JP3517612B2 - Ink jet recording head and recording device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording head which ejects ink according to an inkjet recording method to record on a recording medium, and in particular, the arrangement of circuit blocks on a semiconductor substrate of a recording head having a plurality of electrothermal converting elements. The present invention relates to an inkjet recording head and a recording device having the features described in 1.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording head mounted on a conventional ink jet recording apparatus has a circuit configuration as shown in FIG. An electrothermal conversion element (heater) of such a recording head and its drive circuit are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-18.
As shown in 5594, they are formed on the same substrate 400 by using a semiconductor process technology. In FIG. 4, 401 is an electrothermal conversion element (heater) for generating thermal energy, 402 is a power transistor unit for supplying a desired current to the heater 401, and 404 is each heater 4
01 is a shift register for temporarily storing image data as to whether or not ink is ejected from the nozzles of the recording head, 405 is a transfer clock (CLK) input terminal provided in the shift register 404, and 406 is a heater. 401
Image data input terminal for serially inputting image data for turning ON / OFF, 403 is a latch circuit for recording and holding image data for each heater in each block, 407 is a latch timing signal (LT) to the latch circuit 403. Signal input terminal, 408 is a block selection circuit (3 input, 8 output decoder) for selecting a block, 409, 410 and 411 are block selection circuit input logic signals, 409 is the most significant bit, 411
Is the least significant bit, 419 is the block selection output signal 416
And a latch output signal 417, and a circuit for outputting a logical product, 413 is a switch for deciding the timing of flowing a current to the heater 401, 415 is a heat signal input terminal (HEAT) for inputting the timing of controlling the switch 413,
414 is a power supply line for applying a predetermined voltage to the heater to supply a current, 412 is a GND line into which the current flowing through the heater 401 and the power transistor 402 flows,
420 is 401, 402, 412, 414, 413, 4
The heater peripheral circuit unit 430 including 19 is the above-mentioned circuit 403 necessary for controlling the ejection of one type of ink,
It is a unit including all 404, 408, and 420.

FIG. 7 shows an example of input / output waveforms of the block selection circuit 408 shown in FIG. Reference numerals 409, 410, 411 are block selection input signals, and 700 to 707 are block selection output signals. Reference numeral 710 is a virtual timing signal for explaining the timing, and the block selection output signal 700 is Hi.
The period during which the block selection output signal 701 is Hi is set to 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, and the same timing is input when the timing signal 710 is 1 to 7. 405 is a shift register transfer clock (CLK) signal, 406 is an image data input signal, and a transfer clock input terminal 405 is a transfer clock (CLK) having the number of bits of one block of the image data stored in the shift register 404. To be done. It is assumed that the 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 the image data input terminal 4
It is input from 06.

The image data stored in the shift register 404 will be collectively referred to as one image block. Here, the case where the number of heaters for one image block is eight has been described as an example, but the number of heaters 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 given to the latch signal input terminal 407 to hold the image data corresponding to each heater in the latch circuit 403.

Returning to FIG. 4, the operation will be described. One of the eight outputs 417 of the latch circuit 403 and one of the eight outputs 416 of the decoder 408 are input to the logical product circuit 419, and the two inputs of the logical product circuit are Also during the period of Hi, Hi is input to the switch 413, and the heat signal (HE
The switch 413 is turned on while the AT) 415 is high. Switch 4 with heat signal (HEAT) 415 added
If switch 13 is turned on for an appropriate time, switch 413 will be turned on.
A current flows through the power transistor 402 and the heater 401 through the power supply line 414 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 for ejecting ink, and the ink corresponding to the image data is ejected from the nozzle of the recording head.

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

Reference numeral 502 denotes an ink supply hole formed by anisotropic etching or sandblasting for supplying ink from the back surface of the semiconductor substrate, which is arranged near the center of the chip. The ink supplied from the ink supply holes is individually supplied to each heater 401 of the substrate 400 by a flow path (not shown), and each heater is driven so that an ejection port arranged at a position facing each heater. Ink is ejected from (not shown).

