Apparatus and method for drop size switching in ink jet printing

A method for drop size switching in ink jet printing, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating a transducer driving waveform comprising at least a first portion and a second portion;
• generating a control signal including an activation component for enabling either the first or second portion of the driving waveform to activate the transducer;
• selecting a halftone screen represented as a threshold array;
• selectively applying the first portion of the driving waveform to the transducer to eject one or more first drops having a first volume;
• and
• selectively applying the second portion of the driving waveform to the transducer to eject one or more second drops having a second volume.

An ink jet printer utilizing drop size switching to fill a halftone screen comprising:

• a pressure chamber having fluid therein;
• an orifice in fluid communication with the pressure chamber;
• a transducer coupled to the pressure chamber for ejecting drops from the orifice in response thereto;
• means for generating a transducer driving waveform comprising at least a first portion and a second portion;
• means for generating a control signal including an actuation component to selectively the first portion of the driving waveform to the transducer to eject the one or more drops having a first size;
• and
• means for generating a control signal including an actuation component to selectively apply the second portion of the driving waveform to the transducer to eject the one or more drops having a second size.

An ink jet printing device including a system for drop size variation, comprising:

• a transducer for ejecting a fluid drop;
• and
• a transducer driver for generating an actuation waveform for input to the transducer, said transducer driver providing
• a driving waveform having at least a first portion and a second portion;
• and
• a control signal applied to the driving waveform, the control signal including an actuation component for enabling either the first portion of the driving waveform or the second portion of the driving waveform to actuate said transducer for ejection of the fluid drop.

A transducer driver for providing variable output from a transducer element comprising:

• means for generating a driving waveform having a first segment and a second segment;
• and
• means for applying a control signal to the driving waveform, wherein the control signal includes an actuation component for enabling either the first portion of the driving waveform, or the second portion of the driving waveform to generate an actuation waveform;
• and
• means for applying the actuation waveform to said transducer element for actuation thereof.