JP4474126B2 - Ink jet recording head and driving method of ink jet recording head - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording head and a method for driving the ink jet recording head, and more particularly to an ink jet recording head having first and second recording elements having relatively different ink discharge amounts and a method for driving such a recording head. It is.
[0002]
In addition, the present invention uses an ink jet recording head that performs recording by generating bubbles in ink using thermal energy generated by a heating resistor, and discharging ink by the growth and contraction of the bubbles, and the recording head. Related to the substrate.
[0003]
[Prior art]
Most ink jet recording apparatuses are known as printing apparatuses in printers, copiers, etc. Among them, thermal energy is used as energy used for ink ejection, and ink jet printing is a method in which ink is ejected by bubbles generated thereby. The device has recently become popular.
[0004]
The ink jet recording head used in the ink jet printing apparatus as described above uses an electrothermal conversion element (hereinafter also referred to as a heater) as one that generates thermal energy. And in many cases, the structure provided with one heater corresponding to one discharge port (nozzle) is employ | adopted.
[0005]
On the other hand, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-183179 (Patent Document 1), an ink jet recording head having a plurality of heaters at one ejection port is used to vary the amount of ink ejected from each ejection port. Also disclosed are techniques for enabling recording in various recording modes.
[0006]
For example, in the high-speed mode, the volume of ink droplets ejected from each ejection port is increased, and the dots recorded by one ink droplet are increased to perform high-speed recording at a lower recording resolution, while high-quality recording is performed. In the mode, one ink jet recording head can perform recording at a higher recording resolution by reducing the volume of ink droplets ejected from each ejection port and reducing dots recorded by one ink droplet. This makes it possible to achieve both high speed recording and high quality recording.
[0007]
This coexistence provides a great effect that the user can obtain a desired image output by selecting an optimum recording mode.
[0008]
Further, there is an ink jet recording head that meets such a requirement as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-286108 (Patent Document 2). Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for obtaining a high gradation by providing a plurality of heaters in one nozzle and changing the recording dot size.
[0009]
FIG. 27 is an equivalent circuit of an electric circuit configured in the head substrate disclosed in Patent Document 2, which is a multi-value heater in an ink flow path forming one nozzle, and an element 201 (1) constituting the multi-value heater. ), 201 (2),..., 201 (n), in addition to the NMOS transistor 301 as a drive transistor for individually driving, a shift register 302 for driving signal processing constituted by a CMOS transistor, and a latch circuit for holding data 303 and an AND circuit 307 connected to each transistor 301.
[0010]
The AND circuit 307 performs a logical operation on a block selection signal (Block ENB) 304, a select signal (Select) 305 and their data and a drive pulse signal (Heat ENB) 306 for dividing the ink flow path forming the nozzle into blocks. The corresponding transistor 301 is driven based on the calculation result. Here, the group S is formed with S (1) to S (m) so as to correspond to the number m of ink flow paths.
[0011]
Reference numeral 203 denotes an electrode wiring, which individually supplies power to one end of the elements 201 (1), 201 (2),... 201 (n) as n multi-value heaters configured in one nozzle. The other end of each multi-value heater is connected to a common power source 309. Further, a temperature adjustment sub-heater 311, a temperature sensor 312, a heater resistance value monitoring heater 313, and the like are configured.
[0012]
In FIG. 27, VDD is a logic power supply, H-GND is a GND for heater drive power supply 309 (VH), and L-GND is a GND for logic power supply VDD. The heater driving power source 309 is connected to the end portions of all the elements 201 (1)... 201 (n) of the groups S (1) to S (m). Further, the shift register 302 includes a serial image data input signal (Idata) corresponding to each of the groups S (1), S (2),..., S (m) and a clock input signal (Clock) for driving the shift register. And the image data is output to the latch circuit 303 as a parallel signal. A reset signal (Reset) and a latch signal (LTCLK) are input to the latch circuit 303, and the image data input from the shift register 302 is temporarily stored, and then the corresponding groups S (1), S (2),. , S (m) for each AND circuit 307. The drive pulse signal (Heat ENB) 306 is input to each of the heaters 201 (1), 201 (2),..., 201 (n) of the groups S (1) to S (m).
[0013]
The select signal 305 in FIG. 27 is input from input terminals 1 to n (Select 1 to n) corresponding to groups S (1) to S (m) in common. Therefore, this select signal 305 can select the heaters to be heated in each of the groups S (1) to S (m).
[0014]
In FIG. 27, reference numeral 314 denotes a decoder, and a block selection signal 304 is input to its input terminals 1, 2, and 3. The five output terminals are connected to each of the AND circuits 307 for each of the groups S (1) to S (m). For example, when the number of groups S is 160 from S (1) to S (160), that is, when the number of nozzles is 160, the first output terminal among the five output terminals is assigned nozzle numbers 1 to 20. The AND circuits 307 of the groups S (21) to S (40) corresponding to the nozzle numbers 21 to 40 are connected to the AND circuits 307 of the corresponding groups S (1) to S (20). The third output terminal is connected to each of the AND circuits 307 of the groups S (41) to S (60) corresponding to the nozzle numbers 41 to 60, and the fourth output terminal is connected to the nozzle numbers 61 to 61. AND is connected to each of the AND circuits 307 of the groups S (61) to S (80) corresponding to 80, and the fifth output terminal is an AND of the groups S (81) to S (100) corresponding to the nozzle numbers 81 to 100. Circuit 30 The sixth output terminal is connected to each of the AND circuits 307 of the groups S (101) to S (120) corresponding to the nozzle numbers 101 to 120, and the seventh output terminal is connected to the nozzle numbers 121 to 121. The groups S (121) to S (140) corresponding to 140 are connected to the AND circuits 307 of the groups S (121) to S (140), respectively, and the eighth output terminals are groups S (141) to S (160) corresponding to the nozzle numbers 141 to 160. Are connected to each of the AND circuits 307.