Reference numeral 430 is a unit including a circuit necessary for ejecting one type of ink supplied from one ink supply port, and 420 in the figure is arranged on both sides of the ink supply hole 502. The total of both sides is 64 in this example.
Individual heaters are arranged. The block selection circuit (decoder) 408, the latch circuit 403, and the shift register 404 are arranged on different sides across the transistor portion 420. In the configuration in which they are arranged on the same side with respect to the transistor portion 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 that the decoder output lines intersect. Also,
Input terminals 405, 406, 407, 409, 410, 4
Since it is necessary to arrange 11 on the same side area of the substrate,
It cannot be arranged unless the substrate size is large. 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 surface. The flow of ink will be described with reference to FIG.

There is an orifice plate 300 on the surface of the semiconductor substrate 400, and a space for flowing ink on the above-mentioned heater in the orifice plate, that is, the ink flow path 3
01 is formed. There is an ink tank (not shown) on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate 400.
Ink is supplied to the ink flow path via 02, and the ink is guided to the heater 401 by the ink flow path 301. An electric current is applied to the heater to heat the ink on the heater, and ink droplets are ejected in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the substrate from ejection ports 302 provided at positions facing the heater by bubbles formed by boiling of the ink. The ink droplets 303 are attached to a recording sheet (not shown) placed in parallel with the plane of the substrate, for example, paper, and printing is performed.

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

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

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

5A, 5B, 5C, the relative positions of the heaters for ejecting the two color inks can be determined by the photolithography precision of the semiconductor process, so that the two units of FIG. 4 are mounted side by side. The positioning accuracy is better than. Further, when chips are cut from a wafer, chipping is not a little generated, and therefore it is necessary to make an area near the cut surface an invalid area in which elements are not arranged.
A, B, and C have the advantage that the area is smaller than that in the case of arranging the units of FIG. 4 independently and doubling them.

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

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C show additional function units 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 60 other than the heater selection circuit for selecting a heater in FIGS. 5A, B, C.
6 is an example of a circuit layout in which 6 is added. Circuit unit 601
Reference numerals 602 and 603 denote circuit units in which one functional unit is divided into three parts and arranged because of the arrangement free area.
Similarly, 604, 605 and 606 are circuit units in which one functional unit is divided into three and arranged. As an example of the functional unit, variations in the manufacturing process of the heater,
For example, there is a circuit for correcting variations in the resistance value of the heater due to variations in the film quality, film thickness, photolithography, and etching of the heater material.

The heater resistance value variation correction circuit shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C supplies a current to the heater in accordance with the heater value detecting circuit 801, the detection result memory 802, and the value read from the memory. Correction circuit 803 for changing the time to make the energy applied to the ink constant
Composed of. 801 is made of the same conductive film as the heater, and when the resistance value of the heater varies,
The resistance value of fluctuates. Detection terminal 81 connected to 801
A current is passed through 1 and the voltage at 811 is read externally. The result of calculating the variation of the heater resistance value from the voltage of 811 is written in the memory 802 through the data terminal 812 and the write permission terminal 813. Reference numeral 802 is a non-volatile memory that retains stored contents even when the power is turned off. Memory outputs 820, 821, 822, 82 by multiplexer 803
Based on the contents of No. 3, any one of 815, 816, 817, and 818 is selected, 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 with a small heater resistance value has a large amount of current flowing through the heater, so that the electric power generated by the heater per unit time is larger than that of other heaters, and a heat signal with a short pulse width is used to correct the heat generation amount of the heater. Select
Conversely, for a heater having a large heater resistance value, a heat signal having a long pulse width is selected, and control is performed so that the heating value of the heater is constant in any manufacturing lot.

[0019]

However, in the above example, when a signal processing circuit such as the above-mentioned additional function unit other than the heater selection circuit for selecting one of the electrothermal conversion elements is arranged, , The allocable areas are dispersed, the signal processing circuit units need to be divided into several parts, and the wiring for connecting the divided units needs to be extended to transmit signals. As a result, there is the first problem that the area for passing the wiring is increased, the substrate size is increased, and the cost is increased, as compared with the case where one unit is arranged without being divided.

Further, in the ink jet printer, it is necessary to flow a large current into the heater 401 in order to realize reliable ink ejection, and the current flows into the GND 412,
Since a large GND line noise is generated, a circuit configuration resistant to noise is required. When the signal processing circuit unit is divided into several parts and arranged, due to the restriction of the area for arranging the units, it is necessary to route critical signal lines, such as analog signals and high-speed digital signals, which are vulnerable to disturbance over the unit. If the switching noise is induced from the power supply line 414, the GND 412, or the like to the signal line weak against disturbance, there is a second problem that it may cause a malfunction.

