JP2008221569A - Print recording material container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decrease the number of terminals in a print recording material container. <P>SOLUTION: A semiconductor circuit 20 has an internal power generating section 23 connected with first and second sensor terminals S1T and S2T. The internal power generating section 23 connects the first and second sensor terminals S1T and S2T electrically with the internal circuit 22 at a potential higher than the intermediate potential of a sensor drive signal inputted in order to drive an ink quantity sensor 21. Power supply voltage can thereby be supplied to the internal circuit 22 by inputting a power supply drive signal having a potential higher than the intermediate potential of a sensor drive signal to the first sensor terminal S1T or the second sensor terminal S2T. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print recording material container that contains a print recording material, and more specifically, a storage element that stores information related to a print recording material that is stored, and a detection that detects the amount of the print recording material that is stored. The present invention relates to a printing recording material container including means.

  For example, an ink cartridge including a storage element and an ink end sensor has been put to practical use as a printing recording material container. In this type of ink cartridge, data is written to and read from the storage element using an external power source. A drive signal for driving the ink end sensor is input to the ink end sensor from an external control circuit. Therefore, this type of printing recording material container generally includes a power supply terminal and a sensor drive signal terminal in addition to a clock signal terminal and a data signal terminal (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-328275 A

  However, in general, the size of the terminal portion including each terminal in the printing recording material container is small, and a reduction in the number of terminals is desired.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve at least a part of the conventional problems described above, and aims to reduce the number of terminals in a printing recording material container.

  In order to solve the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention provides a print recording material container. The print recording material container according to the first aspect of the present invention is connected to a storage chamber for storing the print recording material, a detection unit for detecting the amount of the print recording material in the storage chamber, and the detection unit. A drive signal terminal for inputting a drive signal for driving the detection unit, a storage element for storing information relating to the printing recording material, and driving the detection unit with respect to the drive signal terminal unit And a power supply unit that receives a drive signal having a potential higher than a predetermined potential biased by the drive signal and supplies drive power for driving the storage element to the storage element.

  According to the printing recording material container according to the first aspect of the present invention, the driving power for driving the memory element upon receiving the input of the driving signal having a potential higher than the intermediate potential of the driving signal to the driving signal terminal portion. Is provided to the storage element, so that the number of terminals in the printing recording material container can be reduced. Further, since the drive signal for the power supply unit is higher in potential than the predetermined potential for the drive signal terminal, the storage element can be driven without being affected by the drive signal input when the detection unit is driven. .

  In the printing recording material container according to the first aspect of the present invention, the detection unit may output a detection signal whose signal level increases as the detection time elapses. Even in this case, the memory element can be driven without reducing the accuracy of the detection signal.

  In the printing / recording material container according to the first aspect of the present invention, the detection unit may be an electrostrictive element. In this case, the detection unit can output a detection signal whose signal level increases as the detection time elapses.

  In the printing recording material container according to the first aspect of the present invention, the potential of the drive signal may be higher than the potential of the drive power. In this case, the detection unit can be sufficiently vibrated to obtain a highly accurate detection signal.

  The printing recording material container according to the first aspect of the present invention further receives a data terminal for inputting / outputting data to / from the storage element and a clock signal for designating an access position in the storage element. An obtained clock signal terminal may be provided. In this case, various signals can be input via each terminal.

  Hereinafter, a printing recording material container according to the present invention will be described based on examples with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an ink cartridge will be described as an example of the printing recording material container.

・ Ink cartridge configuration:
The configuration of the ink cartridge according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a side view of an ink cartridge according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view of the ink cartridge according to the present embodiment.

  1 and 2, the ink cartridge 10 according to this embodiment includes a detection unit 11, a first ink storage unit 12a, a second ink storage unit 12b, and a semiconductor circuit 20. .

  In the ink cartridge 10 according to the present embodiment, the detection unit 11 is disposed on the side surface of the ink cartridge 10. The detection unit 11 determines whether the communication path 111 and the communication path 111 that connect the first ink storage unit 12a and the second ink storage unit 12b are filled with ink, or whether ink is present in the communication path. An ink amount sensor 21 for detection is provided. That is, the detection unit 11 detects whether the ink amount in the ink cartridge 10 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount by detecting whether the communication path 111 is filled with ink or whether ink is not present in the communication path 111. Is detected.

