Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The claims defining the invention are as follows:
1. A method of expelling ink from a printhead module including at least one
row that comprises a plurality
of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured
to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal in accordance with the sequence:
[nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-
1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein
nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
2. A method according to claim 1,wherein the nozzle at each given position
within the set is fired
simultaneously with the nozzles in the other sets at respective corresponding
positions.
3. A method according to claim 1,wherein the printhead module includes a
plurality of the rows of nozzles,
the method including sequentially repeating the for each of the rows of
nozzles.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the rows are disposed in pairs.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the rows in each pair of rows are
offset relative to each other.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein each pair of rows is configured to
print the same color ink.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein each pair of rows is connected to a
common ink source.
8. A method according to claim 1,wherein the sets of nozzles are adjacent each
other.
9. A method according to claim 1,wherein the sets of nozzles are separated by
an intermediate nozzle, the
intermediate nozzle being fired either prior to the nozzle at position l in
each set, or following the nozzle at
position n.
10. A method according to claim l,including the step of providing the fire
sequence to the printhead module
from a printer controller, the fire signals being based on the fire sequence.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the fire sequence is loaded into a
shift register in the printhead
module.
12. A method according to claim 1,the method at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement
by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due to erroneous rotational
displacement of a printhead module relative to
a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the printhead module, the method
comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining the rotational displacement;
(b) determining at least one correction factor that at least partially
compensates for the ink dot displacement;
and
(c) using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at
least partially compensate for the
rotational displacement.
13. A method according to claim 1,the method including expelling ink from a
printhead module including at
least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each
of the nozzles being configured to expel
ink in response to a fire signal, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
(b) providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each set
have been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
14. A method according to claim 1,the method including manufacturing a
plurality of printhead modules, at
least some of which are capable of being combined in pairs to form bilithic
pagewidth printheads, the method
comprising the step of laying out each of the plurality of printhead modules
on a wafer substrate, wherein at least
one of the printhead modules is right-handed and at least another is left-
handed.
15. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
16. A method according to claim l,the method being performed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
17. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
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at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
18. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
19. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
20. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
supplying dot data to at least one printhead module and at least partially
compensating for errors in ink dot
placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module
due to erroneous rotational
displacement of the printhead module relative to a carrier, the printer being
configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
21. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
supplying dot data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for
expelling ink, the printhead module
including a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being
configured to respond to a temperature
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at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printer controller being
configured to modify operation of at least
some of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first
threshold.
22. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
controlling a printhead comprising at least one monolithic printhead module,
the at least one printhead module
having a plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at
least part of a printable pagewidth of
the printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of
each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence
in the other fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that
the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent row, wherein the printer controller is
configured to provide one or more
control signals that control the order of firing of the nozzles.
23. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
outputting to a printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
24. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
including at least one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at
least one displaced row portion, the
displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to
that of a pagewidth to be printed.
25. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
supplying print data to at least one printhead module capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print
data, the at least one printhead module being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
26. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the
printhead being wider than a reticle
step used in forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least two types
of the modules, wherein each type is
determined by its geometric shape in plan.
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27. A method according to claim 1,the method being used in conjunction with a
printer controller for
supplying one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead
module including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to
a fire signal, such that:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
28. A method according to claim 1,the method being used in conjunction with a
printer controller for
supplying one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead
module including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with
the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
29. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
supplying dot data to a printhead module comprising at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned
with respective corresponding nozzles in
the second row in a direction of intended media travel relative to the
printhead, the printhead module being
configurable such that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are
fired such that some dots output to print
media are printed to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some
other dots output to print media are
printed to by nozzles from the second pair of rows, the printer controller
being configurable to supply dot data to
the printhead module for printing.
30. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
supplying dot data to at least one printhead module, the at least one
printhead module comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink,
wherein the printhead module includes at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, the printer controller being configured
to supply the dot data to the at least one printhead module such that, in the
event a nozzle in the first row is faulty,
a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on
print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
31. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
receiving first data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be
printed, the print controller including
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at least two serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one
printhead, wherein each of the serial outputs is
configured to supply dot data for at least two channels of the at least one
printhead.
32. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
33. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead capable of
printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being
configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
34. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead comprising a
plurality of printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step
used in forming the modules, the
printhead comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is
determined by its geometric shape in
plan.
35. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set
of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in
accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle
position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... ,
nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of
the set of nozzles.
36. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead
being configured to output ink from
nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next
inward pair of nozzles in each set,
until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
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37. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module for
receiving dot data to be printed using at least two different inks and control
data for controlling printing of the dot
data, the printhead module including a communication input for receiving the
dot data for the at least two colors
and the control data.
38. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
including at least one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at
least one displaced row portion, the
displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to
that of a pagewidth to be printed.
39. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
having a plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at
least part of a printable pagewidth, the
nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups,
the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group,
such that each nozzle in the sequence
from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective corresponding
nozzles in the sequence in the other
fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of
each row are all fired before the
nozzles of each subsequent row.
40. A method according to claim l,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
comprising at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar
type or color, at least some nozzles in
the first row being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the
second row in a direction of intended
media travel relative to the printhead, the printhead module being
configurable such that the nozzles in the first
and second pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media
are printed to by nozzles from the
first pair of rows and at least some other dots output to print media are
printed to by nozzles from the second pair
of rows.
41. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
providing data to a printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
42. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module
including a plurality of thermal sensors, each
of the thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the
printhead module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in
response to the temperature rising above
a first threshold.
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43. A method according to claim 1,the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of
nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the
printhead module includes at least first and second rows configured to print
ink of a similar type or color, and
being configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty,
a corresponding nozzle in the second
row prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
44. A method according to claim 1,wherein the printhead module includes a
plurality of the rows, the method
including firing each nozzle in each row simultaneously with the nozzle or
nozzles at the same position in the
other rows.
45. A method according to claim 1,including a plurality of pairs of the rows,
each pair of rows including an
odd row and an even row, the odd and even rows in each pair being offset from
each other in both x and y
directions relative to an intended direction of print media movement relative
to the printhead, the method
including causing firing of at least a plurality of the odd rows prior to
firing any of the even rows, or vice versa.
46. A method according to claim 45, wherein all the odd rows are fired before
any of the even rows are fired,
or vice versa.
47. A method according to claim 45, wherein the odd rows, or the even rows, or
both, are fired in a
predetermined order.
48. A method according to claim 47, wherein the predetermined order is
selectable from a plurality of
predetermined available orders.
49. A method according to claim 45, wherein the predetermined order is
sequential.
50. A method according to claim 49, wherein the predetermined order can
commence at any of a plurality of
the rows.
51. A method of expelling ink from a printhead module including at least one
row that comprises a plurality
of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel
ink in response to a fire signal, the
method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
(b) providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each set
have been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
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52. A method according to claim 51, wherein the printhead module includes a
plurality of the rows of
nozzles, the method including sequentially repeating steps (a) to (d) for each
of the rows of nozzles.
53. A method according to claim 52, wherein the rows are disposed in pairs.
54. A method according to claim 53, wherein the rows in each pair of rows are
offset relative to each other.
55. A method according to claim 54, wherein each pair of rows is configured to
print the same color ink.
56. A method according to claim 55, wherein each pair of rows is connected to
a common ink source.
57. A method according to claim 51, wherein the sets of nozzles are adjacent
each other.
58. A method according to claim 51, wherein the sets of nozzles are separated
by an intermediate nozzle, the
intermediate nozzle being fired either prior to the nozzle at position 1 in
each set, or following the nozzle at
position n.
59. A method of expelling ink from a printhead module including at least one
row that comprises a plurality
of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured
to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal in accordance with the sequence:
[nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-
1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein
nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
60. A method according to claim 59, wherein the nozzle at each given position
within the set is fired
simultaneously with the nozzles in the other sets at respective corresponding
positions.
61. A method according to claim 51, the method at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot
placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due to erroneous
rotational displacement of a printhead module
relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the printhead module, the
method comprising the steps of:
(a) determining the rotational displacement;
(b) determining at least one correction factor that at least partially
compensates for the ink dot displacement;
and
(c) using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at
least partially compensate for the
rotational displacement.
