Systems and methods for determining authenticity of a security device of a component in an imaging device includes receiving, by the security device, an authentication challenge including one or more commands and executing, by the security device, the one or more commands in response to receiving the authentication challenge. A magnetic field profile is generated based on current drawn by the security device from a power source while the security device is executing the one or more commands, the generated magnetic field profile indicating an authentication response of the security device to the authentication challenge for use in determining authenticity of the security device.

Systems and methods for determining authenticity of a security device of a component in an imaging device includes receiving, by the security device, an authentication challenge including one or more commands and executing, by the security device, the one or more commands in response to receiving the authentication challenge. A magnetic field profile is generated based on current drawn by the security device from a power source while the security device is executing the one or more commands, the generated magnetic field profile indicating an authentication response of the security device to the authentication challenge for use in determining authenticity of the security device.

A method of authenticating a consumable or detachable element of a continuous inkjet printer comprising: the controller of the printer generating a 1.sup.st item of random information that is dispatched to an authentication circuit of the element; encrypting the 1.sup.st item of information by the authentication circuit using a 1.sup.st encryption algorithm and a 1.sup.st secret key to form a 1.sup.st item of encrypted random information; dispatching the 1.sup.st item of information to the controller; encrypting the 1.sup.st item of information by the controller using a 2.sup.nd encryption algorithm and a 2.sup.nd secret key to form a 2.sup.nd item of encrypted random information; comparing the 1.sup.st item of encrypted random information with the 2.sup.nd encrypted item of random information to authenticate the consumable element; and if the consumable element is authenticated, dispatching at least one part of a 3.sup.rd key, termed the shared key, by the element to the printer.

A sensor unit (12) includes a thermistor (21) and a connector (22). A protection unit (13) includes a thermal cutoff (31) and a connector (32). An intermediate connector unit (14-1, 14-2) electrically connects the connectors (22, 32) and an external connection connector (11) to each other, respectively. An intermediate wire (53) electrically connects the intermediate connectors (14-1, 14-2) to each other. The first intermediate connector unit (14-1) electrically connects an end of a loopback wire (23) of the connector (22) to the external connection connector (11), the second intermediate connector unit (14-2) connects an end of the thermal cutoff (31) to the external connection connector (11), the intermediate wire (53) electrically connects the other end of the loopback wire (23) and the other end of the thermal cutoff (31) to each other.

An authentication operation of a communication device is facilitated without making an outer appearance of an image forming apparatus complicated. An image forming apparatus 1 includes an image reading portion 41 for reading an original image, an image forming portion 44 for forming the image on a recording material, communication devices 32 and 33 capable of communication with a storing device 52 for storing information through rear-range wireless communication, and a mounting portion 23 to which the communication devices are mounted, and the mounting portion is provided between the image reading portion and the image forming portion.

Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that includes: a detecting unit configured to detect a user approaching the image forming apparatus; a communication unit configured to be capable of receiving the job from a mobile terminal via short-range wireless communication; and a controlling unit that controls a power supply such that electric power is supplied from the power supply to a first device and a second device in response to detection of the user by the detecting unit, and controls the power supply such that in response to designation of a job from the mobile terminal via the short-range wireless communication, the power supply continues supply of the electric power to the first device that is used for executing the designated job and the power supply stops supply of the electric power to the second device that is not used for executing the designated job.

A method of authenticating a consumable or detachable element of a continuous inkjet printer comprising: the controller of the printer generating a 1.sup.st item of random information that is dispatched to an authentication circuit of the element; encrypting the 1.sup.st item of information by the authentication circuit using a 1.sup.st encryption algorithm and a 1.sup.st secret key to form a 1.sup.st item of encrypted random information; dispatching the 1.sup.st item of information to the controller; encrypting the 1.sup.st item of information by the controller using a 2.sup.nd encryption algorithm and a 2.sup.nd secret key to form a 2.sup.nd item of encrypted random information; comparing the 1.sup.st item of encrypted random information with the 2.sup.nd encrypted item of random information to authenticate the consumable element; and if the consumable element is authenticated, dispatching at least one part of a 3.sup.rd key, termed the shared key, by the element to the printer.

An image forming apparatus includes a communication portion arranged inside a cover covering an image forming portion in the main body of the apparatus and including an antenna surface for use in establishing near field communication. The cover includes a stacking portion in its upper section. The stacking portion is configured to receive a recording medium with an image thereon, the recording medium being discharged outside the main body of the apparatus. The antenna surface faces a region of the upper section of the cover downstream in a direction of discharging the recording medium. The antenna surface at least partially faces a region of the upper section of the cover outside the stacking portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction of discharging the recording medium. The communication portion is capable of communicating with another communication portion using near field communication.

In one example, an electromechanical device includes a removable component comprising an electronic identification tag. The apparatus also includes a plurality of tag readers disposed at a plurality of sectors in the apparatus to detect the electronic identification tag and signal strengths associated with the detected electronic identification tag, and send the signal strengths to a tracking system.

A toner container includes a cylindrical container body having a head with an opening in the head, a cap into which the head of the container body is inserted, and a sheet member attached inside the cap. The cylindrical container body rotates around a rotation axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the container body to transport toner contained in the container body toward the opening. The cap has a toner outlet through which the toner discharged from the opening is discharged outside the toner container. The sheet member includes a first elastic-deformation portion that is elastically deformable and located near the toner outlet, and a second elastic-deformation portion that is elastically deformable and located in the container body and near the opening.