CN112918110B

CN112918110B - Ink-jet printing head

Info

Publication number: CN112918110B
Application number: CN202110073860.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 刘卫臣
Original assignee: Apex Microelectronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Jihai Microelectronics Co ltd
Priority date: 2021-01-20
Filing date: 2021-01-20
Publication date: 2022-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 2041-01-20
Also published as: CN112918110A

Abstract

The application provides an inkjet printer head relates to and prints technical field, and this inkjet printer head includes: an interface circuit and a plurality of drop generators; an interface circuit for transmitting address signals and control signals to the plurality of drop generators; an ink drop generator for ejecting ink according to control of the control signal when selected by the address signal; wherein some or all of the drop generators can be selected by at least two different address signals. Therefore, when the printer is a low-resolution printer, the conventional control can be directly carried out on the ink-jet printing head, when the printer is a high-resolution printer, the conversion can be carried out through the ink-jet printing head, and the ink-jet printing head can normally print when being installed on the low-resolution printer or the high-resolution printer, so that the problem that the printing head sold to the market cannot work on a new high-resolution printer can be avoided, and the printing head resource is saved.

Description

Ink-jet printing head

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of printing, in particular to an ink-jet printing head.

Background

With the spread of office automation, ink jet printers have become indispensable devices in office activities. The inkjet printhead may be mounted in an inkjet printer that ejects ink under the control of the inkjet printer to ultimately form an image on a medium.

The print quality of an inkjet printer is related to the resolution, where printer resolution is measured in dots per inch of ink, typically expressed in dots per inch (dpi) (dot per inch). The resolution of an inkjet printhead is often measured by its nozzle pitch, e.g., the distance between adjacent nozzles on the inkjet printhead. In pursuit of replacement print quality, the resolution of inkjet printers and corresponding inkjet printheads is continually increasing, for example from 300dpi to 600dpi, 1200dpi, 2400dpi, or the like.

However, as the resolution of the inkjet printer is increased, the conventional low-resolution print head cannot be used in a high-resolution printer, which results in waste of resources.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides an ink-jet printing head, and partial or all ink drop generators in the ink-jet printing head can be selected by at least two different address signals, so that when the ink-jet printing head is installed on a high-resolution printer, the address number required by the high-resolution printer can be reached, the printing in the high-resolution printer is realized, the problem that the printing head sold to the market cannot work on a new high-resolution printer can be avoided, and the printing head resource is saved.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an inkjet printhead, including: an interface circuit and a plurality of drop generators;

the interface circuit is used for transmitting address signals and control signals to a plurality of ink drop generators;

the ink drop generator is used for ejecting ink according to the control of the control signal when being selected by the address signal;

wherein some or all of the drop generators are capable of being selected by at least two different address signals.

In an alternative implementation, a drop generator of the plurality of drop generators can be selected by an address family, the address family containing at least two different address signals;

the certain ink drop generator is specifically used for being selected when a certain address signal in the address family is received; and not selected when another address signal different from the certain address signal in the address family is received again;

wherein the non-selected indicates that the particular drop generator is not ejecting ink.

In an optional implementation manner, the certain ink droplet generator is specifically configured to not be selected when the other address signals are received again within a first preset time period from the selection by the certain address signal; and after the first preset time period is ended, selecting one ink droplet generator again when the certain ink droplet generator receives the other address signals again.

In an alternative implementation, after being selected by the address signal, if an address signal for selecting another ink drop generator different from the certain ink drop generator is received, the certain ink drop generator may be selected again by the other address signal.

In an optional implementation manner, after being selected by the certain address signal, if another ink drop generator different from the certain ink drop generator is selected, the certain ink drop generator may be selected again by the other address signal.

In an alternative implementation, the inkjet printhead further includes a switching circuit;

the conversion circuit is used for receiving the address signal and the control signal from the interface circuit and selecting a target ink drop generator from the plurality of ink drop generators according to the address signal; and sending the control signal to the target drop generator, which ejects ink under control of the control signal.

In an alternative implementation, the target drop generator can be selected by an address family containing at least two different address signals;

the conversion circuit is specifically used for selecting the target ink droplet generator when receiving a certain address signal in the address family; and when other address signals different from the certain address signal in the address family are received again, the target ink drop generator is not selected;

wherein the unselected representation does not cause the target drop generator to eject ink.

