Controller for a printer module

A controller for a printer module having a printhead that prints an image on printable media, said controller comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• program memory associated with said central processing unit, said program memory storing program steps for execution by said central processing unit to operate said printer module to print said image;
• one or more interface units communicating with components of said printer module;
• image storage memory storing said image;
• a printhead interface including a print generator unit and an interface unit;
• and
• an image access unit in communication with said image storage memory, said central processing unit and the print generator unit of the printhead interface, said image access unit accessing said image in said image storage memory and transferring said image to said printhead interface on command from said central processing unit;
• wherein said print generator unit transforms said image for transfer to the printhead by said interface unit.

A controller for a printer module having an ink cartridge and a printhead that prints an image on printable media with ink from the ink cartridge, said controller comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• program memory associated with said central processing unit, said program memory storing program steps for execution by said central processing unit to operate said printer module to print said image;
• two or more interface units communicating with components of said printer module, at least a first said interface unit connecting to an authentication means in the ink cartridge and at least a second interface unit connecting to an authentication means in the printer module;
• image storage memory storing said image;
• a printhead interface including a print generator unit and an interface unit;
• and
• an image access unit in communication with said image storage memory, said central processing unit and the print generator unit of the printhead interface, said image access unit accessing said image in said image storage memory and transferring said image to said printhead interface on command from said central processing unit;
• wherein said print generator unit transforms said image for transfer to the printhead by said interface unit.

A method of controlling a printer module to print an image using an approved ink cartridge incorporating a second authentication means, said printer module comprising a first authentication means, a printhead that prints an image on printable media with ink from the approved ink cartridge, image storage memory, an image access unit and a print generator unit, said method including the steps of:

• authenticating the approved ink cartridge by comparing said first authentication means and said second authentication means and preventing printing if said authentication fails;
• said image access unit storing an image in the image storage memory;
• sensing the presence of printable media in the printer module;
• activating a motor to advance said printable media past said printhead in said printer module;
• said print head interface retrieving said image from said image storage memory, transforming said image to a form suitable for said printhead, and transferring said transformed image to said printhead in a synchronous manner for printing by said printhead on said printable media.