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62. A method according to claim 51, the method including expelling ink from a
printhead module including
at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method comprising
providing, for each set of nozzles, a
fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle
position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is at or
adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
63. A method according to claim 51, the method including manufacturing a
plurality of printhead modules, at
least some of which are capable of being combined in pairs to form bilithic
pagewidth printheads, the method
comprising the step of laying out each of the plurality of printhead modules
on a wafer substrate, wherein at least
one of the printhead modules is right-handed and at least another is left-
handed.
64. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
65. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
66. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in a printer
comprising:
(a) a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel
to each other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
(b) at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print
data and process the print data to
output dot data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs
dot data only to the first printhead
module and the second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second
printhead module, wherein the
printhead modules are configured such that no dot data passes between them.
67. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in a printer
comprising:
(a) a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel
to each other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region,
wherein the first printhead module is
longer than the second printhead module;
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(b) at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print
data and process the print data to
output dot data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller
outputs dot data to both the first printhead
module and the second printhead module; and the second printer controller
outputs dot data only to the second
printhead module.
68. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in a printer
comprising:
(a) a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel
to each other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region,
wherein the first printhead module is
longer than the second printhead module;
(b) at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print
data and process the print data to
output dot data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller
outputs dot data to both the first printhead
module and the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs
dot data to the second printhead
module, wherein the dot data output by the second printer controller includes
dot data it generates and at least
some of the dot data received from the first printer controller.
69. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
supplying dot data to at least one printhead module and at least partially
compensating for errors in ink dot
placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module
due to erroneous rotational
displacement of the printhead module relative to a carrier, the printer being
configured to:
(a) access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead
module;
(b) determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to
at least one of the at least one
printhead modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of
the correction factor, thereby to at
least partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
(c) supply the dot data to the printhead module.
70. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
supplying dot data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for
expelling ink, the printhead module
including a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being
configured to respond to a temperature
at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printer controller being
configured to modify operation of at least
some of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first
threshold.
71. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
controlling a printhead comprising at least one monolithic printhead module,
the at least one printhead module
having a plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at
least part of a printable pagewidth of
the printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of
each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence
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in the other fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that
the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent row, wherein the printer controller is
configured to provide one or more
control signals that control the order of firing of the nozzles.
72. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
outputting to a printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
73. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
including at least one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at
least one displaced row portion, the
displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to
that of a pagewidth to be printed.
74. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
supplying print data to at least one printhead module capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print
data, the at least one printhead module being configurable into:
(a) a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data
for a first number of the
channels; and
(b) a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive
print data for a second number of
the channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
(c) wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot
data for the first and second
modes.
75. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the
printhead being wider than a reticle
step used in forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least two types
of the modules, wherein each type is
determined by its geometric shape in plan.
76. A method according to claim 51, the method being used in conjunction with
a printer controller for
supplying one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead
module including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to
a fire signal, such that:
(d) providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
(e) providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(f) in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
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(g) in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each set
have been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
77. A method according to claim 51, the method being used in conjunction with
a printer controller for
supplying one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead
module including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with
the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
78. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
supplying dot data to a printhead module comprising at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned
with respective corresponding nozzles in
the second row in a direction of intended media travel relative to the
printhead, the printhead module being
configurable such that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are
fired such that some dots output to print
media are printed to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some
other dots output to print media are
printed to by nozzles from the second pair of rows, the printer controller
being configurable to supply dot data to
the printhead module for printing.
79. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
supplying dot data to at least one printhead module, the at least one
printhead module comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink,
wherein the printhead module includes at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, the printer controller being configured
to supply the dot data to the at least one printhead module such that, in the
event a nozzle in the first row is faulty,
a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on
print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
80. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
receiving first data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be
printed, the print controller including
at least two serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one
printhead, wherein each of the serial outputs is
configured to supply dot data for at least two channels of the at least one
printhead.
81. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
including:
(a) at least one row of print nozzles;
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(b) at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data
supplied from a data source, wherein each
shift register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the
groups of the nozzles is interleaved
with at least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
82. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead capable of
printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being
configurable into:
(a) a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data
for a first number of the channels;
and
(b) a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data
for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
83. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead comprising
a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle
step used in forming the modules, the
printhead comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is
determined by its geometric shape in
plan.
84. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set
of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in
accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle
position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... ,
nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of
the set of nozzles.
85. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead
being configured to output ink from
nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next
inward pair of nozzles in each set,
until:
(a) in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
(b) in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle
in each set have been fired, and
then to fire the central nozzle.
86. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module for
receiving dot data to be printed using at least two different inks and control
data for controlling printing of the dot
data, the printhead module including a communication input for receiving the
dot data for the at least two colors
and the control data.
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87. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
including at least one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at
least one displaced row portion, the
displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to
that of a pagewidth to be printed.
88. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
having a plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at
least part of a printable pagewidth, the
nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups,
the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group,
such that each nozzle in the sequence
from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective corresponding
nozzles in the sequence in the other
fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of
each row are all fired before the
nozzles of each subsequent row.
89. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
comprising at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar
type or color, at least some nozzles in
the first row being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the
second row in a direction of intended
media travel relative to the printhead, the printhead module being
configurable such that the nozzles in the first
and second pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media
are printed to by nozzles from the
first pair of rows and at least some other dots output to print media are
printed to by nozzles from the second pair
of rows.
90. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printer controller for
providing data to a printhead module that includes:
(a) at least one row of print nozzles;
(b) at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data
supplied from a data source, wherein each
shift register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the
groups of the nozzles is interleaved
with at least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
91. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module
including a plurality of thermal sensors, each
of the thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the
printhead module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in
response to the temperature rising above
a first threshold.
92. A method according to claim 51, the method being performed in conjunction
with a printhead module
comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of
nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the
printhead module includes at least first and second rows configured to print
ink of a similar type or color, and
being configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty,
a corresponding nozzle in the second
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row prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
93. A method according to claim 51, wherein the printhead module includes a
plurality of the rows, the
method including firing each nozzle in each row simultaneously with the nozzle
or nozzles at the same position in
the other rows.
94. A method according to claim 51, wherein the printhead module includes a
plurality of the rows, the
method including firing each nozzle in each row simultaneously with the nozzle
or nozzles at the same position in
the other rows.
95. A method according to claim 51, including a plurality of pairs of the
rows, each pair of rows including an
odd row and an even row, the odd and even rows in each pair being offset from
each other in both x and y
directions relative to an intended direction of print media movement relative
to the printhead, the method
including causing firing of at least a plurality of the odd rows prior to
firing any of the even rows, or vice versa.
96. A method according to claim 95, wherein all the odd rows are fired before
any of the even rows are fired,
or vice versa.
97. A method according to claim 95, wherein the odd rows, or the even rows, or
both, are fired in a
predetermined order.
98. A method according to claim 97, wherein the predetermined order is
selectable from a plurality of
predetermined available orders.
99. A method according to claim 95, wherein the predetermined order is
sequential.
100. A method according to claim 99, wherein the predetermined order can
commence at any of a plurality of
the rows.
101. A method of manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules, at least some
of which are capable of being
combined in pairs to form bilithic pagewidth printheads, the method comprising
the step of laying out each of the
plurality of printhead modules on a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of
the printhead modules is right-handed
and at least another is left-handed.
102. A method of manufacturing a plurality of pagewidth printheads, the method
comprising the steps of:
manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules in accordance with claim 1; and
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assembling pairs of at least some of the printhead modules to form pagewidth
printheads, wherein each of the
printhead modules in each pagewidth printhead is shorter than the pagewidth.
103. A method according to claim 102, wherein the printhead modules of at
least one of the pagewidth
printheads are of relatively different lengths.
104. A method according to claim 102, wherein the printhead modules of at
least one of the pagewidth
printheads are of the same length.
105. A method according to claim 102, wherein the printhead modules of at
least one of the pagewidth
printheads are of relatively different lengths, and the printhead modules of
at least another of the pagewidth
printheads are of the same length.
106. A method according to claim 102, wherein at least some of the printhead
modules are larger than a reticle
step used in laying out those printhead modules.
107. A method according to claim 101, including the step of laying out a
plurality of left-handed and right-
handed printhead modules.
108. A method according to claim 107, including the step of laying out a
plurality of different lengths of left-
handed and right-handed printhead modules.
109. A method according to claim 101, the method at least partially
compensating for errors in ink dot
placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due to erroneous
rotational displacement of a printhead module
relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the printhead module, the
method comprising the steps of:
(a) determining the rotational displacement;
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(b) determining at least one correction factor that at least partially
compensates for the ink dot displacement;
and
(c) using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at
least partially compensate for the
rotational displacement.
110. A method according to claim 101, the method including expelling ink from
a printhead module including
at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method comprising
providing, for each set of nozzles, a
fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle
position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is at or
adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
111. A method according to claim 101, the method including expelling ink from
a printhead module including
at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to
expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
112. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printhead module
including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
113. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
114. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
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at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
115. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
116. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
117. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printer controller
for supplying dot data to at least one printhead module and at least partially
compensating for errors in ink dot
placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module
due to erroneous rotational
displacement of the printhead module relative to a carrier, the printer being
configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
118. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printer controller
for supplying dot data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for
expelling ink, the printhead module
including a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being
configured to respond to a temperature
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at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printer controller being
configured to modify operation of at least
some of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first
threshold.
119. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printer controller
for controlling a printhead comprising at least one monolithic printhead
module, the at least one printhead module
having a plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at
least part of a printable pagewidth of
the printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of
each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence
in the other fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that
the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent row, wherein the printer controller is
configured to provide one or more
control signals that control the order of firing of the nozzles.
120. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printer controller
for outputting to a printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
121. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printhead module
including at least one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at
least one displaced row portion, the
displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to
that of a pagewidth to be printed.
122. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printer controller
for supplying print data to at least one printhead module capable of printing
a maximum of n of channels of print
data, the at least one printhead module being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
123. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printer controller
for supplying data to a printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules,
the printhead being wider than a
reticle step used in forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least
two types of the modules, wherein each
type is determined by its geometric shape in plan.
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124. A method according to claim 101, the method being used in conjunction
with a printer controller for
supplying one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead
module including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to
a fire signal, such that:
(a) providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
(b) providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each set
have been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
125. A method according to claim 101, the method being used in conjunction
with a printer controller for
supplying one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead
module including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with
the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
126. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printer controller
for supplying dot data to a printhead module comprising at least first and
second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned
with respective corresponding nozzles in
the second row in a direction of intended media travel relative to the
printhead, the printhead module being
configurable such that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are
fired such that some dots output to print
media are printed to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some
other dots output to print media are
printed to by nozzles from the second pair of rows, the printer controller
being configurable to supply dot data to
the printhead module for printing.
127. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printer controller
for supplying dot data to at least one printhead module, the at least one
printhead module comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink,
wherein the printhead module includes at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, the printer controller being configured
to supply the dot data to the at least one printhead module such that, in the
event a nozzle in the first row is faulty,
a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on
print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
128. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printer controller
for receiving first data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data
to be printed, the print controller
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including at least two serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least
one printhead, wherein each of the serial
outputs is configured to supply dot data for at least two channels of the at
least one printhead.
129. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printhead module
including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
130. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printhead capable
of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being
configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
131. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printhead
comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a
reticle step used in forming the
modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein
each type is determined by its
geometric shape in plan.
132. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set
of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in
accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle
position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... ,
nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of
the set of nozzles.
133. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead
being configured to output ink from
nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next
inward pair of nozzles in each set,
until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
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134. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printhead module
for receiving dot data to be printed using at least two different inks and
control data for controlling printing of the
dot data, the printhead module including a communication input for receiving
the dot data for the at least two
colors and the control data.
135. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printhead module
including at least one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at
least one displaced row portion, the
displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to
that of a pagewidth to be printed.
136. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printhead module
having a plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at
least part of a printable pagewidth, the
nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups,
the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group,
such that each nozzle in the sequence
from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective corresponding
nozzles in the sequence in the other
fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of
each row are all fired before the
nozzles of each subsequent row.
137. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printhead module
comprising at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar
type or color, at least some nozzles in
the first row being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the
second row in a direction of intended
media travel relative to the printhead, the printhead module being
configurable such that the nozzles in the first
and second pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media
are printed to by nozzles from the
first pair of rows and at least some other dots output to print media are
printed to by nozzles from the second pair
of rows.
138. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printer controller
for providing data to a printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
139. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printhead module
having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module
including a plurality of thermal sensors, each
of the thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the
printhead module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in
response to the temperature rising above
a first threshold.
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140. A method according to claim 101, the method being performed in
conjunction with a printhead module
comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of
nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the
printhead module includes at least first and second rows configured to print
ink of a similar type or color, and
being configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty,
a corresponding nozzle in the second
row prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
141. A printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
142. A printhead module according to claim 141, wherein there is a one to one
correspondence between the
nozzles and elements of the two shift registers.
143. A printhead module according to claim 142, wherein each of the shift
registers supplies dot data to about
half of the nozzles.
144. A printhead module according to claim 141, including at least one pair of
rows of the nozzles, the rows in
each pair being offset with respect to each other by half the intra-row nozzle
spacing.
145. A printhead module according to claim 144, wherein each of the at least
two shift registers supplies dot
data to at least some of the nozzles in at least one pair of rows.
146. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 186.
147. A printhead according to claim 146, wherein the printhead is a pagewidth
printhead.
148. A printhead module according to claim 141, configured to receive dot data
to which a method of at least
partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a
plurality of nozzles due to erroneous
rotational displacement of a printhead module relative to a carrier has been
applied, the nozzles being disposed on
the printhead module, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) determining the rotational displacement;
(b) determining at least one correction factor that at least partially
compensates for the ink dot displacement;
and
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(c) using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at
least partially compensate for the
rotational displacement.
149. A printhead module according to claim 141, configured to receive dot data
to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with
the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
150. A printhead module according to claim 141, configured to receive dot data
to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to
a fire signal, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
(b) providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each set
have been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
151. A printhead module according to claim 141, having been manufactured in
accordance with a method of
manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are
capable of being combined in pairs to
form bilithic pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying
out each of the plurality of printhead
modules on a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is
right-handed and at least another is
left-handed.
152. A printhead module according to claim 141, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
153. A printhead module according to claim 141, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least the first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
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154. A printhead module according to claim 141, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
155. A printhead module according to claim 141, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
156. A printhead module according to claim 141, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
157. A printhead module according to claim 141, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying dot
data to at least one printhead module and at least partially compensating for
errors in ink dot placement by at least
one of a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module due to erroneous
rotational displacement of the printhead
module relative to a carrier, the printer being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
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158. A printhead module according to claim 141, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying dot
data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink,
the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being configured to
respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printer controller being configured
to modify operation of at least some of
the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
159. A printhead module according to claim 141, in communication with a
printer controller for controlling a
printhead comprising at least one monolithic printhead module, the at least
one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least
part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module
being configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire
group, such that each nozzle in the
sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the
nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent row, wherein the printer controller is
configured to provide one or more
control signals that control the order of firing of the nozzles.
160. A printhead module according to claim 141, in communication with a
printer controller for outputting to
a printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
161. A printhead module according to claim 141, including at least one row of
printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
162. A printhead module according to claim 141, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
print data to at least one printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n
of channels of print data, the at
least one printhead module being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
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208. A printhead module according to claim 141, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
data to a printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead
being wider than a reticle step used
in forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the
modules, wherein each type is
determined by its geometric shape in plan.
164. A printhead module according to claim 141, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
(a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each
set of nozzles;
(b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired;
and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each
set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
165. A printhead module according to claim 141, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
166. A printhead module according to claim 141, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying dot
data to a printhead module comprising at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second row
in a direction of intended media travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are fired such that some
dots output to print media are printed to
by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some other dots output to
print media are printed to by nozzles
from the second pair of rows, the printer controller being configurable to
supply dot data to the printhead module
for printing.
167. A printhead module according to claim 141, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying dot
data to at least one printhead module, the at least one printhead module
comprising a plurality of rows, each of the
rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and
second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, the printer
controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead module such that, in the event a nozzle
in the first row is faulty, a
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corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on
print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
168. A printhead module according to claim 141, in communication with a
printer controller for receiving first
data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be printed, the
print controller including at least two
serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one printhead.
