CN103465632B

CN103465632B - Ink box chip, ink box and ink box adaptive support

Info

Publication number: CN103465632B
Application number: CN201310424805.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 周维; 李钜辉; 陈浩; 罗艳辉
Original assignee: Apex Microelectronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Jihai Microelectronics Co ltd
Priority date: 2012-11-22
Filing date: 2013-09-17
Publication date: 2015-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 2033-09-17
Also published as: CN103465632A

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention discloses an ink box chip which comprises an interface unit, a control unit and a storage unit. The interface unit is used for receiving light control commands sent by an imaging device, the light control commands comprise ink box identification information, the storage unit is used for storing self identification information and state signs, the state signs comprise executable states or non-executable states, the control unit is connected with any one of light-emitting units and used for executing the light control commands, and the light control commands comprise light lightening commands or light extinguishing commands. The control unit is used for controlling the light-emitting unit to execute the light control commands according to the light control commands and the state signs in the storage unit when the interface unit receives the light control commands, and determining state signs again according to the incidence relation of the ink box identification information and the self identification information after the light-emitting unit executes the light control commands. The ink box chip can achieve detection of the position of the ink box in the imaging device.

Description

A kind of ink box chip, print cartridge and print cartridge adapter rack

Technical field

The present invention relates to printing imaging field, be specifically related to a kind of ink box chip, print cartridge and print cartridge adapter rack.

Background technology

The priority that China in China's application in application claims application number to be 201210519186.2 applyings date be on November 22nd, 2012 and application number to be 201310303587.9 applyings date be on July 11st, 2013 applies for.　

Imaging device is the common instrument in current people work, life, as printer, copy and facsimile machine etc.The structure of imaging device is roughly divided into two parts, i.e. imaging equipment body and print cartridge.Print cartridge is easily-consumed products, so be usually releasably attached in imaging equipment body, is easily replaced.　

Multiple print cartridge may be provided with in existing imaging device, be beneficial to long-time use, or also can be provided with the print cartridge of different colours, be convenient to the imaging demand of user to different colours image.Correct in order to ensure the installation site of each print cartridge, propose print cartridge location detecting technology therefrom.　

Print cartridge location detecting technology can realize based on the transmitting and receiving of light.Light source can be provided with on the ink box chip of print cartridge, in imaging equipment body, be provided with light receiver.When detecting the position of certain print cartridge, making this print cartridge be in the position just right with light receiver, then controlling the light source luminescent of ink box chip, receive light by receiver and detect, record luminous quantity.Subsequently, control adjacent print cartridge luminous, receive light by receiver and detect, record luminous quantity.Due to receiver and print cartridge to be detected just right, so the luminous quantity being received from print cartridge to be detected is greater than the luminous quantity of adjacent print cartridge, and the luminous quantity of print cartridge to be detected can be greater than a predetermined threshold value.Accordingly, imaging equipment body identifiable design is correct to the position of this print cartridge.　

But, the feature of existing ink box chip is: when several ink box chips are installed in same imaging device, the light source that they control can be simultaneously luminous, if what namely install on an imaging device is all print cartridge with this ink box chip, then can see that on all print cartridges, light source is light at any time simultaneously, extinguishes simultaneously.Due to print cartridge location detecting technology be utilize light receiver to receive print cartridge on the luminous quantity of light source carry out the detection of print cartridge position, so the luminous quantity that the characteristic that existing ink box chip is lighted makes light receiver receive remains unchanged simultaneously, also just result in the detection that existing this ink box chip can not realize print cartridge position.　

Summary of the invention

In order to realize the detection of the print cartridge position in imaging device, the invention provides a kind of ink box chip, print cartridge and print cartridge adapter rack.

The invention provides a kind of ink box chip, described ink box chip comprises: interface unit, control unit and memory cell;

Described interface unit, for receiving the light control instruction that described imaging device sends, described light control instruction comprises print cartridge identifying information;

Described memory cell, for storing its own identification information and status indication, described status indication comprises executable state or non-executable state;

Described control unit is connected with arbitrary luminescence unit, and for performing described light control instruction, the type of described light control instruction comprises light and lights instruction or light extinguishing instruction;

Described control unit is connected with described memory cell with described interface unit, for when described interface unit receives described light control instruction, control described luminescence unit according to the status indication in the type of described light control instruction and described memory cell and perform described light control instruction; After described luminescence unit performs described light control instruction, according to the incidence relation of described print cartridge identifying information and described its own identification information, redefine status indication.

Preferably, described memory cell, also for storing light setting information, described light setting information comprises the corresponding relation of count results and control information, and described control information comprises forbidding lighting lights with enable;

Accordingly, described control module, specifically for when described interface unit receives described light control instruction, obtain current count result, described current count result is the count target counting gained to presetting, in described light setting information, obtain the control information corresponding with described current count result, control described luminescence unit according to the type of described light control instruction and described control information; Judge that whether the type of described light control instruction is identical with the count target preset, described count target is that light lights instruction or light extinguishes instruction, when the type of described light control instruction is identical with described count target, according to the incidence relation of described print cartridge identifying information and described its own identification information, determine whether described current count result increases by 1.

Preferably, described control unit comprises instruction identification module, print cartridge identification module, match counter and illuminated switch module;

Described instruction identification module, for identifying the type of the light control instruction that described interface unit receives;

Described illuminated switch module, for in the light control instruction of described instruction identification module identification be light light instruction time, obtain current count result, obtain the control information corresponding with described current count result in light setting information in described memory cell, and control described luminescence unit and perform described control information;

Described print cartridge identification module, for judging whether described print cartridge identifying information is associated with described its own identification information;

Described match counter, for when described print cartridge identifying information is associated with described its own identification information, current count result increases by 1.

Preferably, described memory cell is also for storing command reception mark, and the functional status of described command reception mark for marking described illuminated switch module, described functional status is upstate or down state.

Preferably, described command reception marks described illuminated switch module when being upstate, described illuminated switch module, for in the light control instruction of described instruction identification module identification be light light instruction time, obtain current count result, obtain the control information corresponding with described current count result in light setting information in described memory cell, and control described luminescence unit and perform described control information.

Preferably, described light setting information is determine according to the light examine repair of described imaging device and the installation site of described ink box chip.

Preferably, described control unit, also for when described ink box chip powers on, if detect that described ink box chip is in the power-up initializing stage, then described luminescence unit performs described light and lights instruction.

Preferably, described luminescence unit is arranged on described ink box chip.　

The present invention also provides a kind of print cartridge, comprises at least one above-mentioned arbitrary described ink box chip.　

Preferably, described ink box chip is connected to imaging device by a communication bus.　

The present invention also provides a kind of print cartridge, and described print cartridge comprises interface unit, control unit and memory cell;

Preferably, described print cartridge adapter rack comprises interface unit, at least one control unit, at least one memory cell and at least one luminescence unit;

Described control unit is connected with luminescence unit, and for performing described light control instruction, the type of described light control instruction comprises light and lights instruction or light extinguishing instruction;

Preferably, described print cartridge adapter rack comprises an interface unit, control unit, a memory cell and at least one luminescence unit;

Described control unit, specifically for when described interface unit receives described light control instruction, according to the status indication in the type of described light control instruction and described memory cell, control described luminescence unit corresponding to described light control instruction and perform described light control instruction; After described luminescence unit performs described light control instruction, according to the incidence relation of described print cartridge identifying information and described its own identification information, redefine status indication.

Preferably, the described control unit in described print cartridge adapter rack, memory cell are identical with the number of luminescence unit, and described control unit, memory cell and luminescence unit have one-to-one relationship;

Described control unit is connected with corresponding luminescence unit, and for performing described light control instruction, the type of described light control instruction comprises light and lights instruction or light extinguishing instruction;

Described control unit is connected with described interface unit and the memory cell corresponding with described control unit, for when described interface unit receives described light control instruction, control described luminescence unit corresponding to described control unit according to the status indication in the type of described light control instruction and described memory cell and perform described light control instruction; After described luminescence unit performs described light control instruction, according to the incidence relation of described print cartridge identifying information and described its own identification information, redefine status indication.

The invention provides a kind of ink box chip, ink box chip comprises: interface unit, control unit and memory cell; The light control instruction that interface unit sends for receiving described imaging device, described light control instruction comprises print cartridge identifying information; Memory cell, for storing its own identification information and status indication, status indication comprises executable state or non-executable state; Control unit is connected with arbitrary luminescence unit, and for performing light control instruction, the type of light control instruction comprises light and lights instruction or light extinguishing instruction; Control unit, during for receiving light control instruction at interface unit, controls luminescence unit according to the status indication in light control instruction and memory cell and performs light control instruction; After luminescence unit performs light control instruction, according to the incidence relation of print cartridge identifying information and its own identification information, redefine status indication.Utilize ink box chip of the present invention can realize the detection of print cartridge position in imaging device.

Accompanying drawing explanation

In order to be illustrated more clearly in the technical scheme in the embodiment of the present application, below the accompanying drawing used required in describing embodiment is briefly described, apparently, accompanying drawing in the following describes is only some embodiments of the application, for those of ordinary skill in the art, under the prerequisite not paying creative work, other accompanying drawing can also be obtained according to these accompanying drawings.

The print cartridge position Cleaning Principle schematic diagram that Fig. 1 a is suitable for by the embodiment of the present invention;

The print cartridge position Cleaning Principle schematic diagram that Fig. 1 b is suitable for by the embodiment of the present invention;

The ink box chip structure chart that Fig. 2 provides for the embodiment of the present invention one;

The workflow diagram of the ink box chip that Fig. 3 provides for the embodiment of the present invention one;

Fig. 4 uses existing ink box chip to carry out the flow chart of print cartridge position detection;

The flow chart of Fig. 5 for using the ink box chip that provides of the embodiment of the present invention one to carry out the detection of print cartridge position;

The structure chart of the control unit of the ink box chip that Fig. 6 provides for the embodiment of the present invention two;

The workflow diagram of the ink box chip that Fig. 7 provides for the embodiment of the present invention three;

The workflow diagram of the ink box chip that Fig. 8 provides for the embodiment of the present invention three;

The flow chart of Fig. 9 for using the ink box chip that provides of the present embodiment three to carry out the detection of print cartridge position;

The workflow diagram of the ink box chip that Figure 10 provides for the embodiment of the present invention four;

The workflow diagram of the ink box chip that Figure 11 provides for the embodiment of the present invention four;

Figure 12 is the structural representation of print cartridge adapter rack.　

Detailed description of the invention

Below in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in the embodiment of the present application, be clearly and completely described the technical scheme in the embodiment of the present application, obviously, described embodiment is only some embodiments of the present application, instead of whole embodiments.Based on the embodiment in the application, those of ordinary skill in the art are not making other embodiments all obtained under creative work prerequisite, all belong to the scope of the application's protection.

First for existing a kind of ink-jet printer, wherein typical print cartridge position detection scheme is as follows:

In order to ensure the normal print of ink-jet printer, preventing the printing deviation occurred because of print cartridge position setup error, usually needing to detect print cartridge after print cartridge loads ink-jet printer and whether being correctly mounted tram in ink-jet printer.The print cartridge position Cleaning Principle schematic diagram that Fig. 1 a and Fig. 1 b is suitable for by the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 1a, supposing that ink-jet printer is provided with four print cartridges, clear above-mentioned four print cartridges being designated as BK print cartridge, Y print cartridge, C print cartridge and M print cartridge respectively for distinguishing.Each print cartridge is arranged on the print cartridge installation site of ink-jet printer respectively, and wherein print cartridge installation site is respectively position A, position B, position C and position D.These four print cartridges are connected to ink-jet printer by same communication bus, and each print cartridge can receive the luminous activation bit that ink-jet printer sends to any one print cartridge.As illustrated in figs. ia and ib, ink-jet printer is provided with optical receiver, and its position is fixed, and print cartridge position is all positioned on word car, print cartridge position is moved by mobile word car, thus the relative position between the luminescence unit changed on print cartridge and the optical receiver of printer.　

Print cartridge position detect mainly comprise to current print cartridge to be detected just position is detected and the adjacent light of adjacent print cartridge detects two parts, need each print cartridge in imaging device to detect as print cartridge to be detected one by one.Wherein, just the luminescence unit referring to the print cartridge to be detected that printer driver is relative with optical receiver is detected to position luminous, and detect the process whether light quantity that optical receiver receives be greater than preset value, and adjacent light detection instigates above-mentioned print cartridge to be detected to maintain on the position relative with optical receiver, the luminescence unit of arbitrary print cartridge that printer driver is adjacent with above-mentioned print cartridge to be detected is luminous, and detects the process whether light quantity that optical receiver now receives be less than the above-mentioned light quantity received when just detecting position.As shown in Figure 1a, for print cartridge Y to be detected, mobile print cartridge Y makes itself and optical receiver be in just to position, the luminescence unit controlling print cartridge Y to be detected is luminous, optical receiver receives light, obtains the first light quantity S1, judges whether described first light quantity S1 is greater than predetermined threshold value, if so, then this print cartridge to be detected just detect correct to position.As shown in Figure 1 b, keep print cartridge invariant position, the luminescence unit controlling the adjacent print cartridge BK of print cartridge Y to be detected is luminous, optical receiver receives light, obtains the second light quantity S2, judges whether the second light quantity is less than predetermined threshold value, if so, then the adjacent light of this print cartridge Y to be detected detects correct.Otherwise, then determine just to detect position or adjacent light detection mistake.Only have the position that simultaneously just can be considered as this print cartridge by above-mentioned two kinds of detections correct.Wherein, above-mentioned print cartridge to be detected is interpreted as will carrying out just to the print cartridge that position is detected, and adjacent print cartridge is then interpreted as the arbitrary print cartridge adjacent with above-mentioned print cartridge to be detected.When print cartridge to be detected is BK print cartridge, can itself and optical receiver be made to be in just to position by mobile print cartridge BK print cartridge, print cartridge Y just becomes adjacent print cartridge, now the luminescence unit of printer driver print cartridge Y is luminous, be exactly that the adjacent light of print cartridge BK is detected, because print cartridge Y is in the adjacent position of print cartridge BK to be detected, now also can be considered as carrying out adjacent position detection to print cartridge Y.Generally, printer can carry out once just detecting position and an adjacent position detection to same print cartridge respectively.　

Embodiment one

With reference to the structure chart of the ink box chip that figure 2, Fig. 2 provides for the present embodiment, wherein, described ink box chip comprises: interface unit 21, control unit 22 and memory cell 23, and described control unit 22 is connected with luminescence unit 24;

Described interface unit 21, for receiving the light control instruction that described imaging device sends, described light control instruction comprises print cartridge identifying information;

In the present embodiment, light control instruction comprises print cartridge identifying information, and print cartridge identifying information, for identifying print cartridge, may be used for the print cartridge distinguishing different colours ink.Meanwhile, light control instruction also comprises the command information being used to indicate and lighting or extinguish luminescence unit.Light control instruction comprises the instruction of two types, and namely light lights instruction and light extinguishing instruction, and the command information that light extinguishing instruction comprises extinguishes luminescence unit; It is light luminescence unit that light lights the command information that instruction comprises.In addition, the connection between interface unit and imaging device, can adopt wired mode to connect, and wireless mode also can be adopted to connect.　

Described memory cell 23, for storing its own identification information and status indication, described status indication comprises executable state or non-executable state;

In the present embodiment, the information relevant to print cartridge can be stored in memory cell, the information relevant to print cartridge can be print cartridge its own identification information, print cartridge manufacturer, date of manufacture, used ink amount and ink remaining amount etc., print cartridge its own identification information can be ink color information, also can be the address of devices of memory cell, or other can distinguish the information of different toner cartridge type.In the present embodiment, also stored for status indication in memory cell, wherein, status indication is in executable state or non-executable state for identifying ink box chip.　

In practical application, this memory cell can adopt common nonvolatile memory, as EPROM, EEPROM, FLASH, ferroelectric memory and phase transition storage etc., also volatile memory can be adopted to add that power supply realizes, as SRAM+ battery or electric capacity, DRAM+ battery or electric capacity etc.The way of realization of concrete memory cell is unrestricted.　

In practical application, when meeting the condition that trigger state mark changes, in memory cell, status indication will change, and that is, the change of status indication can represent that ink box chip changes to another one state from current state.Such as, status indication can represent, as flag=0 with the mark flag of 1 bit that takes up space, the current state of expression ink box chip is executable state, contrary, as flag=1, represent that the current state of ink box chip is not executable state.If current flag=1, and when meeting the condition of trigger state mark change, status indication flag will change into flag=0 from flag=1, otherwise then flag=1 remains unchanged.　

In addition, the initial default value of status indication can be in executable state for the state of the current ink box chip of instruction, or not executable state can be in for current instruction ink box chip, concrete, can arrange in advance according to the light examine repair of different imaging device.Such as, when imaging device first carries out just detecting position to print cartridge, after carry out adjacent position when detecting, the initial default value that can arrange status indication is in executable state for the current ink box chip of instruction; And adjacent position detection is first carried out to print cartridge when imaging device, after when carrying out just detecting position, the initial default value that can arrange status indication is in not executable state for indicating current ink box chip.　

It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, the initial default value of status indication can be in executable state or the value for indicating ink box chip to be in not executable state for the state of the described ink box chip of instruction, specifically can arrange according to the light inspection characteristic of different imaging device, when imaging device first carries out just detecting position to print cartridge, after carry out adjacent position when detecting, the initial default value that can arrange status indication is represent that ink box chip is in the value of executable state; When imaging device first carries out adjacent position detection to print cartridge, after when carrying out just detecting position, the initial default value that can arrange status indication is represent that ink box chip is in the value of not executable state.The value of status indication, when ink box chip power-up initializing, (imaging device starts to power to ink box chip, control unit detects that power supply is for seasonable), or when imaging device stops powering to ink box chip, or when receiving the light control instruction comprising specific print cartridge identifying information, recover its default value.

Described luminescence unit 24 is connected with described control unit 22, and for performing described light control instruction, the type of described light control instruction comprises light and lights instruction or light extinguishing instruction;

In each embodiment of the present invention, luminescence unit can be arranged on ink box chip, also can not be arranged on ink box chip, but be connected to control unit by attaching parts, concrete, attaching parts can be wire or electrical pickoff, or also can wirelessly realize connecting.　