Further, when the signal processing circuit unit includes an analog circuit, the signal processing circuit unit is divided into a plurality of parts to obtain a difference in temperature between elements in the unit and a variation in manufacturing element characteristics. Becomes larger,
There is a third problem that an offset that cannot be ignored due to the characteristics occurs due to the difference in the operating points of the elements that require relative accuracy, and the characteristics of the signal processing circuit unit deteriorate.

[0022]

The first object of the present invention is to:
To realize a low-cost recording head by reducing a chip substrate size by eliminating an invalid area by dividing and arranging a signal processing circuit unit such as an additional function unit. The second purpose is to minimize the routing of signal lines that are sensitive to disturbance and 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 manufacturing element characteristics, and to realize a recording head with 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 the following configurations.

That is, it is an ink jet recording head for recording by ejecting ink, in which 4 is formed in a rectangular surface.
The substrate for the recording head having two corners is arranged in the vicinity of the ink supply holes and a plurality of ink supply holes for passing the ejected ink, and heats the ink supplied from the ink supply holes. A plurality of heaters for ejecting ink, and the heaters based on the recording data.
And a plurality of first signal processing circuits for selectively driving selectively, and a second signal processing circuit other than the first signal processing circuit, wherein the first signal processing circuit is the corner.
And the second signal processing circuit is arranged in
One corner portion where the first signal processing circuit is arranged
And another code in which the first signal processing circuit is arranged.
It is characterized in that it is arranged between the corner portion .

Further, the recording apparatus has the above-mentioned 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 in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Schematic Description of Apparatus Main Body> FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing the outline of the configuration of an inkjet printer IJRA which is a typical embodiment to which the inkjet 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 spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via 5011 has a pin (not shown), is supported by the guide rail 5003, and reciprocates in the directions of arrows a and b. In the carriage HC,
An integrated ink jet cartridge IJC having a recording head IJH and an ink tank IT is mounted.

Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate, which is a carriage H.
The recording paper P is pressed against the platen 5000 in 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 for switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. 5016 is a cap member 5022 for capping the front surface of the recording head IJH.
5015 is a suction device for sucking the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through the in-cap opening 5023.

5017 is a cleaning blade,
Reference numeral 19 denotes a member that allows this blade to move in the front-rear direction, and these are supported by the main body support plate 5018.
Needless to say, a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this example instead of this form. Also, 50
Reference numeral 21 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves in accordance with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage, and the driving force from the driving motor is movement-controlled by a known transmission mechanism such as clutch switching. .

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

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

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

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

Several embodiments of the recording head mounted on the ink jet printer IJRA having the above structure will be described below.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1A shows the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 50 is a diagram showing an overall layout of a control circuit configuration on a substrate which constitutes an inkjet recording head for explaining the embodiment of the present invention, and 501 and 502 are ink supply holes which are substrate through holes for supplying ink, respectively. Is shown. FIG. 1B is a diagram showing in detail the A portion of FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1C is a diagram showing in detail the B portion of FIG. 1A (hereinafter “FIG. 1A, B,
C "). 1A, 1B and 1C show a case where a control system for ejecting inks of two colors is integrally formed and arranged on the same semiconductor substrate 400 as a one-chip substrate in a semiconductor manufacturing process, and 101 and 102 select arbitrary heaters. There are two types of signal processing circuit units (second signal processing circuits) other than the heater selection circuit for performing the operation. In both of them, one functional unit is realized by one arrangement unit. An efficient circuit configuration can be achieved by combining the divided arrangement units or the units provided for each circuit corresponding to each ink supply hole into one unit.

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

In the circuit arrangement on the substrate of the ink jet recording head shown in the first embodiment, even if the circuit arrangement has a plurality of ink supply holes in the substrate and the circuit arrangement is difficult, the invalid area of the circuit arrangement is formed. 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 realize a recording head that does not malfunction by minimizing the routing of signal lines that are susceptible to disturbance.

Further, by arranging the elements constituting the signal processing circuit as one in the second signal processing circuit unit, the distance between the elements can be shortened, 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 the same 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. In addition, it goes without saying that if the inks supplied from the ink supply holes 501 and 502 have the same color, then it is also beyond the scope of the present invention that 430 and 431 control the inks of the same color separately.

