Non-impact printer with token bit control of data and current regulation signals

• US 5,126,759 A
• Filed: 06/26/1990
• Issued: 06/30/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Small, Jeffrey A., Potucek, Martin, Pham, Hieu T., Hadley, Mary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOCKEY, DAVID F
• Application Number:
  US07/543,930
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 346/107 R, 346/160, 377/75, 377/76, 377/114, 377/56, 370/85.1, 364/240.1, 364/159, 364/239.2, 364/923.5, 364/939.5, 365/219, 358/302
• US Class Current: 347/237
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/45 using light-emitting diode [LED] or laser arrays

Abstract

An LED printhead or the like includes a data bus for carrying multibit digital image data signals for grey level recording. A token bit signal is generated and shifted through registers upon the printhead to enable image data registers associated with each LED to latch the image data signals in appropriate order. The image data signals control the energization times for recording pixels. A digitally adjustable current mirror controls the level of current to each LED during recording. Digital current data signals for controlling this level of current are also communicated over one of the lines of the data bus. A token bit signal is also used to control the latching of current data signals in registers storing the digital data used for current control.

Claims

1. A non-impact printer apparatus comprising:

a recording head having a plurality of recording elements for recording on a recording medium;

driving means for selectively driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with respective image data signals;

data bus means for carrying multibit image data signals and for carrying on one line that is also used for carrying image data signals, a multibit digital signal used for regulating current;

said driving means including a plurality of data register means with respective data register means being associated with each recording element for storing said image data signals;

means for commonly connecting said data bus means to said plurality of data register means;

means for generating a token bit signal;

a multistage shift register means for outputting sequentially at respective stages the token bit signal for sequentially selecting a respective data register means for accepting image data signals;

said driving means further including current regulating means for regulating a level of electrical current to each recording element, the current regulating means including means for adjusting a level of electrical current to each recording element in response to the multibit digital signal used for regulating current, and wherein the current regulating means further includes first register means including a plurality of registers for storing a multibit digital signal related to a level of current control, second register means for storing and shifting a token bit signal and means responsive to a token bit signal in said second register means for latching in an appropriate register of said first register means a digital signal found on said data bus means.

2. The printer apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the driving means is incorporated within an integrated circuit driver chip, and wherein at least two of such driver chips are provided on the printer apparatus and further wherein a token bit line couples said at least two driver chips to each other so that respective token bit signals latch, in appropriate registers of said driver chips, digital signals related to current control.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said data bus means includes a plurality of independent data lines, each carrying image data signals.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 and wherein said driving means includes means responsive to signals in said respective data register means for driving a respective recording element for a time period related to said signals in said respective data register means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 and wherein the recording elements are light-emitting diodes.

6. A non-impact printer apparatus comprising:

a recording head having a plurality of recording elements for recording on a recording medium;

driving means for selectively driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with respective image data signals, said driving means including a plurality of data register means with respective data register means associated with each recording element for storing said image data signals;

data bus means for carrying image data signals;

means for commonly connecting said data bus means to said plurality of data register means;

means for generating a token but signal;

a multistage shift register means for outputting sequentially at respective stages the token bit signal for sequentially selecting a respective data register means for accepting image data signals;

said driving means further including current regulating means for regulating a level of electrical current to each recording element, the current regulating means including means for adjusting a level of electrical current to each recording element in response to a multibit digital signal; and

wherein the current regulating means further includes first register means including a plurality of registers for storing digital signals related to a level of current control, second register means for storing and shifting a token bit signal, and means responsive to a token bit signal in said second register means for latching in an appropriate register of said first register means a bit of the multibit digital signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 and wherein said data bus means comprises a plurality of independent data lines each carrying image data signals and said multibit digital signal for current regulation is carried on at least one of said data lines.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 or 7 and wherein said driving means includes means responsive to the signals in said respective data register means for driving a respective recording element for a time period related to said signals in said respective data register means.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 and wherein the recording elements are light-emitting diodes.