In addition, luminescence unit can be electroluminescent parts, can be light emitting diode (LED), laser diode, fluorescent lamp and tengsten lamp etc. particularly, not limited at this.Meanwhile, the light that luminescence unit sends can be visible ray, also can be black light.　

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, the luminescence unit in the present embodiment both can be arranged on the position directly relative with optical receiver, also can be arranged on the position deviated, and utilize optical guidance parts that light is guided to optical receiver.　

Described control unit 22 is connected with described memory cell 23 with described interface unit 21, for when described interface unit receives described light control instruction, control described luminescence unit according to the status indication in the type of described light control instruction and described memory cell and perform described light control instruction; After described luminescence unit performs described light control instruction, according to the incidence relation of described print cartridge identifying information and described its own identification information, redefine status indication.

In the present embodiment, control unit for the treatment of the light control instruction received by interface unit, and controls light luminescence unit or extinguish luminescence unit according to the type of light control instruction and the status indication of ink box chip.That is, when described ink box chip is executable state, control unit can be lighted instruction according to described light and light luminescence unit, and when described ink box chip be not executable state time, do not perform described light and light instruction, be equivalent to locking luminescence unit and be in current state (namely keeping extinguishing or keep to light).Visible, whether the status indication in the present embodiment is only used to indicate light and lights instruction and can perform.　

Particularly, when interface unit receive light light instruction time, control unit judges whether ink box chip is executable state, if so, then control light luminescence unit, if changed into not executable state, then controlled not perform the operation of lighting luminescence unit; And further, consider the difference of different control units response speed, when control unit judges that ink box chip is executable state, can control directly to light luminescence unit, or after also can carrying out the time delay of some clock cycle (such as 300 milliseconds), then control to light luminescence unit.　

In addition, control unit is after judging whether to perform light lighting instruction, all right, according to the incidence relation of described print cartridge identifying information with described its own identification information, redefines status indication, namely controls the state of renewal ink box chip.Particularly, when the light that interface unit receives light instruction or light extinguish the print cartridge identifying information comprised in instruction be associated with its own identification information that memory cell stores time, control unit rewrites the status indication in memory cell, thus changes the current state of print cartridge.Wherein, print cartridge identifying information and its own identification information are associated and refer to and to match or identical, or have specific relation, and such as same numerical value carries out recording namely can being expressed as with hexadecimal and octal system respectively and is associated.　

It should be noted that, the ink box chip that the present embodiment provides can be connected to imaging device by communication bus, when multiple all need to be connected with imaging device as the ink box chip in above-described embodiment time, then these ink box chips can be connected to imaging device by same communication bus, receive the light control instruction that this imaging device sends.　

With reference to the workflow diagram of the ink box chip that figure 3, Fig. 3 provides for the present embodiment, specifically can comprise:

Step S01: receive the light control instruction that imaging device sends, described light control instruction comprises print cartridge identifying information.　

Step S02: whether the type judging light control instruction is that light lights instruction, if so, then performs step S04, otherwise performs step S03.　

Wherein, judge light control instruction, namely judge that this instruction is that light lights instruction, or light extinguishes instruction.　

Step S03: extinguish luminescence unit.　

Step S04: judge whether the current status indication of ink box chip is executable state, if so, then perform step S05, otherwise, perform step S08;

Wherein, according to the judged result of the state of ink box chip, determine whether needing to light luminescence unit, if ink box chip is in not executable state, then do not light luminescence unit; If ink box chip is in executable state, then light luminescence unit.　

Step S05: light luminescence unit.　

Step S06: judge whether print cartridge identifying information is associated with its own identification information, if so, then performs step S07, if not, then performs step S08.　

Step S07: change the status indication that ink box chip is current;

If current state is executable state, then change into not executable state, if current state is not executable state, then change into executable state.　

Step S08: maintain the state that ink box chip is current.　

Wherein, step S02 and SO4 relates separately to and judges the type of light control instruction and the status indication of ink box chip, in practical application, these two steps also can be carried out simultaneously, or first judge the state of ink box chip, the type of rear judgement light control instruction, the execution sequence of these two steps does not affect the enforcement of the present embodiment.　

In above-mentioned steps S06, can be that light is lighted instruction or light and extinguished instruction according to the characteristic selection and comparison of imaging device, because light lights instruction and light extinguishing instruction always successively appearance in pairs, the print cartridge identifying information of its correspondence is also identical simultaneously, then can adopt the mode of selecting, namely only select wherein a kind of instruction to carry out print cartridge identifying information wherein; When only have light light instruction there is corresponding print cartridge identifying information time, then light can only be selected to light compared with print cartridge identifying information corresponding to instruction store its own identification information with ink box chip.　

In addition, the ink box chip that the present embodiment provides can also when ink box chip powers on, control unit detects that ink box chip is in the power-up initializing stage, is just lighted by luminescence unit in advance, and does not need the light by the time receiving imaging device to light instruction just to light luminescence unit.This makes the print cartridge of the ink box chip provided with the present embodiment be installed in imaging device, if now imaging device is powered to ink box chip, then luminescence unit just can be directly luminous, by this phenomenon, user then can know that the electrical contact of ink box chip and imaging device is normal in advance.Should be noted this advantage not only luminescence unit launch visible ray just have, even if what luminescence unit was launched is black light, such as ultraviolet, when the position that luminescence unit on print cartridge or imaging device can be irradiated to is provided with fluorescent material, ultraviolet can force fluorescent material luminous, plays the effect of prompting user equally.　

Be use existing ink box chip to carry out the flow chart of print cartridge position detection with reference to figure 4 and Fig. 5, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 carries out the flow chart of print cartridge position detection for the ink box chip using the present embodiment and provide.Comparing by Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, further illustrates the advantage of the ink box chip that the present embodiment provides.　

Wherein, step S11 in Fig. 4 is one_to_one corresponding to the step S21 in step S17 and Fig. 5 to step S27, in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, (B) part is the control method detected print cartridge position, (A) part is all luminescence phenomenons of luminescence unit, suppose that imaging device first carries out once just detecting position to print cartridge, after carry out adjacent position and detect.　

In Fig. 4, step S11 and S13 carries out just to the step that position is detected and adjacent position is detected to print cartridge C respectively, wherein, because these four print cartridges are connected to imaging device by same communication bus, each print cartridge can receive the light control instruction that imaging device sends to any one print cartridge, instruction is lighted when imaging device all sends the identical light with print cartridge C identifying information, owing to only having the identifying information chip of print cartridge C storing print cartridge C, therefore print cartridge C is only had to be lit, after continuing for some time, print cartridge C is imaged the light extinguishing instruction extinguishing (not embodying the effect that light extinguishes instruction in Fig. 4) that equipment sends.　

Step S12 and S15 carries out just to the stage that position is detected and adjacent position is detected to print cartridge M respectively, in these two stages, imaging device all sends the identical light with print cartridge M identifying information and lights instruction, in like manner, therefore print cartridge M is only had to be lit, after continuing for some time, print cartridge M is imaged the light extinguishing instruction extinguishing that equipment sends.　

Step S14 and S17 carries out just to the stage that position is detected and adjacent position is detected to print cartridge Y respectively, in these two stages, imaging device all sends the identical light with print cartridge Y identifying information and lights instruction, therefore print cartridge Y is only had to be lit, after continuing for some time, print cartridge Y is imaged the light extinguishing instruction extinguishing that equipment sends.　

Step S16 carries out just to the stage that position is detected to print cartridge BK, because BK is last print cartridge to be detected, when print cartridge above is all arranged on tram, print cartridge BK has also been installed to correct position certainly, therefore often only carries out just detecting position to print cartridge BK.In this stage, imaging device sends and lights instruction with the light of print cartridge BK identifying information, therefore only has print cartridge BK to be lit, and after continuing for some time, print cartridge BK is imaged the light extinguishing instruction extinguishing that equipment sends.　

In Fig. 5, the initial default value of the status indication of print cartridge C, M, Y and BK is all represent that ink box chip is in executable state, because these four print cartridges are connected to imaging device by same communication bus, each print cartridge can receive the light control instruction that imaging device sends to any one print cartridge, therefore, in step S21, the luminescence unit of all print cartridges is all lit.Again due to imaging device transmission in step S11 is light instruction with the light of print cartridge C identifying information, therefore only has the ink box chip state of print cartridge C to need to upgrade, changes into not executable state from executable state.　

Step S22, except print cartridge C is in not executable state, remaining is all in executable state, therefore when the light with print cartridge M identifying information receiving imaging device transmission lights instruction, print cartridge M, Y and BK have lighted, and print cartridge C can not be lit.With above-mentioned steps similarly, then the ink box chip state of print cartridge M changes into not executable state from executable state.　

Step S23, the ink box chip of print cartridge C and print cartridge M is all in not executable state, therefore when the light receiving the identifying information with print cartridge C that imaging device sends lights instruction, the luminescence unit of print cartridge C and print cartridge M all can not be lighted, the luminescence unit of print cartridge Y and print cartridge BK is all lighted, and then the ink box chip of print cartridge C changes into executable state.　

