Printing head, printing method and apparatus using same, and apparatus and method for correcting said printing head

A printing apparatus for printing an image on a printing medium by electrifying and driving a printing head comprising a plurality of element substrates each having a plurality of printing elements and a circuit for performing printing by applying signals to said printing elements in dependence upon printing data, said printing head including a memory for storing data for correcting printing characteristics of each of said element substrates, each of said element substrates having a plurality of input terminals each receiving a different type of pulse signal for driving printing elements, memory means for storing inputted selection data, each of the selection data selects one of the different types of pulse signals entering from said input terminal, and signal applying means, which is responsive to the selection data stored in said memory means, for selecting one of the different types of pulse signals entering from said input terminal, and applying the selected pulse signal to each of the printing elements, the apparatus comprising:

• characteristic information storing means for storing printing characteristics of the printing elements of said printing head;
• transfer means for deciding the selection data based on the printing characteristics, which have been stored in said characteristic information storing means, and transferring the selection data to each element substrate of said printing head;
• preliminary electrifying means for outputting the plurality of types of pulse signals to said input terminals of said printing head and for performing preliminary electrification of said printing head;
• and
• printing electrifying means for performing printing by flowing current through said resistive elements of said printing head in conformity with image information.

A printing head having a plurality of printing elements and a circuit for performing printing by applying a signal to said printing elements in dependence upon printing data, said printing head comprising:

• a plurality of input terminals each receiving a different type of pulse signal for driving each of the printing elements;
• memory means for storing selection data, each of the selection data selecting one of the different types of pulse signals entering from said input terminals with respect to the printing elements;
• latch means tor receiving printing data and latching the printing data with respect to each of the printing elements;
• and
• signal applying means, which is responsive to the selection data stored in said memory means, for selecting one of the different types of pulse signals entering from said input terminals, and applying the selected pulse signal to each of the printing elements based on the printing data latched in said latch means.

A printing head comprising:

• a plurality of element substrates each having a plurality of printing elements and a circuit for performing printing by applying signals to said printing elements in dependence upon printing data, said printing head including a memory for storing data for correcting printing characteristics of each of said element substrates, each of said element substrates having:
• a plurality of input terminals each receiving a different type of pulse signal for driving each of the printing elements;
• memory means for storing inputted selection data, each of the selection data selects one of the different types of pulse signals entering from said input terminal with respect to the printing elements;
• latch means for receiving printing data and latching the printing data with respect to each of the printing elements;
• and
• signal applying means, which is responsive to the selection data stored in said memory means, for selecting one of the different types of pulse signals entering from said input terminal, and applying the selected pulse signal to each of the printing elements based on the printing data latched in said latch means.