Process and apparatus to provide variable drop size ejection with an embedded waveform

A method for driving a droplet ejection device having an actuator, comprising:

• generating a first multi-pulse waveform that includes drive pulses in predetermined positions;
• applying drive pulses of the first multi-pulse waveform to the actuator to cause the droplet ejection device to eject a first droplet with a first droplet size of a fluid;
• generating a second multi-pulse waveform that includes no drive pulses in the predetermined positions and one or more drive pulses at locations embedded between the predetermined positions;
• and
• applying the one or more drive pulses of the second multi-pulse waveform to the actuator to cause the droplet ejection device to eject a second droplet with a second droplet size of the fluid, wherein the first and second droplets have different droplet sizes, wherein the second multi-pulse waveform has two embedded drive pulses and no drive pulses in the predetermined positions to cause the droplet ejection device to eject the second droplet of the fluid.

A method for driving a droplet ejection device having an actuator, comprising:

• generating a first multi-pulse waveform that includes drive pulses in predetermined positions;
• applying drive pulses of the first multi-pulse waveform to the actuator to cause the droplet ejection device to eject a first droplet with a first droplet size of a fluid;
• generating a second multi-pulse waveform that includes no drive pulses in the predetermined positions and one or more drive pulses at locations embedded between the predetermined positions;
• and
• applying the one or more drive pulses of the second multi-pulse waveform to the actuator to cause the droplet ejection device to eject a second droplet with a second droplet size of the fluid, wherein the first and second droplets having different droplet sizes, wherein the first multi-pulse waveform has three drive pulses in their predetermined positions to cause the droplet ejection device to eject the first droplet of the fluid.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an actuator to eject droplets of a fluid from a pumping chamber in response to a plurality of waveforms applied to the actuator, wherein the droplets are of different sizes;
• and
• drive electronics coupled to the actuator with the drive electronics to drive the actuator with the plurality of waveforms, wherein the drive electronics drives the actuator with:
• a first multi-pulse waveform that includes three or more drive pulses in predetermined positions and no drive pulses at locations embedded between the predetermined positions to cause the actuator to eject a first droplet of the fluid, and
• a second multi-pulse waveform that includes no drive pulses in the predetermined positions and one or more drive pulses at locations embedded between the predetermined positions, to cause the actuator to eject a second droplet of the fluid, wherein the first and second droplets each have a different droplet size, these droplets are ejected at substantially the same effective drop velocity based on the peak voltages of the one or more drive pulses being scaled with respect to the peak voltages of the three or more drive pulses in the predetermined positions.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an actuator to eject droplets of a fluid from a pumping chamber in response to a plurality of waveforms applied to the actuator, wherein the droplets are of different sizes;
• and
• drive electronics coupled to the actuator with the drive electronics to drive the actuator with the plurality of waveforms, wherein the drive electronics drives the actuator with:
• a first multi-pulse waveform that includes drive pulses in predetermined positions to cause the actuator to eject a first droplet of the fluid, and
• a second multi-pulse waveform that includes no drive pulses in the predetermined positions and one or more drive pulses at locations embedded between the predetermined positions, to cause the actuator to eject a second droplet of the fluid, wherein the first and second droplets each have a different droplet size, wherein the second multi-pulse waveform has two embedded drive pulses and no drive pulses in the predetermined positions to cause the droplet ejection device to eject the second droplet of the fluid.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an actuator to eject droplets of a fluid from a pumping chamber in response to a plurality of waveforms applied to the actuator, wherein the droplets are of different sizes;
• and
• drive electronics coupled to the actuator with the drive electronics to drive the actuator with the plurality of waveforms, wherein the drive electronics drives the actuator with:
• a first multi-pulse waveform that includes drive pulses in predetermined positions to cause the actuator to eject a first droplet of the fluid, and
• a second multi-pulse waveform that includes no drive pulses in the predetermined positions and one or more drive pulses at locations embedded between the predetermined positions, to cause the actuator to eject a second droplet of the fluid, wherein the first and second droplets each have a different droplet size, wherein the first multi-pulse waveform has three drive pulses in their predetermined positions to cause the droplet ejection device to eject the first droplet of the fluid.

A printhead, comprising:

• an ink jet module that comprises,
• an actuator to eject droplets of a fluid from a pumping chamber in response to a plurality of waveforms applied to the actuator, wherein the droplets are of different sizes;
• and
• drive electronics coupled to the actuator with the drive electronics to drive the actuator with the plurality of waveforms, wherein the drive electronics drives the actuator with:
• a first multi-pulse waveform that includes three or more drive pulses in predetermined positions and no drive pulses at locations embedded between the predetermined positions to cause the actuator to eject a first droplet of the fluid, and a second multi-pulse waveform that includes no drive pulses in the predetermined positions and one or more drive pulses at locations embedded between the predetermined positions, to cause the actuator to eject a second droplet of the fluid, wherein the first and second droplets each have a different droplet size, these droplets are ejected at substantially the same effective drop velocity based on the peak voltages of the one or more drive pulses being scaled with respect to the peak voltages of the three or more drive pulses in the predetermined positions.

A printhead, comprising:

• an ink jet module that comprises,
• an actuator to eject droplets of a fluid from a pumping chamber in response to a plurality of waveforms applied to the actuator, wherein the droplets are of different sizes;
• and
• drive electronics coupled to the actuator with the drive electronics to drive the actuator with the plurality of waveforms, wherein the drive electronics drives the actuator with:
• a first multi-pulse waveform that includes drive pulses in predetermined positions to cause the actuator to eject a first droplet of the fluid, and
• a second multi-pulse waveform that includes no drive pulses in the predetermined positions and one or more drive pulses at locations embedded between the predetermined positions, to cause the actuator to eject a second droplet of the fluid, wherein the first and second droplets each have a different droplet size, wherein the second multi-pulse waveform has two embedded drive pulses and no drive pulses in the predetermined positions to cause the droplet ejection device to eject the second droplet of the fluid.