Step S24, similar with above-mentioned steps, print cartridge C, Y and BK that ink box chip is in executable state can light, and print cartridge M can not light, and then the ink box chip of print cartridge Y changes into not executable state.　

Step S25, print cartridge C and BK lights, and print cartridge M and Y can not light.The ink box chip of print cartridge M changes into executable state.　

Step S26, print cartridge C, M and BK light, and print cartridge Y can not light.The ink box chip of print cartridge BK changes into not executable state.　

Step S27, print cartridge C and M lights, and print cartridge Y and BK can not light.The ink box chip of print cartridge Y changes into executable state.　

From above-mentioned contrast, just in the step S21 of stage position detection, S22, S24 and S26 in Fig. 5, have at least the luminescence unit of two print cartridges simultaneously luminous, the light quantity received by optical receiver when just position being detected can be increased.And in the step S23, S25 and S27 of adjacent position detection-phase, compare step S13, S15 and S17 corresponding in Fig. 4, originally the luminescence unit should lighted all no longer is lighted, luminous quantity received by optical receiver can be reduced when adjacent position is detected (if further in the structure of print cartridge, arrange and stop that luminescence unit is to some directions scattered light, then can reduce the luminous quantity received more).Therefore, ink box chip provided by the invention and light-emitting control method, only need on existing ink box chip basis, increase status indication, just can reduce the rate of false alarm of the imaging device that the foozle because of luminescence unit or print cartridge causes, in addition, even if it also avoid multiple print cartridges that multiple chip is lighted or extinguishing scheme exists to be installed to wrong position, the defect of imaging device also None-identified simultaneously.　

Embodiment two

Some imaging device existing, before carrying out light detection to print cartridge, also needs to carry out revolving horse lantern detection.For the print cartridge arrangement mode in Fig. 4, so-called revolving horse lantern detects, refer to allow optical receiver and one of them print cartridge just right, then the luminescence unit of print cartridge is lighted successively once from a direction to another direction, such as from the left side, the luminescence unit lighted successively on print cartridge C, M, Y and BK is each once, judges whether optical receiver receives light always.The ink box chip of above-described embodiment possibly cannot meet the revolving horse lantern testing requirement of imaging device, and print cartridge is defective or illegal to cause imaging device to be thought.Therefore, the ink box chip that the present embodiment provides, its light that not only can meet imaging device detects, and the revolving horse lantern that can also meet imaging device detects.　

The ink box chip that the present embodiment provides has the similar structure of the ink box chip that provides with embodiment one, and also comprise interface unit, control unit, memory cell, wherein, control unit can also be connected with any one luminescence unit, controls this luminescence unit.The annexation of the unit of the ink box chip that the present embodiment provides and existence form are also identical with the ink box chip that embodiment one provides, do not repeat them here, only introduce different places.　

Wherein, the memory cell that the ink box chip that the present embodiment provides comprises, at least stores its own identification information and light setting information.Meanwhile, the structure chart of the control unit of the ink box chip provided for the present embodiment with reference to figure 6, Fig. 6, wherein, control unit 22 comprises instruction identification module 221, print cartridge identification module 222, match counter 223 and illuminated switch module 224.　

In practical application, instruction identification module, for identifying the type of the light control instruction that described interface unit receives; Instruction identification module is for identifying that the light control instruction received is that light extinguishes instruction or light lights instruction; Described illuminated switch module, for in the light control instruction of described instruction identification module identification be light light instruction time, obtain current count result, the control information corresponding with described current count result is obtained in light setting information in described memory cell, described control information comprises forbidding lighting lights with enable, and controls described luminescence unit and perform described control information; Described print cartridge identification module, for judging whether the described its own identification information that described print cartridge identifying information and memory cell store is associated; Described match counter, for when described print cartridge identifying information is associated with described its own identification information, current count result increases by 1.

Wherein, match counter is for adding up the reception number of times of the light control instruction be associated with the print cartridge identifying information in memory cell.Illuminated switch module is used for according to the count results of light setting information, match counter and the type of light control instruction, controls light or extinguish the luminescence unit being connected to control unit.　

The light setting information stored in memory cell and current count results are for representing the status indication of ink box chip, wherein, light setting information can comprise the corresponding relation of count results and control information, described control information comprises forbidding lighting lights with enable, and described control information simultaneously can also comprise release illuminated switch module.Can also store command reception mark in memory cell, the functional status of described command reception mark for marking described illuminated switch module, described functional status is upstate or down state.Described command reception mark may be used for representing ink box chip init state, also namely: whether command reception mark have received all types of light in revolving horse lantern testing process and light instruction or light for recording ink box chip and extinguish instruction, such as, when print cartridge needs to carry out revolving horse lantern detection, if this ink box chip receives all types of light in revolving horse lantern testing process and lights instruction or light extinguishing instruction, then this command reception label record said process.When ink box chip initializes, the initial value of this command reception mark represents that ink box chip does not also receive all types of light in revolving horse lantern detection and lights instruction or light extinguishing instruction.Print cartridge identification module can also be used for when command reception is labeled as initial value, judge whether ink box chip have received all types of light in revolving horse lantern testing process and light instruction or light extinguishing instruction, accordingly, the print cartridge identifying information storing other each print cartridges is also needed in the memory cell of ink box chip.When print cartridge identification module determine ink box chip have received all types of light in revolving horse lantern testing process light instruction or light extinguish instruction time, the initial value that command reception marks is revised as the value representing and all received.And when command reception is labeled as initial value, illuminated switch module can not light luminescence unit.　

Because the light corresponding with print cartridge identifying information lights instruction and light, to extinguish instruction be all successively occur in pairs substantially, print cartridge identification module only can be lighted instruction to light and identify, correspondingly match counter is also only lighted instruction to light and counted; Same, print cartridge identification module also only can extinguish instruction to light and identify, correspondingly match counter also only counts light extinguishing instruction.Similarly command reception mark only can record ink box chip and whether have received all types of light in revolving horse lantern testing process and light instruction, or only records ink box chip and whether have received all types of light in revolving horse lantern testing process and extinguish instruction.　

As follows, citing illustrates that the ink box chip using this enforcement to provide carries out the process of print cartridge position detection.Suppose that imaging device detects print cartridge advanced person walking barn lantern, then the light carried out as the step S11 to S17 of Fig. 4 detects, simultaneously, the toner cartridge type that imaging device is installed arranges identical with print cartridge C, M, the Y shown in Fig. 4 with BK with print cartridge positional alignment order, and carries out revolving horse lantern detection with the light control instruction sending order of table 1 to these four print cartridges.Finally, imaging device completes and to detect the revolving horse lantern of print cartridge and after light detects, send light by the ink box chip circulation of breaking down to certain or some or the life-span is about to stop and light instruction and light extinguishing instruction, inform the print cartridge that user is broken down in a flashing manner.Obviously, when informing the print cartridge that user is broken down, must show in mode accurately.　

Sequence number	Instruction type	Sequence number	Instruction type	Sequence number	Instruction type
						1	Light print cartridge C	4	Extinguish print cartridge M	7	Light print cartridge BK

2	Extinguish print cartridge C	5	Light print cartridge Y	8	Extinguish print cartridge BK
						3	Light print cartridge M	6	Extinguish print cartridge Y

Table 1

Suppose that match counter is incremental count, and count from zero, when print cartridge identification module judges that the print cartridge identifying information received is associated with its own identification information that memory cell stores, match counter increases counting once, only lights instruction to light and counts.Meanwhile, according to the light examine repair of this imaging device, can arrange light setting information in advance in the memory cell of print cartridge C, M and Y is:

When match counter is counted as 0, control information is for forbidding that illuminated switch module lights luminescence unit;

When match counter is counted as 1, control information is that enable illuminated switch module lights luminescence unit;

When match counter is counted as 2, control information is for forbidding that illuminated switch module lights luminescence unit;

When match counter is counted as more than 3 and 3 several, control information is the function of release illuminated switch module, when print cartridge identification module judges that the print cartridge identifying information that the light received lights instruction is associated with its own identification information that memory cell stores, illuminated switch module lights luminescence unit;

The initial value of command reception mark represents that ink box chip does not also receive all types of light in revolving horse lantern testing process and lights instruction.　

Owing to only carrying out just detecting position to print cartridge BK in step S16 in the diagram, do not carry out adjacent position detection, therefore the light setting information of other ink box chips is compared, the light setting information of print cartridge BK is when match counter is counted as more than 2 and 2 several, and control information is the function of release illuminated switch module.　

In sequence number 1 to the sequence number 8 instruction period of above-mentioned table 1, optical receiver and print cartridge C just right, revolving horse lantern detection is carried out to print cartridge C, M, Y and BK.Light successively and extinguish the luminescence unit on these four print cartridges.　

Sequence number 1 to the 2 instruction period, each ink box chip by instruction identification module determine sequence number 1 be light light instruction time, because the match counter counting of now all ink box chips is all zero, according to the light setting information of memory cell, this period does not have luminescence unit to be lighted by illuminated switch module, then the light that print cartridge identification module determines sequence number 1 is lighted instruction and is contained print cartridge C identifying information, and therefore only have the match counter increase of print cartridge C once to count, count value becomes 1.When what instruction identification module determined sequence number 2 is light extinguishing instruction, luminescence unit by the impact of light setting information, does not extinguish by illuminated switch module.Print cartridge identification module and match counter do not extinguish instruction to the light of sequence number 2 and process.　

