JP2000127400A - Ink jet recording head and recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a highly reliable head having small substrate size at low cost by providing a signal drive circuit for driving an ink ejection heater arbitrarily and selectively at a corner part of a substrate and a signal processing circuit independent therefrom thereby eliminating ineffective area. SOLUTION: Ink supply holes 501, 502 are made through a semiconductor substrate 400 mounting ink ejection heaters and units 430, 431 each having a circuit required for ejecting one kind of ink are disposed on the opposite sides of the supply holes 501, 502 along with a heater peripheral circuit block 420. The units 430, 431 are arranged at a corner part of the substrate 400 such that any other signal processing circuit than a heater selection circuit unit is not present between the end part of the substrate 400 and the units 430, 431. Heater selection circuits 101, 102 are two kinds of signal processing unit other than the units 430, 431 for selecting an arbitrary heater and one functional unit is implemented by one arranging unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording head for recording on a recording medium by discharging ink in accordance with an ink jet recording method, and more particularly, to an arrangement of circuit blocks on a semiconductor substrate of a recording head having a plurality of electrothermal transducers. The present invention relates to an ink jet recording head and a recording apparatus having the following characteristics.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording head mounted on a recording apparatus according to a conventional ink jet system has a circuit configuration as shown in FIG. The electrothermal transducer (heater) of such a recording head and its driving circuit are described in, for example,
As shown in 5594, they are formed on the same substrate 400 by using a semiconductor process technique. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes an electrothermal transducer (heater) for generating thermal energy; 402, a power transistor unit for supplying a desired current to the heater 401;
01, a shift register for temporarily storing image data indicating whether or not to eject ink from the nozzles of the print head, 405, a transfer clock (CLK) input terminal provided in the shift register 404, and 406, a heater 401
An image data input terminal for serially inputting image data for turning ON / OFF the image data; 403, a latch circuit for recording and holding image data for each heater for each block; 407, a latch timing signal (LT) for the latch circuit 403; , 408 is a block selection circuit (decoder having three inputs and eight outputs) for selecting a block, 409, 410, and 411 are input logic signals of the block selection circuit, and 409 is the most significant bit, 411
Is the least significant bit, and 419 is the block selection output signal 416
And a latch output signal 417, and outputs a logical product. A switch 413 determines the timing at which a current flows through the heater 401. A heat signal input terminal (HEAT) 415 inputs a timing for controlling the switch 413.
414, a power supply line for applying a predetermined voltage to the heater to supply a current, 412, a GND line into which a current flowing through the heater 401 and the power transistor 402 flows,
420 is 401, 402, 412, 414, 413, 4
19, the heater peripheral circuit unit 430 includes the above-described circuit 403 necessary for controlling the ejection of one type of ink.
This is a unit including all of 404, 408, and 420.

FIG. 7 shows an example of input / output waveforms of the block selection circuit 408 shown in FIG. 409, 410, and 411 are block selection input signals, and 700 to 707 are block selection output signals. 710 is a virtual timing signal for explaining the timing, and the block selection output signal 700 is Hi
Is 0, the period during which the block selection output signal 701 is Hi is 1, and the values up to 7 are sequentially taken.

The operation of the shift register circuit 404 and the latch circuit 403 shown in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 shows an example of the timing when the timing signal 710 is 0. When the timing signal 710 is 1 to 7, the same timing is input. A transfer clock (CLK) signal 405 of the shift register, an image data input signal 406, and a transfer clock (CLK) of the number of bits of one block of the image data stored in the shift register 404 are input to the transfer clock input terminal 405. Is done. It is assumed that data transfer to the shift register 404 is performed in synchronization with the rising timing of the transfer clock (CLK). Image data (DATA) for turning on / off each heater 401 is supplied to an image data input terminal 4.
06.

Here, the image data stored in the shift register 404 is collectively called one image block. Here, the case where the number of heaters for one image block is eight has been described as an example, but actually the number is not limited to eight and may be any number. After inputting as many pulses of the transfer clock (CLK) as the number of heaters 401 for one image block and transferring the image data (DATA) to the shift register 404,
A latch signal (LT) is supplied to a latch signal input terminal 407 to hold image data corresponding to each heater in the latch circuit 403.