In an optional implementation manner, the conversion circuit is specifically configured to deselect the target ink droplet generator when the other address signals are received again within a first preset time period in which the certain address signal is received; and after the first preset time period is ended, selecting the target ink droplet generator if the other address signals are received again.

In an optional implementation manner, the conversion circuit is specifically configured to receive address signals for selecting other ink drop generators different from the certain ink drop generator after receiving the address signal to select the target ink drop generator, and the conversion circuit can select the target ink drop generator when receiving the other address signals again.

In an alternative implementation, the plurality of drop generators are disposed on a first substrate, and the conversion circuit is disposed on a second substrate, the second substrate being electrically connected to the first substrate.

In an alternative implementation, the address signals that select the same drop generator are adjacent address signals.

In an alternative implementation, the number of address signals that each of the drop generators can be selected is the same.

In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a printer, including an inkjet printhead according to any one of the first aspect and the first aspect;

the printer further comprises power supply equipment, and the voltage equipment is used for supplying power to the printer.

Embodiments of the present application provide an inkjet printhead and printer that includes an interface circuit and a plurality of drop generators. The interface circuit can transmit address signals and control signals to a plurality of ink drop generators, the ink drop generators can eject ink according to the control of the control signals when being selected by the address signals transmitted by the interface circuit, and part or all of the ink drop generators can be selected by at least two different address signals. Therefore, when the ink-jet printing head is arranged on a high-resolution printer, the number of addresses required by the high-resolution printer can be reached, and printing in the high-resolution printer is realized, so that the problem that the printing head sold to the market cannot work on a new high-resolution printer can be avoided, and the printing head resource is saved.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operating principle of a thermal inkjet printhead according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an inkjet printhead according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of another inkjet printhead provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present application.

With the foregoing drawings in mind, certain embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described in more detail below. These drawings and written description are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed concepts in any way, but rather to illustrate the concepts of the disclosure to those skilled in the art by reference to specific embodiments.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the accompanying drawings, like numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The implementations described in the exemplary embodiments below are not intended to represent all implementations consistent with the present disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatus and methods consistent with certain aspects of the present disclosure, as detailed in the appended claims.

With the spread of office automation, ink jet printers have become indispensable devices in office activities. The inkjet printhead may be mounted in an inkjet printer that ejects ink under the control of the printer to ultimately form an image on media.

The print quality of an inkjet printer is related to the resolution, where printer resolution is measured in dots per inch of ink, typically expressed in dots per inch (dpi) (dot per inch). The resolution of an inkjet printhead is often measured by its nozzle pitch, e.g., the distance between adjacent nozzles on the inkjet printhead. In pursuit of replacement print quality, the resolution of printers and corresponding printheads is continually increased, for example from 300dpi to 600dpi, 1200dpi, or 2400dpi, etc.

To achieve higher printing resolution, both the printer and the inkjet printhead are redesigned, resulting in a change in the control logic for the communication between the printer and the inkjet printhead. For example, higher resolution inkjet printheads require complex tip programming techniques, precise engineering mechanical components, and many circuit components. On the other hand, the printer needs to add complex logic for controlling the inkjet printhead to print, for example, when the resolution of the printhead is increased, the number of nozzles (i.e., drop generators) on the printhead is also greatly increased, the printer needs to increase the address for accessing each nozzle, and add new logic for controlling the ejection of the nozzles.

In this case, a low-resolution inkjet print head that has already been marketed and cannot be used in a high-resolution printer occurs, and the versatility of the inkjet print head is reduced. This problem is particularly acute when the resolution of the printer is updated more and more frequently. On the other hand, the low-resolution inkjet print heads that have been marketed are not environmentally friendly because there is no printer that can use such a print head, although the quality of the print head itself is good.

To address the deficiencies of existing inkjet printheads, embodiments of the present application provide an inkjet printhead that includes an interface circuit and a plurality of drop generators. The interface circuit can transmit address signals and control signals to a plurality of ink drop generators, and the ink drop generators can eject ink according to the control of the control signals when being selected by the address signals transmitted by the interface circuit; wherein some or all of the drop generators can be selected by at least two different address signals. The ink jet print head can be directly controlled conventionally when the printer is a low resolution printer, and can be switched when the printer is a high resolution printer. Therefore, when the ink-jet printing head is installed on a low-resolution printer or a high-resolution printer, the ink-jet printing head can normally print, so that the problem that the printing head sold in the market cannot work on the high-resolution printer can be avoided, and the printing head resource is saved.

Before describing the inkjet printhead provided in the embodiments of the present application, the principle of the inkjet printer will be described. Among them, the inkjet printer is largely classified into two major types, piezoelectric inkjet technology and thermal inkjet technology, according to the operation mode of the print head.

The key component in the piezoelectric ink jet technology is a piezoelectric element in an ink jet print head, for example, the piezoelectric element may be piezoelectric ceramic, and the printer may control the piezoelectric element to deform by a current signal or a voltage signal, so as to accumulate ink and generate ejection, thereby forming a pattern on the surface of an output medium.

The thermal ink jet technology is to heat ink instantaneously by a heating resistor to vaporize the ink, and then eject the ink from a nozzle by using pressure generated by vaporization expansion of the ink, and when the ink is ejected, bubbles disappear, and the pressure of the ink in a printing head returns to an initial state. Illustratively, fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the operating principle of a thermal inkjet printhead, in which in stage a of fig. 1, which is the initial stage of the printhead, in stage b of fig. 1, ink is heated, causing the ink to vaporize and generate bubbles, and in stage c of fig. 1, the pressure generated by the vaporization and expansion of the ink ejects the ink from nozzles to realize printing.

Fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an inkjet printhead according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and as shown in fig. 2, the inkjet printhead 200 may include: an interface circuit 201 and a plurality of drop generators 202. The plurality of ink drop generators 202 may include ink drop generators 2021, 2022, … 202n, and a value of n may be determined according to an actual application scenario, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

Wherein the interface circuit 201 is configured to transmit address signals and control signals to the plurality of drop generators 202. It is understood that the interface circuit 201 may communicate with each of the plurality of ink drop generators 202, and may be connected in a plurality of ways, such as one-to-one connection, bus connection, one-to-one connection of a part of the plurality of ink drop generators, one-to-one connection of another part of the plurality of ink drop generators, and one-to-one connection of a part of the plurality of ink drop generators.

The printer sets an address for each drop generator in order to accurately control each drop generator on the printhead, selects the corresponding drop generator by an address signal transmitted from the interface circuit 201, and sends a control signal for ejecting ink after selecting the drop generator.

In connection with the thermal inkjet technology, taking the selected ink drop generator 2021 as an example, since the ink drop generator 2021 needs a large amount of energy to eject ink, the control signal transmitted by the interface circuit 201 to the ink drop generator 2021 may be a high voltage signal, and when the ink drop generator 2021 receives the control signal, ink is ejected. For example, the high voltage signal may be a larger voltage signal or a larger current signal, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited. For example, the high voltage signal may be a 15V voltage signal.

Any one of the plurality of drop generators 202 for ejecting ink according to control of the control signal when selected by the address signal. Multiple drop generators 202 can be included in an inkjet printhead, with the greater the number of drop generators, the smaller the pitch, and thus the higher the resolution of the inkjet printhead. The ink drop generator may be a heating resistor of the thermal inkjet technology described above, or may be a piezoelectric element in the piezoelectric inkjet technology. Regardless of the ink jet technology described above, the ink drop generator functions to eject ink in accordance with control of the control signal when selected by the address signal.

For a better explanation, one address signal in the address family is referred to as a first address signal, and the other addresses in the address family different from the first address signal are referred to as second address signals. The first address signal and the second address signal are referred to merely to distinguish between the different address signals and there are no other substantial differences.

In a possible implementation manner, the selection or non-selection of the ink drop generator may be implemented by any one or a combination of multiple manners, such as a Micro Controller Unit (MCU), a Central Processing Unit (CPU), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or a control circuit. It is understood that the selection or non-selection of the ink drop generators may be achieved in other ways, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

In a possible implementation manner, if the thermal inkjet technology is used in the printer, the heating resistor corresponding to the ink drop generator includes a plurality of metal oxide semiconductor (mos) tubes, and after the ink drop generator receives the control signal, the mos tubes can be turned on and heat the corresponding resistors, so that the ink drops can be ejected. For example, if there are 3 mos tubes in the heating resistor corresponding to one droplet generator, the heating resistor is heated when at least 1 of the mos tubes is in a conducting state.