Sequence number 3 to the 4 instruction period, each ink box chip by instruction identification module determine sequence number 3 be light light instruction time, the match counter counting of print cartridge M, Y and BK is all zero, according to the light setting information of memory cell, this period luminescence unit of print cartridge M, Y and BK all can not be lighted by illuminated switch module; The match counter of print cartridge C is counted as 1, and according to the control information in the light setting information of memory cell, the luminous development module of print cartridge C is enabled, but is still initial value because command reception marks, and the luminescence unit of print cartridge C still can not be lit.Then the light that print cartridge identification module determines sequence number 3 is lighted instruction and is contained print cartridge M identifying information, and therefore only have the match counter increase of print cartridge M once to count, count value becomes 1.When what instruction identification module determined sequence number 4 is light extinguishing instruction, luminescence unit by the impact of light setting information, does not extinguish by illuminated switch module.Print cartridge identification module and match counter do not extinguish instruction to the light of sequence number 4 and process.　

Sequence number 5 to the 6 instruction period, in like manner, the luminescence unit of print cartridge is not still had to be lit.The light that print cartridge identification module determines sequence number 5 is lighted instruction and is contained print cartridge Y identifying information, and the match counter increase of print cartridge Y once counts, and count value becomes 1.　

Sequence number 7 to the 8 instruction period, in like manner, the luminescence unit of print cartridge is not still had to be lit.The light that print cartridge identification module determines sequence number 7 is lighted instruction and is contained print cartridge BK identifying information, and the match counter increase of print cartridge BK once counts, and count value becomes 1.To now, the match counter of each ink box chip has all count down to 1, and the print cartridge identification module of each chip has all judged have received all types of light in revolving horse lantern testing process and lights instruction, therefore initial value has all been revised as the value representing that all types light in revolving horse lantern testing process is lighted instruction and received by the command reception mark of each ink box chip.When what instruction identification module determined sequence number 8 is light extinguishing instruction, luminescence unit by the impact of light setting information, does not extinguish by illuminated switch module.Print cartridge identification module and match counter do not extinguish instruction to the light of sequence number 8 and process.　

Therefore, in whole revolving horse lantern testing process, the luminescence unit of each ink box chip is not all lit.After completing revolving horse lantern detection, imaging device starts to carry out light detection to print cartridge, and in this light testing process, the light control instruction that imaging device sends ink box chip is the same with the step S11 to S17 in Fig. 4 with order.　

When receiving light that step S11 comprises the identifying information of print cartridge C and lighting instruction, because the match counter of each ink box chip has all count down to 1, initial value is all revised as the value representing that all types light in revolving horse lantern testing process is lighted instruction and received by the command reception mark of each ink box chip, and therefore the luminescence unit that control unit connects is lighted by all ink box chips.Again because this light lights the identifying information that instruction comprises print cartridge C, therefore the match counter increase of print cartridge C once counts, and count value becomes 2.When receiving light extinguishing instruction, luminescence unit all extinguishes by all print cartridges.　

When receiving light that step S12 comprises the identifying information of print cartridge M and lighting instruction, the match counter of print cartridge C has count down to 2, and therefore the luminescence unit of print cartridge C can not be lit, and remaining is all lighted.Again because this light lights the identifying information that instruction comprises print cartridge M, therefore the match counter increase of print cartridge M once counts, and count value becomes 2.When receiving light extinguishing instruction, luminescence unit all extinguishes by all print cartridges.　

When receiving light that step S13 comprises the identifying information of print cartridge C and lighting instruction, the match counter of print cartridge C and M has all count down to 2, and therefore the luminescence unit of print cartridge C and M can not be lit, and remaining is all lighted.Again because this light lights the identifying information that instruction comprises print cartridge C, therefore the match counter increase of print cartridge C once counts, and count value becomes 3.When receiving light extinguishing instruction, luminescence unit all extinguishes by all print cartridges.　

When the light comprising print cartridge Y identifying information receiving step S14 lights instruction, the match counter of print cartridge C and M has count down to 3 and 2 respectively, according to the setting of aforementioned light setting information, illuminated switch module is discharged when match counter count down to 3, therefore the luminescence unit of print cartridge C and M can not be lit, and remaining is all lighted.Again because this light lights the identifying information that instruction comprises print cartridge Y, therefore the match counter increase of print cartridge Y once counts, and count value becomes 2.When receiving light extinguishing instruction, luminescence unit all extinguishes by all print cartridges.　

When the light comprising print cartridge M identifying information receiving step S15 lights instruction, the match counter of print cartridge C, M and Y has count down to 3,2 and 2 respectively, according to the setting of aforementioned light setting information, illuminated switch module is discharged when match counter count down to 3, therefore the luminescence unit of print cartridge C, M and Y can not be lit, and only has the luminescence unit of print cartridge BK to be lit.Again because this light lights the identifying information that instruction comprises print cartridge M, therefore the match counter increase of print cartridge M once counts, and count value becomes 3.When receiving light extinguishing instruction, luminescence unit all extinguishes by all print cartridges.　

When the light comprising print cartridge BK identifying information receiving step S16 lights instruction, the match counter of print cartridge C, M and Y has count down to 3,3 and 2 respectively, according to the setting of aforementioned light setting information, the function of illuminated switch module is discharged when match counter count down to 3, therefore the luminescence unit of print cartridge C, M and Y can not be lit, and only has the luminescence unit of print cartridge BK to be lit.Again because this light lights the identifying information that instruction comprises print cartridge BK, therefore the match counter increase of print cartridge BK once counts, and count value becomes 2.When receiving light extinguishing instruction, luminescence unit all extinguishes by all print cartridges.　

When the light comprising print cartridge Y identifying information receiving step S17 lights instruction, the match counter of print cartridge C, M, Y and BK has count down to 3,3,2 and 2 respectively, according to the setting of aforementioned light setting information, the function of illuminated switch module is discharged when the match counter of print cartridge C and M count down to 3, discharge the function of illuminated switch module when the match counter of print cartridge BK count down to 2, therefore the luminescence unit of print cartridge C, M, Y and BK all can not be lit.Again because this light lights the identifying information that instruction comprises print cartridge Y, therefore the match counter increase of print cartridge Y once counts, and count value becomes 3.When receiving light extinguishing instruction, luminescence unit all extinguishes by all print cartridges.Visible, the luminescence phenomenon that in similar Fig. 9 of luminescence unit luminescence phenomenon of the present embodiment, left side is shown.　

So far, the match counter of all ink box chips has all count down to the numerical value of each self-defining release illuminated switch print cartridge, and imaging device can carry out light emitting control accurately to certain specific ink box chip.Therefore, after imaging device carries out revolving horse lantern detection and light detection to print cartridge, if find that certain print cartridge is installed wrong or certain ink box chip and is about to stop the life-span (being generally find that ink soon runs out of after testing), just can by sending the light control instruction with this print cartridge identifying information, the light-emitting unit controlled on this print cartridge is luminous, to reach the effect of prompting user.The ink box chip of visible employing the present embodiment and control method thereof, can not have influence on the function that this is precisely pointed out.　

It is to be noted, some imaging device revolving horse lantern detect with light testing process in send to the light of ink box chip to light instruction and the light sent after these two phases to light instruction different, the such as same light comprising print cartridge C identifying information lights instruction, when this two stages, instruction can be a kind of form, and after these two stages, instruction is but another form.Because ink box chip is when the light receiving these two kinds of different-formats lights instruction, different to the control of luminescence unit, namely when this two stages, if ink box chip receives light and lights instruction, luminescence unit will by constant voltage driven, keep long bright, so can claim thisly to light instruction for long bright light rays; And after these two phases, if ink box chip receives light when lighting instruction, luminescence unit will by pulsewidth modulation (Pulse-Width Modulation, PWM) voltage driven, glisteningly bright, so can claim thisly to light instruction for scintillation light.Light instruction and glittering light due to long bright light rays to light instruction and have obvious difference, therefore, only instruction configuration light setting information can be lighted for long bright light rays in the present embodiment, do not need to light function to the release of illuminated switch module yet, ink box chip is lighted to glittering light the mode that instruction can adopt release to light function and is processed, namely, when print cartridge identification module judges that the print cartridge identifying information that the glittering light received lights instruction is associated with its own identification information that memory cell stores, illuminated switch module lights luminescence unit.　

Match counter in the present embodiment and command reception mark, when ink box chip power-up initializing, or when imaging device stops powering to ink box chip, carry out resetting or recovering default value.In addition, in the present embodiment, when ink box chip powers on, control unit detects that ink box chip is in the power-up initializing stage, is just lighted by luminescence unit in advance, and does not need the light by the time receiving imaging device to light instruction.Such advantage is: when the print cartridge of the ink box chip with the present embodiment is installed in imaging device, if now imaging device is powered to ink box chip, then luminescence unit just can be luminous, by this phenomenon, user can know that the electrical contact of ink box chip and imaging device is normal in advance.　　

