substrate is provided with a third face and a fourth face, the third face is provided with second pads electrically connected to the first pads and the second chip, the first face faces the image forming device, the second face faces the third face, and the fourth face faces the consumable cartridge housing.

14. An image forming apparatus comprising the consumable cartridge of any one of claims 11-13.

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