Further, in order to select an arbitrary heater, the signal processing circuits 101 and 102 other than the heater selection circuit unit are selected.
In addition to the circuit for correcting the manufacturing variation of the heater described above, a temperature sensor is formed on the semiconductor substrate to change characteristics depending on the temperature of the chip, such as ink viscosity, ON resistance of the power transistor 402, and heater. The resistance of 401, etc. is predicted, and the pulse width of the HEAT signal 415 and the power supply 41
A circuit that changes the voltage of 4 to correct the discharge liquid amount, or a temperature sensor is also built in, and overheat operation (thermal runaway)
Sometimes a circuit that forcibly stops or a circuit that detects the type of ink or the characteristics of the ink, for example, an element for identification is added to the ink tank, is connected to the recording head, and the head or printer body is connected to the ink tank. It may be a circuit that drives the heater in accordance with the ink type or the ink characteristics by reading the element information of.

A circuit for detecting the remaining amount of ink, for example, ink usually contains water as a solvent and is an electric conductor, so two electrodes are provided on a semiconductor substrate, and the two electrodes are provided in the ink. A circuit that detects the resistance value between the two electrodes and detects the remaining amount of ink (presence or absence of ink) by immersing, or stores the number of ejections and notifies the replacement of the recording head when a certain number of times is reached. Although there are many possible circuits such as a circuit for generating the signal, the signal processing circuits 101 and 10 other than the heater selection circuit unit are used to selectively drive the heater.
The effect of the present invention by the function of 2 does not change.

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

2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D, the same semiconductor substrate 40 has a driving circuit capable of ejecting ink of three colors.
An embodiment will be described in the case of being integrally arranged on the 0. 43
0, 431, and 432 are the ink supply holes 50, respectively.
It is a selection circuit unit including a circuit necessary for ejecting one type of ink supplied from 1, 502 and 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 a region sandwiched by the heater selection circuit units. The heater selection circuit units for controlling the ejection of the color inks located on both ends of the semiconductor substrate are provided at the corners of the semiconductor substrate for the purpose of securing a large area for arranging the signal processing circuits other than this heater selection circuit unit. Deploy. It is desirable to arrange the heater selection circuit unit located at the center in the center of the chip as much as possible. However, the heater selection circuit unit is arranged so as to be offset from the center according to the size of the signal processing circuits 201, 202, 203, 204 other than the heater selection circuit unit. You may.

By implementing such an arrangement, even when the three colors are integrally arranged on one chip (substrate), the ineffective area is reduced and the chip size can be reduced, and a low-cost recording head can be realized. it can. In addition, it is possible to realize a recording head that does not malfunction by minimizing the routing of signal lines that are susceptible to disturbance. Also, by making the distances between elements within the same signal processing circuit block short, it is possible to reduce temperature differences and process variations, and the operating points of the elements match within the block, so that a recording head with good characteristics can be realized.

Further, even when four or more colors are integrally arranged on one chip, heater selection circuit units for controlling the ejection of ink of the colors located at both ends of the semiconductor substrate are arranged at the corners of the semiconductor substrate. The same effect can be obtained.

FIG. 11 is an external perspective view showing the structure of the 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
When C is mounted on the carriage HC, C is provided with an electrode (not shown) for receiving an electric signal supplied from the carriage HC side, and the electric head 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. Further, the ink tank IT is provided with a fibrous or porous ink absorber for holding the ink, and the ink is held by the ink absorber.

In the above embodiments, the droplets ejected from the recording head have been described as ink, and the liquid contained in the ink tank has been described as ink. It is not limited. For example, an ink tank may contain a treatment liquid such as a treatment liquid ejected onto a recording medium in order to improve the fixability and water resistance of a recorded image or to improve the image quality.

In the above-described embodiment, particularly in the ink jet recording system, a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating heat energy as energy used for ejecting ink is provided, and High density and high definition recording can be achieved by using a method of causing a change in ink state by energy.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which the liquid crystal is held, which corresponds to the recorded information and gives a rapid temperature rise exceeding the film boiling. Since the electrothermal converter is caused to generate heat energy to cause film boiling on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, as a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to the drive signal in a one-to-one relationship can be formed. It is valid. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal in a pulse shape, because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved.

