Abstract: A substrate has M×N heater elements divided into N blocks and time divisionally driven in units of the block, and signal lines for supplying M bits of signals for selecting elements to be driven in each block. The signal lines are divided into two groups, each extending toward the center of a heater element array from a start point at either end side of the array in the array direction, and being used to select M/2 elements closest to the end side of the array. In each groups, the M/2 bit signal lines are arranged so that the number of the signal lines is decremented as the distance from the start point increases, and that the remaining signal lines are shifted toward the array. A temperature sensor for the substrate is provided in an empty area produced at a position corresponding to the center of the array by the shift.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head substrate is provided with: an array of a plurality of energy generating bodies for generating energy utilized to discharge ink; and an ink supply port arranged along the array to supply ink to the plurality of energy generating bodies, the array and the ink supply port each extending in a longitudinal direction of the ink jet recording head substrate, the ink jet recording head substrate comprising: a first terminal electrically connected with the plurality of energy generating bodies, the first terminal being arranged along beside a first side of the ink jet recording head substrate, the first side extending in a cross direction intersecting the longitudinal direction; and a second terminal electrically connected with the plurality of energy generating bodies, the second terminal being arranged beside a second side of the ink jet recording head substrate, the second side extending in the longitudinal direction, so as to be arranged in an area between the first side and a phantom li

Abstract: In a substrate for an ink jet head used for an ink jet head recording apparatus, electrostatic breakdown of a diode sensor functional as a substrate temperature sensing element is prevented. A protective element is electrically connected between a diode sensor and an input/output pad for the diode sensor.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an element substrate including a plurality of print element arrays in which print elements are arranged at different arrayed densities. The element substrate can efficiently transfer data to each print element. The element substrate includes the following arrangement. More specifically, the first print element array having a relatively large number of print elements, and the second print element array which is equal in length to the first print element array and has a relatively small number of print elements are juxtaposed. The element substrate includes one shift register which holds data for driving the print element of the second print element array, and a plurality of shift registers for dividing and holding data for driving the print elements of the first print element array.

Abstract: This invention is directed to allow efficiently transferring data to each print element (heater) and efficiently laying out circuits in an element substrate including plural heater arrays in which different numbers of heaters are arranged. This substrate includes: a first array having a relatively large number of heaters; and a second array which is equal in length to the first array and has a relatively small number of heaters. These arrays are juxtaposed. The substrate further includes plural shift registers equal in number to the heater arrays of the substrate. The shift registers include a shift register which holds some data for driving the heaters of the first heater array, and data for driving the heaters of the second heater array. The shift registers further include a shift register which holds data other than some data for driving the heaters of the first heater array.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a print element substrate including a plurality of print element arrays in which different numbers of print elements are arranged. The print element substrate can efficiently transfer data to each print element and efficiently lay out circuits. The print element substrate includes the following arrangement. More specifically, a first print element array having a relatively large number of print elements, and a plurality of second print element arrays which are equal in length to the first print element array and smaller in the number of print elements than the first print element array are juxtaposed. The print element substrate includes one shift register which holds data for driving the print elements of the first print element array, and one shift register which holds data for driving the print elements of the second print element arrays.

Abstract: A recording head substrate includes a plurality of groups of recording elements arranged in arrays; a number, corresponding to a number of the groups, input contacts for receiving driving pulse signals; signal lines for supplying the driving pulse signals to the groups of recording elements from the input contacts, respectively, wherein in a region between two of the groups of recording elements are adjacent to each other, the signal lines are connected to the recording elements such that areas in which the groups of recording elements are disposed, respectively, have respective driving pulse signal change areas which are overlapped with each other.

Abstract: An inkjet recording head includes a connection-state output circuit provided on the recording element substrate of a recording head, where the connection-state output circuit externally transmits data of the connection state of each of input signal ends. An output from the connection-state output circuit is activated when the same logic as that used when signals are pulled up and/or pulled down is used.

Abstract: Measurement accuracy in temperature of a substrate for an ink jet head is improved. A substrate for an ink jet head includes diode sensors and aluminum sensors and as plural kinds of substrate temperature sensing elements, each of which has an output voltage property different from each other. The diode sensors and have a property that the output voltage thereof decreases as temperature increases when a constant current is applied to the corresponding sensor. The aluminum sensors and have a property that the output voltage thereof increases as temperature increases when the constant current is applied to the corresponding sensor.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to drive different types of printing elements arranged in a printhead by proper powers without increasing the number of signal lines between the printhead and a printing apparatus main body, complicating the circuit configuration, and decreasing the printing speed. For this purpose, time division signals representing two driving periods corresponding to two types of printing elements are supplied to a printhead having the two types of printing elements which require different application powers in order to obtain a desired printing characteristic. Power is applied to the first type printing elements in the first driving period, and power is applied to the second type printing elements in the second driving period.

