KR20000073156A - Inkjet printer and method for controlling thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An ink jet printer and a control method thereof are provided to reduce the number of control lines in a flexible cable connecting a printer controller and a micro injecting device. CONSTITUTION: A printer controller(500) receives a printing data from an outer apparatus such as a computer through a printing data input unit(520). The printing data is converted to a byte map data and stored in a storage(530). The byte map data is printed by the nozzle of a micro injecting device(630). Herein, the nozzle drive data is generated from a micro injecting controller(540). The nozzle drive data is converted to a series data through a parallel/series converter(550) and outputted to a series communication line(700). Finally, the nozzle drive data is converted to a parallel data to print the data by the micro injecting device.

Description

Inkjet printer and method for controlling the same

The present invention relates to an inkjet printer and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to reduce the number of control lines of the flexible cable connecting the micro injecting device and the printer controller controlling the same, thereby minimizing the problems caused by mechanical connection and contact. An inkjet printer capable of doing this and a control method thereof.

In general, inkjet printers are sized according to the printing paper standard used and require sophisticated mechanical mechanisms and electronic control of semiconductor chip circuits for paper insertion, forward and backward control, and the like. However, the printing area itself consists of ink cartridges (cartridges), nozzles, and paper that is close to the nozzles at a distance of about 0.4 to 0.7 mm.

The water-soluble ink contained in the ink flows into a small chamber inside the nozzle, and when an electric signal is given to the piezo element or the thermal element, the ink is pressurized / heated to expand and printed in a straight line. Move the micro injecting device, consisting of a bunch of nozzles, to the next position. The nozzles are usually 40-60 μm in diameter and 32-64 nozzles are arranged in parallel. At this time, the micro-injecting device includes nozzles for passing ink and jetting means for spraying ink to the outside through the nozzle.

Inkjet printers that produce images by spraying water-soluble ink through nozzles are roughly classified into thermal printers and piezo-aqueous printers according to the method of spraying ink from the nozzles (ie, injection means). .

The thermal transfer method is a method of printing by spraying ink by instantaneous heating at a high temperature of 200 to 300 ° C. When an electrical signal is applied to the resistance of the micro-injecting device, bubbles are rapidly generated. With the force of this bubble, ink is pushed out of the nozzle constituting the micro injecting device and printed on paper.

On the other hand, the piezoelectric element vibrates when an electric shock is applied to the piezoelectric element in the micro injecting device, and in the aftermath, ink is printed on paper as it comes out of the nozzle of the micro injecting device. The micro injecting device initially sucks the ink injected into the ink cartridge, and thereafter, ink is supplied by the surface tension, capillary action, and inertial motion of the embedded ink.

A process of printing data using such an inkjet printer will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

When a print command is provided by a computer user, the computer transmits a bitmap corresponding to each page to the printer controller 100 through a print interface connected to a serial port attached to the rear side. The bitmap referred to herein refers to a group of dots composed of a series of dots for representing characters and images on a provided page. This bitmap is constructed in a graphics language (such as PCL) through a printer driver program on the computer.

The processor 130 of the printer controller 100 receives bitmap information of each page through the print data input unit 110 from the host computer through an interface of a serial port or a parallel port, and simultaneously bites the print data horizontally and vertically. The bitmap information is converted into map data and stored in the memory 120 made of DRAM.

Subsequently, the micro injecting controller 140 sets the nozzles of the micro injecting device to be printed and the position to print the bitmap data stored and processed by the processor 130 of the printer controller 100 on the printing paper. The ink is driven by driving the nozzle of the micro-injecting device 200 formed at the bottom of the ink container mounted on the carriage 400 by being connected to the printer controller 100 and the flexible cable 300 through the jetting nozzle driving unit 150. Spray by printing on printing paper.

As such, in the conventional inkjet printer, the micro injecting device 200 and the micro injecting nozzle driver 150 of the printer controller 100 controlling the same are separated to control the micro injecting device 200. Since a flexible cable 300 having a control line 310 corresponding to the number of nozzles of the device 200 or at least the square root of the number of nozzles should be connected to the micro injecting device 200, A large number of control signal lines causes the following problems.