Returning to FIG. 4, the operation will be described. Any one of the eight outputs 417 of the latch circuit 403 and any one of the eight outputs 416 of the decoder 408 are input to the logical product circuit 419, and which of the two inputs of the logical product circuit is Also, during the Hi period, Hi is input to the switch 413, and the heat signal (HE
AT) 415 is Hi, the switch 413 is turned on. Switch 4 by adding heat signal (HEAT) 415
When the switch 13 is turned on for an appropriate time, the switch 413 is turned on.
A current flows through the power line 414 to the power transistor 402 and the heater 401 according to the length of the state, and the current flows into the GND line 412 again. At this time, the heater 401 generates heat necessary to discharge the ink, and the ink corresponding to the image data is discharged from the nozzles of the recording head.

Here, the number of heaters that can be controlled independently by the latch circuit and the decoder is a multiplication of the number of heaters 416 and 417. In this example, the maximum number of heaters is 8 × 8 = 64.

Reference numeral 502 denotes an ink supply hole formed by anisotropic etching or sand blast for supplying ink from the back surface of the semiconductor substrate, and is arranged near the center of the chip. The ink supplied from the ink supply hole is individually supplied onto each heater 401 of the substrate 400 by a flow path (not shown), and the respective heaters are driven so that the ejection ports are arranged at positions facing the respective heaters. (Not shown), ink is ejected.

Reference numeral 430 denotes a unit including a circuit necessary for discharging one type of ink supplied from one ink supply port. Reference numeral 420 in the drawing denotes a unit disposed on both sides of the ink supply hole 502. And the sum of both sides is 64 in this case
Individual heaters are arranged. The block selection circuit (decoder) 408, the latch circuit 403, and the shift register 404 are arranged on different sides with the transistor section 420 interposed therebetween. In the configuration in which the transistors are arranged on the same side with respect to the transistor section 420, a large area is required to arrange a unit having a large number of elements of the latch circuit 403, the shift register 404, and the decoder 408; It is difficult in terms of area and reliability, such as crossing of decoder output lines. Also,
Input terminals 405, 406, 407, 409, 410, 4
11 need to be arranged on the same side of the substrate,
If the substrate size is not large, it cannot be arranged. For these reasons, the arrangement is usually as shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording head using the substrate as described with reference to FIG. 4, and is a diagram schematically showing a main part thereof cut along an ABCD plane. The flow of ink will be described with reference to FIG.

An orifice plate 300 is provided on the surface of the semiconductor substrate 400, and a space for flowing ink on the heater, that is, an ink flow path 3 in the orifice plate.
01 is formed. An ink tank (not shown) is provided on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate 400.
Ink is supplied to the ink flow path through the ink passage 02, and the ink is guided to the upper side of the heater 401 by the ink flow path 301. An electric current is applied to the heater to give heat to the ink on the heater, and ink droplets are ejected in a vertical direction with respect to the substrate plane from the ejection port 302 provided at a position facing the heater by bubbles formed by boiling the ink. The ink droplets 303 adhere to a recording medium (not shown), for example, paper placed parallel to the substrate plane, and printing is performed.

FIG. 5A shows an unknown background art considered in implementing the present invention, and shows an overall arrangement of each unit. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a portion A of FIG. 5A in detail, and FIG. 5C is a diagram showing a portion B of FIG. 5A in detail (hereinafter referred to as “FIGS. 5A, B, and C”).

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C show examples of arrangement in which two chips of FIG. 4 are simply arranged to form one chip.

Reference numeral 501 denotes an ink supply hole for guiding ink different from the ink supplied from the ink supply hole 502 from the back surface, and 431 is necessary to control the discharge of one type of ink, similarly to 430. This unit includes all circuits, and can control ejection or non-ejection of ink different from 430 independently of 430.

In the configuration according to FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, the relative positions of the heaters for discharging the two colors of ink can be determined by the photolithography accuracy of the semiconductor process. Positioning accuracy is better than In addition, when chips are cut from the wafer, chipping (chipping) occurs to a considerable extent, so that the area near the cut surface needs to be an invalid area where no elements are arranged.
A, B, and C have the advantage that the area is smaller than the case where the units of FIG. 4 are independently arranged and doubled.

