Data carrier apparatus, communication system, and replaceable unit

A data carrier apparatus capable of communicating with a data carrier driving apparatus, comprising:

• a reception unit configured to receive, from the data carrier driving apparatus, a pulse signal that alternatingly repeats a first-level period and a second-level period, and in which the first-level period and a cycle of a pulse consisting of the first-level period and the second-level period are set based on individual data values;
• a measurement unit configured to measure a time width of the first-level period and the cycle of the pulse including the first-level period in the received pulse signal received by the reception unit;
• and
• a demodulation unit configured to demodulate data conveyed by the received pulse signal, by determining the data value corresponding to the first-level period based on a measured value of the first-level period output from the measurement unit and a first reference value, and determining the data value corresponding to the cycle based on a measured value of the cycle output from the measurement unit and a second reference value.

A replaceable unit that is attachable to an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a process member to be used for image formation;
• and
• a data carrier apparatus capable of communicating with a data carrier driving apparatus provided in the image forming apparatus, when attached to the image forming apparatus,
• wherein the data carrier apparatus comprises:
• a reception unit configured to receive, from the data carrier driving apparatus, a pulse signal that alternatingly repeats a first-level period and a second-level period, and in which the first-level period and the second-level period are set based on individual data values;
• a measurement unit configured to measure respective time widths of the first-level period and the second-level period in the received pulse signal received by the reception unit;
• and
• a demodulation unit configured to demodulate data conveyed by the received pulse signal, by determining the data value corresponding to the first-level period based on a measured value of the first-level period output from the measurement unit and a first reference value, and determining the data value corresponding to the second-level period based on a measured value of the second-level period output from the measurement unit and a second reference value.

A communication system comprising:

• a data carrier apparatus;
• and a data carrier driving apparatus to be connected to the data carrier apparatus by two communication lines,
• wherein the data carrier driving apparatus comprises:
• a modulation unit configured to generate a pulse signal that alternatingly repeats a first-level period and a second-level period, and that is modulated based on data to be transmitted, the modulation unit being configured to generate the pulse signal in which the first-level period and the second-level period are set based on individual data values;
• and
• a transmission unit configured to transmit the pulse signal generated by the modulation unit to the data carrier apparatus based on a potential difference provided between the two communication lines, and
• the data carrier apparatus comprises:
• a reception unit configured to receive the pulse signal from the data carrier driving apparatus;
• a measurement unit configured to measure respective time widths of the first-level period and the second-level period in the received pulse signal received by the reception unit;
• and
• a demodulation unit configured to demodulate data conveyed by the received pulse signal, by determining the data value corresponding to the first-level period based on a measured value of the first-level period output from the measurement unit and a first reference value, and determining the data value corresponding to the second-level period based on a measured value of the second-level period output from the measurement unit and a second reference value.

A communication system comprising:

• a data carrier apparatus;
• and a data carrier driving apparatus to be connected to the data carrier apparatus by two communication lines,
• wherein the data carrier driving apparatus comprises:
• a modulation unit configured to generate a pulse signal that alternatingly repeats a first-level period and a second-level period, and that is modulated based on data to be transmitted, the modulation unit being configured to generate the pulse signal in which the first-level period and a cycle of a pulse constituting of the first-level period and the second-level period are set based on individual data values;
• and
• a transmission unit configured to transmit the pulse signal generated by the modulation unit to the data carrier apparatus based on a potential difference provided between the two communication lines, and
• the data carrier apparatus comprises:
• a reception unit configured to receive the pulse signal from the data carrier driving apparatus;
• a measurement unit configured to measure a time width of the first-level period and the cycle of the pulse including the first-level period in the received pulse signal received by the reception unit;
• and
• a demodulation unit configured to demodulate data conveyed by the received pulse signal, by determining the data value corresponding to the first-level period based on a measured value of the first-level period output from the measurement unit and a first reference value, and determining the data value corresponding to the cycle based on a measured value of the cycle output from the measurement unit and a second reference value.