Digital BW, The Print

Ernst,

> > > Counting is done in the printer itself...
> >
> > Of course, where else could it be done?
>
> In the driver, based on sheets printed instead of droplets.
> But it isn't working like that.

I don't believe it can reasonably work like that.  This is a value that must
follow the printer (even better the ink cartridge for that matter), not be
in the driver.  Multiple computers can access the printer, and as such, that
would be a very inaccurate way to do this.  Also, the printer has built-in
fonts/functions that the printer controls, and as such, the driver many not
be able to figure out, to any accuracy at least, how much of each ink was
used.  Also, how does the driver know when the cartridge is changed etc.?

> Excerpt from the SM of the 3000:
> page 2.4.2. Counters
> Ink Consumption Counter
> This counter accumulates the amount of ink used throughout the printing,
> cleaning and flushing operations after a new cartridge is installed.

But the question is, can the driver get at it at all?  I know it maintains
it for internal use (such as the "Protect Counter A".  Not that I can tell
in the EPS documents I have, but that certainly surprises me.  It's also a
VERY dubious counter, unfortunately, as you have to follow the procedures
for resetting it etc. very carefully, or it is completely useless.  But, if
you say that there is a status monitor on W98 that works with the 3000, I'll
have to believe that the level 2 documentation has that information, and the
3000 does support it.

> The
> value is used to monitor the ink amount remaining in the ink
> cartridge.

My driver doesn't use it, and the printer it self, as far as I can tell,
does not use the "Ink Consumption Counter" for anything...the lights are
controlled by the physical sensors.

> On the 9000 the status lights on the printer are only triggered by the
> sensors. It will not print when they are on.

There aren't two levels on the 9000, like the 3000?  Blinking and solid?

> ...I have no desire to install the W2000
> driver, I trust your words it doesn't have that facility. BTW, you are not
> using an USB/Parallel converter ?

Nope.

> > For the 3000, the ink light on the printer is solely based on the status
> of
> > the two ink level sensors.  It either flashes when the ink low sensor is
> > triggered, and then stays on when the ink out sensor is triggered.
>
> The empty tab of the cart and the sensor for it isn't an analogue
> system but
> just an on/off switch (digital but 1 bit only ;-).

Ernst, please, I know how it works, thanks.  And, by the way, it's actually
two signals, one for low and one for empty.

Austin