Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an element substrate having thereon a plurality of heaters for generating energy for ejecting liquid; a plurality of liquid chambers provided on the element substrate and having ejection outlets for ejecting the liquid, wherein a plurality of the heaters are disposed in each of the liquid chambers, and wherein one part of the heaters and the other part of the heaters are switchably operable; and a switching unit for switching between a mode in which the one part of the heaters is actuated as main heaters, and the other part of the heaters stands by as stand-by heaters, and a mode in which the other part of the heaters is actuated as main heaters, and the one part of heaters stands by as stand-by heaters. A center of gravity of the one part of heaters and a center of gravity of the other part of heaters are aligned with each other in a plane of the element substrate, and surfaces of the heaters are protected by an anti-cavitation film comprising metal.

Abstract: A micro-fluid ejecting device includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of fluid ejection elements formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of nonvolatile programmable memory devices for storing information related to the operation of the micro-fluid ejecting device. The programmable memory devices, which are at least partially embedded in the semiconductor substrate, each include a source region and a drain region formed in the semiconductor substrate. The source and drain regions have a conductivity type which is opposite the conductivity type of the semiconductor substrate. An insulative layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate over the source region and drain region. A floating gate region is formed on the insulative layer and is spatially disposed between the source region and drain region. The floating gate region is electrically insulated from the source and drain regions by the insulative layer. Electrical contacts are connected to the source region and the drain region.

Abstract: An inkjet deposition apparatus includes a position encoder 128 in a translation stage 116. The position encoder provides encoder signals which are used as a clock signal for a pattern memory 136. Ejection of droplets of a material to be printed can therefore be synchronised with the speed of movement of the translation, providing improved accuracy and speed of deposition.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes a first fire line, a second fire line, data lines, latch circuitry, first drop generators, and second drop generators. The first fire line is adapted to conduct a first energy signal including first energy pulses and the second fire line is adapted to conduct a second energy signal including second energy pulses. The data lines are adapted to conduct data signals that represent an image and the latch circuitry is configured to latch the data signals to provide latched data signals based on at least one clock signal. The first drop generators are configured to respond to the first energy signal to eject fluid based on the latched data signals and the second drop generators are configured to respond to the second energy signal to eject fluid based on the latched data signals.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead with an array of nozzles 26 and corresponding heaters 10 configured for heating printing fluid 20 to nucleate a vapor bubble 12 that ejects a drop 24 of the printing fluid through the nozzle. Drive circuitry 22 generates an electrical drive pulse to energize the heaters 10 and is configured to adjust the drive pulse power to vary the vapor bubble nucleation time. By varying the power of the pulse used to generate the bubble, the printhead can operate with small, efficiently generated bubbles during normal printing, or it can briefly operate with large high energy bubbles if it needs to recover decapped nozzles.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for a pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate defining an ink supply channel; an ink chamber in fluid communication with the ink supply channel, the ink chamber defining an ink ejection port around which an ink spreading prevention rim is provided; a thermal actuator mechanism arranged in the substrate and configured to eject ink from the chamber via the ejection port, the mechanism having a thermal actuator arm adapted to deflect as a result of relative thermal expansion; and control logic architecture provided on the substrate for controlling the thermal actuator arm. The architecture has a plurality of successive shift registers, a transfer register for receiving data output from a last shift register, and a firing control gate. The firing control gate has an enabling input and a gate data input for receiving an output from the transfer register. The gate operatively drives the thermal actuator according to the enabling and gate data inputs.

Abstract: Micro-fluid ejection apparatuses and devices, and methods related to communication in and with the same. One such micro-fluid ejection apparatus includes a controller configured to generate a data signal, and a transmitter configured to convert the data signal to a current signal. The apparatus further includes a conductor capable of carrying the current signal, and a receiver configured to receive the current signal from the conductor and to convert the current signal to a second data signal. The micro-fluid ejection apparatus is configured to operate on the second data signal. In one embodiment, the micro-fluid ejection apparatus may be a printing apparatus, such as an inkjet printing apparatus. In some embodiments, the current signal comprises a pair of corresponding differential current signals and/or current transfer logic signals offset from a base amperage level.

