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AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsSTEPHEN PORTER BUSH, TIMOTHY JOHN RADEMACHER, CHRISTOPHER ALAN ADKINS
Estimating the term…
A supply item has toner for use in an imaging device. A chip has memory storing quanta indicating allowed usage of the supply item over its lifetime and a multiplier correlating the quanta to toner mass. The imaging device requires quanta to conduct imaging operations and loads the quanta and multiplier by way of a certificate stored in the memory. The imaging device retrieves quanta from the chip over time and both devices keep tally. Initialization between the supply item and imaging device includes providing encrypted and unencrypted instances of firmware versions and certificates from the supply item that the imaging device can compare for security. Alternatively, the supply item defines a fuser assembly, imaging unit, intermediate transfer member, or other component installed for use in the imaging device.
A method of setting up electrical communications between an imaging device and a supply item installed in the imaging device, the imaging device having a controller and the supply item having a chip, the chip of the supply item having a memory and stored therein is a firmware version identifying a current version of firmware in the chip, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.