Abstract: The N candidate timings Tc (I) from the first one to the N-th one which are arranged in chronological order with an interval of the cycle Cs in accordance with the transport speed V of the printing medium WP are set. When the I-th candidate timing Tc (I) is set outside the prohibition interval Pw with the (I?1)th output timing Td (I?1) as the starting point timing, the I-th candidate timing Tc (I) is determined as the I-th output timing Td (I). On the other hand, when the I-th candidate timing Tc (I) is set within the prohibition interval Pw with the (I?1)th output timing Td (I?1) as the starting point timing, a timing after the prohibition interval Pw is determined as the I-th output timing Td (I).

Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus includes a first transistor in which a second terminal and a third terminal are electrically coupled to according to a first terminal, a second transistor in which a fifth terminal and a sixth terminal are electrically coupled to according to a fourth terminal, and a coil that has one end electrically coupled to the second terminal and the sixth terminal, and the other end electrically coupled to the discharge head, a shortest distance between the second terminal and the one end of the coil is shorter than that between the third terminal and the one end of the coil, a shortest distance between the sixth terminal and the one end of the coil is shorter than that between the fifth terminal and the one end of the coil.

Abstract: A fluid ejection head and a method of detecting the presence of fluid in an ejection chamber. The ejection head includes a semiconductor substrate having an elongate fluid supply via etched therethrough. An array of fluid ejectors is disposed adjacent to the fluid supply via, wherein the elongate fluid supply via provides fluid to the array of fluid ejectors for ejection of fluid from the ejection head. Fluid sense cells for the array of fluid ejectors are disposed at each end of the fluid supply via, wherein each of the fluid sense cells has a fluid ejector, an electrode disposed in a fluid chamber for the fluid ejector, and an electrode disposed in a fluid channel associated with a fluid chamber. A fluid detection circuit is provided in electrical communication with each of the fluid sense cells for detecting the presence or absence of fluid in the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A controller of a liquid ejection device obtains a temperature of a head after recording and before a pre-cap flushing and determines a pre-cap flushing voltage based on the temperature. Then, the controller outputs the pre-cap flushing voltage to the head in the pre-cap flushing process.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes circuitry. The circuitry acquires a first state parameter indicative of a state of a printer engine of an image forming apparatus. The circuitry performs comparison between the first state parameter acquired and each of second state parameters registered in a memory in advance and indicative of states of the printer engine of the image forming apparatus at creation of a plurality of color profiles. The circuitry searches for a color profile corresponding to a second state parameter closest to the first state parameter from among the second state parameters.

Abstract: A method of printing an image from a printhead module having a plurality of horizontal nozzle rows, the method including the steps of: allocating first dot data for an image line of the image to nozzles of a main row portion of a first nozzle row; allocating second dot data for the image line to nozzles of a dropped row portion of a second nozzle row; and sending the first and second dot data to the printhead module and firing respective droplets. Each nozzle row of the printhead module has a same number of nozzles N; and the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are non-corresponding nozzle rows, such that a number of nozzles contained in the main portion of the first nozzle row and a number of nozzles contained in the dropped row portion of the second nozzle row is greater or fewer than N nozzles.

Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a liquid supply unit, an array of nozzles arranged in a matrix and through which liquid is ejected, actuators each connected to one of the nozzles, and a circuit configured to output signals to the actuators according to delay times that are predetermined in a matrix corresponding to the matrix of the array. The delay times include (k+l?1) or more different delay times where the matrix thereof has k columns and l rows. The matrix is defined such that a difference of two adjacent delay times in each of column and row directions is an odd multiple of a half cycle of a natural vibration period of the liquid, and between two adjacent columns and rows, two or more different delay time differences exist between each pair of corresponding delay times of the adjacent columns and rows, respectively.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: an apparatus main body having a recording unit that performs recording onto a recording medium; and a unit body which is provided on an upper side of the apparatus main body, and forms a plurality of boundaries between the unit body and a top of the apparatus main body, wherein a recess that receives liquid entering through a gap is formed for each of the plurality of boundaries.

Abstract: There are provided a liquid jet head and so on capable of ensuring the ejection stability of the liquid even when jetting the liquid high in viscosity irrespective of the structure of the liquid jet head. The liquid jet head according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of nozzles, an actuator having a plurality of pressure chambers, and a drive section for applying a drive signal to the actuator. The plurality of pulses in the drive signal include at least one first pulse configured to expand the volume of the pressure chamber, and at least one second pulse configured to contract the volume of the pressure chamber, and the pressure in the pressure chamber changes with time including a plurality of extremal values in one cycle.