Abstract: In order to preserve good droplet discharge efficiency in a droplet discharge device, a plurality of timings are set within a period in which a plurality of droplets are to be discharged to a target position. Consecutive timings are divided by a cycle time of pressure wave that is generated inside a pressure chamber by transmitting a signal to an actuator. When a plurality of signals are applied to the actuator at consecutive timings, the peak of the pressure wave and the application of the signals are synchronous, and the droplet discharge efficiency will be improved. However, the consecutive number of timings at which the consecutive signals are transmitted is limited to a predetermined number. In this way, the pressure inside the pressure chamber can be prevented from becoming too high.

Abstract: Provided is a method of operating a thermal bend actuator of a printhead nozzle arrangement of a printhead using an open actuator test circuit. The test circuit includes an open actuator test input, a column enable input and a row enable input; a drive transistor operatively linking said thermal actuator to a power supply; a bleed transistor arranged in parallel with the thermal actuator; a sense transistor operatively linking an output of the drive transistor and inputs of the thermal actuator and bleed transistor to a sensing node. The method includes the step of actuating the actuator to facilitate printing by enabling the column and row enable inputs to deactivate the bleed and sense transistors and to activate the drive transistor to link the thermal actuator to the power supply.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes an array of inkjet print heads, wherein each print head has at least one ink port for receiving ink, at least one nozzle for directing ink onto a substrate to be printed, and at least one control terminal for receiving a supply voltage and/or control signals. A print head mounting element positions the print heads in a defined orientation relative to each other. An electrical supply unit extending over the array is connected to the control terminals of all of the print heads, and can supply a supply voltage and/or print head specific control signals to all of the print heads in common. A mechanical supply unit extending over the array is connected to the ink ports of all of the print heads, and can supply ink to all of the print heads in common.

Abstract: A pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly has a plurality of nozzle arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement comprises walls defining an ink chamber having an ink supply channel and an ink ejection port having an ink spreading prevention rim; a thermal actuator mechanism for ejecting ink from the chamber via the ejection port, the thermal actuator mechanism including an actuator arm having two layers which are formed from a conductive, resiliently flexible material, said layers surrounding a central material layer so that said two layers are in thermal balance with the arm in a quiescent state; and drive circuitry for supplying the thermal actuator mechanism with a drive current, the drive circuitry being operable in a first and second operative mode. Tn the first operative mode, the drive circuitry supplies current to the thermal actuator mechanism sufficient to cause the thermal actuator mechanism to bend to a degree whereby ink is expelled from the ink ejection port.

Abstract: For forming one dot by jetting a plurality of ink droplets, a drive pulse signal in an ink-droplet jetting apparatus includes a first main pulse for jetting, a first regulating signal which is inserted at a first interval from the first main pulse, and a second regulating pulse which is inserted at a second interval from the first main pulse. The first interval is almost the same as or more than the second interval. Accordingly, the ink-droplet jetting apparatus is capable of jetting the ink droplets stably, and printing at a high speed.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to implement higher-quality printing at a higher speed by changing an electric current value to a printing element and adjusting energy applied to the printing element in an inkjet printhead. To achieve this object, a current regulating circuit is arranged on the head substrate of an inkjet printhead of a constant electric current driving type which supplies a constant electric current to a heater. The electric current value is changed in accordance with a signal (digital signal etc.) supplied from the outside of the printhead. Energy corresponding to the electric current value is applied to the printing element from a constant electric current source corresponding to each group.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead comprises a substrate assembly incorporating an electrical drive circuitry layer and defining an ink inlet channel; a nozzle chamber structure extending from the substrate assembly and defining a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet channel and an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber, the nozzle chamber being rectangular in plan; an anchor extending from the substrate assembly; a thermal bend actuator extending from the anchor and electrically coupled to the drive circuitry layer; and a lever arm coupled to the thermal bend actuator, pivotally supported by the substrate assembly and terminating in a paddle within the nozzle chamber. Upon receipt of a driving signal from the drive circuitry layer, the thermal bend actuator bends to induce movement of the paddle and effect ejection of ink in the nozzle chamber through the ink ejection port.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of printing using dots of ink discharged from nozzles to form the image. To ensure quality and efficiency of printing, a feed back mechanism from the printhead is used, to provide real time readings on various parameters of the printhead. These readings are compared to a pulse parameter table, to adjust the parameter of the pulse to ensure quality and efficiency of the printing. The temperature of the printhead is sensed to allow the timing of the firing pulses to be adjusted to take into consideration the viscosity of the ink. The amount of voltage available to the pulse actuator can be sensed so that the pulse width can be adjusted to compensate for a flat battery or high voltage source. The resistivity of the actuator heater can be sensed so as to adjust the pulse widths to maintain a constant energy irrespective of the heater resistivity.

