Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus and an ink jet printing method are provided which, when printing small ink droplets at high resolution, can make white lines caused by an “end dot deflection” less visually conspicuous. To that end, an ink jet print head used has a plurality of nozzle substrates arranged that an overlapping region in which the printable areas of respective nozzle substrates partly overlap is formed. According to a print density to be achieved, each of the nozzles corresponding to the overlapping region is controlled for ejection/non-ejection of ink. With this method, it is possible to print as many dots as most match the intensity of the “end dot deflection” phenomenon that varies according to the print density. This enables a blank line to be filled with an appropriate number of dots at all times, regardless of the width of the blank line.

Abstract: A printer controller is provided for supplying one or more control signals to a printhead module. The printhead module includes at least one row that has a plurality of adjacent sets of n?1 adjacent nozzles. Each of the nozzles is configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal. The printer controller is configured to supply, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n+1), . . . , nozzle position (n?1), nozzle position (2n?1)].

Abstract: Select a recording element corresponding to a predetermined number of dots for each color forming the same pixel from each color recording head, calculate a shift amount of each color image data based on the respective relative positions of recording element of each color recording head forming the selected same pixel and shift image data of each applicable color based on the calculation result. In the event, select each color dot where a distribution range of different color dot positions of a predetermined number of dots for each color becomes a minimum, from among a plurality of dots formed by a plurality of recording elements of the recording head for each color, and select a recording element of each color recording head forming the selected dot.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises an ink jet recording head in which a volume of a pressure chamber is caused to vary by deflecting actuators according to drive signals applied between an electrode relative to a pressure chamber from which ink is ejected and actuators relative to two pressure chambers sandwiching the former, and a drive signal generator that generates drive signals for operating the recording head in the four time-divisional drive method.

Abstract: A printer cartridge for an inkjet printer including one or more inks for printing; and a printhead in fluid communication with the one or more inks, wherein at least one of the one or more inks is an infra-red ink.

Abstract: The ink jet printing apparatus forms an image on a print medium with the following two operations. The printing operation makes a print head perform scan motions in a predetermined direction on the print medium, the print head having an array of nozzle rows corresponding to the required number of ink colors, each scan motion involving the ink being ejected from nozzles onto the print medium. The print medium feeding operation moves the print medium and the print head relative to each other a predetermined amount in a direction different from a direction of the scan motion between the scan motions. In a print mode using a small number of ink colors employed for printing, unidirectional printing is performed such that the nozzle row of a black ink to be ejected reaches a print start position when amplitude of vibration of the print head is a predetermined amount or less.

Abstract: A printhead IC comprising: an array of nozzles having a plurality of adjacent regions; and, drive circuitry for sending an electrical pulse to each of the nozzles individually such that they eject a drop of printing fluid; and, a plurality of temperature sensors for sensing the temperature of the printhead IC within each of the regions respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides a droplet ejection device that includes a head, a storage component and an alteration component. At the head, a plurality of nozzles, which eject droplets in accordance with image data representing an image, are arrayed over a width in a main scanning direction which is longer than a recording region width. The head forms a main scanning line with the droplets ejected from the nozzles. At the storage component, inclination information relating to an inclination of the main scanning line formed by the head with respect to a main scanning line that should ideally be formed is pre-stored. The alteration component, in accordance with the inclination information stored at the storage component, alters which nozzles are to eject droplets in accordance with the image data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method, the apparatus including: a paper feeding unit to supply a print medium in a first direction; a line head unit comprising a nozzle unit including a plurality of nozzles; a head supporting unit to shift the line head unit in a second direction crossing the first direction; a discharging unit on which the print medium on which an image is formed by the line head unit is discharged; a paper transferring unit to supply the print medium to the line head unit n number of times so that an image can be repeatedly formed for the n number of times; and a controller to control the head supporting unit to shift the line head unit in the second direction n number of times.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an image forming range varying system of an image forming apparatus, and an image forming range varying method, the system is mounted on the image forming apparatus comprising at least two head rows in which ink heads arranged as predetermined overlap in end portions, in a scanning direction of the ink head with respect to a conveying direction of an image forming medium, and an image of the conveyed image forming medium is detected by an image sensor, both ends shapes of the conveyed image forming medium are detected, and an address of an ink nozzle is set/driven in accordance with the shape of an image to be formed to thereby form the image.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes a laminated stack of ink distribution sheets. The ink distribution sheets are micro-molded with apertures and slots that communicate through the stack in order to provide fluid communication conduits. The conduits interconnect an ink distribution molding, mounted on one side of the stack, and micro-electromechanical printheads disposed along an opposing side of the stack. The laminated stack provides a readily fabricated mechanism for establishing fluid communication between the ink distribution molding and the very small scale printhead ink inlets.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a head unit has a carriage, a recognition apparatus for image-wise recognizing a position of each of liquid droplet ejection heads, a moving apparatus for moving the carriage, a correction apparatus for slightly moving head holding members, a fixing apparatus for fixing each of the head holding members, and a controller. The controller drives the moving apparatus based on a result of recognition by the recognition apparatus, and then positions each of the liquid droplet ejection heads to the carriage, and then each of the liquid droplet ejection heads is fixed to the head holding members.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead is provided having elongate printhead modules arranged to successively abut one another at respective longitudinal ends with a vertical offset and controllers for controlling the printhead modules. Each module has a plurality of ink ejection nozzles. 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 to generate second ink dot data and to generate third ink dot data including the second dot data and at least some of the first 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 third dot data to at least a second printhead module which abuts the first printhead module.

