An electrical wiring member, consumable chip and ink cartridge

Abstract

The application provides an electrical wiring component, a consumable chip and an ink cartridge, and relates to the technical field of integrated circuit manufacturing and integrated circuit design. The electrical wiring component comprises a plurality of contact points for contacting a stylus of an imaging device. The plurality of contact points comprises a plurality of corner contact points and a plurality of non-corner contact points. At least two of the corner contact points are suspended contact points that contact the stylus but are not electrically connected to a printhead chip. By making at least two of the corner contact points suspended contact points, the number of corner contact points that are electrically connected to the imaging device is reduced, thereby reducing the risk that the corner contact points will be contaminated and unable to normally electrically connect to the corresponding stylus, resulting in insufficient contact between the terminals on the consumable chip side and the imaging device main body side, and the risk that the consumable chip and the imaging device will not be normally electrically connected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of printing and imaging technology, and particularly to an electrical wiring component, a consumable chip, and an ink cartridge. As an imaging device, besides being a conventional printing device, it can also be a copier, a fax machine with a communication system, a word processor with a printing unit, or a multifunctional recording device combining these devices. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of inkjet recording technology, imaging devices have been widely used in home, office, and industrial fields. The main advantages of imaging devices include low cost, low operating noise, excellent print quality, and adaptability to various printing media, such as plain paper, photo paper, and transparencies. Among the core components of imaging devices, the consumable chip plays a crucial role. The consumable chip is the key component responsible for ejecting ink in the form of tiny droplets onto the printing media, and its performance directly affects print clarity, color reproduction, and overall quality.

[0003] Generally, a consumable chip includes a printhead chip and an electrical wiring component, with the chip mounted on the consumable cartridge. The printhead chip receives signals from the imaging device via the electrical wiring component and performs inkjet printing under the control of these signals. Printhead chips fall under the field of integrated circuit design, which is characterized by high design costs and long development cycles; integrated circuit manufacturing is also expensive, thus requiring lower-cost repair methods. The electrical wiring component includes several contacts. When the consumable chip is mounted on the imaging device, these contacts connect electrically to corresponding pins on the imaging device to receive signals from the imaging device.

[0004] The electrical wiring components include a contact area with multiple contact points. The contact area includes corner areas and non-corner areas. The corner areas are located at the corners of the contact area, while the non-corner areas are the rest of the contact area. The multiple contact points include corner contacts located in the corner areas and non-corner contacts located in the non-corner areas. When the consumable box is misaligned during installation, the corner contacts in the corner areas deviate more significantly, while the non-corner contacts in the non-corner areas deviate relatively less. Therefore, using the contacts in the corner areas to check whether the consumable box is correctly installed is a better installation inspection method.

[0005] However, some existing imaging devices use replaceable consumable cartridges (or ink cartridges) that include the printhead chip. When the consumable (such as ink) in the cartridge is depleted, the entire cartridge needs to be replaced (although there are now methods to refill the cartridge, allowing for repeated use; here, "replacement" refers to the entire cartridge being easily disassembled and replaced). Imaging devices using cartridges with printhead chips generally have more styluses because they need to control multiple ejection elements within the printhead chip to eject ink (e.g., using piezoelectric or heating methods). Therefore, the control logic is more complex, requiring more signals to control precise ink ejection and / or data reading and writing. Consequently, the electrical wiring components of such cartridges typically have a large number of contacts, such as 8, 9, 10, or even more, such as 20, 30, or 40. This results in a larger contact area occupied by the stylus, more complex wiring, and higher costs. Moreover, because there are many contact points, and these contact points all need to contact the pads of the printhead chip, the flexibility of wiring is limited and the routing is difficult.

[0006] In addition, because the contact points occupy a large area, when consumers install or replace the consumable box, their handling posture varies. Since some existing methods use more corner contacts for installation and testing, some customers often encounter situations where the consumable box is not recognized by the device and needs to be reinstalled or repeatedly, which affects the consumer experience.

[0007] Furthermore, the involvement of numerous corner contacts in installation testing presents several issues. Corner contacts are most susceptible to external interference and contamination. For example, human touch or handling can contaminate some corner contacts, leaving a layer of dirt on their surface. This can affect the normal reception of signals from the imaging device, leading to the consumable cartridge not recognizing the device. Additionally, if consumers discover during installation that the cartridge is reversed, incorrectly installed, or the wrong model is used, the installation process may be abruptly halted. During installation or interruption, corner contacts are more prone to wear and tear, rendering the consumable cartridge unusable despite its intact condition due to frequent wear and contamination of the corner contacts. Certain conductive substances, such as ink, can also easily contaminate the corner contacts, causing recognition problems. In some cases, ink can even seep along the edges into the internal core contacts, leading to subsequent printing or functional malfunctions.

[0008] In actual use, some consumable boxes and imaging devices often have deviations. The transition of corner contact points during installation testing is also prone to failure due to process deviations, resulting in the consumable box being unable to recognize the device and causing installation failure.

[0009] Due to manufacturing process variations, both original and compatible consumable cartridges produced by different batches or manufacturers of the same model of imaging equipment will inevitably exhibit some degree of deviation. Although corner contacts are considered to be the most important part of the installation process, and deviations can lead to larger contact points, the deviations can result in situations where corner contacts make normal contact, but non-corner contacts fail to make proper contact with the stylus. This can cause the consumable cartridge to be recognized by the machine, but it will affect print quality, data read and write, and ultimately lead to premature damage to the consumable cartridge.