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

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer, the printhead comprising: a printhead integrated circuit formed on a wafer substrate using lithographically masked etching and deposition techniques; an integrated circuit support structure for mounting in the printer adjacent a media feed path; and, a polymer sealing film between the integrated circuit support structure and the printhead integrated circuit for fixing the printhead integrated circuit to the integrated circuit support structure.

Abstract: An inkjet head for ejecting ink droplets is disclosed which includes: a nozzle unit having metal thin plates and a piezoelectric device, adapted to eject the ink droplets; a printed circuit board supplying to the piezoelectric device a drive signal for causing the nozzle unit to eject the ink droplets; a support supporting the nozzle unit and the printed circuit board in opposing relationship to each other; an earth contact disposed on the nozzle unit; a ground contact disposed on the printed circuit board, held at a reference potential; an electrically conductive elastic member disposed between the earth and ground contacts, such that portions of the elastic member are in electrical contact with the earth and ground contacts, respectively; and a movement limiter limiting movement of the elastic member to thereby prevent the elastic member from being disengaged from the earth and ground contacts.

Abstract: A recording apparatus including: (a) a recording head unit having actuators and operable to perform a recording operation using at least one recording material that is ejected by activation of the actuators; (b) a main circuit operable to output activator signals for activating the actuators, and drive waveform signals for controlling ejection of the at least one recording material; and (c) a drive circuit operable to receive the activator signals and the drive waveform signals, generate drive signals based on the output activator signals and the drive waveform signals, and supply the generated drive signals to the actuators. The main circuit generates a merged signal into which at least part of the activator signals and at least one of the drive waveform signals are serially merged, and transmits the merged signal to the drive circuit. The drive circuit retrieves the at least part of the activator signals and the at least one of the drive waveform signals from the transmitted merged signal.

Abstract: A driving circuit of a droplet ejection head which, by supplying analog driving signals to driving elements, ejects droplets from nozzles which are provided in correspondence with the driving elements. The driving circuit includes a driving signal generation unit, a pulse modulation unit, a switching signal generation unit, an amplification unit and a frequency-setting unit. The driving signal generation unit selectively outputs a first and a second analog driving signal. The pulse modulation unit pulse-modulates the analog driving signal and outputs a digital signal. The switching signal generation unit generates a switching signal. The amplification unit amplifies the digital signal by switching in accordance with the switching signal, and supplies the amplified digital signal to the driving elements. The frequency-setting unit sets a switching frequency of the switching signal in accordance with a frequency selection signal, which corresponds to the analog driving signal.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead comprises a substrate defining an ink supply channel; a nozzle chamber structure mounted on the substrate, the nozzle chamber structure defining a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink supply channel and a nozzle rim defining an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber, the nozzle chamber structure further defining a slot in a first side wall thereof; a post, provided outside of the nozzle chamber, extending from the substrate; and a thermal actuator mechanism comprising an actuator arm extending from the post and through the slot to terminate freely in the nozzle chamber. The actuator arm comprises a slot protection barrier extending substantially orthogonally therefrom, the slot protection barrier positioned adjacent to the first side wall and spaced therefrom to define an ink holding area between the slot protection barrier and the first side wall.