[0015]
When the decoder 314 is connected as described above, according to the block selection signal 304, the nozzle group of 8 blocks connected to the same output terminal of the decoder 314 is selected as a heat nozzle for ejecting ink, and those nozzles are selected. Ink ejection timing from the 8-block nozzle group can be controlled.
[0016]
Next, a specific configuration of the ink jet recording head will be described.
[0017]
FIG. 28 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a part of a recording head having a conventional configuration.
[0018]
Reference numeral 901 denotes a p-type semiconductor substrate made of single crystal silicon. Reference numeral 912 denotes a p-type well region, 908 denotes an n-type drain region, 916 denotes an n-type electric field relaxation drain region, 907 denotes an n-type source region, and 914 denotes a gate electrode. These are MIS (Metal Insulator Semiconductor) type An MIS field effect transistor 930 which is a switching element using a field effect transistor is formed. Reference numeral 917 denotes a heat storage layer and a silicon oxide layer as an insulating layer, 918 denotes a tantalum nitride film as a thermal resistance layer, 919 denotes an aluminum alloy film as a wiring, and 920 denotes a silicon nitride film as a protective layer. A head base 940 is formed. Here, 950 is a heat generating portion, and ink is discharged from the ink discharge portion 960. The top plate 970 forms a liquid path 980 in cooperation with the base 940.
[0019]
By the way, many improvements have been made to the recording head and the switch element having the above-described structure. However, in recent years, the product has been improved in high-speed driving, energy saving, high integration, low cost, and high performance. More demanded. For this reason, a plurality of MIS type field effect transistors 930 used as switching elements as shown in FIG. 28 are formed in the semiconductor substrate 901, and these MIS type field effect transistors 930 are operated alone or in combination, The connected electrothermal conversion element is driven.
[0020]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-183179
[Patent Document 2]
JP 09-286108 A
[0021]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, under the large current required to drive the electrothermal transducer, if the conventional MIS field effect transistor 930 is functioned, the drain-well pn reverse bias junction cannot withstand a high electric field. Leak current was generated, and the breakdown voltage required for the switch element could not be satisfied. Furthermore, if the on-resistance of the MIS type field effect transistor used as a switch element is large, the current required for operating the electrothermal conversion element cannot be obtained due to wasteful consumption of current here. There was a problem.
[0022]
In order to solve the problem of breakdown voltage, a MIS field effect transistor 1020 as shown in FIG. 29 is conceivable.
[0023]
29, a semiconductor substrate 1001, an n-type source region 1007, an n-type drain region 1008, a gate electrode 1004, a silicon oxide layer 1017 as a heat storage layer and an insulating layer, a tantalum nitride film 141 as a thermal resistance layer, and a wiring The aluminum alloy film 154 as the protective layer, the silicon nitride film 1020 as the protective layer, the base 152 of the recording head, the heat generating part 1050, the ink discharge part 153, the top plate 156, and the liquid path 155 are each shown in FIG. , An n-type source region 907, an n-type drain region 908, a gate electrode 914, a silicon oxide layer 917 as a heat storage layer and an insulating layer, a tantalum nitride film 918 as a thermal resistance layer, an aluminum alloy film 919 as a wiring, protection A silicon nitride film 920 as a layer, a base 940 of a recording head, a heat generating portion 950, an Click discharge portion 960, top plate 970 is similar to the liquid path 980.
[0024]
The structure of the MIS field effect transistor shown in FIG. 29 is different from a normal structure, and a p-type semiconductor substrate 1001 has a shape in which the periphery of an n-type source region 1007 is surrounded by a p-type base region 1005. Thus, a part of the n-type well region 1002 is used as a drain, which is called a DMOS (Double diffused MOS transistor). Thus, by forming a channel in the drain using the n-type well region 1002, the depth of the drain determining the breakdown voltage can be deepened and can be formed at a low concentration. The problem of withstand voltage can be solved.
[0025]
In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2 described above, high gradation can be obtained. However, on the other hand, a plurality of drive circuits are required, and a plurality of heaters are selected. It is necessary to provide an input terminal for a selection signal. For this reason, the problem which should be solved arises that a board | substrate becomes large.
[0026]
However, when using an ink jet recording head that employs a configuration that includes one heater corresponding to one ejection port, it is difficult to change the ink ejection amount per ejection port in multiple stages.
[0027]
Further, in order to make the discharge amount multi-stage, if a configuration is provided with a plurality of heaters corresponding to one discharge port, the number of heaters and their drive circuits are required to be a multiple of the number of discharge ports as the number of discharge ports increases. At the same time, since circuits for a plurality of heaters must be centrally arranged corresponding to each ejection port, the circuit scale formed on the substrate of the ink jet recording head becomes complicated and the price of the recording head increases.
[0028]
Thus, it is desired to provide a recording head capable of ejecting inks having relatively different ejection amounts with a simple circuit configuration.
[0029]
The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object thereof is to have a plurality of types of recording elements having relatively different ink ejection amounts, and to achieve control at a low cost with a simple configuration. An easy ink jet recording head is provided.
[0030]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of driving an ink jet recording head that simplifies the configuration of an ink jet recording head having a plurality of types of recording elements with relatively different ink discharge amounts and that can be easily controlled. is there.
[0031]
Still another object of the present invention is to realize an ink jet recording head substrate capable of obtaining high gradation without causing an increase in size of the substrate.
[0032]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to solve the above problems, one embodiment of the present invention provides:First and second recording elements having relatively different ink ejection amountsAnd a plurality of recording element arrays in which a first recording element group including a plurality of the first recording elements and a second recording element group including a plurality of the second recording elements are arranged in the same row. Be doneAn inkjet recording head,
  Serially input a first data group composed of recording data corresponding to the first recording element group, or a second data group composed of recording data corresponding to the second recording element group,Storage means for storing;
  Holding means for holding the recording data stored in the storage means;
  The first and secondA selector for inputting a selection signal indicating a recording element to be driven among the recording elements, and outputting a common selection control signal for each recording element group to the recording elements constituting the first and second recording element groups; ,
  A block signal for designating a block to be driven among a plurality of blocks dividing each of the selection control signal, the first recording element group, and the second recording element group;According to the recording data held in the holding means and the drive signal indicating the drive periodRecording elements are time-divided in units of blocksA drive control circuit for driving;
  Be equippedIt is characterized by.
