JP2002086864A - Output unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an output unit which can deal with a recording agent containing a cartridge having an information storing function. SOLUTION: The output unit comprises a reader/writer 102 comprising a recording agent containing cartridge 100 incorporating a recording medium, i.e., a radio tag 101, and communicating with the radio tag 101, an output engine 103 controlling the recording agent containing cartridge 100, a plurality of profile formats concerning to the recording agent, and a nonvolatile memory 108 exhibiting a function for storing the relation of identification information. Since the recording agent containing cartridge incorporates a storage medium which can store profile information concerning the recording agent, profile information concerning a recording agent filling a cartridge can be read out when the output unit is loaded with the cartridge.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output device compatible with a recording material storage cartridge having an information storage function.
More specifically, the present invention relates to an output device that uses a cartridge for storing a recording material (toner, ink, etc.) and that enables a profile of the recording material to be grasped in an output device such as a printer, a copying machine, or a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a means for identifying a recording agent (toner, ink, etc.) in a recording agent storage cartridge, a visual means such as a label affixed to the cartridge or a color coding of the cartridge, or a shape of the cartridge is used. It was mainly identified by physical identification means such as addition of a member to a part.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional example, when the used cartridge is refilled at the user site (including refilling by a third party), the output device side There is no proof that refilling of a recording agent satisfying the required specifications is not performed, and there has been a problem that when refilling a recording agent less than the required specifications, sufficient specifications as an output device could not be exhibited.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an output device compatible with a recording material storage cartridge having an information storage function.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve such an object, the invention according to claim 1 is used in an output device such as a printer or a copying machine and used in the output device. In an output device constituted by a recording agent storage cartridge with an information storage function, the recording agent storage cartridge includes means for storing profile information relating to a recording agent, and the recording agent storage cartridge is mounted on the output device. A means for reading profile information relating to the recording material from the recording material storage cartridge; and a step of reading profile information relating to the recording material of the recording material storage cartridge while the recording material storage cartridge is mounted on the output device. Means for rewriting the changed portion, and means for performing output control corresponding to the profile of the recording material. Than it is.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of storage formats for profile information stored in the recording agent storage cartridge are provided, and storage format identification information for identifying which of the storage formats is used for storage. Means for mapping to the same position in all storage formats of the storage format, and means for the output device to refer to storage format information in which the information of the storage format is stored inside the output device. According to the present invention, the detailed information element of the profile information is read from the storage format identification information of the mounted cartridge according to the storage format information and written.

[0007] Further, the invention according to claim 3 is based on claim 2.
In the invention described in (1), the output device outputs the relevant information of the storage format information and the storage format identification information in accordance with information from an external input unit such as a personal computer or a communication line connected to the output device. Characterized in that it has means for adding, changing, and deleting.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second or third aspect of the invention, a checksum for checking the validity of data is additionally stored in the storage format of the profile information. Means and means for judging the validity of the profile information using the checksum when the recording material storage cartridge is mounted.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second, third or fourth aspect, the checksum is an added value of the profile information in units of bytes. Things.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second, third or fourth aspect, the checksum is an exclusive logical sum of the profile information in byte units. It is a feature.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fourth, fifth or sixth aspect, no error in the checksum is detected as a result of the determination of the validity of the data using the checksum. When the checksum error is detected, the cartridge is recognized as an abnormal cartridge, and the output device is controlled in accordance with the read recording agent profile information. It is characterized by controlling the output device.

The invention described in claim 8 is the first invention.
8. The recording medium according to any one of claims 7 to 7, wherein the storage medium that performs an information storage function of the recording agent storage cartridge is:
It is a nonvolatile electric memory (EEPROM) built in the recording material storage cartridge.

The invention according to claim 9 is the first invention.
8. The recording medium according to any one of claims 7 to 7, wherein the storage medium that performs an information storage function of the recording agent storage cartridge is:
The wireless tag is a wireless tag built in the recording material storage cartridge.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the recording material storage cartridge storing the profile information by the wireless tag is mounted on the output device, When the return of the normal identification information response to the identification information request to be performed cannot be confirmed, the cartridge is recognized as an abnormal cartridge, and the output device corresponding to the abnormal cartridge is controlled. .

With such a configuration, according to the present invention,
A storage medium capable of storing profile information relating to the recording agent is incorporated in the recording agent storage cartridge, and when the cartridge is mounted on an output device, the profile information relating to the recording agent filled in the cartridge is read out. Can be.

Further, while the cartridge is mounted on the output device, various parameters (the number of output dots, the number of output sheets, etc.) that change with the output using the cartridge can be written in the storage medium of the cartridge.

