Provided is a universal imaging cartridge chip capable of activating a plurality of types of imaging machines. In one embodiment, the universal imaging cartridge chip interprets a signal to identify a type of imaging machine. The universal imaging cartridge chip then selects the correct data for the identified imaging machine from the universal imaging cartridge chip data base. The imaging machine may then be activated with the correct electrical handshake and other required data. In another embodiment, the universal imaging cartridge chip contains the correct electrical handshake and other required data to activate a plurality of imaging machines, and communicates the correct electrical handshake and other required data to the imaging machine.