Abstract: A method for determining service criteria for a printhead in a printer includes receiving an indication that service is needed, determining a calculated age of the printhead, and selecting a service procedure based on the determined calculated age. The selected service procedure has an impact on the long term life of the printhead that is proportional to the calculated age. The calculated age may be classified as a beginning of life phase, a middle of life phase or a maturity phase, and the service procedures may be selected such that the service procedure for the beginning of life phase has a low impact on the printhead's long term life, the service procedure for the middle of life phase has a moderate impact on the printhead's long term life, and the service procedure for the maturity phase has a severe impact on the printhead's long term life.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for optimizing the temperature operating range for a thermal inkjet printhead using pigmented ink over large print swaths. The printhead assembly includes connection and processing circuitry, a printhead body, ink channels, a substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer (commonly referred to as a die), a nozzle member and a barrier layer located between the wafer and nozzle member. The nozzle member has heating elements in arrays, as well as plural nozzles coupled to respective ink channels and is secured at a predefined location to the printhead body with a suitable adhesive layer. The printhead also includes a controller, which can be an integrated circuit processor, a printer driver, firmware or the like for controlling an increase in the mean temperature of the die through a feedback loop.

Abstract: A method for determining service criteria for a printhead in a printer includes receiving an indication that service is needed, determining a calculated age of the printhead, and selecting a service procedure based on the determined calculated age. The selected service procedure has an impact on the long term life of the printhead that is proportional to the calculated age. The calculated age may be classified as a beginning of life phase, a middle of life phase or a maturity phase, and the service procedures may be selected such that the service procedure for the beginning of life phase has a low impact on the printhead's long term life, the service procedure for the middle of life phase has a moderate impact on the printhead's long term life, and the service procedure for the maturity phase has a severe impact on the printhead's long term life.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for servicing a pen in an inkjet printing device includes receiving a print job, determining a level of print quality required for the print job, detecting the operating characteristics of a number of nozzles to be used to print the print job; and, in the event that the operating characteristics of the nozzles are sufficient to meet the level of print quality, printing the print job. A maintenance procedure may be scheduled in the event that an individual one of the nozzles is not fully functional. In addition, the maintenance procedure may be scheduled to be performed during a time when the inkjet printing device is idle.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for optimizing the temperature operating range for a thermal inkjet printhead using pigmented ink over large print swaths. The printhead assembly includes connection and processing circuitry, a printhead body, ink channels, a substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer (commonly referred to as a die), a nozzle member and a barrier layer located between the wafer and nozzle member. The nozzle member has heating elements in arrays, as well as plural nozzles coupled to respective ink channels and is secured at a predefined location to the printhead body with a suitable adhesive layer. The printhead also includes a controller, which can be an integrated circuit processor, a printer driver, firmware or the like for controlling an increase in the mean temperature of the die through a feedback loop.