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:
May. 12, 2015
Filed:
Jul. 30, 2013
Ryo Ito, Nagoya, JP;
Ryo Ito, Nagoya, JP;
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya-Shi, Aichi-Ken, JP;
Abstract
Each of a plurality of option devices includes a signal changing unit connected to a first control unit of a recording apparatus without a second control unit of another option device and configured to change a signal supplied from the first control unit, and a communication line configured to connect the first control unit and the second control unit without the second control unit of another option device. The first control unit determines the number of the option devices by inputting a signal to the signal changing unit in each of the plurality of option devices. After that, in the case where communication can be performed between the first and second control units, it is determined that the second control unit of the option device is normal. In the case where the communication cannot be performed, it is determined that the second control unit is faulty.