Abstract: A droplet discharging head executes multi-path recording in which dot recording in one main scanning line is completed by n main scans when n is an integer of 2 or more. The droplet discharging head includes: a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge a liquid as droplets; a pressure chamber defining substrate defining a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzles; a piezoelectric element including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric layer containing a perovskite-type composite oxide containing K, Na, and Nb as a main component; and a vibration plate forming a part of a wall surface of the pressure chamber and configured to vibrate by driving of the piezoelectric element. The number of paths n in the multi-path recording, a piezoelectric constant d31 [m/v] of the piezoelectric element, and a ratio x of a Na molar fraction to a total value of a K molar fraction and the Na molar fraction in the piezoelectric layer satisfy a relationship represented by a formula (1).

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a nozzle layer including a piezoelectric layer and having a nozzle penetrating through the nozzle layer, a liquid chamber communicating with the nozzle, and a drive circuit to apply a drive waveform to the piezoelectric layer to drive the piezoelectric layer. The drive waveform has a first waveform and a second waveform. The first waveform has a first voltage to discharge a liquid in the liquid chamber from the nozzle. The first voltage has a first rising edge from which the first voltage rises. The second waveform has a second voltage having a second rising edge from which the second voltage rises. The second rising edge is delayed from the first rising edge by (m?0.5)×Tc, where m represents a positive integer, and Tc represents a natural period of vibration of the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: A recording device includes a recording head including a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge a liquid onto a medium, and a control unit configured to control the discharge of the liquid by the recording head based on recording data. The control unit is configured to execute a plurality of combined halftone processes, the combined halftone process being a combination of a plurality of halftone processes and the plurality of combined halftone processes being different from each other in mode of the combination of the plurality of halftone processes. When performing recording on the medium by executing a recording mode designated from among a plurality of the recording modes having different degrees of error in landing position of dots of the liquid on the medium, the control unit selects the combined halftone process and executes the selected combined halftone process to generate the recording data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for incremental 3D printing, wherein wireframes are generated and printed (scheduled for print) during the design process. In another aspect, systems and methods are provided for printing arbitrary meshes. A 3D printer system is described having, for example, five degree-of-freedom (5DOF). The 5DOF printer may be used to perform any of the methods described herein and combinations of the methods.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting device includes a liquid ejecting unit and a control unit configured to control ejection of liquid. A plurality of types of liquid include a first ink group that is capable of expressing a different color by mixing a plurality of color inks each other and a second ink capable of singly expressing a color of the same system as that of the different color. The control unit is capable of forming a first color mixture pattern and a second color mixture pattern that uses a greater amount of the first ink group than that of the first color mixture pattern to eject the first ink group, is capable of forming a monochrome pattern to eject the second ink, and forms a patch the second color mixture pattern that is adjacent to the first color mixture pattern and the monochrome pattern.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus, a carriage is reciprocally movable in first and second directions. A control device is configured to perform executing one of first and second printing operations in accordance with an operation mode. The first printing operation prints a first image over a first range in a third direction crossing the first and second directions by ejecting ink from both first and second heads during one movement of the carriage in the first and second directions. The second printing operation prints a second image over a second range narrower than the first range in the third direction by ejecting ink from both the first and second heads during the one movement of the carriage. Ink ejection contribution during the one movement of the carriage is shared by the first and second heads at a prescribed contribution ratio in the second printing operation.

Abstract: A printer includes a platen, a first head, a second head, a first lamp, and a second lamp. The first head, the second head, the first lamp, and the second lamp are moved relatively with respect to the platen in a main scanning direction, and the platen is moved from the second head toward the first head relatively with respect to the first head, the second head, the first lamp, and the second lamp, repeatedly. The second head ejects the second ink onto the object to be printed placed on the platen while the first head, the second head, the first lamp, and the second lamp are moving in the main scanning direction. The first lamp irradiates light onto the second ink on the object to be printed while the first head, the second head, the first lamp, and the second lamp are moving in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a supplier and an inkjet head. The supplier supplies, to a medium to be printed, a dye-transfer suppression agent that suppresses a dye or a pigment dyeing chemical fibers constituting the medium to be printed from transferring to a print surface formed on the medium to be printed. At least one of a platen on which the medium to be printed is placed or the supplier is moved to supply the dye-transfer suppression agent to the medium to be printed. The inkjet head ejects ink for forming the print surface to an area to which the dye-transfer suppression agent is supplied.