[0033]
  One embodiment of the present invention includesFirst and second recording elements having relatively different ink ejection amountsAnd a plurality of recording element arrays in which a first recording element group including a plurality of the first recording elements and a second recording element group including a plurality of the second recording elements are arranged in the same row. Be doneA method for driving an inkjet recording head, comprising:
  A first data group composed of recording data corresponding to the first recording element group or a second data group composed of recording data corresponding to the second recording element group is serially input and stored. Storage process;
  The storedSaidA holding step for holding recorded data;
  The first and secondA selection step of inputting a selection signal indicating a recording element to be driven among the recording elements, and outputting a common selection control signal for each recording element group to the recording elements constituting the first and second recording element groups. When,
  A block signal for designating a block to be driven among a plurality of blocks dividing each of the selection control signal, the first recording element group, and the second recording element group;The stored recording data,In addition, the recording element is time-divided into the block units according to the driving signal indicating the driving period.A drive control process for driving;
  Be equippedIt is characterized by.
[0052]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0053]
In this specification, “recording” (sometimes referred to as “printing”) is not only for forming significant information such as characters and graphics, but also for human beings, regardless of whether it is significant or not. 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.
[0054]
“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.
[0055]
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).
[0056]
First, an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording using the recording head according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus with a cover removed.
[0057]
The carriage 11 is mounted with an ink jet recording head 12 and a cartridge guide 13 and can be moved in a scanning direction along two guide shafts 14 and 15 by a motor (not shown). Further, as the position detection means, for example, a scale provided with slits at predetermined intervals in a direction along the guide axis of the recording apparatus, and a sensor that is arranged at a position facing the carriage and detects a reflected signal from the scale An encoder (not shown) is provided to detect the position of the carriage in the scanning direction.
[0058]
The recording paper 16 is sandwiched between a paper feeding roller 17, a paper feeding roller 18 and a paper pressing plate 19, and is conveyed to a recording area on the front surface of the ink jet recording head 12 by the rotation of the paper feeding roller 18 for recording.
[0059]
Two types of ink cartridges, a color ink cartridge 110 containing each of yellow, magenta and cyan inks, and a black ink cartridge 111 containing black ink, are inserted into the cartridge guide 13 separately. Then, it is connected to an ink jet recording head 12 having an ejection port array for each color.
[0060]
FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit of the inkjet printer IJRA. In the figure, showing a control circuit, 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 (the recording signal and recording data supplied to the head). Etc.). Reference numeral 1704 denotes a gate array (GA) that controls supply of recording data to the recording head IJH, and also performs data transfer control among the interface 1700, MPU 1701, and RAM 1703. Reference numeral 1710 denotes a carrier motor for conveying the recording head IJH, and 1709 denotes a conveyance motor for conveying 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.
[0061]
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. The motor drivers 1706 and 1707 are driven, and the recording head is driven according to the recording data sent to the head driver 1705 to perform recording.
[0062]
Here, the control program executed by the MPU 1701 is assumed to be stored in the ROM 1702. However, the control program is changed from a host computer connected to the inkjet printer IJRA by further adding an erasable / writeable storage medium such as an EEPROM. It can also be configured to be able to.
[0063]
Hereinafter, embodiments of a recording head according to the present invention will be described.
[0064]
First, as a premise, as one of the recording heads that eject ink using thermal energy, a so-called side shooter type that ejects ink droplets vertically above the surface on which the heater that generates thermal energy is formed An example of the inkjet recording head will be described. In this type of ink jet recording head, ink supply associated with ejection is generally performed from the back side of the substrate provided with the heater through an ink supply port penetrating the substrate.
[0065]
FIG. 26 is a top view of a side shooter type ink jet recording head substrate (element substrate) and shows a layout of each component.
[0066]
A logic circuit 801 for designating distribution of print data and the driving order of each heater, a plurality of heaters 802 and a drive circuit 804, an external connection terminal 803, and an ink supply port 805 are provided.
[0067]
The plurality of drive circuits 804 are provided corresponding to the plurality of heaters 802, respectively, and selectively drive the heaters 802 according to print data output from the logic circuit. The logic circuit 801 controls the driving state of each driving circuit 804 according to a signal given from the outside via the external connection terminal 802.
[0068]
The external connection terminal 803 is provided at the end of the substrate. The heater 802 is provided independently on the left and right sides of the ink supply port 805.
In the following, for simplification of description, one ejection port array provided corresponding to one type of ink will be described.
[0069]
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the structure of the first embodiment of the ink jet recording head used in the recording apparatus as described above. A heating element 124 (heater) is provided in each of the flow paths communicating with the discharge port 122, and when a predetermined energy is applied to the heater 124 by the head drive circuit, film boiling occurs in the ink. A state change due to the above, that is, a foaming phenomenon occurs, and ink droplets are discharged from the discharge port 122.
[0070]
The heater 124 is formed on the silicon substrate 121 by the same method as in the semiconductor process. Reference numeral 126 denotes an ink supply port for supplying ink from the back surface of the element substrate in order to supply ink to each ejection port.
[0071]
FIG. 2 shows the ejection port array of the recording head of this embodiment. In the present embodiment, in order to eject ink droplets of two different sizes, large and small, an ejection port (large ejection port) 20 that ejects an ink droplet having a large ejection amount, and an ejection port that ejects an ink droplet having a small ejection amount ( Small discharge ports) 21 are alternately arranged in a line at an interval of 1200 dpi. The total number of discharge ports is 32, and 0 seg, 1 seg,..., 31 seg from the top. The ink discharge amount is about 5 pl for the discharge port 20 and about 2 pl for the discharge port 21.