[0010] In addition, some existing technologies use three corner contacts for installation testing. The problem with this method is that if the middle contact is affected by manufacturing defects in the pins or contact points, even if the outer contacts are connected correctly, the inner contacts may still be incorrectly connected. Other methods test the three corner contacts as well as some internal contacts. Although this is more comprehensive, the corner contacts have various problems as mentioned above, which leads to the final installation testing not achieving the desired effect. Still others perform full inspection of all terminals, which is complex, time-consuming, and has a more complex installation testing circuit.

[0011] Therefore, a new electrical wiring architecture, consumable chip, or consumable box is needed to at least partially improve one or more of the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0012] To partially improve one or more problems existing in the prior art, this application provides an electrical wiring component, a consumable chip, and an ink cartridge. By setting at least two corner contacts as floating contacts, the number of corner contacts that make electrical connections with the imaging device is reduced, thereby reducing the risk that the corner contacts may be contaminated and unable to make normal electrical connections with the corresponding contact pins, resulting in insufficient contact between the terminals on the consumable chip side and the imaging device body side, and the consumable chip and the imaging device may not be able to make normal electrical connections.

[0013] In a first aspect, this application provides an electrical wiring component, including a plurality of contact points for contacting a stylus of an imaging device; the plurality of contact points include a plurality of corner contacts and a plurality of non-corner contacts; at least two of the corner contacts are suspended contacts, which contact the stylus but are not electrically connected to the printhead chip.

[0014] As a specific embodiment, the plurality of contact points include a first contact point, which is used to electrically connect to the first pad of the printhead chip. The signal input from the first contact point to the first pad is consistent with or deviates from the signal received by one of the floating contacts by less than 20%.

[0015] As one specific embodiment, the first contact point is connected to at least two wires, one of which is used to connect to the first pad, and the other of which is used to connect to the second pad of the printhead chip. The signal received by the second pad is the same as that received by the first contact point.

[0016] In one specific embodiment, the first contact point is a power contact point.

[0017] As one specific embodiment, a one-way conductive element is provided between the power contact and the first pad, the positive terminal of the one-way conductive element is connected to the power contact, and the negative terminal of the one-way conductive element is used to connect to the first pad.

[0018] As one specific embodiment, the unidirectional conducting element is a diode.

[0019] As one specific embodiment, the forward voltage drop of the diode is 0.7V.

[0020] As one specific embodiment, the plurality of contact points further includes a second contact point, wherein the signal output by the second contact point is controlled by the first contact point.

[0021] As a specific embodiment, the second contact point shown is a read / write signal contact point.

[0022] As a specific embodiment, a third contact point is also provided among the plurality of contact points, and the signal received by the third contact point is consistent with the signal received by at least one of the suspended contacts.

[0023] As one specific embodiment, the floating contact is one or more of a grounding contact, an excitation signal contact, and an excitation enable contact.

[0024] As one specific embodiment, at least one of the suspended contacts is a DROP contact.

[0025] As one specific embodiment, the size of at least one corner contact is larger than the size of at least one non-corner contact.

[0026] As one specific embodiment, at least one of the suspended contacts has a size larger than the size of the non-corner contact.

[0027] As one specific embodiment, the plurality of contact points are arranged in a rectangular array.

[0028] As one specific embodiment, the first contact point shown is a non-corner contact point.

[0029] Secondly, this application provides a consumable chip, including: a printhead chip and the electrical wiring component described in any of the above claims, wherein the printhead chip is provided with a plurality of pads, and at least two of the pads are not electrically connected to the floating contact.

[0030] Thirdly, this application provides an ink cartridge, including an ink cartridge body and the aforementioned consumable chip. The contact points are disposed on a first side of the ink cartridge body, and the printhead chip is disposed on a second side of the ink cartridge body. When the ink cartridge is installed into the imaging device, the contact points abut against the stylus of the imaging device.

[0031] The electrical wiring components, consumable chips, and ink cartridges provided in this application utilize at least two corner contacts as floating contacts, reducing the number of corner contacts that make electrical connections with imaging equipment. This reduces the degree to which corner contacts participate in installation testing and lowers the risk of the consumable chip and imaging equipment failing to make proper contact. Simultaneously, the floating contacts located in the corner areas can, to a certain extent, prevent conductive impurities from entering the internal contacts along the edges, reducing the risk of short circuits. Attached Figure Description

[0032] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ink cartridge provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a printhead chip provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of an electrical wiring component provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit structure of a first detection circuit provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0037] To better understand the technical solution of this application, the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] It should be understood that the described embodiments are merely some, not all, of the embodiments in this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments in this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0039] The terminology used in the embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in the embodiments of this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0040] It should be understood that, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" in the description of this application means two or more. The term "and / or" as used herein is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Furthermore, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0041] To facilitate a clear description of the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used in the embodiments of this application to distinguish identical or similar items with essentially the same function and effect. Those skilled in the art will understand that the terms "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity or execution order, and the terms "first" and "second" are not necessarily different.

