JP5737315B2 - Printing material container - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing material container that accommodates a printing material, and a substrate that is mounted on the printing material container in the printing material container, and more particularly, to an arrangement of a plurality of terminals provided therein.

  In recent years, a device may be mounted on an ink cartridge mounted on a printing apparatus such as an ink jet printer. For example, as a device, a storage device that stores information about ink is mounted on an ink cartridge. In addition, as a device, a high voltage circuit (for example, an ink remaining amount sensor using a piezoelectric element) to which a voltage higher than a drive voltage of a storage device is applied is mounted on an ink cartridge. In such a case, the ink cartridge and the printing apparatus may be electrically connected via a terminal. Patent Document 1 proposes a structure that prevents the information storage medium from being short-circuited and damaged by droplets adhering to terminals connecting the information storage medium provided in the ink cartridge and the printing apparatus. .

JP 2003-103796 A JP-A-10-86357

  However, the above technique does not consider an ink cartridge in which a plurality of devices (for example, the above-described storage device and high voltage circuit) are mounted and terminals of one device and terminals of another device are arranged. . In such an ink cartridge, there is a possibility that a short circuit occurs between a terminal of one device and a terminal of another device. Such a short circuit has a problem that the ink cartridge or the printing apparatus to which the ink cartridge is mounted may be damaged. Such a problem is not limited to ink cartridges, but also applies to other printing materials, for example, containers containing toner.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and in a printing material container including a storage device and a high voltage circuit, prevents damage to the printing material container and the printing device due to a short circuit between terminals. Or to suppress.

In order to solve the above problems , the present invention can be realized in the following forms.
(1) Form 1
A printing material container that is detachably attached to a printing apparatus having a plurality of apparatus side terminals,
A first device;
A second device;
A plurality of first terminals, at least one second terminal, and a terminal group including at least one third terminal;
With
The plurality of first terminals are connected to the first device;
The at least one second terminal is connected to the second device;
The at least one third terminal is a terminal for detecting a short circuit between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal;
The first terminal is not disposed between at least a part of the at least one third terminal and at least a part of the at least one second terminal in at least one direction. Without
The first device is a memory;
The second device is a device to which a voltage higher than the drive voltage of the memory is applied,
The printing material container further includes:
A printing material container comprising a dummy terminal between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal.
According to the printing material container according to the first aspect, since the third terminal for detecting a short circuit with the second terminal is included, damage to the printing material container and the printing apparatus due to the short circuit of the terminal is prevented. Or it can be suppressed.
(2) Form 2
The printing material container according to the first aspect, wherein the first device is a memory for storing information on the printing material housed in the printing material container. .
(3) Form 3
The printing material container according to the first aspect, wherein the second device operates with a voltage higher than that of the first device.
(4) Form 4
The printing material container according to the first aspect, wherein the dummy terminal is not connected to either the first device or the second device.

The present invention can also be realized in various modes as described below. A first aspect of the present invention provides a printing material container that is detachably attached to a printing apparatus having a plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The printing material container according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a first device, a second device, and a terminal group. The terminal group includes a plurality of first terminals, at least one second terminal, and at least one third terminal. The plurality of first terminals include a first contact portion that is connected to the first device and contacts a corresponding terminal among the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The at least one second terminal includes a second contact portion that is connected to the second device and contacts a corresponding terminal among the plurality of device-side terminals. The at least one third terminal is a terminal for detecting a short circuit between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal, and corresponds to the plurality of device side terminals. Each includes a third contact portion that contacts the terminal. The at least one second contact portion, the plurality of first contact portions, and the at least one third contact portion are arranged to form one or more rows. The at least one second contact portion is disposed at an end of one row of the one or more rows.
According to the printing material container according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the second contact portion of the second terminal connected to the second device is arranged at the end portion, the adjacent contact portion. And the possibility of short-circuiting with a terminal including another contact portion is reduced. As a result, damage to the printing material container and the printing apparatus due to the short circuit can be prevented or suppressed.

  In the printing material container according to the first aspect of the present invention, the at least one third contact portion may be disposed adjacent to the at least one second contact portion. In this way, the third contact portion of the third terminal for detecting the presence or absence of a short circuit with the second terminal is arranged so as to be adjacent to the second contact portion of the second terminal. When the second terminal and the first terminal are short-circuited due to foreign matters such as ink droplets, there is a high possibility that the second terminal and the third terminal are also short-circuited. As a result, such a short circuit can be detected, and damage to the printing material container and the printing apparatus due to the short circuit can be prevented or suppressed with high probability.

  In the printing material container according to the first aspect of the present invention, the terminal group includes a plurality of the second terminals, and each of the second contact portions of the plurality of the second terminals includes the first terminal. It may be arranged at both ends of each row. In this case, since the plurality of second terminals are arranged at the ends, the number of adjacent contact portions is small, and the possibility of short-circuiting with terminals including other contact portions is reduced.

  In the printing material container according to the first aspect of the present invention, the terminal group includes a plurality of the second terminals, and each of the second contact portions of the plurality of second terminals and the plurality of second terminals. A part of one contact portion is arranged so as to form a first row, and the second contact portions of the plurality of second terminals are arranged at both ends of the first row, respectively. And at least one third contact portion and another part of the plurality of first contact portions are arranged to form a second row, and the at least one third contact portion May be arranged at at least one of both ends of the second row. In this way, even if an ink drop or a foreign substance enters from either side of both ends, a short circuit between the second terminal and another terminal due to the ink drop or the foreign substance can be detected quickly.

  In the printing material container according to the first aspect of the present invention, the terminal group includes a plurality of the third terminals, and each of the third contact portions of the plurality of the third terminals includes the second terminal. It may be arranged at both ends of each row. In this way, even if an ink drop or a foreign substance enters from either side of both ends, a short circuit between the second terminal and another terminal due to the ink drop or the foreign substance can be detected quickly.

  In the printing material container according to the first aspect of the present invention, the printing material container is attached to the printing apparatus by being inserted in a predetermined insertion direction, and the first row and the second row are mounted. The column may be disposed substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction, and the first column may be disposed closer to the insertion direction than the second column. In this case, the contact portion of the second terminal is located on the back side in the insertion direction, and therefore, the possibility that an ink droplet or a foreign matter enters the position of the contact portion of the second terminal is reduced. As a result, damage to the printing material container and the printing apparatus due to a short circuit between the second terminal and other terminals can be more effectively prevented or suppressed.

  In the printing material container according to the first aspect of the present invention, the printing material container is attached to the printing apparatus by being inserted in a predetermined insertion direction, and the first row and the second row are mounted. A row is arranged substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction and each contact portion arranged to form the first row and each contact arranged to form the second row The parts may be arranged in a staggered pattern. If it carries out like this, the unnecessary contact with the terminal of a printing material container and the apparatus side terminal can be prevented or suppressed in the middle of mounting | wearing operation | movement.

  In the printing material container according to the first aspect of the present invention, the printing material container is attached to the printing apparatus by being inserted in a predetermined insertion direction, and the at least one third terminal is The adjacent second contact portion may include a portion that is separated from the center of the terminal group toward the direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction, and the plurality of terminals are formed by the contact portions. A portion formed outside each of the above-described columns may be included.

  A second aspect of the present invention provides a printing material container that is detachably attached to a printing apparatus having a plurality of apparatus-side terminals. A printing material container according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a first device, a second device, and a terminal group for connecting to the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The terminal group includes a plurality of first terminals, at least one second terminal, and at least one third terminal. The plurality of first terminals are connected to the first device. The at least one second terminal is connected to the second device. The at least one third terminal is a terminal for detecting a short circuit between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal. In order to detect a short circuit between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal, the at least one from at least a portion of the at least one third terminal toward at least one direction. The first terminal is not arranged between at least a part of the two second terminals.

  According to the printing material container according to the second aspect of the present invention, the first terminal is not located between at least a part of the third terminal and at least a part of the second terminal. As a result, a short circuit between the part of the third terminal and the part of the second terminal is more likely to be short-circuited than between the first terminal and the second terminal. Therefore, when the first terminal and the second terminal are short-circuited due to ink droplets or foreign matter, a part of the third terminal and a part of the second terminal are also short-circuited, and an abnormality can be detected. High nature. As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress damage to the printing material container and the printing apparatus due to a short circuit between the second terminal and the first terminal.

  A third aspect of the present invention provides a printing material container that is detachably attached to a printing apparatus having a plurality of apparatus-side terminals. A printing material container according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a first device, a second device, and a terminal group for connecting to the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The terminal group includes a plurality of first terminals, at least one second terminal, and at least one third terminal. The plurality of first terminals are connected to the first device. The at least one second terminal is connected to the second device. The at least one third terminal is a terminal for detecting a short circuit between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal. At least a portion of the at least one third terminal and at least a portion of the at least one second terminal are adjacent in at least one direction.

  According to the printing material container according to the third aspect of the present invention, since at least a part of the third terminal is adjacent to at least a part of the second terminal, the part of the third terminal and the second terminal It is relatively easy to short-circuit between a part. Therefore, when the first terminal and the second terminal are short-circuited due to ink droplets or foreign matter, a part of the third terminal and a part of the second terminal are also short-circuited, and an abnormality can be detected. High nature. As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress damage to the printing material container and the printing apparatus due to a short circuit between the second terminal and the first terminal.

  In the printing material container according to the second or third aspect of the present invention, the printing material container is attached to the printing apparatus by being inserted in a predetermined insertion direction, and the at least one second The terminal closest to the terminal in the direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction may be any one of the at least one third terminal. In such a case, when the first terminal and the second terminal are short-circuited due to ink droplets or foreign matter entering in a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction, a part of the third terminal and a part of the second terminal are also A short circuit is likely to cause an abnormality.

  In the printing material container according to the second or third aspect of the present invention, among the plurality of first terminals, the number of terminals adjacent to the at least one second terminal is the plurality of first terminals. Of the terminals, the number may be smaller than the number of terminals adjacent to the at least one third terminal. In this case, since the number of the first terminals adjacent to the second terminal is small, the possibility that the second terminal and the first terminal are short-circuited is reduced. As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress damage to the printing material container and the printing apparatus due to a short circuit between the second terminal and the first terminal.

  In the printing material container according to the second or third aspect of the present invention, the printing material container is attached to the printing apparatus by being inserted in a predetermined insertion direction, and the at least one direction is: The insertion direction may be included, or the insertion direction may be included as a direction component. The at least one direction may be a direction away from a side edge of the printing material container, or a direction including a direction away from the side edge as a direction component. The at least one direction may be a direction toward the side edge of the printing material container, or a direction including a direction toward the side edge as a direction component. In this way, when the first terminal and the second terminal are short-circuited due to ink droplets or foreign matter entering from these directions, a part of the third terminal and a part of the second terminal are also short-circuited. There is a high probability that an abnormality will be detected.

  The printing material container according to the fourth aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of first device-side terminals, a plurality of second device-side terminals, and a plurality of third device-side terminals, A device-side terminal group arranged to form a row and a second row, wherein the plurality of second device-side terminals are respectively arranged at both ends of the first row, In the printing apparatus including the device-side terminal group, three device-side terminals are disposed at both ends of the second row, respectively, and the second device-side terminal and the third device-side terminal are adjacent to each other. Provided is a printing material storage that is detachably mounted. A printing material container according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes a first device, a second device, and a terminal group. The terminal group includes a plurality of first terminals, at least one second terminal, and at least one third terminal. The plurality of first terminals are connected to the first device and contact with corresponding terminals among the plurality of first apparatus-side terminals. The at least one second terminal is connected to the second device and contacts a corresponding terminal among the plurality of second apparatus-side terminals. The at least one third terminal is used for detecting the presence or absence of a short circuit with the at least one second terminal, and is in contact with a corresponding terminal among the plurality of third device side terminals. To do.