[0072]
As described above, in this embodiment, each ejection port array includes ejection ports (nozzles) that eject ink droplets having different sizes, and the ejection ports used for recording are selected according to the recording mode set by the user. For example, recording is performed using a large discharge port in the high-speed recording mode and using a small discharge port in the high-quality recording mode. It is also possible to record a multi-tone image by using, for example, the area gray scale method or the like, using both ejection ports.
[0073]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a drive circuit for ejecting ink droplets from the ejection port of the recording head. The select signal 30 is input to the selector 36, then decoded and input to the AND gate 310 connected to each heat driver 311. The block data 31 is decoded from 2 bits to 4 bits by the 2TO4 Decoder 37 and input to the AND gate 310. A heat enable signal 32 for applying a heat pulse to each heater is also input to the AND gate 310.
[0074]
Further, the recording data is serially input to the 16-bit shift register 38 in synchronization with the clock 35 by the data signal 34, held in the latch 39 at the input timing of the latch trigger 33, and input to each AND gate. Note that the same latch data is input to a set of heat drivers corresponding to large and small discharge ports such as 0 seg, 1 seg, 2 seg and 3 seg, and large (even seg) or small (odd seg) depending on a signal from the selector 36. The heat driver is selected.
[0075]
In this way, the heater driver 311 is selectively driven by the four signals input to each AND gate 310, and a heat pulse is applied to the heater, and ink droplets are ejected from the corresponding ejection ports.
[0076]
FIG. 4 shows the input / output characteristics of the 2TO4Decoder 37. As shown in the figure, depending on the combination of the two input signals BE0 and BE1, one of the four output signals from BLE0 to BLE3 is decoded to be “High (H)”.
[0077]
FIG. 5 shows the input / output characteristics of the selector 36. As shown in the figure, either SEL0 or SEL1 is set to “High” (H) according to the state of the input select signal 30 and output.
[0078]
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating driving conditions for each seg. As illustrated, each seg is driven in accordance with the state of the output signal (BLE) from the 2TO4Decoder 37 and the output signal (SEL) from the selector 36. The recording head of the present embodiment is a four-block distributed drive, and is configured to select even seg or odd seg by the SEL signal.
[0079]
FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the state of each signal in FIG. In synchronization with both rising and falling edges of the clock 35, the recording data 0 to 15 is input to the shift register 38 and stored by the data signal 34. At the timing 70 when the latch trigger 33 is input, 16-bit data stored in the shift register 38 is held (latched) in the latch 39.
[0080]
With the data latched, the heaters are sequentially driven for the print data 0-15. Specifically, since BE0 = BE1 = 0, BLE0 becomes H, and the select signal 30 is H, so four segs (odd seg) of 1, 9, 17, and 25 connected to BLE0 and SEL1. ) Is applied at timing 71.
[0081]
Next, BLE1, BLE2, and BLE3 are sequentially set to H by the combination of BE0 and BE1, and heat enable is sequentially applied in units of four odd seg connected to SEL1, and driven according to 16 recording data from 0 to 15. Is implemented.
[0082]
Here, the case where 16 odd seg are driven has been described. However, if the select signal 30 is L, 16 even seg are driven according to the recording data as described above.
[0083]
While the recording data 0 to 15 are being ejected, 16 recording data from data 34 to AP are stored in the shift register 38 in synchronization with the rise and fall of the clock 35.
[0084]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the structure is such that a large discharge port and a small discharge port are arranged in a line, the shift is performed with respect to 32 heaters. The number of bits of the registers and latches can be halved to 16 bits. Accordingly, the area of the substrate such as silicon on which the heater and the drive circuit are formed can be reduced, and the cost of the recording head can be reduced.
[0085]
[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the ink jet recording head of the present invention will be described. In the following description, description of parts similar to those of the first embodiment will be omitted, and description will be made focusing on characteristic parts of the present embodiment.
[0086]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the drive circuit of the recording head of this embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing the state of each signal in FIG.
[0087]
The recording head of this embodiment also has 32 ejection openings arranged in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the configuration of the drive circuit in FIG. 8 is substantially the same as the drive circuit in FIG. 3, and the selector 86 in FIG. The 2TO4Decoder 87, the AND gate 810, and the heat driver 811 correspond to the selector 36, 2TO4Decoder 37, the AND gate 310, and the heat driver 311 in FIG. The input / output characteristics of the 2TO4Decoder, the input / output characteristics of the selector, and the driving conditions of each seg are the same as in the first embodiment.
[0088]
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the number of bits of the shift register 88 and the latch 89 is reduced to 4 bits (16/4 blocks) driven at the same timing. That is, in this embodiment, recording data is input in units of 4 bits that are driven simultaneously.
[0089]
Referring to the timing chart of FIG. 9, first, 10 to 13 recording data is input to the shift register 88 in synchronization with the rising and falling edges of the clock 85, latched by the latch 89 by the latch trigger 90, and latched. Based on the recorded data, the heat enable 91 is applied to four segs 1, 9, 17, and 25 connected to BLE0 and SEL1, and the heater is driven.
[0090]
In the meantime, recording data of 20 to 23 is stored in the shift register 88, latched in the latch 89 by the next latch trigger, and heated to four segs 3, 11, 19, and 27 connected to BLE1 and SEL1. An enable is applied to drive the heater. By repeating the above operation, four segs 5, 13, 21, and 29 are driven by the recording data 30 to 33, and four segs 7, 15, 23, and 31 are driven by the recording data 40 to 43.
[0091]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the number of bits of the shift register and the latch can be set to 4 bits for 32 heaters. Accordingly, the area of the substrate such as silicon on which the heater and the drive circuit are formed can be further reduced, and the cost of the recording head can be reduced.
[0092]
[Third Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the ink jet recording head of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the description of the same parts as those of the first and second embodiments will be omitted, and the characteristic parts of the present embodiment will be mainly described.
[0093]
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the drive circuit of the recording head of this embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing the state of each signal in FIG.
