Abstract: An imaging device has a developer roll to provide toner to a photoconductive drum to develop a latent image on the drum for direct transfer to media or an intermediate transfer member. A power supply in communication with a controller sets relative voltages on the developer roll and drum. During transfer of the toner, the imaging device determines a current between the developer roll and drum. In turn, the controller determines a charge and mass of the toner for setting with the power supply an operating voltage on the drum or developer roll. Preventing and reporting toners with insufficient charge are other embodiments.

Abstract: A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a latch catch projecting upward on a top of a body of the toner container. The latch catch is spaced from a second longitudinal end of the body and positioned closer to the second longitudinal end of the body than to a first longitudinal end of the body. The latch catch includes a first contact surface that faces toward the second longitudinal end of the body for contacting a first corresponding surface of a latch in an image forming device to restrain the toner container along a longitudinal dimension of the toner container in a direction from the first longitudinal end of the body toward the second longitudinal end of the body when the toner container is in an installed position in the image forming device.

Abstract: A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a drive coupler and an electrical contact positioned on a first longitudinal end thereof. A first guide post and a second guide post project outward along a longitudinal dimension of the toner container from the first longitudinal end of the body. The first guide post is spaced toward a first side of the body from the drive coupler, and the second guide post is spaced toward a second side of the body from the drive coupler. The first guide post and the second guide post overlap with the drive coupler along a vertical dimension of the toner container such that an imaginary horizontal plane intersects the first and second guide posts and the drive coupler. Bottom surfaces of the first and second guide posts may be positioned lower in the vertical dimension than a rotational axis of the drive coupler.

Abstract: A toner container according to one example embodiment includes an alignment guide for contacting an electrical connector of an image forming device during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device to move the electrical connector of the image forming device relative to the toner container during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device with the first end of the body leading in order to align the electrical connector of the image forming device with an electrical contact of the toner container.

Abstract: A first replaceable unit is provided for use with a second replaceable unit in an electrophotographic image forming device. The first replaceable unit includes a latch movable between a latching position for latching the first replaceable unit to the second replaceable unit and an unlatching position for permitting the first replaceable unit to separate from the second replaceable unit. The latch is positioned to contact a latch catch on the second replaceable unit in order to prevent the first replaceable unit from separating from the second replaceable unit when the first replaceable unit is mated with the second replaceable unit and the latch is in the latching position. The latch includes a cam follower surface for contacting a camming surface on the second replaceable unit during mating of the first replaceable unit with the second replaceable unit to cause the latch to move toward the latching or unlatching position.

Abstract: A method for determining the authenticity of a component in an electronic device, the method comprising: receiving a seed by a component in the electronic device; storing the seed in a block of non-volatile memory in the component; calculating, by the component, the output of a cryptographic function with the input based on the seed and storing the output in the block of non-volatile memory; iteratively calculating, by the component, the outputs of the cryptographic function wherein for each iteration the input for the cryptographic function is based on the seed and all previous outputs, and for each iteration storing the output in the block of non-volatile memory; and determining the authenticity of the component based on a selected output of the cryptographic function F, the selected output being one of the outputs stored in the block of non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A method for determining authenticity of a security device of a component in an imaging device includes receiving, by the security device, an authentication challenge including one or more commands and executing, by the security device, the one or more commands in response to receiving the authentication challenge. A magnetic field profile is generated based on current drawn by the security device from a power source while the security device is executing the one or more commands, the generated magnetic field profile indicating an authentication response of the security device to the authentication challenge for use in determining authenticity of the security device.

Abstract: A method for determining authenticity of a supply item for an imaging system, the method comprising: performing a cryptographic algorithm on the imaging system, starting with a first algorithm input, performing the cryptographic algorithm on the supply item, starting with the first algorithm input, determining authenticity of the supply item based on an imaging system run time and a supply item run time, wherein the imaging system run time is a run time of the cryptographic algorithm on the imaging system from input of the first algorithm input until a result output is generated, and the supply item run time is a run time of the cryptographic algorithm on the supply item from input of the first algorithm input until the result output is generated.

Abstract: A sorter processes trading cards in an affordable, accurate, and easy-to-use manner. The sorter includes an input and output bin. A transport path moves cards between the bins and has two scan bars, one above and one below the path. The scan bars capture an image of a top and bottom surface of ones of the cards. A controller coordinates movement of the cards along the path and receives the image for processing. Users interact with the controller by way of an interface to influence the processing. The sorter also includes a coil to detect metal foil on the cards. Other embodiments are envisioned.