169. A printhead module according to claim 141, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
170. A printhead module according to claim 186 being capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of
print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
171. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 141, the printhead being
wider than a reticle step used in forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules,
wherein each type is determined by its geometric shape in plan.
172. A printhead module according to claim 141, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, such that, for
each set of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position
n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein
nozzle position x is at or adjacent the
centre of the set of nozzles.
173. A printhead module according to claim 141, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of
adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire
signal, the printhead being configured to output ink from nozzles at a first
and nth position in each set of nozzles,
and then each next inward pair of nozzles in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
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174. A printhead module according to claim 141, for receiving dot data to be
printed using at least two
different inks and control data for controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a
communication input for receiving the dot data for the at least two colors and
the control data.
175. A printhead module according to claim 141, including at least one row of
printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
176. A printhead module according to claim 141, having a plurality of rows of
nozzles configured to extend,
in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each row
being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each
fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that
the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
177. A printhead module according to claim 141, comprising at least first and
second rows configured to print
ink of a similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being
aligned with respective corresponding
nozzles in the second row in a direction of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module
being configurable such that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output
to print media are printed to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at
least some other dots output to print
media are printed to by nozzles from the second pair of rows.
178. A printhead module according to claim 141, in communication with a
printer controller for providing
data to a printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
179. A printhead module according to claim 141, having a plurality of nozzles
for expelling ink, the printhead
module including a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors
being configured to respond to a
temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printhead module
being configured to modify operation
of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
180. A printhead module according to claim 141, comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows comprising
a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes
at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type or color, and being configured such
that, in the event a nozzle in the first
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row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a
position on print media at or adjacent
a position where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
181. A printer comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
182. A printer according to claim 181, including at least one synchronization
means between the first and
second printer controllers for synchronizing the supply of dot by the printer
controllers.
183. A printer according to claim 181, configured such that the first and
second printer controllers
sequentially provide the dot data to the common input.
184. A printer according to claim 181, further including a second printhead
module, the printer being
configured such that: the first printer controller outputs dot data to both
the first printhead module and the second
printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot data only to
the second printhead module.
185. A printer according to claim 184, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data
passes between them.
186. A printer according to claim 184, wherein each of the printer controllers
is configurable to supply the dot
data to printhead modules of a plurality of different lengths.
187. A printer according to claim 181, wherein the printhead is a pagewidth
printhead.
188. A print engine comprising:
a carrier;
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
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189. A printer according to claim 188, including at least one synchronization
means between the first and
second printer controllers for synchronizing the supply of dot by the printer
controllers.
190. A printer according to claim 188, configured such that the first and
second printer controllers alternately
provide the dot data to the common input.
191. A printer according to claim 188, further including a second printhead
module, the printer being
configured such that: the first printer controller outputs dot data to both
the first printhead module and the second
printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot data only to
the second printhead module.
192. A printer according to claim 191, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data
passes between them.
193. A printer according to claim 191, wherein each of the printer controllers
is configurable to supply the dot
data to printhead modules of a plurality of different lengths.
194. A printer according to claim 188, wherein the printhead is a pagewidth
printhead.
195. A printer comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least first and second rows of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to the printhead to supply data
for the first and second rows of nozzles, respectively.
196. A printer according to claim 195, including at least one synchronization
means between the first and
second printer controllers for synchronizing the supply of dot by the printer
controllers.
197. A printer according to claim 195, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data
passes between them.
198. A printer according to claim 195, wherein the printhead is a pagewidth
printhead.
199. A printer according to claim 181, for implementing a method of at least
partially compensating for errors
in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due to
erroneous rotational displacement of a
printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the
printhead module, the method comprising
the steps of:
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determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
200. A printer according to claim 226 for implementing a method of expelling
ink from a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
201. A printer according to claim 181, for implementing a method of expelling
ink from a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method comprising
the steps of:
(a) providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
(b) providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each set
have been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
202. A printer according to claim 181, manufactured in accordance with a
method of manufacturing a
plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are capable of being
combined in pairs to form bilithic
pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying out each of the
plurality of printhead modules on
a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is right-
handed and at least another is left-handed.
203. A printer according to claim 181, including a printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
204. A printer according to claim 181, comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
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second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
205. A printer according to claim 181, comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
206. A printer according to claim 181, comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
207. A printer according to claim 181, including at least one printhead
module, configured for at least partially
compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of
nozzles on the printhead module due
to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead module relative to a
carrier, the printer being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
208. A printer according to claim 181, including a printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for
expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of thermal sensors,
each of the thermal sensors being
configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the
nozzles, the printer being configured to
modify operation of at least some of the nozzles in response to the
temperature rising above a first threshold.
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209. A printer according to claim 181, for controlling a printhead comprising
at least one monolithic printhead
module, the at least one printhead module having a plurality of rows of
nozzles configured to extend, in use,
across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the printhead, the nozzles in
each row being grouped into at least
first and second fire groups, the printhead module being configured to
sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles
of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group
is fired simultaneously with
respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups,
wherein the nozzles are fired row by
row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of each
subsequent row, wherein the printer
controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that control
the order of firing of the nozzles.
210. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
sending to a printhead:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
211. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
including at least one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at
least one displaced row portion, the
displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to
that of a pagewidth to be printed.
212. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying print data to at least one
printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data,
the at least one printhead module
being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
213. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead
comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a
reticle step used in forming the
modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein
each type is determined by its
geometric shape in plan.
214. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying one or more control signals
to a printhead module, the printhead module including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, such that:
(a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each
set of nozzles;
(b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
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(c) in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired;
and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each
set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
215. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying one or more control signals
to a printhead module, the printhead module including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance
with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle
position x], wherein nozzle position x is at
or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
216. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying dot data to a printhead
module comprising at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, at least some
nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles
in the second row in a direction of
intended media travel relative to the printhead, the printhead module being
configurable such that the nozzles in
the first and second pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to
print media are printed to by nozzles
from the first pair of rows and at least some other dots output to print media
are printed to by nozzles from the
second pair of rows, the printer controller being configurable to supply dot
data to the printhead module for
printing.
217. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying dot data to at least one
printhead module, the at least one printhead module comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows comprising a
plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes
at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type or color, the printer controller
being configured to supply the dot data to
the at least one printhead module such that, in the event a nozzle in the
first row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle
in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or
adjacent a position where the faulty nozzle
would otherwise have printed it.
218. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
receiving first data and manipulating
the first data to produce dot data to be printed, the print controller
including at least two serial outputs for
supplying the dot data to at least one printhead.
219. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
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at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
220. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead capable
of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being
configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
221. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead
comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a
reticle step used in forming the
modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein
each type is determined by its
geometric shape in plan.
222. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set
of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in
accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle
position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... ,
nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of
the set of nozzles.
223. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead
being configured to output ink from
nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next
inward pair of nozzles in each set,
until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
224. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
for receiving dot data to be printed using at least two different inks and
control data for controlling printing of the
dot data, the printhead module including a communication input for receiving
the dot data for the at least two
colors and the control data.
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270. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
including at least one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at
least one displaced row portion, the
displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to
that of a pagewidth to be printed.
226. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
having a plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at
least part of a printable pagewidth, the
nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups,
the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group,
such that each nozzle in the sequence
from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective corresponding
nozzles in the sequence in the other
fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of
each row are all fired before the
nozzles of each subsequent row.
227. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
comprising at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar
type or color, at least some nozzles in
the first row being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the
second row in a direction of intended
media travel relative to the printhead, the printhead module being
configurable such that the nozzles in the first
and second pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media
are printed to by nozzles from the
first pair of rows and at least some other dots output to print media are
printed to by nozzles from the second pair
of rows.
228. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
providing data to a printhead module
that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
229. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module
including a plurality of thermal sensors, each
of the thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the
printhead module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in
response to the temperature rising above
a first threshold.
230. A printer according to claim 181, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of
nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the
printhead module includes at least first and second rows configured to print
ink of a similar type or color, and
being configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty,
a corresponding nozzle in the second
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row prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
231. A printer comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
232. A printer according to claim 231, including at least one synchronization
means between the first and
second printer controllers for synchronizing the supply of dot by the printer
controllers.
233. A printer according to claim 231, wherein each of the printer controllers
is configurable to supply the dot
data to a printhead module of arbitrary length.
