Ink Cartridge LED Control for Installation Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing inkjet printer systems face issues with incorrect ink cartridge installation detection due to manufacturing errors in light-emitting diodes (LEDs), leading to increased user costs and environmental waste, as they are limited to specific cartridges with LED lamps and have restricted recyclability.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an ink cartridge with a control portion that receives emission instructions from the printer to control the light-emitting portion, ignoring identifying information and focusing on state control, ensuring light emission even with varying LED light quantities, thereby enhancing installation detection accuracy and universality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are used in ink cartridges for installation detection, then the detection function is enabled, but manufacturing errors cause light quantity variations leading to detection inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the light receiving portion detects the actual light quantity from the LED, and this detection result is fed back to the control unit. The control unit then adjusts the determination threshold dynamically based on the detected light quantity, ensuring accurate detection despite manufacturing variations in LED output.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter used for detection from a fixed threshold to a dynamic threshold based on actual light reception. By adjusting the determination criterion according to the detected light quantity, the system adapts to manufacturing variations and maintains detection accuracy.
2Reliability
If specific ink cartridges with LED lamps are required for detection, then installation detection is possible, but cartridge compatibility is limited and recyclability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the light emitting portion a optional component rather than a mandatory requirement. The system can detect installation using either the LED light emitting portion or alternative methods, allowing both specific cartridges with LEDs and non-specific cartridges without LEDs to be used, thereby enhancing compatibility and recyclability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the light emitting function from being a mandatory component of the ink cartridge. By making the LED optional and providing alternative detection methods, the system separates the detection capability from the cartridge itself, allowing broader cartridge compatibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution stabilizes ink cartridge installation detection, avoids errors caused by LED manufacturing variations, widens the compatibility of ink cartridges with inkjet printers, and reduces user costs by allowing the use of non-specific cartridges and promoting resource reuse.
Implementation Method 1
An ink cartridge chip is provided with a light-emitting portion, e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED lamp)
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an ink cartridge, an ink cartridge assembly and a method for detecting the installation of the ink cartridge. A plurality of ink cartridges are detachably mounted on an inkjet printer including a light receiver for receiving light and a plurality of apparatus electrical contacts which are commonly connected with a line, and the ink cartridge comprises a container electrical contact electrically connected with corresponding apparatus electrical contact an information storage device configured to at least store relevant information of the ink cartridge, a light-emitting portion configured to emit light towards the light receiver, and a control portion configured to control the light-emitting portion to emit light according to an emission instruction send by the inkjet printer for controlling the light-emitting portion to emit light, wherein, the control portion of the ink cartridge controls the light-emitting portion to emit light when receiving an emission instruction sent by the inkjet printer for controlling any light-emitting portion of the plurality of ink cartridges to emit light. Therefore, the stability of the ink cartridge installation detection of the printer can be fully guaranteed and the phenomenon of installation detection error caused by the manufacturing error of the light-emitting portion of the ink cartridge can be avoided.