Linear LED Array for Digital Printing Apparatus

A linear array of light emitting semiconductor components for use in a digital printing apparatus, each light emitting semiconductor component comprising a driver and at least one light emitting device,

• said array comprising a plurality of data buses respectively connecting to a first plurality of subsets of said light emitting semiconductor components, said first plurality of subsets forming a first partition of said light emitting semiconductor components;
• said array further comprising a plurality of auxiliary buses respectively connecting to a second plurality of subsets of said light emitting semiconductor components, said second plurality of subsets forming a second partition of said light emitting semiconductor components;
• wherein said first partition and said second partition are chosen such that each one of said light emitting semiconductor components can be uniquely identified by the subset of the first partition and the subset of the second partition to which it belongs;
• wherein said plurality of data buses is configured to supply instructions to said first plurality of subsets of said light emitting semiconductor components;
• and
• wherein each of said light emitting semiconductor components is configured to extract instructions on the basis of its membership of a particular subset according to said second partition;
• wherein said plurality of data buses is configured to supply respective address allocation instructions to said light emitting semiconductor components;
• wherein said light emitting semiconductor components are adapted to retain an address allocated by said respective address allocation instructions;
• and
• wherein instructions subsequent to said address allocation instructions include an address, each of said light emitting semiconductor components being configured to extract instructions by comparing said included address to said retained address.

A method for transmitting instructions from a controller to a linear array of light emitting semiconductor components in a digital printing apparatus, each light emitting semiconductor component comprising a driver and at least one light emitting device,

• wherein said array comprises a plurality of data buses respectively connecting to a first plurality of subsets of said light emitting semiconductor components, said first plurality of subsets forming a first partition of said light emitting semiconductor components;
• wherein said array comprises a plurality of auxiliary buses respectively connecting to a second plurality of subsets of said light emitting semiconductor components, said second plurality of subsets forming a second partition of said light emitting semiconductor components;
• and
• wherein said first partition and said second partition are chosen such that each one of said light emitting semiconductor components can be uniquely identified by the subset of the first partition and the subset of the second partition to which it belongs;
• said method comprising:
• supplying instructions to said first plurality of subsets of said light emitting semiconductor components over said plurality of data buses;
• and
• extracting instructions at said light emitting semiconductor components on the basis of their membership of a particular subset according to said second partition.