Static Control’s

Guide to Understanding
Chip Technology
Guide to Understanding Chip Technology

The Rise of Chip Technology

Since 1996 and the first widespread emergence of chip technology in the
printer industry, OEMs have seemingly been intent on severely limiting or
even eliminating the aftermarket. There has never existed such an absolute
"off" switch capable of locking out cartridge remanufacture. Not only is
nearly every new printer cartridge chipped, but these chips have become
more and more integrated. Firmware changes are now par for the course,
as are potential legal threats against the aftermarket.

Chips You Can Rely On

With such relentless pressures placed on your business, it is imperative to

stay on top of the game by arming yourself with the most powerful defence
there is - chips that offer the same functionality as the OEM, will be
unaffected in the event of firmware changes, and provide you with a firm
legal footing.

Building Value for Your Business

Static Control offers you all of this. We use a unique method of reverse
engineering to manufacture our chips. As a result they present the same
functionality as the OEM, and in many cases, more benefits than the OEM
product provides. This, in turn, also equips our chips with strong resistance
against changes to printer firmware. Finally, our chips are supported
legally - we have taken the issue of chip design to the courts and won.

Our job is to help you. We know of the many day to day problems
remanufacturers face and we provide solutions to tackle them. Static
Control offers products, information and technical expertise to facilitate the
smooth running of your business.
The Multi-Step Chip Development Process

The Multi-Step Chip Development Process

Static Control has made significant investment in the equipment and
technological support required to help you stay competitive in today's
market. Over a year of research and development went into building a
state-of-the-art chip facility and developing the manufacturing process to
meet the industry's growing demand for "smart" chips.

Our Chip Development Team combines over 150 years of experience

and expertise. Their attention to detail and thorough quality testing
ensure that our chips achieve the high level of performance expected
of all Static Control products.

The Evolution of Chip Technology

Since first emerging within the industry, cartridge chips have

exponentially grown in sophistication. Today, OEMs are utilising the
latest ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) designs, as well as
cutting-edge encoding technologies. We bring you the most requested
aftermarket chips from the industry's only 100% vertically integrated
manufacturing and development process.

smartek™ Technology

Static Control's smartek™ chips offer remanufacturers chip solutions that

require no end-user intervention. These chips have been specifically
reverse-engineered to address the needs of the custom mixed-signal,
single-chip ASIC design being used with the latest printers.

Many, such as the HP3500/3700, HP4600, HP5500 and HP9000,

impact critical printer functions such as cartridge identification, toner
low/toner out functionality, supplies' status information, and cartridge
performance information. Reverse-engineering also provides us with a
pathway to develop new technologies, such as Printdetect and
StatScan.

By the process of reverse-engineering, we emulate the OEM chip.

Emulation is more complex than datastream copying, the method used
by many aftermarket manufacturers. By emulating the chip we replicate
its internal workings - the complete structure and design throughout.
Datastream copying merely replicates the 'shell' of the chip - just the
signals between the chip and the printer are copied.
 Why Emulation?

Emulation To the end user, the main advantage is substantial: it will be compatible
with firmware upgrades. Many OEMs regularly upgrade their
printer firmware - the program embedded in the chip controlling the
communications to and from the control panel. Upgrades can render a
chip (and therefore a cartridge) useless if that chip has been made via
copying the datastream. An emulated chip has flexible functionality and
the cartridge will continue to operate.

Reverse Engineering

Emulation

TECHNOLOGY StatScan
Auto-Sense, Auto-Switch Emulated Custom Chip Scan, Read, and Reset
Technology Technology Technology

* With the exception of LaserJet 1012, and the tabloid LaserJet 5100 and 8150 (both aging models).

Emulation also gives way to inter-operability. This means that end users
can still change certain features such as print density or backgrounding.
Essentially, an emulated chip can do anything an OEM chip can.

smartek™ chips are available for a wide range of printer engines,

including HP, Canon®, Lexmark®, Samsung®, Xerox® and many more.
Making our advanced chip solutions the most requested in the
aftermarket today.
New Business Opportunities

New Business Opportunities with Cross-Compatible

Cartridges

The development of Printdetect technology enables you to build true

cross-compatible or 'universal' cartridge solutions. A single cartridge
that is compatible with multiple printer models, using just one chip.
Furthermore, using our conversion kits, you can build the universal
cartridge from the most readily available empties.

What advantage does this give you? Universal cartridges mean you
have a competitive edge over the OEM. You can offer what the OEM
does not: one cartridge for multiple printer models. So your customers
can replace multiple OEM print cartridges with just one! You can also
pursue the newest markets more quickly by using older, more readily
available empties.

Pushing the Limits of Chip Technology

Static Control's goal has been to develop chips that provide full printer
functionality. In many instances, however, we have gone one step
further. For example, our re-engineered replacement chips for use in
Lexmark printers all include two additional features that make printing
easier for the end user - making these chips better than the OEM.

Firstly, these chips feature a Maintenance Check Programme - a back-up

system built into each chip. This consists of two lines of communication
between the printer and the chip; if one fails the second 'back-up' path
will automatically take over, with no interruption in printer performance.