In the case where the resolution of the printer is higher than the resolution of the inkjet printhead, the number of addresses in the address signal sent by the printer exceeds the number of drop generators in the printhead. For example, the resolution of an inkjet printhead is 300dpi, while the resolution of a printer is 600 dpi. It will be appreciated that in a 300dpi printhead, 300 drop generators are provided per inch. In order to print with an inkjet printhead having a resolution of 600dpi, a printer having a resolution of 600dpi can transmit 600 addresses in an address signal.

For the purpose of understanding the present application, the embodiments of the present application provide an inkjet printhead, each of which can respond to at least two addresses, and it can be understood that 300 drop generators can respond to at least 600 addresses (of course, the resolution of the inkjet printhead and the resolution of the printer can be in any other proportional relationship, i.e., the proportional relationship between the number of drop generators and the number of addressed printers can be in any other proportional relationship). Therefore, a print head having a resolution of 300dpi can be normally operated when it is mounted in a printer having a resolution of 600 dpi. For better print quality, it is necessary to determine the correspondence between the ink drop generators and the addresses in the address signals that can be selected, the addresses in the printer address signals are from 001 to 600, the ink drop generator numbers are from 1 to 300, and the correspondence is shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1

In a possible implementation, the order of the physical positions of the drop generators is identical to the order of the addresses, so that the addresses of two physically adjacent drop generators are also adjacent. Therefore, the two addresses which can be selected by the ink drop generator are two adjacent addresses, and the requirement of printing quality can be better met. Thus, it can be understood that a first address in the first address signal is adjacent to a second address in the second address signal.

For example, as shown in table 1, if the drop generator 1 can be selected by a first address signal and a second address signal, the first address in the first address signal is 001, and the address in the second address signal is 002, the first address in the first address signal is adjacent to the second address in the second address signal.

While the above example has been described with the drop generators being selectable by two address signals, it will be appreciated that the drop generators in the embodiments of the present application are capable of being selected by at least two address signals, and that a particular drop generator is capable of being selected by several address signals, depending on the resolution of the printer and the inkjet printhead. Illustratively, if the resolution of the ink jet print head is 300dpi, the resolution of the printer is 900 dpi. It will be appreciated that in a 300dpi printhead, 300 drop generators are provided per inch. In order for a printer with a resolution of 900dpi to print with an inkjet printhead with a resolution of 900dpi, 900 address signals are transmitted, and therefore, the drop generators need to be capable of being selected by 3 address signals. It will be appreciated that 300 drop generators can respond to 900 addresses. Thus, a print head having a resolution of 300dpi can be normally operated when it is mounted in a printer having a resolution of 900 dpi. Of course, it is not required that all of the drop generators correspond to multiple address signals, and the number of address signals for each drop generator need not be the same. One drop generator may correspond to 3, 4, 5, etc. address signals or even more, and another drop generator may correspond to 2 address signals, or some drop generators may correspond to only one address signal and other drop generators may correspond to at least two different address signals.

The following description will be made in detail with respect to how a droplet generator is selected by two address signals, taking an example of a certain droplet generator among a plurality of droplet generators. For purposes of illustration, the particular drop generator will be referred to as the first drop generator, and this reference does not refer specifically to a particular location of the plurality of drop generators.

In a possible implementation, for a first drop generator of the plurality of drop generators, the first drop generator can be selected by an address family, the address family containing at least two different address signals. Illustratively, the address family includes at least a first address signal and a second address signal, and the first drop generator is capable of being selected by at least the first address signal and the second address signal.

In a possible implementation, the first ink drop generator is specifically configured to be selected when receiving a certain address signal in the address family; and not selected when another address signal different from the certain address signal in the address family is received again; wherein the non-selected indicates that the first drop generator is not ejecting ink.

Thus, when the printer selects the first ink drop generator by continuously sending a plurality of signals in the address family, the first ink drop generator does not continuously spray ink, so that the ink can be saved and the printing quality can be improved.

Optionally, the first ink drop generator is specifically configured to, within a first preset time period from the selection of the certain address signal, not select the first ink drop generator when receiving the other address signal again; after the first preset time period is over, a certain ink drop generator can be selected again when receiving the other address signals again.

