Abstract: This invention provides a printing head which can prevent an increase in the number of block enable signal lines, and can prevent changes in printing ink density caused by interference due to the relative pressures of nozzles generated in ink discharge, and an image printing apparatus using the printing head. For this purpose, an increase in the number of input signal lines along with an increase in the number of blocks is prevented using a block clock signal or the like instead of a block enable signal as an input signal to the printing head. Three ring counters generate signals having different nozzle driving orders. These signals are selectively used by a ring counter selection signal. Ink is not always discharged from the nozzles in the same output order. This can prevent changes in ink density caused by pressure interference.

Abstract: A recording head having a plurality of recording elements comprises a plurality of switching elements, each provided in correspondence to each of the plurality of recording elements, constant current sources, each provided in correspondence to each of the plurality of recording elements, for flowing a constant current, and a constant current control circuit for controlling the constant current supplied from the constant current sources, and the recording elements are driven by N constant currents from the constant current sources.

Abstract: A recording head having a plurality of recording elements comprises a plurality of switching elements, each provided in correspondence to each of the plurality of recording elements, constant current sources, each provided in correspondence to each of groups in which the plurality of recording elements are divided, for flowing a constant current into a plurality of recording elements of each group, and a constant current control circuit for controlling the constant current supplied from the constant current sources, and the recording elements are driven by the constant current.

Abstract: This invention provides a printhead capable of decreasing the ON resistance value without increasing the heater board size in order to downsize the heater board, an image printing apparatus using the printhead, and a control method therefor. In the printhead, heater resistors are series-connected to normal MOS transistors in each group on a heat board. The pitch of the heater resistors and the pitch of the normal MOS transistors are designed equal to each other in order to shorten the connection line. One high-breakdown-voltage MOS transistor is arranged in each group, and the pitch is designed to a length corresponding to the product of the pitch of the heater resistors and the number x of heater resistors. The high-breakdown-voltage MOS transistor has a higher ON resistance value per unit area than that of the normal MOS transistor. However, the area of the high-breakdown-voltage MOS transistor is larger by x times than that of the normal MOS transistor.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to prevent an increase in energy applied to a heating element and prolong the service life of a printhead even when the temperature of the printing element having a negative temperature coefficient rises and the resistance of the heating element decreases upon controlling a switching element for controlling a current flowing through the heating element so as to make energy as constant as possible.

Abstract: In a printhead element board including a plurality of printing elements which align in a predetermined direction, driving circuits which drive the printing elements, and an element selection circuit which selects printing elements within each group for each group having a predetermined number of adjacent printing elements, a plurality of element selection circuits are laid out adjacent to the driving circuits of the respective groups. With this layout, even if the number of printing elements increases, only the length in the printing element array direction increases without increasing the length in a direction perpendicular to the printing element array direction.

Abstract: This invention provides a printhead capable of decreasing the ON resistance value without increasing the heater board size in order to downsize the heater board, an image printing apparatus using the printhead, and a control method therefor. In the printhead, heater resistors are series-connected to normal MOS transistors in each group on a heat board. The pitch of the heater resistors and the pitch of the normal MOS transistors are designed equal to each other in order to shorten the connection line. One high-breakdown-voltage MOS transistor is arranged in each group, and the pitch is designed to a length corresponding to the product of the pitch of the heater resistors and the number x of heater resistors. The high-breakdown-voltage MOS transistor has a higher ON resistance value per unit area than that of the normal MOS transistor. However, the area of the high-breakdown-voltage MOS transistor is larger by x times than that of the normal MOS transistor.

Abstract: A printhead has a plurality of printing elements and a drive circuit for driving the printing elements aligned in a predetermined direction on an element board. The printhead is provided with a Schmitt trigger having hysteresis properties that give different threshold values to the rising and falling edges of a waveform of a logic signal (HE, LT, CLK, DATA) input into the drive circuit. The Schmitt trigger is provided with means for adjusting the length of the delay at the rising and falling edges of the input waveform signal, so that the speed of data transmission to the printhead can be increased even as the supply voltage is lowered.

Abstract: Printhead substrate for inputting a data signal (DATA) in synchronization with a clock signal (CLK). The printhead substrate comprises: input terminals inputting the clock signal and data signal; shift registers inputting and maintaining the data signal in synchronization with the clock signal inputted from the input terminals; and a time lag adjuster arranged between an input terminal and the shift register to adjust a time lag of at least one of the clock signal or data signal. By virtue of adjusting the time lag by the time lag adjuster, setup time and hold time between the clock signal and the data signal inputted to the shift register is ensured.

Abstract: The gate-width ratio between an NMOS transistor (1) and PMOS transistors (2, 3) constructing an initial inverter stage of a voltage converting circuit is set in such a manner that the threshold voltage of the initial inverter becomes a voltage at which an inversion is possible, this voltage being less than one-half the power-supply voltage (VHT) of the voltage converting circuit and, moreover, less than the power-supply voltage (Vdd) of a logic circuit.

Abstract: Since the large amount nozzle arrays are disposed at first columns and the small amount nozzle arrays are disposed at second columns on both sides of the shifting directions along the main scan direction, the deflection of the ink droplet caused by the first air flows is totally reduced.

