High performance printing system and protocol
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsMichael J. Barbour, George H. Corrigan, III, Richard I. Klaus
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Abstract
This present invention is embodied in a printing system and protocol for providing efficient firing, processing, thermal and energy control of a printhead of an inkjet printer. The printing system includes a controller, a power supply and a printhead assembly having a memory device and a distributive processor integrated with an ink driver.
Claims24
A printhead assembly comprising a processing driver head having a distributive processor integrated with an ink ejection driver head and being in bi-directional communication with a controller for selectively printing ink, wherein the distributive processor includes a calibration device that calibrates the printhead assembly in response to predefined events during printhead operation and a thermal control device that regulates energy delivered to the printhead assembly based on at least one of sensed and predefined operating information to cause the printhead assembly to gradually warm without it ejecting ink drops.
An inkjet printing system comprising:
- a controller;
- a printhead assembly in bi-directional communication with the controller and having a distributive processor integrated with an ink ejection driver head and having a calibration device that calibrates the printhead assembly when the printing system is started and at predetermined times during operation of the printhead assembly;
- wherein the distributive processor further includes a firing controller for regulating firing sequences, firing delays and ink dot printing delays, an energy control device for regulating energy delivered from the controller to the driver head, a thermal device for regulating thermal characteristics of the driver head and a digital register for managing data;
- and
- wherein the driver head includes sensors in communication with the distributive processor and controller and a warming device coupled to the thermal control device for selectively increasing the temperature of the driver head.
A printhead assembly, comprising:
- a processing driver head;
- an ink ejection driver head adjacent the processing driver head;
- a distributive processor integrated with the ink ejection driver head and having a calibration device that calibrates the printhead assembly in real-time;
- and
- an electrical testing system in communication with the distributive processor for providing electrical testing of the printhead assembly.
A printhead assembly, comprising:
- a processing driver head;
- an ink ejection driver head adjacent the processing driver head;
- a distributive processor integrated with the ink ejection driver head and having a calibration device that calibrates the printhead assembly in real-time;
- and
- an electrical testing system in communication with the distributive processor for providing electrical testing of the printhead assembly, wherein electrical testing comprises at least one of:
- (a) continuity testing;
- (b) testing for leaks and shorts;
- and wherein continuity testing further comprises at least one of:
- (a) continuity testing using a reverse biased junction;
- (b) continuity testing using a signal pad.
A printing method, comprising:
- using a distributive processor integrated with a printhead assembly to regulate energy delivered to the printhead assembly based on at least one of sensed and predefined operating information to cause trickle warming of the printhead without it ejecting ink drops;
- and
- calibrating the printhead assembly with the distributive processor in real-time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.