Abstract: A serial signal for generating a plurality of recording waveform signals is transmitted serially from a signal transmission circuit to a head river. A serial-parallel converting circuit parallely converts the serial signal and generates a plurality of kinds of the recording waveform signals. A selector in the head driver selects a predetermined recording waveform signal from the plurality of kinds of the recording waveform signals based on a selection signal corresponding to each of actuators. The drive pulse of the selected recording waveform signal is outputted to a recording head and carries out dot recording.

Abstract: Embodiments of altering nozzle firing order are disclosed.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording head substrate which is mounted with electrothermal transducers producing thermal energy used for discharging ink and which drives the electrothermal transducers, comprising: a production circuit operating on a first voltage and producing a selection signal indicating driving or non-driving of the electrothermal transducer; a conversion circuit for converting the produced selection signal into a selection signal of a second voltage higher than the first voltage; and a driving circuit operating on the second voltage and driving the electrothermal transducer in accordance with the selection signal of the second voltage.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a printhead with a plurality of nozzles and one or more heater elements 10 corresponding to each nozzle, configured to operate at low voltage and low current. Each heater element 10 vaporises a printing fluid 11 to form a bubble 12 therein. The generation of the bubble 12 causes the ejection of a drop of the printing fluid (such as ink) through the corresponding nozzle 5 to effect printing. Each heater element 10 requires less than 8 volts and a current of less than 60 milliamps for less than 1.5 microseconds, in order to form the gas bubble 12 that causes the ejection of the drop of printing fluid 11. These lower voltages are more suited to CMOS circuitry components and helps to avoid problems such as ‘ground bounce’.

Abstract: A driving apparatus of a multi-function machine includes a scanner unit scanning data recorded on a sheet of document and a document transport part to transport the sheet of document. A printer unit prints data on a sheet of paper for an output and includes a carrier including a print head with an ink jet nozzle mounted thereon to carry out the printing operation by moving the print head. The driving apparatus includes a driving motor, a scanner driving part driving the scanner unit, a printer driving part driving the printer unit, and a power switching part disposed with the driving motor, the scanner driving part, and the printer driving part. The power switching part selectively transmits a power of the driving motor to at least one of the scanner driving part and the printer driving part.

Abstract: An inkjet print head comprises an array of print head heater circuits. Each circuit has a heater element (12) and a drive transistor (14) in series between power lines (20,22), and with a node (23) at the junction therebetween. A first capacitive element (50) is coupled between a first control signal (52) and the node (23) and a second capacitive element (54) is coupled between a second control signal (56), which is complementary to the first control signal (52), and the node (23). The two capacitive elements can be used to capacitively couple opposite step voltage changes into the circuit. These capacitive coupling effects can be used to alter the switching characteristics so as to reduce simultaneous high voltages on the gate and drain of the drive transistor.

Abstract: A printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into: a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a first number of the channels; and a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a second number of the channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number.

Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus comprises: a nozzle which ejects liquid; a pressure chamber which is connected to the nozzle and filled with the liquid to be ejected from the nozzle; an actuator which causes the liquid to be ejected from the nozzle by applying a pressure change to the liquid inside the pressure chamber, by changing volume of the pressure chamber; and a drive signal generating device which generates a drive signal for driving the actuator, wherein the drive signal includes: a first pull drive waveform component which drives the actuator to increase the volume of the pressure chamber; a push drive waveform component which drives the actuator to reduce the volume of the pressure chamber by a first volume change amount after the first pull drive waveform component, so as to push out a column of the liquid from the nozzle; and a second pull drive waveform component which drives the actuator to again increase the volume of the pressure chamber by a second volume change amount after the push drive wav