FIG. 6A shows another background art which is not known in the present invention, and shows the overall arrangement of each unit. FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the portion A of FIG. 6A in detail, and FIG. 6C is a diagram showing the portion B of FIG. 6A in detail (hereinafter referred to as “FIGS. 6A, B, and C”).

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C show additional function units 601, 602, 603, 604, 605 and 60 other than the heater selection circuit for selecting a heater in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C.
6 is an example of a circuit arrangement to which No. 6 is added. Circuit unit 601
, 602 and 603 are circuit units in which one functional unit is divided into three and arranged in relation to the arrangement free space.
Similarly, 604, 605 and 606 are circuit units in which one functional unit is divided into three and arranged. One example of a functional unit is variation in the manufacturing process of a heater,
For example, there is a circuit for correcting variations in the resistance value of the heater due to variations in the film quality and thickness of the heater material, photolithography, and etching.

The heater resistance value variation correction circuit shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C has a circuit 801 for detecting a heater value, a memory 802 for storing the detected result, and a current flowing to the heater in accordance with a value read from the memory. Correction circuit 803 for changing the time to keep the energy given to the ink constant
It consists of. 801 is made of the same conductive film as the heater, and when the resistance value of the heater varies, the
Also varies in resistance. Detection terminal 81 connected to 801
A current is passed through 1 and the voltage of 811 is read externally. The result of calculating the variation of the heater resistance value from the voltage at 811 is written to the memory 802 via the data terminal 812 and the write enable terminal 813. Reference numeral 802 denotes a nonvolatile memory that retains stored contents even when the power is turned off. The memory outputs 820, 821, 822, and 82 are output from the multiplexer 803.
3 is selected based on the contents of 815, 816, 817, and 818, and the selected heat signal (HE
AT) 830 or 831 controls the switch 413. 815, 816, 817 and 818 have different pulse lengths. For example, a heater signal having a small heater resistance has a large amount of current flowing through the heater, so that the power generated by the heater per unit time is larger than that of other heaters, and a heat signal having a short pulse width to correct the amount of heat generated by the heater. And select
Conversely, when the heater resistance is large, a heat signal having a long pulse width is selected, and control is performed so that the amount of heat generated by the heater is constant in any manufacturing lot.

[0019]

However, in the above example, when a signal processing circuit such as the additional function unit described above other than the heater selection circuit for selecting one of the electrothermal transducers is to be arranged. The allocable area exists in a distributed manner, and it is necessary to divide the signal processing circuit unit into several parts, to arrange the signal processing circuit units, to extend the wiring for communicating between the divided units, and to transmit the signal. As a result, there is a first problem that a region for passing wiring is increased, a substrate size is increased, and a cost is increased as compared with a case where a single unit is arranged without being divided.

In the ink jet printer, it is necessary to supply a large current to the heater 401 in order to realize reliable ink ejection, and the current flows to the GND 412,
Since large GND line noise is generated, a circuit configuration that is strong against noise is required. When the signal processing circuit unit is divided into a plurality of units, it is necessary to route critical signal lines that are vulnerable to disturbances, such as analog signals and high-speed digital signals, over the units due to restrictions on an area for arranging the units. There is a second problem that when switching noise is guided from the power supply line 414, GND 412, or the like to a signal line that is vulnerable to disturbance, it causes a malfunction.

When an analog circuit is included in the signal processing circuit unit, the signal processing circuit unit is divided into a plurality of parts so that a difference in temperature between elements in the unit and a variation in element characteristics in manufacturing may occur. Becomes larger,
There is a third problem in that a non-negligible offset occurs due to differences in the operating points of the elements requiring relative accuracy, which degrades the characteristics of the signal processing circuit unit.

[0022]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first object of the present invention is to provide:
An object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a chip substrate by eliminating a signal processing circuit unit such as an additional function unit by disposing the signal processing unit, thereby realizing a low-cost recording head. A second object is to minimize the routing of signal lines that are vulnerable to external disturbances and to realize a recording head that does not malfunction. A third object is to reduce the temperature difference in the same signal processing circuit unit and the variation in element characteristics in manufacturing, and to realize a recording head having good characteristics.