Abstract: The ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a conveyer that conveys a recording medium; a recording head that ejects an ink and a processing solution; an ejection controller that controls ejection of the ink and the processing solution from the recording head; and a double side printer that prints on both surfaces of the recording medium to forming an image on each surfaces. Respective ejection of the ink and the processing solution is controlled so that respective amounts of the ink and the processing solution applied per unit area is less under a double-sided printing mode than the respective amount of the ink and the processing solution applied per unit area under a single-sided printing mode, and so that a reduction ratio of the amount of the ink applied per unit area is larger than one of the processing solution per unit area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting head and a liquid ejecting device including a driving circuit with which the number of control signal lines for grouping and dividing a plurality of liquid ejecting mechanisms into a plurality of blocks and dividedly driving the groups of liquid ejecting mechanisms concurrently is reduced, and to a liquid ejecting method by the driving circuit. The driving circuit (19) includes a phase generating circuit (a phase counter 30 and decoders 31) for generating phase signals for dividedly driving the groups of liquid ejecting mechanisms, and a serial/parallel converting circuit (32) for parallel converting and serially transferring data for dividedly driving the groups of liquid ejecting mechanisms.

Abstract: A print assembly (14) for a wide format printer (10) includes a carrier (187) that is mountable on a support structure (12) of the wide format printer (10) in an operative position with respect to a platen (106) of the wide format printer (10). A number of printhead chips (186) are positioned on the carrier (187), the printhead chips (186) together incorporating at least fifty thousand nozzle arrangements (210). The printhead chips (186) are positioned so that the printhead chips (186) are capable of ejecting ink drops into a printing zone (120) defined by the platen (106). Control circuitry (190) is also positioned on the carrier (187) and is configured to control operation of the printhead chips (186).

Abstract: The inkjet recording apparatus comprises: a full line type recording head which includes a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink arranged in a nozzle row across an entire printable width in a main scanning direction; a conveyance device which moves a recording medium and the recording head relatively to each other in a sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the nozzle row provided in the recording head; and a droplet ejection control device which controls a droplet ejection timing of each nozzle, in such a manner that a basic arrangement of droplet deposition points of dots formed on the recording medium by means of ink droplets ejected from the nozzles becomes a staggered lattice arrangement.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes an array of at least two printhead chips, an end portion of a first printhead chip overlapping an end portion of a second, consecutive printhead chip. Each printhead chip includes a plurality of ink ejection nozzles. A sensing means is operatively arranged with respect to the printhead chips to generate overlap data representing an extent of overlap of the end portions. The apparatus includes means for generating continuous tone print data for the array of printhead chips and an initial dither matrix to be applied to the continuous tone print data. A summation means applies the overlap data to the initial dither matrix to generate an output value. A processing means applies the output value to the continuous tone print data.

