JP2005199665A - Recording apparatus, recording head, and recording head substrate - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording apparatus which can suppress the occurrence of a noise causing a malfunction, even if the number of recording elements is increased along with an improvement in image quality or image data and control data necessary for the high-speed driving of a recording head are generated, the recording head, and a recording head substrate. <P>SOLUTION: In this recording apparatus which performs recording by using the recording head, at least one signal line in a transmission line for transmitting a signal to the recording head serves as differential transmission line, so that a differential signal detection level can become lower than the logic level signal amplitude of the signal of at least one signal line. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, a recording head, and a recording head substrate, and more particularly to a recording apparatus, a recording head, and a recording head substrate that perform recording by, for example, an inkjet method.

  For example, as information output devices in word processors, personal computers, facsimiles, and the like, recording devices that record information such as desired characters and images on a sheet-like recording medium such as paper or film are widely used. These recording devices are used as printers in modern business offices and other office processing departments and personal use, and while high density and high speed recording are strongly desired, further cost reduction or higher definition Development and improvement have been attempted to achieve the above.

  Among the above-described recording apparatuses, an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from an ejection port disposed on a recording element as low-noise non-impact recording has high density and high speed recording due to its structural characteristics. It is possible and is widely used as a low-cost color printer. An ink jet recording apparatus uses a recording head including a recording element (nozzle) having an ejection port and an electrothermal conversion element that generates ejection energy for ejecting ink from the ejection port, and according to desired recording information. Recording is performed by discharging ink.

  As a configuration of the recording head, a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged in a single row or a plurality of rows is conventionally known. In such a recording head, several or dozens of driving integrated circuits that can be driven simultaneously with N recording elements as one block are mounted on the same substrate, and image data is aligned corresponding to each recording element. By driving the recording element, arbitrary recording can be performed on a recording medium such as recording paper.

  With recent high definition and high image quality, the performance of the recording head has been greatly improved. On the other hand, the number of printing elements simultaneously increases for the purpose of increasing the number of printing elements with higher definition and higher image quality or increasing the printing speed. The performance of the recording element has also improved, and it is possible to eject several picoliters of ink with a pulse width of about 1 microsecond. This is achieved by a functional element (such as a MOS-FET driver) that switches a large current at high speed.

  In addition to this, the same improvement has been achieved in image data transfer for selectively supplying a recording current to a recording element. The transfer frequency of image data has already exceeded 10 megahertz, and in order to achieve higher-speed data transfer, it has been devised that image data can be shifted not only at the rising edge but also at the falling edge of the image data transfer clock. . Nevertheless, if the transfer of image data is not completed within the ink ejection period from the printing element, the transfer of the image data lines is made parallel and parallel processing at the same clock frequency is performed.

  There is also a need to transfer not only image data but also various data and control information at high speed. For example, there are various types of printheads according to the performance of the printer body, and some printheads have information for identifying the type. Further, in the case of an ink jet recording head, there is a wide variety of information about the recording head required by the printer main body, such as the amount of ink used by an ink cartridge that becomes a consumable item.

  In the recording head, as the number of recording elements driven simultaneously increases, the energy required for driving increases. Therefore, a recording element driving method that matches the capacity of the power supply circuit, which is one of the performances of the printer main body, is required. Furthermore, in the case of a recording element that performs recording using heat, when one recording element is continuously driven, heat is accumulated, which may change the recording density or destroy the recording element itself. There is sex. In particular, when there is a factor such as manufacturing variation, the energy applied to the recording element is not appropriate, and the durability of the recording head is reduced.

  The recording element is also affected by the recording element adjacent thereto. For example, in an ink jet recording apparatus, when adjacent recording elements are driven simultaneously, the pressure generated when ink is ejected causes each nozzle to receive interference due to mutual pressure. This pressure interference (crosstalk) may cause a change in recording density. For this reason, it is desirable to perform control so as to provide a pause time to avoid heat radiation to some extent or crosstalk after driving the recording element.

  In addition, there is an increasing demand for drive control in accordance with the amount of recording agent used in the cartridge containing the recording agent, particularly the amount of ink cartridge used in the ink jet recording head. This requirement is diverse, such as differences depending on ink color information and manufacturing date, differences due to ink viscosity, and differences depending on usage.