  The communication path 111 is a narrow path that generates a capillary force, and suppresses or prevents the entry of air bubbles mixed in the first ink storage portion 12a or the second ink storage portion 12b into the communication path 111. be able to. Accordingly, since air bubbles are present in the vicinity of the ink amount sensor 21, it is possible to suppress or prevent the ink amount sensor 21 from erroneously detecting the ink end. On the other hand, when the ink in the first ink storage portion 12a runs out, a large amount of bubbles enter the communication path 111, so that the ink end that should be detected by the ink amount sensor 21 is detected.

  If ink is present in the first ink container 12a, the communication path 111 is filled with ink. If no ink is present in the first ink container 12a, strictly speaking, the second ink container 12b. If only ink is present, the communication path 111 is not filled with ink. Therefore, in this embodiment, the predetermined amount can be said to be the ink storage amount in the second ink storage portion 12b. Further, in the present embodiment, that the ink containing portion is empty can be said to be a state where the communication path 111 is not filled with ink.

  The ink amount sensor 21 may be disposed so as to be in direct contact with the ink, or may be disposed indirectly with respect to the ink via a member capable of improving detection characteristics, for example. As the ink amount sensor 21, for example, a piezoelectric element (piezo element) that is distorted by application of a voltage is used. The ink amount sensor 21 is electrically connected to a later-described terminal in the semiconductor circuit 20.

  The semiconductor circuit 20 includes a plurality of terminals, that is, first and second cartridge out detection terminals CO1 and CO2, used for detecting whether or not an ink cartridge is mounted, a ground terminal GT, and a reset signal to which a reset signal is input. A terminal RT, a clock terminal CT to which a clock signal is input, a data terminal DT used for input / output of a data signal, a first sensor terminal S1T to which a driving signal for driving the ink amount sensor 21 is input, A second sensor terminal S2T is provided. Each terminal CO1, CO2, GT, S1T, S2T, RT, CT, and DT is electrically connected to the control circuit by making contact with the carriage circuit terminal of the printing apparatus, as will be described later.

Semiconductor circuit configuration:
The configuration and operation of the semiconductor circuit included in the ink cartridge according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a control system including a semiconductor circuit provided in the ink cartridge according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a power source provided in the semiconductor circuit according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the ink amount detection signal input to the semiconductor circuit in this embodiment. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a power generation signal input to the semiconductor circuit in the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a detection result signal output by the ink amount sensor in this embodiment.

  The semiconductor circuit 20 includes an internal circuit 22 and an internal power supply generation unit 23. As described above, the semiconductor circuit 20 includes the reset terminal RT, the clock terminal CT, the data terminal DT, the ground terminal GD, the first sensor terminal S1T, and the second sensor terminal S2T as contact terminals with an external circuit. In the following description, description of the first and second cartridge out detection terminals CO1 and CO2 is omitted.

  The internal circuit 22 includes a storage element 25 and is connected to the reset terminal RT, the clock terminal CT, the data terminal DT, and the ground terminal GT via the reset signal line RL, the clock signal line CL, the data signal line DL, and the ground line GL. Has been.

  The ink amount sensor 21 is connected to the first sensor terminal S1T and the second sensor terminal S2T via the first sensor signal line S1L and the second sensor signal line S2L. When a drive waveform in accordance with the natural frequency (resonance frequency) of the communication path 111 (vibration system) is input from the drive voltage source to the ink amount sensor 21, charges are accumulated in the ink amount sensor 21. When the drive voltage source and the ink amount sensor 21 are electrically disconnected at a predetermined timing, the charge charged in the ink amount sensor 21 is discharged, and the ink amount sensor 21 vibrates. The ink amount sensor 21 vibrates at the resonance frequency of the communication path 111 and outputs a counter electromotive voltage signal on which the resonance frequency is superimposed as an output signal. Accordingly, a drive waveform that matches the resonance frequency of the ink container 12 (first ink container 12a), strictly speaking, when the communication path 111 is empty or filled with ink is used. Thus, when each of the ink storage portions 12 is empty or filled with ink, a counter electromotive voltage signal having a sufficient amplitude is obtained. The level of the output signal output by the ink amount sensor 21 has a characteristic that increases with the passage of time, as shown in FIG.