234. A printer according to claim 231, wherein the first and second printhead
modules are equal in length.
235. A printer according to claim 231, wherein the first and second printhead
modules are unequal in length.
236. A printer according to claim 231, wherein the printhead is a pagewidth
printhead.
237. A print engine comprising:
a carrier;
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being mounted
parallel to each other end to end on the carrier on either side of a join
region;
at least first and second printer controllers mounted on the carrier and being
configured to receive print data and
process the print data to output dot data to the printhead, wherein the first
printer controller outputs dot data only
to the first printhead module and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are configured such that no dot data
passes between them.
238. A print engine according to claim 237, including at least one
synchronization means between the first and
second printer controllers for synchronizing the supply of dot by the printer
controllers.
239. A print engine according to claim 237, wherein each of the printer
controllers is configurable to supply
the dot data to a printhead module of arbitrary length.
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240. A print engine according to claim 237, wherein the first and second
printhead modules are equal in
length.
241. A print engine according to claim 237, wherein the first and second
printhead modules are unequal in
length.
242. A print engine according to claim 237, wherein the printhead is a
pagewidth printhead.
243. A printer according to claim 231, for implementing a method of at least
partially compensating for errors
in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due to
erroneous rotational displacement of a
printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the
printhead module, the method comprising
the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
244. A printer according to claim 276 for implementing a method of expelling
ink from a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
245. A printer according to claim 231, for implementing a method of expelling
ink from a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method comprising
the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
246. A printer according to claim 231, manufactured in accordance with a
method of manufacturing a
plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are capable of being
combined in pairs to form bilithic
pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying out each of the
plurality of printhead modules on
a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is right-
handed and at least another is left-handed.
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247. A printer according to claim 231, including a printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
248. A printer according to claim 231, comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
249. A printer according to claim 231, comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
250. A printer according to claim 231, comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
251. A printer according to claim 231, including at least one printhead
module, configured for at least partially
compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of
nozzles on the printhead module due
to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead module relative to a
carrier, the printer being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
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determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
252. A printer according to claim 231, including a printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for
expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of thermal sensors,
each of the thermal sensors being
configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the
nozzles, the printer being configured to
modify operation of at least some of the nozzles in response to the
temperature rising above a first threshold.
253. A printer according to claim 231, for controlling a printhead comprising
at least one monolithic printhead
module, the at least one printhead module having a plurality of rows of
nozzles configured to extend, in use,
across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the printhead, the nozzles in
each row being grouped into at least
first and second fire groups, the printhead module being configured to
sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles
of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group
is fired simultaneously with
respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups,
wherein the nozzles are fired row by
row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of each
subsequent row, wherein the printer
controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that control
the order of firing of the nozzles.
254. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
sending to a printhead:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
255. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
including at least one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at
least one displaced row portion, the
displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to
that of a pagewidth to be printed.
256. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying print data to at least one
printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data,
the at least one printhead module
being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
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257. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead
comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a
reticle step used in forming the
modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein
each type is determined by its
geometric shape in plan.
258. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying one or more control signals
to a printhead module, the printhead module including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, such that:
a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
259. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying one or more control signals
to a printhead module, the printhead module including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance
with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle
position x], wherein nozzle position x is at
or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
260. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying dot data to a printhead
module comprising at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, at least some
nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles
in the second row in a direction of
intended media travel relative to the printhead, the printhead module being
configurable such that the nozzles in
the first and second pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to
print media are printed to by nozzles
from the first pair of rows and at least some other dots output to print media
are printed to by nozzles from the
second pair of rows, the printer controller being configurable to supply dot
data to the printhead module for
printing.
261. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying dot data to at least one
printhead module, the at least one printhead module comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows comprising a
plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes
at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type or color, the printer controller
being configured to supply the dot data to
the at least one printhead module such that, in the event a nozzle in the
first row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle
1301
in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or
adjacent a position where the faulty nozzle
would otherwise have printed it.
262. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
receiving first data and manipulating
the first data to produce dot data to be printed, the print controller
including at least two serial outputs for
supplying the dot data to at least one printhead.
263. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
264. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead capable
of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being
configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
265. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead
comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a
reticle step used in forming the
modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein
each type is determined by its
geometric shape in plan.
266. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set
of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in
accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle
position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... ,
nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of
the set of nozzles.
267. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead
being configured to output ink from
nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next
inward pair of nozzles in each set,
until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
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in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
268. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
for receiving dot data to be printed using at least two different inks and
control data for controlling printing of the
dot data, the printhead module including a communication input for receiving
the dot data for the at least two
colors and the control data.
269. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
including at least one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at
least one displaced row portion, the
displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to
that of a pagewidth to be printed.
270. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
having a plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at
least part of a printable pagewidth, the
nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups,
the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group,
such that each nozzle in the sequence
from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective corresponding
nozzles in the sequence in the other
fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of
each row are all fired before the
nozzles of each subsequent row.
271. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
comprising at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar
type or color, at least some nozzles in
the first row being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the
second row in a direction of intended
media travel relative to the printhead, the printhead module being
configurable such that the nozzles in the first
and second pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media
are printed to by nozzles from the
first pair of rows and at least some other dots output to print media are
printed to by nozzles from the second pair
of rows.
272. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
providing data to a printhead module
that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
273. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module
including a plurality of thermal sensors, each
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of the thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the
printhead module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in
response to the temperature rising above
a first threshold.
274. A printer according to claim 231, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of
nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the
printhead module includes at least first and second rows configured to print
ink of a similar type or color, and
being configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty,
a corresponding nozzle in the second
row prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
275. A printer comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
276. A printer according to claim 275, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data
passes between them.
277. A printer according to claim 275, including at least one synchronization
means between the first and
second printer controllers for synchronizing the supply of dot data by the
printer controllers.
278. A printer according to claim 275, wherein each of the printer controllers
is configurable to supply the dot
data to printhead modules of a plurality of different lengths.
279. A printer according to claim 275, wherein the printhead is a pagewidth
printhead.
280. A print engine comprising:
a carrier;
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being mounted
parallel to each other end to end on the carrier on either side of a join
region, wherein the first printhead module is
longer than the second printhead module;
1304
at least first and second printer controllers mounted on the carrier and being
configured to receive print data and
process the print data to output dot data to the printhead, wherein: the first
printer controller outputs dot data to
both the first printhead module and the second printhead module; and the
second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead module.
281. A print engine according to claim 280, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot
data passes between them.
282. A print engine according to claim 281, including at least one
synchronization means between the first and
second printer controllers for synchronizing the supply of dot by the printer
controllers.
283. A print engine according to claim 281, wherein each of the printer
controllers is configurable to supply
the dot data to printhead modules of a plurality of different lengths.
284. A print engine according to claim 281, wherein the printhead is a
pagewidth printhead.
285. A printer according to claim 275, for implementing a method of at least
partially compensating for errors
in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due to
erroneous rotational displacement of a
printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the
printhead module, the method comprising
the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
286. A printer according to claim 320 for implementing a method of expelling
ink from a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
287. A printer according to claim 275, for implementing a method of expelling
ink from a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method comprising
the steps of:
(a) providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
(b) providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
1305
(c) in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each set
have been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
288. A printer according to claim 275, manufactured in accordance with a
method of manufacturing a
plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are capable of being
combined in pairs to form bilithic
pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying out each of the
plurality of printhead modules on
a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is right-
handed and at least another is left-handed.
289. A printer according to claim 275, including a printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
290. A printer according to claim 275, comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
291. A printer according to claim 275, comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
292. A printer according to claim 275, comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
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the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
293. A printer according to claim 275, including at least one printhead
module, configured for at least partially
compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of
nozzles on the printhead module due
to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead module relative to a
carrier, the printer being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
294. A printer according to claim 275, including a printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for
expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of thermal sensors,
each of the thermal sensors being
configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the
nozzles, the printer being configured to
modify operation of at least some of the nozzles in response to the
temperature rising above a first threshold.
