Off-carrier inkjet print supply with memory

An apparatus for comparing characteristics of an inkjet printhead cartridge with characteristics of a remote ink cartridge, the apparatus comprising:

• a printhead disposed on the inkjet printhead cartridge, the printhead having an array of nozzles, each nozzle having an ejection element for causing ink in the nozzle to be ejected from the nozzle and onto a print medium;
• a primary ink reservoir disposed on the inkjet printhead cartridge, the primary ink reservoir containing a first quantity of ink in fluid communication with the array of nozzles;
• a printhead cartridge memory device which stores first information related to characteristics of the first quantity of ink, the printhead cartridge memory device selected from the group consisting of read-only memory (ROM), electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) devices, the printhead cartridge memory device disposed on the inkjet printhead cartridge;
• a secondary ink reservoir disposed on the remote ink cartridge, the secondary ink reservoir containing a second quantity of ink in intermittent fluid communication with the primary ink reservoir;
• a remote ink cartridge memory device which stores second information related to characteristics of the second quantity of ink, the remote ink cartridge memory device selected from the group consisting of read-only memory (ROM), electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) devices, the remote ink cartridge memory device disposed on the remote ink cartridge;
• and
• a printer controller that interfaces at least with the printhead, the printhead cartridge memory device and the remote ink cartridge memory device, that accesses the first information from the printhead cartridge memory device, that accesses the second information from the remote ink cartridge memory device, that compares the first information to the second information, that determines the compatibility of the first quantity of ink and the second quantity of ink, and that generates printer control signals according to the compatibility of the first quantity of ink and the second quantity of ink.

An apparatus for comparing characteristics of an inkjet printhead cartridge with characteristics of a remote ink cartridge, the apparatus comprising:

• a printhead disposed on the printhead cartridge, the printhead having an array of nozzles, each nozzle having an ejection element for causing ink in the nozzle to be ejected from the nozzle and onto a print medium;
• a primary ink reservoir disposed on the printhead cartridge, the primary ink reservoir containing a first quantity of ink in fluid communication with the array of nozzles;
• a printhead cartridge memory device which stores first information related to characteristics of the printhead cartridge, the printhead cartridge memory device disposed on the printhead cartridge;
• a secondary ink reservoir disposed on the remote ink cartridge, the secondary ink reservoir containing a second quantity of ink in intermittent fluid communication with the primary ink reservoir;
• a remote ink cartridge memory device which stores second information related to characteristics of the remote ink cartridge, the remote ink cartridge memory device disposed on the remote ink cartridge;
• a printer controller that interfaces at least with the printhead, the printhead cartridge memory device, and a remote ink cartridge processor, and that accesses the first information from the printhead cartridge memory device;
• and
• a remote ink cartridge processor disposed on the remote ink cartridge that interfaces at least with the remote ink cartridge memory device and the printer controller, that accesses the first information from the printer controller, that accesses the second information from the remote ink cartridge memory device, that compares the first information to the second information, that determines the compatibility of the printhead cartridge and the remote ink cartridge, and that generates printer control signals according to the compatibility of the printhead cartridge and the remote ink cartridge.

An apparatus for storing information relating to amounts of ink contained within an inkjet printhead cartridge and within a remote ink cartridge, the apparatus comprising:

• a primary ink reservoir disposed on the printhead cartridge, the primary ink reservoir for holding a first quantity of ink;
• a printhead cartridge memory device which stores a stored primary ink level value related to the level of the first quantity of ink, the printhead cartridge memory device disposed on the printhead cartridge;
• a secondary ink reservoir disposed on the remote ink cartridge, the secondary ink reservoir for holding a second quantity of ink in intermittent fluid communication with the primary ink reservoir;
• a remote ink cartridge memory device which stores a stored secondary ink level value related to the level of the second quantity of ink, the remote ink cartridge memory device disposed on the remote ink cartridge;
• and
• a printer controller that interfaces at least with the printhead cartridge memory device and the remote ink cartridge memory device, that accesses the stored primary ink level value from the printhead cartridge memory device, that accesses the stored secondary ink level value from the remote ink cartridge memory device, that determines the level of the first quantity of ink based on the stored primary ink level value, that determines the level of the second quantity of ink based on the stored secondary ink level value, and that generates printer control signals according to the levels of the first and second quantities of ink.

An apparatus for storing information relating to amounts of ink contained within an inkjet printhead cartridge and within a remote ink cartridge, the apparatus comprising:

