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US 7,029,088 B2Granted
Ink/toner cartridge compensation for uneven ink/toner usage
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorCharles V. Fernandez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for use in ink/toner cartridge compensation in an attempt to better balance the ink/toner usage of the cartridge.
Claims12
An ink/toner cartridge compensation system for uneven ink/toner usage, comprising:
- a memory device for recording which color has been depleted in a previously installed cartridge such that said previously installed cartridge includes a plurality of colors wherein one of the colors has been depleted;
- a subsequent ink/toner cartridge including a plurality of ink/toner colors wherein the subsequent cartridge is inserted into the system;
- a printer driver operatively connected to said subsequent cartridge and said memory device;
- a display device operatively connected to said printer driver to allow a user to determine which one of the plurality of colors was depleted first in said previously installed cartridge and to compensate for an uneven usage of that color in said subsequent cartridge.
1 more element
A method for ink/toner cartridge compensation, comprising the steps of:
- removing a previously installed ink/toner cartridge from a printing system wherein said previously installed cartridge includes a plurality of colors such that one of the colors has been depleted;
- storing, in a printer memory, which one of the colors was depleted;
- inserting a new ink/toner cartridge into said printing system;
- allowing a printer driver to recognize said new ink/toner cartridge;
- allowing said user to determine a cartridge history of said previously installed cartridge;
- having a user determine if said user wants to compensate for said ink/toner color that is depleted;
- and
- if said user decides to compensate for said ink/toner color that is depleted, compensating for that color in said new cartridge.
5 more elements
A system for ink/toner cartridge compensation, comprising:
- a memory means for recording which color has been depleted in a previously installed cartridge such that said previously installed cartridge includes a plurality of colors wherein one of the colors has been depleted;
- a subsequent ink/toner cartridge means having a plurality of ink/toner colors wherein the subsequent cartridge is inserted into the system;
- a printer driver means operatively connected to said subsequent cartridge and said memory device;
- and
- a means for displaying information operatively connected to said printer driver to allow a user to determine which one of the plurality of colors was depleted first or is running low in said previously installed cartridge and to compensate for an uneven usage of that color in said subsequent cartridge.
2 more elements
A computer readable medium having instructions for a method for ink/toner cartridge compensation, comprising the steps of:
- removing a previously installed ink/toner cartridge from a printing system wherein said previously installed cartridge includes a plurality of colors such that one of the colors has been depleted;
- storing, in a printer memory, which one of the colors was depleted;
- inserting a new ink/toner cartridge into said printing system;
- allowing a printer driver to recognize said new ink/toner cartridge:
- allowing said user to determine a cartridge history of said previously installed cartridge;
- having said user determine if said user wants to compensate for said ink/toner color that is depleted;
- and
- if said user decides to compensate for said ink/toner color that is depleted, compensating for that color in said new cartridge.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.