  The internal power generation unit 23 has an input side connected to the first sensor signal line S1L and the second sensor signal line S2L, and an output side connected to the internal circuit 22 and the ground line GL. That is, a power source (electric power) for driving the internal circuit 22 is generated from the drive signal input via the first sensor terminal S1T or the second sensor terminal S2T. Here, in general, the voltage of the sensor drive signal for driving the ink amount sensor 21 is higher than the voltage of the power supply drive signal for driving the internal circuit 22. Therefore, the internal power supply generation unit 23 steps down the voltage of the input sensor drive signal to a voltage suitable for driving the internal circuit 22 and supplies the voltage to the internal circuit 22 as a power supply signal.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a control circuit 510 is connected to each terminal RT, DT, CT, GT, S1T, and S2T of the semiconductor circuit 20. The control circuit 510 inputs a reset signal to the reset terminal RT of the internal circuit 22 and a clock signal to the clock terminal CT, and inputs / outputs a data signal to / from the data terminal DT. The control circuit 510 also inputs a sensor drive signal to the first sensor terminal S1T or the second sensor terminal S2T, and acquires an ink amount detection signal from the first sensor terminal S1T or the second sensor terminal S2T.

  The control circuit 510 supplies a drive voltage signal to the ink amount sensor 21 using a drive voltage source provided therein, and then drives the line supplied with the drive voltage signal, for example, the first ink end sensor drive terminal S1T. Electrically disconnect from the voltage source. As a result, a detection result signal (back electromotive voltage signal) having a natural vibration frequency of the vibration system excited by the ink amount sensor 21 is supplied to the line to which the drive voltage signal is supplied in accordance with the ink amount of the ink storage unit 12. appear.

  The control circuit 510 determines the ink amount by measuring the frequency of the detection result signal that appears (input) on the line to which the drive voltage signal is supplied, that is, the natural vibration frequency of the vibration system. As described above, the frequency of the detection result signal represents the natural frequency of the ink quantity sensor 21, the communication path 111, the vibration system including the ink, and the structure (case or ink) around the ink quantity sensor 21. It varies according to the amount of ink remaining in one ink storage portion 12a. Therefore, the frequency of the detection result signal is equal to the natural frequency when the ink remains sufficiently in the first ink container 12a, or a predetermined amount of ink is present in the first ink container 12a. Whether or not a sufficient amount of ink remains in the ink cartridge 10 can be determined based on whether the frequency is equivalent to the natural frequency when only the following remains. When it is detected that the amount of ink in the first ink container 12a is less than a predetermined amount, a driving voltage signal having a resonance frequency when no ink is present in the vibration system is used, and the first ink container When detecting that the amount of ink in the portion 12a is larger than a predetermined amount, a driving voltage signal having a resonance frequency when ink is present in the vibration system is used.

  A configuration example of the internal power generation unit 23 will be described with reference to FIG. The internal power generation unit 23 includes a Zener diode ZD1 electrically connected to the first sensor signal line S1L, ZD2 electrically connected to the second sensor signal line S2L, resistors R1 and R2, and a diode bridge DB. I have. The breakdown voltage of the Zener diodes TD1 and TD2 is set to a voltage higher than the intermediate potential of the sensor drive signal when the ink amount sensor 21 is driven. In this embodiment, the intermediate potential means a predetermined potential biased to the sensor drive signal when the ink amount sensor 21 is driven.

  When a power supply drive signal higher than the breakdown voltage is input to the Zener diode TD1 or TD2 connected to the first sensor signal line S1L or the second sensor signal line S2L, the diode bridge DB is connected to the first sensor signal line S1L or The power supply drive signal input to one of the second sensor signal lines S2L is supplied to the internal circuit 22. Further, the potential of the power supply drive signal supplied from the diode bridge DB to the internal circuit 22 is stepped down to the drive power supply potential of the internal circuit 22.

  A sensor drive signal when the ink amount sensor 21 is driven and a power supply drive signal when power is supplied from the internal power supply generation unit 23 to the internal circuit 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. The sensor drive signal shown in FIG. 5 is a signal having a pulse waveform having a frequency that matches the resonance frequency when the ink container 12a is empty or not empty as described above after being boosted to an intermediate potential. is there.

