Canon makes business with compatible cartridges more difficult with infrared filters
Canon has been checking its printer cartridges with an electronic chip for several years now. Among other things, this chip checks the ink level in the cartridge. Canon has largely patented this technology, so that third-party suppliers have to bypass these patents in an imaginative way. For example, the third party cartridges emit infrared light instead of the conventional light from original cartridges.
Of course, this is a thorn in the side of Canon. This is why the new Pixma printer models have an infrared blocking filter or infrared filter installed in front of the actual detection sensor. This blocking filter prevents the infrared light from penetrating the sensor, i.e. only original cartridges can be used. Compatible printer cartridges for Canon are no longer accepted.
According to our findings, the following printers are affected:
- Canon Pixma iP-4950
- Canon Pixma iX-6550
- Canon Pixma MG-5350
- Canon Pixma MG-6250
- Canon Pixma MX-885
From a certain point in time, the Canon Pixma iP-4850 should also have been equipped with an infrared blocking filter.
Of course, the third-party providers do not give in. The manufacturer Armor has developed a chip that legally circumvents this patent law. This LED on the cartridges emits normal light perceptible to the human eye. This light is not filtered out by the infrared blocking filter. These cartridges work without problems in these printers.
There are also cartridges that can bypass this hurdle, but these are the least compatible cartridges. In order to be able to use any third-party cartridge, there is the possibility to remove the infrared blocking filter. With a little craftmanship, you can easily remove the filter and insert any cartridge.
However, this will void the warranty. But you don't have to buy expensive original cartridges anymore.
If you own original Canon cartridges, you don't have to worry, as these cartridges don't cause any problems. You can refill your cartridge yourself with ink and reset it to "full" with a Chipresetter. The infrared filter will continue to work as normal and your Canon printer warranty will be retained.
With the following instructions you can easily refill your Canon cartridges: