Method and circuit for driving ink jet print head and printer utilizing same

A print head, receiving an address signal, a bank signal, and k number of control signals, the print head comprising:

• a plurality of address lines;
• a plurality of bank lines;
• a plurality of control lines;
• a plurality of print modules, corresponding to the address lines and the bank lines, each print modules comprising a plurality of print units, each print unit comprising a heating element and a switch unit directly coupled to the plurality of control lines for controlling the heating element;
• and
• when an address signal and a bank signal are applied by a predetermined address line of the plurality of address lines and a predetermined bank line of the plurality of bank lines, and a plurality of control signals is transferred to the plurality of control lines, a switch unit is turned on according to the plurality control signals for generating a driving current to activate the heating element of the switch unit, wherein k number of control signals from k number of control lines generate 2k types of control types, each for controlling an associate switch unit of 2k numbers of switch units, and wherein k is greater than one.

A print head driving circuit, receiving an address signal, a bank signal, and k number of control signals, the print head driving circuit comprising:

• a plurality of address lines;
• a plurality of bank lines;
• a plurality of control lines;
• a plurality of print modules, corresponding to the address lines and the bank lines, each print modules comprising a plurality of print units, each print unit comprising a heating element and a switch unit directly coupled to the plurality of control lines for controlling the heating element;
• and
• when an address signal and a bank signal are applied by a predetermined address line of the plurality of address lines and a predetermined bank line of the plurality of bank lines, and a plurality of control signals is transferred to the plurality of control lines, a switch unit is turned on according to the plurality control signals for generating a driving current to activate the heating element of the switch unit, wherein k number of control signals from k number of control lines generate 2k types of control types, each for controlling an associate switch unit of 2k numbers of switch units, and wherein k is greater than one.

A method for receiving image data and activating heating elements based on the image data to disperse ink drops from nozzles toward a print surface, the method comprising:

• generating m number of address signals, wherein each of the address signals is in an on or off state;
• generating k number of control signals;
• transmitting k number of control signals, by k number of control lines directly connecting to a plurality of switch units, to the plurality of switch units, each of the plurality of switch units is controlled by a corresponding control signal set based on the image data and is in an on or off state, wherein the k number of control signals generates 2k control sets, each for controlling an associate switch unit of 2k number of switch units, and wherein k is greater than one;
• generating n number of bank signals, wherein each of the control signals is periodically in an on state when other bank signals are in an off state;
• and
• when an address signal, corresponding to a switch unit and a bank signal are in an on state, a driving current is generated for activating the heating element coupled to the switch unit in accordance to a corresponding control signal set.