Abstract: A drive power control device according to the present invention includes a transistor, which is input with a driving signal before current amplification into a base thereof, and which amplifies a current of the driving signal to drive an actuator; a switching element, which switches an input of a supply voltage to a collector of the transistor between on and off; and a voltage comparator, which compares a base voltage and a collector voltage of the transistor, and which controls the switching element such that the input of the supply voltage to the collector is turned off when a predetermined voltage difference occurs, and the input of the supply voltage to the collector is turned on when a predetermined voltage difference does not occur.

Abstract: An ink cartridge 111 holding a recording material used for printing therein has a sensor substitute module 170 to simulate operations of a cartridge having a built-in sensor. As a control circuit 222 of a printer 200 gives a sensor access instruction to the ink cartridge 111, the sensor substitute module 170 generates a specific signal and outputs the specific signal via an output module 178. The specified signal is equivalent to a signal that represents a sufficient level of remaining ink and is expected to be output from the built-in sensor of the cartridge. The ink cartridge 111 is thus applicable to both a printer designed for the use of a cartridge with a built-in sensor and a printer designed for the use of a cartridge without a built-in sensor. Namely the cartridge of the invention is compatible with the cartridge having the built-in sensor.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head having a nozzle; a pressure-changing unit for changing pressure of liquid in the nozzle in such a manner that the liquid is ejected from the nozzle; a level-data setting unit for setting a selected level data from a plurality of level data, based on an ejecting data; a driving-signal generator for generating a first driving signal and a second driving signal; and a driving-pulse generator for generating a driving pulse based on the selected level data and the first driving signal and the second driving signal. The first driving signal and the second driving signal are periodical signals having a same period. The first driving signal includes a first large-drop pulse-wave and a third large-drop pulse-wave. The second driving signal includes a second large-drop pulse-wave. The first large-drop pulse-wave, the second large-drop pulse-wave and the third large-drop pulse-wave have a same waveform, and appear in that order at regular intervals.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a plurality of semiconductor storage devices, each of which includes an access determination unit that determines whether the semiconductor storage device is accessed, an input terminal and an output terminal used for connection checking, a normally-closed switching element that electrically disconnects the input terminal from the output terminal when the access determination unit determined that the semiconductor storage device is accessed, and a bypass circuit that electrically connects the input terminal to a reference point through predetermined impedance.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a carriage and an electrode. The carriage is for moving a nozzle. The electrode moves with the carriage, and is adapted to attract an electrically-charged ink droplet ejected from the nozzle but not landing on a medium.

Abstract: The ink unit of a printer has a memory circuit (memory element) for non-contact communication. The memory circuit has a hold mode M2 in which memory access commands from the transmitter/receiver are not received, and an active mode M4 in which memory access is permitted upon receipt of a memory access command. The memory circuit shifts into active mode M4 if the ID contained in the active mode command matches its own ID when an active mode command containing the cartridge ID is received from the transmitter/receiver while in hold mode M2. The reception of an anti-collision start command from the transmitter/receiver while in hold mode M2 results in a shift to anti-collision mode M3 to check the ID.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has an ink sensor. A printer's control device transmits a detection command and specified detection condition to the cartridge by radio. In response to the detection command, a sensor controller actuates and vibrates the sensor under the specified detection condition. The sensor is attached to a resonance chamber disposed in an ink chamber. The vibration frequency the sensor is regulated by a resonance frequency of the resonance chamber. The resonance frequency is varied by ink in the resonance chamber. Resonance frequency detection specifies the presence or absence of ink in the resonance chamber and so the quantity of ink. The printer's control device receives the detection result with the detection condition from the cartridge, and checks whether detection was performed under the specified detection condition, to verify the detection result's validity.

Abstract: A drive power control device according to the present invention includes a transistor, which is input with a driving signal before current amplification into a base thereof, and which amplifies a current of the driving signal to drive an actuator; a switching element, which switches an input of a supply voltage to a collector of the transistor between on and off; and a voltage comparator, which compares a base voltage and a collector voltage of the transistor, and which controls the switching element such that the input of the supply voltage to the collector is turned off when a predetermined voltage difference occurs, and the input of the supply voltage to the collector is turned on when a predetermined voltage difference does not occur.

Abstract: The present invention has a recording head of jetting ink drops to record, a carriage adapted to be loaded an ink container storing ink to be fed to the recording head in a removable state, and a communication unit of communicating with a storage element for the ink container installed in the ink container. The communication unit can communicate with the storage element for the ink container when the ink container is not loaded on the carriage. Accordingly, the communication unit can communicate with the storage element for the ink container before mounting the ink container on the carriage.

Abstract: A cartridge 100 utilizes a carrier wave of a signal transmitted from a printer PT to generate driving electric powers required for driving respective circuits elements including a sensor SS of a piezoelectric element. The generated electric power is supplied to a sensor driving voltage generator 220 and is then to the sensor SS. The sensor driving voltage generator 220 supplies the electric power to the sensor SS via a supply circuit having a higher impedance. The sensor SS is discharged via a discharge circuit having a lower impedance. Even when there is a limited electric power supply, the structure enables the sensor SS to release a large energy in a unit time and ensures a sufficient displacement of vibration in the sensor SS.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus configured to receive expendable from an expendable container with a piezoelectric element attached. This apparatus has a detection signal generation circuit configured to charge and discharge the piezoelectric element, and generate a detection signal including information representing a cycle of remaining vibration of the piezoelectric element after a lapse of a predetermined standby time from a completion of the discharge; and a controller configured to generate a clock signal, and control the charge and the discharge of the piezoelectric element. The cycle is available for determining whether a residual quantity of the expendable is greater than a preset level. The controller is configured to determine the predetermined standby time by counting a number of pulses in the clock signal.