Embodiment three

The ink box chip that the present embodiment provides has the structure similar with embodiment one, also comprises interface unit, control unit, memory cell and luminescence unit.The present embodiment the annexation of unit of ink box chip identical with the ink box chip of embodiment one with existence form, do not repeat them here, only introduce different places.　

The memory cell of the ink box chip that the present embodiment provides, at least stores its own identification information.It should be noted that the control unit of the ink box chip that the present embodiment provides can only perform light and extinguish instruction, when meeting default extinguishing condition, luminescence unit being extinguished.　

Particularly, when ink box chip powers on, control unit detects that ink box chip is in the power-up initializing stage, is just lighted by luminescence unit in advance, and does not need the light by the time receiving imaging device to light instruction.Such advantage is: when the print cartridge of the ink box chip provided with the present embodiment is installed in imaging device, if now imaging device is powered to ink box chip, then luminescence unit just can be luminous, by this phenomenon, user can know that the electrical contact of ink box chip and imaging device is normal in advance.　

After this, control unit receives light that imaging device sends when lighting instruction, because luminescence unit is lighted, no longer performs this instruction.After a period of time, imaging device sends light and extinguishes instruction, after control unit receives this light extinguishing instruction by interface unit, judge whether to meet and preset extinguishing condition, namely judge whether the print cartridge identifying information received is associated with its own identification information stored in memory cell, if association, then control to extinguish luminescence unit.

With reference to the workflow diagram of the ink box chip that figure 7, Fig. 7 provides for the present embodiment, specifically can comprise:

Step S31, starts to power to ink box chip at imaging device, during ink box chip power-up initializing, is lighted by the luminescence unit being connected to control unit.　

Step S32, control unit receives the light control instruction of imaging device transmission by interface unit, and described light control instruction comprises print cartridge identifying information.　

Step S33, control unit judges whether the type of light control instruction is that light extinguishes instruction, if so, goes to step S35; If not, S34 is gone to step;

Step S34, does not perform light control instruction, maintains the present situation of luminescence unit;

If current state luminescence unit is lighted, then keep lighting; If current state luminescence unit extinguishes, then maintain extinguishing.　

Step S35, control unit judges whether print cartridge identifying information is associated with its own identification information stored in memory cell, if so, goes to step S36.If not, S34 is gone to step;

Step S36, control unit controls to extinguish luminescence unit.　

Obviously, the course of work of above-mentioned ink box chip requires that the light control instruction that imaging device sends must comprise print cartridge identifying information, but the light control instruction that not all types of imaging device sends all necessarily comprises print cartridge identifying information, therefore, the present embodiment can also do following change to ink box chip:

The memory cell of ink box chip is except storing its own identification information, also at least store status marks, the state that status indication is used to indicate described ink box chip is in executable state or non-executable state, its definition and default value set-up mode are described in embodiment one, repeat no more herein.Different from embodiment one, whether the status indication of the present embodiment is used to indicate light extinguishing instruction can perform.　

In addition, control unit is judging that light control instruction is after light lights instruction, according to preset trigger condition, can also control the state upgrading ink box chip.Particularly, when interface unit receive light light the print cartridge identifying information comprised in instruction be associated with its own identification information that memory cell stores time, control unit rewrites the status indication in memory cell, thus changes the current state of print cartridge.　

With reference to the workflow diagram of the ink box chip that figure 8, Fig. 8 provides for the present embodiment, wherein, the memory cell store status mark of this ink box chip, this flow chart specifically can comprise:

Step S41, starts to power to ink box chip at imaging device, during ink box chip power-up initializing, is lighted by the luminescence unit being connected to control unit.　

Step S42, control unit receives the light control instruction of imaging device transmission by interface unit, and described light control instruction comprises print cartridge identifying information.　

Step S43, control unit judges whether the type of light control instruction is that light extinguishes instruction, if so, goes to step S44; If not, S45 is gone to step.　

Step S44, judges whether the current status indication of ink box chip is in executable state, if so, then goes to step S46; If not, S47 is gone to step.　

Judge whether to meet and preset extinguishing condition, namely judge the state of ink box chip, determine whether needing to extinguish luminescence unit.　

Step S45, control unit judges that light that interface module receives is lighted the print cartridge identifying information comprised in instruction and whether is associated with its own identification information stored in memory cell, if not, goes to step S47; If so, S48 is gone to step.　

Step S46, control unit controls to extinguish luminescence unit.　

Step S47, does not perform light control instruction, maintains the present situation of luminescence unit.

Step S48, changes the state that ink box chip is current.　

Visible, owing to increasing status indication in the memory unit, the light print cartridge identifying information lighted in instruction is utilized precisely to extinguish the luminescence unit of applicable ink box chip, even if the light received extinguishes in instruction do not comprise print cartridge identifying information, this avoid the luminescence unit that other can't be extinguished and extinguish.　

Below, for the light control instruction that imaging device sends, this light control instruction comprises print cartridge identifying information simultaneously, with reference to figure 9, the flow chart of Fig. 9 for using the ink box chip that provides of the present embodiment to carry out the detection of print cartridge position, by (A) part shown in Fig. 9 and (B) part, the present embodiment advantage is described, supposes that the default value of the status indication of memory cell represents that ink box chip is in not executable state:

Step S51, starts to power to ink box chip at imaging device, during ink box chip power-up initializing, is lighted by the luminescence unit being connected to control unit.　

Step S52, successively receives the light corresponding with print cartridge C identifying information and lights instruction and light extinguishes instruction.　

The light comprising print cartridge C identifying information that ink box chip first receives imaging device transmission lights instruction, the luminescence unit of all print cartridges all maintains original luminance, memory cell is stored to the ink box chip of status indication, the ink box chip of print cartridge C can revise status indication, by ink box chip never executable state change into executable state.After a period of time, ink box chip receives the light extinguishing instruction comprising print cartridge C identifying information that imaging device sends again.Current state due to the ink box chip of print cartridge C is executable state, meets and presets extinguishing condition, therefore can perform this light and extinguish instruction, is extinguished by the luminescence unit on print cartridge C (not embodying the effect that light extinguishes instruction in Fig. 9); For the ink box chip at least storing its own identification information, its own identification information stored due to this print cartridge identifying information and the memory cell of print cartridge C is associated, and meets and presets extinguishing condition, so the luminescence unit of print cartridge C is extinguished.Although other ink box chips also receive light extinguish instruction, be all discontented with and can, with the default extinguishing condition extinguished, therefore all continue to keep luminous completely.　

Step S53, successively receives the light corresponding with print cartridge M identifying information and lights instruction and light extinguishes instruction.　

Light instruction for light, the luminescence unit of print cartridge C keeps extinguishing, and the luminescence unit of print cartridge M, Y and BK all keeps luminous.For store status mark ink box chip, the ink box chip of print cartridge M can revise current status indication, by ink box chip never executable state change into executable state.Extinguish instruction for light afterwards, the ink box chip of print cartridge M meets presets extinguishing condition, and the luminescence unit of print cartridge M is extinguished, and the luminescence unit of print cartridge Y and BK continues to keep luminous.　

Step S54, successively receives the light corresponding with print cartridge C identifying information and lights instruction and light extinguishes instruction.　

Light instruction for light, the luminescence unit of print cartridge C and M all keeps extinguishing, and the luminescence unit of print cartridge Y and BK all keeps luminous.Now the ink box chip of print cartridge C is which kind of state is nonsensical, now can also revise the state of status indication and then change ink box chip, also can arrange status indication and can only be modified once (therefore can not revise status indication more specifically).Extinguish instruction for light afterwards, print cartridge Y and BK meets default extinguishing condition, and its luminescence unit continues to keep luminous.　

Step S55, successively receives the light corresponding with print cartridge Y identifying information and lights instruction and light extinguishes instruction.　

Light instruction for light, the luminescence unit of print cartridge C and M all keeps extinguishing, and the luminescence unit of print cartridge Y and BK all keeps luminous.For store status mark ink box chip, the ink box chip of print cartridge Y can revise current status indication, by ink box chip never executable state change into executable state.Extinguish instruction for light afterwards, the ink box chip of print cartridge Y meets presets extinguishing condition, and the luminescence unit of print cartridge Y is extinguished, and the luminescence unit of print cartridge BK continues to keep luminous.　

Step S56, successively receives the light corresponding with print cartridge M identifying information and lights instruction and light extinguishes instruction.　

Light instruction for light, the luminescence unit of print cartridge C, M and Y all keeps extinguishing, and the luminescence unit of print cartridge BK keeps luminous.Now the ink box chip of print cartridge M is which kind of state is nonsensical, now can also revise the state of current status indication and then change ink box chip, status indication also can be set and can only be modified once (therefore can not revise status indication more specifically).Extinguish instruction for light afterwards, print cartridge BK does not meet default extinguishing condition, and its luminescence unit continues to keep luminous.　

Step S57, successively receives the light corresponding with print cartridge BK identifying information and lights instruction and light extinguishes instruction.　

