System and method for using pulse or trickle warming to control neutral color balance on a print media
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorStephen W. Bauer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention includes an embodiment for optimizing the temperature operating range for a thermal inkjet printhead using ink over large print swaths. In general, this embodiment includes receiving the temperature of a digital temperature sensor (DTS) before printing begins, comparing this temperature with the set point for printing, initiating heating elements if the temperature is below the printing threshold, and turning off those heating elements when the threshold temperature of the die has been reached. The method and process minimizes thermal excursions, either above or below the set point for the production of ink droplets, and maintains an approximate isothermal environment for operation.
Claims27
A method for printing ink drops with a printhead over a print swath, comprising:
- receiving a temperature of the printhead before printing begins;
- comparing the temperature with a predefined set point threshold temperature for printing;
- initiating heating elements if the temperature is below the threshold temperature;
- turning off the heating elements when the threshold temperature of the printhead has been reached;
- and
- producing ink droplets of a consistent drop weight with neutral color balance.
A printhead for printing ink drops over a print swath, comprising:
- a sensor that receives a temperature of the printhead before printing begins;
- and
- a controller that compares the temperature with a predefined set point threshold temperature for printing, initiates heating elements if the temperature is below the threshold temperature and adjusts the heating elements until the threshold temperature of the printhead has been reached to produce ink droplets of a consistent drop weight with neutral color balance.
A method for printing ink drops over a print swath, comprising:
- comparing a pre-sensed temperature of a printhead with a predefined set point threshold temperature for printing;
- determining if the temperature is below the threshold temperature and initiating heating elements when below the threshold;
- and
- adjusting the heating elements until the threshold temperature of the printhead has been reached to produce ink droplets of a consistent drop weight with neutral color balance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.