  In order to deal with the above problems and requirements, the recording head has means for detecting the temperature of the recording head, means for arbitrarily changing the driving method with an external input signal, and means for detecting the recording head difference due to manufacturing variations. However, it has been proposed to take out and control the information as necessary (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Also, a circuit configuration in which the recording element group is divided into a plurality of blocks composed of a predetermined number of recording elements and time-division driving is performed for each block has been put into practical use. As described above, the present situation is that the periphery of the recording head unit has been complicated by adopting various control methods as the recording apparatus becomes more sophisticated.

  In the recording apparatus using the recording head as described above, the number of recording elements provided in the recording head tends to increase in order to increase the recording speed and the recording density. For this reason, the number of blocks in the above-described time-division driving increases, and the number of control signal lines increases even when a decoder circuit or the like is used. For example, when a clock signal having a logic level of 5 volts or 3.3 volts is transferred at several tens of megahertz, the influence of the radiated noise on the peripheral device and the influence on the control signal line of the recording apparatus increase.

  Furthermore, the recording apparatus must perform high-speed switching of a large current passing through the recording element. Switching noise (inductive electromotive force) due to the functional element is generated beyond the logic level from the power supply terminal, and affects nearby logic signal series wiring. This state has become apparent in the form of abnormal recording due to malfunction of the logic circuit in image data, clock signals, control data lines, and the like, and has become a problem in the configuration of the recording apparatus. As a configuration to take countermeasures against such noise, there is a method of separating the ground terminal of the logic circuit and the ground terminal of the power line as much as possible and short-circuiting at the power supply terminal of the recording device. Coupled with the downsizing of the equipment, the influence of jumping noise has increased. The carriage on which the recording head is mounted is moved at high speed by a carriage motor in the recording apparatus, and the noise level that jumps in is changed with the movement of the flexible cable wiring board connecting the carriage and the recording apparatus main body. The higher the image quality and functions, the more complicated the configuration of the recording head and the surrounding control device, and the control unit of the recording device main body becomes complicated, such as countermeasures against malfunction due to noise. A large load is generated on the control unit of the recording apparatus main body on which the recording head is mounted.

  For example, it is necessary to manage / execute a control sequence such as changing the drive pattern according to the operation mode of the print head. If there are large manufacturing variations or lot differences in the print head, the difference in the print state Since data may be reflected in the image remarkably, these data must be managed and calibrated, and further, data communication between the recording device and the recording head is always carried out, such as head type discrimination and monitoring of the driving status. However, such a noise jumping into the control data line is a fatal malfunction factor for the recording apparatus.

  In order to deal with the above problem, in particular, with respect to the noise as described above, as described in Patent Document 2, an image data signal, a clock signal, a latch signal, a reset signal, etc. are directly recorded in abnormal recording. An example in which a differential input circuit is applied to a control signal line resulting therefrom has been disclosed.

According to this example, even if noise is generated by switching when the recording element is driven, the noise is canceled out due to the same phase in the transmission line, so that the influence on the drive circuit of the recording head can be reduced.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-241992 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-166583

  However, in the above conventional example, the number of recording elements increases with the improvement in image quality, the large-capacity image data and control data necessary for high-speed driving of the recording head, and the above-mentioned data for sequentially monitoring the type identification and driving status of the recording head. It is necessary to communicate at high speed.

  In particular, if a signal is passed through a transmission line at a signal level equivalent to the logic level in the logic circuit control in the printing apparatus main body and carriage or printing head as described in Patent Document 2, it depends on the inductance and impedance of the transmission line. It is inevitable that the data rate is lowered due to the waveform deterioration. This causes a problem that radiation noise that causes malfunction of not only the recording apparatus but also its peripheral devices occurs, such as the influence of EMI due to high-frequency transfer increases.

  Therefore, it is required to solve such a problem for future recording apparatuses.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art. Even if large-capacity image data or control data necessary for high-speed driving of a recording head occurs, the malfunction occurs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus, a recording head, and a recording head substrate that can suppress the generation of noise that causes the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.

