Inkjet printhead incorporating a memory array

Abstract

A thermal inkjet printheadof the present invention includes a heating element, an ink chamber, control circuitry, an ink reservoir, and a memory array. The control circuitrycauses the heating element to generate thermal energy thereby causing ink within the ink chamber to generate bubbles of ink, which are then expelled through a nozzle. The ink reservoir replenishes used ink in the ink chamber. The memory arraystores and provides the identification parameters for the thermal inkjet printhead. The identification parameters are typically provided during initialization of the printer and include color(s) of ink (e.g., black, green, red, blue), a number of nozzles on the thermal inkjet printhead, an addressing frequency, nozzle spacing, heating architecture, and the like. The identification parameters can include other information such as a unique serial identification number for the thermal inkjet printhead, manufacturer serial number, lot number, date of manufacture, compatible printers, ink capacity, ink remaining, re-ordering information for replacement ink cartridges, and the like.