  According to the printing material container according to the fourth aspect, it is possible to obtain the same effects as the printing material container according to the first aspect. Further, the printing material container according to the fourth aspect of the present invention can be realized in various aspects in the same manner as the printing material container according to the first aspect of the present invention.

  A printing material container according to a fifth aspect of the present invention provides a printing material container that is detachably attached to a printing apparatus having a plurality of device-side terminals. A printing material container according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a first device, a second device, and a terminal group for connecting to the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The terminal group includes a plurality of first terminals, at least one second terminal, and at least one third terminal. The plurality of first terminals are connected to the first device. The at least one second terminal is connected to the second device. The at least one third terminal is a terminal for detecting a short circuit between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal. The first portion of the outer peripheral edge of the at least one second terminal is adjacent to a portion of the outer peripheral edge of the at least one third terminal. The second portion of the outer peripheral edge of the at least one second terminal is adjacent to a part of the outer peripheral edge of any of the plurality of first terminals. The length of the first part is longer than the length of the second part.

  According to the printing material container according to the fifth aspect, the length of the portion adjacent to the third terminal in the outer peripheral edge of the second terminal is longer than the length of the portion adjacent to the first terminal. As a result, the third terminal and the second terminal are more likely to be short-circuited than between the first terminal and the second terminal. Therefore, when the first terminal and the second terminal are short-circuited due to ink droplets or foreign matter, the third terminal and the second terminal are also short-circuited, and there is a high possibility that an abnormality is detected. As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress damage to the printing material container and the printing apparatus due to a short circuit between the second terminal and the first terminal.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the at least one third terminal may be closer to the at least one second terminal than any of the plurality of first terminals. In this case, when the first terminal and the second terminal are further short-circuited, the third terminal and the second terminal are also short-circuited, and there is a high possibility that an abnormality is detected.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the at least one second terminal may be disposed closer to the edge measuring portion of the printing material container than at least a part of each of the first terminals. The terminal group may include at least two second terminals, and at least a part of each of the first terminals may be disposed between the two second terminals. In this case, since the portion where the second terminal and the first terminal are adjacent to each other is reduced, the possibility that the second terminal and the first terminal are short-circuited is reduced.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the first device may be a memory for storing information on the printing material housed in the printing material container. In this way, information about the printing material can be stored in the memory.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the second device may be a sensor for determining the remaining amount of the printing material housed in the printing material container. If it carries out like this, the printing apparatus can detect the residual amount of the printing material accommodated in the printing material container.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the second device may operate with a voltage higher than that of the first device. In such a case, damage to the first device due to the high voltage for the second device being applied to the first device can be prevented or suppressed.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the printing material container may contain a printing material to be supplied to the printing apparatus.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the third terminals may be arranged one by one for each second terminal. In this way, damage to the printing material container and the printing apparatus due to a short circuit between the second terminal and the other terminal can be prevented or suppressed more reliably.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the terminal group is arranged so as to form one or a plurality of rows, and the second terminals are arranged at both ends of one row of the one or more rows. Each may be arranged. In this case, since the portion where the second terminal and the first terminal are adjacent to each other is reduced, the possibility that the second terminal and the first terminal are short-circuited is reduced.

In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the terminal groups are arranged to form a first row and a second row, and the second terminals are arranged at both ends of the first row, respectively. ,
The at least one third terminal may be disposed at at least one of both ends of the second row. In this way, since a short circuit is detected between the second terminal and the third terminal located at the end of each row, the second terminal and the like due to ink droplets or foreign matters entering from the end side are detected. It is possible to quickly detect a short circuit with the terminal. As a result, damage to the printing material container and the printing apparatus due to a short circuit between the second terminal and other terminals can be prevented or suppressed more reliably.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the terminal group may include at least two third terminals, and the third terminals may be disposed at both ends of the second row, respectively. In this way, even if an ink drop or a foreign substance enters from either side of both ends, a short circuit between the second terminal and another terminal due to the ink drop or the foreign substance can be detected quickly.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the printing material container is attached to the printing apparatus by being inserted in a predetermined insertion direction, and the first row and the second row are inserted into the insertion device. The first row may be arranged closer to the insertion direction than the second row. In this way, the second terminal to which a high voltage is applied is on the back side in the insertion direction, so that the possibility that an ink droplet or a foreign substance enters the position of the second terminal is reduced. As a result, damage to the printing material container and the printing apparatus due to a short circuit between the second terminal and other terminals can be more effectively prevented or suppressed.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the printing material container is attached to the printing apparatus by being inserted in a predetermined insertion direction, and the first row and the second row are inserted into the insertion device. Terminals arranged substantially perpendicular to the direction and arranged to form the first row and terminals arranged to form the second row are arranged in a staggered manner May be. If it carries out like this, the unnecessary contact with the terminal of a printing material container and the terminal by the side of a printing apparatus can be prevented or suppressed in the middle of mounting | wearing operation | movement.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the terminal groups are arranged to form the same row, the at least one second terminal is arranged at an end of the same row, and the at least one The third terminal may be arranged so as to be adjacent to the inside of the second terminal arranged at the end. By doing this, since a short circuit is detected between the second terminal located at the end of the same row and the third terminal located inside the second terminal, the first terminal located further inside and the second terminal Before the terminals are short-circuited, there is a high possibility that the third terminal and the second terminal are short-circuited and an abnormality is detected.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the at least one third terminal may surround the at least one second terminal. In this case, when the first terminal and the second terminal are short-circuited, the third terminal and the second terminal are also short-circuited, and there is a high possibility that an abnormality is detected.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the terminal group may include at least two second terminals, and each of the first terminals may be disposed between the two second terminals. . In this case, the number of the second terminals and the adjacent first terminals is reduced, so that the possibility that the second terminals and the first terminals are short-circuited is reduced.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, at least one of the third terminals may be further used to detect whether the printing material container is attached to the printing apparatus. In this way, it is possible to further detect whether or not the printing material container is mounted without increasing the number of terminals of the printing material container.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the plurality of first terminals include a ground terminal, and the third terminal used for detecting whether or not the printing material container is mounted is the ground terminal. And may be short-circuited. In this way, the printing apparatus can detect the presence / absence of contact with the third terminal using the change in potential, and therefore can easily detect the presence / absence of mounting of the printing material container. In such a case, the ground terminal and the third terminal used for detecting whether or not the printing material container is mounted are arranged adjacent to each other so as to form the same row and one member. It may be formed integrally. If it carries out like this, the number of parts of a printing material container and the number of manufacturing processes can be reduced.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the terminal group includes one or a plurality of the third terminals used for detecting whether or not the printing material container is attached, and the printing device performs the printing. The type of the printing material container may be determined based on the number and position of the third terminals used for detecting whether or not the material container is mounted. In this way, the printing apparatus can appropriately determine the type of the printing container.

  The printing material container according to the above aspect may include a housing for housing the printing material and a substrate attached to the housing, and the terminal group may be disposed on the substrate, The first terminal and the third terminal of the terminal group may be disposed on the substrate, and the second terminal of the terminal group may be disposed on the housing. .

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, the first device may be mounted on the substrate. If it carries out like this, the structure of a printing material container can be simplified.

  In the printing material container according to the above aspect, a recess may be provided between the second terminal and another terminal adjacent to the second terminal, and the second terminal; A porous body may be disposed between the second terminal and another adjacent terminal. In this way, since the ink droplets or foreign matter that has entered are trapped by the recesses or the porous body, it is possible to prevent or suppress a short circuit between the second terminal and other terminals due to the ink droplets or foreign matter that has entered.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate that is detachably attached to a printing apparatus having a plurality of apparatus side terminals and is mounted on a printing material container having a second device. A substrate according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes a first device and a terminal group. The terminal group includes a plurality of first terminals, at least one second terminal, and at least one third terminal. The plurality of first terminals include a first contact portion that is connected to the first device and contacts a corresponding terminal among the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The at least one second terminal includes a second contact portion that is connected to the second device and contacts a corresponding terminal among the plurality of device-side terminals. The at least one third terminal is a terminal for detecting a short circuit between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal, and corresponds to the plurality of device side terminals. Each includes a third contact portion that contacts the terminal. The at least one second contact portion, the plurality of first contact portions, and the at least one third contact portion are arranged to form one or a plurality of rows. The at least one second contact portion is disposed at an end of one row of the one or more rows.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate that is detachably attached to a printing apparatus having a plurality of apparatus-side terminals and is mounted on a printing material container having a second device. The board | substrate which concerns on the 7th aspect of this invention is equipped with a 1st device and the terminal group for connecting to the said several apparatus side terminal. The terminal group includes a plurality of first terminals, at least one second terminal, and at least one third terminal. The plurality of first terminals are connected to the first device. The at least one second terminal is connected to the second device. The at least one third terminal is a terminal for detecting a short circuit between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal. The first terminal is not disposed between at least a part of the at least one third terminal and at least a part of the at least one second terminal in at least one direction. .

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate that is detachably attached to a printing apparatus having a plurality of apparatus-side terminals and is mounted on a printing material container having a second device. The board | substrate which concerns on the 8th aspect of this invention is equipped with a 1st device and the terminal group for connecting to the said several apparatus side terminal. The terminal group includes a plurality of first terminals, at least one second terminal, and at least one third terminal. The plurality of first terminals are connected to the first device. The at least one second terminal is connected to the second device. The at least one third terminal is a terminal for detecting a short circuit between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal. At least a portion of the at least one third terminal and at least a portion of the at least one second terminal are adjacent in at least one direction.

  A ninth aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of first device side terminals, a plurality of second device side terminals, and a plurality of third device side terminals, wherein the first row and the second row And the plurality of second device side terminals are arranged at both ends of the first row, respectively, and the third device side terminal is: The second device-side terminal and the third device-side terminal are detachably mounted on a printing apparatus including the device-side terminal group, which are disposed at both ends of the second row, respectively, and are adjacent to each other. Provided is a substrate mounted on a printing material container having a second device. A substrate according to a ninth aspect of the present invention includes the first device and a terminal group. The terminal group includes a plurality of first terminals, at least one second terminal, and at least one third terminal. The plurality of first terminals are connected to the first device and contact with corresponding terminals among the plurality of first apparatus-side terminals. The at least one second terminal is connected to the second device and contacts a corresponding terminal among the plurality of second apparatus-side terminals. The at least one third terminal is used for detecting the presence or absence of a short circuit with the at least one second terminal, and is in contact with a corresponding terminal among the plurality of third device side terminals. To do.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate that is detachably attached to a printing apparatus having a plurality of apparatus side terminals and is mounted on a printing material container having a second device. A substrate according to a tenth aspect of the present invention includes a first device and a terminal group for connecting to the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The terminal group includes a plurality of first terminals, at least one second terminal, and at least one third terminal. The plurality of first terminals are connected to the first device. The at least one second terminal is connected to the second device. The at least one third terminal is a terminal for detecting a short circuit between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal. The first portion of the outer peripheral edge of the at least one second terminal is adjacent to a portion of the outer peripheral edge of the at least one third terminal. The second portion of the outer peripheral edge of the at least one second terminal is adjacent to a part of the outer peripheral edge of any of the plurality of first terminals. The length of the first part is longer than the length of the second part.