  That is, a recording apparatus that performs recording using a recording head, wherein at least one signal line in a transmission line that transmits a signal to the recording head is a differential transmission line, and the logic of the signal of the at least one signal line The differential signal detection level is made smaller than the level signal amplitude.

  Now, the present invention can be carried out in various modes, and more specifically, each of these modes preferably has the following configuration.

  That is, the transmitter further includes a transmitter for transmitting a signal transmitted by the differential transmission line, and a receiver for receiving a signal transmitted by the differential transmission line, and the transmitter is provided on the main body side of the recording apparatus, The received signal may be amplified to the logic level signal amplitude by the receiver.

  And, as a place where the receiver is provided, (1) it may be provided in the carriage on which the recording head is mounted, (2) it may be provided in the recording head, or (3) the recording head. May be provided in a recording head substrate provided with a drive circuit for driving a plurality of recording elements included in the recording head.

  Note that at least one signal line transmitted through the differential transmission line preferably includes a recording signal, a clock signal for transmitting the recording signal, and a latch signal for latching the recording signal.

  Further, in order to realize high-speed and large-capacity data transmission from the recording apparatus main body to the recording head, packet transmission is performed between the recording head and the recording apparatus using a differential transmission line according to a predetermined transfer protocol. Good.

  For the transmission of the packet, a data control unit for assembling the recording data used for image recording with the recording head and the drive control data of the recording head as a packet is provided on the main body side of the recording apparatus, and the packet It is further desirable to provide a data control unit on the print head side that receives the print data and decomposes it into print data and drive control data.

  Furthermore, another aspect of the present invention provides a recording head for achieving the above object.

  The recording head includes a receiver that receives a signal transmitted by a differential transmission line and amplifies the received signal to a logic level signal amplitude.

  Still further, according to another aspect of the present invention, a recording head substrate for achieving the above object is provided.

  The recording head substrate includes a receiver that receives a signal transmitted through a differential transmission line and amplifies the received signal to a logic level signal amplitude.

  The recording head is preferably an ink jet recording head, and in that case, the ink jet recording head uses heat energy to discharge ink, so that electrothermal conversion is performed to generate heat energy applied to the ink. It is preferable to have a body.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to cancel the noise jumping into the transmission line, prevent the data transmitted to the recording head from being abnormal, and improve the resistance to noise.

  In addition, low-voltage differential transmission achieves faster transfer speeds than before, and it can cope with further increases in the number of recording elements in the future recording head and higher density, enabling high-speed and large-capacity data transfer. Become. There is also an advantage that radiation noise is reduced despite high-speed data transfer.

  Further, when the receiver is disposed on the carriage or the recording head, it is possible to prevent noise on the flexible cable connecting the carriage and the recording apparatus main body.

  Furthermore, when the receiver is arranged on the recording head substrate, it is possible to temporarily hold a large amount of data transmitted at a high speed and to expand the data in the recording head substrate. In any case, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a highly reliable recording apparatus that is not easily affected by radiation noise or external noise.

  Furthermore, if packet transmission is performed between the recording head and the recording apparatus main body according to a predetermined transfer protocol, transmission of all transfer control data can be realized by one transmission line.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described more specifically and in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the embodiments described below, a recording apparatus using a recording head according to an ink jet method will be described as an example.

  In this specification, “recording” (sometimes referred to as “printing”) is not only for forming significant information such as characters and figures, but also for human beings visually perceived regardless of significance. Regardless of whether or not it has been manifested, it also represents a case where an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like is widely formed on a recording medium or the medium is processed.

  “Recording medium” refers not only to paper used in general recording apparatuses but also widely to cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, and the like that can accept ink. Shall.

  Furthermore, “ink” (sometimes referred to as “liquid”) is to be interpreted broadly in the same way as the definition of “recording (printing)” above. It represents a liquid that can be used for forming a pattern or the like, processing a recording medium, or processing an ink (for example, solidification or insolubilization of a colorant in ink applied to the recording medium).

  Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the “nozzle” collectively refers to an ejection port or a liquid channel communicating with the ejection port and an element that generates energy used for ink ejection.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an ink jet recording apparatus which is a typical embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, a lead screw 5005 rotates via driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with forward and reverse rotation of a carriage motor 5013. The carriage HC has a pin (not shown) that engages with the spiral groove 5005 of the lead screw 5004 and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b as the lead screw 5004 rotates. An ink jet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. The ink jet cartridge IJC includes a recording head IJH and an ink tank IT that stores recording ink.

  The recording IJH includes a recording head for monochrome recording and a color recording, and any of the recording heads can be appropriately selected according to the use by the user and mounted on the carriage HC. When using a recording head for monochrome recording, an ink tank IT containing monochrome ink (black ink) is mounted, and when using a recording head for color recording, as shown in FIG. Equipped with four ink tanks IT, each containing four types of ink, yellow, magenta, cyan and black.

  The ink jet cartridge IJC may have a configuration in which the ink tank and the recording head are integrated, or may have a configuration in which the ink tank and the recording head can be separated.

  Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate that presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage. The platen 5000 is rotated by a conveyance motor (not shown) to convey the recording paper P. Reference numeral 5016 denotes a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the recording head. Reference numeral 5015 denotes suction means for sucking the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head via the opening 5023 in the cap.

  Next, a control configuration for executing the recording control of the above-described apparatus will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit of the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, 1700 is an interface for inputting a recording signal, 1701 is an MPU, 1702 is a ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU 1701, and 1703 is various data (such as the recording signal and recording data supplied to the recording head). This is a DRAM to be stored. Reference numeral 1704 denotes a gate array (GA) that controls supply of print data to the print head IJH, and also controls data transfer among the interface 1700, MPU 1701, and RAM 1703. The above is the configuration of the control circuit 101 on the recording apparatus side.

  Reference numeral 1709 denotes a transport motor (not shown in FIG. 1) for transporting the recording paper P. Reference numeral 1706 denotes a motor driver for driving the carry motor 1709, and 1707 denotes a motor driver for driving the carriage motor 5013.

  The operation of the control configuration will be described. When a recording signal enters the interface 1700, the recording signal is converted into recording data for printing between the gate array 1704 and the MPU 1701. Then, the motor drivers 1706 and 1707 are driven, and the recording head IJH is driven via the carriage-side control unit 102 in accordance with the recording data sent to the carriage HC, and image recording on the recording paper P is performed.

  In order to drive the recording element provided in the recording head IJH under the optimum driving condition, the characteristic information held in the memory 131 of the recording head substrate 103 in the recording head IJH is referred to, and the driving of each recording element is performed. Conditions are determined. The recording head substrate 103 includes a plurality of recording elements, a driving element (for example, a power transistor) for driving the recording element, and a shift register, a latch circuit, an AND circuit, and a decoder for selectively driving the driving element. A logic circuit composed of such as is implemented. The recording element may be an electrothermal conversion element that generates thermal energy for ejecting ink or a piezo element.

  3 to 4 are block diagrams showing configurations of two embodiments of the control circuit 101 on the recording apparatus side and the transmission line of the recording head IJH mounted on the carriage HC, respectively.

  The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the configuration shown in FIG. 2, and shows a mode in which a control signal from the control circuit 101 is supplied to the recording head IJH via the carriage-side control unit 102. FIG. In this embodiment, the control signal from the circuit 101 is directly supplied to the recording head IJH.

  Next, several embodiments of the control communication system between the control circuit 101 of the printing apparatus and the print head IJH will be described.

<First embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a control communication system according to the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 5, a portion indicated by a dotted line is a flexible cable (FPC) for connecting the recording apparatus main body and the carriage. In the flexible cable (FPC), there are a power line for supplying a recording current, an image data line (DATA) for transferring recording image data, a data transfer clock line (CLK), and sent image data in the recording head IJH. There are a latch signal line (LATCH) to be temporarily held, a control sequence wiring for performing pulse width control when the recording element is energized, and the like.

  Reference numeral 100 denotes a power supply unit that supplies power to the recording head IJH, 101a an image data control unit that generates image data, a transfer clock, a latch signal, and the like, and 101b a recording head drive control such as a heat enable signal and a block selection signal. A drive control unit for generating such a signal, 104 is a transmitter on the recording apparatus main body side, and 105 is a receiver 105 in the carriage side control unit.