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet printhead which comprises a plurality of nozzles 3 and a bubble forming chamber 7 corresponding to each nozzle respectively. At least one heater element 10 disposed in each bubble forming chamber 7 to heat a bubble forming liquid 11 to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble 12 therein. The generation of the bubble 12 causes the ejection of a drop 16 of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through an ejection aperture 5 in each nozzle 3, to effect printing. The heater element 10 has at least one bubble nucleation section 158 with a smaller cross section than the remainder of the heater element. The smaller cross section creates a region of higher resistance. A high resistance section in the heater element will heat up quicker than the rest of the element. The gas bubble will nucleate at this point and subsequently grow to the other areas of the heater element.

Abstract: An apparatus for ejecting liquid droplets, including: ejecting head main body having a plurality of nozzle rows; a pressure generation chamber; a pressurization section for giving pressure to the pressure generation chamber; and plural drive circuits corresponding to the nozzle rows, each drive circuit including: a first storage section for storing the ejection data corresponding to a nozzle row; a first latch section for storing the ejection data from the first storage section; a second latch section for storing the ejection data from the first latch section; and a drive section for driving the pressurization section based on the ejection data stored the second latch section; and a control section, which ensures that a timing for storing the ejecting data into the first latch section is synchronized among the nozzle rows, and a timing for storing the ejecting data into the second latch section can be adjusted independently.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device including firing cells including a first group of firing cells and a second group of firing cells, a control line configured to receive a control signal and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to respond to the control signal to selectively initiate a first sequence adapted to enable the first group of firing cells for activation and a second sequence adapted to enable the second group of firing cells for activation.

Abstract: Fluid injection devices comprise M sets of fluid injection units. Each fluid injection unit comprises N injectors separately connecting to a driver. A controller separately transmits a signal to the driver, thereby simultaneously driving a selected injector of each of the M sets of fluid injection units. A non-selected injector of each of the M sets of fluid injection units does not trigger bipolar junction transistors (BJTs).

Abstract: An inkjet image forming apparatus includes a simulation driving circuit having the same characteristics as a driving circuit of a heater corresponding to several nozzles in a head-chip. The inkjet image forming apparatus adjusts a driving power-supply signal applied to a pre-driver to drive an nMOSFET connected to the heater using the simulation driving circuit, and acquires information of additional resistance compensating for a heater driving current. The inkjet image forming apparatus performs a printing process using the acquired additional resistance information, resulting in implementation of a superior print quality.

Abstract: In a droplet ejector and an ink-jet printhead using the same, the droplet ejector includes a fluid path through which a fluid moves, a nozzle being formed on one end of the fluid path, a volumetric structure formed in the fluid path, the volumetric structure being sensitive to an external stimulus and being capable of varying in size to eject a droplet of the fluid through the nozzle, and a stimulus generator, which applies a stimulus to the volumetric structure to vary a size of the volumetric structure.

Abstract: A printing apparatus that can prevent unexpected operation of an element is to be achieved. The printing apparatus is provided with: a drive signal generating circuit that can generate a plurality of drive signals, an element to which the plurality of drive signals can be applied and that performs operation for ejecting ink according to the applied drive signals, and a prevention circuit for preventing the plurality of drive signals from being simultaneously applied to the element.

Abstract: A detector circuit for detecting a malfunction of a circuit due to a low third power supply voltage that has the same amplitude and potential as an input signal is provided. Based on an output signal of the detector circuit, whether an output of a second power supply voltage generation circuit for activating a heater driving circuit is allowed or not is determined. When the third power supply voltage is low and the heater driving circuit operates improperly, no power supply voltage is supplied from the second power supply voltage generation circuit. Since no power supply voltage is supplied to the heater driving circuit, the heater driving circuit does not drive a corresponding heater.