Abstract: An imprint apparatus forms imprint material using a mold on a substrate. The imprint apparatus includes a movable stage configured to hold the substrate, a supply portion configured to discharge the imprint material, and a control unit configured to cause the supply portion to discharge the imprint material while moving the stage so that the imprint material is supplied onto the substrate. The control unit controls discharge of the imprint material from the supply portion so that a target amount of the imprint material is arranged at a target position on the substrate, based on property information indicating a relation between a discharge amount of imprint material from the supply portion and a position on a target object where the imprint material is to be arranged.

Abstract: A liquid jetting device is arranged to eject a droplet of a liquid. The device includes a nozzle, a liquid duct connected to the nozzle, an electro-mechanical transducer arranged to create an acoustic pressure wave in the liquid in the duct, and an electronic control system arranged to apply to the transducer a voltage signal having a waveform configured for ejecting a droplet from the nozzle. The waveform is further configured to quench a residual acoustic pressure wave in the liquid duct and includes a jet pulse, a subsequent first quench pulse having a polarity opposite to that of the jet pulse, and a subsequent second quench pulse having the same polarity as the jet pulse.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head, a liquid ejection apparatus, and a liquid ejection method are capable of sufficiently suppressing the thickening of a liquid in an ejection orifice. The liquid ejection head includes a pressure chamber, a channel in which a liquid is caused to flow through the pressure chamber, an ejection orifice communicating with the pressure chamber, and an ejection energy generation element configured to eject the liquid in the pressure chamber from the ejection orifice. A meniscus of the liquid is formed at an end portion of the ejection orifice communicating with the pressure chamber.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid ejection head includes a pressure chamber that contains a liquid, an actuator to change the pressure in the pressure chamber according to an applied drive signal, and a drive circuit to apply a first drive signal to the actuator when a single droplet is to be ejected from the pressure chamber and a second drive signal to the actuator when two or more droplets are to be ejected in series from the pressure chamber. The first drive signal has a first auxiliary pulse before a first ejection pulse. The second drive signal has a second auxiliary pulse before the first ejection pulse. A pulse width of the first auxiliary pulse is greater than a pulse width of the second auxiliary pulse.

Abstract: An imprint apparatus includes a controller for controlling an imprint process and a supply device for supplying an imprint material. The supply device includes discharge devices to discharge an imprint material, and a discharge controller to control the discharge devices under the control of the controller. The discharge controller includes a buffer memory to temporarily store driving waveform data. Each of the discharge devices includes a discharge element and a driver for driving the discharge element based on the driving waveform data stored in the buffer memory. While a supply step of supplying an imprint material for a first shot region is performed, the controller transfers the driving waveform data for the supply step of a second shot region to a storage area of the buffer memory which is not used in the supply step of the first shot region.

Abstract: A multi-chip module (MCM) assembly comprising: a graphite substrate comprising a plurality of silicon chips directly attached to the graphite substrate, and a Printed Wiring Board (PWB) attached to the graphite substrate by means of a solvent-resistant adhesive glue and provided with openings surrounding outer profiles of the silicon chips. A printing bar comprising a plurality of the MCM assemblies is also disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a nozzle plate with nozzles and actuators and a drive controller. First and second nozzles are directly adjacent to each other in a first direction. First and third nozzles are directly adjacent to each other in a second direction. The drive controller is configured to apply a drive signal to first, second, and third actuators corresponding to the first, second, and third nozzles, respectively, during a drive cycle. A difference between a first timing at which the drive signal is applied to the first actuator and a second timing at which the drive signal is applied to the second actuator and a difference between the first timing and a third timing at which the drive signal is applied to the third actuator is an odd number multiple of a half of an inherent vibration cycle of the liquid discharge apparatus.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for a print component including a number of memory bits. The integrated circuit may include a selection circuit to select at least one memory bit of the number of memory bits and fire actuators of a fire pulse group. The integrated circuit may include a memory voltage regulator to provide a write voltage to the at least one memory bit of the number of memory bits.