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording head and a recording apparatus according to the present invention are mainly characterized by having the following configuration.

That is, an ink jet recording head for performing recording by discharging ink, wherein a substrate for the recording head is provided with a plurality of ink supply holes for passing the discharged ink, and a vicinity of the ink supply hole. And a plurality of heaters for discharging ink by heating ink supplied from the ink supply holes, and a plurality of heaters disposed at at least one corner of the substrate for arbitrarily selectively driving the heater. 1 signal processing circuit, and a second signal processing circuit other than the signal processing circuit for selectively driving the heater.

The recording apparatus has the above-described ink jet recording head and a carriage on which the recording head is mounted.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Outline Description of Apparatus Main Body> FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing the outline of the configuration of an ink jet printer IJRA which is a typical embodiment to which the ink jet recording head of the present invention is applied. In FIG. 9, the drive motor 5
Driving force transmission gear 5009-
The carriage HC that engages with the helical groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 rotating via 5011 has a pin (not shown), and is supported by the guide rail 5003 to reciprocate in the directions of arrows a and b. In the carriage HC,
An integrated ink-jet cartridge IJC containing a print head IJH and an ink tank IT is mounted.

Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper holding plate, which is a carriage H
The recording paper P is pressed against the platen 5000 over the moving direction of C. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which are home position detectors for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this region and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 denotes a cap member 5022 for capping the front surface of the recording head IJH.
Reference numeral 5015 denotes a suction device that suctions the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through the opening 5023 in the cap.

Reference numeral 5017 denotes a cleaning blade.
Reference numeral 19 denotes a member which enables the blade to move in the front-rear direction.
It goes without saying that the blade is not limited to this form and a known cleaning blade can be applied to this example. Also, 50
Reference numeral 21 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves with the movement of the cam 5020 engaging with the carriage, and the driving force from the drive motor is controlled by a known transmission mechanism such as clutch switching. .

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that desired processing can be performed at the corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side. If a desired operation is performed at the timing, any of the embodiments can be applied.

<Description of Control Structure> Next, a control structure for executing the recording control of the above-described apparatus will be described.

FIG. 10 shows an ink jet printer IJRA.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of FIG. In the figure showing a control circuit, 1700 is an interface for inputting a recording signal, 1701 is an MPU, 1702 is an MPU 17
ROM for storing a control program executed by 01, 17
Numeral 03 denotes a DRAM for storing various data (such as the recording signal and recording data supplied to the head). 170
Reference numeral 4 denotes a gate array (GA) that controls supply of print data to the print head 1708, and also controls data transfer between the interface 1700, the MPU 1701, and the RAM 1703. Reference numeral 1710 denotes a carrier motor for transporting the recording head 1708, and reference numeral 1709 denotes a transport motor for transporting the recording paper. Reference numeral 1705 denotes a head driver for driving the recording head, and reference numerals 1706 and 1707 denote motor drivers for driving the transport motor 1709 and the carrier motor 1710, respectively.

The operation of the above control configuration will be described. When a recording signal enters the interface 1700, the gate array 17
04 and the MPU 1701 converts the recording signal into recording data for printing. Then, the motor driver 17
06 and 1707 are driven, and the head driver 1
The print head is driven according to the print data sent to 705, and printing is performed.

Hereinafter, several embodiments of the recording head mounted on the ink jet printer IJRA having the above configuration will be described.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1A shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an overall layout of a control circuit configuration on a substrate constituting an ink jet recording head for describing the embodiment; and 501 and 502 are ink supply holes which are substrate through holes for supplying ink, respectively. Is shown. 1B is a diagram showing the portion A of FIG. 1A in detail, and FIG. 1C is a diagram showing the portion B of FIG. 1A in detail (hereinafter, “FIG. 1A, B,
C "). FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C show a case where a control system for ejecting two colors of ink is integrally formed and arranged as a one-chip substrate in the same semiconductor substrate 400 in a semiconductor manufacturing process, and 101 and 102 select arbitrary heaters. And two types of signal processing circuit units (second signal processing circuits) other than the heater selection circuit, and each of them realizes one functional unit by one arrangement unit. An efficient circuit configuration can be achieved by combining the divided arrangement units or units provided for each circuit corresponding to each ink supply hole into one.