  An eleventh aspect of the present invention provides a substrate that is detachably mounted on a printing apparatus having a plurality of apparatus-side terminals and is mounted on a printing material container having a second device. A substrate according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention includes a first device, a terminal group, and at least one notch. The terminal group includes a plurality of first terminals and at least one third terminal. Each of the at least one notch portion is fitted with at least one second terminal provided in the printing material container. The plurality of first terminals include a first contact portion that is connected to the first device and contacts a corresponding terminal among the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The at least one second terminal includes a second contact portion that is connected to the second device and contacts a corresponding terminal among the plurality of device-side terminals. The at least one third terminal is a terminal for detecting a short circuit between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal, and corresponds to the plurality of device side terminals. Each includes a third contact portion that contacts the terminal. When mounted on the printing material container, the at least one third contact portion is disposed adjacent to the at least one second contact portion. When mounted on the printing material container, the at least one second contact portion, the plurality of first contact portions, and the at least one third contact portion include one or more rows. Arranged to form. When mounted on the printing material container, the at least one second contact portion is disposed at an end of one of the one or more rows.

  According to the board | substrate which concerns on the 6th-11th aspect of this invention, the effect similar to the printing material container which concerns on the 1st-5th aspect of this invention can be obtained. Moreover, the board | substrate which concerns on the 6th-11th aspect of this invention can be implement | achieved in various aspects similarly to the printing material container which concerns on the 1st-5th aspect of this invention.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an ink cartridge according to an embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the board | substrate which concerns on an Example. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where an ink cartridge is mounted on a holder. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where an ink cartridge is mounted on a holder. Explanatory drawing explaining the structure of a contact mechanism. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an ink cartridge and a printing apparatus. Schematic which shows the electrical structure centering on a cartridge detection / short circuit detection circuit. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing routine for cartridge determination processing. Explanatory drawing explaining three types of terminal wiring in a board | substrate. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing routine of ink remaining amount detection processing. Explanatory drawing which shows the time-sequential change of the short circuit detection permission signal and sensor voltage during execution of remaining ink detection processing. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the aspect of a short circuit. The 1st figure which illustrates the board | substrate which concerns on a modification. The 2nd figure which illustrates the board | substrate which concerns on a modification. The 3rd figure which illustrates the board | substrate which concerns on a modification. The figure which illustrates the structure of the ink cartridge which concerns on a modified example centering on a board | substrate. The figure which each shows the AA cross section-DD cross section in FIG. FIG. 9 is a fourth diagram illustrating a substrate according to a modified example. The perspective view which shows the whole structure of the ink cartridge in a modification. Explanatory drawing which shows a mode at the time of mounting the ink cartridge in a modification in a printer. The 1st figure which shows the ink cartridge in a modification. FIG. 9 is a second diagram illustrating an ink cartridge according to a modification. FIG. 10 is a third diagram illustrating an ink cartridge according to a modification.

Hereinafter, aspects of the present invention will be described based on examples with reference to the drawings.
A. Example:
・ Configuration of printing device and ink cartridge:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing apparatus 1000 has a sub-scan feed mechanism, a main scan feed mechanism, and a head drive mechanism. The sub-scan feed mechanism transports the printing paper P in the sub-scan direction using a paper feed roller 10 powered by a paper feed motor (not shown). The main scanning feed mechanism uses the power of the carriage motor 2 to reciprocate the carriage 3 connected to the drive belt in the main scanning direction. The head drive mechanism drives the print head 5 provided in the carriage 3 to execute ink ejection and dot formation. The printing apparatus 1000 further includes a main control circuit 40 that controls each mechanism described above. The main control circuit 40 is connected to the carriage 3 via the flexible cable 37.

  The carriage 3 includes a holder 4, the above-described print head 5, and a carriage circuit described later. The holder 4 is configured to be able to mount a plurality of ink cartridges described later, and is disposed on the upper surface of the print head 5. In the example shown in FIG. 1, four ink cartridges can be mounted on the holder 4. For example, four types of ink cartridges of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan are mounted one by one. Four covers 11 are attached to the holder 4 so as to be openable and closable for each ink cartridge to be mounted. An ink supply needle 6 for supplying ink from the ink cartridge to the print head 5 is further arranged on the upper surface of the print head 5.

  The configuration of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the substrate according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the ink cartridge is mounted on the holder. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the ink cartridge is mounted on the holder. The ink cartridge 100 mounted on the holder 4 includes a casing 101 that stores ink, a lid 102 that seals an opening of the casing 101, a substrate 200, and a sensor 104. An ink supply port 110 into which the above-described ink supply needle 6 is inserted when mounted on the holder 4 is formed on the bottom surface of the housing 101. An overhang 103 is formed at the upper end of the front surface FR of the housing 101 shown in FIG. Further, a recess 105 is formed below the center of the front surface FR of the housing 101 (on the bottom surface side). The above-described substrate 200 is fitted in the recess 105. The sensor 104 is disposed at the rear part of the substrate 200. The sensor 104 is used for detecting the remaining amount of ink as will be described later.

  FIG. 3A shows the configuration of the surface of the substrate 200. The surface is a surface exposed to the outside when the ink cartridge 100 is mounted. FIG. 3B shows the substrate 200 viewed from the side. A boss groove 201 is formed at the upper end of the substrate 200, and a boss hole 202 is formed at the lower end of the substrate 200. As shown in FIG. 1, when the substrate 200 is mounted in the recess 105 of the housing 101, the bosses 108 and 109 formed on the bottom surface of the recess 105 are fitted into the boss grooves 201 and the boss holes 202. The tips of the bosses 108 and 109 are crushed and caulked. As a result, the substrate 200 is fixed to the recess 105.

  The manner in which the ink cartridge 100 is mounted will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the cover 11 is configured to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 9. When the cover 11 is rotated upward to be in the open state and the ink cartridge 100 is attached to the holder 4, the protruding portion 103 of the ink cartridge 100 is received by the protrusion 14 of the cover 11. When the cover 11 is closed from this state, the protrusion 14 rotates downward, and the ink cartridge 100 descends downward (Z-axis direction in FIG. 4). When the cover 11 is completely closed, the flange 18 of the cover 11 and the flange 16 of the holder 4 are engaged. In a state where the cover 11 is completely closed, the ink cartridge 100 is pressed against the holder 4 by the elastic member 20 and fixed. When the cover 11 is completely closed, the ink supply needle 6 is inserted into the ink supply port 110 of the ink cartridge 100, and the ink stored in the ink cartridge 100 is printed via the ink supply needle 6. Supplied to the device 1000. As can be understood from the above description, the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the holder 4 by being inserted so as to move in the positive direction of the Z axis in FIGS. 4 and 5. The positive direction of the Z axis in FIGS. 4 and 5 is also referred to as the insertion direction of the ink cartridge 100.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the substrate 200 will be further described. An arrow R in FIG. 3A indicates the insertion direction of the ink cartridge 100 described above. As shown in FIG. 3, the substrate 200 includes a storage device 203 on the back surface and a terminal group including nine terminals 210 to 290 on the front surface. The storage device 203 stores information related to ink stored in the ink cartridge 100. The terminals 210 to 290 are formed in a substantially rectangular shape and are arranged so as to form two rows substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction R. Of the two rows, the row located on the insertion direction R side, that is, the lower side in FIG. 3A is referred to as the lower row, and is located on the opposite side of the insertion direction R, that is, the upper side in FIG. The column to be called is called the upper column. The terminals arranged to form the upper row are the first short detection terminal 210, the ground terminal 220, the power supply terminal 230, and the second short detection terminal 240 from the left side in FIG. The terminals arranged to form the lower row are the first sensor driving terminal 250, the reset terminal 260, the clock terminal 270, the data terminal 280, and the second sensor driving from the left side in FIG. Terminal 290. As shown to Fig.3 (a), each terminal 210-290 contains the contact part cp which contacts the terminal corresponding to among the several apparatus side terminals mentioned later in the center part.

  Further, the terminals 210 to 240 forming the upper row and the terminals 250 to 290 forming the lower row are arranged alternately so that the terminal centers are not aligned in the insertion direction R, and a so-called staggered arrangement is provided. It is composed. As a result, the contact portions cp of the terminals 210 to 240 that form the upper row and the contact portions cp of the terminals 250 to 290 that form the lower row are similarly arranged in a staggered manner, so-called staggered arrangement. It is composed.

  As can be seen from FIG. 3A, the first sensor driving terminal 250 is adjacent to two terminals (the reset terminal 260 and the first short-circuit detection terminal 210), and is used for short-circuit detection. The first short detection terminal 210 is disposed closest to the first sensor driving terminal 250. Similarly, the second sensor driving terminal 290 is adjacent to the two terminals (the second short detection terminal 240 and the data terminal 280), of which the second short detection terminal used for short circuit detection. 240 is arranged closest to the second sensor driving terminal 290.

  Looking at the relationship between the contact portions cp, the contact portion cp of the first sensor driving terminal 250 is adjacent to the contact portions cp of the two terminals (the reset terminal 260 and the first short-circuit detection terminal 210). Yes. Similarly, the contact portion cp of the second sensor driving terminal 290 is adjacent to the contact portions cp of the two terminals (the second short detection terminal 240 and the data terminal 280).

  As can be seen from FIG. 3A, the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the second sensor driving terminal 290 are arranged at both ends of the lower row, that is, at the outermost side of the lower row. . Further, the lower row has more terminals than the upper row, and the length in the direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction R of the lower row is longer than the length of the upper row, so the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the second row The sensor driving terminal 290 is located on the outermost side when viewed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction R among all the terminals 210 to 290 including the upper row and the lower row.

  Looking at the relationship between the contact portions cp, the contact portion cp of the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the contact portion cp of the second sensor driving terminal 290 are the lower rows formed by the contact portions cp of the respective terminals. Are located on the outermost sides of the lower row. Further, the contact part cp of the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the contact part cp of the second sensor driving terminal 290 are among the contact parts cp of all the terminals 210 to 290 including the upper row and the lower row. It is located on the outermost side when viewed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction R.

  As can be seen from FIG. 3A, the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 and the second short-circuit detection terminal 240 are respectively disposed at both ends of the upper row, that is, at the outermost side of the upper row. As a result, the contact portion cp of the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 and the contact portion cp of the second short-circuit detection terminal 240 are similarly both end portions of the upper row formed by the contact portion cp of each terminal, that is, Located on the outermost side. Therefore, as will be described later, terminals 220, 230, 260, 270, and 280 connected to the storage device 203 are the first short circuit detection terminal 210, the first sensor driving terminal 250, and the second short circuit detection terminal 240. The second sensor driving terminal 290 is sandwiched from both sides.