[0094]
The recording head of this embodiment also has 32 ejection openings arranged in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments, and the configuration of the drive circuit in FIG. 10 is substantially the same as the drive circuit in the second embodiment in FIG. The 2TO4Decoder 107, the AND gate 1010, and the heat driver 1011 in FIG. 10 correspond to the 2TO4Decoder 87, the AND gate 810, and the heat driver 811 in FIG. 8, respectively. The input / output characteristics of the 2TO4Decoder, the input / output characteristics of the selector, and the driving conditions of each seg are the same as in the first embodiment.
[0095]
The present embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that a selection signal (S1 to S4 in FIG. 11) is transferred to the recording head as a part of the data signal 104. . Therefore, the shift register 108 and the latch 109 have a 5-bit configuration, and an output corresponding to the select signal among the outputs of the latch 109 is input to the selector 106.
[0096]
Referring to the timing chart of FIG. 11, the select signals S1 and 10-13 recording data are input to the 5-bit shift register 108 in synchronization with the rise and fall of the clock 105, and the 5-bit latch 109 is received by the latch trigger 110. The select data and the record data are latched. The select data S1 is input to the selector 106 and decoded into SEL0 and SEL1.
[0097]
Also, the block data BE0 and BE1 signals are decoded into BLE0-3 by the 2TO4Decoder 107. Then, the heat enable 111 is applied to four seg connected to any one of the decoder outputs BLE0 to BLE3 and the selector output SEL0 or SEL1, and the heater is driven.
[0098]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the number of bits of the shift register and the latch is set to 5 bits for 32 heaters, and the number of signal lines can be reduced by sharing the select signal with the data signal. . Therefore, in addition to the effects of the second embodiment, it is possible to reduce the number of contacts used to connect the recording apparatus main body and the recording head, thereby further reducing the cost of the recording head.
[0099]
Although the present embodiment has been described with the configuration in which the select signal is input prior to the image data, the reverse may be possible. Further, the continuous transfer of the image data and the select signal may be performed with no signal period.
[0100]
[Fourth Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of the ink jet recording head of the present invention will be described. In the following description, description of the same parts as those in the above embodiment will be omitted, and description will be made focusing on characteristic parts of the present embodiment.
[0101]
FIG. 12 shows the ejection port array of the recording head of this embodiment. In the present embodiment, in order to eject ink droplets of three types of large, medium, and small sizes, the ejection port 1200 that ejects a large-capacity ink droplet, the ejection port 1201 that ejects an ink droplet having an intermediate capacity, and a small capacity The ejection ports 1202 that eject ink droplets are sequentially arranged at an interval of 1200 dpi. The total number of discharge ports is 48, and 0 seg, 1 seg,..., 47 seg from the top. The ink discharge amount is about 10 pl for the discharge port 1200, about 5 pl for the discharge port 1201, and about 2 pl for the discharge port 1202.
[0102]
As described above, in the present embodiment, since there are three types of ejection ports that eject ink droplets of three sizes, large, medium, and small, a 2-bit signal is used as a select signal for selecting the type of ejection port. . Therefore, the selector is configured to select one of the three output signals SEL0 to SEL2 according to the state of the 2-bit select signal as shown in the input / output characteristics shown in FIG.
[0103]
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating driving conditions for each seg in the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, each seg is driven according to the states of the output signals (BLE0 to 3) from the 2TO4Decoder and the output signals (SEL0 to 2) from the selector. The recording head of this embodiment is a four-block distributed drive, and is configured to select a seg corresponding to the size (large, medium, small) of ink droplets ejected by a SEL signal.
[0104]
The configuration of the driving circuit and the timing chart of each signal can be the same as those in any of the first to third embodiments except for the portion related to the selector. For example, regarding the configuration of the drive circuit, the select signals 30 and 80 in FIGS. 3 and 8 of the first and second embodiments are each two, and the output signals from the selectors 36 and 86 are three. In FIG. 10 of the third embodiment, the shift register 108 and the latch 109 each have 6 bits, and the input to the selector 106 is two and the output is three.
[0105]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first to third embodiments, it is possible to control the ejection of three types of ink droplets having different capacities.
[0106]
[Fifth Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment of the ink jet recording head of the present invention will be described. In the following description, description of the same parts as those in the above embodiment will be omitted, and description will be made focusing on characteristic parts of the present embodiment.
[0107]
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the recording head of this embodiment is viewed from the ejection port side. In the figure, the arrow indicates the scanning direction of the recording head, and black, cyan, magenta, and yellow ink droplets are respectively ejected from the four ejection port arrays 1501 to 1504 arranged in the scanning direction. And a plurality of ejection openings arranged in a direction crossing the scanning direction.
[0108]
Among the four ejection port arrays, the arrangement of the cyan, magenta, and yellow ejection port arrays is the same as that in FIG. 2 described with respect to the first embodiment, and ejects two types of large and small ink droplets at a 1200 dpi pitch. The discharge ports are arranged alternately. On the other hand, in the black discharge port array, as shown in FIG. 16, 16 discharge ports 1601 for discharging 30 pl ink droplets are arranged at a pitch of 600 dpi.
[0109]
Here, the drive circuit of each of the cyan, magenta, and yellow ejection port arrays and the timing chart of the signal can be the same as in either of the first and second embodiments. The black discharge port array drive circuit and its signal timing chart are the same as those shown in the first and second embodiments except for the portion related to the select signal.
[0110]
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating signal types for each ejection port array when the recording head of this embodiment is driven based on the first or second embodiment. In the figure, “Non” indicates that no signal is required, and the same symbol indicates that the same signal is used in common. That is, in this embodiment, the block data signals (BE0, BE1), the latch trigger signal, and the clock are common to all the ejection port arrays, and the select signal and the recording data are separate signals for each ejection port. . The heat enable signal is different only for the black ejection port, and is common to the cyan, magenta, and yellow ejection ports.
[0111]
In addition, the drive circuit of each discharge port array and the timing chart of the signals in this embodiment can be the same as those in the third embodiment. In this case, of the signals shown in FIG. 17, the select signal is not necessary, and the data signal for each ejection port array includes the data used by selecting the select signal.
[0112]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the size of the ink droplets used for recording can be individually set for each color, so that more optimal driving is possible.