295. A printer according to claim 275, for controlling a printhead comprising
at least one monolithic printhead
module, the at least one printhead module having a plurality of rows of
nozzles configured to extend, in use,
across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the printhead, the nozzles in
each row being grouped into at least
first and second fire groups, the printhead module being configured to
sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles
of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group
is fired simultaneously with
respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups,
wherein the nozzles are fired row by
row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of each
subsequent row, wherein the printer
controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that control
the order of firing of the nozzles.
296. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
sending to a printhead:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
297. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
including at least one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at
least one displaced row portion, the
displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to
that of a pagewidth to be printed.
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298. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying print data to at least one
printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data,
the at least one printhead module
being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
299. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead
comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a
reticle step used in forming the
modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein
each type is determined by its
geometric shape in plan.
300. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying one or more control signals
to a printhead module, the printhead module including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, such that:
a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
301. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying one or more control signals
to a printhead module, the printhead module including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance
with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle
position x], wherein nozzle position x is at
or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
302. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying dot data to a printhead
module comprising at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, at least some
nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles
in the second row in a direction of
intended media travel relative to the printhead, the printhead module being
configurable such that the nozzles in
the first and second pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to
print media are printed to by nozzles
from the first pair of rows and at least some other dots output to print media
are printed to by nozzles from the
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second pair of rows, the printer controller being configurable to supply dot
data to the printhead module for
printing.
303. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying dot data to at least one
printhead module, the at least one printhead module comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows comprising a
plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes
at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type or color, the printer controller
being configured to supply the dot data to
the at least one printhead module such that, in the event a nozzle in the
first row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle
in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or
adjacent a position where the faulty nozzle
would otherwise have printed it.
304. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
receiving first data and manipulating
the first data to produce dot data to be printed, the print controller
including at least two serial outputs for
supplying the dot data to at least one printhead.
305. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
306. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead capable
of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being
configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
307. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead
comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a
reticle step used in forming the
modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein
each type is determined by its
geometric shape in plan.
308. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set
of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in
1309
accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle
position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... ,
nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of
the set of nozzles.
309. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead
being configured to output ink from
nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next
inward pair of nozzles in each set,
until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
310. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
for receiving dot data to be printed using at least two different inks and
control data for controlling printing of the
dot data, the printhead module including a communication input for receiving
the dot data for the at least two
colors and the control data.
311. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
including at least one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at
least one displaced row portion, the
displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to
that of a pagewidth to be printed.
312. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
having a plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at
least part of a printable pagewidth, the
nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups,
the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group,
such that each nozzle in the sequence
from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective corresponding
nozzles in the sequence in the other
fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of
each row are all fired before the
nozzles of each subsequent row.
313. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
comprising at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar
type or color, at least some nozzles in
the first row being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the
second row in a direction of intended
media travel relative to the printhead, the printhead module being
configurable such that the nozzles in the first
and second pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media
are printed to by nozzles from the
first pair of rows and at least some other dots output to print media are
printed to by nozzles from the second pair
of rows.
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314. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
providing data to a printhead module
that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
315. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module
including a plurality of thermal sensors, each
of the thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the
printhead module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in
response to the temperature rising above
a first threshold.
316. A printer according to claim 275, including a printer controller for
supplying data to a printhead module
comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of
nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the
printhead module includes at least first and second rows configured to print
ink of a similar type or color, and
being configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty,
a corresponding nozzle in the second
row prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
317. A printer comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
318. A printer according to claim 3 17, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data
passes between them.
319. A printer according to claim 317, including at least one synchronization
means between the first and
second printer controllers for synchronizing the supply of dot data by the
printer controllers.
1311
320. A printer according to claim 317, wherein each of the printer controllers
is configurable to supply the dot
data to printhead modules of a plurality of different lengths.
321. A printer according to claim 317, wherein the printhead is a pagewidth
printhead.
322. A print engine comprising:
a carrier;
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being mounted
parallel to each other end to end on the carrier on either side of a join
region, wherein the first printhead module is
longer than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
323. A print engine according to claim 322, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot
data passes between them.
324. A print engine according to claim 323, including at least one
synchronization means between the first and
second printer controllers for synchronizing the supply of dot by the printer
controllers.
325. A print engine according to claim 323, wherein each of the printer
controllers is configurable to supply
the dot data to printhead modules of a plurality of different lengths.
326. A print engine according to claim 323, wherein the printhead is a
pagewidth printhead.
327. A printer controller according to claim 317, for implementing a method of
at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due
to erroneous rotational displacement of
a printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the
printhead module, the method
comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
1312
328. A printer controller according to claim 362 for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
329. A printer controller according to claim 317, for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
330. A printer controller according to claim 317, manufactured in accordance
with a method of manufacturing
a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are capable of being
combined in pairs to form bilithic
pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying out each of the
plurality of printhead modules on
a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is right-
handed and at least another is left-handed.
331. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
332. A printer controller according to claim 317, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
333. A printer controller according to claim 317, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
1313
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
334. A printer controller according to claim 317, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
335. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module and at
least partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one
of a plurality of nozzles on the
printhead module due to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead
module relative to a carrier, the printer
being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
336. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the
thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at
least one of the nozzles, the printer
controller being configured to modify operation of at least some of the
nozzles in response to the temperature
rising above a first threshold.
337. A printer controller according to claim 317, for controlling a printhead
comprising at least one
monolithic printhead module, the at least one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to
extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped
into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row,
the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from
each fire group is fired simultaneously
with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire
groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row
by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of
each subsequent row, wherein the
1314
printer controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that
control the order of firing of the
nozzles.
338. A printer controller according to claim 317, for outputting to a
printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
339. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
340. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying print data to
at least one printhead module
capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the at least one
printhead module being configurable
into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
341. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
342. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
343. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent
1315
nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising
providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle
position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position
x], wherein nozzle position x is at or
adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
344. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module comprising at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a
direction of intended media travel
relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second
pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of
rows and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the
printer controller being configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
345. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module, the at
least one printhead module comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, the printer controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead
module such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints
an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where the
faulty nozzle would otherwise have
printed it.
346. A printer controller according to claim 317, for receiving first data and
manipulating the first data to
produce dot data to be printed, the print controller including at least two
serial outputs for supplying the dot data
to at least one printhead.
347. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
348. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying data to a
printhead capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
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349. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
350. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink
in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
351. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead being configured to
output ink from nozzles at a first and
nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next inward pair of nozzles
in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
352. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying data to a
printhead module for receiving dot
data to be printed using at least two different inks and control data for
controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a communication input for receiving the dot data
for the at least two colors and the
control data.
353. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
354. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each
row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
355. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising at least
first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at
least some nozzles in the first row being
1317
aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction
of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles
in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles
from the first pair of rows and at least
some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the
second pair of rows.
356. A printer controller according to claim 317, for providing data to a
printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
357. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of
thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least
one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the
temperature rising above a first
threshold.
358. A printer controller according to claim 317, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising a
plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, and being
configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row
prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where
the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
359. A printer controller for supplying dot data to at least one printhead
module and at least partially
compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of
nozzles on the printhead module due
to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead module relative to a
carrier, the printer being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
360. A printer controller according to claim 359, wherein the nozzles are
disposed in a plurality of rows, and
the printer controller is configured to reallocate at least one of the ink
dots from at least one original print line to at
least one alternate print line, thereby to effect the at least partial
compensation.
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361. A printer controller according to claim 359, configured to retrieve the
correction factor from a memory
associated with the printhead.
362. A printer controller according to claim 361, wherein the memory is
mounted with the printhead, the
printhead being mounted on the print engine.
363. A printer controller according to claim 359, wherein the rotational
displacement is roll.
364. A printer controller according to claim 359, wherein the rotational
displacement is yaw.
365. A printer controller according to claim 359, the printhead module being
one of a plurality of printhead
modules mounted on a carrier to form a printhead and the error in ink dot
placement being an error relative to ink
dots output by one or more of the other printhead modules.
366. A printer controller according to claim 359, wherein the printhead module
is part of a printhead
comprising a plurality of the modules, the printer controller being configured
to determine an order in which at
least some of the dot data is supplied to a plurality of the printhead
modules, the order being determined at least
partly on the basis of one or more of the correction factors, thereby to at
least partially compensate for the
rotational displacement of the plurality of the printheads.
367. A printer controller according to claim 359, wherein the correction
factor is at least partially based on a
thickness of media being printed on.