Abstract: In some examples, a fluid dispensing device component includes a plurality of fluidic dies each comprising a memory, a plurality of control inputs to provide respective control information to respective fluidic dies of the plurality of fluidic dies, and a data bus connected to the plurality of fluidic dies, the data bus to provide data of the memories of the plurality of fluidic dies to an output of the fluid dispensing device component.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprising a printing element substrate, including a substrate including a heating element for heating and discharging liquid and a temperature detecting element for detecting a temperature of the substrate, wherein a detection period, during which a detecting result is obtainable, extends across a plurality of cycles of a latch signal, and a heating enabling signal for discharging the liquid and the latch signal are output such that, in the detection period, an output value of a temperature waveform does not exceed a preset threshold value, the temperature waveform being a temperature waveform of the substrate detected by the temperature detecting element.

Abstract: There is provided an ink jet recording apparatus including an ink jet head and a drive circuit. The ink jet head forms an image on a recording medium in response to a drive signal applied to multiple piezoelectric elements. The drive signal causes multiple pressure chambers corresponding to the multiple piezoelectric elements to expand or to contract in volume and causes ink in the multiple pressure chambers to be discharged from multiple nozzles. The drive circuit generates a drive signal for discharging multiple liquid droplets to one pixel for combining the multiple liquid droplets together and applies the drive signal to each of the multiple piezoelectric elements of the ink jet head. The drive signal includes multiple discharge pulses which make velocities of tips of respective liquid columns substantially same after a predetermined time from starting of ink discharge from the nozzles.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to an aqueous inkjet ink containing a pigment (A), a polymer compound (B), a water-soluble organic solvent (C) and a surfactant (D), wherein the water-soluble organic solvent (C) includes ethylene glycol and/or 1,3-propanediol (c1), and a water-soluble organic solvent (c2) having a specific static surface tension, the acid value of the polymer compound (B), the amount of water-soluble organic solvent having a boiling point at 1 atmosphere of 240° C. or higher, and the weight average boiling point at 1 atmosphere for the water-soluble organic solvent (C) are all prescribed values, and the blend amounts of the various components satisfy specific relationships.

Abstract: A fluid ejection controller interface includes input logic to receive control data packets and a first clock signal, each control data packet including a set of primitive data bits and a set of random bits, wherein the input logic identifies the random bits in the received control data packets to facilitate the creation of modified control data packets. The fluid ejection controller interface includes a clock signal generator to generate a second clock signal that is different than the first clock signal, and output logic to receive the modified control data packets, and output the modified control data packets to a fluid ejection controller of a fluid ejection device based on the second clock signal.

Abstract: A fluidic die includes a number of actuators to eject fluid from the fluidic die. The number of actuators form a number of primitives. The fluidic die includes a plurality of delays within a column of the primitives, and a processing device to control the delays through which a number of activation pulses pass. The activation pulses activate each of the actuators associated with the primitives. The activation pulses are delayed between the primitives via at least one of the delays to reduce peak power demands of the fluidic die.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an actuator of a liquid ejection head is supplied with a drive signal including a first waveform and at least one second waveform. First waveform includes a first change from a first voltage to a second voltage, and a second change from the second voltage to a third voltage less than the first voltage. A second waveform begins after a time equal to one half of the natural oscillation period of liquid in a pressure chamber of the liquid ejection head. The second waveform includes a change from the third voltage to the second voltage and a change from second voltage to the third voltage after a time less than one half of the natural oscillation period.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus includes a carriage to carry a payload through a manufacturing space at the urging of control elements in a control space and a belt movable with the carriage to block contaminants in the manufacturing space from passing to the control space along a carriage travel path.