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

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

Further, it is preferable to add a recovery means for the recording head, a preliminary means, etc. to the structure of the recording apparatus described above because the recording operation can be made more stable. Specific examples thereof include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or sucking means, electrothermal converters or heating elements other than these, or preheating means by a combination thereof. Further, provision of a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection different from recording is also effective for 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 integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. Alternatively, the device may be provided with at least one of full-color mixed colors.

In the above-described embodiments, the explanation is made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid, but even if the ink is solidified at room temperature or lower, it should be softened or liquefied at room temperature. Or, in the inkjet method, it is general that the temperature of the ink itself is adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range.
It suffices 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 from being used as the energy for the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state,
Alternatively, in order to prevent the ink from evaporating, an ink that solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, by applying heat energy, such as ink that is liquefied by applying heat energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied 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, as the form of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the one provided integrally or separately as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and further transmission / reception It may take the form of a facsimile machine having a function.

[0059]

Other Embodiments Even when 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 including one device (for example, a copying machine). Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By arranging the circuit for arbitrarily selecting the heater in the corner portion of the semiconductor substrate, it is not necessary to separately arrange the signal processing circuit block other than the circuit for selecting the arbitrary heater, and the ineffective area is reduced. The size can be reduced and a low-cost recording head can be realized. In addition, it is possible to realize a recording head that does not malfunction by minimizing the routing of signal lines that are susceptible to disturbance. Also, by making the distances between elements within the same signal processing circuit block short, it is possible to reduce temperature differences and process variations, and the operating points of the elements match within the block, so that a recording head with good characteristics can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing an overall circuit configuration according to a first embodiment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a one-color one-chip configuration with a block arrangement of a conventional example.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example of an arrangement of two color / one chip when two blocks are arranged as one chip as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5B is a block diagram showing in detail part A in FIG. 5A, which shows the general arrangement of the blocks of the background art, which is not known.

FIG. 5C is a block diagram showing in detail part B in FIG. 5A showing the general arrangement of the blocks of the background art, which is not known.

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

FIG. 6B is a block diagram showing in detail part A in FIG. 6A showing the overall arrangement of blocks showing a second example of the background art that is not known.

FIG. 6C is a block diagram showing in detail part B in FIG. 6A showing the overall arrangement of blocks showing the second example of the background art that is not known.

FIG. 7 is a timing diagram of input / output signals of a decoder unit.

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

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

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

FIG. 11 is an external perspective view showing the configuration of an ink cartridge IJC in which an ink tank and a head can be separated.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 signal processing circuit other than selecting arbitrary heater (non-divided) 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 AND circuit 420 Heater peripheral circuit block 430 Block 501 including circuits necessary for ejecting one kind of ink Ink supply hole 601 Select any heater Signal processing circuits other than for (division)

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink jet recording head for ejecting ink to perform recording, comprising four coats in a rectangular surface.
A substrate for the recording head having a nozzle portion is arranged in the vicinity of the plurality of ink supply holes for passing the ejected ink and heats the ink supplied from the ink supply holes. a plurality of heaters and a plurality of first signal processing circuit for selectively selecting driven based the heater to the recording data, a second signal other than the first signal processing circuit to discharge ink by A processing circuit, wherein the first signal processing circuit is disposed at the corner portion.
And the second signal processing circuit includes the first signal processing circuit.
The first corner where the circuit is arranged and the first signal
The signal processing circuit and other corners.
An inkjet recording head characterized by being placed . 2. The second signal processing circuit has a control circuit configuration arranged in a region sandwiched by the first signal processing circuits or an adjacent region.
The inkjet recording head according to 1. 3. The inkjet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the first signal processing circuit includes a shift register circuit and a latch circuit. 4. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the 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 has a circuit configuration in which a connection terminal is arranged outside the circuit. 6. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein no signal processing circuit is arranged outside the first signal processing circuit. 7. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the second signal processing circuit is a circuit for detecting manufacturing variations. 8. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the second signal processing circuit is a circuit for detecting the temperature of the recording head or the recording device. 9. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the second signal processing circuit is a circuit for predicting or detecting ink type or ink characteristics. 10. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the second signal processing circuit is a circuit for predicting or detecting the remaining amount of ink. 11. The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the second signal processing circuit is a circuit for predicting or detecting replacement time of the recording head. 12. A recording apparatus, comprising: the inkjet recording head according to claim 1; and a carriage on which the recording head is mounted.