The remaining amount of the recording material (toner, ink, etc.) in the regular cartridge can be recognized by referring to the value of the parameter (the number of output dots, the number of output sheets, etc.). In the case of refilling, the remaining amount of the recording material is recognized as 0, so that it is possible to prevent the output device from outputting on a recording material other than the regular recording material.

Furthermore, a plurality of storage formats can be provided in the profile information, and identification information indicating which of the storage formats is stored can be mapped to the same position in all the formats.

The relationship between the storage format and the identification information is held by both the manager of the process of filling the cartridge into the cartridge and the output device, and the storage format can be changed according to the situation. .

This makes it possible to dynamically change the storage area of the parameters of the profile information having a large number of rewrites, for example, the number of output dots, the number of output sheets, and the like. And the like can be used to extend the life of the storage medium,
This makes it difficult for the user to analyze the storage format.

In addition, the relation between the storage format and the identification information in the output device is periodically transmitted through an external input means (PC or communication line) connected thereto (when a PC driver software is updated in the case of a printer; The update is performed at the time of updating the LCR data, for example), thereby making it more difficult for a malicious third party to analyze the storage format.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) An example in which a wireless tag is used as an information storage medium built in a cartridge as an embodiment of an output device compatible with a recording agent storage cartridge having an information storage function of the present invention will be described below. Will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an output device according to the present invention.
Reference numeral 01 denotes a wireless tag which is a storage medium incorporated in the recording material storage cartridge 100. In this embodiment, a proximity type (transmission distance of about 10 cm) wireless medium is assumed.

Reference numerals 102 to 108 denote functional blocks of an output device, 102 is a reader / writer for communicating with a wireless tag, 103 is an output engine for controlling a recording material storage cartridge, and 104 is a scanner, a PC, a FAX engine or the like. Input interface for receiving information to be output, 1
05 is a control CPU for controlling the output device, 106 is a ROM for storing a control program for the output device, 107 is a work RAM for executing the control program, and 108 is a plurality of profile formats related to the recording material which is a feature of the present invention. And a non-volatile memory having a function of storing the relevance of identification information, and these are mutually connected via a bus 109.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the proximity wireless tag and the reader / writer shown in FIG.
Corresponds to the wireless tag 101 in FIG.
Reference numeral 10 corresponds to the reader / writer 102 in FIG. The wireless tag 200 includes an antenna 201, a power supply circuit 202 for extracting spatially transmitted power, a demodulation circuit 203 for a reception signal, a modulation circuit 204 for a transmission signal, a control logic unit 205 for performing communication control, and various parameters. And a non-volatile memory 206 for storing information.

The reader / writer 210 includes an antenna 211, a transmission driver circuit 212 for amplifying transmission power and superimposing power, a reception signal amplification circuit 213, a transmission signal modulation circuit 214, and a reception signal demodulation. Circuit 215
And a control logic unit 216 that performs communication control and functions as an interface with other functional blocks.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example of signal transmission timing in the wireless space of the proximity wireless tag used in the present embodiment. One communication cycle operates as follows.

Before transmitting information from the reader / writer 210, a non-modulated signal is always transmitted to the wireless tag 200 for a certain period of time, and the power supply in the wireless tag 200 is stabilized. After that, the non-modulated signal is continuously transmitted until a specified one communication cycle end timing. After receiving the command, the wireless tag 200 performs communication by returning response signals 32 and 34 after a lapse of a guard time corresponding to its own unique information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a communication sequence between the wireless tag and the reader / writer.

First, the reader / writer 210 periodically transmits the identification request command signal 401 and checks whether there is a wireless tag in the proximity state. Upon receiving the identification request command signal 401, the wireless tag 200 returns an identification information response response 402 in which its own unique identification information is added as a parameter to the parameter.

The reader / writer 210 receives the identification information response response 402, reads out the unique identification information of the wireless tag 200, determines whether the wireless tag 200 is compatible with the current application, and responds. Only the wireless tag 200 that performs the communication with the command response signals 403 and 404 for accessing the nonvolatile memory 206 mounted in the wireless tag 200 is performed, and the contents of the nonvolatile memory 206 in the wireless tag 200 are desired. To the format.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show examples of the format of profile information relating to the recording material.
Shows an example of a memory map in a certain version, and reference numeral 51 in the figure shows an example of mapping of storage agent profile information stored in a nonvolatile memory built in the recording agent storage cartridge. FIG. 2B shows an example of a memory map in another version, and reference numeral 52 in the figure shows another mapping example of the storage agent profile information stored in the nonvolatile memory built in the recording agent storage cartridge. ing.

