US5796418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Page image and fault tolerance control apparatus for printing systems
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1996-04-09
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Granted: 1998-08-18
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Expires: 2016-04-09
Abstract
Abstract A page image and fault tolerance control apparatus for print heads which may be implemented as a single digital head control ASIC. The head control ASIC provides the following major functions: 1) Reads the data for the print head from a page or band memory; 2) Provides image data to the print head at the correct timing; 3) Records which blocks of nozzles contain faulty nozzles or drive circuits; 4) Provides the correct data for the main or redundant nozzles depending on the fault status; 5) Determines the number of actuators that are on in any phase so that the power supply can be compensated; 6) Generates timing signals for power supply time dependence; 7) Provides fault status information to the print head; 8) Generates the clock for the print head; and 9) Generates the enable signals for the print head.
Inventors
- 👤 Kia Silverbrook
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:07
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/14; B41J2/14451; B41J2/015; B41J2/04; B41J2/045; B41J2/04501; B41J2/0451; B41J2/04553; B41J2/04568; B41J2/04583
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A printing system comprising: print heads containing main actuators and redundant actuators, wherein said print heads further comprise: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles, (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, (c) a pressurizing device adapted to subject ink in said body of ink to a pressure of at least 2% above ambient pressure, at least during drop selection and separation to form a meniscus with an air/ink interface, (d) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, and (e) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles; a memory which records the logical location of faulty portions of said print heads; an image data source adapted (1) to provide image data to said main actuators at a time which causes an output related to the provided image data to be printed at a corresponding position on a print medium and (2) to provide image data to said redundant actuators at a time which causes an output related to the image data to be printed at a corresponding position on a print medium; and a data selector adapted to select between the provision of image data to the main actuators or the redundant actuators, said data selector being controlled by the contents of said memory.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A printing system comprising: print heads containing main actuators and redundant actuators, wherein said print heads further comprise: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles, (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, (c) a pressurizing device adapted to subject ink in said body of ink to a pressure of at least 2% above ambient pressure, at least during drop selection and separation to form a meniscus with an air/ink interface, (d) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, and (e) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles; a memory which records the logical location of faulty portions of said print heads; an image data source adapted (1) to provide image data to said main actuators at a time which causes an output related to the provided image data to be printed at a corresponding position on a print medium and (2) to provide image data to said redundant actuators at a time which causes an output related to the image data to be printed at a corresponding position on a print medium; and a data selector adapted to select between the provision of image data to the main actuators or the redundant actuators, said data selector being controlled by the contents of said memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A printing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said printing system operates in a coincident forces printing mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A printing system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a power supply and a voltage controller adapted to regulate said power supply in response to the number of actuators which are enabled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A printing system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a power supply and a voltage controller adapted to regulate said power supply in response to the temperature of said print head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A printing system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a power supply and a voltage controller adapted to regulate said power supply in response to elapsed time that such actuators have been enabled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
225 words
A printing system comprising: print heads containing main actuators and redundant actuators, wherein said print heads further comprise: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles, (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, (c) drop selection apparatus adapted to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, and (d) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles, said drop selecting means being capable of producing said difference in meniscus position in the absence of said drop separation means; a memory which records the logical location of faulty portions of said print heads; an image data source adapted (1) to provide image data to said main actuators at a time which causes an output related to the provided image data to be printed at a corresponding position on a print medium and (2) to provide image data to said redundant actuators at a time which causes an output related to the image data to be printed at a corresponding position on a print medium; and a data selector adapted to select between the provision of image data to the main actuators or the redundant actuators, said data selector being controlled by the contents of said memory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
225 words
A printing system comprising: print heads containing main actuators and redundant actuators, wherein said print heads further comprise: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles, (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, (c) drop selection apparatus adapted to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, and (d) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles, said drop selecting means being capable of producing said difference in meniscus position in the absence of said drop separation means; a memory which records the logical location of faulty portions of said print heads; an image data source adapted (1) to provide image data to said main actuators at a time which causes an output related to the provided image data to be printed at a corresponding position on a print medium and (2) to provide image data to said redundant actuators at a time which causes an output related to the image data to be printed at a corresponding position on a print medium; and a data selector adapted to select between the provision of image data to the main actuators or the redundant actuators, said data selector being controlled by the contents of said memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A printing system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said printing system operates in a coincident forces printing mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A printing system as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a power supply and a voltage controller adapted to regulate said power supply in response to the number of actuators which are enabled.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A printing system as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a power supply and a voltage controller adapted to regulate said power supply in response to the temperature of said print head.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A printing system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a power supply and a voltage controller adapted to regulate said power supply in response to elapsed time that such actuators have been enabled.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
221 words
A printing system comprising: print heads containing main actuators and redundant actuators, wherein said print heads further comprise: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles, (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said ink exhibiting a surface tension decrease of at least 10 mN/m over a 30° C. temperature range, (c) drop selection apparatus adapted to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, and (d) drop separating means for causing ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in nonselected nozzles; a memory which records the logical location of faulty portions of said print heads; an image data source adapted (1) to provide image data to said main actuators at a time which causes an output related to the provided image data to be printed at a corresponding position on a print medium and (2) to provide image data to said redundant actuators at a time which causes an output related to the image data to be printed at a corresponding position on a print medium; and a data selector adapted to select between the provision of image data to the main actuators or the redundant actuators, said data selector being controlled by the contents of said memory.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
221 words
A printing system comprising: print heads containing main actuators and redundant actuators, wherein said print heads further comprise: (a) a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles, (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said ink exhibiting a surface tension decrease of at least 10 mN/m over a 30° C. temperature range, (c) drop selection apparatus adapted to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, and (d) drop separating means for causing ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in nonselected nozzles; a memory which records the logical location of faulty portions of said print heads; an image data source adapted (1) to provide image data to said main actuators at a time which causes an output related to the provided image data to be printed at a corresponding position on a print medium and (2) to provide image data to said redundant actuators at a time which causes an output related to the image data to be printed at a corresponding position on a print medium; and a data selector adapted to select between the provision of image data to the main actuators or the redundant actuators, said data selector being controlled by the contents of said memory.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A printing system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said printing system operates in a coincident forces printing mode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A printing system as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a power supply and a voltage controller adapted to regulate said power supply in response to the number of actuators which are enabled.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A printing system as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a power supply and a voltage controller adapted to regulate said power supply in response to the temperature of said print head.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A printing system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a power supply and a voltage controller adapted to regulate said power supply in response to elapsed time that such actuators have been enabled.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-17 | 2002-02-16 | 2002-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-17 | 2006-02-16 | 2006-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-17 | 2010-02-16 | 2010-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |