Sequential access memory
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorNoboru Asauchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Semiconductor memory devices 10 are each furnished with a memory array 100 having an EEPROM array 101 and a mask ROM array 102. Identifying information for identifying each semiconductor memory device 10 is stored at the beginning three addresses of the EEPROM array 101. 8-bit data relating to ink level is stored at the ninth address to sixteenth address of the EEPROM array 101. The seventeenth address to the twenty-fourth address of the EEPROM array 101 is provided with a usage history information storage area for storing 8-bit usage history information that is rewriteable under certain conditions.
Claims17
A sequential access memory device comprising:
- a sequentially-accessed nonvolatile memory array, the memory array having a prescribed bit unit usage history data information storage area for the purpose of storing data relating to usage history information;
- an input/output portion for input and output of data;
- a decision portion configured to decide whether the value of the prescribed bit unit of write data input via the input/output portion and to be stored in the usage history data information storage area is greater than the value of the prescribed bit unit of the usage history information data currently stored in the usage history data information storage area;
- write module configured to execute writing in the prescribed bit unit to the memory array;
- and
- control module configured to execute, by means of the write module, of writing of the write data to the usage history data information storage area in the memory array, in the event that the value of the write data is greater than the value of the usage history information data currently stored in the usage history data information storage area.
A sequential access memory device comprising:
- a sequentially-accessed nonvolatile memory array, the memory array having a prescribed bit unit usage history data information storage area for the purpose of storing data relating to usage history information;
- an input/output portion for input and output of data;
- a decision portion configured to decide whether the value of the prescribed bit unit of write data input via the input/output portion and to be stored in the usage history data information storage area is less than the value of the prescribed bit unit of the usage history information data currently stored in the usage history data information storage area;
- write module configured to execute writing in the prescribed bit unit to the memory array;
- and
- control module configured to execute, by means of the write module, of writing of the write data to the usage history data information storage area in the memory array, in the event that the value of the write data is less than the data value of the usage history information data currently stored in the usage history data information storage area.
A printing device on which is detachably installed a print recording material receptacle comprising a memory device, wherein the memory device has stored therein as usage history information relating to the print recording material receptacle information that at least includes inspection history of the memory device, and usage history, cleaning history, and out-of-ink history of the print recording material receptacle;
- and records as usage history information therein only data of value greater than the value of existing data, the printing device comprising:
- event detection module configured to detect the occurrence of an event relating to usage history information;
- usage history information acquisition module configured to acquire usage history information corresponding to a detected event, the usage history information increasing in value according to a predetermined event occurrence sequence;
- and
- transmission module configured to transmit the acquired usage history data to the print recording material receptacle.
A printing device on which is detachably installed a print recording material receptacle comprising a memory device, wherein the memory device has stored therein as usage history information relating to the print recording material receptacle information that at a minimum includes inspection history of the memory device, and usage history, cleaning history, and out-of-ink history of the print recording material receptacle;
- and records as usage history information therein only data of value greater than the value of existing data, the printing device comprising:
- event detection module configured to detect the occurrence of an event relating to usage history information;
- usage history information acquisition module configured to acquire usage history information corresponding to a detected event, the usage history information decreasing in value according to a predetermined event occurrence sequence;
- and
- transmission module configured to transmit the acquired usage history data to the print recording material receptacle.
A method of writing control of usage history information to a memory device, the memory device being provided to a print recording material receptacle and having stored therein as usage history information relating to the print recording material receptacle information that at least includes inspection history of the memory device, and usage history, cleaning history, and out-of-ink history of the print recording material receptacle, wherein only data of value greater than the value of existing data is recorded as usage history information, the method comprising:
- detecting the occurrence of an event relating to usage history information;
- acquiring usage history information corresponding to a detected event, the usage history information increasing in value according to a predetermined event occurrence sequence;
- and
- transmitting the acquired usage history data to the print recording material receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.