For example, the first droplet generator receives a control signal when being selected by the first address signal, and ejects ink under the control of the control signal, and rejects selection by the second address signal from a first preset time period starting from selection by the first address signal. And after the first preset time period is over, allowing the selected address to be selected by the second address signal. Thus, when the printer continuously sends the first address signal and the second address signal to select the first ink drop generator in the first preset time period, the first ink drop generator does not continuously eject ink, and only one of the address signals is selected as the address signal of the first ink drop generator and ejects ink under the control of the control signal. Ink can be saved and printing quality can be improved. It should be noted that the processing of the first address signal and the second address signal does not necessarily need to be started after the first droplet generator ejects and generates the ejection operation, and the timing may be started after receiving the first address signal, and the time starting point may be adjusted according to the printing requirement, the control logic, and the like.

The specific value of the first preset time period may be set according to the requirement of the user, for example, the first preset time period may be 1 second.

Illustratively, if the first drop generator is selected by the first address signal at 10 hours, 16 minutes, 17 seconds, the first drop generator receives the control signal and ejects ink under the control of the control signal. If the first preset time period is 1 second, within 10 hours 16 minutes 17 seconds to 10 hours 16 minutes 18 seconds, and if the second address signal is received, the first ink drop generator refuses to be selected by the second address signal, so that the ink jet action is not performed within 10 hours 16 minutes 17 seconds to 10 hours 16 minutes 18 seconds. After a first preset period of time, e.g., after 10 hours, 16 minutes, 18 seconds, selection by the second address signal is allowed.

In a possible implementation, after the first ink drop generator is selected by a certain address signal, if an address signal for selecting another ink drop generator different from the first ink drop generator is received, the first ink drop generator may be selected again by another address signal in the address family.

It will be appreciated that after a first drop generator has been selected by an address signal, if the first drop generator receives an address signal that selects a different drop generator from the first drop generator, indicating that the printer has performed another print operation (e.g., selected another drop generator), then if the first drop generator is again selected, it will be understood that a new print run is required, and the first drop generator may again be selected by another address signal to achieve continuous printing. It should be noted that the drop generator here can receive address signals of other drop generators.

Illustratively, as in the above example, if the first drop generator is selected by the first address signal at 10 hours, 16 minutes, 17 seconds, the first drop generator receives the control signal and ejects ink under the control of the control signal. If the first preset time period is 1 second, within a range from 10 hours 16 minutes 17 seconds to 10 hours 16 minutes 18 seconds, if the second address signal is received, the first ink drop generator refuses to be selected by the second address signal, if the first ink drop generator receives one or more address signals for selecting other ink drop generators within a range from 10 hours 16 minutes 17 seconds to 10 hours 16 minutes 18 seconds, during the time period, if the second address signal is received, the first ink drop generator can be selected by the second address signal. The timing and selection of other drop generators conditions may be combined in a single logic control or may be separate and are described herein as examples only.

Optionally, after the first ink drop generator is selected by a certain address signal, if another ink drop generator different from the certain ink drop generator is selected, the certain ink drop generator may be selected again by another address signal.

It is understood that after the first ink drop generator is selected by a certain address signal, if the printer selects another ink drop generator different from the first ink drop generator, the printer performs another printing operation, and then if the first ink drop generator is selected again, it is understood that a new round of printing is required, the first ink drop generator can be selected again by another address signal, and continuous printing is realized. It should be noted that the drop generator here can receive address signals of other drop generators, and it is also possible that the determination made by other modules, for example, a switching circuit as described below, is not known that other addresses are selected.

Optionally, the first ink drop generator receives the control signal when being selected by the first address signal, and ejects ink under the control of the control signal; and if other address signals (namely, address signals of other ink drop generators different from the first ink drop generator) except the first address signal and the second address signal are received in a first preset time period from the start of the selection by the first address signal, the selection by the first address signal or the second address signal is allowed in a subsequent time period in the first preset time period.

Wherein the subsequent time period is: a period from the reception of the other address signal to the end of the first preset period.

Illustratively, if the first drop generator is selected by the first address signal at 10:16:17, the first drop generator receives the control signal and ejects ink under the control of the control signal. If the first preset time period is 2 seconds, the first drop generator may be allowed to be selected by the second address signal during the first preset time period, for example, 10:16:18 to 10:16:19, if the first drop generator receives address signals of other drop generators than the first drop generator at 10:16:18 within 10:16: 19.

