Method for generating a stroke frequency signal on a plurality of ink jet printheads

A method for generating a stroke frequency signal on a plurality of ink jet printheads arranged along a moving web, comprises the steps of:

• embedding a web velocity signal indicative of web velocity in data;
• communicating the data to each of the printheads;
• deriving the web velocity signal from the data by each of the printheads;
• and generating a stroke frequency signal from the web velocity signal by each of the printheads;
• wherein the plurality of printheads are coupled together in a daisy-chain configuration to form a printhead daisy-chain;
• wherein the communicating step includes the steps of transmitting the data to a first one of the printheads in the printhead daisy-chain and receiving and retransmitting the data to a next one of the printheads in the printhead daisy-chain by each of the printheads, until the data is retransmitted to a last one of the printheads in the printhead daisy-chain;
• wherein a printer controller is coupled to a first one of the printheads in the printhead daisy-chain and the printer controller performs the embedding and transmitting steps;
• and wherein the printer controller is coupled to the last one of the printheads in said printhead daisy-chain, and the communicating step includes the step of retransmitting the data from the last printhead in the printhead daisy-chain to the printer controller.

A method for generating a stroke frequency signal on a plurality of ink jet printheads arranged along a moving web comprises the steps of:

• (a) coupling a raster printer controller to a plurality of printheads with a plurality of data links arranged a daisy-chain configuration, the printer controller being at a beginning of the daisy-chain;
• (b) embedding a web velocity signal indicative of web velocity in data, by the printer controller;
• (c) communicating the data with the embedded velocity signal to each of the printheads by transmitting the data with the embedded velocity signal onto the daisy-chain by the printer controller;
• (d) deriving the web velocity signal from the data received from the daisy-chain by each of the printheads;
• and
• (e) generating a stroke frequency signal from the web velocity signal by each of the printheads;
• wherein the generating step includes the steps of:
• (f) clocking a counter with a clock signal, the counter having a terminal count output, the terminal count output being the stroke frequency signal;
• (g) calculating a preload value from the velocity signal;
• and
• (h) initializing the counter with the preload value.

A method for generating a stroke clock signal on at least one ink jet printhead positioned along a moving web, comprises the steps of:

• communicating a web velocity signal indicative of web velocity to the printhead;
• clocking a counter with a first clock signal by the printhead, the counter having a terminal count output, the terminal count output being the stroke clock signal;
• calculating a preload value from the web velocity signal;
• and
• initializing the counter with the preload value.