  Since the transfer frequency of image data is more than a dozen megahertz, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, there is a difference between this series of image data signal lines (DATA) and data transfer clock lines (CLK). A dynamic transmission line was applied. In addition, the differential transmission method is applied to the latch signal line (LATCH). The reason is that abnormal recording occurs when the same kind of noise is mixed in the latch signal line.

  In this differential transmission method, in the transmitter 104 on the recording apparatus main body side, the current output is limited to about 3 mA, and the signal amplitude of the logic level is set to about 2.5V. When the signal current is transmitted to one side of the pair of transmission lines, the same amount of signal current flows in the opposite direction in the other line in the differential transmission line. Thus, since the current returns in the transmission line pair, the loop area due to the current is small, and the generated radiation noise is also small. A portion corresponding to the receiver 105 on the other side of the differential transmission line is provided in a circuit mounted on the carriage-side control unit 102.

  The receiver 105 detects a differential signal of several tens of mV and amplifies it to the logic level of the printhead control circuit. In this embodiment, noise of about 1V can be removed. Further, in this differential transmission method, since the signal voltage change is only about several hundred mV, other advantages can be expected as high-speed data throughput, power consumption reduction, noise reduction, low cost, and high integration.

  According to the configuration of this embodiment, noise in the flexible cable (FPC) and radiation noise of the clock signal are reduced. The wiring after the receiver output terminal of the carriage control unit 102 is the same as the conventional wiring.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible not only to increase the data transfer frequency and reduce noise-related factors, but also to achieve a low cost of the device due to high integration. Furthermore, the feature that there is little noise in the differential transmission line has another advantage that it is strong against external noise interference. This means that it is resistant to interference from the induction radiation noise of the electric motor, the jumping noise from the adjacent transmission line, etc., so that it is resistant to fluctuations in the power source.

<Second embodiment>
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of a control communication system according to the second embodiment.

  Also in FIG. 6, the portion indicated by the dotted line is a flexible cable (FPC) for connecting the recording apparatus main body and the carriage. As shown in FIG. 4, the configuration of this embodiment corresponds to a mode in which a control signal from the control circuit 101 is directly supplied to the recording head IJH.

  That is, as can be seen from comparison with FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the differential transmission line receiver 105 mounted on the carriage-side control unit 102 in the first embodiment is directly arranged on the recording head IJH. Yes.

  This configuration is suitable for a relatively long recording head having an area in which the receiver 105 can be mounted on the recording head IJH. Since the recording head IJH to the recording head substrate 103 are often connected via wire bonding, inner leads, or the like, the receiver 105 is arranged near the end of the same line. The connection between the flexible cable FPC and the recording head IJH is configured as a general-purpose connector or a card edge connector.

  As a modification, a configuration in which the differential transmission line receiver 105 is formed on the recording head substrate 103 may be employed.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a modification of the second embodiment.

  This configuration is a configuration in which a receiver 105 of a differential transmission line is built on a recording head substrate 103 together with a drive circuit while adopting a control communication system configuration similar to that shown in FIG.

  A recent print head board can be built on the same board, including printing elements and drivers, such as a shift register circuit for image data, its latch circuit, a decoder circuit for drive control, and an AND circuit for logic output. It is often rare. Therefore, there is no need to have a recording element driver on the main body of the recording apparatus, which contributes to the cost reduction of the recording apparatus, and even if the number of recording elements increases, the number of connection terminals to the recording elements is adjusted to the number of recording elements. This is advantageous because it does not need to be increased.

<Third embodiment>
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of a control communication system according to the third embodiment.

  In this embodiment, in order to enable high-speed and large-capacity data transmission from the recording apparatus to the recording head, it is not limited to the conventional circuit configuration, for example, for driving control by applying a packet-configuration communication protocol. This method is effective when it is assumed to use a method of generating a waveform from data without inputting a pulse width signal or the like.