A block selection circuit (decoder) 408,
The heater selection circuit unit (first signal processing circuit) described with reference to FIG. 4 using the shift register 404 and the latch circuit 403 as an example is disposed at a corner of the semiconductor substrate 400, and outside the heater selection circuit unit. That is, the configuration is such that no other signal processing circuit exists between the heater selection circuit unit and the substrate end. The signal processing circuits 101 and 10 other than the heater selection circuit unit are provided in the space (near the center of the substrate) between the heater selection circuit units.
2. For example, the units of the heater resistance value variation correction circuit described with reference to FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are common to the two units and are arranged without being divided.

In the circuit arrangement on the substrate of the ink jet print head shown in the first embodiment, even if the circuit arrangement is difficult such that the substrate has a plurality of ink supply holes, the invalid area of the circuit arrangement As a result, the chip (substrate) size can be reduced, and a low-cost recording head can be realized. In addition, it is possible to minimize the routing of signal lines that are vulnerable to external disturbances, and to realize a recording head that does not malfunction.

Further, by arranging the elements constituting the signal processing circuit in the second signal processing circuit unit as described above, the distance between the elements can be reduced, and the temperature difference between the elements and the process can be reduced. Less variation,
The operating points of the elements and the relative accuracy are matched in the block, and a recording head with good characteristics can be realized.

Here, in order to optimize the relationship between the recording quality, the recording speed, and the cost, the number of heaters 430 and 431 may be different. When the inks supplied from the ink supply holes 501 and 502 are of the same color, it is needless to say that the intention of the present invention is not to deviate that the inks 430 and 431 control the inks of the same color separately.

In addition, signal processing circuits 101 and 102 other than the heater selection circuit unit for selecting an arbitrary heater.
In addition to the above-described circuit for correcting manufacturing variations of a heater, a temperature sensor is formed on a semiconductor substrate to change the temperature of a chip, such as ink viscosity, ON resistance of a power transistor 402, and a heater. The resistance of the HEAT signal 415 and the power supply 41
A circuit for correcting the amount of liquid discharged by changing the voltage of 4 or a temperature sensor is also built to overheat (thermal runaway)
A circuit for forcibly stopping the ink cartridge or a circuit for detecting the type of the ink or the characteristics of the ink, for example, an element for identification is added to the ink tank. By reading the element information described above, a circuit that drives the heater in accordance with the ink type or ink characteristics may be used.

Also, a circuit for detecting the remaining amount of ink, for example, ink usually contains water as a solvent and is a conductor, so two electrodes are provided on a semiconductor substrate, and the two electrodes are placed in the ink. A circuit for detecting the resistance value between the two electrodes by immersion, and detecting the remaining amount of ink (presence or absence of ink), or for storing the number of ejections and notifying the exchange of the recording head when a certain number of times is reached. Many circuits are possible, such as a circuit for generating a signal for the heater. However, in order to selectively drive the heater, the signal processing circuits 101 and 10
The effect of the present invention by the function 2 is not changed.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 2A is a view showing the entire circuit configuration on a substrate constituting an ink jet recording head according to the present embodiment of the present invention, in which three ink supply holes 501, 502 and 503 are formed. The substrate in the case of having is shown. 2B is a diagram showing the portion A in FIG. 2A in detail, FIG. 2C is a diagram showing the portion B in FIG. 2A in detail, and FIG. 2C is a diagram showing the portion C in FIG. 2A in detail (hereinafter “FIG. 2A, B, C, D ").

2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D, a driving circuit capable of discharging ink of three colors is provided on the same semiconductor substrate 40.
An embodiment in the case where they are integrally arranged on a zero will be described. 43
0, 431, and 432 are the ink supply holes 50, respectively.
A selection circuit unit including a circuit necessary for discharging one type of ink supplied from 1, 502, 503 by arbitrarily selecting and driving a heater.

