Self-contained printing device diagnostics

摘要

A tester print head has at least one conductive pad that is coupled to a status return pad by circuitry. The tester print head is inserted into a printer carriage assembly that is linked to printer control circuitry through linking hardware. A self-test signal is applied to the linking hardware. If the tester print head provides an indication to the control circuitry that the self-test signal was received, the linking hardware passed the self-test. If the indication is not provided to the control circuitry, the self-test failed and the functional print head that was replaced by the tester print head may be operating properly.