  In order to realize this, a communication protocol is defined between the recording apparatus and the recording head, and the recording image data and the drive control signal generation data share the same transmission line. An image data control unit 101a for developing data and sending it to the recording head IJH side and a drive control unit 101b for sending data for generating drive signals based on various information (described later) are arranged.

  Arbitration is performed by sending the information of both the control units to the data control unit 101c that transfers to the recording head IJH side by a prescribed communication protocol, and the control signal to the recording head IJH is transmitted from the transmitter 104 ′ of the differential transmission line. Transferred at high speed. That is, the data control unit 101c assembles a packet having a format defined according to the communication protocol using the received recorded image data and drive control signal generation data, and sends the packet to the differential transmission line.

  On the other hand, the differential transmission line receiver 105 ′ mounted on the carriage-side control unit 102 performs arbitration by the same mounted data control unit 104 to discriminate image data from the print head IJH from the drive control signal. To do. That is, the data control unit 104 disassembles a packet having a format defined in accordance with a communication protocol, and reconstructs recorded image data and drive control signal generation data. As a result, in the recording head IJH, all driving processes for recording are achieved.

  Note that the data control unit 104 described above may be mounted on the recording head IJH or the recording head substrate 103 without being mounted on the carriage-side control unit 102.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a modification of the third embodiment.

  In this configuration, while adopting a control communication system similar to that shown in FIG. 8, a differential transmission line receiver 105 'and a data control unit 104 are built together with a drive circuit on the recording head substrate 103 or the recording head IJH. It has a configuration.

  It is expected that the recording head including the data control unit will be further enhanced in the future. When the data control unit is built in the recording head substrate 103, the recording apparatus main body and the recording head are high-function devices on a dedicated transmission line. In such a configuration, data communication between the recording head and the recording apparatus is realized by a minimum line, and transmission lines other than the power supply and the differential transmission line are not necessary. This achieves further cost reduction of the device.

  According to some embodiments described above, the differential transmission line lower than the logic level in the logic circuit in the recording apparatus main body, the recording head, and the carriage is provided at least one of the control signal lines for controlling the recording head. By arranging it between the control circuit of the main body of the recording apparatus and the recording head, noise generated by high-speed switching can be reduced when recording is performed by supplying a relatively large high current to the recording element with a short pulse width. I can do things. As a result, it is possible to improve the recording image abnormality caused by noise and realize high-quality image recording. In addition, since the influence of the radiation noise of the clock signal due to high-speed data transfer can be canceled within the transmission line, there is also an advantage that the reliability of the device can be maintained in an extremely high state.

  Further, according to the third embodiment, the image data control unit for developing the image data and sending it to the print head IJH side and the drive control unit for sending the data for generating the drive signal to the control circuit of the printing apparatus main body, A data control unit that arbitrates information from these and transfers the data to the recording head side in accordance with a prescribed communication protocol is provided. The image data and the drive control signal can be discriminated by receiving and transferring data transferred from the recording apparatus main body through the mediation. By adopting such a configuration, data transmission between the recording apparatus and the recording head is not serial transfer as in the past, and packet transfer is also possible. Therefore, high-speed and large-capacity data can be transferred, resulting in higher image quality. It is possible to cope with an increase in the number of recording elements of the recording head and to improve the recording speed.

  In addition, by realizing high-speed and large-capacity data transfer, the information held by the printhead can be efficiently extracted at high speed and reflected in the drive control of the printhead, making it possible to use a highly functional printhead. There is also an advantage that

  In the embodiment described above, high-speed and large-capacity data transfer using a differential transmission line is not affected by the electrical and mechanical configurations, software sequences, and the like of the recording apparatus main body, the carriage-side control unit, and the recording head. Needless to say.

  In the above embodiments, the liquid droplets ejected from the recording head have been described as ink, and the liquid stored in the ink tank has been described as ink. However, the storage is limited to ink. It is not a thing. For example, a treatment liquid discharged to the recording medium may be accommodated in the ink tank in order to improve the fixability and water resistance of the recorded image or to improve the image quality.

  Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the ink jet type recording apparatus has been described as an example. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a recording apparatus adopting another type, for example, a thermal type recording apparatus.

