Energy control method for an inkjet print cartridge
First Claim
1. A method of calibrating an inkjet print cartridge having a plurality of ink firing resistor groupings each containing at least one resistor and a memory device, the method comprising the steps:
- selecting the desired pulse width, minimum over-energy and maximum over-energy;
measuring a turn-on voltage for each of the plurality of ink firing resistor groupings for the selected pulse width by applying the selected pulse width to each of the plurality of ink firing resistor groupings;
calculating an operating voltage for at least one of the plurality of ink firing resistor groupings from the minimum over-energy;
calculating a maximum voltage for at least one of the plurality of ink firing resistor groupings from the maximum over-energy;
setting the operating voltage equal to the maximum voltage;
varying the operating voltage to find a maximum operating voltage;
setting the operating voltage equal to the maximum operating voltage found; and
writing the operating voltage to the memory device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is an energy control system and method for an inkjet printer cartridge for controlling the droplet firing energy. One embodiment of the present invention includes calibrating an inkjet print cartridge having a printhead die divided into sections. This method includes selecting an operational range of the inkjet print cartridge, measuring the electrical characteristics of the electrical components over this operational range, calculating an optimal calibration value for the electrical characteristics of each section, and storing these optimal calibration values. In addition, the present invention allows operation of an inkjet printer having a print cartridge for determining optimal operating settings for the print cartridge. This method includes reading calibration values stored on the print cartridge, performing tests using the calibration values to determine optimal operating settings, adjusting settings on the print cartridge to the optimal operating settings, and storing the optimal operating settings in the printer.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of calibrating an inkjet print cartridge having a plurality of ink firing resistor groupings each containing at least one resistor and a memory device, the method comprising the steps:
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selecting the desired pulse width, minimum over-energy and maximum over-energy;
measuring a turn-on voltage for each of the plurality of ink firing resistor groupings for the selected pulse width by applying the selected pulse width to each of the plurality of ink firing resistor groupings;
calculating an operating voltage for at least one of the plurality of ink firing resistor groupings from the minimum over-energy;
calculating a maximum voltage for at least one of the plurality of ink firing resistor groupings from the maximum over-energy;
setting the operating voltage equal to the maximum voltage;
varying the operating voltage to find a maximum operating voltage;
setting the operating voltage equal to the maximum operating voltage found; and
writing the operating voltage to the memory device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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7. A method of operating an inkjet printer in order to determine operating settings to apply to a print cartridge installed in the printer, comprising the steps:
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measuring a turn-on voltage for each of a plurality of ink firing resistor groupings for a selected pulse width by applying the selected pulse width to each of said plurality of ink firing resistor groupings;
reading calibration information from a memory chip on the print cartridge;
setting the printer to use the calibration information;
performing tests using the calibration information to determine operating conditions for the printer;
adjusting the operating conditions for the printer using the calibration information and one of the measured turn-on voltages; and
storing the operating conditions in the printer.
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18. A method of calibrating an inkjet print cartridge having a printhead die defined by resistor groupings having at least one resistor, each resistor grouping having electrical components with associated electrical characteristics, the method comprising:
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providing a firing and energy control circuit on the inkjet print cartridge for sending a firing pulse to the electrical components, the firing pulse having an associated pulse width, minimum over-energy and maximum over-energy selecting a testing range for the inkjet print cartridge by selecting the associated pulse width, minimum over-energy and maximum over-energy;
measuring a turn-on voltage of each resistor grouping for the selected pulse width by applying the selected pulse width to the electrical components in each resistor grouping;
calculating an optimal calibration value for the measured turn-on voltage of each resistor grouping; and
storing the optimal calibration values. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
determining a maximum operating voltage by varying the operating voltage such that none of the resistor groupings truncate; and
setting the operating voltage equal to the maximum voltage.
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22. The method as set forth in claim 21, further comprising determining whether all of the resistor groupings truncate.
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23. The method as set forth in claim 18 further comprising determining a maximum turn-on voltage from the turn-on voltage of each of the resistor groupings.
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24. The method as set forth in claim 23 further comprising using the maximum turn-on voltage in calculating the operating voltage.
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25. A printing apparatus comprising:
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an inkjet printhead having an integrated memory device with calibration information stored therein;
a plurality of ink firing resistor groupings;
a firing and energy control circuit that applies a selected pulse width to each grouping for measuring a turn-on voltage for each of the plurality of ink firing resistor groupings for the selected pulse width; and
a controller for accessing the memory device and using at least one of the turn-on voltage and the calibration information for performing tests to determine optimal operating conditions for the printing apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification