Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Controller
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-22
2001-08-14
Moore, David (Department: 2724)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Controller
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273541
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to driver software sensing an ink cartridge prior to generation of print data and, more particularly, to driver software loaded on a host computer having a Microsoft Windows operating system which senses the replacement of the ink cartridge in an automatic manner.
2. Related Art
Computers were designed at the beginning of development to perform arithmetical and logical operations for solving complex mathematical problems in the science technology, and they have been developed for more users to utilize with ease widely. In this respect, versions of DOS (Disk Operating System) have been developed as operating systems managing the hardware and software of computers more efficiently.
After DOS was developed, Microsoft(R) Windows(R) operating systems have been developed and widely used as operating systems designed to support the graphical user interface. Microsoft Windows operating systems enable users to perform different functions simultaneously in a single computer. The Microsoft Windows operating systems also allow users to utilize the computer more easily.
With widespread use of Microsoft Windows operating systems, numerous software applications adapted for the Microsoft Windows environment have been developed, such as word processing programs, graphics editors, and others.
A computer uses driver software to link the computer to peripheral devices. Driver software is software that contains control functions enabling the computer to communicate with and also to control the peripheral devices. Peripheral devices include monitors, modems, printers, CD-ROM (compact disc read only memory) drives, and other hardware connected to the computer.
Drivers must be loaded into the computer's memory. The fundamental driver architecture is the one used by DOS (disk operating system). The way a computer handles drivers depends on the computer's operating system. DOS, 16-bit versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems, and Microsoft Windows 95 operating system each treat drivers differently.
If one wants to connect a particular printer to host computer, a device driver designed for that specific printer is needed. If the computer uses DOS (disk operating system) and does not use a Microsoft Windows operating system, then the appropriate driver for that specific printer is needed, where the driver is designed for use by computers using DOS. However, if the computer uses a Microsoft Windows operating system, such as Microsoft Windows 3.1, Microsoft Windows NT, or Microsoft Windows 95, then the appropriate device driver for that specific printer is needed, where the driver is designed for use by computers using a Microsoft Windows operating system.
Drivers match the resource needs of hardware, including the peripheral devices listed above, to the software applications used on a host computer.
Printers and printing systems have been developed to improve printing processes. Some examples of these printers and printing systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,198 for Host Based Printing System for Printing a Document Having at Least One Page issued to Deppa et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,519 for Ink-Jet Printer Color Palette Selection Method and System issued to Neff, U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,682 for Method and System for Incorporating Indicia into a Document Generated by a Computer Application issued to Weinberger et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,175 for Low Cost Page Printer System and Method issued to Lung et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,895 for Printing Apparatus with Automatic Operation Mode Changing Function issued to Hattori, U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,014 for Method and System for Matching the Software Command Language of a Computer with the Printer Language of a Printer issued to Vassar, U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,159 for Printing Apparatus that Adapts to Host Computer's Operation Mode issued to Sasaki et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,915 for Printer Having Means for Identifying Print Head Type issued to Kikuchi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,491 for Thermal Ink Jet Printer Adapted to Operate in Monochrome, Highlight or Process Color Modes issued to Rezanka, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,572 for Programmable Head Type Detection and Maintenance System issued to Harrington, III et al.
Currently there do exist printers and printing systems developed to improve printing processes. However, I have discovered that it would be desirable to develop an enhanced printing system where a host computer can sense the type of ink cartridge in a printer connected to the host computer in a highly effective manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to driver software intended to be used in conjunction with a Microsoft Windows operating system for sensing an ink cartridge prior to generation of a print data that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art, to improve printing processing.
An object of the present invention is to provide a Windows driver which is designed to sense an ink cartridge replaced for the old one and then generate a print data adapted to the type of ink cartridge when the user replaces the ink cartridge with pressing an ink replacement button built.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a Windows driver performs a process including the steps of: (a) when an ink cartridge is replaced for the old one by means of an ink replacement button, performing a first bidirectional communication for sensing the type of the ink cartridge (b) checking whether the ink cartridge sensed in the step (a) is a black one; (c) if the ink cartridge is the black one, generating a black print data according to the black ink cartridge; and (d) if the ink cartridge is not the black one, generating a color print data according to a color ink cartridge.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
The present invention is more specifically described in the following paragraphs by reference to the drawings attached only by way of example.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4439776 (1984-03-01), Zeiler
patent: 4833491 (1989-05-01), Rezanka
patent: 4930915 (1990-06-01), Kikuchi et al.
patent: 4968159 (1990-11-01), Sasaki et al.
patent: 5137379 (1992-08-01), Ukai et al.
patent: 5138344 (1992-08-01), Ujita
patent: 5146243 (1992-09-01), English et al.
patent: 5165014 (1992-11-01), Vassar
patent: 5384583 (1995-01-01), Katerberg et al.
patent: 5455895 (1995-10-01), Hattori
patent: 5533175 (1996-07-01), Lung et al.
patent: 5604559 (1997-02-01), Yamanouchi et al.
patent: 5627572 (1997-05-01), Harrington, III et al.
patent: 5638097 (1997-06-01), Takayanagi et al.
patent: 5640182 (1997-06-01), Bahrami et al.
patent: 5644682 (1997-07-01), Weinberger et al.
patent: 5680519 (1997-10-01), Neff
patent: 5699091 (1997-12-01), Bullock et al.
patent: 5731823 (1998-03-01), Miller et al.
patent: 5732198 (1998-03-01), Deppa et al.
patent: 5757395 (1998-05-01), Chew et al.
patent: 5767872 (1998-06-01), Scardovi et al.
patent: 5997120 (1999-12-01), Ohde et al.
Notes—4833491, 4930915, 4968159, 5165014, 5455895, 5533175 5627572, 5644682, 5732198 is considered at Dec. 6, 1999.
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Moore David
Poon King Y.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
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