Reference numerals 201, 202, 203, and 204 denote signal processing circuits other than the heater selection circuit unit for selecting an arbitrary heater, and are arranged in an area sandwiched by the heater selection circuit units. The heater selection circuit unit for controlling the ejection of the color ink located at both ends of the semiconductor substrate is provided at the corner of the semiconductor substrate for the purpose of securing a wide area for arranging signal processing circuits other than the heater selection circuit unit. Deploy. It is desirable that the heater selection circuit unit located at the center is arranged as close to the center of the chip as possible. However, the heater selection circuit unit is arranged so as to be deviated from the center in accordance with the size of the signal processing circuits 201, 202, 203 and 204 other than the heater selection circuit unit. You may.

By implementing such an arrangement, even when three colors are integrated on one chip (substrate), the chip size can be reduced by reducing the invalid area, and a low-cost recording head can be realized. it can. In addition, it is possible to minimize the routing of signal lines that are vulnerable to external disturbances, and to realize a recording head that does not malfunction. Further, by reducing the distance between the elements in the same signal processing circuit block, the temperature difference and the process variation can be reduced, and the operating points of the elements match in the block, so that a recording head with good characteristics can be realized.

Further, even when four or more colors are integrated on one chip, a heater selection circuit unit for controlling the discharge of ink of the colors located at both ends of the semiconductor substrate is arranged at the corner of the semiconductor substrate. Similar effects can be obtained.

FIG. 11 is an external perspective view showing the structure of an ink cartridge IJC in which the ink tank and the head can be separated. In the ink cartridge IJC, as shown in FIG. 11, the ink tank IT and the recording head IJH can be separated at the position of the boundary line K. Ink cartridge IJ
C is provided with an electrode (not shown) for receiving an electric signal supplied from the carriage HC when it is mounted on the carriage HC, and the electric signal drives the recording head IJH as described above. Then, the ink is ejected.

In FIG. 11, reference numeral 500 denotes an ink ejection port array. The ink tank IT is provided with a fibrous or porous ink absorber for holding ink, and the ink is held by the ink absorber.

In the above embodiment, the description has been made assuming that the droplets ejected from the recording head are ink, and that the liquid stored in the ink tank is ink. It is not limited. For example, an ink tank may contain a processing liquid discharged to a recording medium in order to improve the fixability and water resistance of the recorded image or to improve the image quality.

The above-described embodiment is particularly provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for causing ink to be ejected even in an ink jet recording system. By using a method in which a change in the state of the ink is caused by energy, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type.
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the film boiling to the electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the Since thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. It is valid. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

In addition to the cartridge type recording head in which the ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself described in the above embodiment, the recording head is electrically connected to the apparatus main body by being mounted on the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip-type recording head, which enables a simple connection and supply of ink from the apparatus main body, may be used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the printhead, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like to the configuration of the printing apparatus described above, since the printing operation can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof. It is also effective to provide a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection that is different from printing, in order to perform stable printing.

Further, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, and may be a printing head integrally formed or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. Alternatively, the apparatus may be provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

In the above-described embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid. However, even if the ink solidifies at room temperature or lower, the ink that softens or liquefies at room temperature is used. Or, in the ink jet method, generally, the temperature of the ink itself is controlled within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range.
It is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied.

In addition, in order to positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, the temperature is positively prevented.
Alternatively, in order to prevent evaporation of the ink, an ink which solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition to the above, the recording apparatus according to the present invention may be provided not only as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer but also integrally or separately provided, as well as a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a transmission / reception apparatus. It may take the form of a facsimile machine having functions.