Abstract: A plurality of small loop antenna cells 61, 62 and 63 are magnetically coupled to an antenna coil 8 of a non-contact type data carrier 3. In the plurality of small loop antenna cells, the directions of the magnetic moments of the signals transmitted to the non-contact type data carrier 3 are opposite to each other, the sum of the magnetic moments generated from all the small loop antenna cells 61 to 63 is zero and a conductor forming a short ring pattern 67 is provided collectively for the plurality of small loop antenna cells. Thus, imbalance caused between the small loop antenna cells 61 to 63 can be compensated for by the short ring pattern 67.

Abstract: An ink cartridge 111 holding a recording material used for printing therein has a sensor substitute module 170 to simulate operations of a cartridge having a built-in sensor. As a control circuit 222 of a printer 200 gives a sensor access instruction to the ink cartridge 111, the sensor substitute module 170 generates a specific signal and outputs the specific signal via an output module 178. The specified signal is equivalent to a signal that represents a sufficient level of remaining ink and is expected to be output from the built-in sensor of the cartridge. The ink cartridge 111 is thus applicable to both a printer designed for the use of a cartridge with a built-in sensor and a printer designed for the use of a cartridge without a built-in sensor. Namely the cartridge of the invention is compatible with the cartridge having the built-in sensor.

Abstract: A printing apparatus which may effectively manage information related to each ink cartridge and an ink cartridge therefor are provided. A printing apparatus having a cartridge mounting portion on which a plurality of ink cartridges are detachably mountable, each ink cartridge having an element which may be written with information, an accumulating means for accumulating a discharge amount of ink discharged for every ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, and a writing member for writing information into the element, in which the writing member writes information into an element in the ink cartridge selected according to an accumulated result of the accumulating means, out of the plurality of ink cartridges mounted on the cartridge mounting portion.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head having a nozzle; a pressure-changing unit for changing pressure of liquid in the nozzle in such a manner that the liquid is ejected from the nozzle; a level-data setting unit for setting a selected level data from a plurality of level data, based on an ejecting data; a driving-signal generator for generating a first driving signal and a second driving signal; and a driving-pulse generator for generating a driving pulse based on the selected level data and the first driving signal and the second driving signal. The first driving signal and the second driving signal are periodical signals having a same period. The first driving signal includes a first large-drop pulse-wave and a third large-drop pulse-wave. The second driving signal includes a second large-drop pulse-wave. The first large-drop pulse-wave, the second large-drop pulse-wave and the third large-drop pulse-wave have a same waveform, and appear in that order at regular intervals.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a carriage and an electrode. The carriage is for moving a nozzle. The electrode moves with the carriage, and is adapted to attract an electrically-charged ink droplet ejected from the nozzle but not landing on a medium.

Abstract: An ink cartridge 111 holding a recording material used for printing therein has a sensor substitute module 170 to simulate operations of a cartridge having a built-in sensor. As a control circuit 222 of a printer 200 gives a sensor access instruction to the ink cartridge 111, the sensor substitute module 170 generates a specific signal and outputs the specific signal via an output module 178. The specified signal is equivalent to a signal that represents a sufficient level of remaining ink and is expected to be output from the built-in sensor of the cartridge. The ink cartridge 111 is thus applicable to both a printer designed for the use of a cartridge with a built-in sensor and a printer designed for the use of a cartridge without a built-in sensor. Namely the cartridge of the invention is compatible with the cartridge having the built-in sensor.

Abstract: In an ink container 100 of the invention, an electric power generator 240 rectifies a carrier wave transmitted from a printer PT and thereby generates an electric power for driving a controller 210 and an RF circuit 200. A program voltage generator 250 and a sensor driving voltage generator 260 are connected in series with the electric power generator 240 to individually generate a program voltage required for writing data into an EEPROM 220 and a voltage required for driving a sensor SS including a piezoelectric element. The arrangement of the invention efficiently generates electric powers, which are to be supplied to respective constituents of a container for a printing material, such as the ink container 100, which establishes communication with a printing device, such as the printer PT, from a preset electric power generated by utilizing a radio wave.

Abstract: An IC memory module 33 for storing paper-related information is embedded in a core 31 of a roll paper member 30. A control circuit 50 accesses the IC memory module 33 embedded in the core 31 of roll paper member 30 via a transmission-reception antenna 202 at a timing, for example, when a power source is turned on, the roll paper member 30 is replaced, and power source is turned off, and acquires the paper-related information. The control circuit 50 controls the printing processing by taking account of the information acquired from the IC memory module 33.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has a sensor to detect ink. A printer's control device transmits a detection command and specified detection condition to the ink cartridge by radio communication. In response to input of the detection command into the ink cartridge, a sensor controller actuates and vibrates the sensor under the specified detection condition. The sensor is attached to a resonance chamber disposed in an ink chamber. The frequency of vibration of the sensor is regulated by a resonance frequency of the resonance chamber. The resonance frequency is varied by ink in the resonance chamber. Detection of the resonance frequency specifies if ink is in the resonance chamber and the remaining quantity of ink in the ink cartridge. The printer's control device receives the detection result together with the detection condition from the ink cartridge, and cheeks if detection was carried out under the specified detection condition, validate the detection result.