Abstract: A die for a printhead is provided in examples. The die includes a number of fluidic actuator arrays, proximate to a number of fluid feed holes. A number of address lines are disposed proximate to a number of logic circuits on a low-voltage side of the fluid feed holes. An address decoder circuit is coupled to at least a portion of the address lines to select a fluidic actuator in a fluidic actuator array for firing. The address decoder circuit is customized to select a different address for each fluidic actuator in the fluidic actuator array. A logic circuit triggers a driver circuit located in a high-voltage side of the plurality of fluid feed holes opposite the low-voltage side, based, at least in part, on a bit value for the fluidic actuator array, the fluidic actuator selected by the address decoder circuit, and a firing signal.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a processing unit that converts first input image data for a first region and second input image data for a second region to reduce a difference between first region recorded image density and second region recorded image density, and generates dot position data of a dot to be generated in each of the first and second regions based on the dot data after the conversion processing. The acquisition unit acquires edge information indicating a first object pixel edge of an image pixel for the first region and a second object pixel edge of an image pixel for the second region. Based on the acquired edge information, conversion and generation processing are performed in such a manner that a color signal of an edge pixel is increased/reduced to a degree lower than a degree to which a color signal of a non-edge object pixel is increased/reduced.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, including a conveyor, a liquid ejection head with nozzles, a contact part to contact a surface of a recording medium and a controller, is provided. The controller executes printing processes including a first printing process with a first conveying action and a second printing process with a second conveying action. The controller obtains a length of a non-printing region in the recording medium, and in the second printing process, designates a nozzle within a contact range, in which the recording medium is maintained contacted by the contact part upon completion of the conveying action in a final printing process, to be a second nozzle, which is activated to print a most downstream part of the image. The longer the length of the non-printing region is, the closer nozzle closer to an upstream end of conveyance among the plurality of nozzles is designated to be the second nozzle.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes an actuator and a drive circuit. The actuator is configured to expand and contract a pressure chambers. The drive circuit is configured to apply a first drive waveform to cause the actuator to discharge a liquid droplet at a first speed, and then a second drive waveform after the first drive waveform to cause the actuator to discharge a liquid droplet at a second speed slower than the first speed.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head to discharge liquid and control circuitry to generate a drive waveform including drive pulses applied to the head. The drive waveform includes a non-discharge pulse not to discharge the liquid and a discharge pulse to discharge the liquid. The non-discharge pulse and the discharge pulse are serial in time in the drive waveform. Td is in a range of Tc?0.2×Tc to Tc+0.45×Tc. Vp1 is in a range of ?10% to +10% of Vpp1. Td represents a time interval between the non-discharge pulse and the discharge pulse. Tc represents a natural vibration period of a pressure chamber of the head. Vp1 represents a peak value of the non-discharge pulse. Vpp1 represents a peak value of the non-discharge pulse at which a droplet speed of liquid discharged by the discharge pulse takes a local minimum value.

Abstract: There is provided a driving circuit that drives a discharge head which includes a piezoelectric element, the driving circuit including: a first voltage signal output circuit that outputs the first voltage signal by operating based on an amplification control signal; and an integrated circuit that outputs the amplification control signal, in which the integrated circuit includes an amplification control signal generation circuit, an output control circuit, and a first register, in which the amplification control signal generation circuit generates the amplification control signal based on a drive data that defines a signal waveform of the first voltage signal input from an input terminal, in which the first register holds an operating state data that defines the operating state of the driving circuit input from the input terminal, and in which the output control circuit controls an output of the driving circuit based on the operating state data.

Abstract: There is a provided a drive circuit including a power supply voltage control circuit that controls supply of a power supply voltage to a first device and a second device, a first drive signal output circuit that includes a first detection circuit detecting a voltage value of the power supply voltage, and outputs a first drive signal, a second drive signal output circuit that includes a second detection circuit detecting the voltage value of the power supply voltage, and outputs a second drive signal, a first fuse having one end electrically coupled to a first detection circuit and a first selection circuit, and the other end electrically coupled to the power supply voltage control circuit, and a second fuse having one end electrically coupled to a second detection circuit and a second selection circuit, and the other end electrically coupled to the power supply voltage control circuit.

Abstract: A method for depositing droplets onto a medium, utilising a droplet deposition head is provided. The head used in the method includes: an array of fluid chambers separated by interspersed walls, each fluid chamber communicating with an aperture for the release of fluid droplets and each wall separating two neighbouring chambers. Each wall is actuable such that, in response to a first voltage, it will deform so as to decrease the volume of one chamber and increase the volume of the other chamber, and, in response to a second voltage, it will deform so as to cause the opposite effect on the volumes of its neighbouring chambers.

Abstract: A print head includes a piezoelectric element that includes a first electrode supplied with a drive signal and a second electrode supplied with a reference voltage signal and is displaced by a difference in electric potential between the first electrode and the second electrode, a cavity that is filled with a liquid ejected from a nozzle along with the displacement of the piezoelectric element, a vibration plate that is disposed between the cavity and the piezoelectric element, a switch circuit that switches between supplying and not supplying the drive signal to the first electrode, and a low pass filter circuit that is electrically connected in parallel with the switch circuit.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a device for ejecting a fluid, including the steps of: forming, in a first semiconductor wafer that houses a nozzle of the ejection device, a first structural layer; removing selective portions of the first structural layer to form a first portion of a chamber for containing the fluid; removing, in a second semiconductor wafer that houses an actuator of the ejection device, selective portions of a second structural layer to form a second portion of the chamber; and coupling together the first and second semiconductor wafers so that the first portion directly faces the second portion, thus forming the chamber. The first portion defines a part of volume of the chamber that is larger than a respective part of volume of the chamber defined by the second portion.