That is, since the price of the flexible cable (300) connecting the micro injecting device 200 and the printer controller 100 for controlling the same is very expensive, a material cost increase problem occurs, and mechanical connection is caused by a large number of connecting lines. And contact problems arise, and circuit noise problems arise.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce the number of control lines of the flexible cable connecting the micro-injecting device and the printer controller for controlling the same, which is devised to overcome the above-mentioned conventional problems.

1 shows the main components of a typical inkjet printer,

2 shows a microcontroller mounted on a carriage and a printer controller, which are main components of a general inkjet printer,

3 shows important components of the inkjet printer according to the present invention,

4 shows a parallel / serial converter and a serial / parallel converter of one of the important components of the present invention.

Figure 5 shows a control method for controlling printing in the side of the printer controller according to the present invention,

6 shows a control method for controlling printing on the side of a micro injecting device carriage according to the invention.

<Description of Symbols of Major Parts of Drawings>

500: printer controller 510: processing unit

520: print data input unit 530: storage unit

540: micro-injection controller 550: parallel / serial converter

551: transfer register 552: first shift register

553: first timing controller

600: micro injecting device carriage

610: serial / parallel converter 611: second shift register

612: second timing controller unit 613: receiving register

620: micro injecting nozzle drive unit 630: micro injecting device

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, the micro-injection device carry for driving the nozzle of the micro-injecting device to eject the ink while moving on the printing paper receiving the nozzle drive data according to the serial data communication method chapter; A printer controller which receives the print data from the outside, generates the nozzle driving data for the print data to be printed at the same time, converts the serial data into serial data, and transmits the serial data to the micro injecting device carriage; An inkjet printer comprising serial communication means for serially transmitting the drive data generated from the printer controller to the micro injecting device carriage portion.

Preferably, the printer controller, the print data input unit for receiving the print data from the outside; A processing unit converting the input print data into bitmap data and storing the converted print data in a storage unit; A micro-injecting controller for generating nozzle drive data for a nozzle of the micro-injecting device to simultaneously print bitmap data stored in the storage on the printing paper; And a parallel / serial conversion unit for converting the generated nozzle driving data into serial data and outputting the serial data to the serial communication means.

Preferably, the parallel / serial conversion unit, the transfer register for receiving the nozzle drive data for the print data to be generated at the same time generated by the micro-injection controller in parallel; A first shift register which receives data in parallel from the transfer register and outputs data to the serial communication unit bit by bit according to a clock; And a first timing controller unit configured to generate the clock in synchronization with the injecting device carriage unit.

Preferably, the micro-injecting device carriage unit, the serial / parallel conversion unit for receiving the nozzle drive data in units of bits through the serial communication means to convert into parallel data; And a micro injecting nozzle driver for driving the micro injecting device according to the converted nozzle driving data.

Preferably, the serial / parallel conversion unit comprises: a second shift register configured to receive the nozzle driving data in one bit unit in synchronization with a clock through the serial communication unit; A second timing controller unit generating the clock in synchronization with the printer controller; And a receiving register which is loaded in parallel when the second shift register is filled with the nozzle driving data and transferred to the micro-injection nozzle driving unit.

Preferably, the micro injecting device includes nozzles for passing ink and jetting means for spraying the ink out through the nozzles.

Preferably, the injection means is one of a resistive element providing heat to the nozzle or one of piezoelectric elements providing vibration to the nozzle.

According to another aspect of the present invention, after receiving the print data from the outside, and converts the received print data into bitmap data and stores, and then for the nozzle of the micro injecting device to print the stored bitmap data on the printing paper at the same time Generate nozzle drive data, convert the generated nozzle drive data into serial data, output the result, convert the received nozzle drive data in bit units into parallel data, and then convert the micro in according to the converted nozzle drive data. Disclosed is an inkjet printer control method for driving and printing a jetting device.

