Abstract: A printer controller for providing data to a printhead module that includes: at least one row of print nozzles; at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data source, wherein each shift register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups of the nozzles is interleaved with at least one of the other groups of the nozzles.

Abstract: A printer is provided having a printhead having ejection nozzles and a plurality of controllers configured to process print data for printing and to output the processed data to the printhead. The plurality of controllers are connected to a common input of the printhead.

Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit including a MEMS layer having a plurality of nozzle assemblies and a CMOS layer having control circuitry. Each nozzle assembly includes a heater element for ejecting ink and sensing a temperature of the nozzle assembly. The control circuitry modifies operation of the heater elements in response to a sensed temperature exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A printhead IC comprising: an array of nozzles; drive circuitry for receiving print data and fire commands from a print engine controller; wherein during use, the drive circuitry receives the print data for the array in a plurality of sequential portions with a fire command at the end of each portion.

Abstract: An information gathering and decoding apparatus includes two information gathering devices that communicate with one another, preferably wirelessly. The two information gathering devices may be used substantially simultaneously to process one, or multiple, customer orders. Customer order information is sent from one information gathering device to the other, and only one of the information gathering devices communicates with a computer system to send information from both of the information gathering devices to the computer system as if the information originated from the one information gathering device. Communication between the two information gathering devices combined with a microprocessor in at least one of the information gathering devices may allow the information gathering and decoding apparatus to be used with existing computer systems, such as point of sale systems, preferably without modifying the computer system.

Abstract: A print engine controller for a pagewidth inkjet printhead having a plurality of abutting printhead modules mounted on a carrier. The print engine controller is configured to: (a) receive data identifying a rotational yaw displacement of an erroneously displaced printhead module; (b) determine a correction factor that compensates for ink dot displacement by nozzles in the erroneously displaced printhead module; (c) use the correction factor to determine an accumulative Y-offset for each printhead module in the printhead; and (d) alter the output of the ink dots from nozzles in each printhead module having a non-zero accumulative Y-offset to compensate for the rotational yaw displacement of the erroneously displaced printhead module.

Abstract: A printhead is provided having an integrated circuit having at least one row including a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to fire signals, and a controller for supplying the fire signals to the integrated circuit such that (a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of nozzles, then (b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set, then in the event n is an even number, (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles in each set has been fired, or in the event n is an odd number, (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in each set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead is provided having inkjet printhead modules arranged to successively abut one another and controllers for controlling the printhead modules. A first controller is configured to receive and process print data to generate first ink dot data and a second controller is configured to receive and process print data and at least some of the first dot data to generate second ink dot data. The first controller is arranged to output the first dot data to at least a first printhead module and the second controller. The second controller is arranged to output the second dot data to at least a second printhead module.

Abstract: A printhead is provided having a plurality of rows of nozzles, with the nozzles in each row being grouped into fire groups, and a controller configured to fire the nozzles of each fire group by outputting firing pulses to the nozzles. The controller sets the number of fire groups in each row based on the width of the firing pulses and a predetermined length of time for firing all of the nozzles of that row.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a printhead IC an array of nozzles for ejecting drops of printing fluid onto a media substrate and drive circuitry for driving the array of nozzles and, a print engine controller (PEC) for sending print data to the printhead IC. The drive circuitry is configured to extract a clock signal from the data transmission from the PEC.

Abstract: An inkjet printer comprising: an array of nozzles arranged into rows, each row consisting of a plurality of nozzle groups, the nozzles in each group being interspersed with nozzles from the other groups; and, associated drive circuitry for actuating the nozzles in the row in accordance with a firing sequence, the firing sequence enabling the nozzles in each group to eject printing fluid simultaneously, and enabling each of the groups to eject printing fluid in succession; wherein, the nozzles in each group are spaced from each other by at least a predetermined minimum number of nozzles and, each of the nozzles in a group is spaced from the nozzles in the subsequently enabled group by at least the predetermined minimum number of nozzles.

Abstract: A printer includes a printhead having first and second elongate printhead modules; and first and second printer controllers receiving print data and processing the print data to output dot data to the printhead, the first printer controller outputting dot data to the first printhead module and the second printer controller outputting dot data to the second printhead module. The first elongate printhead module is informationally isolated from the second elongate printhead module, whereby no dot data passes therebetween. The first printer controller and the second printer controller communicate therebetween a synchronization signal to effect synchronization therebetween.

Abstract: A printhead is provided having elongate printhead modules arranged parallel to each other to extend across a pagewidth and controllers for processing print data into dot data and for controlling the printhead modules in accordance with the dot data. Each printhead module has plural ink ejection nozzles. At least one of the printhead modules is longer than the other printhead modules. The controllers control ink ejection of the nozzles of the printhead modules in accordance with the dot data. At least one of the controllers is arranged to control all of the printhead modules and at least one other of the controllers is arranged to control only one of the printhead modules. Each controller has serial outputs for supplying the dot data for channels of the associated printhead module or modules.

Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit that has a nozzle, a thermal actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle, an open actuator test input, a column enable input, a row enable input, a drive transistor for connecting the thermal actuator to a power supply when the column enable input and the row enable input are asserted, a sense node, and a sense transistor for connecting the sense node to the drive transistor drain when the open actuator test input is asserted. During use the sense node is pulled high when the row enable input, the column enable input and the open actuator test are all asserted, and the thermal actuator is open circuit.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is provided having a printhead having inkjet nozzles and a plurality of controllers configured to process print data for printing and to output the processed data to the printhead. The plurality of controllers are connected to a common input of the printhead.

Abstract: A printhead module comprising at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction of intended media travel relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles in the first and second rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the first row and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the second row.

Abstract: A printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink is provided. The printhead module has a plurality of thermal sensors. Each thermal sensor is configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles. The printhead module is configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a threshold. The printhead module is a thermal inkjet printhead module and each of the nozzles includes a thermal ink ejection mechanism. Each thermal sensor comprises at least part of one of the thermal inkjet mechanisms.

Abstract: A printing system is provided having a carrier, a printhead module carried by the carrier and a controller. The printhead module has at least one row of ink ejection nozzles. Each of the nozzles is configured to eject ink in response to fire signals from the controller. The controller is configured to determine erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead module relative to the carrier, determine a correction factor based on a thickness of media being printed that at least partially compensates for ink dot displacement by at least one of the nozzles, and using the correction factor, alter the output of the fire signals to the nozzles so as to alter the ejection of ink dots to at least partially compensate for the rotational displacement.

Abstract: A printhead IC for receiving print data from a print engine controller (PEC) which may be one of a plurality of different types of PEC. The printhead IC has an array of nozzles for ejecting drops of printing fluid onto a media substrate and drive circuitry for driving the array of nozzles. The drive circuitry is configured for connection to a power source in the printer. The drive circuitry is configured to reset itself to a known initial state in response to receiving power from the power source after a period of not receiving power from the power source.

Abstract: A printhead IC is provided having an array of ejection nozzles, sensing circuitry for sensing a temperature of the nozzle array which is de-activatable after a period of use, and drive circuitry for receiving print data and providing drive pulses to the nozzles to cause ejection in accordance with the print data. The drive circuitry is configured to set the duration of the drive pulses to a sub-ejection value for any nozzle which is not to eject in accordance with the print data.