Method and apparatus for transferring information to a printhead

An inkjet printhead for use with an inkjet printing device for forming images on media, the inkjet printhead comprising:

• drop generators;
• a plurality of contacts configured to establish connection, upon insertion of the printhead into the printing device, with a corresponding plurality of contacts on the printing device, the plurality of contacts on the printhead including drive current contacts, address contacts, and enable contacts respectively receiving, from the printing device, drive current, periodic address signals, and periodic enable signals, wherein the drop generators are organized in a plurality of groups of drop generators with each of the plurality of groups of drop generators connected to a different drive current contact and wherein each of the plurality of groups of drop generators includes subgroups of drop generators and each subgroup of drop generators within the group of drop generators is connected to a different address contact of the plurality of address contacts;
• and
• wherein the printhead is responsive to periodic signaling from each of the address and enable signals and wherein the printhead is responsive to selective application of drive current based on image descriptions to selectively eject ink from the inkjet printhead.

An inkjet printhead responsive to enable and drive current signals for dispensing ink, the inkjet printhead comprising:

• an energy storage device for storing energy;
• an energy charging device responsive to a first enable signal for storing energy in the energy storage device;
• an energy discharging device responsive to a second enable signal for discharging energy in the energy storage device;
• and
• a drop generating device for dispensing ink from the inkjet printhead upon activation, the drop generating device activated by a drive current signal active and energy stored in the energy storage device being greater than a threshold energy level, wherein the drop generating device includes a resistive heating device and a FET transistor having drain and source terminals connected in series with the resistive heating device and wherein the energy storage device is a gate to source capacitance of the FET transistor.

An inkjet printhead for use with an inkjet printing device for forming images on media, the inkjet printhead comprising:

• means for electrically connecting, upon insertion of the printhead into the printing device, to a plurality of contacts on the printing device, and for receiving, from the printing device, drive current, periodic address signals identifying a first set of drop ejection devices on the inkjet printhead, and periodic enable signals identifying a subset of drop ejection devices from the set of drop ejection devices;
• and
• means responsive to periodic signaling from each of the address and enable signals and responsive to selective application of drive current based on image descriptions for selectively ejecting ink from the inkjet printhead and including drop ejection devices, and wherein only drop ejection devices within the identified subset that are provided drive current are activated to eject ink;
• and
• wherein the drop ejection devices are organized in a plurality of groups of drop ejection devices with each of the plurality of groups of drop ejection devices being coupled to a different source of drive current, upon insertion of the printhead into the printing device, and wherein each of the plurality of groups of drop ejection devices includes subgroups of drop ejection devices with each subgroup of drop ejection devices within the group of drop ejection devices being coupled to a different source of periodic address signals, upon insertion of the printhead into the printing device.

An inkjet printhead comprising:

• a plurality of drop generators for ejecting ink in response to activation, the plurality of drop generators organized in groups of drop generators with each group of drop generators connected to a common source of activation current;
• means for receiving a first time varying voltage having a constant frequency;
• means for selecting subgroups of drop generators within the groups of drop generators based on the first time varying voltage;
• means for receiving a second time varying voltage having a constant frequency;
• means for selecting individual drop generators within the selected subgroup of drop generators based on the second time varying voltage;
• and
• means for activating the selected individual drop generators based on activation current delivered thereto.