10. A non-impact printer apparatus comprising:

a recording head having a plurality of recording elements for recording on a recording medium;

driving means for selectively driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with respective image data signals;

image data bus means for carrying image data signals related to an exposure duration;

said driving means including respective data register means associated with each other recording element for storing said image data signals;

means for connecting said data bus means to said data register means;

said driving means further including current regulating means for regulating a level of electrical current to each recording element the current regulating means including means for regulating a level of electrical current to each recording element in response to a multibit digital signal; and

means for generating, on the image data bus means, the multibit digital signal used for regulating current; and

wherein the current regulating means further includes first register means including a plurality of registers for storing a multibit digital signal related to a level of current control, second register means for storing and conveying a token bit signal and means responsive to the token bit signal for latching in an appropriate register of said first register means a digital signal found on said data bus means.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 and wherein said data bus means comprises a plurality of independent data lines, each carrying image data signals.

12. The apparatus of cliam 11 and wherein said driving means includes means responsive to the signals in said respective data register means for driving a respective recording element for a time period related to said signals in said respective data register means.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 and wherein the recording elements are light-emitting diodes.

14. A driver chip for use on a non-impact printer apparatus having a plurality of recording elements for recording, the driver chip comprising:

driving means for selectively driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with respective image data signals;

image data carrying means including a plurality of lines for carrying image data signals and at least one line thereof carrying a multibit signal used for regulating current;

a plurality of data register means with a respective data register means connectable with a respective recording element for storing said image data signals;

a multistage shift register means for outputting sequentially at respective stages a token bit signal for sequentially selecting a respective data register means for accepting image data signals on said image data carrying means;

said driving means further including current regulating means for regulating a level of electrical current to each recording element, the current regulating means including means for adjusting a level of electrical current to each recording element in response to a multibit digital signal;

means for coupling at least one line of said plurality of lines with said current regulating means for conveying the multibit digital signal used for regulating current to said current regulating means; and

wherein the current regulating means includes first register means including a plurality of registers for storing a multibit digital signal related to a level of current control, second register means for storing and shifting a token bit signal and means responsive to a token bit signal in said second register means for latching in an appropriate register of said first register means a digital signal found on said at least one of the plurality of lines.

15. The driver chip of claim 14 and wherein said driving means includes means responsive to the signals in said respective data register means for driving a respective recording element for a time period related to said signals in said respective data register means.

16. A driver chip for use on a non-impact printer apparatus, the driver chip comprising:

driving means for selectively driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with respective image data signals;

respective data register means connectable with a respective recording element for storing said image data signals;

image bus means including a plurality of lines for carrying image data signals;

means for connecting said plurality of lines to said data register means;

a multistage shift register means for outputting sequentially at respective stages a token bit signal for sequentially selecting a respective data register means for accepting image data signals;

said driving means further including current regulating means for regulating a level of electrical current to each other recording element, the current regulating means including means for adjusting a level of electrical current to each recording element in response to a multibit digital signal; and

wherein the current regulating means includes first register means including a plurality of registers for storing digital signals related to a level of current control, second register means for storing and shifting a token bit signal, and means responsive to a token bit signal in said second register means for latching in an appropriate register of said first register means a bit of the multibit digital signal.

17. The driver chip of claim 16 and wherein said image data bus means carries on at least one of said lines a multibit digital signal used for current regulation.

18. The driver chip of claim 16 and 17 and wherein said driving means includes means responsive to the signals in said respective data register means for driving a respective recording element for a time period related to said signals in said respective data register means.

19. A driver chip for use on a non-impact printer apparatus having a plurality of recording elements for recording, the driver chip comprising:

driving means for selectively driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with respective image data signals;

means including a plurality of lines for carrying image data signals related to an exposure duration and for carrying on at least one of said lines a multibit digital signal used for regulating a level of current to each recording element;

respective data register means connectable with a respective recording element for storing said image data signals;

means for connecting said plurality of lines to said data register means;

said driving means further inluding current regulating means for regulating a level of electrical current to cach recording element, the current regulating means including means for adjusting the level of current in responsive to a multibit digital signal; and

wherein the current regulating means includes first register means including a plurality registers for storing a multibit digital signal related to a level of current control, second register means for storing and conveying a token bit signal, and means responsive to the token bit signal for latching in an appropriate register of said first register means a digital signal found on said at least one of said plurality of lines.

20. The driver chip of claim 19 and wherein said driving means includes means responsive to the signals in said respective data register means for driving a respective recording element for a time period related to said signals in said respective data register means.