Abstract: This invention provides a printhead capable of decreasing the ON resistance value without increasing the heater board size in order to downsize the heater board, an image printing apparatus using the printhead, and a control method therefor. In the printhead, heater resistors are series-connected to normal MOS transistors in each group on a heat board. The pitch of the heater resistors and the pitch of the normal MOS transistors are designed equal to each other in order to shorten the connection line. One high-breakdown-voltage MOS transistor is arranged in each group, and the pitch is designed to a length corresponding to the product of the pitch of the heater resistors and the number x of heater resistors. The high-breakdown-voltage MOS transistor has a higher ON resistance value per unit area than that of the normal MOS transistor. However, the area of the high-breakdown-voltage MOS transistor is larger by x times than that of the normal MOS transistor.

Abstract: This invention provides a printing head which can prevent an increase in the number of block enable signal lines, and can prevent changes in printing ink density caused by interference due to the relative pressures of nozzles generated in ink discharge, and an image printing apparatus using the printing head. For this purpose, an increase in the number of input signal lines along with an increase in the number of blocks is prevented using a block clock signal or the like instead of a block enable signal as an input signal to the printing head. Three ring counters generate signals having different nozzle driving orders. These signals are selectively used by a ring counter selection signal. Ink is not always discharged from the nozzles in the same output order. This can prevent changes in ink density caused by pressure interference.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing apparatus for performing printing on a printing medium, based upon information transmitted from an external device, by causing a carriage, on which a printhead is mounted, to scan across the printing medium. The printhead includes any one of voltage detecting means for detecting at least one voltage among voltages at a node between a first power-supply wire and a monitor resistor element, a node between the monitor resistor element and a driving element, and a node between the driving element and a second power-supply wire; and any one of current application means for applying current to at least one of the nodes. At least one resistance is obtained, based upon applied current or detected voltage, from among resistance of the first and second power-supply wires, resistance of the monitor resistor element and resistance of the driving element, and the printhead is controlled based upon the resistance obtained.

Abstract: A method of controlling a compression injection molding machine having a movable die mounted on a movable die plate including using a pressure sensor to detect a reaction force produced at the movable die by resin being injected into a die cavity. The pressure sensor is positioned between the movable die plate and a housing supporting a toggle driving mechanism that moves the movable die plate and movable die. The output of the sensor is applied to control the injection of the resin into the die cavity or the thickness of the resin. This output can also control gate cutting or resin injection speed.

Abstract: A printing apparatus having a plurality of printing elements connected to a common power supply, each printing element is provided with a switching element connected to the printing element in series for controlling driving of the printing element with a voltage applied to a control terminal; a constant voltage source using the power supply as a standard, and a voltage control circuit for controlling the terminal-to-terminal potential difference of the printing element to be equal to a voltage of the constant voltage source, when the printing element is driven, and when storage, driving signals to be supplied to each printing element are controlled so that energy amount consumed by each printing element is equal. Thereby a consumed energy amount in each printing element, that is, an energy amount generated at the time of driving becomes constant regardless of external conditions and environments of the printhead, resulting in high image quality storage.

Abstract: A printhead having a temperature detection circuit on its substrate capable of temperature detection with higher accuracy and at a lower cost, and a printing apparatus using the printhead. In the printhead, the temperature detection circuit is integrated on the substrate where a printhead driving circuit is integrated. The temperature detection circuit generates and amplifies a temperature-independent bandgap voltage as a reference voltage, generates a thermal voltage proportional to an absolute temperature, compares the thermal voltage with the reference voltage, and outputs the result of comparison as digital binary data.

Abstract: A printhead has a plurality of printing elements and a drive circuit for driving the printing elements are aligned in a predetermined direction on an element board. The printhead is provided with a Schmitt trigger having hysteresis properties that give different threshold values to the rising and falling edges of a wave form of a logic signal (HE, LT, CLK, DATA) input into the drive circuit. The Schmitt trigger is provided with means for adjusting the length of the delay at the rising and falling edges of the input wave form signal, so that the speed of data transmission to the printhead can be increased even as the supply voltage is lowered.

Abstract: Printhead substrate for inputting a data signal (DATA) in synchronization with a clock signal (CLK). The printhead substrate comprises: input terminals inputting the clock signal and data signal; shift registers inputting and maintaining the data signal in synchronization with the clock signal inputted from the input terminals; and a time lag adjuster arranged between an input terminal and the shift register to adjust a time lag of at least one of the clock signal or data signal. By virtue of adjusting the time lag by the time lag adjuster, setup time and hold time between the clock signal and the data signal inputted to the shift register is ensured.

Abstract: The gate-width ratio between a NMOS transistor (1) and PMOS transistors (2, 3) constructing an initial inverter stage of a voltage converting circuit is set in such a manner that the threshold voltage of the initial inverter becomes a voltage at which an inversion is possible, this voltage being less than one-half the power-supply voltage (VHT) of the voltage converting circuit and, moreover, less than the power-supply voltage (Vdd) of a logic circuit.