In summary, embodiments of the present application provide an inkjet printhead that includes an interface circuit and a plurality of drop generators. The interface circuit can transmit address signals and control signals to a plurality of ink drop generators, and the ink drop generators can eject ink according to the control of the control signals when being selected by the address signals transmitted by the interface circuit; wherein the drop generator is capable of being selected by at least two address signals. The ink jet print head can be directly controlled conventionally when the printer is a low resolution printer, and can be switched when the printer is a high resolution printer. Therefore, when the ink-jet printing head is installed on a low-resolution printer or a high-resolution printer, the ink-jet printing head can normally print, so that the problem that the printing head sold to the market cannot work on a new high-resolution printer can be avoided, and the printing head resource is saved.

Fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of another inkjet printhead provided in an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 3, the inkjet printhead may include: an interface circuit 301 and a plurality of drop generators 302 and a switching circuit 303. The plurality of ink drop generators 302 may include ink drop generators 3021, 3022, and … 302n, and a value of n may be determined according to an actual application scenario, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

The descriptions of the interface circuit 301 and the plurality of ink drop generators 302 may correspond to the descriptions of fig. 2, and are not repeated in this embodiment of the application. In contrast to the embodiment of fig. 2, in the alternative inkjet printhead of fig. 3, a switching circuit 303 is provided between the interface circuit 301 and the plurality of drop generators 302.

A switching circuit 303 for receiving the address signal and the control signal from the interface circuit 301 and selecting a target ink drop generator among the plurality of ink drop generators 302 according to the address signal, after which the switching circuit 303 sends the control signal to the target ink drop generator, which ejects ink under the control of the control signal. It is understood that the conversion circuit 303 may communicate with each of the plurality of ink drop generators 302, and may be connected in a plurality of ways, such as one-to-one connection, bus connection, one-to-one connection of a part of the plurality of ink drop generators, one-to-one connection of another part of the plurality of ink drop generators, and one-to-one connection of a part of the plurality of ink drop generators.

In a possible implementation, each drop generator corresponds to a unique physical address. And the conversion circuit is also used for converting the address in the address signal into a physical address.

In a possible implementation, the plurality of drop generators 302 can be disposed on a first substrate, and the conversion circuit 303 is disposed on a second substrate electrically connected to the first substrate. Thus, for the recovered ink box or the ink box which is reprocessed, the substrate where the ink drop generator is located is not changed, the conversion circuit is arranged on the other substrate, the conversion circuit is attached to the ink box and is electrically connected with the substrate of the ink drop generator, and the ink box with low resolution can be used on the printer with high resolution only by adding the conversion circuit, so that the printing head resource is saved, and the regeneration or reprocessing efficiency is improved.

In a possible implementation, the switching circuit may be located on the substrate on which the drop generators are located for ink cartridges that do not require rework.

Several possible implementations of the switching circuit for selecting target drop generators are described below.

In one possible implementation, the target drop generator can be selected by an address family that contains at least two different address signals. For example, the address set includes at least a first address signal and a second address signal, and the target drop generator can be selected by at least the first address signal and the second address signal. The target ink drop generator may be any one of the plurality of ink drop generators 302, and the target ink drop generator is not particularly limited in this embodiment.

In a possible implementation, the order of the physical positions of the drop generators is identical to the order of the addresses, so that the addresses of two physically adjacent drop generators are also adjacent. Therefore, the two addresses that can be selected by the target ink drop generator are two adjacent addresses, which can better meet the printing quality requirement or simplify the control logic. Thus, it can be understood that a first address in the first address signal is adjacent to a second address in the second address signal.

In another possible implementation, the conversion circuit is specifically configured to select a target ink drop generator when receiving an address signal in an address family; and when other address signals different from a certain address signal in the address family are received again, the target ink drop generator is not selected; wherein deselecting indicates not causing the target drop generator to eject ink.

Therefore, after the target ink drop generator is selected by a certain address signal of the address family, if the target ink drop generator receives other address signals which are different from the certain address signal in the address family again, the ink is not ejected, and the ink can be saved and the printing quality can be improved.

In another possible implementation manner, the conversion circuit is specifically configured to not select the target ink droplet generator when another address signal different from the certain address signal in the address family is received again within a first preset time period in which the certain address signal is received; and after the first preset time period is over, selecting the target ink drop generator if other address signals different from a certain address signal in the address family are received again.

It can be understood that after receiving a certain address signal of a selected target ink droplet generator, the ink is not selected by all the corresponding addresses within a period of time and is continuously jetted, when other address signals different from the certain address signal in the address family are received again, the target ink droplet generator is not selected, so that the ink can be saved and the printing quality can be improved, and after a period of time, if other address signals different from the certain address signal in the address family are received again, the target ink droplet generator is selected to realize continuous printing.