Abstract: Embodiments include a method performed by a system operative to determine a condition related to a printed section printed by a shuttle-based printer. The method includes printing a portion of an image on a section of a medium, thereby providing a printed section. The section of the medium can have a size defined by at least a step size taken by the shuttle-based printer to advance the medium in a downstream direction. The method also includes scanning at least the printed section to capture a sample image of the printed section. The sample image can be captured by using an imager moving in a direction perpendicular to the downstream direction. The method also includes inspecting at least the sample image to determine a value indicative of a condition related to the printed section.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a first storage and a second, a plurality of image processing units that perform image processing on pixel data of image data read from the first storage or the second storage, and a writing unit that writes the pixel data, processed by the plurality of image processing units, into the second storage. The plurality of image processing units include a directivity image processing unit that performs image processing on the image data in mutually different directions by reading and supplying to an image processing unit of the plurality of image processing units the pixel data written into the second storage. Target pixel data processed by the directivity image processing unit is written into the second storage in an order of arrangement which is different from the order of arrangement of pixels in the image data stored in the first storage.

Abstract: It is possible to perform formation of a first pattern, a second pattern, a third pattern and a fourth pattern, a control unit is configured to execute first control and second control or first control and third control, the first control of forming a first patch in which the first and third patterns are disposed without performing conveyance operation, the second control of forming a second patch in which the first and second patterns are disposed and a third patch in which the third and fourth patterns are disposed and the third control of forming a fourth patch in which the first and fourth patterns are disposed and a fifth patch in which the second and third patterns are disposed.

Abstract: The recording device includes an upstream transport roller pair capable of transporting a medium, a recording head configured to record an image by discharging ink at a predetermined timing on the medium transported downstream in a D1 direction by a predetermined transport amount by the upstream transport roller pair while moving in a Y-axis direction intersecting the D1 direction, an image capturing unit configured to read the image recorded on the medium by the recording head, and a control unit, wherein the control unit has a function of performing maintenance for a discharge failure of the ink, a correction of the transport amount, and a correction of the discharge timing of the ink based on the reading result of the image read by the image capturing unit.

Abstract: White-balance is improved when printing on colored media, while minimizing the time and use of costly materials required by present approaches. In an embodiment, the typical solid white fill or background layer is altered by including in the white layer one or more of the other colors already available in the printer to shade this layer. Thus, a small amount of cyan, for example, helps balance a pink-ish (red) media; yellow is used for blue media; and magenta is used for green media; as well as combinations thereof. A combination of transparent process inks and opaque white helps to maintain brightness (luminosity).

Abstract: The present disclosure aims to provide a high quality image without conspicuous graininess and density unevenness. An embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for printing a plurality of dot patterns on a printing medium, the dot patterns being formed by substantially same color and substantially same dot diameter, the apparatus including: a first creation unit configured to create, based on a first tone value, a first dot pattern and a second dot pattern printed and superimposed on the first dot pattern; and a second creation unit configured to create, based on a second tone value larger than the first tone value, a third dot pattern having an equal or larger number of dots compared to the first dot pattern and a fourth dot pattern printed and superimposed on the third dot pattern and having an equal or larger number of dots compared to the second dot pattern.

Abstract: A method of inkjet printer operation produces a sneeze pattern having a uniform sneeze pattern portion and a tapered area portion within the uniform sneeze pattern to operate inkjets in the printer to eject ink drops within an image area of media sheets passing through the printer to maintain the operational status of the inkjets. A dynamic threshold is applied to a portion of an uniform sneeze pattern to produce the tapered area within the uniform sneeze pattern. The dynamic threshold is changed as a function of distance between a pixel in the portion of the uniform sneeze pattern and the closest edge of an image area of the media sheet on which the tapered area of the sneeze pattern is to be printed. A second threshold can also be changed to alter a volume of ink associated with a pixel in the tapered area within the uniform sneeze pattern.