Abstract: A first replaceable unit is provided for use with a second replaceable unit in an electrophotographic image forming device. The first replaceable unit includes a latch movable between a latching position for latching the first replaceable unit to the second replaceable unit and an unlatching position for permitting the first replaceable unit to separate from the second replaceable unit. The latch is positioned to contact a latch catch on the second replaceable unit in order to prevent the first replaceable unit from separating from the second replaceable unit when the first replaceable unit is mated with the second replaceable unit and the latch is in the latching position. The latch includes a cam follower surface for contacting a camming surface on the second replaceable unit during mating of the first replaceable unit with the second replaceable unit to cause the latch to move toward the latching or unlatching position.

Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A first electrical contact and a second electrical contact are positioned on a first longitudinal end of the housing. The first electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry positioned on the housing. The second electrical contact is electrically connected to an imaging component positioned on the housing. The first electrical contact is positioned higher than the second electrical contact. A first drive coupler and a second drive coupler are positioned on a second longitudinal end of the housing. The first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are positioned higher than a first rotational axis of the first drive coupler. The first electrical contact is positioned higher than a second rotational axis of the second drive coupler and the second electrical contact is positioned lower than the second rotational axis.

Abstract: A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a plurality of electrical contacts for contacting corresponding electrical contacts in an image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device. The electrical contacts of the toner container are accessible from below at the bottom of the body by the corresponding electrical contacts in the image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device. The electrical contacts of the toner container are spaced from each other along a horizontal dimension that is orthogonal to a vertical dimension of the toner container. A nominal position of the horizontal dimension along which the electrical contacts are spaced from each other is angled relative to a front-to-rear dimension of the toner container and a side-to-side dimension of the toner container.

Abstract: An imaging system comprising: a system control component having host firmware stored thereon, the system control component comprising a print head operation module actuatable by the host firmware to transmit signals to a print head of the imaging system, the signals configured to cause the print head to operate; and a monitor-enforce module, the monitor-enforce module comprising: a monitor interface configured to receive security information from a security device of the imaging system, and an enforce module, the enforce module being configured to selectively interrupt said signals transmitted by the print head operation module, based on the security information.

Abstract: A toner container for use with a developer unit of an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a body having a front that leads during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device and a rear that trails during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device. An outlet port is positioned on a bottom of the body and adjacent to the front of the body for exiting toner from the toner container. An engagement surface is positioned at the bottom of the body and adjacent to the front of the body for contacting and pushing open a developer shutter of an inlet port of the developer unit in a direction of insertion of the toner container into the image forming device during insertion of the toner container into the image forming device.

Abstract: A toner container for use in an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a body having a reservoir for holding toner. The toner container includes an electrical connector having an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device. The electrical connector is positioned in one of a plurality of predetermined positions relative to the body corresponding to at least one of a toner color and a toner type of the toner container for limiting installation of the toner container to one of a plurality of toner container receptacles in the image forming device corresponding to at least one of the toner color and the toner type of the toner container.

Abstract: Method of determining authenticity of an item using an elliptic curve E defined over a finite field Fq, where q is an integer, the method comprising: generating a random integer j, where the random integer j is in the interval of one to the integer q; calculating a point T=j·S, where point S is a point on elliptic curve E(Fq); calculating a binary value k which is equal to the binary random integer j with a bitmask m applied thereto; sending point T and binary value k to the item; and the item iteratively calculating point U=n·S for different values of integer n, where for each iterative calculation integer n takes different values, wherein for each iteration: the bits of binary integer n corresponding to the unmasked bits of bitmask m are the same as the corresponding bits of binary random integer j; and the bits of binary integer n corresponding to the masked bits of bitmask m are varied in each iteration.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes an electrical contact positioned on a first side of a housing of the replaceable unit for contacting an electrical contact in the image forming device. A guide on the first side of the housing is positioned closer to a front of the housing than the electrical contact and leads rearward toward the electrical contact. The guide includes an inside surface that faces inward sideways toward a second side of the housing. At least a portion of the inside surface is angled inward sideways from front to rear permitting contact between the inside surface and an electrical connector in the image forming device to draw the electrical connector in the image forming device inward sideways relative to the replaceable unit during insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device.