Hereinafter, the objects, features, and advantages of the present invention described above will be described in more detail with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

The terms to be described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, and may vary according to the intention or custom of a person skilled in the art, and the definitions should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

Referring to the main components of the inkjet printer according to the present invention with reference to Figure 3, receiving the print data from the outside to generate the nozzle drive data for the print data to be printed at the same time, and then converted to serial data micro-injecting device to be described later Micro-injecting device for driving the nozzles of the micro-injecting device while injecting the nozzle drive data according to the serial data communication method and the printer controller 500 to be transmitted to the carriage unit 600 and moving on the printing paper to eject the ink The carriage unit 600 and a serial communication line 700 for transmitting the driving data generated from the printer controller 500 to the micro-injecting device carriage unit 600 in series.

The processing unit 510 of the printer controller 500 receives print data from an external device such as a computer through the print data input unit 520, and then converts the received print data into bitmap data and stores it in the storage unit 530. do.

On the other hand, the processor 510 is a micro-injection controller 540 to be described later in the interrupt method, or direct memory access (DMA) method to bitmap data to be printed at the same time through the nozzles of the micro-injecting device stored in the storage unit 530 To pass on.

The micro injecting controller 540 receives the bitmap data to be printed at the same time stored in the storage unit 530, and generates nozzle driving data for the position of the printing on the printing paper and the nozzle of the micro injecting device to be printed.

The parallel / serial converter 550 converts the generated nozzle driving data into serial data and outputs the serial data to the serial communication line 700.

The parallel / serial conversion unit 550 receives the nozzle driving data for the print data to be printed at the same time generated by the micro-injection controller 540 through the transfer register 551 as shown in FIG. 4, and Data is loaded in parallel from the transfer register 551 through the first shift register 552 and outputs data to the serial communication line 700 bit by bit according to a clock generated by the first timing controller unit 553. .

Meanwhile, the micro injecting device carriage 600 receives the nozzle driving data from the serial communication line 700 in units of bits through the serial / parallel conversion unit 60 and configures the parallel data. The micro injecting nozzle driving unit 620 drives and prints the micro injecting device 630 according to the nozzle driving data converted into parallel data.

In this case, the micro-injecting device 630 includes nozzles for passing ink and jetting means for jetting the ink through the nozzle, and the nozzle driving data means control data for operating the jetting means.

Preferably, the injection means according to the present invention may be a resistor by a thermal transfer method, or may be a piezoelectric element by a vibration method.

The serial / parallel converter 610 synchronizes nozzle driving data from the serial communication line 700 to the clock generated by the second timing controller 612 through the second shift register 611 as shown in FIG. 4. When the second shift register 611 is filled with the nozzle driving data, the receiving register 613 loads the nozzle driving data in parallel and transmits the nozzle driving data to the micro-injection nozzle driving unit 620.

On the other hand, the first timing controller portion 553 and the second timing controller portion 612 adjusts the data transmission rate by a synchronous time signal.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the nozzle driving data for the print data to be printed simultaneously is 40 bits, the transfer register 551 and the first shift register 522 and the second shift register 611 and the receive register are respectively 40 The bit storage capacity is requested, and the clock 40 is generated by the first timing controller unit 533 and the second timing controller unit 612 to generate nozzle driving data from the printer controller 500 by the Michael injecting device carriage unit 600. ) Can be sent.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the nozzle drive data for the print data to be printed at the same time is 40 bits, the nozzle injection data from the printer controller 500 through the two or more serial communication lines Michael injection device carriage unit 600 The storage capacity of the transfer register 551, the first shift register 522, the second shift register 611, and the receive register may be reduced in proportion to the number of serial communication lines.

An inkjet printer control method applied to an inkjet printer according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

First, the printer controller 500 receives print data from an external device such as a computer through the print data input unit 520 (step: 810).

After receiving print data from an external device, the received print data is converted into bitmap data and stored in the storage unit 530 (steps S820 and S830).

After converting and storing the print data into bitmap data, the nozzle driving data for the nozzle of the micro injecting device to simultaneously print the stored bitmap data on the printing paper is generated through the micro injecting controller 540 (step: S840).

After generating the nozzle drive data, the generated nozzle drive data is converted into serial data through the parallel / serial converter 550 and outputted to the serial communication line 700 (step: S850).