  In this embodiment, the substrate 200 has a width of about 12.8 mm in the insertion direction R, a width of about 10.1 mm in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction R, and a thickness of about 0.71 mm. Each of the terminals 210 to 290 has a width of about 1.8 mm in the insertion direction R and a width of about 1.05 mm in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction R. However, each dimension value is only an example, and for example, there may be a difference of about ± 0.5 mm. In addition, an interval between terminals adjacent to each other in the same row (lower row or upper row), for example, a gap k between the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 and the ground terminal 220 is, for example, about 1 mm. There may also be a difference of about ± 0.5 mm, for example, between the terminals. Further, the interval j between the upper row and the lower row is about 0.2 mm. For example, there may be a difference of about ± 0.3 mm between the rows.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the terminals 210 to 290 of the substrate 200 are electrically connected to the carriage circuit 500 via the contact mechanism 400 provided in the holder 4 when the ink cartridge 100 is completely attached to the holder 4. Connected. The contact mechanism 400 will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the contact mechanism 400. In the contact mechanism 400, two types of slits 401 and 402 having different depths are formed alternately at a substantially constant pitch so as to correspond to the terminals 210 to 290 on the substrate 200. Contact forming members 403 and 404 having conductivity and elasticity are fitted into the slits 401 and 402, respectively. Of the both end portions of the contact forming members 403 and 404, the end portion exposed to the inside of the holder 4 elastically contacts the corresponding terminal among the terminals 210 to 290 of the substrate 200. FIG. 6 shows portions 410 to 490 of the contact forming members 403 and 404 that are in contact with the terminals 210 to 290. That is, the portions 410 to 490 that are in contact with the terminals 210 to 290 function as device side terminals for electrically connecting the printing apparatus 1000 and the terminals 210 to 290. Hereinafter, the portions 410 to 490 that are in contact with the terminals 210 to 290 illustrated in FIG. 6 are referred to as device side terminals 410 to 490. When the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the holder 4, the device-side terminals 410 to 490 come into contact with the contact portions cp (FIG. 3A) of the terminals 210 to 290 described above, respectively.

  On the other hand, of the both end portions of the contact forming members 403 and 404, the end portion exposed to the outside of the holder 4 is in elastic contact with the corresponding terminal among the terminals 510 to 590 provided in the carriage circuit 500.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the ink cartridge 100 and the printing apparatus 1000 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the ink cartridge 100 and the printing apparatus 1000. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an electrical configuration centered on the cartridge detection / short-circuit detection circuit.

  First, the electrical configuration of the ink cartridge 100 will be described. Among the terminals of the substrate 200 described with reference to FIG. 3, the ground terminal 220, the power supply terminal 230, the reset terminal 260, the clock terminal 270, and the data terminal 280 are electrically connected to the storage device 203. The storage device 203 is, for example, an EEPROM that includes memory cells (not shown) that are serially accessed, and that reads and writes data in synchronization with a clock signal. The ground terminal 220 is grounded via a terminal 520 on the printing apparatus 1000 side. The reset terminal 260 is electrically connected to the terminal 560 of the carriage circuit 500 and is used to supply a reset signal RST from the carriage circuit 500 to the storage device 203. The clock terminal 270 is electrically connected to the terminal 570 of the carriage circuit 500 and is used to supply the clock signal CLK from the carriage circuit 500 to the storage device 203. The data terminal 280 is electrically connected to the terminal 580 of the carriage circuit 500 and is used for exchanging the data signal SDA between the carriage circuit 500 and the storage device 203.

  One or both of the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 and the second short-circuit detection terminal 240 among the terminals of the substrate 200 described with reference to FIG. 3 are electrically connected to the ground terminal 220. In the example shown in FIG. 7, it can be seen that the first short detection terminal 210 is connected to the ground terminal 220. The first short circuit detection terminal 210 and the second short circuit detection terminal 240 are electrically connected to terminals 510 and 540 of the carriage circuit 500, respectively, and are used for cartridge detection and short circuit detection described later.

  In the present embodiment, a piezoelectric element is used for the sensor 104. The remaining amount of ink can be detected by applying a driving voltage to the piezoelectric element to vibrate the piezoelectric element by the inverse piezoelectric effect and measuring the vibration frequency of the voltage generated by the piezoelectric effect of the residual vibration. That is, this vibration frequency represents the natural frequency of the surrounding structural body (for example, the casing 101 or ink) that vibrates with the piezoelectric element, and changes depending on the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge. Therefore, the vibration frequency is measured. By doing so, the remaining amount of ink can be detected. Of the terminals of the substrate 200 described with reference to FIG. 3, the second sensor driving terminal 290 and the first sensor driving terminal 250 are connected to one electrode and the other electrode of the piezoelectric element as the sensor 104, respectively. Each is electrically connected and used for exchanging the sensor drive voltage and the output signal from the sensor 104 between the carriage circuit 500 and the sensor 104.

  The carriage circuit 500 includes a memory control circuit 501, a cartridge detection / short circuit detection circuit 502, and a sensor drive circuit 503. The memory control circuit 501 is a circuit that is connected to the terminals 530, 560, 570, and 580 of the carriage circuit 500 described above, and controls the storage device 203 of the ink cartridge 100 to read and write data. The memory control circuit 501 and the storage device 203 are low-voltage circuits that are driven by using a relatively low voltage (in this embodiment, a maximum of about 3.3 V). Since the memory control circuit 501 can use a known configuration, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The sensor driving circuit 503 is connected to the terminals 590 and 550 of the carriage circuit 500, drives the sensor 104 by controlling the driving voltage output from these terminals 590 and 550, and causes the sensor 104 to detect the ink remaining amount. It is. The drive voltage has a substantially trapezoidal shape as will be described later, and includes a relatively high voltage (for example, about 36 V). That is, the sensor drive circuit 503 and the sensor 104 are high voltage circuits that use a relatively high voltage via the terminals 590 and 550. The sensor drive circuit 503 is configured by, for example, a logic circuit, but details thereof are omitted.

  The cartridge detection / short-circuit detection circuit 502 is a low voltage circuit that is driven by using a relatively low voltage (maximum of about 3.3 V in this embodiment), like the memory control circuit 501. As shown in FIG. 8, the cartridge detection / short circuit detection circuit 502 includes a first detection circuit 5021 and a second detection circuit 5022. The first detection circuit 5021 is connected to the terminal 510 of the carriage circuit 500 described above, and has a cartridge detection function for detecting presence / absence of contact between the terminal 510 and the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 (FIG. 3) of the substrate 200, and a terminal. 510 and a short circuit detecting function for detecting a short circuit between terminals 550 and 590 from which a high voltage can be output.

  More specifically, the first detection circuit 5021 applies a reference voltage V_ref1 to one end of two resistors R2 and R3 connected in series and grounds the other end, thereby causing a point P1 and a point shown in FIG. The potential of P2 is held at V_ref1 and V_ref2, respectively. Here, V_ref1 is called a short circuit detection voltage, and V_ref2 is called a cartridge detection voltage. In this embodiment, the short circuit detection voltage V_ref1 is set to 6.5V, and the cartridge detection voltage V_ref2 is set to 2.5V. These values are set by the circuit and are not limited to these.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the short circuit detection voltage V_ref1 (6.5V) is input to the negative input pin of the first operational amplifier OP1, and the cartridge detection voltage V_ref2 (2.5V) is the negative input of the second operational amplifier OP2. Input to the pin. The potential of the terminal 510 is input to the positive input pins of the first operational amplifier OP1 and the second operational amplifier OP2. These two operational amplifiers output a high signal when the potential input to the positive input pin is higher than the potential input to the negative input pin, and conversely input to the positive input pin from the potential input to the negative input pin. It functions as a comparator that outputs a low signal when the potential is low.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the terminal 510 is connected to VDD 3.3 which is a 3.3 V power supply via the transistor TR1. As a result, when nothing is in contact with the terminal 510 (hereinafter referred to as releasing), the potential of the terminal 510 is set to about 3V. By the way, as described above, when the ink cartridge 100 is mounted, the terminal 510 comes into contact with the first short circuit detection terminal 210 of the substrate 200 described above. Here, as shown in FIG. 7, when the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 and the ground terminal 220 are electrically connected (short-circuited) on the substrate 200, the terminal 510 is connected to the first short-circuit detection terminal 210. When in contact (hereinafter referred to as contact), the terminal 510 is electrically connected to the grounded terminal 520, and the potential of the terminal 510 drops to about 0V.

  Accordingly, when the terminal 510 is released, a high signal is output as the cartridge detection signal CS1 from the second operational amplifier OP2. When the terminal 510 is in contact, a low signal is output as the cartridge detection signal CS1 from the second operational amplifier OP2.

  On the other hand, if the terminal 510 is short-circuited with the adjacent terminal 550, a voltage for driving the sensor (maximum 45V) may be applied to the terminal 510. As shown in FIG. 8, when a voltage equal to or higher than the short circuit detection voltage V_ref1 (6.5 V) is applied to the terminal 510 due to a short circuit, a high signal is output from the first operational amplifier OP1 to the AND circuit AA.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the other input pin of the AND circuit AA is configured to receive the short circuit detection permission signal EN from the main control circuit 40. As a result, the first detection circuit 5021 outputs the high signal from the first operational amplifier OP1 as the short circuit detection signal AB1 only during the period when the high signal is input as the short circuit detection permission signal EN. That is, the execution of the short circuit detection function of the first detection circuit 5021 is controlled by the short circuit detection permission signal EN of the main control circuit 40. The short circuit detection signal AB1 from the AND circuit AA is output to the main control circuit 40 and is output to the base terminal of the transistor TR1 via the resistor R1. As a result, when a short circuit is detected (when the short circuit detection signal AB1 is high), the transistor TR1 can prevent a high voltage from being applied to the power supply VDD 3.3 via the terminal 510.

  The second detection circuit 5022 has a contact detection function for detecting presence / absence of contact between the terminal 540 and the second short-circuit detection terminal 240 (FIG. 3) of the substrate 200, and terminals 550 and 590 from which a high voltage can be output. And a short-circuit detecting function for detecting a short-circuit with. Since the second detection circuit 5022 has the same configuration as the first detection circuit 5021, detailed illustration and description of the configuration will be omitted. Hereinafter, the cartridge detection signal output from the second detection circuit 5022 is referred to as CS2, and the short circuit detection signal is referred to as AB2.

  Heretofore, the configuration corresponding to one ink cartridge 100 has been described for the carriage circuit 500. In the present embodiment, since four ink cartridges 100 are mounted, four cartridge detection / short-circuit detection circuits 502 described above are provided for each mounting position of the four ink cartridges 100. Further, although there is only one sensor driving circuit 503, it is configured to be connectable to each sensor 104 of the ink cartridge 100 mounted at four mounting positions by a changeover switch (not shown). In addition, the memory control circuit 501 is responsible for processing related to four ink cartridges with one circuit.

  The main control circuit 40 is a known computer including a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM). The main control circuit 40 controls the entire printer as described above. In FIG. 8, only components necessary for the description of the present embodiment are selectively illustrated, and the illustrated configuration will be described below. The main control circuit 40 includes a cartridge determination unit M50 and an ink remaining amount determination unit M60. The cartridge determination unit M50 performs cartridge determination processing described later based on the received cartridge detection signals CS1 and CS2. The ink remaining amount determination unit M60 controls the sensor driving circuit 503 to execute an ink remaining amount detection process described later.

・ Cartridge determination processing:
The cartridge determination process executed by the cartridge determination unit M50 of the main control circuit 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing routine for cartridge determination processing. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining three types of terminal wirings on the substrate 200.