[0113]
[Sixth Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a sixth embodiment of the ink jet recording head of the present invention will be described. In the following description, description of the same parts as those in the above embodiment will be omitted, and description will be made focusing on characteristic parts of the present embodiment.
[0114]
The recording head of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the fifth embodiment, but the type of signal for each ejection port array when the recording head is driven is different. That is, as shown in FIG. 18, when the recording head of this embodiment is driven based on the first or second embodiment, the select signal is common to each ejection port array.
This makes it impossible to individually set the size of the ink droplets used for recording for each color as compared with the fifth embodiment, but the signal line between the recording apparatus main body and the recording head. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of contacts used for connecting the recording apparatus main body and the recording head, thereby further reducing the cost of the recording head.
[0115]
<First Embodiment of Printhead Substrate>
Next, a recording head substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0116]
FIG. 20 is a plan view showing the configuration of an embodiment of an ink jet recording head substrate (element substrate) according to the present invention.
[0117]
The embodiment shown in FIG. 20 includes a logic circuit 301, heaters (heating elements) 302 and 303, an external connection terminal 304, a drive circuit 305, and an ink supply port 306.
[0118]
As described above, the ink jet recording head has a discharge port at a position facing each heater as described above, and ink is supplied to the discharge port position via an ink flow path.
[0119]
The heaters 302 and 303 have different sizes, and the heating elements having different sizes, different heat generation amounts and different ink discharge amounts when heated, face each other across the ink supply port 306, and have different sizes. Are arranged on both sides of the ink supply port 306 so as to alternately form one row.
[0120]
The drive circuit 305 is provided so as to individually correspond to each of the heaters 302 and 303. Each drive circuit 305 drives a corresponding drive element under the control of a logic circuit 301 that operates according to a signal supplied from the outside via an external connection terminal 304. In addition, since the logic circuit 301 is formed independently on the left and right with the supply port as the center, the logic circuit can be used uniformly on the left and right regardless of which heater is selected. For this reason, it is not necessary to route extra wiring, and the size can be reduced.
[0121]
In the present embodiment, the DMOS transistor shown in FIG. 29 is used as the drive circuit 305. Thereby, it is possible to arrange the heaters 302 and 303 having different sizes without increasing the substrate area. The logic circuit 301 performs control so that heaters having the same size are driven simultaneously. For this reason, adjacent heaters are not driven simultaneously, and stable ejection is possible.
[0122]
FIG. 21 is a plan view showing specific wiring on the substrate of this embodiment.
[0123]
Each heater 103 provided on the substrate 101 includes the heating resistors 302 and 303 shown in FIG. 20 and electrode wirings for supplying electric power thereto. One wiring of each heater 103 is electrically connected to any one of the power supply potential common electrodes 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d. The other wiring serving as the selection electrode is connected to a driving element 108 made of a transistor as a switching element, and the driving element 108 is connected to common electrodes 105a, 105b, 105c, and 105d on the ground (GND) side.
[0124]
With the circuit configuration in which the power supply potential common electrodes 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d are connected in the order described above, each heater 103 can be selectively driven according to the recording data to eject ink from the corresponding ejection port. It becomes. Each of power supply potential common electrodes 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d and electrodes 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d is connected to electrode pad 107, whereby each can be connected to a device power supply and a ground circuit. The ground-side electrodes 105a, 105b, 105c, and 105d are determined so that their wiring resistances are equal between the power supply potential common electrodes.
[0125]
Accordingly, the heaters 103 having different sizes are arranged at positions sandwiching the supply port 102 (ink supply port 306 in FIG. 20), but the wiring to be used is not biased regardless of which heater 103 is selected. Therefore, it is possible to cope with a voltage drop when the wiring is turned on at the same time without increasing the wiring width, and miniaturization is possible.
[0126]
FIG. 22 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration including the logic circuit 301, the drive circuit, and the heater shown in FIG.
[0127]
22 includes a heater drive signal input terminal 401, a clock (CLK) input terminal 402, a data input terminal 403, a selection circuit 404, a latch signal input terminal 405, a heater voltage input terminal 406, a drive circuit 407, and selection data. It comprises a transfer circuit 408, a selection data holding circuit 409, a decoder 410, a data transfer circuit 411, a holding circuit 412, and heaters A and B.
[0128]
The heaters A and B are the heaters 302 and 303 shown in FIG. 20, and 2 groups (n) of heaters A and B form one group, and m groups are provided. A drive circuit 407 and an AND circuit are provided for each of the heaters A and B in the group, and the drive circuit 407 drives the heaters according to the AND circuit output.
[0129]
In the present embodiment, the heater group and type are selected by the data input to the data input terminal 403 and an image is recorded. Regarding the data input to the data input terminal 403, the selection data transfer circuit 409 outputs data for selecting a heater group to the decoder 410 and outputs data for selecting a heater type to the selection circuit 4040. Data for recording an image is output to the data transfer circuit 411.
[0130]
The holding circuit 412 and the data transfer circuit 411 are common to the heaters A and B, and the switching of the heaters A and B is determined by the data input to the selection data transfer circuit 408 via the data input terminal 403 and to the selection circuit 404. Selected.
[0131]
In FIG. 22, the heater driving power source is a power source supplied to the heater voltage input terminal 406. The heater driving power source is connected to the ends of all the heaters A and B of the groups S (1) to S (m) through a common wiring. The data transfer circuit 411 inputs serial image data corresponding to each of the groups S (1), S (2),..., S (m) input from the data input terminal 403 via the selected data transfer circuit 408. A signal and a clock input signal for driving a data transfer circuit input from the clock input terminal 402 via the selection data transfer circuit 408 are input, and the image data is output to the holding circuit 412 as a parallel signal.
[0132]
A latch signal is input to the holding circuit 412 via the latch signal input terminal 405, and the image data input from the data transfer circuit 411 is temporarily stored, and then the corresponding groups S (1), S (2),. , S (m) for each AND circuit.
[0133]
The drive pulse signal input to the heater drive signal input terminal 401 is input to the heaters A and B of the groups S (1) to S (m).
