Abstract: A fluid ejection device having an internal power supply path and a power regulator providing an offset voltage from the internal power supply path voltage. A self-calibration circuit in the inkjet printhead determines a regulation band of the power regulator defined by a lower set point offset voltage and an upper set point offset voltage. The inkjet printhead includes a group of nozzles, a corresponding group of firing resistors, and a corresponding group of switches controllable to couple a selected firing resistor of the group of firing resistors between the internal power supply path and the offset voltage to thereby permit electrical current to pass through the selected firing resistor to cause a corresponding selected nozzle to fire.

Abstract: A thermal characterization chip comprising a substrate having overlying electronics, the electronics including semiconductor circuitry and thin film circuitry overlying the semiconductor circuitry; wherein the electronics define a plurality of thermal domains, each of the domains defining a portion of a receiving surface for receiving an external influence that alters a thermal parameter within the thermal domains; and wherein the electronics further comprises monitoring circuitry for monitoring the thermal parameter in each of the thermal domains over a test time period.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes at least one printhead—having an internal power supply path, a power regulator providing an offset voltage from the internal power supply path voltage, and multiple primitives. Each primitive includes a group of nozzles, a corresponding group of firing resistors, and a corresponding group of switches. The switches are controllable to couple a selected firing resistor between the internal power supply path and the offset voltage to thereby permit electrical current to pass through the selected firing resistor to cause a corresponding selected nozzle to fire.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a power switching transistor for a fluid ejection device includes forming a first conductivity type region and a first diffused region within the first conductivity type region. The first diffused region has a first conductivity type and has a greater impurity concentration than the first conductivity type region. A gate is formed and is defined to have a thin oxide region and a thick oxide region. The thick oxide region and a first portion of the thin oxide region are disposed over the first conductivity type region and the thin oxide region is at a defined distance from the first diffused region.

Abstract: A thermal characterization chip comprising a substrate having overlying electronics, the electronics including semiconductor circuitry and thin film circuitry overlying the semiconductor circuitry; wherein the electronics define a plurality of thermal domains, each of the domains defining a portion of a receiving surface for receiving an external influence that alters a thermal parameter within the thermal domains; and wherein the electronics further comprises monitoring circuitry for monitoring the thermal parameter in each of the thermal domains over a test time period.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes at least one printhead having an internal power supply path, a power regulator providing an offset voltage from the internal power supply path voltage, and multiple primitives. Each primitive includes a group of nozzles, a corresponding group of firing resisters, and a corresponding group of switches. The switches are controllable to couple a selected firing resister between the internal power supply path and the offset voltage to thereby permit electrical current to pass through the selected firing resister to cause a corresponding selected nozzle to fire.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device having an internal power supply path and a power regulator providing an offset voltage from the internal power supply path voltage. A self-calibration circuit in the inkjet printhead determines a regulation band of the power regulator defined by a lower set point offset voltage and an upper set point offset voltage. The inkjet printhead includes a group of nozzles, a corresponding group of firing resistors, and a corresponding group of switches controllable to couple a selected firing resistor of the group of firing resistors between the internal power supply path and the offset voltage to thereby permit electrical current to pass through the selected firing resistor to cause a corresponding selected nozzle to fire.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device having an internal power supply path and a power regulator providing an offset voltage from the internal power supply path voltage. A self-calibration circuit in the inkjet printhead determines a regulation band of the power regulator defined by a lower set point offset voltage and an upper set point offset voltage. The inkjet printhead includes a group of nozzles, a corresponding group of firing resistors, and a corresponding group of switches controllable to couple a selected firing resistor of the group of firing resistors between the internal power supply path and the offset voltage to thereby permit electrical currant to pass through the selected firing resistor to cause a corresponding selected nozzle to fire.

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.

Abstract: An ink jet printer (101) print head having multiple, redundant ink energizing elements arranged into clusters or groups (812), each of which attempts to expel ink onto media in a predetermined sequence. The effects of an ink energizing element failure are mitigated by using redundant elements, each of which fires in response to the same data.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a power switching transistor for a fluid ejection device includes forming a first conductivity type region and a first diffused region within the first conductivity type region. The first diffused region has a first conductivity type and has a greater impurity concentration than the first conductivity type region. A gate is formed and is defined to have a thin oxide region and a thick oxide region. The thick oxide region and a first portion of the thin oxide region are disposed over the first conductivity type region and the thin oxide region is at a defined distance from the first diffused region.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device having an internal power supply path and a power regular providing an offset voltage from the internal power supply path voltage. A self-calibration circuit in the inkjet printhead determines a regulation band of the power regulator defined by a lower set point offset voltage and an upper set point offset voltage. The inkjet printhead includes a group of nozzles, a corresponding group of firing resistors, and a corresponding group of switches controllable to couple a selected firing resistor of the group of firing resistors between the internal power supply path and the offset voltage to thereby permit electrical current to pass through the selected firing resistor to cause a corresponding selected nozzle to fire.

Abstract: This present invention is embodied in a printing system and protocol for providing efficient control of energy characteristics of an inkjet printhead. 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. The distributive processor maintains energy characteristics of the printhead assembly within preprogrammed acceptable boundaries.

Abstract: A printing system having a printhead assembly with an integrated distributive processor that provides localized control of the thermal characteristics of a printhead. The printing system includes a controller, a power supply and a printhead assembly. The printhead assembly includes a memory device and distributive processor integrated with an ink driver head. The printhead assembly includes a system and method for measuring thermal characteristics of the printhead, providing feedback to control devices including the distributive processor and making control decisions based upon the measure thermal characteristics.

Abstract: An ink jet printer (101) print head having multiple, redundant ink energizing elements arranged into clusters or groups (812), each of which attempts to expel ink onto media in a predetermined sequence. The effects of an ink energizing element failure are mitigated by using redundant elements, each of which fires in response to the same data.

Abstract: A printing system having a printhead assembly with an integrated distributive processor for providing localized control of internal printhead processor operations. These internal operations include thermal, energy, firing and timing aspects of the printhead. The printing system includes a controller, a power supply and the printhead assembly. The printhead assembly includes a memory device and distributive integrated processor with an ink driver head.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes at least one inkjet printhead having an internal power supply path, a power regulator providing an offset voltage from the internal power supply path voltage, and multiple primitives. Each primitive includes a group of nozzles, a corresponding group of firing resisters, and a corresponding group of switches. The switches are controllable to couple a selected firing resister between the internal power supply path and the offset voltage to thereby permit electrical current to pass through the selected firing resister to cause a corresponding selected nozzle to fire.

Abstract: This present invention is embodied in a printing system having a printhead assembly with a warming circuit for controlling the temperature of an inkjet printhead. 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 head. The distributive processor, the warming circuit and a sensor on the printhead assembly can regulate the temperature of the printhead assembly based on sensed and predefined operating information to maintain the printhead assembly within a desired temperature range.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system having multiple independent power supplies for providing firing energy to the ink ejection elements of one or more printheads. Different ones of the power supplies can be connected to different print cartridges each of which prints a different color ink; to different arrays of ink ejection elements within a single print cartridge, where each array prints a different color ink; or to different sections of the ink ejection element array of a single printhead for a single color ink. The output of each power supply is independently set to an appropriate voltage level for each different print cartridge, ink ejection element array, or section of an array.

Abstract: The present invention is a printing system and method having a printhead assembly that controls firing operations of an inkjet printhead. In particular, the system and method control the firing and timing decisions pertaining to ink drop ejection through the use of various types of delays. The printing system includes a controller, a power supply and a printhead assembly. The printhead assembly includes a memory device and distributive processor integrated with an ink driver head.