• a primary ink reservoir disposed on the printhead cartridge, the primary ink reservoir containing a first quantity of ink;
• a printhead cartridge memory device which stores a stored primary ink level value related to the level of the first quantity of ink, the printhead cartridge memory device disposed on the inkjet printhead cartridge, the printhead cartridge memory device selected from the group consisting of electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) devices,
• a secondary ink reservoir disposed on the remote ink cartridge, the secondary ink reservoir containing a second quantity of ink;
• a remote ink cartridge memory device which stores a stored secondary ink level value related to the level of the second quantity of ink, the remote ink cartridge memory device disposed on the remote ink cartridge, the remote ink cartridge memory device selected from the group consisting of programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) devices;
• a flow control device connected between the secondary ink reservoir and the primary ink reservoir, the flow control device electrically connected to a printer controller via a flow command line, the flow control device enabling fluid flow from the secondary ink reservoir to the primary ink reservoir upon receipt of an enable-flow signal on the flow command line, and the flow control device precluding fluid flow from the secondary ink reservoir to the primary ink reservoir upon receipt of a disable-flow signal on the flow command line;
• and
• the printer controller interfacing at least with the printhead cartridge memory device and the remote ink cartridge memory device, the printer controller accessing the stored primary ink level value from the printhead cartridge memory device, accessing the stored secondary ink level value from the remote ink cartridge memory device, determining the level of the first quantity of ink based on the stored primary ink level value, determining the level of the second quantity of ink based on the stored secondary ink level value, issuing an enable-flow signal on the flow command line when the stored primary ink level value is less than a minimum threshold, issuing a disable-flow signal on the flow command line after an ink transfer period has elapsed, updating the stored primary ink level value in the printhead cartridge memory device when the level of the first quantity of ink has changed, and updating the stored secondary ink level value in the remote ink cartridge memory device when the level of the second quantity of ink has changed.

An ink cartridge which is remotely located relative to an inkjet printhead in an inkjet printer, the cartridge comprising:

• a secondary ink reservoir;
• ink for use in the inkjet printer, the ink disposed within the secondary ink reservoir;
• an ink cartridge memory device disposed on the secondary ink reservoir for storing information related to characteristics of the ink;
• a computer processor disposed on the secondary ink reservoir, the computer processor interfaced with the memory device and with a printer controller in the inkjet printer, the computer processor determining, based upon the information related to characteristics of the ink, whether the ink is compatible with the printhead.

An apparatus for storing information relating to amounts of ink contained within an inkjet printhead cartridge and within a remote ink cartridge, the apparatus comprising:

• a primary ink reservoir disposed on the printhead cartridge, the primary ink reservoir containing a first quantity of ink;
• a printhead cartridge memory device which stores a stored primary ink level value related to the level of the first quantity of ink, the printhead cartridge memory device disposed on the printhead cartridge;
• a secondary ink reservoir disposed on the remote ink cartridge, the secondary ink reservoir containing a second quantity of ink in intermittent fluid communication with the primary ink reservoir;
• a remote ink cartridge memory device which stores a stored secondary ink level value related to the level of the second quantity of ink, the remote ink cartridge memory device disposed on the remote ink cartridge;
• a remote ink cartridge processor disposed on the remote ink cartridge that interfaces with at least the remote ink cartridge memory device and a printer controller, that accesses the stored secondary ink level value from the remote ink cartridge memory device, that determines the level of the second quantity of ink based on the stored secondary ink level value, and that generates printer control signals according to the level of the second quantity of ink;
• and
• a printer controller that interfaces at least with the printhead cartridge memory device and the remote ink cartridge processor, that accesses the stored primary ink level value from the printhead cartridge memory device, that determines the level of the first quantity of ink based on the stored primary ink level value, and that generates printer control signals according to the level of the first quantity of ink.

An apparatus for storing information relating to amounts of ink contained within an inkjet printhead cartridge and within a remote ink cartridge, the apparatus comprising:

• a primary ink reservoir disposed on the printhead cartridge, the primary ink reservoir containing a first quantity of ink;
• a printhead cartridge memory device which stores a stored primary ink level value related to the level of the first quantity of ink, the printhead cartridge memory device disposed on the printhead cartridge, the printhead cartridge memory device selected from the group consisting of electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) devices,
• a secondary ink reservoir disposed on the remote ink cartridge, the secondary ink reservoir containing a second quantity of ink;
• a remote ink cartridge memory device which stores a stored secondary ink level value related to the level of the second quantity of ink, the remote ink cartridge memory device disposed on the remote ink cartridge, the remote ink cartridge memory device selected from the group consisting of programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) devices;
• a flow control device connected between the secondary ink reservoir and the primary ink reservoir, the flow control device electrically connected to a printer controller via a flow command line, the flow control device enabling fluid flow from the secondary ink reservoir to the primary ink reservoir upon receipt of an enable-flow signal on the flow command line, and the flow control device precluding fluid flow from the secondary ink reservoir to the primary ink reservoir upon receipt of a disable-flow signal on the flow command line;
• and
• a remote ink cartridge processor that interfaces with at least the remote ink cartridge memory device and a printer controller, that accesses the stored secondary ink level value from the remote ink cartridge memory device, determines the level of the second quantity of ink based on the stored secondary ink level value, and updates the stored secondary ink level value in the remote ink cartridge memory device when the level of the second quantity of ink has changed;
• and
• the printer controller interfacing at least with the printhead cartridge memory device and the remote ink cartridge processor, the printer controller accessing the stored primary ink level value from the printhead cartridge memory device, determining the level of the first quantity of ink based on the stored primary ink level value, issuing an enable-flow signal on the flow command line when the level of the first quantity of ink is less than a minimum threshold, issuing a disable-flow signal on the flow command line after an ink transfer period has elapsed, and updating the stored primary ink level value in the printhead cartridge memory device when the level of the first quantity of ink has changed.