  However, the embodiment described above includes means (for example, an electrothermal converter, a laser beam, etc.) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection, particularly in the ink jet recording system, and the thermal energy By using a system that causes a change in the state of the ink, it is possible to achieve higher recording density and higher definition.

  Further, although the above embodiment is a serial type recording apparatus that performs recording by scanning the recording head, it is a full line type recording apparatus using a recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the recording medium. May be. As a full-line type recording head, either a configuration satisfying the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification, or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally. But you can.

  In addition to the cartridge type recording head in which the ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself described in the above embodiment, it can be electrically connected to the apparatus body by being mounted on the apparatus body. A replaceable chip type recording head that can supply ink from the apparatus main body may be used.

  In addition, it is preferable to add recovery means, preliminary means, and the like for the recording head to the configuration of the recording apparatus described above because the recording operation can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include a capping unit for the recording head, a cleaning unit, a pressurizing or sucking unit, an electrothermal converter, a heating element different from this, or a preheating unit using a combination thereof. In addition, it is effective to provide a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection different from recording in order to perform stable recording.

  Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but the recording head may be integrated or may be a combination of a plurality of colors. An apparatus having at least one of full colors can also be provided.

  In the embodiments described above, the description is made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid. However, even if the ink is solidified at room temperature or lower, it may be softened or liquefied at room temperature, or In the ink jet method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that it is in the stable discharge range. Any ink may be used as long as it is liquid.

  In addition, as a form of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a transmission / reception function are provided as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer or the like. It may take the form of a facsimile machine.

1 is a schematic view of an ink jet recording apparatus that is a typical embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control circuit of the recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control circuit 101 on a recording apparatus side and a transmission line of a recording head IJH mounted on a carriage HC. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control circuit 101 on a recording apparatus side and a transmission line of a recording head IJH mounted on a carriage HC. It is the schematic block diagram which showed the control communication system according to 1st Example. It is the schematic block diagram which showed the control communication system according to 2nd Example. It is a block diagram which shows the modification of 2nd Example. It is the schematic block diagram which showed the control communication system according to 3rd Example. It is a block diagram which shows the modification of 3rd Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Power supply 101 Control circuit 101a Image data control part 101b Drive control part 101c Data control part 102 Carriage side control part 103 Recording head board | substrate 104 Transmitter 105 Receiver 131 Memory 1700 Interface 1701 MPU
1702 ROM
1703 DRAM
1704 Gate array (GA)
1709 Conveyance motor 1706 Motor driver 1707 Motor driver 5013 Carriage motor HC Carriage IJC Inkjet cartridge IJH Recording head IT Ink tank

Claims (10)

A recording apparatus that performs recording using a recording head,
At least one signal line in the transmission line for transmitting a signal to the recording head is a differential transmission line,
A recording apparatus, wherein a differential signal detection level is made smaller than a logic level signal amplitude of a signal of the at least one signal line. A transmitter for transmitting a signal transmitted by the differential transmission line;
A receiver for receiving a signal transmitted by the differential transmission line;
The transmitter is provided on the main body side of the recording device,
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiver amplifies the received signal to the logic level signal amplitude. A carriage on which the recording head is mounted;
The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the receiver is provided in the carriage.   The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the receiver is provided in the recording head. The recording head includes a recording head substrate including a driving circuit for driving a plurality of recording elements,
The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the receiver is provided in the recording head substrate.   6. The at least one signal line includes a recording signal, a clock signal for transmitting the recording signal, and a latch signal for latching the recording signal. Recording device.   7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein packet transmission is performed using the differential transmission line according to a predetermined transfer protocol between the recording head and the recording apparatus. For transmission of the packet, a data control unit that assembles recording data used for performing image recording using the recording head and drive control data of the recording head as a packet is provided on the main body side of the recording apparatus,
The recording apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a data control unit that receives the packet and decomposes the packet into the recording data and the drive control data on the recording head side.   A recording head comprising a receiver for receiving a signal transmitted by a differential transmission line and amplifying the received signal to a logic level signal amplitude. A recording head substrate having a receiver for receiving a signal transmitted by a differential transmission line and amplifying the received signal to a logic level signal amplitude.

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