The specific value of the first preset time period may be set according to the requirement of the user, for example, the first preset time period may be 1 second. The first preset time period may be controlled by a timer, a capacitor, a clock circuit, or the like, and it is understood that the first preset time period may also be controlled by other manners, which is not limited in this embodiment of the application.

In a possible understanding, after the first drop generator is selected by the first address signal, the first drop generator is not selected even if the conversion circuit receives the second address signal within the first preset time period. After the first preset time period is over, if the second address signal is received, the first ink drop generator can be selected again. Therefore, when the printer continuously sends the first address signal and the second address signal to select the first ink drop generator in the first preset time period, after a certain address signal is selected, other address signals cannot be selected, the first ink drop generator cannot continuously jet ink, and the ink can be saved and the printing quality can be improved.

Illustratively, if the switching circuit receives a first address signal to control a first drop generator at time 9, 16 minutes, 25 seconds, the control circuit selects the first drop generator and controls the first drop generator to eject ink. If the first preset time period is 1 second, within the range from 9 hours 16 minutes 25 seconds to 9 hours 16 minutes 26 seconds, if the conversion circuit receives the second address signal for controlling the first ink drop generator again, the conversion circuit does not convert the second address signal, the control circuit does not enable the second address signal to select the first ink drop generator, and the control circuit can be understood as shielding or not forwarding the second address signal, so that the first ink drop generator does not perform ink jet operation within the range from 9 hours 16 minutes 25 seconds to 9 hours 16 minutes 26 seconds.

After the first preset time period ends, for example, 16 minutes 26 seconds after 9 hours, if the conversion circuit receives the second address signal for controlling the first ink drop generator, the control circuit selects the first ink drop generator and controls the first ink drop generator to eject ink.

In another possible implementation manner, the conversion circuit is specifically configured to receive an address signal to select a target ink droplet generator, and then receive an address signal to select another ink droplet generator different from the certain ink droplet generator, and then the conversion circuit can select the target ink droplet generator when receiving another address signal different from the certain address signal in the address family again.

After a target ink droplet generator is selected by receiving a certain address signal, address signals of other ink droplet generators different from the certain ink droplet generator are received, so that the printer executes other printing operations, and then if the target ink droplet generator is selected again, the printer needs to print in a new round, so that the target ink droplet generator can be selected by other address signals different from the certain address signal in the address family again, and continuous printing is realized.

Illustratively, the switching circuitry is specifically configured to select the first drop generator upon receipt of the first address signal; and, during a first predetermined period of time from the receipt of the first address signal, if address signals of other drop generators different from the first drop generator are received, the first drop generator may be selected again by the second address signal during the first predetermined period of time.

In a possible implementation, each address signal has a corresponding address line, and if the address lines of different drop generators are part of a common bus, for example, the address lines corresponding to the first address signal and the second address signal are connected to the physical address of the first drop generator, the address lines corresponding to the third address signal and the fourth address signal are connected to the physical address of the second drop generator, and so on.

When the conversion circuit receives the first address signal or the second address signal and receives other address signals except the first address signal or the second address signal, it can be judged that other ink drop generators are selected after the first ink drop generator is selected, and when the conversion circuit receives the first address signal or the second address signal again, the first ink drop generator can be selected again.

When the address lines corresponding to different ink drop generators are the common bus, each ink drop generator can receive the address signal sent by the printer, and after the conversion circuit receives the first address signal or the second address signal, the ink drop generator can be selected, so that the action of ejecting ink drops is completed. If the conversion circuit receives the address signals corresponding to other ink drop generators except the first ink drop generator, the first ink drop generator is not selected. When the first address signal or the second address signal is received again by the conversion circuit, the first ink drop generator may be selected again.

Illustratively, each ink drop generator is provided with a capacitor and a switch, the switch is closed after each time the ink drop generator is selected, the capacitor is charged, and after the ink jetting action is finished, the capacitor is discharged and the switch is opened. When the first ink drop generator is selected for the first time, the corresponding switch is closed, the capacitor is charged, and after the first ink drop generator finishes ink jet action, the capacitor is in a low level state after discharging, and the switch is opened. When other ink drop generators are selected, the corresponding address lines of all the ink drop generators are in a common bus, so that the capacitance of the first ink drop generator can be charged synchronously, but the capacitance is in a high level state due to the fact that a switch is not closed, after the first ink drop generator receives the second address signal, the capacitance corresponding to the first ink drop generator is detected to be in the high level state, and the fact that other ink drop generators are selected before is indicated, and then the first ink drop generator can be selected.