[0134]
As described above, the data input to the selection data transfer circuit 408 from the data input terminal 403 includes selection of the heater group and type to be driven together with the image data input signal. In this embodiment, the 5-bit signal is selected. Is output to the selected data holding circuit 409. The selection data holding circuit 409 outputs a 4-bit signal indicating the group to be driven among the input 5-bit signals to the decoder 410, and outputs a 1-bit signal indicating the type of heater to be driven to the selection circuit 404. .
[0135]
The output terminal of the decoder 410 is connected to each of the AND circuits for each of the groups S (1) to S (m), and determines a group to be connected according to the input 4-bit signal. The selection circuit 404 selects the type of heater that constitutes each group, in the case of this embodiment, one of the heaters A and B. One output is an input 1-bit signal. The output is directly output to an AND circuit provided for the heater A, and the other output is inverted through an inverter and output to the AND circuit provided for the heater B. For this reason, the heaters A and B are not selected at the same time, and only one of them is selected.
[0136]
In the present embodiment configured as described above, the heater group and type are selected by the data input to the data input terminal 403 and an image is recorded. Thereby, it can be set as the board | substrate for inkjet recording heads which can obtain high gradation property, without increasing an input terminal conventionally.
[0137]
In the present embodiment, the heaters constituting each group have been described as having different sizes, but heaters of the same size can also be used. In that case, non-ejection supplementation such as using the other when ink cannot be ejected from one heater can be performed.
[0138]
<Second Embodiment of Printhead Substrate>
Next, a second embodiment of the ink jet recording head substrate according to the present invention will be described.
[0139]
In the present embodiment, the circuit configuration of the logic circuit 301 shown in FIG. 20 is different from that of the above embodiment, and FIG. 23 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration together with a drive circuit and a heater.
[0140]
In this embodiment, the number of heaters in FIG. 22 is two or more, and the substrate for an ink jet recording head that can obtain higher gradation is obtained.
[0141]
23, the heater drive signal input terminal 501, the clock (CLK) input terminal 502, the data input terminal 503, the latch signal input terminal 505, the heater voltage input terminal 506, the drive circuit 507, and the selected data transfer circuit 508 are included. The selection data holding circuit 509, the decoder 510, the data transfer circuit 511, and the holding circuit 512 are respectively a heater driving signal input terminal 401, a clock (CLK) input terminal 402, a data input terminal 403, and a latch signal input shown in FIG. This is the same as the terminal 405, the heater voltage input terminal 406, the drive circuit 407, the selection data transfer circuit 408, the selection data holding circuit 409, the decoder 410, the data transfer circuit 411, and the holding circuit 412.
[0142]
In this embodiment, the number of heaters is two or more, and accordingly, among the data input to the data input terminal 503, the signal for selecting the group and type of the heater to be driven is 4 + n bits. It is said that. The selection data transfer circuit 508 outputs this 4 + n-bit signal to the selection data holding circuit 509, and the selection data holding circuit 509 outputs, to the decoder 510, a 4-bit signal indicating a group to be driven among the input 4 + n-bit signals. The type of heater to be output is recognized by the n-bit signal indicating the type of heater to be driven, and the output to the AND circuit provided for that type of heater is made active.
[0143]
In the present embodiment configured as described above, since the types of heaters are increased, it is possible to select a larger discharge amount and to achieve a higher gradation.
[0144]
In addition, regarding the arrangement of n types of heaters, the same type of heaters are arranged in a staggered manner across the ink supply port, so that as described above, any type of heater is selected. Since there is no bias in the wiring to be used, it is possible to cope with a voltage drop when it is turned on at the same time, and miniaturization is possible.
[0145]
<Configuration of inkjet recording head>
FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an ink jet recording head manufactured using the ink jet recording head substrate shown in FIGS.
[0146]
Electricity is generated on the element substrate 52, which is the substrate for the ink jet recording head shown in FIGS. 20 to 23, by generating a heat when an electric current flows, and discharging ink from the discharge port 53 by bubbles generated by the heat. Thermal conversion elements (heaters) 41 are arranged in a plurality of rows. Each of the electrothermal conversion elements is provided with a wiring electrode 54, and one end side of the wiring electrode 54 is electrically connected to the switching element 42 described above. A flow path 55 for supplying ink to the ejection port 53 provided at a position facing the electrothermal converter 41 is provided corresponding to each ejection □ 53. Walls constituting the discharge ports 53 and the flow passages 55 are provided in the grooved member 56, and the grooved member 56 is connected to the element substrate 52 described above so that the flow passage 55 and a plurality of flow passages are formed. A common liquid chamber 57 (ink supply port) for supplying ink is provided.
[0147]
FIG. 25 shows the structure of an ink jet head in which the element substrate 52 that is the substrate for the ink jet recording head shown in FIGS. 20 to 23 is incorporated, and the element base 52 is incorporated in the frame 58. On the element base 52, the members 56 constituting the discharge ports 53 and the flow paths 55 shown in FIG. A contact pad 59 for receiving an electric signal from the apparatus side is provided, and electric signals as various drive signals are supplied from the controller of the apparatus main body to the element base 52 via the flexible printed wiring board 60. Is done.
[0148]
The ink jet recording head described above can be suitably used in the ink jet printer described above with reference to FIGS. 1A and 19.
[0149]
[Other Embodiments]
The above embodiments have been described by taking an example of an ink jet recording head that performs recording in accordance with the ink jet method and a recording device that uses the recording head, but the present invention is a recording head that uses a recording head other than the ink jet method and a recording device that uses the recording head. It can also be applied to.
[0150]
In this case, the size of the ink droplet in the above embodiment corresponds to the size of the recording element (dot) to be recorded, and the ejection port (nozzle) or seg corresponds to the recording element in each recording head, and heat or ejection The term "corresponds to driving.
[0151]
Also, the recording method is not limited to the serial method exemplified in the above embodiment, the recording head has a recording element array having a length corresponding to the width of the recording area, and the recording medium is connected to the recording head. The present invention can also be applied to a recording apparatus that employs a so-called full-line recording method that performs recording by relatively moving the recording medium.