Abstract: An ink jet head substrate, an ink jet head and a method of manufacturing an ink jet head substrate are provided. The ink jet head substrate includes a substrate having an ink ejection region. An interlayer insulating layer is formed on the substrate. A plurality of pressure-generating elements that generate pressure to eject ink are disposed on the interlayer insulating layer to form a predetermined array. Segment heaters that heat the substrate are disposed at predetermined positions on the substrate. The segment heaters are electrically connected to each other by heater wirings.

Abstract: An ink-jet head has a flexible printed circuit and a head main body, and further has a reinforcement that is located between drive-signal terminals arranged adjacent to one another and a constant-potential-signal terminal. The drive-signal terminals and the constant-potential-signal terminal are formed on a terminal-formed face of an energy applier included in the head main body. The flexible printed circuit has an electrode-formed face on which a constant-potential-signal electrode to be bonded to the constant-potential-signal terminal with a metal bond and drive-signal electrodes to be bonded to the drive-signal terminals with a metal bond. The reinforcement is in contact with and interposed between the terminal-formed face and the electrode-formed face so that the terminal-formed face and the electrode-formed face are spaced apart from each other.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an ink-jet head includes the step of forming, in a substrate, through holes respectively corresponding to conductors on one face of the substrate and each having its diameter increasing from the one face toward the other face of the substrate. Here, the through holes are formed in such a manner as to satisfy R>d/2+t/tan ?, where: d represents a width of an opening of the through hole on the one face; ? represents an angle of inclination of a sidewall defining the through hole with respect to the one face; R represents a shortest distance from the center of the through hole to a periphery of an electrode that neighbors an electrode corresponding to the through hole; and t represents a thickness of the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a liquid discharge apparatus adapted for discharging inks from discharge holes, which includes a control unit for controlling a discharge control unit, wherein the control unit controls the discharge control unit in such a manner that pulse current delivered to one of a pair of heating resistors is caused to be reference, and pulse current is delivered to the other heating resistor in the state where timing is shifted in a time of the range within 20% of supply time of pulse current serving as reference with respect to supply timing of pulse current serving as reference. Thus, it is possible to suppress unevenness or variation of impact positions of ink droplets discharged in the state where discharge direction has been changed. As a result, deterioration of picture quality resulting from color tone unevenness and/or white stripe, etc. is prevented. Thus, print operation can be performed at excellent picture quality.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead with an array of ink chambers, each having a nozzle, an actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle, an inlet opening allowing ink to refill the chamber and a filter structure at the inlet opening; wherein, the filter structure has rows of obstructions extending transverse to the flow direction through the opening, the obstructions in each row being spaced such that they are out of registration with the obstructions in an adjacent row with respect to the flow direction. Filtering the ink as it enters the chamber removes the contaminants and bubbles but it also retards ink flow into the chamber. The present invention uses a filter structure that has rows of obstructions in the flow path. The rows are offset with respect to each other to induce turbulence. This has a minimal effect on the nozzle refill rate but the air bubbles or other contaminants are likely to be retained by the obstructions.

Abstract: Flying characteristics of ink droplets are controlled efficiently to the utmost. In one liquid chamber, two heating elements with the same surface-shape and the same heating characteristics are juxtaposed. While energy is simultaneously applied to the two heating elements, by applying energy with different energy surface-densities to the two heating elements so that the bubble-generating time with film boiling differs for the two heating elements, the liquid droplets are controlled so that a flying force with a component parallel to an ejection face of a nozzle is applied to the liquid droplets in a growing process of the liquid droplets.

Abstract: A piezoelectric sheet of an ink-jet head includes dummy individual electrodes in addition to individual electrodes which corresponds to respective nozzles. The dummy individual electrodes are in an outer periphery of the individual electrodes. FPC board applies drive voltage to the individual electrodes in a drive area, and deforms the area in the piezoelectric sheet in the direction of an ink pressure chamber, while the drive voltage is not applied to the individual electrodes of the non-drive area. When the dummy individual electrodes are formed in the non-drive area, a boundary area of the drive area and the non-drive area is uniformly fired when the piezoelectric sheet is manufactured. In the drive area, since surrounding structures of the respective individual electrodes become equal to one another, ink discharge characteristic is substantially uniform in the boundary area of the drive area and the non-drive area.

Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus includes an ejecting unit, a driving unit and a correcting unit. The ejecting unit has plural droplet ejection portions that include pressure chambers containing a liquid, ejecting portions ejecting droplets, and driving elements that cause the ejecting portions to eject droplets of a droplet volume in accordance with a driving signal. The driving unit generates a driving signal according to ejection data and applies the driving signal with a predetermined voltage application cycle period. Between different volume droplets, when a difference of the ejection time, from ejection until adhering to a medium, or from application of the driving signal until adhering to the medium, exceeds ½ the voltage application cycle period, the correcting unit corrects the ejection data according to the ejection time difference such that the voltage application timing of the driving signal is corrected by an integer multiple of the voltage application cycle period.

Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus comprises: a nozzle through which liquid is ejected; a pressure chamber which accommodates the liquid to be ejected from the nozzle; a supply side flow path which fills the liquid from a supply system into the pressure chamber; an actuator which is provided on at least one wall of the pressure chamber and changes a volume of the pressure chamber; and a drive signal generating device which generates a drive signal including at least a first drive signal having a time period T1 which drives the actuator so as to expand the pressure chamber, and a second drive signal having a time period T2 which drives the actuator so as to contract the pressure chamber, wherein: a relationship between the time period T2 of the second drive signal and a Helmholtz period Tc of the pressure chamber satisfies T2?Tc/2; and when the actuator is operated by means of the drive signal to generate, in the nozzle, a pressure having a prescribed cycle in which a negative pressure acting in a direction which c

Abstract: Provided is a method of operating a thermal bend actuator of a printhead nozzle arrangement of a printhead using an open actuator test circuit. The test circuit includes an open actuator test input, a column enable input and a row enable input; a drive transistor operatively linking said thermal actuator to a power supply; a bleed transistor arranged in parallel with the thermal actuator; a sense transistor operatively linking an output of the drive transistor and inputs of the thermal actuator and bleed transistor to a sensing node. The method includes the step of actuating the actuator to facilitate printing by enabling the column and row enable inputs to deactivate the bleed and sense transistors and to activate the drive transistor to link the thermal actuator to the power supply.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting head has a nozzle, a driving element which ejects a liquid droplet from the nozzle by being driven, a storing unit, a driving waveform generating unit, and a supplying unit. The storing unit respectively stores plural driving waveforms, which are for timewise driving a driving element in accordance with an amount of a liquid droplet, as plural digital signals each converted into binary numbers expressing a voltage level of the driving waveform and a duration period of the voltage level. The driving waveform generating unit generates plural driving waveforms on the basis of the plural digital signals. On the basis of image data, the supplying unit selects a driving waveform to be supplied to the driving element from among the plural driving waveforms, and supplies a selected driving waveform to the driving element.

Abstract: A driving circuit layout can suppress an increase in the area of a head substrate in an inkjet printhead adopting a constant electric current driving method. A plurality of printing elements and a plurality of switching elements which are very large in number are arrayed in the longitudinal direction of a head substrate. A terminal which receives a driving signal and a control signal that are used to drive the plurality of printing elements is arranged at the end of the board in the widthwise direction of the board. An electric current source for supplying a predetermined electric current is interposed in an area between these two areas.

Abstract: A recording head includes electrothermal transducers associated with temperature sensing elements. A method for driving the recording head includes supplying driving energy to the electrothermal transducer, and evaluating a temperature change in a temperature fall interval, occurring after supplying of driving energy to the electrothermal transducer, based on temperature information acquired from the temperature sensing element. The method further includes changing a setting value of the driving energy supplied to the electrothermal transducer, determining an energy value for driving the electrothermal transducer based on the evaluated temperature change and an energy value supplied to the electrothermal conversion element, and recording data on a recording medium by driving the electrothermal transducer according to the determined energy value.