Printer Consumable Controller Dynamic Display Logic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printing devices lack the ability to provide users with appropriate indications based on the model of consumables installed and the delivery status of contracted consumables, leading to unnecessary warnings and inconvenience when using commercially available consumables before contracted ones arrive.

Innovation Solution

A printing device equipped with a controller that obtains arrival time information of contracted consumables, determines the model of installed consumables, and displays consumable handling-related information, allowing users to make informed decisions about replacing commercially available consumables with contracted ones.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a warning message is always displayed when commercial consumables are installed instead of contracted consumables, then the reliability of consumable usage is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to unnecessary warnings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsumable usage reliabilityVSAvoiduser operation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the display parameter from a static warning message to a dynamic message that varies based on the delivery status parameter. When delivery is pending, no warning is shown; when delivery is confirmed, an inquiry message is displayed. This resolves the contradiction by adapting the warning behavior to different operational contexts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The warning message system transitions from a static always-on warning to a dynamic conditional display system. The controller dynamically adjusts the message display based on real-time delivery status information, showing different messages at different times to balance reliability monitoring with user convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of information

If the system provides detailed consumable management information, then the loss of information is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsumable status informationVSAvoidcontroller processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential information elements needed for consumable management: model identification, delivery status, and usage timing. By focusing on these key parameters and excluding unnecessary details, the system reduces information loss while keeping the controller logic manageable and avoid excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11714982B2Printing device, print processing system, and print processing method

Publication Date: 2023.08.01 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A printing device includes a mounting part to which consumables to be used for printing is mounted, a print engine configured to print an image on a recording medium using the consumables, a display configured to display information regarding the consumables, and a controller. The printing device is operable based on a concluded contract with a contractor for the consumables used for printing. The controller is configured to perform obtaining arrival time information of a first consumable, determining a model of the consumables, and displaying consumable handling related information on the display based on the arrival time information and a determining result.