If the capacitor is not detected to be in a high state, the fact that no ink drop generator is selected before is indicated, and therefore even if the switching circuit receives the second address signal, the first ink drop generator cannot be selected.

The high level and the low level are only referred to as a general term, and the high level may be understood as being higher than a certain value, and those skilled in the art may understand that the high level and the low level are only one determination condition for determining whether other ink drop generators are selected, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited to a specific value.

With reference to fig. 2 and 3, the print head provided in the embodiment of the present application may further include, in addition to the interface circuit, the plurality of droplet generators, and the conversion circuit described above: a memory. The memory is used for recording various use parameters or authentication information of the ink jet print head.

As shown in fig. 4, the printer includes an inkjet printhead 401 and a power supply device 402, where the power supply device 402 is used to supply power to the printer, and the inkjet printhead 401 may correspond to the records in fig. 2 and fig. 3, which are not described in detail in this embodiment,

the reader should understand that in the description of this specification, reference to the description of the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "an example," "a specific example," or "some examples," etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. In this specification, the schematic representations of the terms used above are not necessarily intended to refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Furthermore, various embodiments or examples and features of different embodiments or examples described in this specification can be combined and combined by one skilled in the art without contradiction.

It is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described apparatuses and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not described herein again.

In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described apparatus embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, a division of a unit is merely a logical division, and an actual implementation may have another division, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not executed.

Units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be realized in a form of hardware, and can also be realized in a form of a software functional unit.

The integrated unit, if implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present disclosure may be substantially or partially contributed by the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution may be embodied in a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to execute all or part of the steps of the method of the embodiments of the present disclosure. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: a U-disk, a removable hard disk, a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and other various media capable of storing program codes.

It should also be understood that, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes do not mean the execution sequence, and the execution sequence of each process should be determined by its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the present disclosure shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An inkjet printhead, comprising: an interface circuit and a plurality of drop generators;

wherein some or all of the drop generators are selectable by at least two different address signals;

a drop generator of the plurality of drop generators is capable of being selected by an address family, the address family containing at least two different address signals;

2. The inkjet printhead of claim 1, wherein said certain drop generator is specifically configured to be deselected when said other address signal is received again within a first predetermined time period from selection by said certain address signal; and after the first preset time period is ended, selecting one ink droplet generator again when the certain ink droplet generator receives the other address signals again.

3. The inkjet printhead of claim 1, wherein said one drop generator is configured to be selected by said address signal, and if an address signal for selecting another drop generator different from said one drop generator is received, said one drop generator is selected again by said address signal.

4. The inkjet printhead of claim 1, wherein said one drop generator is configured to be selected by said address signal, and if another drop generator different from said one drop generator is selected, said one drop generator is selected again by said address signal.

5. The inkjet printhead of claim 1, further comprising a switching circuit;

the conversion circuit is used for receiving the address signal and the control signal from the interface circuit and selecting a target ink drop generator from the plurality of ink drop generators according to the address signal; and sending the control signal to the target ink drop generator, the target ink drop generator ejecting ink under the control of the control signal;

the target drop generator is capable of being selected by an address family, the address family containing at least two different address signals;

6. The inkjet printhead of claim 5, wherein the switching circuit is configured to deselect the target drop generator when the other address signal is received again within a first predetermined time period from the receipt of the certain address signal; and after the first preset time period is ended, selecting the target ink droplet generator if the other address signals are received again.

7. The inkjet printhead of claim 5, wherein said switching circuitry is configured to select said target drop generator upon receipt of said address signal to select said target drop generator and upon receipt of an address signal to select another drop generator different from said one drop generator, said switching circuitry is configured to select said target drop generator upon receipt of said address signal again.

8. The inkjet printhead of any of claims 5-7, wherein said plurality of drop generators are disposed on a first substrate, and said conversion circuitry is disposed on a second substrate, said second substrate being electrically connected to said first substrate.

9. An inkjet printhead according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the address signals selecting the same said drop generator are adjacent address signals.

10. An inkjet printhead according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the number of address signals that each of said drop generators can be selected to be the same.