Meanwhile, the micro injecting device carriage 600 receives nozzle driving data output from the parallel / serial conversion unit 550 of the printer controller 500 through the second shift register 611 in bit units and converts the data into parallel data. (Step S910, S920).

That is, after receiving the nozzle drive data bit by bit and shifting and storing the bit by bit in the second shift register 611, if the second shift register 611 is full, the nozzle drive stored in the second shift register 611 is stored. Since data is loaded in parallel into the receiving register 613 for one clock time, serial data is converted into parallel data.

After converting the nozzle drive data received according to the serial communication method into parallel data, the micro injecting device 630 is driven and printed through the micro injecting nozzle driver 620 according to the converted nozzle drive data (step: S930).

As described above, according to the present invention, the number of control lines of the flexible cable connecting the micro injecting device and the printer controller controlling the same can be reduced, thereby reducing the cost of constructing the flexible cable, and due to mechanical connection and contact. There is an effect that can minimize the problems that occur.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It will be appreciated that modifications or variations may be made.

For example, since the present invention configured through dedicated hardware as shown in FIG. 3 is configured as one chip using a general purpose processor, the method of controlling the inkjet printer shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is performed. It can also be done.

Therefore, changes in the future embodiments of the present invention will not be able to escape the technology of the present invention.

Claims (8)

A micro injecting device carriage unit which receives nozzle driving data according to a serial data communication method and moves ink on the printing paper and drives the nozzle of the micro injecting device to eject ink; A printer controller which receives the print data from the outside, generates the nozzle driving data for the print data to be printed at the same time, converts the serial data into serial data, and transmits the serial data to the micro injecting device carriage; And serial communication means for serially transmitting the drive data generated from the printer controller to the micro injecting device carriage. The method of claim 1, wherein the printer controller, A print data input unit which receives print data from the outside; A processing unit converting the input print data into bitmap data and storing the converted print data in a storage unit; A micro-injecting controller for generating nozzle drive data for a nozzle of the micro-injecting device to simultaneously print bitmap data stored in the storage on the printing paper; And a parallel / serial conversion unit for converting the generated nozzle drive data into serial data and outputting the serial data to the serial communication means. The method of claim 2, wherein the parallel / serial conversion unit, A transfer register which receives nozzle drive data for the print data generated by the micro-injecting controller and simultaneously print data; A first shift register which receives data in parallel from the transfer register and outputs data to the serial communication unit bit by bit according to a clock; And a first timing controller portion configured to generate the clock in synchronization with the injecting device carriage portion. The method of claim 1, wherein the micro injecting device carriage, A serial / parallel converter configured to receive the nozzle driving data in units of bits through the serial communication unit and convert the data into parallel data; And a micro-injecting nozzle driver for driving the micro-injecting device according to the converted nozzle drive data. The method of claim 4, wherein the serial / parallel conversion unit, A second shift register configured to receive the nozzle driving data in one bit unit in synchronization with a clock through the serial communication unit; A second timing controller unit generating the clock in synchronization with the printer controller; And a receiving register loaded in parallel when the second shift register is filled with the nozzle driving data, and transferred to the micro injecting nozzle driving unit. The method of claim 1, wherein the micro injecting device, And nozzles for passing the ink and jetting means for jetting the ink to the outside through the nozzles. The method of claim 6, wherein the injection means, An inkjet printer, characterized in that it is one of a piezoelectric element that provides a vibration to the furnace or a resistor that provides heat to the nozzle. A print data input step of receiving print data from the outside; A bitmap conversion step of converting the received print data into bitmap data and storing the converted bitmap data; A nozzle drive data generation step of generating nozzle drive data for a nozzle of a micro injecting device to simultaneously print the stored bitmap data on the printing paper; A parallel / serial conversion step of converting the generated nozzle driving data into serial data and outputting the serial data; A serial / parallel conversion step of receiving the output nozzle drive data in bits and converting the data into parallel data; And a printing step of driving and printing the micro injecting device according to the converted nozzle driving data.