Windows driver for sensing ink cartridge prior to generation of data

A computer implemented method conveying attributes of an ink cartridge from a printer to a host computer, said method comprising the steps of:

• when a first ink cartridge of said printer is replaced by a second ink cartridge, transmitting a first signal to said printer from said host computer, and receiving a second signal from said printer to said host computer, said second signal including attributes of said second ink cartridge;
• when said second signal is received by said host computer, identifying said second ink cartridge;
• when said second ink cartridge is identified as having a first attribute, generating first print data according to said first attribute;
• when said second ink cartridge is identified as having a second attribute, generating second print data according to said second attribute;
• conveying ink from said second ink cartridge onto a recordable medium to form a first image corresponding to said first print data when said first print data when said first print data is generated;
• conveying said ink onto the recordable medium to form a second image corresponding to said second print data when said second print data is generated;
• said conveying being performed when a head driver generates an electrical signal to said second ink cartridge;
• receiving a reference voltage at said head driver, said head driver comprising first and second operational amplifiers, said first operational amplifier having an inverting input terminal receiving the reference voltage and a noninverting input terminal receiving a power signal and an output terminal;
• receiving the reference voltage at said second operational amplifier, said second operational amplifier having an inverting input terminal receiving the reference voltage and a noninverting input terminal receiving the power signal and an output terminal;
• when said first print data is generated, receiving a first voltage at said output terminal of said first operational amplifier and outputting a black ink enable signal driving said second ink cartridge;
• and
• when said second print data is generated, receiving a second voltage at said output terminal of said second operational amplifier and outputting a color ink enable signal driving said second ink cartridge, the first voltage being different than the second voltage.

A printing system for a printer connected to a host computer having a Microsoft Windows operating system, said printing system comprising:

• a printer for recording an image onto a recordable medium;
• a first ink cartridge containing ink and being connected to said printer;
• a button mounted on said printer, said button being pressed when said first ink cartridge replaces a second ink cartridge;
• a host computer being electrically connected to said printer, said host computer having a Microsoft Windows operating system;
• driver software communicating with said printer when said first ink cartridge replaces the second ink cartridge and said button is pressed, identifying an attribute of said ink contained in said first ink cartridge when said attribute is transmitted to said driver software from said printer, and generating print data according to said identification of said attribute of said ink, said driver software being loaded on said host computer, wherein said attribute of said ink is a characteristic selected from the group consisting of monochrome ink and different color inks;
• said first ink cartridge conveying said ink from said first ink cartridge onto a recordable medium to form a first image corresponding to the monochrome ink when said attribute of said ink corresponds to the monochrome ink, and conveying said ink onto the recordable medium to form a second image corresponding to the different color inks when said attribute of said ink corresponds to the different color inks;
• a head driver, said conveying being performed in response to said head driver generating an electrical signal to said first ink cartridge, said head driver further comprising:
• a first operational amplifier, said first operation amplifier having an inverting input terminal receiving the reference voltage and a noninverting input terminal receiving a power signal and an output terminal;
• a second operational amplifier, said second operational amplifier having an inverting input terminal receiving the reference voltage and a noninverting input terminal receiving the power signal and an output terminal;
• when said first print data is generated, said output terminal of said first operational amplifier receiving a first voltage and outputting a black ink enable signal driving said second ink cartridge;
• and
• when said second print data is generated, said output terminal of said second operational amplifier receiving a second voltage and outputting a color ink enable signal driving said second ink cartridge.

A printing method for printing images on a printer connected to a host computer, said method comprising the steps of:

• when a first ink cartridge of a printer is replaced by a second ink cartridge, transmitting a first signal to said printer from a host computer, and receiving a second signal from said printer to said host computer, said second signal including first data describing a pigment of ink contained in said second ink cartridge;
• when said second signal is received by said host computer, identifying said pigment of said ink contained in said second ink cartridge;
• when said pigment of said ink contained in said second ink cartridge corresponds to black ink, generating first print data corresponding to the black ink;
• when said pigment of said ink contained in said second ink cartridge corresponds to different color inks, generating second print data corresponding to the different color inks;
• conveying said ink from said second ink cartridge onto a recordable medium to form a first image corresponding to said first print data when said first print data is generated;
• conveying said ink onto the recordable medium to form a second image corresponding to said second print data when said second print data is generated, said conveying being performed when a head driver generates an electrical signal to said second ink cartridge;
• receiving a reference voltage at said head driver, said head driver comprising first and second operational amplifiers, said first operational amplifier having an inverting input terminal receiving the reference voltage and a noninverting input terminal receiving a power signal and an output terminal;
• receiving the reference voltage at said second operational amplifier, said second operational amplifier having an inverting input terminal receiving the reference voltage and a noninverting input terminal receiving the power signal and an output terminal;
• when said first print data is generated, receiving a first voltage at said output terminal of said first operational amplifier and outputting a black ink enable signal driving said second ink cartridge;
• and
• when said second print data is generated, receiving a second voltage at said output terminal of said second operational amplifier and outputting a color ink enable signal driving said second ink cartridge, the first voltage being different than the second voltage.

A printing system for a printer connected to a host computer having a Microsoft Windows operating system, said printing system comprising:

• a printer for recording an image onto a recordable medium;
• a first ink cartridge containing ink and being connected to said printer;
• a button mounted on said printer, said button being pressed when said first ink cartridge replaces a second ink cartridge;
• a host computer being electrically connected to said printer, said host computer having a Microsoft Windows operating system;
• driver software communicating with said printer when said first ink cartridge replaces the second ink cartridge and said button is pressed, identifying an attribute of said ink contained in said first ink cartridge when said attribute is transmitted to said driver software from said printer, and generating print data according to said identification of said attribute of said ink, said driver software being loaded on said host computer;
• wherein said attribute of said ink is a characteristic selected from the group consisting of monochrome ink and different color inks;
• said first ink cartridge conveying said ink from said first ink cartridge onto a recordable medium to form a first image corresponding to the monochrome ink when said attribute of said ink corresponds to the monochrome ink, and conveying said ink onto the recordable medium to form a second image corresponding to the different color inks when said attribute of said ink corresponds to the different color inks;
• a head driver, said conveying being performed in response to said head driver generating an electrical signal to said first ink cartridge, said head driver further comprising:
• a first operational amplifier, said first operation amplifier having an inverting input terminal receiving the reference voltage and a noninverting input terminal receiving a power signal and an output terminal;
• a second operational amplifier, said second operational amplifier having an inverting input terminal receiving the reference voltage and a non inverting input terminal receiving the power signal and an output terminal;
• when said first print data is generated, said output terminal of said first operational amplifier receiving a first voltage and outputting a black ink enable signal driving said second ink cartridge;
• and
• when said second print data is generated, said output terminal of said second operational amplifier receiving a second voltage and outputting a color ink enable signal driving said second ink cartridge, the first voltage being different than the second voltage.