  Prior to the cartridge case processing, the substrate 200 will be supplementarily described with reference to FIG. There are three types of the substrate 200 described above depending on the wiring pattern of the first short circuit detection terminal 210, the second short circuit detection terminal 240, and the ground terminal 220. These three types will be referred to as Type A, Type B, and Type C, respectively. As shown in FIG. 10A, in the Type A substrate 200, the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 and the ground terminal 220 are electrically connected by a conductive line 207, and the second short-circuit detection terminal 240 and the ground terminal 220 are connected. Are wired so that they are not electrically connected to each other. As shown in FIG. 10B, in the Type B substrate 200, both the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 and the second short-circuit detection terminal 240 are electrically connected to the ground terminal 220 through a conductive line 207. So that it is wired. As shown in FIG. 10C, in the Type C substrate 200, the second short-circuit detection terminal 240 and the ground terminal 220 are electrically connected by a conductive line 207, and the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 and the ground terminal 220 are connected. Are wired so that they are not electrically connected to each other. In the ink cartridge 100, for example, a substrate 200 of a predetermined type according to the type of ink and the amount of ink is arranged. As a specific example, a type A substrate 200 is arranged in an L size cartridge with a large amount of ink in accordance with the amount of ink contained in the ink cartridge 100, and a standard M size cartridge has an ink amount of The Type C substrate 200 may be disposed in an S size cartridge in which the Type B substrate 200 is disposed and the amount of ink is small.

  The cartridge determination unit M50 of the main control circuit 40 always receives the cartridge detection signals CS1 and CS2 from the cartridge detection / short-circuit detection circuit 502 for each of the four mounting positions of the holder 4, and uses these signals for the mounting position. The cartridge determination process is executed every time.

  When the cartridge determination unit M50 starts cartridge determination processing for a focused mounting position (hereinafter referred to as a focused mounting position), the cartridge detection signal CS1 from the cartridge detection / short-circuit detection circuit 502 corresponding to the focused mounting position is a low signal. It is determined whether or not there is (step S102). Subsequently, the cartridge determination unit M50 determines whether or not the cartridge detection signal CS2 at the target mounting position is a low signal (step S104 or S106). As a result, when both the cartridge detection signal CS1 and the cartridge detection signal CS2 are low signals (step S102: YES and step S104: YES), the cartridge determination unit M50 is mounted at the target mounting position. It is determined that the ink cartridge 100 is a cartridge including the above-described Type B substrate 200 (step S108).

  Similarly, when the cartridge detection signal CS1 is a low signal and the cartridge detection signal CS2 is a high signal (step S102: YES and step S104: NO), the cartridge determination unit M50 is the above-described substrate of Type A. When the cartridge detection signal CS1 is a high signal and the cartridge detection signal CS2 is a low signal (step S102: NO and step S106: YES), It is determined that the cartridge includes the above-described Type C substrate 200 (step S112).

  When both the cartridge detection signal CS1 and the cartridge detection signal CS2 are high signals (step S102: NO and step S104: NO), the cartridge determination unit M50 places the ink cartridge 100 at the target mounting position. Is determined not to be attached (step S114). In this way, the cartridge determination unit M50 can determine the type of the ink cartridge 100 and the presence / absence of attachment for each of the four attachment positions.

・ Ink remaining amount detection processing:
With reference to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the ink remaining amount detecting process executed by the ink remaining amount determining unit M60 of the main control circuit 40 will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a processing routine of the remaining ink amount detection process. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing time-series changes in the short circuit detection permission signal EN and the voltage applied to the sensor 104 (hereinafter referred to as sensor voltage) during execution of the remaining ink amount detection process.

  When the ink remaining amount determination unit M60 of the main control circuit 40 detects the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 100 mounted in any mounting position of the holder 4, first, a short circuit for all the cartridge detection / short circuit detection circuits 502 is performed. The detection permission signal EN is set to a high signal (step S202). As a result, all the cartridge detection / short-circuit detection circuits 502 exhibit a short-circuit detection function. When a voltage equal to or higher than the short-circuit detection voltage V_ref1 (6.5 V) is applied to the terminal 510 and the terminal 540, a high signal is output. The short circuit detection signals AB1 and AB2 can be output. In other words, the state where the short circuit detection enable signal EN is set to the high signal is a state where the short circuit between the terminal 510 and the terminal 540 and the terminal 550 and the terminal 590 from which a high voltage can be output is monitored.

  Next, the ink remaining amount determination unit M60 instructs the sensor driving circuit 503 to output a driving voltage for the sensor 104 from the terminal 550 or the terminal 590 and detect the ink remaining amount (step S204). More specifically, when the sensor drive circuit 503 receives an instruction signal from the ink remaining amount determination unit M60, the sensor drive circuit 503 outputs a drive voltage from one of the terminal 550 and the terminal 590, and the piezoelectric as the sensor 104 of the ink cartridge 100. A voltage is applied to the element to charge it, and the piezoelectric element is distorted by the inverse piezoelectric effect. Thereafter, the sensor drive circuit 503 decreases the applied voltage, discharges the electric charge charged in the piezoelectric element, and vibrates the piezoelectric element. The drive voltage is a voltage illustrated as a voltage in the period T1 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the drive voltage varies in a substantially trapezoidal shape from the reference voltage to the maximum voltage Vs. The maximum voltage Vs is set to a relatively high voltage (for example, about 36 V). The sensor driving circuit 503 detects a voltage generated by the piezoelectric effect as a result of the vibration of the piezoelectric element (shown as a voltage in the period T2 in FIG. 12) via the terminal 550 or the terminal 590, and the vibration. The remaining amount of ink is detected by measuring the frequency. That is, this vibration frequency represents the natural frequency of the surrounding structural body (the casing 101 and the ink) that vibrates with the piezoelectric element, and varies depending on the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge 100. Therefore, the vibration frequency is measured. Thus, the remaining amount of ink can be detected. The sensor drive circuit 503 outputs the detection result to the ink remaining amount determination unit M60 of the main control circuit 40.

  Upon receiving the detection result from the sensor drive circuit 503, the ink remaining amount determination unit M60 returns the short-circuit detection permission signal EN, which has been changed to the high signal in step S202 described above, to the low signal (step S206), and ends this process. . In this process, while the ink remaining amount is detected, the short-circuit detection permission signal EN is set to a high signal so that a short-circuit can be detected. In other words, the ink remaining amount is detected while the occurrence of a short circuit is monitored by the cartridge detection / short circuit detection circuit 502.

・ Process when short circuit is detected:
Here, during the detection of the remaining amount of ink (step S204), the remaining ink level determination unit M60 receives a high signal as the short circuit detection signal AB1 or AB2 (hereinafter referred to as a short circuit detection time). Will be described. FIG. 11 also shows a flowchart of an interrupt processing routine when a short circuit is detected. If a short circuit occurs between the terminal 510 or the terminal 540 and the terminal that outputs the sensor driving voltage among the terminals 550 and 590, the sensor driving voltage is applied to the shorted terminal 510 or the terminal 540. Then, since the short circuit detection enable signal EN is set to the high signal, the high signal is detected as the short circuit detection signals AB1 and AB2 at the moment when the sensor drive voltage exceeds the short circuit detection voltage V_ref1 (6.5V), and the cartridge detection / short circuit is detected. Output from the detection circuit 502. When either of the short circuit detection signals AB1 and AB2 is received, the remaining ink level determination unit M60 interrupts detection of the remaining ink level and executes an interrupt process when a short circuit is detected.

  When the interruption process at the time of the short circuit is started, the ink remaining amount determination unit M60 immediately instructs the sensor drive circuit 503 to cut off the output of the sensor drive voltage (step S208).

  Subsequently, the remaining ink level determination unit M60 returns the short circuit detection permission signal EN to a low signal without executing the remaining ink level detection to the end (step S206), and ends the present process. The main control circuit 40 can take corresponding processing such as notifying the user of the occurrence of a short circuit.

  FIG. 12A shows a time-series change of the short circuit detection permission signal EN. FIG. 12B shows a case where there is no short circuit between the terminal 510 or the terminal 540 and the terminal outputting the sensor driving voltage among the terminals 550 and 590, and the remaining ink amount detection process is executed correctly. The sensor voltage at (hereinafter referred to as normal) is shown. FIG. 12 (c) shows the sensor voltage when a short circuit occurs between the terminal 510 or the terminal 540 and the terminal outputting the sensor driving voltage among the terminals 550 and 590 (hereinafter referred to as a short circuit). Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, the short-circuit detection permission signal EN is set to a high signal during the remaining ink amount detection process. As shown in FIG. 12B, in the normal state, after the voltage of magnitude Vs is applied to the sensor 104, the applied voltage is reduced, and then a vibration voltage due to the piezoelectric effect is generated. I understand that. In this embodiment, Vs is set to 36V.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12C, at the time of a short circuit, the sensor voltage drops at the moment when the short circuit detection voltage V_ref1 (6.5 V) is exceeded. This is because, at the moment when the sensor voltage exceeds the short circuit detection voltage V_ref1 (6.5 V), the high signal is output as the short circuit detection signal AB1 or AB2 from the cartridge detection / short circuit detection circuit 502 to the ink remaining amount determination unit M60. This is because the ink remaining amount determination unit M60 that has received this immediately decreases the sensor drive voltage.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a short-circuit mode. Here, as a mode in which the terminals 550 and 590 for outputting the sensor driving voltage and the other terminals are short-circuited, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, a conductive ink liquid is applied to the substrate 200 of the ink cartridge 100. In this case, the droplet S1 or the water droplet S2 generated by dew condensation adheres, and the first sensor driving terminal 250 or the second sensor driving terminal 290 and the other terminal of the substrate 200 are bridged and short-circuited. For example, the ink droplet S1 attached to the bottom surface of the carriage 3 and the ink supply needle 6 is scattered by the attachment / detachment operation of the ink cartridge 100 and attached as shown in FIG. In such a case, when the ink cartridge 100 is mounted, for example, the terminal 550 that outputs the sensor driving voltage is the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first sensor driving terminal 250 by the ink droplet S1. Are short-circuited to the other terminals 510, 520, and 560 of the carriage circuit 500 through the terminals bridged with each other (FIG. 13: terminals 210, 220, and 260). Alternatively, the terminal 590 that outputs the sensor driving voltage includes the second sensor driving terminal 290 and the second short-circuit detection terminal 240 (FIG. 13) bridged with the second sensor driving terminal 290 by the water droplet S2. Through the other terminal 540 of the carriage circuit 500. Such a short circuit is not limited to that caused by adhesion of ink droplets or water droplets, and various modes are conceivable. For example, a short circuit can also occur when a conductive material (for example, oil or fat) adheres to the terminal when the user touches the terminal. It can also occur when a conductive material such as a clip or liquid is sandwiched or adhered near the substrate 200 of the mounted ink cartridge 100.

  In the ink cartridge 100 according to the present embodiment, as described above with reference to FIG. 3, the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the second sensor driving terminal 290 to which the driving voltage for the sensor is applied include the terminal group. The number of adjacent terminals is small. As a result, the possibility that the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the second sensor driving terminal 290 are short-circuited with other terminals is reduced.

  In the substrate 200, when the first sensor driving terminal 250 is short-circuited with the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 of the adjacent terminals (210 and 260), the short-circuit is detected by the cartridge detection / short-circuit detection circuit 502 described above. Detected. For example, it is possible to quickly detect a short circuit between the first sensor driving terminal 250 and another terminal due to the ink droplet S1 entering from the first sensor driving terminal 250 side. Then, the sensor drive voltage is cut off, and damage to the storage device 203 and the circuit of the printing apparatus 1000 (the memory control circuit 501 and the cartridge detection / short detection circuit 502) due to the short circuit can be prevented or suppressed.

  Further, the first short circuit detection terminal 210 is a terminal adjacent to the first sensor driving terminal 250 and positioned closest to the first sensor driving terminal 250. Therefore, when the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the other terminals are short-circuited by the ink droplet S1 or the water droplet S2, the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 are also used. The possibility of a short circuit increases. Therefore, a short circuit between the first sensor driving terminal 250 and another terminal can be detected more reliably.