Abstract: A recording head including outlets disposed in a staggered pattern so that the distances from an ink inlet to the outlets differ alternately for adjacent outlets. A recording head includes an outlet group including a plurality of outlets on at least one side of an ink inlet. The outlet group includes first outlets and second outlets, wherein the distance from the ink inlet to the first outlets differs from the distance from the ink inlet to the second outlets. First recording elements and second recording elements including heat resistors are provided. The first recording elements and second recording elements correspond to the first outlets and the second outlets, respectively, and are disposed in first ink channels and second ink channels, respectively. The first recording elements are rectangular, whereas the second recording elements are substantially square.

Abstract: This invention relates to a printhead substrate capable of suppressing an increase in wiring width and an increase in the size of a substrate formed by a film forming process while increasing the number of simultaneously driven printing elements in order to improve the printing performance, a printhead using the substrate, and a printing apparatus using the printhead. The wiring lines of the substrate are formed into a common wiring line, and energy applied to a heating resistance element is prevented from deviating from a stable ink discharge range owing to the difference in the number of simultaneously driven heating resistance elements. For this purpose, a driving element is greatly downsized in comparison with a conventional one, and the operation region of a MOS transistor is shifted from the non-saturation region to the saturation region.

Abstract: A recording head includes outlets disposed in a staggered pattern so that the distances from an ink inlet to the outlets differ alternately for adjacent outlets. The recording head includes an outlet group including a plurality of the outlets on at least one side of the ink inlet. The outlet group includes first outlets and second outlets, wherein the distance from the ink inlet to the first outlets differs from the distance from the ink inlet to the second outlets. First recording elements and second recording elements including heat resistors are provided. The first recording elements and second recording elements correspond to the first outlets and the second outlets, respectively, and are disposed in first ink channels and second ink channels, respectively. The first recording elements are rectangular, whereas the second recording elements are substantially square.

Abstract: A printhead in which the voltage fluctuation absorption range of a MOS transistor serving as a constant current source is narrowed according to constant current driving. The printhead includes a controller which controls voltage fluctuations to adjust a current supplied to a plurality of printing elements. The printhead also includes a DC/DC converter which outputs a voltage of a voltage value to be applied to a plurality of printing elements from outside a printing element substrate.

Abstract: This invention achieves both a small-size element substrate and high electrical efficiency when a plurality of printing element arrays having the same discharge amount exist on a single element substrate, and transistors which form driver arrays corresponding to the respective printing element arrays are formed at different array densities including transistors which form a driver array corresponding to a printing element array having a different discharge amount. The area of the transistor of the first driver array corresponding to the first printing element array is set larger than that of the transistor of the second driver array corresponding to the second printing element array. The wiring width of the first power supply wiring pattern corresponding to the first printing element array in a direction perpendicular to the printing element array is set smaller than that of the second power supply wiring pattern corresponding to the second printing element array.

Abstract: In a connection status output circuit for confirming the connection status with a recording apparatus via connecting terminals corresponding respectively to recording signal DATA, clock signal CLK for transferring the recording signal, and control signals LT and HE for controlling a recording operation according to the recording signal, the signals being received from the recording apparatus, when the connection status is confirmed, a signal designating the connection status is outputted, and when a recording operation is performed, the output signal does not change.

Abstract: The present invention prevents an element substrate from not operating normally in the case where the voltage supply from a power supply that applies a voltage to a logic circuit is unstable. The element substrate of the invention has unit for applying a first voltage to the logic circuit, and unit capable of applying a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage and capable of operating the logic circuit.

Abstract: An element substrate capable of obtaining a high-quality printed image for a long period. The element substrate has a plurality of heaters, driving elements each of which is provided in correspondence with each of the plurality of heaters to selectively drive the plurality of heaters, an input terminal to receive a driving mode selection signal, and a block selection circuit which time-divisionally drives, in blocks of different timings, heaters in each of a plurality of groups each including a predetermined number of heaters and driving elements. The element substrate includes a logic circuit which time-divisionally drives the heaters in the group when the selection signal input from the input terminal is a signal for selecting a first driving mode, and simultaneously drives all heaters in the group when the selection signal is a signal for selecting a second driving mode.

Abstract: An element substrate capable of independently confirming an electrical connection status with a logic power source without increasing costs due to increasing the number of terminals or the like. The element substrate includes a connection status output circuit that outputs a signal in response to a connection status of a logic power source input terminal, or a connection status of input terminals of each of a print signal, a clock signal, a drive signal, and a latch signal, and a connection status output terminal that outputs an output signal from the connection status output circuit.

Abstract: An ink jet recording element substrate includes a substrate; an ejection outlet array for ejecting ink; a heat generating element array comprising a plurality of heat generating elements for generating ejection energy for ejecting the ink from the ejection outlet array; a protecting film, comprising protecting portions, for protecting the heat generating element array; a common line, disposed along a side of the heat generating element array, for supplying electric power for driving the heat generating elements, and being divided into at least two portions by a line perpendicular to the heat generating element array; a testing electrode for testing a function of the protecting film; and an externally connecting electrode, disposed at an end of the substrate, for externally supplying electric power to the common line; wherein the ink jet recording element substrate further includes, in an area between the portions of the common line, a connecting line for electrically connecting the protecting portions of the