Redundant input signal paths for an inkjet print head

An ink jet print cartridge comprising:

• an ink reservoir;
• a substrate, having a first major surface that includes therein an ink aperture through which ink flows from said ink reservoir to a plurality of ink energizing elements;
• a first primitive comprised of a plurality of three-terminal current controlling elements on said substrate, a first terminal of each three-terminal current controlling element of said first primitive being electrically coupled to an associated ink energizing element on said substrate, a second terminal of each three-terminal current controlling clement being coupled to a first primitive control line and a third terminal of each three terminal current controlling element being coupled to an associated address line of a first set of address lines;
• a second primitive comprised of a plurality of three-terminal current controlling elements on said substrate, a first terminal of each three-terminal current controlling element of said second primitive being electrically coupled to an associated ink energizing element on said substrate, a second terminal of each three-terminal current controlling element being coupled to a second primitive control line and a third terminal of each three terminal current controlling element being coupled to an associated address line of a second set of address lines, said second primitive and said second set of address lines being electrically isolated from said first primitive and said first set of address lines;
• an orifice plate substantially covering said intc energizing elements and said primitives, said orifice plate having a plurality of openings through which ink is expelled;
• an electrical interface for coupling electrical control signals to said three-terminal current controlling elements from an external controller for said cartridge.

An ink jet print head comprising:

• a substrate having an ink aperture through which ink from an ink reservoir flows to ink energizing elements;
• a plurality of primitives, each of which is physically adjacent to said ink aperture on said substrate, said plurality of primitives being subdivided into:
• a first subset of primitives, each primitive of said first subset of primitives being comprised of a set of current-controlling transistors, a first terminal of each current-controlling transistor being coupled to an associated ink energizing element, a second terminal of each transistor being coupled to ground and the third terminal of each transistor being coupled to a predetermined address line in a first set of address lines;
• a second subset of primitives, each primitive of said second subset of primitives being comprised of a set of current-controlling transistors, a first terminal of each current-controlling transistor being coupled to an associated ink energizing element, a second terminal of each transistor being coupled to ground and the third terminal of each transistor being coupled to a predetermined address line in a second set of address lines, said first set of primitives and said first set of address lines being electrically isolated from said second set of primitives and said second set of address lines.

An inkjet printing apparatus comprising:

• a printer housing;
• a platen;
• an input medium;
• at least one print cartridge having:
• a substrate including a first region and second region;
• a first set of primitives within said first region and a second set of primitives electrically isolated from said first set of primitives, within said second region, each primitive of said first and second sets of primitives comprising a plurality of electrically isolated resistors and associated multiplexing circuitry, the multiplexing circuitry directing electrical current through the resistors;
• and
• a first set of address conductors electrically coupled only to the multiplexing circuitry in the first region and a second set of address conductors electrically coupled only to the multiplexing circuitry in the second region, said first and second sets of address conductors extending to first and second sets of contacts pads on said substrate.

A printer comprised of:

• a controller;
• a print media transport;
• a print head assembly comprised of:
• a substrate having a first major surface through which extends an ink aperture and on which is formed:
• a first primitive, said first primitive being comprised of a first set of current-controlling transistors, a first terminal of each transistor of said first set being coupled to at least one address line in a first set of address lines;
• a second primitive, electrically isolated from said first primitive, said second primitive being comprised of a second set of current-controlling transistors, a first terminal of each transistor of said second set being coupled to at least one address line in a second set of address lines, said second set of address lines being electrically isolated from said first set of address lines;
• whereby each transistor in said first primitive can be activated independently of each transistor in that said second primitive by way of control signals on at least one address line of said first and second set of address lines.