  Further, the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 is used by the cartridge detection / short-circuit detection circuit 502 described above to determine whether or not the ink cartridge 100 is mounted and the type of the ink cartridge 100 in addition to the detection of the short circuit. As a result, an increase in the number of terminals of the substrate 200 can be suppressed, and the manufacturing process of the substrate 200 and the number of components of the substrate 200 can be reduced.

  Similarly, when the second sensor driving terminal 290 is short-circuited with the second short-circuit detection terminal 240, a short circuit is detected by the cartridge detection / short-circuit detection circuit 502. Therefore, it is possible to quickly detect a short circuit between the second sensor driving terminal 290 and another terminal due to the ink droplet S1 entering from the second sensor driving terminal 290 side. As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress damage to the circuits of the storage device 203 and the printing apparatus 1000 due to the short circuit. Similarly, the second short circuit detection terminal 240 is a terminal located closest to the second sensor driving terminal 290. Therefore, when the second sensor driving terminal 290 and other terminals are short-circuited by the ink droplet S1 or the water droplet S2, the second sensor driving terminal 290 and the second short-circuit detecting terminal 240 are also used. The possibility of a short circuit increases. Therefore, a short circuit between the first sensor driving terminal 250 and another terminal can be detected more reliably.

  In addition, the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short circuit detection terminal 210, and the second sensor driving terminal 290 and the second short circuit detection terminal 240 are other terminals (220, 230, 260 to 260). 270) is located at both ends of the terminal group. Accordingly, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 13, foreign matter (ink droplet S1, water droplet S2, etc.) entering from both ends penetrates to other terminals (220, 230, 260 to 270) located near the center of the terminal group. Before you can detect that intrusion. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent or suppress damage to the circuits of the storage device 203 and the printing apparatus 1000 due to the entry of foreign matter.

  Furthermore, the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the second sensor driving terminal 290 are arranged in a row (lower row) on the insertion direction R side. As a result, since the terminals 250 and 290 to which the high-voltage sensor driving voltage is applied are located on the back side in the insertion direction, ink droplets or foreign matters (for example, clips) can enter the positions of these terminals 250 and 290. Low. As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress damage to the circuits of the storage device 203 and the printing apparatus 1000 due to the entry of foreign matter.

  Furthermore, the terminal group of the board | substrate 200 is arrange | positioned at zigzag form. As a result, it is possible to prevent unnecessary contact between the terminals of the ink cartridge 100 and the terminals of the printing apparatus 1000 (the contact forming members 403 and 404 described above) during the mounting operation.

B. Variation:
With reference to FIGS. 14-16, the modification of the board | substrate 200 with which the ink cartridge 100 is mounted | worn is demonstrated. FIG. 14 is a first diagram illustrating a substrate according to a modification. FIG. 15 is a second diagram illustrating a substrate according to a modification. FIG. 16 is a third diagram illustrating the substrate according to the modification.

・ First modification:
The first short detection terminal 210 of the substrate 200b shown in FIG. 14A has an extension extending to the vicinity of the lower end of the lower row at the lower end of the first short detection terminal 210 of the substrate 200 according to the embodiment. Have. The extension is disposed between the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the reset terminal 260 in the lower row. As a result, for example, even when the ink droplet S3 shown in FIG. 14A adheres, a short circuit between the extended portion of the first short circuit detection terminal 210 and the first sensor driving terminal 250 is detected. . Thus, when the terminals other than the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short circuit detection terminal 210 are short-circuited, the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short circuit detection terminal 210 are also short-circuited. Therefore, the sensor driving voltage is cut off, and this is caused by a short circuit between the first sensor driving terminal 250 and another terminal (reset terminal 260 in the example of FIG. 14A). Inconvenience can be prevented or suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 14A, the second short-circuit detection terminal 240 of the substrate 200b has the same shape as the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 described above, and the second sensor driving terminal 290 and the like. Even a short circuit of the terminal is more reliably detected.

・ Second modification:
In the substrate 200c shown in FIG. 14B, in addition to the configuration of the substrate 200b described above, the first sensor driving terminal 250 is located near the upper end of the upper row on the upper end side of the first sensor driving terminal 250. It has an extension that leads to As a result, even when the ink droplet S4 shown in FIG. 14B adheres, a short circuit between the first short circuit detection terminal 210 and the extended portion of the first sensor driving terminal 250 is detected. When terminals other than the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short circuit detection terminal 210 are short-circuited, the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short circuit detection terminal 210 may also be short-circuited. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress inconvenience due to a short circuit between the first sensor driving terminal 250 and another terminal by cutting off the sensor driving voltage.

  As shown in FIG. 14B, the second sensor driving terminal 290 of the substrate 200 c has the same shape as the first sensor driving terminal 250 described above, and the second sensor driving terminal 290. Intrusion of ink droplets from the end portion on the side where the ink is disposed can be quickly detected.

Third modification:
Unlike the substrate 200 in the embodiment, the substrate 200d shown in FIG. 14C is not provided with the second short circuit detection terminal 240. In the case of the Type A substrate 200 shown in FIG. 10A, the second short circuit detection terminal 240 is not detected by the cartridge detection / short circuit detection circuit 502 (because it is not short-circuited to the ground terminal 220). . Therefore, in the case of the Type A substrate 200, the second short circuit detection terminal 240 is used only for short circuit detection and can be omitted. Even in such a case, since the first short circuit detection terminal 210 is adjacent to the first sensor driving terminal 250 closest to the first sensor driving terminal 250, the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short circuit detection are detected. When terminals other than the terminal 210 are short-circuited, there is a high possibility that the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short-circuit detecting terminal 210 are also short-circuited. In addition, intrusion of ink droplets to the second sensor driving terminal 290 side is also detected to some extent. In FIG. 14C, the symbol cp indicates a contact forming member 403 that contacts the second short circuit detection terminal 240 when there is the second short circuit detection terminal 240 (a contact formation member corresponding to the terminal 540 of the carriage circuit 500). 403). Even if there is no second short detection terminal 240, as shown in FIG. 14C, the ink droplet S5 corresponds to the second sensor driving terminal 290 and the terminal 540 of the carriage circuit 500. If a short circuit with the contact forming member 403 occurs, the intrusion of the ink droplet S5 is detected. Similarly, in the case of the Type C substrate 200, the first short detection terminal 210 may be omitted.

-Fourth modification:
The substrate 200e shown in FIG. 14D has an elongated shape in which the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 extend from the vicinity of the upper end of the upper row to the vicinity of the lower end of the lower row. Have. Even a terminal having such a shape can be brought into contact with corresponding contact forming members 403 arranged in a staggered manner as indicated by a symbol cp in FIG. In the case of the substrate 200e, like the substrate 200c described above, for example, even when the ink droplet S6 shown in FIG. A short circuit with the extension of the service terminal 250 is detected. Thus, since the first short circuit detection terminal 210 is disposed between the first sensor drive terminal 250 and the terminals other than the first short circuit detection terminal 210, the first sensor drive is performed. When terminals other than the terminal for use 250 and the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 are short-circuited, there is a high possibility that the first sensor drive terminal 250 and the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 are also short-circuited.

  The second sensor driving terminal 290 and the second short detection terminal 240 of the substrate 200e have the same shape as the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short detection terminal 210 described above. When terminals other than the second sensor driving terminal 290 and the second short-circuit detection terminal 240 are short-circuited, there is a possibility that the second sensor driving terminal 290 and the second short-circuit detection terminal 240 are also short-circuited. Becomes higher. As a result, when the terminals other than the second sensor driving terminal 290 and the second short detection terminal 240 are short-circuited, the sensor driving voltage is cut off, and the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the other terminals are disconnected. There is a higher possibility that inconveniences caused by a short circuit with can be prevented or suppressed.

-5th modification:
A board 200f shown in FIG. 15A is an integrated body in which these two terminals are integrally formed as a single member as terminals corresponding to the first short circuit detection terminal 210 and the ground terminal 220 in the board 200 according to the embodiment. A terminal 215 is provided. Such a substrate 200f can be used in place of the Type A and Type B substrates 200 (FIG. 10) in which the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 and the ground terminal 220 are short-circuited. The board 200f eliminates the need for wiring between the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 and the ground terminal 220, which is necessary for the board 200 according to the embodiment, and reduces the number of manufacturing steps and the number of parts of the board 200. Can do.

-6th modification:
In the board 200g shown in FIG. 15B, the terminals 210 to 240 in the upper row have the same shape as the first short circuit detection terminal 210 of the board 200b described above. In other words, the terminals 210 to 240 have an extended portion that reaches the vicinity of the lower end of the lower row at the lower end of the corresponding terminal of the substrate 200 according to the embodiment. The terminals 250 to 290 in the lower row of the substrate 200g have the same shape as the first sensor driving terminal 250 of the substrate 200c described above. That is, the terminals 250 to 290 have extensions extending to the vicinity of the upper end of the upper row at the upper end of the corresponding terminal of the substrate 200 according to the embodiment.

  As a result, the terminals 210 to 290 of the board 200g are arranged in two rows, that is, an upper row and a lower row, but form a single row of terminal groups in which substantially paddle type terminals are alternately arranged. Are arranged as follows. A first sensor driving terminal 250 and a second sensor driving terminal 290 to which a high-voltage sensor driving voltage is applied are arranged at both ends of a row of terminal groups, and the first short detection terminal 210 and The second short circuit detection terminals 240 are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other inside the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the second sensor driving terminal 290, respectively.

  In the substrate 200g, ink droplets, foreign matters, and the like that have entered from both ends are detected by the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short circuit detection terminal 210, or the second sensor driving terminal 290 and the second short circuit detection. It can be detected as soon as the terminal 240 is short-circuited. Further, when the first sensor driving terminal 250 or the second sensor driving terminal 290 and another terminal are short-circuited by ink droplets or the like, the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short-circuit detection terminal There is a very high possibility that a short circuit between the second sensor driving terminal 290 and the second short circuit detection terminal 240 occurs at the same time. Therefore, it is possible to reliably detect a short circuit between the first sensor driving terminal 250 or the second sensor driving terminal 290 and another terminal. As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress damage to the circuits (memory control circuit 501 and cartridge detection / short circuit detection circuit 502) of the storage device 203 and the printing apparatus 1000 due to the short circuit.

-Seventh modification:
In the substrate 200h shown in FIG. 15C, the terminals 210 to 290 are arranged in two rows of the substrate 200 according to the embodiment, like the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short detection terminal 210 of 200e described above. It has an elongated shape that spans minutes. Even a terminal having such a shape can be brought into contact with corresponding contact forming members 403 arranged in a staggered manner as indicated by a symbol cp in FIG.

  In the substrate 200h, the terminals 210 to 290 are arranged so as to form one terminal row in a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction R, similarly to the substrate 200g described above. Similarly to the substrate 200g, the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the second sensor driving terminal 290 to which a high sensor driving voltage is applied are arranged at both ends of one terminal row, and the first The short-circuit detection terminal 210 and the second short-circuit detection terminal 240 are arranged inside the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the second sensor driving terminal 290 so as to be adjacent to each other. As a result, the substrate 200h has the same operations and effects as the above-described 200g.