[0042] Figure 1This is a partial structural diagram of an ink cartridge 1 provided in an embodiment of this application. The ink cartridge 1 can be inserted into an imaging device (not shown), such as a corresponding slot in the imaging device, and under the control of the imaging device, it sprays liquids such as ink onto printing media such as paper. The ink cartridge 1 includes a consumable chip 10 and an ink cartridge body 20, with the ink cartridge body 20 used to store liquid. The consumable chip 10 includes a printhead chip 11 and an electrical wiring component 12. The printhead chip 11 is used to receive the liquid stored in the ink cartridge body 20 and spray ink droplets under the control of a signal sent by the imaging device. The printhead chip 11 belongs to the field of integrated circuit design, which involves high design costs and long development cycles; integrated circuit manufacturing costs are also high, requiring lower-cost repair methods. The printhead chip 11 receives signals sent by the imaging device through the electrical wiring component 12. When the consumable chip 10 is installed in the ink cartridge body 20, the contact points in the electrical wiring component 12 that contact the stylus are located on the first surface of the ink cartridge body 20, and the printhead chip 11 is located on the second surface of the ink cartridge body. When ink cartridge 1 is installed into the imaging device, the contact points on the electrical wiring component 12 contact the stylus of the imaging device. Specifically, when the consumable chip 10 is installed in a standard position on the main body of the imaging device, the contact points on the electrical wiring component 12 abut against the corresponding stylus on the imaging device. Generally, the electrical wiring component has an elongated structure, with a contact point at the first end and a solder contact point at the second end. The printhead chip 11 has solder pads, and the signal received by the contact point is transmitted to the printhead chip 11 by electrically connecting the solder contact point to the solder pad (e.g., by soldering).

[0043] In addition, the printhead chip 11 may also include a memory for storing serial numbers, manufacturer information, ink information, and recording ink consumption information during the printing process. The memory type can be FUSE, EPROM, EEPROM, etc., and can be volatile or non-volatile; the memory type is not limited. Alternatively, the memory may be located in a separate chip other than the printhead chip 11, and this memory can be attached to the first surface of the ink cartridge housing 20. Yet another possibility is that the printhead chip 11 contains a first memory, and a second memory is located in a separate chip. The method of memory placement is not limited in this invention.

[0044] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a printhead chip 11 provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2As shown, the printhead chip 11 includes a substrate layer 110, a chamber layer 111, and an nozzle layer 112 arranged sequentially from bottom to top. The substrate layer 110 has multiple heating elements 11a, a control circuit (not shown), and multiple pads 113. The control circuit receives signals from the imaging device via the pads 113 to control the activation or deactivation of the heating elements 11a. An ink supply groove 11b is also provided on the substrate layer 110, penetrating the substrate layer 110 and fluidly communicating with the ink cartridge body 20. The chamber layer 111 has chambers 120 corresponding to the heating elements 11a, and these chambers are fluidly communicating with the ink supply groove 112. The nozzle layer 112 has nozzles 130 corresponding to the heating elements 11a. Liquid stored in the ink cartridge body 20 flows into each chamber 120 through the ink supply groove 11b. The liquid in chamber 120 can be ejected from the corresponding nozzle 130 under the heating drive of heating element 11a.

[0045] Of course, as described above, the printhead chip 11 may also include a memory, and the control circuit can receive signals sent by the imaging device through the pad 113 to perform read and write operations on the memory unit. Furthermore, the heating resistor can also be a piezoelectric element, which ejects liquid through mechanical deformation. This invention is not limited in scope. This invention is primarily described using a heated inkjet method.

[0046] In one specific embodiment, ink cartridge 1 is a single-color ejection cartridge. Accordingly, the ink cartridge body 20 stores only one color of liquid, such as black ink; and the substrate layer 110 has only one ink supply slot 112. In another specific embodiment, ink cartridge 1 is a multi-color ejection cartridge. Accordingly, the ink cartridge body 20 is divided into multiple liquid storage compartments, each used to store a different color of liquid. For example, the ink cartridge body 20 has three liquid storage compartments, used to store cyan ink, magenta ink, and yellow ink, respectively. The substrate layer 110 has multiple ink supply slots corresponding to the multiple liquid storage compartments. For example, the substrate layer 110 has three ink supply slots, used to circulate cyan ink, magenta ink, and yellow ink, respectively. Of course, more colors can be used, and this invention is not limited thereto.

[0047] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of an electrical wiring component 12 provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 3As shown, the electrical wiring component 12 includes a main body 121, an opening area 122, and a contact area 123. Along the extending direction of the main body 121, the contact area 123 and the opening area 122 can be located at opposite ends of the main body 121, such as a first end and a second end. The contact area 123 is provided with multiple contact points; the opening area 122 is used to assemble the printhead chip 11. When the printhead chip 11 is assembled onto the electrical wiring component 12 through the opening area 122 to form the consumable chip 10, the printhead chip 11 is electrically connected to the electrical wiring component 12. Specifically, the pads on the printhead chip 11 are electrically connected to the contacts on the electrical wiring component 12 via wires provided on the electrical wiring component 12, so as to receive signals sent by the imaging device through the contact points on the electrical wiring component 12. When the ink cartridge 1 is installed on the imaging device, the multiple contact points on the electrical wiring component 12 are respectively electrically connected to the corresponding stylus on the imaging device.

[0048] like Figure 3 As shown, in one specific embodiment, the contact area 123 includes corner areas 1231 and non-corner areas 1232. The corner areas 1231 are located at the corners of the contact area 123, and the non-corner areas 1232 are the other areas of the contact area 123 excluding the corner areas 1231. In this embodiment, the contact area 123 is basically rectangular, and the contact points located in the corner areas are the contacts at the four vertices. In another embodiment, the contact area 123 is basically a relatively irregular rectangle, so the contact points in the corner areas may include not only the four vertices but also some protruding contact points. If the contact points used to control the memory are interspersed among the contact points required to control the liquid ejection of the printhead chip 11, then these memory contacts are considered as contact points in this application. If the control contacts of the memory are independent, such as being in a separate row or line, and do not intersect with the contact contacts required for liquid ejection by the printhead chip 11, then these control contacts are not considered as contact points in this application. However, if the control contacts of the independent memory borrow signals from the contact contacts required by the printhead chip 11, then these control contacts should be included within the protection scope of this application; that is, these contacts can be considered as contact points.