368. A printer controller according to claim 367, configured to at least
improve first order continuity between
ink dots printed by adjacent printhead modules.
369. A print engine including a print controller according to claim 404 and a
plurality of the printhead
modules that define a printhead, the print engine being configured to
compensate for the rotational displacement
of at least one of the printhead modules.
370. A print engine according to claim 4042, further including a memory for
storing the correction factor in a
form accessible to the printer controller.
371. A print engine according to claim 4042, configured to alter a timing of
fire signals supplied to at least
one of the nozzles on the basis of the correction factor, thereby to further
effect the at least partial compensation.
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372. A print engine according to claim 4044, configured to supply the altered
fire signals are to both
reallocated ink dots and non-reallocated ink dots.
373. A print engine according to claim 4042, wherein the printhead is a
pagewidth printhead.
374. A printer including a print controller according to claim 404.
375. A printer according to claim 4045, further including a pagewidth
printhead comprising a plurality of the
printhead modules.
376. A printer controller according to claim 359, for implementing a method of
at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due
to erroneous rotational displacement of
a printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the
printhead module, the method
comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
377. A printer controller according to claim 404 for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
378. A printer controller according to claim 359, for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
379. A printer controller according to claim 359, manufactured in accordance
with a method of manufacturing
a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are capable of being
combined in pairs to form bilithic
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pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying out each of the
plurality of printhead modules on
a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is right-
handed and at least another is left-handed.
380. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
381. A printer controller according to claim 359, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
382. A printer controller according to claim 359, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
383. A printer controller according to claim 359, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
384. A printer controller according to claim 359, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
1321
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
385. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the
thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at
least one of the nozzles, the printer
controller being configured to modify operation of at least some of the
nozzles in response to the temperature
rising above a first threshold.
386. A printer controller according to claim 359, for controlling a printhead
comprising at least one
monolithic printhead module, the at least one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to
extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped
into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row,
the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from
each fire group is fired simultaneously
with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire
groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row
by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of
each subsequent row, wherein the
printer controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that
control the order of firing of the
nozzles.
387. A printer controller according to claim 359, for outputting to a
printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
388. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
389. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying print data to
at least one printhead module
capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the at least one
printhead module being configurable
into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
1322
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
390. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
391. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
392. A printer controller according to claim 359, printheadsupplying one or
more control signals to a
printhead module, the printhead module including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance
with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle
position x], wherein nozzle position x is at
or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
393. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module comprising at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a
direction of intended media travel
relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second
pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of
rows and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the
printer controller being configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
394. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module, the at
least one printhead module comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, the printer controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead
module such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints
1323
an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where the
faulty nozzle would otherwise have
printed it.
395. A printer controller according to claim 359, for receiving first data and
manipulating the first data to
produce dot data to be printed, the print controller including at least two
serial outputs for supplying the dot data
to at least one printhead.
396. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
397. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying data to a
printhead capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
398. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
399. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink
in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
400. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead being configured to
output ink from nozzles at a first and
nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next inward pair of nozzles
in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
1324
401. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying data to a
printhead module for receiving dot
data to be printed using at least two different inks and control data for
controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a communication input for receiving the dot data
for the at least two colors and the
control data.
402. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
403. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each
row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
404. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising at least
first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at
least some nozzles in the first row being
aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction
of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles
in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles
from the first pair of rows and at least
some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the
second pair of rows.
405. A printer controller according to claim 359, for providing data to a
printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
406. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of
thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least
one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the
temperature rising above a first
threshold.
1325
407. A printer controller according to claim 359, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising a
plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, and being
configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row
prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where
the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
408. A printer controller for supplying dot data to a printhead module having
a plurality of nozzles for
expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of thermal sensors,
each of the thermal sensors being
configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the
nozzles, the printer controller being
configured to modify operation of at least some of the nozzles in response to
the temperature rising above a first
threshold.
409. A printer controller according to claim 408, configured to modify the
operation of the nozzles at or
adjacent the at least one thermal sensor, such that operation of nozzles not
at or adjacent the at least one thermal
sensor is not modified.
410. A printer controller according to claim 409, wherein each thermal sensor
is associated with a
predetermined group of the nozzles, the printer controller being configured to
modify operation of the nozzles in
the predetermined group for which the temperature has risen above the first
threshold.
411. A printer controller according to claim 410, wherein each thermal sensor
is associated with a single
nozzle.
412. A printer controller according to claim 411, wherein the modification
includes the printer controller
preventing operation of the nozzle.
413. A printer controller according to claim 412, wherein the modification
includes the printer controller
preventing operation of the nozzle for a predetermined period.
414. A printer controller according to claim 412, wherein the modification
includes the printer controller
preventing operation of the nozzle until the temperature drops below a second
threshold.
415. A printer controller according to claim 414, wherein the second threshold
is lower than the first
threshold.
1326
461. A printer controller according to claim 415, wherein the second threshold
is the same as the first
threshold.
417. A printer controller according to claim 408, wherein the temperature is
not determined explicitly by the
at least one thermal sensor or the module.
418. A printer controller according to claim 408, wherein each of the nozzles
including a thermal ink ejection
mechanism.
419. A printer controller according to claim 418, wherein the thermal sensor
comprises at least part of one of
the thermal inkjet mechanisms.
420. A printer controller according to claim 419, wherein the thermal sensor
comprises a heating element.
421. A printer controller according to claim 420, wherein the thermal sensor
determines the temperature by
determining a resistance of the heating element.
422. A printer controller according to claim 408, configured to:
receive thermal information from the at least one thermal sensor;
determine the modification based on the thermal information; and
send control information back to the printhead module, the control information
being indicative of the
modification to make to the operation of the one or more nozzles.
423. A print engine including a printer controller according to claim 467 and
the printhead module, wherein
the printhead module further includes a plurality of data latches, the data
latches being configured to provide dot
data to respective ones of the nozzles, at least some of the data latches
being configured to receive thermal signals
from respective ones of the thermal sensors during an acquisition period.
424. A print engine according to claim 423, wherein the data latches are
configured to form a shift register,
the shift register being configured to:
shift the print data in during a print load phase;
sample the signals from the thermal sensors during a temperature load phase;
and
shift the thermal signals out to the printer controller during an output
phase.
425. A print engine according to claim 424, wherein the output phase coincides
with a subsequent print load
phase.
1327
426. A print engine according to claim 425, further including logic circuitry
configured to perform a bitwise
operation on: each thermal signal as it is clocked out of the shift register;
and each piece of dot data to be clocked
into the shift register, such that when a thermal signal is indicative of a
thermal problem with a nozzle, the logic
circuitry prevents loading of data that would cause firing of that nozzle.
427. A print engine according to claim 426, wherein the logic circuitry
includes an AND circuit that receives
as inputs the dot data and the thermal signal corresponding to the nozzle for
which the dot data is intended, an
output of the AND circuit being in communication with an input of the shift
register.
428. A printer controller according to claim 408, wherein each thermal sensor
is associated with a pair of the
nozzles.
429. A printer controller according to claim 408, for implementing a method of
at least partially
compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of
nozzles due to erroneous rotational
displacement of a printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being
disposed on the printhead module, the
method comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
430. A printer controller according to claim 453 for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
431. A printer controller according to claim 408, for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a
printhead module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
(b) providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each set
have been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
1328
432. A printer controller according to claim 408, manufactured in accordance
with a method of
manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are
capable of being combined in pairs to
form bilithic pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying
out each of the plurality of printhead
modules on a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is
right-handed and at least another is
left-handed.
433. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
434. A printer controller according to claim 408, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
435. A printer controller according to claim 408, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
436. A printer controller according to claim 408, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
437. A printer controller according to claim 408, installed in a printer
comprising:
1329
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
438. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module and
at least partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least
one of a plurality of nozzles on the
printhead module due to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead
module relative to a carrier, the printer
being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
439. A printer controller according to claim 408, for controlling a printhead
comprising at least one
monolithic printhead module, the at least one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to
extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped
into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row,
the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from
each fire group is fired simultaneously
with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire
groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row
by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of
each subsequent row, wherein the
printer controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that
control the order of firing of the
nozzles.