Memory map version information, which is format identification information, is mapped to the start address. In the subsequent memory area, different memory mapping is performed for each memory map version, and the relationship between the memory map version information and the memory mapping is determined. The confidentiality of the format of the profile information relating to the recording material is ensured by making it sharable only with the output device in the process of filling the regular recording material.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a control flow when the recording material storage cartridge is mounted on the output device, and is a flow chart of an information reading access procedure for the wireless tag with the recording material storage cartridge in the first embodiment.

First, an identification information request signal 401 is sent to the wireless tag built in the attached recording material storage cartridge.
Is transmitted (S601), and it is determined whether or not the identification information of the wireless tag notified by the identification information response signal 402 is identification information permitted by the application, and whether or not the response signal itself exists. (S602).

If the regular identification information is not received, the loaded recording material storage cartridge is recognized as an abnormal cartridge, and a request is made to execute control for the cartridge (S6).
07) One processing unit ends.

When the regular identification information is received, the memory contents in the wireless tag are downloaded (flowchart of FIG. 7 described later) (S603), and the checksum in the memory range is calculated according to the memory map version information. (S604), and the calculated value is compared with the checksum value stored in the wireless tag (S605). If no checksum error is detected, the mounted recording material storage cartridge is regarded as a normal cartridge. It recognizes and requests the execution of the control corresponding to this (S606),
If a checksum error is detected, the installed recording material storage cartridge is recognized as an abnormal cartridge,
A request is made to execute control corresponding to this (S607), and 1
End the processing unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a control flow when downloading the memory contents in S603 in FIG.
The information read address is set to the head address of the wireless tag memory (S701), and a read request signal for the designated address data is transmitted (S702).

Next, it is determined whether or not the read response of the designated address data has been normally received (S703). If the response has not been normally received, the process returns to S702. It is stored (S704). Next, the information read address value is added (S705), and it is determined whether the reading of the last address information is completed (S70).
6) If the reading is not completed, the process returns to S702,
If the reading has been completed, the process ends.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a control flow when changing the information in the wireless tag of the recording material storage cartridge mounted on the output device. First, the wireless tag built in the mounted recording material storage cartridge is shown. To the identification information request signal 401
(S801), and determines whether or not the identification information of the wireless tag notified by the identification information response signal 402 is identification information permitted by the application, and determines whether or not the response signal itself exists. (S802).

If the regular identification information is not received, the loaded recording material storage cartridge is recognized as an abnormal cartridge, and after requesting the execution of control corresponding thereto (S
806) One processing unit ends.

If the regular identification information is received, data rewriting processing (flowchart of FIG. 9 described later) of the address corresponding to the changed symmetric parameter in the memory contents in the wireless tag is performed (S803), and the check accompanying the change is performed. The sum value is recalculated (S804), and the result is rewritten to the checksum storage area in the wireless tag (S80).
5) One processing unit ends.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a control flow when writing the memory contents in the wireless tag of the recording agent storage cartridge mounted on the output device. First, the information read address is set to the write target address of the wireless tag memory. (S90
1) Transmit a designated address data write request signal (S902). Next, it is determined whether the designated address write response has been normally received (S903). If the response has not been received normally, the process returns to S902, and if it has been received normally, the process ends.

This makes it possible to prevent the use of a cartridge that has been refilled with a recording material that does not meet the required specifications as an output device at a user site (including a third party).

In addition, it is possible to dynamically change the storage area of parameters having a large number of rewrites in the profile information, for example, the parameters such as the number of output dots and the number of output sheets. It is possible to extend the life of the storage medium when the non-volatile memory in the tag is used as the storage medium, and to make it difficult for a malicious third party to analyze the storage format.

Further, the relation between the storage format and the identification information in the output device is periodically transmitted via an external input means (PC or communication line) (when updating PC driver software in the case of a printer, or in the case of a facsimile). Is updated at the time of updating the LCR data, etc.).
This makes it difficult for the user to analyze the storage format.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, an example is described in which a wireless tag is used as a medium for storing a profile of a recording material, which is built in a recording material cartridge. In the embodiment, an example in which an EEPROM is used as an information storage medium built in the cartridge will be described below.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the output device of the present invention. Reference numeral 1000 denotes a cartridge for storing a recording material, and 1001 denotes an EEPROM which is a storage medium built in the cartridge. An EEPROM connected by an interface is assumed.