Abstract: For example, in order to enable an RCCB sensor or a specific optical system to perform an appropriate image correction process (distortion correction and the like), an imaging device includes an imaging element, an optical system configured to form an image on an imaging surface of the imaging element and has a characteristic in which an image formation magnification differs depending on a position in the imaging surface, a demosaic unit configured to generate color image data of at least two colors from the data output from the imaging element, and a distortion correction unit configured to correct distortion of the color image data of at least two colors generated by the demosaic unit.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods obtain sensor data that were generated by a plurality of sensors; obtain event data that include occurrences of an event; calculate first characteristics of the sensor data that were generated by the plurality of sensors within a temporal range of an occurrence of the event; identify, in the sensor data, sensor data that were generated by the plurality of sensors within the temporal range of at least one other occurrence of the event based on the first characteristics; calculate second characteristics of the sensor data that were generated by the plurality of sensors within the temporal range of the at least one other occurrence of the event, normalize at least some of the sensor data based on the first characteristics and on the second characteristics, thereby generating normalized sensor data, and train a machine-learning model based on the normalized sensor data.

Abstract: An escape wheel (an example of a timepiece component) has a silicon-made substrate having an insertion portion into which an axle is inserted, and a coating film formed in a contact portion which comes into contact with at least the axle, at a surface of the substrate. The coating film contains metal alkoxide having a fluorine atom.

Abstract: A computing device and method are provided for transmitting a relevant subset of map data, called a neighborhood, to enable mutual spatial understanding by multiple display devices around a target virtual location to display a shared hologram in the same exact location in the physical environment at the same moment in time. The computing device may comprise a processor, a memory operatively coupled to the processor, and an anchor transfer program stored in the memory and executed by the processor.

Abstract: An object is to print a high quality image with resistance to print misalignment. To this end, the image processing apparatus generates quantized data for printing a first dot pattern and a second dot pattern in an overlapping manner. The first dot pattern and the second dot pattern are lattice patterns varying in a combination of two basis vectors. In a combined dot pattern obtained by combining the first and second dot patterns, there is a neighboring dot in which a dot in the first dot pattern and a dot in the second dot pattern are arranged at an interval smaller than a lattice spacing. The neighboring dot includes multiple neighboring dots varying in an approach direction.

Abstract: A first set correction target value set for a correction target value generation region including a unit region corresponding to one or more nozzles is updated based on a difference between the first set correction target value and a print density in the unit region corresponding to the correction target value generation region. Also, a second set correction target value set for a correction target value generation region being adjacent to an updated region which is a correction target value generation region updated in the correction target value and having yet to be updated in the correction target value is updated based on a difference between the second set correction target value and the correction target value of the updated region.

Abstract: A printing plate having a printing surface for receiving ink, including a defined area of an image intended to print with ink and a surface pattern applied to the defined area. The surface pattern includes a plurality of rows each having a plurality of diagonally oriented line segments, each line segment corresponding to an ink-carrying relief structure in a raised area of the plate, the plurality of diagonally oriented line segments having orientations alternating between a positive angle in one row and a negative angle in an adjacent row, wherein each line segment has a first end aligned with a middle portion of and spaced apart from a first line of a first adjacent row and a second end aligned with a middle portion of and spaced apart from a second line of a second adjacent row.

Abstract: A system and method for ejecting one or more fluids from a digital dispense device. The method includes selecting a) fixed target areas and total fluid volumes for the target areas of the substrate; b) a predetermined droplet volume for the target areas; c) calculating a required number of droplets for the target areas; d) determining a maximum number of droplets per pixel based on the target areas; e) calculating a number of droplets per pass of an ejection head over the target areas; f) modifying one or more dimension of the target areas to create modified target areas; g) selecting and centering the modified spot size target areas in the target areas; and h) depositing fluids in the modified target areas while scanning the ejection head over the modified target areas.