[0049] To reduce the impact of corner contacts, at least two of the multiple corner contacts are suspended contacts. These suspended contacts are defined as contacts with the imaging device stylus but not electrically connected to the printhead chip 11. Reducing the number of corner contacts connected to the printhead chip 11 further reduces the impact of contamination, misalignment, and wear on the printhead chip 11. Simultaneously, these contacts are retained because ink is conductive and typically seeps into the internal contacts from the edges. If ink seeps into the internal contacts, it can easily cause short circuits, leading to malfunctions. Therefore, these contacts, to a certain extent, prevent conductive materials from entering the internal contacts, protecting the normally functioning contacts. Furthermore, in some imaging devices, the stylus's elastic travel is limited. Removing a contact where it was originally present can easily lengthen the corresponding stylus's travel, making it inconsistent with the travel of other stylus with contact. Over time, this can lead to stylus deformation or inconsistent travel. Since imaging devices generally have a long lifespan, installing ink cartridges from other batches later may result in more severe wear and even poor contact. Therefore, according to the design of this invention, the suspended contact has the presence of a stylus that can further protect the imaging device.

[0050] In some imaging devices, before being set as floating contacts, they are actually connected to other contacts with the same function via wiring. Therefore, even if the floating contact is not connected to the printhead chip, it does not affect the normal operation of the printer. However, in some imaging devices, the floating contacts are originally involved in machine recognition detection, printhead chip control, or memory control. If these contacts are directly made floating to reduce the influence of corner contacts, it will lead to other more serious problems, such as failure to recognize the machine, abnormal printing, memory data read / write errors, or even damage to the printhead chip. In some cases, these floating contacts are originally used to provide power, grounding, or excitation signals. Directly cutting off the electrical connection between these contacts and the printhead chip may cause the chip to malfunction. Therefore, the electrical wiring structure in this scenario needs further optimization.

[0051] In one embodiment, the plurality of contact points include a first contact point for electrical connection to a first pad of the printhead chip 11, wherein the signal input from the first contact point to the first pad is consistent with or deviates from the signal received by one of the floating contacts by less than 20%.

[0052] The printhead chip 11 has a first pad, which was originally electrically connected to a floating contact to receive electrical signals from the imaging device. However, to reduce the influence of corner contacts, the floating contact is no longer electrically connected to the printhead chip 11. Therefore, the signal source for this first pad needs to be transferred from other contacts. When there is a directly usable first contact among the other contacts, the first pad can be electrically connected to the first contact, thereby indirectly receiving the signal originally received from the floating contact, thus ensuring the normal functioning of the printhead chip 11. In some cases, the first pad is not sensitive to the magnitude of the received signal, as long as it is within a preset range. Therefore, the signal received from the first contact does not need to be consistent with the signal received from the floating contact, as long as the preset conditions are met. Preferably, the deviation is controlled within 20%, which can maximize the matching without changing the printhead chip 11.

[0053] In one case, the first contact point is connected to at least two wires, one of which is connected to the first pad and the other is connected to the second pad of the printhead chip 11. The signal received by the second pad is the same as that received by the first contact point.

[0054] In addition to the first pad, the printhead chip 11 also has a second pad, which is configured to be directly electrically connected to the first contact point to receive signals from the imaging device. This connection method does not damage the original structure, making the modification process simpler. Since the first pad was originally electrically connected to the floating contact to receive signals from the imaging device, and now the signal of the first pad originates from the first contact point, the first contact point requires at least two wirings: one wiring is electrically connected to the first pad to provide a simulation of the signal received by the floating contact, and the other wiring is connected to the second pad to provide the signal received by the first contact point to the printhead chip 11. The printhead chip 11 has a complex and costly manufacturing process, and the cost and time required to remanufacture the printhead chip 11 are far higher than the cost and time required to remanufacture the electrical wiring component 12. Therefore, only simple adjustments and modifications to the electrical wiring component 12 are needed to achieve compatibility.

[0055] In one case, floating contacts can be selected from those contacts that function repeatedly among multiple contacts, such as ground contacts, excitation signal contacts, excitation enable contacts, power contacts, clock contacts, etc. These contacts will appear repeatedly among multiple contacts, and some signals remain consistent throughout the working cycle of multiple contacts. In particular, when such contacts exist, they can be used directly as floating contacts, and the modification of electrical wiring components is simpler. These contacts that receive consistent signals can be called repeating contacts or third contacts.

[0056] Since the power contact signal is stable, in most cases a stable power supply can be guaranteed from the start of the machine to the end of the communication. If the floating contact is a non-grounded contact, the power contact is preferred as the first contact contact.

[0057] However, since the power contact needs to provide a stable power supply to the printhead chip 11, and also needs to provide a signal to the first pad, the environment of the power contact becomes more complex. If the signal corresponding to the first pad is varied, such as high or low, direct connection to the power contact would affect the normal function of the printhead chip 11, and might even damage the imaging device. Therefore, when the first contact is a power contact, a one-way conductive element is provided between the power contact and the first pad. The positive terminal of the one-way conductive element is connected to the power contact, and the negative terminal is used to connect to the first pad. In this way, even if the signal of the first pad changes, it will not affect the signal of the power contact, ensuring the normal operation of the printhead chip 11. The one-way conductive element can be of various types, one of which is a diode.