Light instruction for light, the luminescence unit of print cartridge C, M and Y all keeps extinguishing, and the luminescence unit of print cartridge BK keeps luminous.For the ink box chip of store status mark, the ink box chip of print cartridge BK can revise current status indication by ink box chip never executable state change into executable state.Extinguish instruction for light afterwards, the ink box chip of print cartridge BK meets presets extinguishing condition, and the luminescence unit of print cartridge BK is extinguished, and to herein, the luminescence unit of all print cartridges has all been extinguished.　

Step S58, successively receives the light corresponding with print cartridge Y identifying information and lights instruction and light extinguishes instruction.　

Light instruction for light, the luminescence unit of print cartridge C, M, Y and BK all keeps extinguishing.Now the ink box chip of print cartridge Y is which kind of state is nonsensical, now can also revise the state of current status indication and then change ink box chip, status indication also can be set and can only be modified once (therefore can not revise status indication more specifically).Extinguish instruction for light afterwards, the luminescence unit of all print cartridges all keeps extinguishing.　

Visible, the ink box chip of the present embodiment two schemes and light-emitting control method thereof, do not perform light and light instruction, and whether meet execution light extinguishing instruction selectively according to pre-conditioned, all serve the technique effect of embodiment one: the rate of false alarm reducing the imaging device that the foozle because of luminescence unit or print cartridge causes, even if it also avoid multiple print cartridges that multiple chip is lighted or extinguishing scheme exists to be installed to wrong position, the defect of imaging device also None-identified simultaneously.　

Embodiment four

The ink box chip that the present embodiment provides has the structure similar with embodiment one, also comprises interface unit, control unit, memory cell and luminescence unit.The annexation of the unit of the ink box chip that the present embodiment provides is identical with the ink box chip of embodiment one with existence form, does not repeat them here, and only introduces different places.　

The memory cell of the present embodiment, at least stores its own identification information.Meanwhile, control unit performs light and lights instruction and light extinguishing instruction, when ink box chip receives light extinguishing instruction and meets default extinguishing condition, is extinguished by luminescence unit.　

Control unit receives light that imaging device sends when lighting instruction, the print cartridge identifying information sent with this instruction need not be considered, namely need not consider which control object is, the luminescence unit that directly can be operatively connected to control unit is luminous, or controls luminescence unit after time delay certain hour and carry out luminescence.After a period of time, imaging device sends light and extinguishes instruction, after control unit receives this light extinguishing instruction by interface unit, judge whether to meet and preset extinguishing condition, namely judge whether the print cartridge identifying information sent together along with light control instruction is associated with its own identification information stored in memory cell, if association, then control to extinguish luminescence unit.

With reference to the workflow diagram of the ink box chip that Figure 10, Figure 10 provide for the present embodiment, specifically can comprise:

Step S61, control unit receives the light control instruction sent of imaging device and print cartridge identifying information by interface unit.　

Step S62, judges whether light control instruction is that light lights instruction, if not, then jumps to step S63, if so, jumps to step S66.　

Step S63, control unit judges whether the print cartridge identifying information received is associated with its own identification information stored in memory cell, if not, jumps to step S64; If so, S65 is gone to step.　

Step S64, does not perform light control instruction, maintains the present situation of luminescence unit;

Step S65, control unit controls to extinguish luminescence unit.　

Step S66, control unit starts timing, and judges whether receive new light control instruction before timing terminates, if so, then jump to step S62; Otherwise jump to step S67.　

Suppose that timer expiration value is T, arrive in this process of T to timing in beginning timing, control unit judges whether to have received new light control instruction, if having received new light control instruction, then jumps to step S62; On the contrary, if in this process, do not receive new light control instruction, just jump to step S67.　

The present embodiment considers the difference of different components and parts and logic circuit response speed, when determining all conditions meeting and light luminescence, can control directly to light luminescence unit, also after can carrying out the time delay of some clock cycle (any one value such as between 10 to 950 milliseconds), then control to light luminescence unit.Time delay between different ink box chip can be identical, also can set separately.　

Step S67, at the end of timing, lights luminescence unit.　

When timing arrives T, at the end of being also timing, control unit controls to light luminescence unit.This controls after being just equivalent to time delay timing T to light luminescence unit again.　

Obviously, above-mentioned ink box chip workflow requires that light extinguishes in instruction must include print cartridge identifying information, but the light that not all types of imaging device sends extinguishes instruction all with print cartridge identifying information.Therefore, following change can also be done to ink box chip:

The memory cell of ink box chip is except storing its own identification information, also at least store status indication, the state that status indication is used to indicate described ink box chip is in executable state or non-executable state, its definition and default value set-up mode are described in embodiment one, repeat no more herein.Different from embodiment one, whether the status indication of the present embodiment is used to indicate light extinguishing instruction can perform.　

In addition, control unit, judging that light control instruction is after light lights instruction, also according to preset trigger condition, controls the state upgrading ink box chip.Particularly, when its own identification information that the print cartridge identifying information and the memory cell that receive while the light that interface unit receives lights instruction store is associated, control unit rewrites the status indication in memory cell, thus changes the current state of ink box chip; When control unit extinguishes luminescence unit, control unit also rewrites the status indication in memory cell, thus changes the current state of ink box chip.Receive light at control unit and extinguish instruction, and when the state of ink box chip is executable state, luminescence unit can extinguish by control unit.　

With reference to the workflow diagram of the ink box chip that Figure 11, Figure 11 provide for the present embodiment, specifically can comprise:

Step S71, the light control instruction that control unit is sent by interface unit reception imaging device, described light control instruction comprises print cartridge identifying information.　

Step S72, judges whether light control instruction is that light lights instruction, if so, then jumps to step S73 and S75, otherwise, jump to step S77.　　

Step S73, control unit starts timing, and judges whether receive new light control instruction before timing terminates, if so, then jump to step S72; Otherwise jump to step S74.　

It is that light is when lighting instruction that control unit determines light control instruction, control unit starts timing, suppose that timer expiration value is T, arrive in this process of T in beginning timing to timing, control unit judges whether to have received new light control instruction, if have received new light control instruction, then jump to step S72; On the contrary, if in this process, do not receive new light control instruction, just jump to step S74.　

Step 74, at the end of timing, lights luminescence unit.　

Step S75, control unit determine light control instruction be light light instruction time, control unit judge receive print cartridge identifying information whether be associated with its own identification information stored in memory cell, if not, jump to step S76; If so, step S80 is jumped to.　

Step S76, maintains the state that ink box chip is current;

If current state is executable state, then maintain executable state; If current state is not executable state, then maintain not executable state.　

Step S77, it is light when extinguishing instruction that control unit determines light control instruction, judges whether the current status indication of ink box chip is in executable state, if so, then jumps to step S78, otherwise, jump to step S79;

Step S78, control unit controls to extinguish luminescence unit, and jumps to step S80.　

Step S79, does not perform light and extinguishes instruction, maintain the present situation of luminescence unit;

Step S80, changes ink box chip status indication;

If current state is executable state, then change into not executable state; If current state is not executable state, then change into executable state.　

Visible, owing to increasing status indication in the memory unit, the light print cartridge identifying information lighted in instruction is utilized precisely to extinguish the luminescence unit of applicable ink box chip, even if light extinguishes in instruction do not comprise print cartridge identifying information, doing so avoids the luminescence unit that other can't be extinguished and extinguish.　

The ink box chip of the present embodiment two schemes and light-emitting control method thereof, all serve the technique effect of embodiment one: the rate of false alarm reducing the imaging device that the foozle because of luminescence unit or print cartridge causes, even if it also avoid multiple print cartridges that multiple chip is lighted or the scheme extinguished exists to be installed to wrong position simultaneously, the defect of imaging device also None-identified.　

In addition, present invention also offers a kind of print cartridge, this print cartridge comprises the ink box chip at least one each embodiment above-mentioned, wherein, all ink box chips in this print cartridge can be connected to imaging device by same communication bus, receive the light control instruction that imaging device sends.In addition, present invention also offers a kind of print cartridge, described print cartridge can comprise the interface unit be not integrated on ink box chip, control unit and memory cell, wherein, be integrated in the interface unit on ink box chip in the interface unit, the control unit that comprise of described print cartridge equal with control method with the operation principle of memory cell to each embodiment above-mentioned, control unit is identical with memory cell.Concrete, described print cartridge comprises interface unit, control unit and memory cell, described interface unit, and for receiving the light control instruction that described imaging device sends, described light control instruction comprises print cartridge identifying information; Described memory cell, for storing its own identification information and status indication, described status indication comprises executable state or non-executable state; Described control unit is connected with arbitrary luminescence unit, and for performing described light control instruction, the type of described light control instruction comprises light and lights instruction or light extinguishing instruction; Described control unit is connected with described memory cell with described interface unit, for when described interface unit receives described light control instruction, control described luminescence unit according to the status indication in the type of described light control instruction and described memory cell and perform described light control instruction; After described luminescence unit performs described light control instruction, according to the incidence relation of described print cartridge identifying information and described its own identification information, redefine status indication.

Following situation is also applicable to each embodiment above-mentioned, but does not limit the scope of each embodiment, simply introduces below to it:

1. time delay is lighted

Consider the difference of different components and parts and logic circuit response speed, determine meet light all conditions of luminescence unit time, can control directly to light luminescence unit, also after can carrying out the time delay of some clock cycle (any one value such as between 10 to 950 milliseconds), then control to light luminescence unit.Time delay between different ink box chip can be identical, also can set separately.　