Abstract: Printheads and methods of operation. In one embodiment, a printhead includes a plurality of jetting channels comprising first jetting channels configured to jet a first print fluid and second jetting channels configured to jet a second print fluid, and a driver circuit communicatively coupled to actuators of the jetting channels. The driver circuit receives a drive waveform comprising non-jetting pulses and jetting pulses, and gating signals comprising a first active gating signal designated for jetting the first print fluid, and a second active gating signal designated for jetting the second print fluid. The driver circuit selectively applies the non-jetting pulses and the jetting pulses to actuators of the first jetting channels based on the first active gating signal to jet the first print fluid, and selectively applies the jetting pulses to actuators of the second jetting channels based on the second active gating signal to jet the second print fluid.

Abstract: Before capture of images, capture aspects of image capture devices (e.g., movement of image capture devices, sounds around image capture devices, GPS times of image capture devices) may be used to identify matching clock times of the image capture devices. Start of image capture by the image capture devices may be restricted using the matching clock times to time-synchronize images captured by different image capture devices.

Abstract: A method can be used to generate a fluid droplet pattern for an imprint lithography process using a fluid dispense system having fluid dispense ports. The method can include determining a fluid droplet pattern for dispensing a formable material onto a substrate, during a first pass, dispensing the formable material along a stitch line to form a first part of the fluid droplet pattern for an imprint field, where the stitch line runs from a first corner to a second corner of the imprint field. The method can also include offsetting the substrate and the fluid dispense ports relative to each other after dispensing the formable material during the first pass, and during a second pass, dispensing the formable material along the stitch line onto the substrate to form a second part of the fluid droplet pattern for the imprint field. An apparatus can be configured to carry out the method.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing or eliminating image banding in an ink-jet image are provided. In an example, a method of operating a printer to reduce or eliminate image banding can include generating command profile for printing a given image, applying a filter to the command profile to provide a filtered profile, and dispensing ink from a printhead of the printer based on the filtered profile. In certain examples, the filter can randomize droplet sizes of ink dispensed while executing the printing to reduce or eliminate image banding.

Abstract: There is provided a method for rendering an image according to selected image quality attributes. Two or more image quality attributes are selected from a plurality of attributes of the image. A set of pigments for an area of the image and a density for each pixel of the area are determined. A quantity of pretreatment for deposition onto a print target is determined, where the pretreatment quantity is dependent on the pigments, the density, and the selected image quality attributes.

Abstract: In an example, there is provided a method and apparatus for controlling spit on page operation, the method comprising receiving at least one image to be printed, for each row of a plurality of rows of the image: identifying two or more pixels of the row of the image to be printed by a nozzle of a printhead, determining if a spacing between two consecutive pixels of the two or more pixels is greater than a threshold distance, and in response to a determination that the spacing between the two consecutive pixels is greater than the threshold distance, providing an indication that spit on page dots should be provided when printing the image.

Abstract: A method of digital printing is disclosed in which a digital image to be printed has at least one region having pixels comprising superpositioned layers of a first ink and a second ink. The method includes producing at least one sample print and calibrating misalignment of the superpositioned layers at a plurality of calibration locations on the sample print. The resultant misalignment data is provided to a morphing program to pre-deform the digital image to provide a modified digital image which compensates for misalignment during printing. The image is then printed using the modified digital image. An apparatus and a machinereadable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor are also disclosed.

Abstract: An object is to print a high quality image with resistance to print misalignment. To this end, the image processing apparatus generates quantized data for printing a first dot pattern and a second dot pattern in an overlapping manner. The first dot pattern and the second dot pattern are lattice patterns varying in a combination of two basis vectors. In a combined dot pattern obtained by combining the first and second dot patterns, there is a neighboring dot in which a dot in the first dot pattern and a dot in the second dot pattern are arranged at an interval smaller than a lattice spacing. The neighboring dot includes multiple neighboring dots varying in an approach direction.

Abstract: An example method comprises setting a mixture of a plurality of print supplies of a print device to use for a process black print based on a plurality of supply levels corresponding to the plurality of print supplies. The example method further comprises initiating execution of the process black print of a print job by the print device using the set mixture of the plurality of print supply as overlapping colorant with the black print supply of the print device.