Abstract: A printer controller configured to generate dot data for supply to a printhead which includes at least a first printhead integrated circuit and a second printhead integrated circuit positioned adjacent each other either side of a join region, the printer controller configured to transfer dot data to each of the first printhead integrated circuit and the second printhead integrated circuit at a rate proportional to the relative lengths of the first printhead integrated circuit and the second printhead integrated circuit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for extending the reliability and usefulness of a fullwidth printhead by providing a redundant temporary replacement printhead module that can be positioned to compensate for missing or faulty jet nozzles. In order to take advantage of a single extra printhead module and to be able to compensate for more than a single failed nozzle, the replacement module is mounted on a separate translating x-axis and preferably provided with roll adjustment along another axis so that an effective spacing of nozzles in the replacement module can be adjusted to align with detected defective nozzles. The fullwidth printhead is formed from at least one array of smaller printhead modules. The arrays may be offset by a non-integer spacing interval of the individual nozzles. For example, if the nozzle spacing is S, the offset may be S/2.

Abstract: This invention relates to a printing apparatus and printing method which can stably print at high image quality on print media of various sizes by using a full-line printhead. The printing method uses a full-line printhead which has a long printing width and is configured by arraying a plurality of substrates each prepared by arraying a plurality of printing elements and each having a given printing width. When printing is done by conveying a print medium in a direction different from the array direction of the printing elements having the long printing width, printing elements used for printing are selected in accordance with an input image printing width so that an area printed on the print medium by printing elements corresponding to the connected portions between the substrates becomes a visually least perceivable area on the print medium. The relative moving amount of the full-line printhead to the print medium is so determined as to print by using the selected printing elements.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a color filter having a plurality of colored pixels on a substrate by discharging an ink from an ink-jet head having a plurality of ink discharging nozzles while performing relative movement of the ink-jet head and the substrate, includes the step of dividing the plurality of ink discharging nozzles for discharging the ink having a same color into a plurality of nozzle groups, each nozzle group including every N nozzles, with N being a positive integer. In coloring one substrate by performing the relative movement a plurality of times, an ink discharging operation is performed such that inks are discharged by using only one nozzle group of the plurality of nozzle groups in the plural relative movements, and ink discharging nozzles which are used in a subsequent relative movement always include all of, or part of, ink discharging nozzles which have been used in a previous relative movement.

Abstract: A printer controller for receiving first data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be printed, the print controller including at least two serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one printhead, wherein each of the serial outputs is configured to supply dot data for at least two channels of the at least one printhead.

Abstract: In a method of printing a plurality of pages during a print job, a page-wide-array printing device having redundant dot-forming elements is used. Print masks distribute dot-forming-element activity between the redundant dot-forming elements in a manner taking into account known malfunctions of dot-forming elements to hide such malfunctions, or reduce a visible effect of such malfunctions in the pages printed. The method includes generating a plurality of print masks which are different, as they distribute the dot-forming-element activity in different ways, but are equivalent, since they are based on the same knowledge of dot-forming-element malfunctions; dividing the print job into page-sets of at least one page; and printing the different page-sets of the print job using different equivalent print masks, thereby distributing the dot-forming-element activity in different ways from page-set to page-set.

Abstract: The liquid ejection device comprises: an ejection head including a plurality of nozzles which eject droplets of liquid onto an ejection receiving medium; a liquid flow speed determining device which determines a flow speed of the liquid in each of the nozzles, the liquid flow speed determining device being arranged in each of the nozzles; an ejection abnormality detecting device which detects an ejection abnormality in each of the nozzles according to the flow speed of the liquid determined by the liquid flow speed determining device; an ejection direction deflecting device which deflects a direction of ejection of a droplet of the liquid ejected from each of the nozzles, the ejection direction deflecting device being arranged in each of the nozzles; and an ejection compensation control device which performs control in such a manner that, when an abnormal one of the nozzles having an ejection abnormality is detected by the ejection abnormality detecting device, a compensatory ejection is performed by deflecti

Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes a first set of N memory elements each storing a fire enable value, each of the N memory elements configured to be updated. The fluid ejection device further includes N fluid ejecting elements, each fluid ejecting element corresponding to a different one of the N memory elements and configured to receive the fire enable value from the corresponding memory element, wherein the fluid ejecting element is enabled to eject a fluid when the fire enable value is an enabling value.