The second added benefit to these chips is the print quality at 'toner-low'
status. Both OEM and many aftermarket cartridges can suffer from
degradation in quality at this point - our chips enable this to be
significantly reduced and even eliminated. At 'toner-low' the chip will
adjust the voltages of the PCR and the developer roller to compensate
and printing will continue with consistent quality throughout the
remainder of the cartridge life.
 Multi-Brand Chips
FOUR Chips = Full Functionality in more than
20 Printers - Across Multiple Brands!

Static Control also offers re-engineered replacement Multi-Brand chips

for use in Lexmark® cartridges and their corresponding IBM®, Dell™ and
Unisys® models. Four of these chips can be used for more than 20 printers
spanning multiple brands.*

The benefits for you are reduced chip inventory whilst increasing the
number of printer applications in your product range - and your profits.
Just one chip can be used for multiple brands of printers in the same
family or series.

Please note: re-engineered replacement chips for use in Lexmark®

cartridges are only to be used for replacing broken or lost non-Prebate
chips, upgrading non-Prebate cartridges for additional chip functionality,
or for remanufacturing Prebate cartridges originally sold under North
Carolina law after October 1, 2003.

*See attached Cross Reference.

Defending Our Industry

On 30th December, 2002, Lexmark® filed suit against Static Control

Components alleging that our chips infringed copyright law and the
DMCA. After an initial injunction banning the sale of Static chips for use in
Lexmark® cartridges, the Sixth Circuit ruled in our favour stating that our
chips do not contravene to the DMCA. The initial ruling has now been
vacated and Lexmark® has been denied a re-hearing. The Lexmark® Return
Program, formerly known as the Prebate programme, is now unenforceable
in North Carolina.

This victory is to be shared with you, our customers. This triumph means that
you do not need to be concerned with copyright or Digital Millennium
Copyright Act issues. With the Sixth Circuit’s ruling, we are pleased to have
the only aftermarket chip, vindicated by the courts, with our own copyrighted
software for Lexmark® printers.

We thank you for your continued support. It is through your business and
support of “Funding the Fight” that we will continue to ward off companies
such as Lexmark® who attempt to establish electronic monopolies.
 StatScan NEW!
Reduces your Costs & puts the
Power of Chips in your Hands.
StatScan Resets!
Reset SCC Smartek Chips
Reduce Chip Costs
Eliminate Chip Replacement Labour
Eliminate Removal of the Chip
No Packaging to Unwrap
No Need to Prepare Adhesive Surface
No Need to Adhere a New Chip

StatScan Reads!
Read OEM & SCC Smartek Chips
Sort Incoming Empties
Diagnose Component Condition
Control Component Spending
Reduce Production Labour Costs
Create Customised Solutions

Static Control has made a major breakthrough that could help you turn Improve Field Failure Analysis
business intelligence into a clear advantage over your competitors - the
'StatScan' chip read and reset box. This product helps you to combat
the pressures of eroding cartridge prices and drive up product quality.

StatScan will reset smartek™ chips to the original cartridge application

for reuse by the simple touch of a wand. This will save you time and StatScan III Resets!
money by eliminating the need to replace with a new chip. Reset SCC Chips for Multibrand
Lexmark®/Dell™/IBM®
Take Out the Guesswork Reduce Chip Costs
Eliminate Chip Replacement Labour
StatScan also 'reads' HP and smartek™ chips. The reading provides
Eliminate Removal of the Chip
you with crucial information on the last print cycle of the cartridge, such
No Packaging to Unwrap
as the number of OPC revolutions, the job count, toner low/toner out
status, and the number of pages printed. This helps you to make sound No Need to Prepare Adhesive Surface
commercial decisions on which components need replacing - therefore, No Need to Adhere a New Chip
no more guessing as to their life and wear.

When used with our new smartek™ Printdetect chips, you could reduce
your inventory by as much as 60% for the main HP applications. With
StatScan, these chips can be reset either to their original application
or to a variety of other specific cartridge applications.
Use StatScan III for Lexmark® Only For:
With such significant cost savings and added efficiency on offer, the • Replacing broken or lost non-Prebate chips.
• Upgrading non-Return (non-Prebate)
power of chip technology is no longer a barrier to the aftermarket, but cartridges for additional functions.
a tool FOR the aftermarket. • (U.S. customers only). Prebate (Return)
cartridges originally sold under North
Carolina law after October 1, 2003.
Facing Future Challenges
Facing Future Challenges

With the ever-increasing amount of new engines being introduced to the

market - 16 new HP LaserJet printers alone were launched in 2004 - the
struggle to keep up with the pace is tougher than ever. Chip design is
constantly increasing in sophistication and firmware changes are likely
to increase. At Static Control we understand the pressures you are under
and we have the solutions.

We offer products that help you to cut your costs - and increase your
profits. We can help you to keep your inventory under control. We offer
many first to market chip solutions that you won't find anywhere else.
We have the expertise to keep up with the latest technological
developments.

You want to be confident that the products you buy from us are reliable.
You don't want to worry about whether your chips are a legal risk, or
that your customers might find their cartridges no longer function
because the firmware has changed.

However difficult the OEMs attempt to make it for the aftermarket, we

will be ready. By choosing Static Control you are choosing to take on
the competition and win.

Moving at the Speed of Technology

© 2005 Static Control Components, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. The stylised “S” is a registered trademark and Static Control is a trademark
of Static Control Components, Inc. Smartek and Printdetect are registered trademarks of Static Control Components. All other brand and product
names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

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