Abstract: A print head includes a piezoelectric element that includes a first electrode supplied with a drive signal and a second electrode supplied with a reference voltage signal and is displaced by a difference in electric potential between the first electrode and the second electrode, a cavity that is filled with a liquid ejected from a nozzle along with the displacement of the piezoelectric element, a vibration plate that is disposed between the cavity and the piezoelectric element, a low pass filter circuit that is supplied with the drive signal, a first switch circuit that switches between supplying and not supplying the drive signal to the first electrode, and a second switch circuit that switches between supplying and not supplying the drive signal after passing through the low pass filter circuit to the first electrode.

Abstract: This system combines 3D printing technology with artificially modified cells for production of nonliving biomaterials. A 3D printer deposits a 3D array of bioengineered cells in the shape of a selected product. The cells are programmed to produce biomaterials in regulated amounts. The cell array deposits biomaterials onto a substrate. The cells and substrate are then removed, leaving a finished, nonliving product with microscale structure and precision.

Abstract: A method of image-distance transformation using bi-directional scans is provided. The method includes the steps of: performing a first scan on each pixel of an input image using a first mask in a first order to generate an intermediate image; and performing a second scan on each pixel of the intermediate image using a second mask in a second order to obtain distance information of each pixel in the input image. A first current pixel in the input image that is not compared with prior pixels in the first order and in a first current segment is used in the first comparison process in the first scan, and a second current pixel that is compared with prior pixels in the second order and in a second segment is used in the second comparison process in the second scan.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus configured to generate, based on image data corresponding to a printing image, print data for causing a printer to execute printing includes an input unit (input device, display device) configured to receive, for each of the first ink and the second ink, an ink discharge correction volume for correcting an ink volume discharged from predetermined nozzles among a plurality of first nozzles and a plurality of second nozzles, and a print data generating unit (printer driver) configured to generate the print data based on the image data and the ink discharge correction volume input.

Abstract: In a configuration having a circulation flow path in association with an ejection element, a liquid ejecting apparatus is capable of circulating liquid suitably and maintaining stable ejection operation while reducing liquid vaporization, a power supply capacity, and the effect of noise. For this purpose, in a configuration in which liquid delivery mechanisms that facilitate a flow in a flow path are prepared in association with pressure chambers, the liquid delivery mechanisms are divided into a plurality of blocks and the liquid delivery mechanisms included in each of the blocks are driven at different timings.

Abstract: A printing apparatus receives, as serial data, a plurality of commands for driving a printhead including arrayed print elements to perform printing. Then, a first signal is internally generated in the apparatus, and a second signal is generated based on the position of a conveyed print medium. In addition, each command is extracted from the received serial data. While switching over the first and second signals based on each command, the printhead is driven to perform a preparation operation prior to image printing by the printhead based on the first signal and to print an image based on image data on the print medium based on the second signal. Upon switchover of the first signal to the second signal, switchover to the second signal is controlled after disabling the first signal for a predetermined period.

Abstract: A printing system includes a printing apparatus and a printing control apparatus for creating image data to be printed. The printing apparatus has a print head having an array of printing elements, a conveying unit for conveying a print medium in a direction intersecting with the array direction, and a control unit for setting the conveying speed. The printing control apparatus has an acquisition unit for acquiring a maximum concurrent drive number in the printing elements based on image data, an adjustment value for adjusting an inclination of a print position of the print head with respect to the conveying direction, and a maximum value and minimum value of an adjustment value for adjusting a print position of the print head in the array direction. The control unit sets the conveying speed based on the acquired maximum concurrent drive number.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a main pole, a trailing shield, a write-field-enhancing structure, a write coil, a write current control circuit configured to supply a write current to the write coil to record a bit to a magnetic medium, and a driving current control circuit configured to supply a driving current to the write-field-enhancing structure, wherein the driving current comprises a driving pulse, and wherein the driving current comprises an AC component with a duty cycle selected based at least in part on a power constraint. A method of writing to a magnetic medium comprises supplying a write current to a write coil of a magnetic write head, and supplying a driving current to a free layer disposed in a write gap between a main pole and a trailing shield, wherein the driving current comprises an AC component with a duty cycle based at least in part on a power constraint.