Reference numerals 1002 to 1008 denote functional blocks of an output device; 1002, an interface unit for controlling data communication with an EEPROM; 1003, an output engine for controlling a recording material storage cartridge; 1004, a scanner, a PC, and a FAX engine. An input interface for receiving information to be output from the device, etc .; 1005, a control CPU for controlling the output device; 1006, a ROM for storing a control program for the output device; 1007, a work RAM for executing the control program; A non-volatile memory that performs a function of storing a relationship between a plurality of profile formats relating to a recording material, which is a feature, and identification information, and these are interconnected via a bus 1009.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a control flow when the recording material storage cartridge is mounted on the output device, and is a flow chart of an information reading access procedure for the EEPROM with the recording material storage cartridge in the second embodiment.

First, a process of downloading the contents of the memory in the wireless tag (a flowchart of FIG. 12 described later) is executed (S1101), and a checksum in the memory range is calculated according to the memory map version information (S110).
2) The calculated value is compared with the checksum value stored in the wireless tag (S1103). If no checksum error is detected, the installed recording material storage cartridge is recognized as a normal cartridge. It is requested to execute control corresponding to this (S1104). If an error of the checksum is detected, the installed recording material storage cartridge is recognized as an abnormal cartridge, and execution of control corresponding to this is requested (S1104). (S1105) One processing unit ends.

FIG. 12 is a control flow for downloading the memory contents in S1101 in FIG. 11. First, the information read address is set to the head address of the EEPROM (S1201), and the designated address data read request signal is transmitted (S1202). ).

Next, it is determined whether or not the read response of the designated address data has been normally received (S1203). If the response has not been normally received, the process returns to S1202. Remember (S120
4). Next, the information read address value is added (S12
05), it is determined whether the reading of the last address information is completed (S1206). If the reading is not completed, S1 is performed.
Returning to 202, if the reading has been completed, the process is terminated.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a control flow when changing the information in the EEPROM of the recording material storage cartridge being mounted on the output device. First, in the memory contents of the EEPROM, data of the address corresponding to the changed symmetric parameter is stored. A rewrite process (FIG. 12) is performed (S1301), a recalculation of the checksum value accompanying the change is performed (S1302), and the result is rewritten to a checksum storage area in the wireless tag (S1303). End the unit.

As a result, even when the EEPROM is used as the nonvolatile storage medium, the same result as when the wireless tag is used can be obtained.

(Other Embodiments) In the above-described two embodiments, an example in which a proximity wireless tag and an EEPROM having a serial interface are used as the nonvolatile memory medium built in the recording material storage cartridge has been described. As another embodiment, a non-volatile memory medium capable of storing addresses and data in association with each other may be incorporated in the recording material storage cartridge. In this case, a similar effect can be obtained.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, the recording material storage cartridge has means for storing profile information relating to the recording material, and the recording material storage when the recording material storage cartridge is mounted on the output device. Means for reading profile information relating to the recording material from the cartridge, and while the recording material storage cartridge is mounted on the output device,
Since there are means for rewriting the changed portion of the profile information relating to the recording material of the recording material storage cartridge and means for performing output control corresponding to the profile of the recording material, the profile information relating to the recording material is stored in the recording material storage cartridge. When a recording medium storage cartridge is installed in an output device, profile information relating to the recording medium filled in the recording medium storage cartridge can be read.

Further, while the cartridge is mounted on the output device, various parameters (the number of output dots, the number of output sheets, and the like) that change with the output using the cartridge can be written in the storage medium of the cartridge.

By referring to the values of the parameters (the number of output dots, the number of output sheets, etc.), the remaining amount of the recording material in the regular cartridge can be recognized, and when the regular empty cartridge is refilled with the recording material at the user site, Since the remaining amount of the recording material is recognized as zero, it is possible to prevent the output device from outputting on a recording material other than the regular recording material.

Further, a plurality of storage formats can be provided in the profile information, and identification information indicating which of the storage formats is used can be mapped to the same position in all the formats.

The relationship between the storage format and the identification information is held by both the manager of the process of filling the cartridge into the cartridge and the output device, and the storage format can be changed according to the situation. .

This makes it possible to dynamically change the storage area of parameters having a large number of rewrites in the profile information, for example, parameters such as the number of output dots and the number of output sheets. And the like can be used to extend the life of the storage medium,
This makes it difficult for the user to analyze the storage format.