Abstract: Printed pages of a stably high image quality can be produced when performing printing using a recording apparatus having an elongate joint head. The recording apparatus determines whether an end of an image to be printed is included in a joint of overlapping chips. If the end of the image is included in the joint, the recording apparatus sets groups of nozzles to be used so as to use, of nozzles corresponding to the chip joint (overlapping nozzles), continuously all nozzles included in the group of nozzles of a chip, of which nozzles other than the overlapping nozzles are used.

Abstract: A multicolor-printer has at least a first and a second print station, first and second optical sensors and a surface recordings comparator. The first and second print stations are arranged to print images on a surface of a moving recording medium. The first and second optical sensors view, at the first and second print stations, an area of the recording medium surface to obtain at least one first surface recording, in a manner related to the first print station's image printing, and second surface recordings, respectively. A storage is arranged to store the first surface recording. The surface recordings comparator is arranged to test, during the recording medium movement, for correspondence of second surface recordings with the stored first surface recording.

Abstract: A printer is provided comprising an elongate printhead for printing across the pagewidth of print media, a rotatable, elongate platen arranged to support the print media being printed on by the printhead, a sensor for sensing a thickness of the print media, and a controller arranged to rotate the platen. The platen can support the print media at a plurality of predetermined distances from the printhead with the rotation of the platen providing selection of the plurality of predetermined distances. The controller rotates the platen in response to the sensed print media thickness so as to select a predetermined distance of the plurality of predetermined distances which accommodates the print media.

Abstract: The image recording apparatus comprises: a full-line recording head in which a plurality of image-recording elements are arrayed across a length corresponding to an entire width of a printing medium; a conveyance device which conveys at least one of the recoding head and the printing medium in a direction substantially orthogonal to a width direction of the printing medium so as to move the recording head and the printing medium relatively to each other in a relative conveyance direction; and a recording control device which performs recording control so that when recording is carried out with respect to a solid area of a recorded image with a substantially uniform density, diameter of dots in the solid area recorded on the printing medium with the image-recording elements is made greater than an array pitch of the image-recording elements projected so as to be aligned in a main scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the relative conveyance direction.

Abstract: A method of accommodating printing faults includes the step of printing an array of dots to define an image. Defects are determined in the image. A portion of the dots in the array are printed to compensate for the defects in the image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for compensating for variable overlap between segments of a page width print head system to reduce visually perceptible artifacts due to misalignment of adjacent overlapped segments. One method employs a summator which sums a current dither value from a dither matrix with an overlap signal to provide an output value which is then compared in a comparator with an input continuous tone data value providing an output compensated dither value to control nozzles in the overlap region of the segments. Another method uses a software program to provide the compensated dither matrix. A sensor provides a measure of the degree of overlap of the segments to generate the overlap signal. The sensor may sense temperature or relative displacement of the segments. The degree of overlap may be determined for various temperatures and stored in a ROM.

Abstract: An image printing apparatus prints image data using a plurality of printheads. A correction parameter is set in accordance with a printing element positional relationship between the plurality of printheads. A density correction signal calculation unit calculates a density correction signal based on the correction parameter and a signal value of at least one pixel adjacent to a switching position of image data from a printing element of one printhead to a printing element of another printhead. A quantization unit quantizes the density correction signal into a quantized density correction signal. A correction signal printing unit forms at least one print dot adjacent to the switching position of a line including at least one pixel or a neighboring line based on the quantized density correction signal.