Abstract: An inkjet head comprises a pressure chamber that stores liquid; an actuator that changes a volume of the pressure chamber in response to an applied driving signal; and an applying section that applies the driving signal to the actuator. The driving signal includes a discharge pulse and an oscillation pulse. The discharge pulse enables liquid to be discharged from a nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber. The oscillation pulse is applied before the discharge pulse and has a potential opposite in polarity to that of the discharge pulse to generate pressure oscillation for promoting discharge of the liquid in the liquid. When the driving signal includes two or more successive discharge pulses, a cycle of the discharge pulse is 1.5 times or more and 2.5 times or less as long as a half cycle of a main acoustic resonance frequency of the liquid in the pressure chamber.

Abstract: A method of operating a drop-on demand (DOD) jetting device having a nozzle, a pressure chamber filled with a liquid and connected to the nozzle and an actuator energized by a drive signal, wherein a periodic DOD signal determines whether or not a droplet is jetted out from the nozzle in a given DOD period, and the drive signal has a waveform configured to cause the actuator to excite a pressure wave in the liquid, the method further comprising the steps of a) energizing the actuator with a waveform that has a fixed pattern and extends over a time interval that is longer than the given DOD period; and b) ignoring the DOD signal in at least the first DOD period that follows after said period for which the step a) has been performed.

Abstract: A printer as an example of a liquid discharging apparatus includes a nozzle, a drive signal generation unit that generates a drive signal for driving a piezoelectric element, and a discharge abnormality detection unit that detects a change of an electromotive force of the piezoelectric element, which is caused by residual vibration in a cavity after the drive signal is supplied. The drive signal generation unit generates a first drive signal for checking whether or not a first discharge abnormality caused by a foreign substance adhering to a surface on which the nozzle opens occurs and a second drive signal for checking whether or not a second discharge abnormality caused by a cause other than the foreign substance occurs. The potential change for detecting the first drive signal is greater than the potential change for detecting the second drive signal.

Abstract: A first drive waveform for causing a liquid to be discharged from a first discharge unit and performing printing becomes a first potential during a first period, becomes a fourth potential during a second period, and becomes the first potential during a third period. A second drive waveform for inspecting the first discharge unit becomes a second potential during a fourth period, becomes a third potential during a fifth period, and becomes the second potential during a sixth period, where the third potential is lower than the fourth potential and the first potential.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a driving device includes a head driver configured to generate and apply a driving signal to an actuator for ejecting a liquid from a pressure chamber connected to a nozzle, the driving signal including a contraction pulse, the contraction pulse causing the actuator to contract a volume of the pressure chamber, and end application of the contraction pulse when a flow rate of the liquid from the nozzle has a negative value in a liquid ejection direction from the nozzle.

Abstract: A control apparatus controls driving of an oil feeding unit. The oil feeding unit includes a piezoelectric body that deforms in response to a voltage applied thereto, and a reservoir to store lubricating oil. The capacity of the reservoir changes in accordance with deformation of the piezoelectric body so as to discharge lubricating oil from the oil feeding unit. The control apparatus includes N driving circuits 71a to 71n configured to apply voltages to the piezoelectric body (where N is an integer equal to or greater than two). The N driving circuits 71a to 71n are connected in parallel to the piezoelectric body. During oil feeding, the control apparatus uses a predetermined number of the driving circuits selected from the N driving circuits. The predetermined number is smaller than N.

Abstract: A drive circuit (100) for driving actuators of a printhead (97) from a common drive waveform has a switching circuit (32) for coupling the common drive waveform to an actuator (1,2), and a timing circuit (10) to control the switching circuit to form a drive pulse from the common drive waveform. The drive pulse is trimmed by controlling a duration (TTRIM) of a step at an intermediate level (VHOLD) in the drive pulse. This can improve the trade-off between available range of trimming and thermal efficiency because the voltage drop across the switching circuit can be reduced, compared to trimming only the height. Decoupling during a flat portion of the common drive waveform can enable the timing of the decoupling to be more relaxed compared to decoupling during a slope. Such relaxing can enable costs, complexity and thermal loading to be reduced.