Abstract: A printing apparatus configured to perform printing while varying an amount of adjustment of a target of adjustment, executing: printing a first adjustment pattern on a printing medium; reading the printed first adjustment pattern to acquire a first adjustment amount; printing a part of a second adjustment pattern on the printing medium, the printed part of the second adjustment pattern corresponding to only a part of the amount of adjustment according to the first adjustment pattern; reading the printed part of the second adjustment pattern to acquire a second adjustment amount; setting a first parameter that is a result of adjusting the target of adjustment by using the first adjustment amount; and setting a second parameter that is a result of adjusting the target of adjustment by using the second adjustment amount.

Abstract: A printing system is disclosed. The printing system includes at least one physical memory device to store nozzle correction logic and one or more processors coupled with at least one physical memory device to execute the nozzle correction logic to receive a uniformity compensated halftone design for each of a plurality of pel forming elements, receive an average missing neighbor threshold lowering function, receive a defective nozzles list including one or more of the plurality of pel forming elements indicated as defective during print production and perform missing neighbor processing by applying the average missing neighbor threshold lowering function associated with a pel forming element determined to be a neighbor of a defective pel forming element.

Abstract: The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an oxygen storage and release material comprising a ceria-zirconia-based complex oxide improved in ability to remove HC and NOx and a three-way catalyst able to reduce an amount of NOx emission. Further, to solve this problem, an oxygen storage and release material comprising a ceria-zirconia-based complex oxide containing Gd2O3 in 0.1 mol % or more and less than 20 mol % and having an ion conductivity of 2×10?5 S/cm or more at 400° C. is provided. Further, in addition to the above, an oxygen storage and release material having a molar ratio of cerium and zirconium of 0.2 or more and 0.6 or less by cerium/(cerium+zirconium) and an speed of oxygen storage and release “?t50” of 20.0 seconds or more or amount of oxygen storage and release of 300 ?mol-O2/g or more etc. was obtained.

Abstract: A printing system is disclosed. The printing system includes at least one physical memory device to store calibration logic and one or more processors coupled with the at least one physical memory device to execute the calibration logic to generate a uniformity compensated halftone design for each of a plurality of pel forming elements, generate a missing neighbor corrected halftone design for each of the pel forming elements, generate a missing neighbor threshold lowering function for each of the pel forming elements based on the uniformity compensated halftone designs and the missing neighbor corrected halftone design and compute an average of the missing neighbor threshold lowering functions to generate an average missing neighbor threshold lowering function.

Abstract: A radiation therapy system includes an accelerator and beam transport system that generates a beam of particles. The accelerator and beam transport system guides the beam on a path and into a nozzle that is operable for aiming the beam toward an object. The nozzle includes a scanning magnet operable for steering the beam toward different locations within the object, and also includes a beam energy adjuster configured to adjust the beam by, for example, placing different thicknesses of material in the path of the beam to affect the energies of the particles in the beam.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a perforated plate for an application apparatus for the application of a fluid onto a component, preferably a motor vehicle bodywork and/or an add-on part therefor. The perforated plate comprises at least three through-holes for the passage of the fluid, wherein the through-holes are assigned to a row of nozzles with a central region and two edge regions, wherein the at least one outermost through-hole in at least one edge region has at least one reference opening diameter that is smaller than at least one reference opening diameter of at least one through-hole in the central region. The disclosure also relates to an application apparatus and an application method with such a perforated plate.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that generates image data to be output to an image forming apparatus printing an image, and includes: a generation unit configured to generate, based on an input image, first generation amount data indicating a generation amount of each of one or more kinds of ink dot for each pixel and second generation amount data indicating a generation amount of a blank dot for which the ink dot is not formed for each pixel; and a processing unit configured to determine a dot arrangement pattern indicating an arrangement of each of the one or more kinds of ink dot by performing quantization processing using the first generation amount data and the second generation amount data.