Abstract: A printhead module comprising at least first and second rows of print nozzles that extend along at least part of a pagewidth to be printed, each nozzle including first circuitry of a first type and second circuitry of a second type, such that, in plan view, the first and second circuitry are generally located at opposite ends of the nozzle, wherein the nozzles are orientated such that the respective positions of the first and second circuitry of each nozzle of the first row are mirrored or rotated relative to the respective positions of the first and second circuitry of corresponding nozzles in the second row.

Abstract: The image recording apparatus which records an image to a recording medium with a full-line recording head in which a plurality of image-recording elements are arrayed across a length that corresponds to an entire width of the recording medium while at least one of the recording medium and the recording head is conveyed in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to a width direction of the recording medium, and the recording head and the recording medium are relatively moved, the image recording apparatus comprises: a defective pixel detecting device which detects defective pixels in the image recorded on the recording medium by the recording head; a recording medium conveying device which conveys the recording medium on which the defective pixels have been detected, to a position for re-recording the image with the recording head when the defective pixels have been detected in the image recorded on the recording medium; and a defective pixel position detecting device which detects positions of the defec

Abstract: A printhead module comprising at least first and second rows of print nozzles that extend along at least part of a pagewidth to be printed, each nozzle including first circuitry of a first type and second circuitry of a second type, such that, in plan view, the first and second circuitry are generally located at opposite ends of the nozzle, wherein the nozzles are orientated such that the first circuitry of the nozzles of the first row are closer to the first circuitry of the nozzles of the second row than to the second circuitry of the nozzles of the second row.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system which shortens the scanning time with an ink jet head for forming a pattern of filter elements of a color filter, picture element pixels of an electroluminescence (EL) device, or the like. An apparatus for producing a color filter can include a plurality of filter elements arranged on a substrate. The apparatus can further include a plurality of heads each having a nozzle row having a plurality of nozzles arranged, an ink supply device for supplying a filter element material to the heads, a carriage supporting the heads arranged thereon, a main scanning driving device for moving the carriage by main scanning in the X direction, and a sub-scanning driving device for moving the carriage by sub-scanning in the Y direction. The carriage supports the plurality of heads each of which is inclined at an in-plane inclination angle ?.

Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided, comprising at least one printhead module comprising at least two printhead integrated circuits, each of which has nozzles formed therein for delivering printing fluid onto the surface of print media, and a support member supporting and carrying the printing fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits, and a casing in which the at least one printhead module is removably mounted by having a first side thereof slidably received in a longitudinally extending groove of the casing and a second side thereof clamped to the casing by a clamping arrangement.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus can array dots in line even when nozzles are arranged in line and ink droplets are ejected from a plurality of liquid ejecting parts with a time difference. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes a head in which the liquid ejecting parts are arranged in line in the X-direction, and in which a plurality of heating resistors are juxtaposed in the direction perpendicular to the Y-direction in each of the liquid ejecting parts.

Abstract: A printer controller configured to generate dot data for supply to a printhead that includes at least first and second longitudinally extending printhead chips that are positioned adjacent each other either side of a join region such that a printing width of the printhead is wider than the length of either printhead chip, the printer controller being configured such that, in the event that the printhead chips to which dot data is being supplied are of sufficiently unequal relative length, the dot data is supplied more frequently, or at a higher rate, to the longer of the two printhead chips.

Abstract: A video gaming console (and corresponding method of printing gaming information onto a substrate) is configured to accept gaming data on a detachable CD-ROM, cartridge or the like. A user plays the game via a controller device. At predetermined points in the game, such as a certain level being achieved or a task being completed, an integral printing apparatus prints gaming images. Enhanced interactivity is achieved.

Abstract: A pagewidth printer includes a pagewidth printhead. A feed mechanism feeds print media through the printhead so that the printhead can carry out a pagewidth printing operation on the print media. A printer controller controls operation of the printhead. The controller has a printed circuit board that includes a central processor. The central processor has a bus. A data input interface is connected to the bus so that the bus can receive compressed and encoded page data from a computer-based machine connected to the data input interface. Page data expansion and decoding circuitry is connected to the bus and configured to expand and decode the compressed and encoded page data. A printhead interface communicates print page data to the printhead. Processing circuitry controls operation of components of the printer controller.