Also, the relation between the storage format and the identification information in the output device is periodically transmitted via an external input means (PC or communication line) connected to the printer (PC driver software update for a printer, FAX The update is performed at the time of updating the LCR data, for example), thereby making it more difficult for a malicious third party to analyze the storage format.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an output device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a proximity wireless tag and a reader used in the first embodiment.
It is a figure showing an example of a functional block with a writer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of wireless communication timing of a close proximity wireless tag used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a proximity wireless tag and a reader used in the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an information transfer sequence with a writer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a storage format in a plurality of nonvolatile memories related to a recording material storage cartridge used in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an information reading access procedure for a wireless tag with a built-in recording agent storage cartridge in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a memory content download procedure for the wireless tag with a built-in recording agent storage cartridge in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an access procedure for changing parameter contents to a wireless tag with a built-in recording material storage cartridge in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a memory content writing procedure for a wireless tag with a built-in recording agent storage cartridge in the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an output device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an information readout access procedure for an EEPROM with a recording material storage cartridge according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a procedure for downloading memory contents to an EEPROM with a recording material storage cartridge in the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an access procedure for changing parameter contents to an EEPROM with a recording material storage cartridge in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 recording material storage cartridge 101 proximity wireless tag 102 reader / writer for proximity wireless tag 103 output engine 104 input interface 105 control CPU 106 ROM 107 RAM 108 non-volatile memory 31, 33 information transmission signal from reader / writer to wireless tag 32 , 34 Information transmission signal from wireless tag to reader / writer 401 Request signal for tag identification information to wireless tag 402 Response signal to tag identification information from wireless tag 403 Request signal to access specified address of nonvolatile memory in wireless tag 404 An access response signal from a designated address of the nonvolatile memory in the wireless tag 51 A mapping example of the storage agent profile information stored in the nonvolatile memory built in the recording material storage cartridge 52 A nonvolatile built in the recording material storage cartridge Another example of mapping 1000 recording agent containing cartridge 1001 serial input EEPROM 1002 serial input-output interface 1003 outputs the engine 1004 input interface 1005 control CPU 1006 ROM 1007 RAM 1008 nonvolatile memory storage agent profile information stored in memory

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 HH03 HH13 HJ10 HK04 HK08 HK11 HN02 HN15 2H027 DD02 DD05 DD09 DE07 EJ05 EJ08 EJ10 HB05 HB13 HB14 HB17 2H077 AA02 DA15 DA32 DB10 GA00 A01 CC

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An output device comprising an output device such as a printer or a copying machine, and a recording material storage cartridge having an information storage function used in the output device, wherein the recording material storage cartridge relates to a recording material. Means for storing profile information, means for reading profile information relating to a recording material from the recording material storage cartridge when the recording material storage cartridge is mounted on the output device, and means for storing the recording material storage cartridge in the output device Output means comprising: means for rewriting the changed portion of the profile information relating to the recording material of the recording material storage cartridge while the recording material storage cartridge is mounted; and means for performing output control corresponding to the profile of the recording material. apparatus. 2. A plurality of storage formats for profile information stored in the recording material storage cartridge are provided, and storage format identification information for identifying which of the storage formats is stored is stored in all of the storage formats. Means for mapping to the same position also in the format; andthe output device has means for referring to storage format information in which the information of the storage format is stored inside the output device, and is mounted according to the storage format information. 2. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the detailed information element of the profile information is read and written from the storage format identification information of the cartridge. 3. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the storage device stores the relevant information between the storage format information and the storage format identification information in accordance with information from an external input means such as a personal computer or a communication line connected to the output device. 3. The output device according to claim 2, further comprising means for adding, changing, and deleting. 4. A means for additionally storing a checksum for checking the validity of data in a storage format of the profile information, and when the recording material storage cartridge is mounted, the checksum is used for the profile information by using the checksum. 4. The output device according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining validity. 5. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the checksum is an addition value of the profile information in units of bytes. 6. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the checksum is an exclusive logical sum of the profile information in units of bytes. 7. As a result of judging the validity of the data using the checksum, when an error of the checksum is not detected, the cartridge is recognized as a normal cartridge, and the output device of the output device according to the read recording agent profile information. 7. The control device according to claim 4, wherein when the checksum error is detected, the error is recognized as an abnormal cartridge, and the output device corresponding to the abnormal cartridge is controlled.
An output device according to item 1. 8. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium for performing the information storage function of the recording agent storage cartridge is a nonvolatile electric memory built in the recording agent storage cartridge. Output device as described. 9. The recording medium for performing an information storage function of the recording material storage cartridge is a wireless tag built in the recording material storage cartridge.
The output device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 10. When a recording material storage cartridge storing the profile information by the wireless tag is attached to the output device, a normal identification information response is returned in response to an identification information request made to the wireless tag. 10. The output device according to claim 9, wherein, when it cannot be confirmed, the cartridge is recognized as an abnormal cartridge, and the output device corresponding to the abnormal cartridge is controlled.