Droplet discharging apparatus, head control method, and head controller

A head control method for a head having a first nozzle and a second nozzle, comprising:

• reading, from a first memory, a plurality of first data values which is quantized and which is included in first data representing a first driving waveform and a plurality of second data values which is quantized and which is included in second data representing a second driving waveform different from the first driving waveform, and outputting first time division multiplex data in which the first data values and the second data values read from the first memory are aligned in time series, to a first digital-analog converter;
• converting the first time division multiplex data into an analog signal to generate a first time division multiplex signal, and outputting the first time division multiplex signal to a first switch and a second switch corresponding to the first nozzle;
• reading, from a second memory, a plurality of third data values which is quantized and which is included in third data representing a third driving waveform and a plurality of fourth data values which is quantized and which is included in fourth data representing a fourth driving waveform different from the third driving waveform, and outputting second time division multiplex data in which the third data values and the fourth data values read from the second memory are aligned in time series, to a second digital-analog converter;
• converting the second time division multiplex data into an analog signal to generate a second time division multiplex signal, and outputting the second time division multiplex signal to a third switch and a fourth switch corresponding to the second nozzle;
• outputting, to the first switch and the third switch, a first selection signal configured to select any one of the first switch and the third switch and a first synchronization signal configured to indicate an opening-closing timing of a selected one of the first switch and the third switch;
• outputting, to the second switch and the fourth switch, a second selection signal configured to select any one of the second switch and the fourth switch and a second synchronization signal configured to indicate an opening-closing timing of a selected one of the second switch and the fourth switch;
• based on the first selection signal and the first synchronization signal, opening and closing the first switch to separate a first driving waveform signal representing the first driving waveform or a second driving waveform signal representing the second driving waveform from the first time division multiplex signal outputted from the first digital-analog converter or opening and closing the third switch to separate a third driving waveform signal representing the third driving waveform or a fourth driving waveform signal representing the fourth driving waveform from the second time division multiplex signal outputted from the second digital-analog converter;
• and
• based on the second selection signal and the second synchronization signal, opening and closing the second switch to separate the first driving waveform signal or the second driving waveform signal from the first time division multiplex signal outputted from the first digital-analog converter or opening and closing the fourth switch to separate the third driving waveform signal or the fourth driving waveform signal from the second time division multiplex signal outputted from the second digital-analog converter.

A head controller for a head including a nozzle configured to discharge a liquid by an energy generating element, a first separator and a second separator, the head controller comprising:

• a first signal generator configured to generate, based on at least first data representing a first driving waveform and second data representing a second driving waveform different from the first driving waveform, a first time division multiplex signal in which a third portion being a part of the second driving waveform is aligned between a first portion being a part of the first driving waveform and a second portion being other part of the first driving waveform, and the second portion is aligned between the third portion and a fourth portion being other part of the second driving waveform, the first time division multiplex signal being capable of transmitting the first data and the second data via a first signal line being single signal line;
• and
• a second signal generator configured to generate, based on at least third data representing a third driving waveform and fourth data representing a fourth driving waveform different from the third driving waveform, a second time division multiplex signal in which a seventh portion being a part of the fourth driving waveform is aligned between a fifth portion being a part of the third driving waveform and a sixth portion being other part of the third driving waveform, and the sixth portion is aligned between the seventh portion and an eighth portion being other part of the fourth driving waveform, the second time division multiplex signal being capable of transmitting the third data and the fourth data via a second signal line being single signal line, wherein
• the first separator is configured to separate a first driving waveform signal representing the first driving waveform or a second driving waveform signal representing the second driving waveform from the first time division multiplex signal generated by the first signal generator;
• the second separator is configured to separate a third driving waveform signal representing the third driving waveform or a fourth driving waveform signal representing the fourth driving waveform from the second time division multiplex signal generated by the second signal generator;
• the energy generating element is driven by the first driving waveform signal or the second driving waveform signal separated by the first separator, or the energy generating element is driven by the third driving waveform signal or the fourth driving waveform signal separated by the second separator;
• and
• a waveform of the first time division multiplex signal and a waveform of the second time division multiplex signal are different from each other.