-Eighth modification:
The first short detection terminal 210 of the substrate 200i shown in FIG. 16A has a shape that is longer on the left side in the drawing than the first short detection terminal 210 of the substrate 200 according to the embodiment. Further, the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 of the substrate 200i has an extension extending from the left end to the vicinity of the lower end of the lower row. The extension portion is located on the left side (the side away from the center of the terminal group in a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction R) from the first sensor driving terminal 250 in the lower row. In such a case, when the entire terminal is viewed, the first short detection terminal 210 is located on the outer side (left side) of the first sensor driving terminal 250, but from the viewpoint of the contact portion cp of the terminal. As in the embodiment, the contact part cp of the first sensor driving terminal 250 is located on the outermost side (left end) among the contact parts cp of all the terminals 210 to 290. Then, a short circuit between the first sensor drive terminal 250 and the first short circuit detection terminal 210 including the contact part cp adjacent to the contact part cp of the first sensor drive terminal 250 is detected. Therefore, 200i according to the present modification can achieve the same operations and effects as the substrate 200 according to the embodiment. That is, it is possible to quickly detect the intrusion of the ink droplets from the end portion, and to prevent or suppress damage to the circuits of the storage device 203 and the printing device 1000 due to the short circuit. Further, since the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 has an extension portion, a portion of the outer peripheral edge of the first sensor driving terminal 250 adjacent to the outer peripheral edge of the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 (first The length of 1) is long. As can be seen from FIG. 16A, the first sensor driving terminal 250 has a first peripheral portion that is adjacent to the outer peripheral edge of the reset terminal 260 (referred to as a second portion). The length of the part is long. As a result, when the terminals other than the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short circuit detection terminal 210 (for example, the reset terminal 260) are short-circuited, the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first sensor driving terminal 250 The possibility that the short detection terminal 210 is also short-circuited increases. As a result, when the terminals other than the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short circuit detection terminal 210 are short-circuited, the sensor driving voltage is cut off, and the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the other terminals are disconnected. There is a higher possibility that inconveniences caused by a short circuit with can be prevented or suppressed.

  The first short detection terminal 210 of the substrate 200p shown in FIG. 16C has a longer extension than the first short detection terminal 210 of the substrate 200i. As shown in FIG. 16C, the extension of the first short circuit detection terminal 210 of the substrate 200 p extends along the outer peripheral edge of the first sensor drive terminal 250 and the upper left of the first sensor drive terminal 250. To the lower right. As a result, the portion (first portion) adjacent to the outer peripheral edge of the first short circuit detection terminal 210 is further elongated. As a result, when the terminals other than the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short circuit detection terminal 210 are connected, the sensor driving voltage is cut off, and the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the other terminals are disconnected. There is a higher possibility of preventing or suppressing inconvenience due to the short circuit.

    The first short circuit detection terminal 210 of the substrate 200q shown in FIG. 16D has a longer extension than the first short circuit detection terminals 210 of the substrates 200i and 200q. As shown in FIG. 16D, the extended portion of the first short detection terminal 210 of the substrate 200q extends along the outer peripheral edge of the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the upper left of the first sensor driving terminal 250. From below to the top right. In other words, the first short detection terminal 210 is formed so as to surround the entire first sensor driving terminal 250. As a result, the portion (first portion) adjacent to the outer peripheral edge of the first short circuit detection terminal 210 is further elongated. As a result, when the terminals other than the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short circuit detection terminal 210 are short-circuited, the sensor driving voltage is cut off, and the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the other terminals are disconnected. There is a higher possibility that inconveniences caused by a short circuit with can be prevented or suppressed.

  As shown in FIGS. 16A, 16C, and 16D, the substrates 200i, 200p, and 200q in the present modification are provided with an extension portion on the first short circuit detection terminal 210, so that the first sensor drive The direction in which a part of the terminal 250 for use and a part of the first short circuit detection terminal 210 are adjacent to each other is increased. For example, in the board 200i, an extension of the first short detection terminal 210 is adjacent to the left edge of the first sensor driving terminal 250 in the left direction (direction toward the edge measuring portion of the ink cartridge 100), and The first short detection terminal 210 is adjacent to the upper edge of one sensor driving terminal 250 in the upward direction (the direction opposite to the insertion direction). On the other hand, in the substrate 200p, in addition to the above two directions, an extension of the first short detection terminal 210 is adjacent to the lower edge (insertion direction) at the lower edge of the first sensor driving terminal 250. . In addition, in the substrate 200q, an extension of the first short detection terminal 210 is adjacent to the right edge of the first sensor driving terminal 250 in the right direction (the direction away from the edge measuring portion of the ink cartridge 100). As a result, in the substrate 200q, at least a part of the first short detection terminals 210 are adjacent to each other in all directions when viewed from the first sensor driving terminal 250.

  Other than the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 due to ink droplets or foreign matter entering from a direction in which a part of the first sensor driving terminal 250 and a part of the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 are adjacent to each other. When the first terminal is short-circuited, the possibility that the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 are also short-circuited becomes very high. Therefore, there is a higher possibility that inconvenience due to a short circuit between the first sensor driving terminal 250 and other terminals due to ink droplets or foreign matters entering from the direction can be prevented or suppressed. In this modification, by providing an extension to the first short detection terminal 210, the direction in which the first short detection terminal 210 and the first sensor driving terminal 250 are adjacent to each other is increased, and the first probability is increased. Inconvenience due to a short circuit between the sensor driving terminal 250 and other terminals can be prevented or suppressed.

  In addition, in the boards 200i, 200p, and 200q according to this modification, only the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 on the left side has the above-described structure, but with the first short-circuit detection terminal 210, or Instead of the first short circuit detection terminal 210, the second short circuit detection terminal 240 on the right side may have a structure having the above-described extension. Also in this case, the same operations and effects as those of the substrates 200i, 200p, and 200q according to this modification can be obtained.

-Ninth modification:
In the substrate 200j shown in FIG. 16B, the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 and the ground terminal 220 in the substrate 200 according to the embodiment are integrally formed by one member, like the substrate 200f described above as the fifth modification. The integrated terminal 215 is provided. The integrated terminal 215 of the substrate 200j is different in shape from the integrated terminal 215 of the substrate 200f described above. Specifically, the integrated terminal 215 of the substrate 200j has a long shape on the left side and the vicinity of the lower end portion of the lower row from the left end portion, similarly to the first short circuit detection terminal 210 of the substrate 200i described above as the eighth modification. It has an extension that leads to In such a case, the same actions and effects as the board 200i in the eighth modification can be achieved while reducing the number of board manufacturing steps and the number of parts.

  In the embodiment and the modification described above, all the terminals are arranged on the substrate 200, but not all the terminals are necessarily arranged on the substrate 200. For example, a part of the terminals may be disposed on the casing 101 of the ink cartridge 100. Hereinafter, specific examples will be described as a tenth modification and an eleventh modification with reference to FIGS. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the ink cartridge 100 according to the modification, with the substrate 200 as the center. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an AA section to a DD section in FIG.

-10th modification:
A board 200k illustrated in FIG. 17A includes seven terminals 210 to 240 and 260 to 280 among the nine terminals 210 to 290 included in the board 200 according to the embodiment. On the other hand, the board | substrate 200k is not provided with the 1st sensor drive terminal 250 and the 2nd sensor drive terminal 290 among the nine terminals 210-290 with which the board | substrate 200 which concerns on an Example is provided. The substrate 200k according to the present modification has a notch NT1 or NT2 in a region including the position where the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the second sensor driving terminal 290 are provided in the substrate 200 according to the embodiment. Is provided. The shape of the notch in FIG. 17A may be the shape indicated by the solid line NT1 or the shape indicated by the broken line NT2. The terminals 150 and 190 having the same functions as those of the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the second sensor driving terminal 290 in 200 according to the embodiment are arranged in the housing 101 located on the back side of the substrate 200k. ing. As a matter of course, these terminals 150 and 190 are disposed at positions where they come into contact with the corresponding apparatus-side terminals 450 and 490 when the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the holder 4.

  FIG. 18A shows an AA cross section in FIG. As shown in FIG. 18A, the substrate 200k is notched between the terminal 150 and the adjacent terminals 260 and 210 (the reset terminal 260 is shown in FIG. 18A). A recess DE formed by a gap between NT1 and the terminal 150 is disposed. Although illustration is omitted, a recess is similarly disposed between the terminal 190 and the adjacent terminals 280 and 240.

  According to this modification, in addition to the same operations and effects as those of the substrate 200 according to the embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. When an ink drop or a foreign substance enters from the end of the ink cartridge 100 according to this modification, it is trapped in the recesses disposed around the terminal 150 and the terminal 190. A short circuit between 190 and other terminals can be further prevented or suppressed.

-Eleventh modification:
A board 200m shown in FIG. 17B has a first sensor driving terminal 250 and a second sensor driving terminal 290 in the board 200 according to the embodiment, instead of the notches NT1 or NT2 according to the tenth modification. A through-hole HL is provided at a position corresponding to the position where it is arranged. Other configurations of the ink cartridge 100 according to the eleventh modification are the same as those of the ink cartridge 100 according to the tenth modification. Also in this modification, a recessed part is arrange | positioned between the terminals 150 and 190 and the adjacent terminal. Therefore, the ink cartridge 100 according to this modification can exhibit the same operations and effects as the ink cartridge 100 according to the tenth modification.

-12th modification:
In the substrates in the above-described embodiments and modifications, all the terminals are connected to the storage device 203 or the sensor 104, but may include dummy terminals that are not connected to any of them. Hereinafter, a specific example thereof will be described as a twelfth modification with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 is a fourth diagram illustrating the substrate according to the modification.

  A substrate 200r shown in FIG. 19A includes an upper row formed of four terminals and a lower row formed of five terminals, like the substrate 200 in the embodiment. Since the arrangement and function of the terminals 210 to 290 forming the upper row and the lower row are the same as those of the substrate 200 (FIG. 3) in the embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  A substrate 200r shown in FIG. 19A includes a dummy terminal DT between the upper row and the lower row and the lower (insertion direction side) dummy terminal DT. The dummy terminal DT is formed using the same material as the other terminals 210 to 290, for example. An EE cross section including the dummy terminal DT in FIG. 19A is shown in FIG. The thickness of the dummy terminal is substantially the same as that of the other terminals 210 to 290.

  The dummy terminal DT is provided for scraping off foreign matters such as dust adhering to the contact forming member 403 when the ink cartridge 100 is detached. This prevents foreign matter from being brought into the terminal (first sensor driving terminal 250 in FIG. 19C) to be contacted by the contact forming member 403 when the ink cartridge 100 is mounted. It is possible to prevent contact failure with the terminal.

  In the substrate 200r shown in FIG. 19A, since the dummy terminal DT exists between the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short detection terminal 210, the first sensor driving terminal 250 is provided. Therefore, it cannot be said that the first short detection terminal 210 is adjacent. However, the dummy terminal DT is not connected to the storage device 203 and is not connected to the terminals 510 to 590 on the printing apparatus 1000 side. For this reason, even if the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the dummy terminal DT are short-circuited, no problem occurs. Therefore, the substrate 200r can provide the same operations and effects as the substrate 200 in the embodiment. That is, even if the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short circuit detection terminal 210 are not adjacent to each other, the first short circuit detection is performed from at least a part of the first sensor driving terminal 250 toward the predetermined direction. There is no need to arrange terminals (terminals 220, 230, 260 to 280) that cause a short circuit with the first sensor driving terminal 250 until at least a portion of the terminal 210 is reached. In such a case, it can be said that one sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short circuit detection terminal 210 are substantially adjacent to each other in the predetermined direction. In the case where the terminal that is a problem is short-circuited by the ink droplet S1 or the water droplet S2, there is a high possibility that the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the first short-circuit detection terminal 210 are also short-circuited. . Then, the sensor drive voltage is cut off, and damage to the storage device 203 and the printing apparatus 1000 due to the short circuit can be prevented or suppressed.

-13th modification:
The substrate according to the embodiment and the modified example has been described as being mounted on the ink cartridge 100 used for the on-carriage type printer as shown in FIG. 2, but is used for the off-carriage type printer. It may be attached to an ink cartridge. An ink cartridge used for an off-carriage type printer will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the ink cartridge in the thirteenth modification. FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state when the ink cartridge according to the thirteenth modification is mounted on the printer.

  The ink cartridge 100b according to the thirteenth modification has a configuration for mounting on a so-called off-carriage type printer that does not include the ink cartridge on the carriage. An off-carriage type printer is generally a large printer, and an ink cartridge used for such a large printer is larger than an ink cartridge used for an on-carriage type printer.

  The ink cartridge 100b includes a housing 1001 for storing a printing material, a substrate mounting portion 1050 for mounting the substrate 200, an ink supply port 1020 for supplying ink in the housing 1001 to the printer, and ink supply. Air supply port 1030 for sending air into the housing 1001 and a guide portion 1040 for mounting on the printer. The ink cartridge 100b has an outer dimension in which the length of the side (depth direction) perpendicular to the side (width direction) on which the guide portion 1040 and the like are formed is longer than the width direction. When the relationship between the depth dimension of the ink cartridge 100b and the width dimension of the substrate 200 is expressed as a ratio between the two, for example, the ratio is 15: 1 or more.

  Similar to the embodiment, the substrate 200 is positioned in the boss groove 201 and the boss hole 202 and is fixed to the substrate mounting portion 1050 of the ink cartridge 100b.

  As shown in FIG. 21, when the ink cartridge 100b is mounted in the printer, the guide portion 1040 of the ink cartridge 100b guides the guide pin 2040 on the printer side, and the substrate mounting portion 1050, the ink supply port 1020, and the air The supply port 1030 and the contact pin 2050 on the printer side, the ink supply port 2020, and the air supply port 2030 are appropriately contacted and joined. The insertion direction of the ink cartridge 100b in this modification is as indicated by the arrow R in FIG. 21, and the insertion direction R with respect to the substrate 200 is the same as in the embodiment.

  Also in the ink cartridge 100b for an off-carriage type printer according to this modification, the first sensor driving terminal 250 and other terminals are short-circuited as in the above-described embodiments and modifications. Damage to the storage device and the printing device can be prevented or suppressed.

-14th modification:
The shape of the ink cartridge for the on-carriage type printer shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and is not limited thereto. Another shape of the ink cartridge for the on-carriage type printer will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 22 is a first diagram illustrating an ink cartridge according to a fourteenth modification. FIG. 23 is a second view illustrating the ink cartridge according to the fourteenth modification. FIG. 24 is a third diagram illustrating the ink cartridge according to the fourteenth modification.

  As shown in FIGS. 22 to 23, the ink cartridge 100b according to the fourteenth modification includes a housing 101b, a substrate 200, and a sensor 104b. Similar to the ink cartridge 100 in the embodiment, the bottom surface of the housing 101b is provided with an ink supply port 110b into which an ink supply needle is inserted when the holder 101b is mounted. Similarly to the ink cartridge 100 in the embodiment, the substrate 200 is mounted on the lower side (the positive side of the Z axis) of the front surface of the housing 101b (the negative side of the Y axis). The configuration of the substrate 200 is the same as the substrate 200 in the embodiment described with reference to FIG. Similar to the ink cartridge 100 in the embodiment, the sensor 104b is embedded in the side wall of the housing 101b and used to detect the remaining amount of ink. On the upper side of the front surface of the housing 101, a hook 120b that engages with an engaging portion (not shown) of the holder 4b when mounted on the holder 4b is provided. The ink cartridge 100b is fixed to the holder 4b by the hook 120b. The insertion direction when the ink cartridge 100b is attached to the holder 4b is the direction indicated by the arrow R in FIG. 22 (the positive direction of the Z axis), and is the same as the ink cartridge 100 in the embodiment.

  Position shift prevention portions PO1 to PO4 are provided on the side surface (surface on the positive and negative sides of the X axis) of the ink cartridge 100b in the vicinity of the substrate 200. When the ink cartridge 100b is mounted on the holder 4b, the position shift prevention parts PO1 to PO4 approach or abut against corresponding portions of the side wall of the holder 4b. This suppresses the ink cartridge 100b from shifting in the X-axis direction from the correct mounting position in the holder 4b. Specifically, the misregistration prevention units PO1 and PO2 are positioned on the upper side of the substrate 200 (the negative direction side of the Z axis), and the upper side of the ink cartridge 100b (the negative direction side of the Z axis) connects the ink supply port 110b. As a center of rotation, swinging in the X-axis direction is prevented. The misregistration prevention parts PO3 and PO4 are positioned at both ends of the terminal groups 210 to 290 (FIG. 3) on the substrate 200 so that the terminal groups 210 to 290 are in exact contact with the corresponding device side terminals 410 to 490. , Positioning.

  The electrical configuration of the ink cartridge 100b according to the fourteenth modification is the same as the electrical configuration of the ink cartridge 100 according to the embodiment described with reference to FIG.

  According to the ink cartridge 100b in the fourteenth modification described above, in addition to the same operations and effects as the ink cartridge 100 in the embodiment, the following operations and effects are achieved. Since the ink cartridge 100b includes the position shift prevention portions PO1 to PO4, it is possible to prevent or reduce the shift of the mounting position when mounted on the holder. In particular, since the misregistration prevention units PO3 and PO4 are located at both ends of the terminal groups 210 to 290 on the substrate 200, the terminal groups 210 to 290 are accurately positioned with respect to the corresponding device side terminals 410 to 490. Furthermore, as described with reference to FIG. 3, in the substrate 200, the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the second sensor driving terminal 290 are located at both ends of the terminal groups 210 to 290. That is, the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the second sensor driving terminal 290 are closest to the misalignment prevention units PO3 and PO4. This improves the positioning accuracy of the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the second sensor driving terminal 290, so that the first sensor driving terminal 250 and the second sensor driving terminal to which a high voltage is applied. It is possible to prevent or reduce the contact of 290 with other terminals by mistake.

  Although the substrate 200 in the embodiment is mounted on the ink cartridge 100b illustrated in FIGS. 22 to 24, the substrates 200b to 200s illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 19 may be mounted instead.

・ Other variations:
As shown in FIGS. 17 (c), 17 (d), 18 (c), and 18 (d), the recesses in the tenth and eleventh modifications described above, that is, between the terminals 150 and 190 and the substrate. Alternatively, the porous body PO may be disposed. In this way, ink droplets and condensed moisture that tend to cause a short circuit between the terminals 150 and 190 and other terminals can be effectively absorbed by the porous body PO. Accordingly, even with such a configuration, the same operations and effects as those of the tenth modification example and the eleventh modification example described above can be achieved.

  In the above embodiment, the ink cartridge 100 includes the sensor 104 (piezoelectric element) and the storage device 203 as a plurality of devices. However, the plurality of devices mounted on the ink cartridge 100 are not limited to these. . For example, the sensor 104 may be a sensor of a type that detects the property or amount of ink by applying a voltage to the ink in the ink cartridge 100 and measuring its resistance value. In this embodiment, among the plurality of devices, the sensor 104 is provided in the housing 101 and the storage device 203 is provided in the substrate 200. However, the arrangement of the plurality of devices is not limited thereto. For example, the storage device 203 may be separated from the substrate 200 and disposed in the housing 101. Furthermore, the plurality of devices may be arranged on a single substrate or in a single module. A substrate or module including a plurality of devices may be disposed on the housing 101 or may be disposed on the substrate 200. Among the at least a plurality of devices, a terminal of a device to which a higher voltage is applied is disposed at the position of the above-described terminals 250 and 290, and a terminal of a device to which a lower voltage is applied is the above-described terminals 220, 230, What is necessary is just to arrange | position in the position of 260-280. By doing so, it is possible to prevent or suppress damage to the ink cartridge 100 or the printing apparatus 1000 due to a short circuit between a terminal of a device to which a higher voltage can be applied and a terminal of a device to which a lower voltage is applied. . In this embodiment, there are five terminals for the storage device 203 (220, 230, 260-280) and two terminals for the sensor 104 (250, 290). It may vary depending on the specifications. For example, the number of terminals of a device to which a higher voltage is applied may be one. In such a case, the one terminal may be arranged at any one of the above-described terminals 250 and 290.

  In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the ink cartridge 100. However, the present invention is not limited to the ink cartridge, and can be similarly applied to other printing materials, for example, a container in which toner is accommodated.

  In addition, in the configuration of the main control circuit 40 and the carriage circuit 500 in the printing apparatus 1000, a part of the configuration realized by hardware may be replaced with software, and conversely, a part of the configuration realized by software. May be replaced with hardware.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the Example and the modification, Embodiment mentioned above is for making an understanding of this invention easy, and does not limit this invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and equivalents thereof are included in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Carriage motor 3 ... Carriage 4 ... Holder 5 ... Print head 6 ... Ink supply needle 9 ... Rotating shaft 10 ... Roller 11 ... Cover 14 ... Protrusion 16, 18 ... Gutter 20 ... Elastic member 37 ... Flexible cable 40 ... Main Control circuit 100, 100b ... Ink cartridge 101 ... Housing 102 ... Lid 103 ... Projecting part 104 ... Sensor (piezoelectric element)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 105 ... Recessed 107 ... Rib 108, 109 ... Boss 110 ... Ink supply port 200, 200b-200s ... Substrate 201 ... Boss groove 202 ... Boss hole 203 ... Storage device 207 ... Conduction line 210 ... First short circuit detection terminal 215 ... Integral Terminal 220 ... Ground terminal 230 ... Power supply terminal 240 ... Second short-circuit detection terminal 250 ... First sensor driving terminal 260 ... Reset terminal 270 ... Clock terminal 280 ... Data terminal 290 ... Second sensor driving terminal 400 ... Contact Mechanism 401, 402 ... Slit 403, 404 ... Contact forming member 500 ... Carriage circuit 501 ... Memory control circuit 502 ... Cartridge detection / short circuit detection circuit 5021 ... First detection circuit 5022 ... Second detection circuit 503 ... Sensor drive circuit 510-590 ... Terminal of carriage circuit 1000 ... Printer M5 ... cartridge determining module M60 ... remaining ink level determining module

Claims (4)

A printing material container that is detachably attached to a printing apparatus having a plurality of apparatus side terminals,
A first device;
A second device;
A plurality of first terminals, at least one second terminal, and a terminal group including at least one third terminal;
With
The plurality of first terminals are connected to the first device ;
The at least one second terminal is connected to the second device ;
The at least one third terminal is a terminal for detecting a short circuit between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal ;
The first terminal is not disposed between at least a part of the at least one third terminal and at least a part of the at least one second terminal in at least one direction. Without
The first device is a memory;
The second device is a device to which a voltage higher than the drive voltage of the memory is applied,
The printing material container further includes:
A printing material container comprising a dummy terminal between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal .   The printing material container according to claim 1, wherein the first device is a memory for storing information on the printing material stored in the printing material container. body.   The printing material container according to claim 1, wherein the second device operates with a voltage higher than that of the first device.   The printing material container according to claim 1, wherein the dummy terminal is not connected to any of the first device and the second device.

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