  On the other hand, the power supply drive signal shown in FIG. 6 is a signal having a constant potential higher than the intermediate potential of the drive signal indicated by the broken line. Since the power supply drive signal is a signal that is input when driving (actuating) the internal circuit 22, for example, the storage element 25, the sensor drive signal is provided while access (read / write) to the storage element 25 is being executed. It can be said that a power supply drive signal higher than the intermediate potential is input to the first sensor terminal S1T or the second sensor terminal S2T.

  As a result, the internal power generation unit 23 is activated by the sensor drive signal input when the ink amount sensor 21 is driven, and power is not supplied to the internal circuit 22, thereby reducing or preventing malfunction of the internal circuit 22. can do. Further, the detection result signal detected by the ink amount sensor 21 has a characteristic that the potential level increases with the passage of time, but the potential at which the internal power generation unit 23 operates is higher than the intermediate potential of the sensor drive signal. Since it is high, the internal power generation unit 23 is not activated by the detection result signal, and a decrease in the voltage level of the detection result signal can be suppressed or prevented.

・ Configuration of printing device:
With reference to FIG. 8, a printing apparatus in which the ink cartridge 10 according to this embodiment is mounted and provided with a control circuit 510 will be described. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a functional configuration of a printing apparatus including a control circuit in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the printing apparatus 500 includes a control circuit 510, an operation unit 520, and a printing unit. The printing unit drives the print heads IH1 to IH4 mounted on the carriage 501 to eject ink and form dots, and a mechanism that causes the carriage 501 to reciprocate in the axial direction of the platen 504. And a mechanism for transporting the printing paper P by the paper feed motor 505. The mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 501 in the axial direction of the platen 504 is an endless drive belt between the carriage motor 502 and a slide shaft 506 that slidably holds the carriage 501 installed in parallel with the platen 504 axis. A pulley 508 that stretches 507, a position detection sensor (not shown) that detects the origin position of the carriage 501, and the like. A mechanism for transporting the printing paper P includes a platen 504, a paper feed motor 505 that rotates the platen 504, a paper feed auxiliary roller (not shown), and a gear train (not shown) that transmits the rotation of the paper feed motor 505 to the platen 504 and the paper feed auxiliary roller. ).

  The carriage 501 is formed with a mounting portion for mounting the ink cartridges 10a to 10d. For example, the ink cartridge 10a contains black (K) ink, the ink cartridge 10b contains cyan (C) ink, the ink cartridge 10c contains magenta (M) ink, and the ink cartridge 10d contains yellow (Y) ink. Has been. In addition, an ink cartridge 10 of light cyan (LC) ink, light magenta (LM) ink, dark yellow (DY), light black (LB) ink, red (R) ink, and blue (B) ink is mounted. Also good.

  Each mounting portion of the carriage 501 includes the above-described external terminal group, and the control circuit 510 is included in the internal circuit 22 by contacting the terminal group of the semiconductor circuit 20 provided in the ink cartridge 10. Data can be written to and read from the storage element 25.

  The control circuit 510 executes printing processing in the printing apparatus 500 and data reading / writing with respect to the storage element 25. The control circuit 510 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, an input / output interface (I / O), and an internal bus (not shown).

  The operation unit 520 includes a display unit 521 for displaying various displays by the control circuit 510.

  As described above, according to the ink cartridge 10 according to the present embodiment, the internal power generation unit 23 receives the power input via the first sensor terminal S1T or the second sensor terminal S2T included in the ink cartridge 10. A power supply necessary for driving the internal circuit 22 is generated using the voltage signal. Therefore, the power supply terminals conventionally required for inputting power from the external power supply to the internal circuit 22 become unnecessary, and the number of terminals necessary for the semiconductor circuit 20 can be reduced. Generally, the semiconductor circuit 20 provided in the ink cartridge 10 is small, and the terminal surface is also narrow. Therefore, even if one terminal can be reduced, the layout of the terminal surface can be facilitated, and short circuit between adjacent terminals and various effects can be reduced or prevented.

  Further, since the power supply terminals are not required, the number of signal lines included in the flex cable used for connecting the control circuit 510 and the semiconductor circuit 20 and the number of terminals that the control circuit 510 should have can be reduced. .

