Abstract: A method and system for detecting a nonfunctional element in an ink jet printhead is disclosed. The ink jet printer system includes: a switching power supply, coupled to the inkjet printhead, for supplying power to the printhead; an output capacitor, coupled to an output of the switching power supply, for storing a dc voltage therein; a bleed resistor, coupled in parallel to the output capacitor, for discharging current from the output capacitor; an output shifting circuit, coupled to the switching power supply, for shifting the dc voltage level across the output capacitor between a low state and a high state; and a sensor, coupled to the output of the switching power supply, for detecting when the switching power supply is switching, wherein an element of the printhead is tested by measuring a test current discharging from the output capacitor when the element is activated and comparing the measured test current with a reference current which discharges from the output capacitor through the bleed resistor.

Abstract: It is intended to expand the recording width of the serial printer by executing the one-directional recording, instead of the two-directional recording, according to the required recording width. For this purpose there is provided a serial recording apparatus comprising a carrier for mounting a recording head for executing recording on a recording medium, a scanning section for causing the carrier to execute a reciprocating scanning motion along the recording medium and a recording section for executing the recording in the scanning motions in two directions of the carrier in case the recording width required for the recording along the scanning direction of the carrier does not exceed a predetermined reference recordable width, and executing the recording in the scanning motion of the carrier in one direction only in case the required recording width is larger than the predetermined reference recordable width.

Abstract: An ink jet printer has a printhead formed of a piezoelectric element having an electrical capacitance with a known temperature characteristic. A memory stores a reference temperature Tref and a reference capacitance Cref of the printhead measured at the reference temperature. A capacitance measuring section measures a capacitance Cm of the printhead at a temperature Te when the printer is in use. A temperature computing section computes the temperature Te on the basis of the reference capacitance Cref, the measured capacitance value Cm, and the reference temperature Tref. A table lists various values of the temperatures and corresponding values of the drive voltages. An optimum value is selected from among the values of the drive voltage listed in the table and is used for driving the printhead at the selected temperature.

Abstract: The invention described in the specification relates to an ink jet printer with multiple print heads that allows for the less restrictive installation of print head cartridges. The print head carriers are designed so that any of a variety of different types of print head cartridges can be inserted into any of the print head carriers. When image data is received, the ink jet printer's processor determines the appropriate type of print head cartridge that should be used to print the image data. Information electronically stored on the print head cartridges in the form of a read-only memory (ROM), bar code, or optical LED's, identifies the type of each print head cartridge. The printer processor examines this identification information on the installed print head cartridges to determine if one of the print head carriers contains the desired type of print head cartridge.

Abstract: An insertable cartridge for insertion into a device such as digital camera with such device having an ink jet printer including a housing for receiving a plurality of receivers each of which is adapted to receive ink from the ink jet printer; a plurality of reservoirs mounted in the housing and each being adapted to receive a different colored ink and sealing means adapted to be pierced to permit a connection between the reservoirs of an inserted cartridge and the ink jet printer of the device; the housing including identifying contacts for identifying features of an inserted cartridge for the ink jet printer of the device; and the housing defining a cavity for mounting at least one battery which is adapted to provide power for the ink jet printer of the device.