Control systems and methods for thermal-jet printing

A printing apparatus comprising:

• a) a plurality of ink-jets for dispensing droplets of ink comprising a carrier liquid and a print material;
• b) a plurality of thermal-jets including micro-structures for receiving the droplets of ink, wherein each thermal jet is configured to heat through a temperature profile for evaporating the carrier liquid from the ink and for vaporizing the print material from the micro-structures and directing the vaporized print material onto a substrate to produce a printed image;
• c) at least one sensor configured to measure at least one quantity associated with said printing apparatus;
• and
• d) a control unit for selectively controlling the printed image based on at least one quantity measured by said at least one sensor.

A method of controlling a printed image from a printing apparatus based on at least one measured quantity, the method comprising:

• a) measuring the at least one quantity;
• and
• b) adjusting an output from one or more printheads of the printing apparatus based on the at least one measured quantity, wherein the printing apparatus includes;
• i) an ink-jet portion for dispensing droplets of ink comprising a carrier liquid and a print material;
• and
• ii) a thermal-jet portion including micro-structures for receiving the droplets of ink, wherein the thermal jet is configured to heat through a temperature profile for evaporating the carrier liquid from the ink within the micro-structures and for vaporizing the print material from the micro-structures and directing the vaporized print material onto a substrate to produce the printed image.

A method of controlling a printed image produced by a printing apparatus, the method comprising:

• a) generating a test pattern from one or more printheads of the printing apparatus wherein the printing apparatus includes;
• i) an ink-jet for dispensing droplets of ink comprising a carrier liquid and a print material;
• and
• ii) a thermal-jet including micro-structures for receiving the droplets of ink, wherein the thermal-jet is configured to heat through a temperature profile for evaporating the carrier liquid from the ink within the micro-structures and for vaporizing the print material from the micro-structures and directing the vaporized print material onto a substrate to produce the test pattern;
• b) measuring a quantity of the test pattern;
• and
• c) adjusting an output from one or more printheads on the printing apparatus based on the measured quantity of the test pattern.