The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 15, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 14, 2001
Satoshi Shinada, Nagano-ken, JP;
Takahiro Naka, Nagano-ken, JP;
Yusuke Torigoe, Nagano-ken, JP;
Yuki Togawa, Nagano-ken, JP;
Satoru Orii, Nagano-ken, JP;
Hikonosuke Uwai, Nagano-ken, JP;
Toshio Kumagai, Nagano-ken, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An ink cartridge which has an IC memory for holding information about the cartridge. At the time the ink cartridge is to be installed in a printing apparatus, its insertion is inhibited at a position before installation by a lock mechanism. In this state, the information in the IC memory is read out via a first electrode terminal located on the cartridge side and connected to the IC memory and the propriety of the installation of the ink cartridge to the apparatus is determined. When the ink cartridge is determined to be appropriate, the lock mechanism is unlocked and the ink cartridge can be installed into the printing apparatus. When the ink cartridge is installed in the printing apparatus, data is exchanged between the printing apparatus and the IC memory via a second electrode terminal connected to the IC memory.