2. open process during over cap

When needing to change print cartridge or when finding that the installation of print cartridge exists abnormal, user carries out the maintenance of being correlated with regard to needing the over cap opened on imaging device, and print cartridge is installed to below over cap.When in each embodiment above-mentioned, when imaging device completes light detection, if ink box chip does not discharge the control to luminescence unit, then because the luminescence unit that is lit in each scheme above-mentioned can not be corresponding respectively with print cartridge identifying information, easily cause the mislead users when imaging device points out print cartridge to there is fault or other situations by luminescence unit to user.Again because imaging device is opening the flashing state of over cap by luminescence unit to the light control instruction sent during user feedback ink box chip state (such as aforesaid glittering light lights instruction); the light control instruction (such as aforesaid long bright light rays lights instruction) of carrying out when light detects print cartridge from imaging device is generally different; therefore; ink box chip can be configured and do not perform the light control instruction that imaging device sends when opening over cap; also namely control luminescence unit not luminous, avoid mislead users.Existing imaging device is often all equipped with display screen, and user can confirm the situation of print cartridge and ink box chip by display screen.　

3. print cartridge adapter rack (adapter)

As shown in figure 12, Figure 12 is the structural representation of print cartridge adapter rack, the control unit of above-mentioned ink box chip, memory cell and multiple luminescence unit 410 can be arranged on an adapter rack 400, and this adapter rack 400 is arranged between above-mentioned print cartridge and imaging equipment body, and adapter rack 400 is provided with the space 420 holding multiple print cartridge, namely this adapter rack 400 is first arranged on imaging equipment body, and then multiple print cartridge to be contained on adapter rack 400, now, each luminescence unit 410 and the multiple print cartridge one_to_one corresponding loaded.Can by the function set of each above-mentioned ink box chip on this adapter rack, each luminescence unit is controlled by respective control unit, or controls all luminescence units by a control unit.Each luminescence unit respectively from the memory cell one_to_one corresponding storing different print cartridge identifying information, according to the different control methods of each embodiment above-mentioned, luminescence unit corresponding to control store unit is luminous according to the control method of above-described embodiment.　

In Figure 12, in print cartridge adapter rack 400, multiple print cartridge can be installed, control unit in print cartridge adapter rack 400, memory cell can be identical with the number of luminescence unit, and described control unit, memory cell and luminescence unit have one-to-one relationship, then described control unit is connected with described interface unit and the memory cell corresponding with described control unit, for when described interface unit receives described light control instruction, control described luminescence unit corresponding to described control unit according to the status indication in the type of described light control instruction and described memory cell and perform described light control instruction, after described luminescence unit performs described light control instruction, according to the incidence relation of described print cartridge identifying information and described its own identification information, redefine status indication.　

Certainly, also the unit with identical function can be integrated together, print cartridge adapter rack 400 comprises only interface unit, only control unit, only a memory cell and at least one luminescence unit.Described control unit, specifically for when described interface unit receives described light control instruction, according to the status indication in the type of described light control instruction and described memory cell, control described luminescence unit corresponding to described light control instruction and perform described light control instruction; After described luminescence unit performs described light control instruction, according to the incidence relation of described print cartridge identifying information and described its own identification information, redefine status indication.The quantity being the print cartridge can installed according to adapter rack due to multiple luminescence unit is configured, then luminescence unit can be mapped with print cartridge identifying information, again by the print cartridge identifying information that light control instruction comprises, the described luminescence unit that light control instruction is corresponding just can be confirmed.　

In addition, different from the print cartridge adapter rack in Figure 12, also print cartridge adapter rack can be set to single print cartridge, that is this print cartridge adapter rack can only install a print cartridge, then such print cartridge adapter rack can comprise interface unit, at least one control unit, at least one memory cell and at least one luminescence unit.Be with the ink box chip difference of previous embodiment, interface unit, control unit, memory cell and luminescence unit are generally arranged on same printed circuit board (PCB) by ink box chip, and print cartridge adapter is arranged on same structure by interface unit, control unit, memory cell and luminescence unit, and may not on same printed circuit board (PCB).　

4. utilize match counter to control and whether perform light extinguishing instruction

The match counter mentioned in similar embodiment two, for the mode of the execution light extinguishing instruction that embodiment three and embodiment four adopt, the rule of light control instruction can also be sent according to imaging device, setting ink box chip when receiving certain light and extinguishing instruction, can just perform the operation of extinguishing luminescence unit.Such as match counter is for adding up the reception number of times of the light control instruction be associated with its own identification information in memory cell.When control unit finds that match counter has count down to certain preset value time, just can perform the light received and extinguish instruction, when counting does not reach this preset value or exceeded this preset value, just can not perform the light received and extinguish instruction.Similarly, the clearing mode of this match counter be also when ink box chip power-up initializing or power down time carry out restoring or resetting.　

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that: all or part of step realizing above-mentioned each embodiment of the method can have been come by programmed instruction or relevant hardware.Aforesaid program can be stored in a computer read/write memory medium.This program, when performing, performs the step comprising above-mentioned each embodiment of the method; And aforesaid storage medium comprises: ROM, RAM, magnetic disc or CD etc. various can be program code stored medium.

It should be noted that, in this article, the such as relational terms of first and second grades and so on is only used for an entity or operation to separate with another entity or operating space, and not necessarily requires or imply the relation that there is any this reality between these entities or operation or sequentially.And, term " comprises ", " comprising " or its other variant any are intended to contain comprising of nonexcludability, thus make to comprise the process of a series of key element, method, article or equipment and not only comprise those key elements, but also comprise other key element clearly do not listed, or also comprise by the intrinsic key element of this process, method, article or equipment.When not more restrictions, the key element limited by statement " comprising ... ", and be not precluded within process, method, article or the equipment comprising described key element and also there is other identical element.

Above ink box chip, print cartridge and print cartridge adapter rack that the embodiment of the present invention provides are described in detail, apply specific case herein to set forth principle of the present invention and embodiment, the explanation of above embodiment just understands method of the present invention and core concept thereof for helping; Meanwhile, for one of ordinary skill in the art, according to thought of the present invention, all will change in specific embodiments and applications, in sum, this description should not be construed as limitation of the present invention.

Claims

1. an ink box chip, is characterized in that, described ink box chip comprises: interface unit, control unit and memory cell;

Described interface unit, for receiving the light control instruction that imaging device sends, described light control instruction comprises print cartridge identifying information;

2. ink box chip according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, described memory cell, also for storing light setting information, described light setting information comprises the corresponding relation of count results and control information, and described control information comprises forbidding lighting lights with enable;

Accordingly, described control unit, specifically for when described interface unit receives described light control instruction, obtain current count result, described current count result is the count target counting gained to presetting, in described light setting information, obtain the control information corresponding with described current count result, control described luminescence unit according to the type of described light control instruction and described control information; Judge that whether the type of described light control instruction is identical with the count target preset, described count target is that light lights instruction or light extinguishes instruction, when the type of described light control instruction is identical with described count target, according to the incidence relation of described print cartridge identifying information and described its own identification information, determine whether described current count result increases by 1.

3. ink box chip according to claim 2, is characterized in that, described control unit comprises instruction identification module, print cartridge identification module, match counter and illuminated switch module;

4. ink box chip according to claim 3, it is characterized in that, described memory cell is also for storing command reception mark, and the functional status of described command reception mark for marking described illuminated switch module, described functional status is upstate or down state.

5. ink box chip according to claim 4, it is characterized in that, when the described illuminated switch module of described command reception mark mark is upstate, described illuminated switch module, for in the light control instruction of described instruction identification module identification be light light instruction time, obtain current count result, in the light setting information in described memory cell, obtain the control information corresponding with described current count result, and control described luminescence unit and perform described control information.

6., according to described ink box chip arbitrary in claim 2-5, it is characterized in that, described light setting information is determine according to the light examine repair of described imaging device and the installation site of described ink box chip.

7. ink box chip according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described control unit, and also for when described ink box chip powers on, if detect that described ink box chip is in the power-up initializing stage, then described luminescence unit performs described light and lights instruction.

8., according to described ink box chip arbitrary in claim 1-5 or 7, it is characterized in that, described luminescence unit is arranged on described ink box chip.

9. a print cartridge, is characterized in that, comprises at least one as the ink box chip as described in arbitrary in claim 1 to 8.

10. print cartridge according to claim 9, is characterized in that, described ink box chip is connected to imaging device by a communication bus.

11. 1 kinds of print cartridges, is characterized in that, described print cartridge comprises interface unit, control unit and memory cell;

12. 1 kinds of print cartridge adapter racks, is characterized in that, described print cartridge adapter rack comprises interface unit, at least one control unit, at least one memory cell and at least one luminescence unit;

13. print cartridge adapter racks according to claim 12, is characterized in that, described print cartridge adapter rack comprises an interface unit, control unit, a memory cell and at least one luminescence unit;

14. print cartridge adapter racks according to claim 12, is characterized in that, the described control unit in described print cartridge adapter rack, memory cell are identical with the number of luminescence unit, and described control unit, memory cell and luminescence unit have one-to-one relationship;