[0058] In some cases, the signal received by the floating contact cannot be directly obtained from other contact contacts, such as the first contact contact. Therefore, the signal from the first contact contact needs to be processed. In one example, the first contact contact is a power contact, and the floating contact is a detection contact, such as a drop contact. The signal received by this contact is different from the signal received by any other contact contact. For example, the drop contact receives 2.6V, while the other contact contacts provide the voltage signals needed to generate heat, such as 16V or 24V. If the voltage is too high, high-voltage devices are needed for the transition; otherwise, it's either a conventional logic high-level signal, such as 3.3V, or a fluctuating clock signal, neither of which meets the conditions for direct use. In such cases, the signal of the first contact contact needs to be adjusted so that the first pad can receive a signal similar to that of the floating terminal.

[0059] Since a unidirectional conducting element, specifically a diode, is used between the power contact and the first pad, and the first pad functions identically to the DROP contact, the diode model or performance can be selected to simplify the process and reduce the number of components used. Preferably, the diode has a forward voltage drop of 0.7V, which provides both protection for the power terminal and the necessary signal to the specific first pad, resulting in a simple function and fewer components required. Similar results can be achieved if the voltage required by the first pad is lower than that of the power contact; the component selection can be adjusted according to specific needs.

[0060] In one scenario, the contact point also includes a second contact point that originally responded to the signal received by the floating contact. However, since the floating contact is no longer electrically connected to the printhead chip 11, the second contact point will be unable to properly feed back the installation detection signal. Therefore, in order to correctly respond to signals from the imaging device, such as the installation detection function, the signal output by the second contact point is adjusted to be controlled by the first contact point.

[0061] In one specific example, the second contact is an ID contact, i.e., a read / write signal contact. This ID contact is used for both installation detection and data read / write to the memory. During installation detection, the ID contact is originally connected to the DROP contact via a voltage divider circuit. During detection, a stepped wave is output through the ID terminal; if the imaging device receives the correct stepped wave, it considers the installation correct. However, since the DROP contact has become a floating terminal, the signal from the first contact must replace the DROP contact to control the ID contact, thus meeting the device recognition requirements. Preferably, the first contact is a power contact. This allows the ID contact to perform both installation detection and to detect whether the power contact is correctly contacting the pin, providing a dual-function detection capability.

[0062] Because corner contacts can easily cause adverse effects, it is not recommended to obtain signals from other corner contacts when selecting alternative contacts. Therefore, the first contact is set in the non-corner area, which is the non-corner contact.

[0063] Through the above optimizations, adjustments and modifications, the adverse effects of corner contacts can be reduced, and the recognition and normal printing and reading / writing requirements of existing imaging devices can be met without modifying or with minimal modification to the printhead chip 11. This is a very simple, advantageous, efficient and economical method.

[0064] In addition, in existing installation testing, the involvement of corner contacts is too high, and installation testing is affected by many adverse effects of corner contacts. However, how to perform installation testing in a way that can ensure the correct installation of ink cartridge 1, while achieving more comprehensive testing with less testing cost, circuit or time, is the subject of this invention.

[0065] In one approach, multiple contact points participate in installation detection, while in another, at most two corner contacts participate, possibly two, one, or zero corner contacts. Reducing the involvement of corner contacts in installation detection mitigates their adverse effects.

[0066] To improve installation detection accuracy and reduce the impact of deviations, the installation detection includes at least two mechanisms: one related to the drive signal and the other related to the parameters of the printhead chip 11. If the drive signal contacts and drive signal pins make normal contact, it ensures that the core contact signal communication link related to printing is functioning correctly. If the detection related to the parameters of the printhead chip 11 also passes, it means that the performance parameters of the ink cartridge 1 meet the requirements, ensuring the correctness of subsequent printing and data reading / writing operations.

[0067] Among multiple contact points, the contact points involved in installation detection are called detection contacts. The detection contacts include the first contact, the second contact, the third contact, and the fourth contact. The output result of the third contact is controlled by the timing received by the first and second contacts. The first and second contacts are related to the drive signal, and at least one of them is a non-corner contact. The signal fed back by the fourth contact is related to the parameter performance. The fourth contact serves as both the installation detection input and the installation detection output.

[0068] In one specific implementation, the multiple drive signals may include an excitation enable signal HEAT that determines the heating duration of the heating element, an excitation signal that provides the voltage signal required to generate heat energy for the heating element, a latch signal LAT, a data signal DATA, a clock signal CLK, etc. Correspondingly, the receiving contacts include drive signal contacts, such as excitation enable signal contacts, excitation signal contacts, latch signal contacts, data signal contacts, and clock signal contacts, etc., and the contact pins of the imaging device include drive signal contact pins, such as excitation enable signal contact pins, excitation signal contact pins, latch signal contact pins, data signal contact pins, and clock signal contact pins, etc. In one embodiment, the first contact and the second contact may be at least two types of drive signal contacts, or at least two contacts of the same type of drive signal contacts. However, to meet the minimum requirement of correct drive timing connection for drive detection, at least two drive signal contacts must be used. To reduce the influence of corners, at least one drive signal contact must be located at a non-corner location, that is, at least one drive signal contact involved in installation detection must be a non-corner contact.

[0069] In other embodiments, the drive signal may also include other related signals for driving the excitation element to spray liquid, or may include more or fewer drive signals.

[0070] The signal output by the third contact must match the timing of the drive signals received by the first and second contacts at the corresponding time. Only when the signal output by the third contact meets the preset conditions can the installation test be passed; otherwise, it indicates that one or two drive signal contacts are not making good contact with the drive signal pin. In one specific embodiment, a logic circuit performs an AND operation between the clock signal and the latch signal.

[0071] The output of the third contact is controlled by the timing signals received by the first and second contacts. If either the first or second contact fails to make contact with the pin, the output of the third contact will not meet the requirements. Through the communication link, it is possible to detect whether the drive signal terminal is in good contact, and also whether the third contact used to output the detection result is in good contact with the pin. In particular, in some scenarios, the third contact is not only used for installation detection, but also has other functions, making it a multi-functional contact, such as for data reading and writing. This detection method can achieve the effect of dual detection, and the installation detection circuit is simpler.

