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US 6,886,903 B2Granted
Determination of turn-on energy for a printhead
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsDuane Koehler, Volker Smektala
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The turn-on energy of a printhead is determined. The printhead is fired at a first firing frequency over an initial range of print energies to detect an approximate range of print energies in which the turn-on energy is located. The printhead is fired at a second firing frequency over the approximate range of print energies in which the turn-on energy is located in order to determine a value for the turn-on energy of the printhead. The second firing frequency is higher than the first firing frequency.
Claims49
A method for determining a turn-on energy of a printhead comprising:
- firing the printhead at a first firing frequency over an initial range of print energies to detect an approximate range of print energies in which the turn-on energy is located;
- and,
- firing the printhead at a second firing frequency over the approximate range of print energies in which the turn-on energy is located in order to determine a value for the turn-on energy of the printhead, wherein the second firing frequency is higher than the first firing frequency.
A method for determining a turn-on energy of a printhead comprising:
- firing the printhead at a first firing frequency over an initial range of print energies to detect an approximate range of print energies in which the turn-on energy is located, including:
- passing a first plurality of substantially constant voltage electric signals through heater resistors within the printhead and reducing a pulse width of each successive signal in the first plurality of substantially constant voltage electric signals by a first amount;
- and,
- firing the printhead at a second firing frequency over the approximate range of print energies in which the turn-on energy is located in order to determine a value for the turn-on energy of the printhead, including:
- passing a second plurality of substantially constant voltage electric signals through the heater resistors and reducing a pulse width of each successive signal in the second plurality of substantially constant voltage electric signals by a second amount;
- wherein the second firing frequency is higher than the first firing frequency.
3 more elements
A device comprising:
- a printhead used to eject ink;
- and,
- a controller that controls ejection of ink from the printhead, wherein the controller determines a turn-on energy of the printhead by causing the printhead to fire ink at a first firing frequency over an initial range of print energies to detect an approximate range of print energies in which the turn-on energy is located, and by causing the printhead to fire ink at a second firing frequency over the approximate range of print energies in which the turn-on energy is located in order to determine a value for the turn-on energy of the printhead, wherein the second firing frequency is higher than the first firing frequency.
A device comprising:
- a printhead used to eject ink;
- and,
- a controller that controls ejection of ink from the printhead, wherein the controller determines a turn-on energy of the printhead by causing the printhead to fire ink at a first firing frequency over an initial range of print energies to detect an approximate range of print energies in which the turn-on energy is located, including passing a first plurality of substantially constant voltage electric signals through heater resistors within the printhead and reducing a pulse width of each successive signal in the first plurality of substantially constant voltage electric signals, and by causing the printhead to fire ink at a second firing frequency over the approximate range of print energies in which the turn-on energy is located in order to determine a value for the turn-on energy of the printhead, including passing a second plurality of substantially constant voltage electric signals through the heater resistors and reducing a pulse width of each successive signal in the second plurality of substantially constant voltage electric signals by a second amount;
- wherein the second firing frequency is higher than the first firing frequency.
1 more element
A device comprising:
- means for ejecting ink;
- and,
- means for controlling the ejection of ink, wherein the means for controlling the ejection of ink determines a turn-on energy of the means for ejecting ink by causing the means for ejecting ink to fire ink at a first firing frequency over an initial range of print energies to detect an approximate range of print energies in which the turn-on energy is located, and by causing the means for ejecting ink to fire ink at a second firing frequency over the approximate range of print energies in which the turn-on energy is located in order to determine a value for the turn-on energy of the means for ejecting ink, wherein the second firing frequency is higher than the first firing frequency.
Storage media that stores programming which when executed on a printing device, performs a method for determining turn-on energy of a printhead, the method comprising:
- firing the printhead at a first firing frequency over an initial range of print energies to detect an approximate range of print energies in which the turn-on energy is located;
- and,
- firing the printhead at a second firing frequency over the approximate range of print energies in which the turn-on energy is located in order to determine a value for the turn-on energy of the printhead, wherein the second firing frequency is higher than the first firing frequency.
Storage media that stores programming which when executed on a printing device, performs a method for determining turn-on energy of a printhead, the method comprising:
- firing the printhead at a first firing frequency over an initial range of print energies to detect an approximate range of print energies in which the turn-on energy is located, including:
- passing a first plurality of substantially constant voltage electric signals through heater resistors within the printhead and reducing a pulse width of each successive signal in the first plurality of substantially constant voltage electric signals by a first amount;
- and,
- firing the printhead at a second firing frequency over the approximate range of print energies in which the turn-on energy is located in order to determine a value for the turn-on energy of the printhead, including:
- passing a second plurality of substantially constant voltage electric signals through the heater resistors and reducing a pulse width of each successive signal in the second plurality of substantially constant voltage electric signals by a second amount;
- wherein the second firing frequency is higher than the first firing frequency.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.