# US 11,298,950 B2 · Print liquid supply units

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- Number: US 11,298,950 B2
- Document ID: US11298950B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/768,583
- Filed: 2019-07-18
- Published: 2021-08-19
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2018-12-03
- Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Inventors: Anthony Donald Studer; David Olsen; Quinton Buford Weaver; Brian Allen Nichols
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298950B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/17546: {electronically}
- B33Y 50/00: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
- B41J 2/17513: {Inner structure}
- B41J 2/1752: {Mounting within the printer}
- B41J 2/17523: {Ink connection}
- B41J 2/17526: {Electrical contacts to the cartridge}
- B41J 2/1753: {Details of contacts on the cartridge, e.g. protection of contacts}
- B41J 2/17553: {Outer structure}
- B41J 2/17556: {Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge}
- B41J 2/17559: {Cartridge manufacturing}
- B41J 2/17566: {Ink level or ink residue control}
- B41J 2/195: for monitoring ink quality
- B41J 29/393: Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine {; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns}
- G01L 23/08: operated electrically {(G01L23/22 takes precedence)}
- G03G 15/0856: {Detection or control means for the developer level}
- G03G 15/0863: {provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory}
- G06F 9/30105: {Register structure}
- G06F 13/42: Bus transfer protocol, e.g. handshake; Synchronisation
- G06F 13/4282: {on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus (on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247)}
- G06F 21/44: Program or device authentication
- G06F 21/60: Protecting data
- G06F 21/608: {Secure printing}
- G06F 21/62: Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
- G06K 15/102: {using ink jet print heads}
- G06K 15/4075: {Determining remaining quantities of ink or toner}
- H04L 9/0819: {Key transport or distribution, i.e. key establishment techniques where one party creates or otherwise obtains a secret value, and securely transfers it to the other(s) (network architectures or network communication protocols for key distribution in a packet data network H04L63/062)}
- H04L 9/0891: {Revocation or update of secret information, e.g. encryption key update or rekeying}
- H04L 9/12: Transmitting and receiving encryption devices synchronised or initially set up in a particular manner
- H04L 9/3242: {involving keyed hash functions, e.g. message authentication codes [MACs], CBC-MAC or HMAC}
- H04L 9/3271: {using challenge-response}
- H04L 9/3297: {involving time stamps, e.g. generation of time stamps}
- B41J 2002/17516: {comprising a collapsible ink holder, e.g. a flexible bag}
- B41J 2002/17569: {based on the amount printed or to be printed}
- B41J 2002/17579: {Measuring electrical impedance for ink level indication}
- B41J 2002/17586: {using ink bag deformation for ink level indication}
- B41J 2202/13: Heads having an integrated circuit
- B41J 2202/20: Modules
- G05B 2219/49023: 3-D printing, layer of powder, add drops of binder in layer, new powder
- G06F 2213/0016: Inter-integrated circuit (I2C)
- G06F 2213/40: Bus coupling
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)

## Abstract

Examples of a print liquid supply unit are described herein. In some examples, the print liquid supply unit includes a first housing component that is welded to a second housing component along a supply joint. In some examples, the print liquid supply unit also includes a conductor situated through the supply joint from an outside of the supply unit to an inside of the supply unit. In some examples, the conductor is sealed in the supply joint with a sealing material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A print liquid supply unit, comprising:
a first housing component that is welded to a second housing component along a supply joint;
a first conductor situated through the supply joint from an outside of the supply unit to an inside of the supply unit, wherein the first conductor is sealed in the supply joint with a sealing material; and
a second conductor situated through the supply joint, wherein the first conductor is a serial data line and the second conductor is a clock line.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 1, further comprising a third conductor and a fourth conductor situated through the supply joint, wherein the third conductor is a power line and the fourth conductor is a ground line.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 1, wherein the sealing material comprises transmissive plastic or elastomeric material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 1, wherein the sealing material comprises a slot.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 4, wherein joint material is situated in the slot.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 4, wherein the slot is situated in a weld path of the supply joint.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 4, wherein the slot is located in the sealing material between the first conductor and a second conductor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 4, wherein the slot is located at an edge of the sealing material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 1, wherein the supply joint is welded with a laser that passes through the sealing material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 1, wherein the sealing material has a first melting temperature that is greater than a second melting temperature of joint material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 1, wherein welding is performed with an ultrasonic weld or with a laser weld that is not applied along a portion of the supply joint with the sealing material.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 1, wherein the sealing material is non-transmissive sealing material.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 1, further comprising a print liquid outlet and a gas inlet on a front end of the print liquid supply unit.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 1, wherein the first conductor is coupled to a sensor inside of the print liquid supply unit and to an electrical connection pad on the outside of the print liquid supply unit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 14, further comprising a front end with at least one print liquid interface, a bottom, and a top, wherein the print liquid supply unit comprises a recess in and between the front end and the top, wherein the electrical connection pad is situated in the recess.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 15, wherein the electrical connection pad and the first conductor are supported by the first housing component.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 15, wherein the electrical connection pad and the first conductor are supported by a same wall of the first housing component.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The print liquid supply unit of claim 16, comprising at least one sensor connected to the first conductor, wherein the at least one sensor is supported by the same wall or the first housing component.

### Claim 19

A print liquid container, comprising:
a container property sensor including at least one of a digital liquid level sensor, temperature sensor, strain sensor, or pressure sensor connected to a container wall;
a first conductor coupled to the container property sensor that passes through a slot in the container wall, wherein the slot is distanced from a joint of container shells; and
a second conductor, wherein the first conductor is a serial data line and the second conductor is a clock line.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The print liquid container of claim 19, wherein the container property sensor includes the digital liquid level sensor.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The print liquid container of claim 19, wherein a carrier supporting the container property sensor is sealed to the container wall.