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the internal power generation unit 23 is activated by the input of a voltage drive signal having a higher potential than the intermediate potential of the sensor drive signal. In addition, the malfunction of the internal circuit 22 can be prevented or suppressed, and the decrease in the potential of the sensor drive signal due to the malfunction of the internal circuit 22 can be prevented or suppressed.

  The ink amount sensor 21 outputs a detection result signal in which the potential level increases with time. In general, the sensor drive signal has a potential of several tens of volts, the detection result signal has a potential of several volts, and the internal power generation unit 23 is activated by the input of a voltage drive signal having a potential lower than the intermediate potential of the sensor drive signal. The internal power generation unit 23 may be activated by the detection result signal. However, since the internal power generation unit 23 according to the present embodiment operates in response to the input of a voltage drive signal having a higher potential than the intermediate potential of the sensor drive signal, the internal power generation unit 23 uses the detection result signal output from the ink amount sensor 21. 23 will not operate. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent or suppress a decrease in the signal level of the detection result signal due to the operation of the internal power generation unit 23 and the internal circuit 22, and it is possible to prevent or suppress a decrease in the detection accuracy of the ink amount.

Other examples:
(1) In the above embodiment, the ink cartridge 10 has been described as an example of application of the printing recording material container. However, the present invention can be applied to a toner cartridge, an ink ribbon cartridge, and the like. In addition, although an inkjet printer has been described as an example of a printing apparatus including the control circuit 510, it may be realized as a laser printer, a dot impact printer, or the like.

(2) In the above embodiment, the internal power generation unit 22 using the Zener diodes TD1 and TD2 is used. However, at the voltage level of the result detection signal output from the ink amount sensor 21, the impedance on the internal circuit 22 side is Other circuit configurations may be used as long as the configuration is such that the power supply drive signal input to either the first sensor signal line S1L or the second sensor signal line S2L is supplied to the internal circuit 22. Needless to say.

  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.

It is a side view of the ink cartridge according to the present embodiment. It is a front view of the ink cartridge which concerns on a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the control system containing the semiconductor circuit with which the ink cartridge which concerns on a present Example is equipped. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the power supply with which the semiconductor circuit in a present Example is provided. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the ink amount detection signal input with respect to the semiconductor circuit in a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the power generation signal input with respect to the semiconductor circuit in a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the detection result signal output by the ink amount sensor in a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the function structure of a printing apparatus provided with the control circuit in a present Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d ... Ink cartridge 11 ... Detection part 12a ... 1st ink accommodating part 12b ... 2nd ink accommodating part 20 ... Semiconductor circuit 21 ... Ink residual quantity sensor 22 ... Internal circuit 23 ... Internal power supply Generation unit 25 ... Storage element RT ... Reset terminal CT ... Clock terminal DT ... Data terminal GT ... Ground terminal S1T ... First sensor terminal S2T ... Second sensor terminal RL ... Reset signal line CL ... Clock signal line DL ... Data signal Line GL ... Ground line S1L ... First sensor signal line S2L ... Second sensor signal line ZD1, ZD2 ... Zener diode R1, R2 ... Resistance DB ... Diode 500 ... Printing device 510 ... Control circuit 520 ... Operation unit 521 ... Display Part

Claims (5)

A printing recording material container,
A storage chamber for storing the printing recording material;
A detection unit for detecting the amount of printing recording material in the storage chamber;
A drive signal terminal connected to the detection unit for inputting a drive signal for driving the detection unit;
A storage element for storing information relating to the print recording material;
Drive power for driving the storage element upon receiving an input of a drive signal having a potential higher than a predetermined potential biased to the drive signal when driving the detection unit to the drive signal terminal A printing recording material container comprising a power supply unit for supplying to the recording medium. In the printing recording material container according to claim 1,
The detection unit outputs a detection signal whose signal level increases as the detection time elapses. In the printing recording material container according to claim 2,
The said recording part is a printing recording material container which is an electrostrictive element. In the printing recording material container according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A printing recording material container in which the potential of the driving signal is higher than the potential of the driving power. The printing recording material container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:
A data terminal for inputting / outputting data to / from the storage element;
A printing recording material container comprising a clock signal terminal to which a clock signal for designating an access position in the storage element can be input.

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