[0072] While simply detecting the drive signal ensures the installation and detection of the core contacts, this only indicates the good contact quality. However, it cannot determine whether the parameters of the printhead chip 11 match the imaging device through terminal installation detection. If the parameters do not match, the excitation and enable signals used by the imaging device to control the printhead chip 11 will deviate. For example, a shorter heating time might be applied to the printhead chip 11 when a longer heating time is required, causing ink to fail to spray properly. Conversely, a higher heating voltage might be applied to the printhead chip 11 when a lower heating resistor voltage is required, leading to burnout. Therefore, installation detection also requires further verification of the parameter performance of the printhead chip 11 installed to match the imaging device's requirements. Only when the parameter performance meets the requirements can normal printing be performed; otherwise, the ink cartridge 1 should not be used or some functions of the ink cartridge 1 should be reduced.

[0073] In this patent, there can be multiple contacts involved in parameter performance testing. However, if some parameter performance terminals pass through multiple contact terminals, the output results will deviate, and these deviations will cause the imaging device to misjudge the parameters. For example, in the detection of the drive signal mentioned above, as long as the drive signal link is complete, normal communication is possible, and the signal conforms to logic high or logic low, with low precision requirements. However, for the corresponding parameter performance, it may be an analog parameter, requiring higher detection precision. Therefore, it is not recommended to link the detection with other functional contacts. Therefore, in order to reduce deviation, the contact point for parameter performance testing, i.e., the fourth contact point, is both the input and output terminal of the detection signal, which helps to reduce the influence of multiple links.

[0074] The fourth contact is used to connect to both the input and output terminals of the second detection circuit of the printhead chip 11. That is, the fourth contact is used to receive and output installation detection signals. In one specific embodiment, the fourth detection circuit is a circuit with resistive characteristics. The imaging device determines whether the ink cartridge meets the requirements by checking whether the detected voltage falls within a preset range. Figure 3 In the middle, the fourth contact 123i is located in the non-corner region 1232.

[0075] In one embodiment, with similar functions as mentioned above, at least two corner contacts are floating contacts. These floating contacts contact the stylus but are not electrically connected to the printhead chip 11. The detection contacts include a fifth contact, which is used to electrically connect to the first pad of the printhead chip 11. The signal input from the fifth contact to the first pad is consistent with or deviates from the signal received by one of the floating contacts by less than 20%. The fifth contact is also used to electrically connect to the second pad of the printhead chip 11 to provide a working signal to the printhead chip 11. The floating contacts do not participate in the installation detection. The fifth contact here can be equated to the first contact mentioned above. Its functions and effects will not be elaborated further here.

[0076] In one embodiment, the detection contact also includes a sixth contact, which is coupled to the fifth contact. Its output is related to the signal received by the fifth contact, and the sixth contact is a non-corner contact. Here, the sixth contact is equivalent to the second contact mentioned above. As stated above, corner contacts can easily cause adverse effects, therefore, it is necessary to reduce the involvement of corner contacts. Here, using the sixth contact, which is related to the fifth contact, as another installation detection point can further reduce the influence of corner contacts.

[0077] In addition to the drive signal detection and performance parameter detection mentioned above, adding an additional installation detection mechanism can greatly improve the detection of the contact effect between multiple contact points and contact pins, without adding too many other circuits; only the existing contact points need to be modified.

[0078] As mentioned above, in one embodiment, the second contact point is an ID contact, i.e., a read / write signal contact. Figure 3 As shown, the second contact point 123h is located in the non-corner region 1232 and in the relatively middle region. Its function and purpose will not be elaborated here.

[0079] The consumable chip also includes a third detection circuit. The input terminal of the third detection circuit (i.e., the first pad) is connected to the first contact point, and the output terminal of the third detection circuit is connected to the second contact point. Here, the first pad is a DROP pad, which is normally connected to the DROP contact. Now, the first contact point (power contact) is used to receive the signal. The signal received by the DROP contact is a special voltage. By setting a unidirectional conducting element between the power contact and the input terminal of the first pad, a suitable voltage can be provided while ensuring a cleaner environment for the power contact, thus not affecting the normal function of the chip.

[0080] In one way, such as Figure 3As shown, there are multiple corner areas 1231. The multiple contact points located in the contact area 123 include multiple corner contacts located in the multiple corner areas 1231 and multiple non-corner contacts located in the non-corner areas 1232. More specifically, the multiple contact points are arranged in a rectangular array. This rectangular array arrangement maximizes the utilization area of ​​the flexible plate. While the edge pins are relatively prone to deformation, arranging the contact array in a rectangular shape provides a larger contact area, ensuring correct connection even if the edge pins are deformed or there are manufacturing deviations in the contacts.

[0081] In one approach, at least one corner contact is larger than at least one non-corner contact. This way, if the corner contact becomes contaminated, the contaminants are easily blocked by the larger corner contact, reducing their impact on the internal contacts. On the other hand, the pins corresponding to the corner contacts are prone to deformation. The larger corner contact provides more contact area, ensuring that even if the pins on the side are deformed or there are manufacturing deviations in the contacts, they can still be correctly connected.

[0082] When the corner contact is a floating contact, it is also recommended to adjust the size of at least one floating contact to be larger than the size of at least one non-corner contact. This will achieve the same effect. In particular, since the floating contact is no longer electrically connected to the printhead chip 11, it will block contaminants without affecting the function, resulting in better performance.

