Identification of thermal inkjet printer cartridges

An apparatus for providing identification information to a printer controller of a thermal ink jet printer, the information relating to a thermal ink jet printer cartridge, the cartridge containing a printhead disposed thereon, the printhead having an array circuit of resistive heating elements, the apparatus comprising:

• a printer cable comprising electrically-conductive wires, each wire having a first end and a second end;
• a printer connector having electrically-conductive contacts electrically connected to the second end of the wires, the contacts physically contacting an identification circuit;
• the identification circuit disposed upon the printer cartridge, the identification circuit being integral to a TAB circuit on the cartridge, the identification circuit comprising:
• an electrical conductor which is at an electrical reference potential relative to the array circuit of resistive heating elements;
• means for precluding none, or one or more of the contacts from being at the reference potential relative to the array circuit of resistive heating elements, the means comprising a planar label composed of electrically-nonconductive material having an adhesive material on one surface thereof for adhesively attaching the label to the printer cartridge adjacent the electrical conductor to cover and electrically insulate at least a portion of the electrical conductor from making electrical connection with the contacts;
• and
• means for enabling none, or one or more of the contacts to be at the reference potential relative to the array circuit of resistive heating elements;
• and
• an input circuit connected to the first end of each of the wires for sensing which of the wires are at the reference potential relative to the array circuit of resistive heating elements, and for providing input signals to the printer controller corresponding to the wires which are at the reference potential.

An apparatus for use with a thermal ink jet printer which is capable of accommodating different types of accessory cartridges, the apparatus providing information to an accessory controller to identify the type of accessory cartridge installed in the ink jet printer, the apparatus comprising:

• a printer cable comprising electrically-conductive wires, each wire having a first end and a second end, the first end of each of the wires being electrically connected to a voltage source;
• a printer connector having electrically-conductive contacts electrically connected to the second end of the wires, the contacts physically contacting an identification circuit;
• the identification circuit disposed upon the accessory cartridge, the identification circuit comprising:
• an electrical conductor which is at a reference potential;
• a planar label composed of electrically-nonconductive material having an adhesive material on one surface thereof for adhesively attaching the label to the accessory cartridge adjacent the electrical conductor to cover and electrically insulate at least a portion of the electrical conductor, the label having no apertures, or one or more apertures which expose one or more areas of the electrical conductor to electrical connection with one or more of the contacts;
• and
• an input circuit connected to the first end of each of the wires for sensing which of the wires are at the reference potential, and for providing input signals to the accessory controller corresponding to the wires which are at the reference potential.

An apparatus for use with a thermal ink jet printer which is capable of accommodating different types of accessory cartridges, the apparatus providing information to an accessory controller to identify the type of accessory cartridge installed in the ink jet printer, the apparatus comprising:

• a printer cable comprising electrically-conductive wires, each wire having a first end and a second end;
• a printer connector having electrically-conductive contacts electrically connected to the second end of the wires, the contacts physically contacting an identification circuit;
• the identification circuit disposed upon the accessory cartridge, the circuit comprising:
• an electrical conductor which is at an electrical reference potential;
• means for precluding none, or one or more of the contacts from being at the reference potential, the means comprising a planar label composed of electrically-nonconductive material having an adhesive material on one surface thereof for adhesively attaching the label to the accessory cartridge adjacent the electrical conductor to cover and electrically insulate at least a portion of the electrical conductor from making electrical connection with the contacts;
• and
• means for enabling none, or one or more contacts to be at the reference potential;
• and
• an input circuit connected to the first end of each of the wires for sensing which of the wires are at the reference potential, and for providing input signals to the accessory controller corresponding to the wires which are at the reference potential.