Abstract: A fluid ejection system includes a fluid ejection assembly including a plurality of photosensors and a first array of fluid ejection elements. Each of the fluid ejection elements is configured to cause fluid to be ejected when the fluid ejection element is activated. Each one of the photosensors is coupled to a respective one of the fluid ejection elements for activating the fluid ejection element. A first light source emits a light beam. A control system scans the light beam across the fluid ejection assembly and selectively illuminates the photosensors, thereby activating the fluid ejection elements coupled to the illuminated photosensors.

Abstract: In an ink jet apparatus for manufacturing a color filter 1, ink jet heads 22 having a plurality of nozzle 27 are disposed in a linear manner. Filter element member is ejected to a motherboard 12 from a plurality of nozzles 27 four times so as to form the filter element 3 in a predetermined thickness. By doing this, it is possible to prevent difference in the thickness in a plurality of the filter elements 3 and to equalize light transparency in planar manner. Thus, in an ejecting apparatus, a color filter can be formed in more common way at low cost and more efficiently. Also, it is possible to provide an ejecting apparatus which can equalize factors such as electrooptical characteristics of the electrooptical members, color displaying characteristics by the liquid crystal apparatuses, and illuminating characteristics by an EL surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a printhead assembly. The printhead assembly comprises an elongate body aligned with a body axis which, in use, is located transverse to the feed direction of paper. There is also provided a plurality of elongate print chips arranged along the body axis and each aligned with a print chip axis. Each print chip comprises a row of nozzles along its length. An acute angle is formed between the body axis and the print chip axis so that the separation between adjacent nozzles along the body axis is less than the separation between nozzles along the print chip axis.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus (2000) is disclosed, which comprises forming elements (2002) for forming an image, a memory (2006) indicating relative desirability of utilising the forming elements (2002) for forming the image, and processing means (2008) for computing image recording signals using input image signals (2012) and the stored data. The use of a particular forming element is thereby biased dependent upon the relative desirability data of other forming elements, the corresponding input signal for the particular forming element, and a term for the particular forming element.

Abstract: A method of generating halftone print data for overlapping end portions of a pair of consecutive printhead chips includes the step of generating continuous tone print data for an array of the printhead chips. An initial dither matrix to be applied to the continuous tone print data is generated. Overlap data representing an extent of overlap of the end portions is generated. The overlap data is applied to the initial dither matrix with a summation means to generate an output value. The output value is applied to the continuous tone print data.

Abstract: Nozzle scheduling algorithms that provide a unified approach to designing nozzle firing algorithms that incorporate a variety of specifiable nozzle-firing constraints such as print head (nozzle) geometry, nozzle spacing, number of nozzles, head movement (number of passes), ink-media interaction, etc. Such constraints are provided as design rules for a given printer/output medium, and the result is an appropriate nozzle firing algorithm. The design algorithms may be used to generate nozzle firing sequences in a halftone-dependent or halftone-independent manner.

Abstract: A printhead assembly for a pagewidth inkjet printer is provided. The printhead assembly comprises a channel extending substantially across the pagewidth, the channel having a base and a pair of opposed resilient sidewalls extending therefrom, and an array of printhead modules arranged end to end in the channel so as to extend substantially across the pagewidth. The sidewalls are resiliently biased towards gripping engagement with the printhead modules, thereby securing the printhead modules in the channel.

Abstract: A pagewidth inkjet printhead includes an elongate support structure. A plurality of substantially identical printhead modules are mounted on the support structure in a contiguous orientation. Each printhead module includes an elongate printhead chip having a plurality of nozzle arrangements and defining a plurality of ink inlets in fluid communication with respective nozzle arrangements. An ink distribution assembly defines an elongate recess on one side in which the printhead chip is mounted, and a number of ink distribution conduits that converge from an opposite side to communicate with respective ink inlets of the printhead chip. An elongate ink feed member includes at least one longitudinally extending ink feed passage and a plurality of transverse openings in fluid communication with the ink feed passage and with respective ink distribution conduits in the ink distribution assembly.