[0059]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By arranging a circuit for arbitrarily selecting a heater at a corner portion of a semiconductor substrate, it is not necessary to divide signal processing circuit blocks other than a circuit for selecting an arbitrary heater and to dispose them. The size can be reduced, and a low-cost recording head can be realized. In addition, it is possible to minimize the routing of signal lines that are vulnerable to external disturbances, and to realize a recording head that does not malfunction. Further, by reducing the distance between the elements in the same signal processing circuit block, the temperature difference and the process variation can be reduced, and the operating points of the elements match in the block, so that a recording head with good characteristics can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating an entire circuit configuration according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram showing in detail a portion A of FIG. 1A in a circuit configuration according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 1C is a block diagram showing in detail a portion B of FIG. 1A in the circuit configuration according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing an entire circuit configuration according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram showing in detail a portion A of FIG. 2A in the circuit configuration according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 2C is a block diagram showing in detail a portion B of FIG. 2A in the circuit configuration according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 2D is a block diagram showing details of a portion C in FIG. 2A in the circuit configuration according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one chip for one color in the configuration of the conventional example.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a one-color one-chip configuration in a conventional block arrangement.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example of an arrangement of two colors and one chip in a case where two blocks as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5B is a block diagram showing an A part in detail in FIG. 5A showing an overall arrangement of blocks of a background art which is not known.

FIG. 5C is a block diagram showing details of a part B in FIG. 5A showing an overall arrangement of blocks of a background art which is not known.

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement of two colors and one chip in an overall arrangement of blocks showing a second example of the background art which is not known.

FIG. 6B is a block diagram showing an A section in detail in FIG. 6A showing an overall arrangement of blocks showing a second example of the background art which is not known;

FIG. 6C is a block diagram showing details of a portion B in FIG. 6A showing an overall arrangement of blocks showing a second example of the background art which is not known.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart of a decoder unit input / output signal.

FIG. 8 is a signal timing chart of a shift register unit and a latch unit input / output unit.

FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing an outline of a configuration of an ink jet printer IJRA which is a typical embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control circuit of the inkjet printer IJRA.

FIG. 11 is an external perspective view illustrating a configuration of an ink cartridge IJC in which an ink tank and a head are separable.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Signal processing circuit other than for selecting an arbitrary heater (undivided) 400 Semiconductor substrate 401 Electrothermal conversion element (heater) 402 Power transistor 403 Latch circuit 404 Shift register circuit 408 Selection circuit for selecting block (3 inputs) 8
Output decoder) 412 Ground (GND) 413 Switch 414 Heater power supply 419 Logical product circuit 420 Heater peripheral circuit block 430 Block including circuit necessary for discharging one kind of ink 501 Ink supply hole 601 Select an arbitrary heater Signal processing circuit other than for (division)

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording head for performing recording by discharging ink, wherein a substrate for the recording head includes a plurality of ink supply holes for passing the discharged ink, and a vicinity of the ink supply hole. And a plurality of heaters for discharging ink by heating ink supplied from the ink supply holes, and a plurality of heaters disposed at at least one corner of the substrate for selectively driving the heater. An ink jet recording head comprising: a first signal processing circuit; and a second signal processing circuit other than the signal processing circuit for selectively driving the heater. 2. The signal processing circuit according to claim 1, wherein the second signal processing circuit has a control circuit configuration arranged in a region sandwiched by the first signal processing circuit or in an adjacent region.
3. The ink jet recording head according to item 1. 3. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein said first signal processing circuit comprises a shift register circuit and a latch circuit. 4. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein said first signal processing circuit includes a decoder circuit in its configuration. 5. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the first signal processing circuit includes a buffer circuit. 6. The inkjet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the first signal processing circuit has a circuit configuration in which a connection terminal or a protection circuit is arranged outside the circuit. 7. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein a signal processing circuit is not arranged outside the first signal processing circuit. 8. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the second signal processing circuit is a circuit for detecting a manufacturing variation. 9. The ink jet print head according to claim 1, wherein said second signal processing circuit is a circuit for predicting or detecting the temperature of a print head or a printing apparatus. 10. An ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein said second signal processing circuit is a circuit for predicting or detecting the type of ink or the characteristics of ink. 11. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein said second signal processing circuit is a circuit for predicting or detecting the remaining amount of ink. 12. The ink jet print head according to claim 1, wherein said second signal processing circuit is a circuit for predicting or detecting a time for replacing the print head. 13. A recording apparatus comprising: the ink jet recording head according to claim 1; and a carriage on which the recording head is mounted.