Abstract: A direct-to-object printer is configured to adjust a pixel density of a portion of contone image data for an image to be printed on a surface of a tapered object. The controller of the printer also filters the contone image data with a stochastic halftone filer to produce binary image data for the image to be printed on the tapered object. The adjustment in the pixel density for the portion of the image to be printed on the portion of the object having a circumference that is different than another portion of the surface at the uppermost portion of the image produces a more uniform appearance in the resulting printed image.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to: acquire physical property information on physical properties of a recording medium and on physical properties of ink to be ejected onto the recording medium and setting information on a setting of a device configured to eject the ink onto the recording medium, the ink including a first ink and a second ink; derive a feature quantity relating to characteristics of the ink based on behavior of the first ink to be ejected onto the recording medium and of the second ink to be ejected to a position adjacent to the first ink ejected, using the physical property information and the setting information; and output information on graininess of an image to be formed on the recording medium based on the feature quantity.

Abstract: In the present liquid discharge method, in the driving step, the drive pulse in which a potential change rate during a change from the third potential to the first potential varies depending on the recording condition acquired in the acquisition step is applied to the drive element.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a head which discharges liquid to a medium; and a controller. The controller obtains print data for forming an image on the medium with a dot formed by making the liquid to land on the medium, the image including a code having information; selects, in the obtained print data, dot data corresponding to the dot forming the image as selected data, determines whether a first dot pattern including the selected dot data matches a predetermined delete pattern, and determines whether a second dot pattern including the selected dot data matches a predetermined exclusion pattern; performs a correction of the print data based on results of the determinations; and discharges the liquid from the head to the medium, based on the print data after the correction, to form the image on the medium.

Abstract: A color printing system uses color printing management tiers to control color printing resources at a printing device. The color printing management tiers include a media type color management tier, an ink limited calibration tier, and a calibration and ICC profile creation tier. A print job includes a parameter that is used to select the management tier for color conversion operations for the print job. The parameter can include an attribute or a media type for the print job. The applicable tone reproduction curve (TRC) or ICC profile is retrieved according to the selected management tier. The TRC or ICC profile is adjusted according to an input applicable to the respective management tier. The TRC or ICC profile also is selected from a plurality of TRCs or ICC profiles, respectively.

Abstract: Provided is a recording device including a recording head, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to cause the recording head to record each of a raster lines of an overlapping region of an image by an overlap mode of recording one raster line using a plurality of a first nozzles, record a penetrant liquid in at least a portion of an overlapping region by a second nozzles, and record the penetrant liquid in a region of the image other than the overlapping region in an amount less than that of the penetrant liquid recorded in the at least a portion of the overlapping region.

Abstract: A head unit includes: X (X?2) of first type nozzles configured to discharge a first type liquid droplet, and W (1?W<X) of a second type nozzle configured to discharge a second type liquid droplet. The head unit generates first data forming a first dot pattern and indicating a preceding first type dot area as an area in which the first type liquid droplet is to be discharged, and a preceding second type dot area as an area in which the second type liquid droplet is to be discharged; and second data for forming a second dot pattern and indicating a succeeding first type dot area as an area in which the first type liquid droplet is to be discharged, and a succeeding second type dot area as an area in which the second type liquid droplet is to be discharged.

Abstract: A color printing system uses color printing management tiers to control color printing resources at a printing device. The color printing management tiers include a media type color management tier, an ink limited calibration tier, and a calibration and ICC profile creation tier. A print job includes a parameter that is used to select the management tier for color conversion operations for the print job. The parameter can include an attribute or a media type for the print job. The applicable tone reproduction curve (TRC) or ICC profile is retrieved according to the selected management tier. The TRC or ICC profile is adjusted according to an input applicable to the respective management tier.

Abstract: A fluid recirculation channel for dispensing a plurality of fluid drop weights includes a number of sub-channels. The sub-channels include at least one pump channel, and a plurality of drop generator channels fluidically coupled to the at least one pump channel. The fluid recirculation channel further includes a number of pump generators incorporated into the at least one pump channel, a number of drop generators incorporated into drop generator channels, and a plurality of nozzles defined within the drop generator channels, the nozzles being at least as numerous as the number of drop generators.

Abstract: An information processing device includes a storage configured to store a machine-learned model, a reception section configured to receive error information and operation information transmitted from an electronic apparatus, and a processor configured to determine whether a notification indicating error information is to be made for a user. The machine-learned model mechanically learns a condition of the notification indicating error information to be made to the user based on a data set in which the error information, the operation information, and action information indicating user action performed in response to the notification of the error information are associated with one another.

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.