[0083] In one embodiment, in addition to modifying the terminals of the contact points, the installation detection mechanism can also be optimized. At most two corner contacts participate in the installation detection; this could be two, one, or zero. Reducing the involvement of corner contacts in the installation detection process can mitigate the adverse effects of corner contacts.

[0084] In one specific embodiment, such as Figure 3As shown, when the electrical wiring component 12 is assembled to the inkjet printer, the third contact 123e outputs a first detection signal RST to the imaging device. When the multiple drive signal contacts and the third contact 123e are in normal contact with the corresponding pins on the imaging device, the first detection signal RST output by the third contact 123e to the imaging device is in a first state; when any of the multiple drive signals or the third contact has abnormal poor contact with the corresponding pins on the imaging device, the first detection signal RST output by the third contact 123e to the imaging device is in a second state, which is different from the first state. The imaging device can confirm whether the multiple drive signal terminals are in normal contact with the imaging device based on the signals provided to the first contact, the second contact, and the state of the first detection signal RST. It can also determine whether the third contact is in normal contact with the imaging device based on the first detection signal RST. In particular, when the third contact is a multi-functional contact, this detection method is more effective and convenient. Different models of third contacts may have different functions. This design can be compatible with more models, eliminating the need for repeated design of detection circuits, resulting in better circuit design compatibility.

[0085] like Figure 3 As shown, in one specific embodiment, the contact area 123 is rectangular. There are four corner areas 1231, located at the four corners of the contact area 123. There are four corner contacts, designated as upper left contact 123a, lower left contact 123b, upper right contact 123c, and lower right contact 123d. At most two of the upper left contact 123a, lower left contact 123b, upper right contact 123c, and lower right contact 123d participate in the installation detection.

[0086] More specifically, multiple contact points are arranged in a rectangular array. This rectangular array of contact points maximizes the utilization area of ​​the flexible board. Since the edge pins are relatively easy to deform, arranging the contact array into a rectangle while meeting the printer's contact requirements provides more contact area, ensuring that even if the edge pins are deformed or the contact points have manufacturing deviations, they can still connect correctly.

[0087] In the prior art, at least three corner contacts located in the contact area 123 are used to detect the electrical connection status between the consumable chip and the imaging device. The electrical wiring component 12 provided in this application embodiment detects at most two corner contacts to detect the electrical connection status with the imaging device, eliminating the need to detect three or more corner contacts. This reduces the adverse effects of corner contacts. The adverse effects of too many corner contacts participating in installation detection or serving other functions are described above.

[0088] In one specific implementation, two of the corner contacts among the upper left corner contact 123a, lower left corner contact 123b, upper right corner contact 123c, and lower right corner contact 123d are floating contacts, wherein the floating contacts are in contact with the corresponding stylus on the imaging device but are not electrically connected to the printhead chip.

[0089] In other embodiments, the number of suspended contacts exceeds two, and can be three. In other specific embodiments, the contact area 123 is a polygon of other shapes, such as an approximate hexagon. Accordingly, the contact area 123 may include six corner areas, and the multiple contact points include the six corner contacts, which are respectively disposed in the six corner areas. The number of suspended contacts can be at least two, and can be three, four, etc. This application does not impose a specific limitation on the number of suspended contacts, as long as it is greater than or equal to two. Those skilled in the art can design according to actual needs.

[0090] As a specific implementation, the areas of the upper left corner contact 123a, lower left corner contact 123b, upper right corner contact 123c, and lower right corner contact 123d are all larger than the area of ​​at least one non-corner contact, which helps to prevent dust, particulate matter, and other impurities from the external environment from entering the contact area 123.

[0091] Furthermore, the areas of the upper left corner contact 123a, lower left corner contact 123b, upper right corner contact 123c, and lower right corner contact 123d are all larger than the area of ​​at least one non-corner contact, which increases the contact stroke between the corner contact and the corresponding contact pin, preventing the ink cartridge from becoming unusable due to incorrect installation caused by process deviations.

[0092] Figure 4 This is a circuit diagram of a first detection circuit provided in an embodiment of this application. The first detection circuit includes an input terminal and an output terminal. The input terminal is electrically connected to all first and second contacts, and the output terminal is electrically connected to a third contact. Figure 4As shown, the first and second contacts include one or two of the following signals: an enable contact, a latch signal contact, a data signal contact, and a clock signal contact. The first and second contacts may also include a power contact 123f and a ground contact 123g that participate in the driving process. The power contact 123f provides a power signal VCC to the first detection circuit, and the ground contact 123g provides a ground signal to the first detection circuit. After performing logical operations on the enable signal HEAT, the latch signal LAT, the data signal DATA, and the clock signal CLK, the first detection circuit outputs a first detection output signal to the third contact 123e. The first detection circuit receives the power signal VCC and the ground signal GND through the power contact 123f and the ground contact 123g, respectively, which supply power and ground to the first detection circuit, respectively. When all the enable signal contact, latch signal contact, data signal contact, clock signal contact, power contact 123f, and ground contact 123g on the electrical wiring component 12 are in normal contact with the corresponding contact pins on the imaging device, the first detection signal RST output by the third contact 123e to the imaging device is in the first state; when at least one of the enable signal contact, latch signal contact, data signal contact, clock signal contact, power contact 123f, and ground contact 123g on the electrical wiring component 12, such as the clock signal contact and the data signal contact, is in abnormal contact with the corresponding contact pins on the imaging device and is not in electrical connection, the first detection output signal RST output by the third contact 123e to the imaging device is in the second state. Specifically, the first detection circuit includes a logic operation circuit, which is powered and grounded by the power supply signal VCC and the ground signal GND. It is used to perform logic operations on the excitation enable signal HEAT, the latch signal LAT, the data signal DATA, and the clock signal CLK, and output a first detection output signal RST. The first detection output signal RST feeds back the detection results under different timing sequences. The imaging device determines whether the excitation enable signal contact, latch signal contact, data signal contact, clock signal contact, power supply contact, and ground contact are in normal contact with the corresponding contact pins by comparing whether the detection results under these different timing sequences meet the preset conditions.

