US6315381B1 — Energy control method for an inkjet print cartrid…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 155 words

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.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 155 words

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.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the operating voltage is calculated using a maximum turn-on voltage computed from the measured turn-on voltage at each of the plurality of ink firing resistor groupings.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method as set forth in claim 2 , wherein each of the resistor groupings has a digital-to-analog converter setting and a group slope adjustment setting.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method as set forth in claim 3 , further comprising cycling through the digital-to-analog converter setting and the group slope adjustment setting until at least one group slope adjustment setting in each of the resistor groupings does not truncate.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method as set forth in claim 4 , further comprising finding the maximum operating voltage where none of the resistor groupings truncates with the selected digital-to-analog setting and group slope adjustment settings.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein calculating the maximum voltage further comprises using a minimum turn-on energy computed from the measured turn-on voltage at each of the resistor groupings.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 119 words

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: 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.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 119 words

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: 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.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the print cartridge has a plurality of ink firing resistor groupings having at least two sections and the calibration information comprises at least one of: (a) a section slope adjustment setting for each section; (b) a digital-to-analog setting; (c) an operating voltage.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the calibration information includes a section slope adjustment setting and a digital-to-analog setting and further comprising setting a current digital-to-analog converter to the digital-to-analog setting and a current section slope adjustment setting to the section slope adjustment setting.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the calibration information further includes an operating voltage and further comprising setting a printer power supply voltage to the operating voltage.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method as set forth in claim 8 , wherein performing tests further comprises observing a pulse width truncation flag for each of the resistor groupings.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein each of the resistor groupings contains at least one resistor and further comprising observing a pulse width truncation flag while firing all resistors in each of the resistor groupings in a blackout pattern.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method as set forth in claim 2 , wherein adjusting the operating conditions further comprises increasing a printer power supply voltage in small incremental steps and firing the resistors at each step until a group flag shows truncation.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method as set forth in claim 13 , further comprising setting a truncation power supply voltage equal to a value of the printer power supply voltage at which the group flag shows truncation.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method as set forth in claim 14 , further comprising forming a ratio of the truncation power supply voltage to the operating voltage.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method as set forth in claim 15 , further comprising determining whether the ratio exceeds a maximum limit.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method as set forth in claim 16 , further comprising reducing the printer power supply voltage to a value one incremental step below the truncation power supply voltage and setting the operating voltage to this value.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 135 words

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: 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.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 135 words

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: 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.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein calculating an optimal calibration value further comprises calculating an operating voltage from the selected minimum over-energy.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method as set forth in claim 19 further comprising calculating a maximum voltage from the maximum over-energy.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method as set forth in claim 20 , further comprising: 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.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method as set forth in claim 21 , further comprising determining whether all of the resistor groupings truncate.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 25 words

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.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method as set forth in claim 23 further comprising using the maximum turn-on voltage in calculating the operating voltage.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 92 words

A printing apparatus comprising: 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.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 92 words

A printing apparatus comprising: 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.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 19 words

The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 25 , further comprising storing and using the optimal operating conditions.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 64 words

The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 26 , wherein the inkjet printhead includes a resistor groupings having at least one resistor and wherein using the operating conditions comprises increasing a printer power supply voltage in small incremental steps and firing the at least one resistor at each step until a flag corresponding to at least one of the resistor groupings shows truncation.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 32 words

The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 25 , further comprising an ink supply for supplying ink to the inkjet printhead and a carriage supporting the printhead over a print media.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 33 words

The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 28 , further comprising a substrate having a front surface and an opposing back surface and ink ejection elements being formed on the front surface.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 40 words

The printing apparatus as set forth in claim 25 , wherein the inkjet printhead includes resistor groupings having at least one resistor and wherein performing tests further comprises observing a pulse width truncation flag for each of the resistor groupings.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-11-12	2005-05-14	2005-11-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-11-12	2009-05-14	2009-11-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-11-12	2013-05-14	2013-11-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Energy control method for an inkjet print cartridge

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