Printing Material Container Terminal Arrangement for Shorting Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink cartridges and other printing material containers face the risk of damage due to shorting between terminals, which can occur when multiple devices such as memories and high voltage circuits are equipped with terminals, leading to potential damage to both the container and the printing apparatus.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a printing material container with a plurality of terminals arranged in a staggered pattern, including first, second, and third terminals, where the second and third terminals are positioned to detect shorting between each other, reducing the likelihood of shorting between the first and second terminals, thereby preventing or minimizing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices with terminals are equipped on the printing material container, then the functionality and information storage capability are improved, but the risk of shorting between terminals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal group is segmented into multiple rows (first row, second row, third row) with different functions. The first row contains terminals for high voltage circuits, the second row contains terminals for information storage devices, and the third row contains detection terminals. This spatial segmentation prevents shorting by ensuring that if shorting occurs, it is detected by the detection terminals before damaging the other devices.
Solution Approach 2:
Detection terminals are introduced as intermediary elements between the high voltage circuit terminals and information storage device terminals. These detection terminals act as a protective barrier that can detect shorting conditions and prevent damage to the more valuable devices. The detection terminals are strategically positioned to be the first point of contact in case of shorting.
2Reliability
If terminals are arranged in a staggered pattern with detection terminals, then the detection capability of shorting is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the terminal group are assigned different functions based on their position. The first row (high voltage), second row (information storage), and third row (detection) are locally optimized for their specific purposes. This local quality approach allows the system to achieve high reliability through strategic placement rather than uniform design, reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single terminal group structure. The same terminal group simultaneously provides high voltage connection, information storage connection, and shorting detection capabilities. By merging these functions into one integrated structure rather than separate components, the overall device complexity is reduced while maintaining all necessary functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing material container is detachably attachable to a printing apparatus having a plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The printing material container comprises a first device, a second device, and a terminal group that includes a plurality of first terminals, at least one second terminal and at least one third terminal. The plurality of first terminals are connected to the first device and respectively include a first contact portion for contacting a corresponding terminal among the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The at least one second terminal is connected to the second device and includes a second contact portion for contacting a corresponding terminal among the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The at least one third terminal is for the detection of shorting between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal and includes a third contact portion for contacting a corresponding terminal among the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The at least one second contact portion, the plurality of the first contact portions, and the at least one third contact portion are arranged so as to form one or multiple rows. The at least one second contact portion is arranged at an end of one row among the one or multiple rows.