[0093] The electrical wiring component 12 provided in this embodiment satisfies the following condition: among all contacts related to the first detection signal RST, the number of corner contacts is one or two. For example, one or two of the following contacts are corner contacts: the enable signal contact, the latch signal contact, the data signal contact, the clock signal contact, the power contact 123f, and the ground contact 123g. Of course, the number of corner contacts involved in the installation detection can even be zero.

[0094] like Figure 3As shown, in one specific embodiment, the lower left corner contact 123b is a clock signal contact, the lower right corner contact 123d is a data signal contact, and the excitation enable signal contact, latch signal contact, power contact 123f and ground contact 123g are all non-corner contacts, which can reduce the probability of external environmental interference contaminating the drive signal contact, latch signal contact, power contact 123f and ground contact 123g.

[0095] In one specific embodiment, the electrical wiring component 12 further includes a plurality of positioning portions, which are used to cooperate with positioning structures on the ink cartridge body 20 to position the electrical wiring component 12 on the ink cartridge body 20. Specifically, as shown... Figure 3 As shown, the positioning part includes a positioning hole 125 that penetrates the electrical wiring member 12. The positioning hole 125 and the positioning post provided on the ink cartridge body 20 ( Figure 3 (Not shown) It is used to position the electrical wiring component 12 on the cartridge body 20. At least one positioning part is smaller than the size of the adjacent contact point to avoid holes caused by an excessively large positioning part.

[0096] like Figure 3 As shown, there are four positioning holes 125, which are respectively located around the perimeter of the four corner areas. Meanwhile, the size of the positioning holes 125 is smaller than the size of the four corner contacts. Specifically, the diameter of the positioning holes 125 is smaller than the length and width of the four corner contacts to avoid breakage caused by the positioning holes being too large.

[0097] In other alternative embodiments, the positioning hole 125 is provided through the contact point of the contact area 123, which helps to reduce the layout area of ​​the wiring component 12. In this case, in order to reduce the probability of hole breakage, the diameter of the positioning hole 125 is smaller than a certain preset value, such as 0.8 mm, which can greatly reduce the probability of hole breakage in the positioning hole 125. As for the specific value of this preset value, those skilled in the art can design it according to factors such as the contact area and thickness through which the positioning hole 125 passes, and this application does not limit the specific value of this preset value.

[0098] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. An electrical wiring component comprising a plurality of contact points for contacting a stylus of an imaging device; the plurality of contact points including a plurality of corner contacts and a plurality of non-corner contacts; characterized in that: At least two of the corner contacts are floating contacts, which are in contact with the stylus but not electrically connected to the printhead chip; The plurality of contact points include a first contact point, which is used to electrically connect to a first pad of the printhead chip. The signal input from the first contact point to the first pad is consistent with or deviates from the signal received by one of the floating contacts by less than 20%.

2. The electrical wiring component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first contact point is connected to at least two wires, one of which is connected to the first pad and the other is connected to the second pad of the printhead chip. The signal received by the second pad is the same as that received by the first contact point.

3. The electrical wiring component according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first contact point is a power contact point.

4. The electrical wiring component according to claim 3, characterized in that, A unidirectional conductive element is provided between the power contact and the first pad. The positive terminal of the unidirectional conductive element is connected to the power contact, and the negative terminal of the unidirectional conductive element is used to connect to the first pad.

5. The electrical wiring component according to claim 4, characterized in that, The unidirectional conducting element is a diode.

6. The electrical wiring component according to claim 5, characterized in that, The forward voltage drop of the diode is 0.7V.

7. The electrical wiring component according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The plurality of contact points also includes a second contact point, wherein the signal output by the second contact point is controlled by the first contact point.

8. The electrical wiring component according to claim 7, characterized in that, The second contact shown is the read / write signal contact.

9. The electrical wiring component according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, A third contact point is also provided among the plurality of contact points, and the signal received by the third contact point is consistent with the signal received by at least one of the suspended contact points.

10. The electrical wiring component according to claim 9, characterized in that, The suspended contact is one or more of the following: ground contact, excitation signal contact, and excitation enable contact.

11. The electrical wiring component according to claim 7, characterized in that, At least one of the suspended contacts is a DROP contact.

12. The electrical wiring component according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The size of at least one of the corner contacts is greater than the size of at least one of the non-corner contacts.

13. The electrical wiring component according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, At least one of the suspended contacts has a size larger than the size of the non-corner contact.

14. The electrical wiring component according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The multiple contact points are arranged in a rectangular array.

15. The electrical wiring component according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: The first contact point shown is a non-corner contact point.

16. A consumable chip, comprising a printhead chip, characterized in that, It also includes the electrical wiring component according to any one of claims 1-15, wherein the printhead chip is provided with a plurality of pads, at least two of the pads are not electrically connected to the floating contact.

17. An ink cartridge, comprising an ink cartridge body, characterized in that: It also includes the consumable chip of claim 16, wherein the plurality of contact points are disposed on the first side of the ink cartridge body, the printhead chip is disposed on the second side of the ink cartridge body, and when the ink cartridge is installed into the imaging device, the plurality of contact points contact the stylus of the imaging device.

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