Real time adaptive inkjet temperature regulation controller
AssigneeCypress Semiconductor Corporation
InventorCalvin K. McDonald
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to an inkjet temperature regulation controller that includes a time base circuit adapted to generate a clock signal and a head temperature sampler adapted to generate head temperature data by sensing print head temperature responsive to the clock signal. A preheat data generating circuit is adapted to translate the head temperature data into head preheat temperature data. A preheat data delivering circuit is adapted to provide the preheat temperature data to at least one preheating element. A monitor circuit is adapted to generate statistical data according to the head temperature data. The preheat data generating circuit receives updated head preheat temperature data responsive to the statistical data.
Claims25
An inkjet temperature regulation controller, comprising:
- a time base circuit adapted to generate a clock signal;
- a head temperature sampler adapted to generate head temperature data by sensing print head temperature responsive to the clock signal;
- a preheat data generating circuit adapted to translate the head temperature data into head preheat temperature data by looking up the head preheat temperature data corresponding to the head temperature data in a look up table;
- a preheat data delivering circuit adapted to provide the preheat temperature data to at least one preheating element;
- and
- a monitor circuit adapted to generate statistical data about the look up table;
- wherein the preheat data generating circuit updates the look up table responsive to the statistical data.
An inkjet temperature regulation controller, comprising:
- a time base circuit adapted to generate a clock signal;
- a head temperature sampler adapted to generate head temperature data by sensing print head temperature responsive to the clock signal;
- a preheat data generating circuit adapted to translate the head temperature data into head preheat temperature data;
- a preheat data delivering circuit adapted to provide the preheat temperature data to at least one preheating element;
- and
- a monitor circuit adapted to generate statistical data according to the head temperature data;
- wherein the preheat data generating circuit receives updated head preheat temperature data responsive to the statistical data;
- wherein the preheat data delivering circuit is adapted to synchronize delivery of preheat data to the head preheating element according to data element boundaries.
An inkjet temperature regulation controller, comprising:
- a time base circuit adapted to generate a clock signal;
- a head temperature sampler adapted to generate head temperature data by sensing print head temperature responsive to the clock signal;
- a preheat data generating circuit adapted to translate the head temperature data into head preheat temperature data;
- a preheat data delivering circuit adapted to provide the preheat temperature data to at least one preheating element;
- and
- a monitor circuit adapted to generate statistical data according to the head temperature data;
- wherein the preheat data generating circuit receives updated head preheat temperature data responsive to the statistical data;
- wherein the time base circuit comprises:
- a divide integer circuit adapted to divide a first external signal by a first integer number;
- a main system clock divider adapted to divide a system clock signal;
- a schedule rate integer adapted to receive a second external signal;
- and
- a scheduler adapted to generate the clock signal responsive to an output of the main system clock divider and an output of the schedule rate integer.
A method for regulating temperature on an inkjet print head, comprising:
- initializing controller;
- extracting temperature data from a print head;
- looking up preheat data corresponding to the temperature data in a look up table;
- delivering the preheat data to a preheat element;
- monitoring the looking up of the preheat data;
- and
- updating the preheat data in the look up table responsive to the monitoring.
A method for regulating temperature on an inkjet print head, comprising:
- initializing a controller;
- extracting temperature data from a print head;
- translating the temperature data to preheat data;
- delivering the preheat data to a preheat element;
- monitoring the translating of the temperature data;
- and
- updating the preheat data responsive to the monitoring;
- wherein delivering the preheat data includes synchronizing delivery of preheat data to the preheat element on data element boundaries.
A method for regulating temperature on an inkjet print head, comprising:
- initializing a controller;
- extracting temperature data from a print head;
- translating the temperature data to preheat data;
- delivering the preheat data to a preheat element;
- monitoring the translating of the temperature data;
- and
- updating the preheat data responsive to the monitoring;
- scheduling extracting temperature data;
- wherein scheduling extracting temperature data includes interleaving readings of each of a plurality of temperature sensors.
A temperature regulation controller, comprising:
- a programmable time base circuit adapted to generate a controller clock;
- sampler circuit adapted to generate temperature data by reading at least one temperature sensor on an inkjet print head indicative of a print head temperature responsive to the controller clock;
- a preheat data generating circuit adapted to look up preheat data corresponding to the temperature data in a look up table;
- a preheat data delivering circuit adapted to provide the preheat data to a preheat element;
- and
- a monitor circuit adapted to collect statistical data concerning the look up table;
- wherein monitor circuit updates the temperature data in the look up table responsive to the statistical data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.