[0152]
The above embodiment includes means (for example, an electrothermal converter, a laser beam, etc.) that generates thermal energy as energy used for performing ink discharge, particularly in the ink jet recording system, and the ink is generated by the thermal energy. By using a system that causes a change in the state of recording, it is possible to achieve higher recording density and higher definition.
[0153]
As its typical configuration and principle, for example, those performed using the basic principle disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796 are preferable. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the liquid (ink). By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to the electrothermal transducer, the thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and the recording head This is effective because film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the liquid, and as a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to the drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed.
[0154]
By the growth and contraction of the bubbles, liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable that the drive signal has a pulse shape, since the bubble growth and contraction is performed immediately and appropriately, and thus it is possible to achieve discharge of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness.
[0155]
As this pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further excellent recording can be performed by employing the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface.
[0156]
As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination configuration (straight liquid flow path or right-angle liquid flow path) of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal transducer as disclosed in each of the above-mentioned specifications, the heat acting surface The configurations described in US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which is arranged in a bending region, are also included in the present invention.
[0157]
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 attached to the apparatus body. A replaceable chip type recording head that can supply ink from the apparatus main body may be used.
[0158]
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.
[0159]
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.
[0160]
【The invention's effect】
According to the ink jet recording head and the ink jet recording head driving method of the present application, it is possible to reduce the price of an ink jet recording head having a plurality of types of recording elements having relatively different ink discharge amounts and to facilitate the drive control thereof. it can.
[0161]
Moreover, according to the inkjet recording head substrate of the present application, the inkjet recording head substrate capable of obtaining high gradation can be realized without increasing the size.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording head of the present invention.
FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an ink jet recording head according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an array of ejection openings of the recording head according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a drive circuit for a recording head according to the first embodiment.
4 is a diagram showing input / output characteristics of the decoder of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing input / output characteristics of the selector of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a driving condition of each seg of the recording head according to the first embodiment.
7 is a timing chart showing the state of each signal in the circuit of FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a drive circuit for a recording head according to a second embodiment.
9 is a timing chart showing the state of each signal in the circuit of FIG. 8. FIG.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printhead drive circuit according to a third embodiment.
11 is a timing chart showing the state of each signal in the circuit of FIG.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an array of ejection openings of a recording head according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating input / output characteristics of a selector according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating driving conditions for each seg of a recording head according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an array of ejection port arrays of a recording head according to a fifth embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of black ejection ports of a recording head according to a fifth embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating signal types for each ejection port array of a recording head according to a fifth embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating signal types for each ejection port array of a recording head according to a sixth embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the recording apparatus in FIG. 1A.
FIG. 20 is a plan view showing a configuration of an embodiment of an ink jet recording head substrate according to the present invention.
FIG. 21 is a plan view showing specific wiring on the substrate of the embodiment shown in FIG. 20;
22 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of the logic circuit 301 shown in FIG. 20 together with a drive circuit and a heater.
FIG. 23 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of another embodiment of the ink jet recording head substrate of the present invention together with a drive circuit and a heater.
24 is a schematic view of an ink jet recording head manufactured using the ink jet recording head substrate shown in FIGS. 20 to 23. FIG.
FIG. 25 is a view showing the structure of an ink jet head in which the element substrate 52 which is the ink jet recording head substrate shown in FIGS. 20 to 23 is incorporated.
FIG. 26 is a top view of a side shooter type ink jet recording head.
FIG. 27 is a circuit diagram of a conventional example.
FIG. 28 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a part of a recording head having a conventional configuration.
FIG. 29 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a part of a recording head having a conventional configuration.

Claims (5)

The first and second recording elements having relatively different ink ejection amounts have a first recording element group composed of a plurality of the first recording elements and a second composed of a plurality of the second recording elements. An ink jet recording head composed of a plurality of recording element rows arranged in the same row ,
A first data group composed of recording data corresponding to the first recording element group or a second data group composed of recording data corresponding to the second recording element group is serially input and stored. Storage means;
Holding means for holding the recording data stored in the storage means;
A selection signal indicating a recording element to be driven is input from among the first and second recording elements, and a common selection is made for each recording element group with respect to the recording elements constituting the first and second recording element groups. A selector that outputs a control signal;
The selection control signal, a block signal for designating a block to be driven among a plurality of blocks dividing each of the first recording element group and the second recording element group , recording data held in the holding means, and A drive control circuit that drives the recording element in a time-sharing manner in units of blocks in accordance with a drive signal indicating a drive period;
An ink jet recording head, wherein the obtaining Bei a. It said first and second recording element, the recording and element are placed alternately in the row, one record data to the pair formed by the first and the second recording element adjacent is input The inkjet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the inkjet recording head is configured as described above. The drive control circuit includes a decoder for inputting the block signal.
  The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording head is provided. The drive control circuit includes a gate circuit that inputs a signal output from the selector and a signal output from the decoder.
  The ink jet recording head according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording head is provided. The first and second recording elements having relatively different ink ejection amounts have a first recording element group composed of a plurality of the first recording elements and a second composed of a plurality of the second recording elements. An ink jet recording head driving method composed of a plurality of recording element arrays arranged in the same row ,
A first data group composed of recording data corresponding to the first recording element group or a second data group composed of recording data corresponding to the second recording element group is serially input and stored. Storage process;
A holding step of holding the recording data said stored,
A selection signal indicating a recording element to be driven is input from among the first and second recording elements, and a common selection is made for each recording element group with respect to the recording elements constituting the first and second recording element groups. A selection process for outputting a control signal;
The selection control signal, a block signal designating a block to be driven among a plurality of blocks dividing each of the first recording element group and the second recording element group, the held recording data, and a driving period A drive control step of driving the recording element in a time-sharing manner in units of the blocks in accordance with the drive signal shown ;
An ink jet recording head driving method comprising:

Images