An apparatus for comparing characteristics of an inkjet printhead cartridge with characteristics of a remote ink cartridge, the apparatus comprising:

• a printhead disposed on the printhead cartridge, the printhead having an array of nozzles, each nozzle having an ejection element for causing ink in the nozzle to be ejected from the nozzle and ejected ink onto a print medium;
• a primary ink reservoir disposed on the printhead cartridge, the primary ink reservoir in fluid communication with the array of nozzles;
• a first quantity of ink having first characteristics and disposed within the primary ink reservoir;
• a printhead cartridge memory device which stores first information related to the first characteristics, the printhead cartridge memory device disposed on the printhead cartridge;
• a secondary ink reservoir disposed on the remote ink cartridge, the secondary ink reservoir in intermittent fluid communication with the primary ink reservoir;
• a second quantity of ink having second characteristics and disposed within the secondary ink reservoir;
• a remote ink cartridge memory device which stores second information related to the second characteristics, the remote ink cartridge memory device disposed on the remote ink cartridge;
• and
• a printer controller that interfaces at least with the printhead, the printhead cartridge memory device, and the remote ink cartridge memory device, that accesses the first information from the printhead cartridge memory device, that accesses the second information from the remote ink cartridge memory device, that compares the first information to the second information, that determines the compatibility of the printhead cartridge and the remote ink cartridge, and that generates printer control signals according to the compatibility of the printhead cartridge and the remote ink cartridge.

A method of controlling an inkjet printer having multiple ink reservoirs that supply ink to a single printhead, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing first information in a first memory device, the first information indicative of characteristics of a first quantity of ink contained in a primary ink reservoir;
• storing second information in a second memory device, the second information indicative of characteristics of a second quantity of ink contained in a secondary ink reservoir;
• accessing the first memory device to retrieve the first information;
• accessing the second memory device to retrieve the second information;
• determining the characteristics of the first quantity of ink based upon the first information;
• determining the characteristics of the second quantity of ink based upon the second information;
• comparing the characteristics of the first quantity of ink with the characteristics of the second quantity of ink;
• determining the compatibility of the first quantity of ink with the second quantity of ink based upon the comparison of the characteristics of the first quantity of ink with the characteristics of the second quantity of ink;
• generating a printer control signal based upon the compatibility of the first quantity of ink with the second quantity of ink;
• and
• controlling the printer in response to the printer control signal.

A method of controlling an inkjet printer having a primary ink reservoir containing a first quantity of ink and a secondary ink reservoir containing a second quantity of ink, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing first information in a first memory device disposed on the primary ink reservoir, the first information indicative of a level of the first quantity of ink;
• (b) storing second information in a second memory device disposed on the secondary ink reservoir, the second information indicative of a level of the second quantity of ink;
• (c) accessing the first memory device to retrieve the first information;
• (d) accessing the second memory device to retrieve the second information;
• (e) determining a stored level of the first quantity of ink based upon the first information;
• (f) determining a stored level of the second quantity of ink based upon the second information;
• (g) comparing the stored level of the first quantity of ink to a first minimum value;
• (h) comparing the stored level of the second quantity of ink to a second minimum value;
• (i) transferring ink from the secondary ink reservoir to the primary ink reservoir when the stored level of the first quantity of ink is less than the first minimum value and the stored level of the second quantity of ink equals or exceeds the second minimum value;
• (j) continuing printer operation when the stored level of the first quantity of ink equals or exceeds the first minimum value;
• and
• (k) stopping printer operation and eliciting user intervention when the stored level of the second quantity of ink is less than the second minimum value.

The method of claim 62 further comprising:

• (o) step (i) including transferring ink from the secondary ink reservoir to the primary ink reservoir for a predetermined time period;
• (p) determining a measured level of the first quantity of ink at the end of the predetermined time period by measuring the level of the first quantity of ink using an ink level sensor;
• (q) repeating steps (o) and (p) until the measured level of the first quantity of ink indicates that the level of the first quantity of ink has not increased compared to the most recent previous measuring of the level of the first quantity of ink;
• and
• (r) when the measured level of the first quantity of ink indicates that the level of the first quantity of ink has not increased compared to the most recent previous measuring of the level of the first quantity of ink, determining a measured level of the second quantity of ink.

A method of controlling an inkjet printer having a remote ink reservoir supplying ink to a printhead cartridge, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing a first identification number in a first memory device on the printhead cartridge;
• storing a second identification number in a second memory device on the remote ink reservoir;
• accessing the first memory device to retrieve the first identification number;
• accessing the second memory device to retrieve the second identification number;
• comparing the first identification number to the second identification number;
• determining the compatibility of the printhead cartridge with the remote ink reservoir based upon the comparison of the first identification number to the second identification number;
• generating a printer control signal based upon the compatibility of the printhead cartridge with the remote ink reservoir;
• and
• controlling the printer in response to the printer control signal.