440. A printer controller according to claim 408, for outputting to a
printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
1330
441. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
442. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying print data to
at least one printhead module
capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the at least one
printhead module being configurable
into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
443. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
444. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
445. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising
providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle
position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position
x], wherein nozzle position x is at or
adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
446. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module comprising at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a
direction of intended media travel
relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second
1331
pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of
rows and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the
printer controller being configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
447. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module, the
at least one printhead module comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles
for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes at least first and
second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, the printer controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead
module such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints
an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where the
faulty nozzle would otherwise have
printed it.
448. A printer controller according to claim 408, for receiving first data and
manipulating the first data to
produce dot data to be printed, the print controller including at least two
serial outputs for supplying the dot data
to at least one printhead.
449. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
450. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying data to a
printhead capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
451. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
452. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink
in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1332
453. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead being configured to
output ink from nozzles at a first and
nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next inward pair of nozzles
in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
454. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying data to a
printhead module for receiving dot
data to be printed using at least two different inks and control data for
controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a communication input for receiving the dot data
for the at least two colors and the
control data.
455. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
456. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each
row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
457. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising at least
first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at
least some nozzles in the first row being
aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction
of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles
in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles
from the first pair of rows and at least
some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the
second pair of rows.
458. A printer controller according to claim 408, for providing data to a
printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
1333
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
459. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of
thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least
one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the
temperature rising above a first
threshold.
460. A printer controller according to claim 408, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising a
plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, and being
configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row
prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where
the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
461. A printer controller according to claim 427, further including a logic
circuit accepting as inputs a
masking signal and the thermal signal corresponding to the nozzle for which
the dot data is intended, the logic
circuit outputting the thermal signal to the input of the AND circuit in
reliance on a value of the masking signal.
462. A printer controller according to claim 461, wherein the value of the
masking signal enables masking of
the thermal signal for at least one nozzle position, including the nozzle for
which the current dot data is intended.
463. A printer controller according to claim 461, wherein the value of the
masking signal enables masking of
the thermal signal for a plurality of nozzle positions corresponding to a
region of the printhead associated the
nozzle for which the current dot data is intended.
464. A printer controller according to claim 461, wherein the value of the
masking signal enables masking of
the thermal signal for all of the nozzle positions of the printhead.
465. A printer controller for controlling a printhead comprising at least one
monolithic printhead module, the
at least one printhead module having a plurality of rows of nozzles configured
to extend, in use, across at least
part of a printable pagewidth of the printhead, the nozzles in each row being
grouped into at least first and second
fire groups, the printhead module being configured to sequentially fire, for
each row, the nozzles of each fire
group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is fired
simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that
1334
the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of each subsequent
row, wherein the printer controller is
configured to provide one or more control signals that control the order of
firing of the nozzles.
466. A printer controller according to claim 465, wherein the one or more
control signals include a fire control
sequence indicative of a first fire group to be fired.
467. A printer controller according to claim 466, the printhead being
configured to shift the fire control
sequence through a shift register to cause subsequent firing of the second and
any other fire groups, wherein the
printer controller is configured to provide the fire control sequence during
an initiation phase of the printhead,
such that the fire control sequence does not need to be repeatedly provided by
the printer controller while printing
is taking place.
468. A printer controller according to claim 466, the printhead being
configured to shift the fire control
sequence through a shift register to cause subsequent firing of the second and
any other fire groups, wherein the
printer controller is configured to provide the fire control sequence
periodically during printing.
469. A printer controller according to claim 468, configured to provide the
fire control sequence on a per row
or per print-line basis.
470. A printer controller according to claim 465, configured to provide a fire
enable signal in addition to the
one or more fire control signals, such that the combination of the fire enable
and fire control signals cause selected
ones of the nozzles to fire in the predetermined sequence and in accordance
with a predetermined timing.
471. A print engine including a printhead and a printer controller, the
printhead comprising at least one
monolithic printhead module, the at least one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to
extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped
into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row,
the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from
each fire group is fired simultaneously
with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire
groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row
by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of
each subsequent row, wherein the
printer controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that
control the order of firing of the
nozzles.
472. A print engine according to claim 471, wherein the one or more control
signals include a fire control
sequence indicative of a first fire group to be fired.
1335
473. A print engine according to claim 472, the printhead being configured to
shift the fire control sequence
through a shift register to cause subsequent firing of the second and any
other fire groups, wherein the printer
controller is configured to provide the fire control sequence during an
initiation phase of the printhead, such that
the fire control sequence does not need to be repeatedly provided by the
printer controller while printing is taking
place.
474. A print engine according to claim 472, the printhead being configured to
shift the fire control sequence
through a shift register to cause subsequent firing of the second and any
other fire groups, wherein the printer
controller is configured to provide the fire control sequence periodically
during printing.
475. A print engine according to claim 468, configured to provide the fire
control sequence on a per row or
per print-line basis.
476. A print engine according to claim 465, configured to provide a fire
enable signal in addition to the one or
more fire control signals, such that the combination of the fire enable and
fire control signals cause selected ones
of the nozzles to fire in the predetermined sequence and in accordance with a
predetermined timing.
477. A printer controller according to claim 465, for implementing a method of
at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due
to erroneous rotational displacement of
a printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the
printhead module, the method
comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
478. A printer controller according to claim 510 for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
479. A printer controller according to claim 465, for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
1336
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
480. A printer controller according to claim 465, manufactured in accordance
with a method of manufacturing
a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are capable of being
combined in pairs to form bilithic
pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying out each of the
plurality of printhead modules on
a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is right-
handed and at least another is left-handed.
481. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
482. A printer controller according to claim 465, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
483. A printer controller according to claim 465, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
484. A printer controller according to claim 465, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
1337
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
485. A printer controller according to claim 465, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
486. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module and at
least partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one
of a plurality of nozzles on the
printhead module due to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead
module relative to a carrier, the printer
being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
487. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the
thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at
least one of the nozzles, the printer
controller being configured to modify operation of at least some of the
nozzles in response to the temperature
rising above a first threshold.
488. A printer controller according to claim 465, for outputting to a
printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
1338
489. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
490. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying print data to
at least one printhead module
capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the at least one
printhead module being configurable
into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
491. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
492. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
(a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each
set of nozzles;
(b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired;
and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each
set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
493. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising
providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle
position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position
x], wherein nozzle position x is at or
adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
494. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module comprising at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a
direction of intended media travel
relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second
1339
pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of
rows and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the
printer controller being configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
495. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module, the at
least one printhead module comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, the printer controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead
module such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints
an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where the
faulty nozzle would otherwise have
printed it.
496. A printer controller according to claim 465, for receiving first data and
manipulating the first data to
produce dot data to be printed, the print controller including at least two
serial outputs for supplying the dot data
to at least one printhead.
497. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
498. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying data to a
printhead capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
499. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
500. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink
in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1340
501. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead being configured to
output ink from nozzles at a first and
nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next inward pair of nozzles
in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
502. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying data to a
printhead module for receiving dot
data to be printed using at least two different inks and control data for
controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a communication input for receiving the dot data
for the at least two colors and the
control data.
503. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
504. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each
row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
505. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising at least
first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at
least some nozzles in the first row being
aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction
of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles
in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles
from the first pair of rows and at least
some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the
second pair of rows.
506. A printer controller according to claim 465, for providing data to a
printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
1341
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
507. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of
thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least
one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the
temperature rising above a first
threshold.
508. A printer controller according to claim 465, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising a
plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, and being
configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row
prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where
the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
509. A printer controller according to claim 465, wherein the printhead module
includes a plurality of pairs of
the rows, each pair of rows including an odd row and an even row, the odd and
even rows in each pair being offset
from each other in both x and y directions relative to an intended direction
of print media movement relative to the
printhead, the printer controller being configured to control the at least one
printhead module to cause firing of at
least a plurality of the odd rows prior to firing any of the even rows, or
vice versa.
510. A printer controller according to claim 509, wherein all the odd rows are
fired before any of the even
rows are fired, or vice versa.
511. A printer controller according to claim 509, configured to control the
printhead module such that the odd
rows, or the even rows, or both, are fired in a predetermined order.
512. A printer controller according to claim 511, configurable such that the
predetermined order is selectable
from a plurality of predetermined available orders.
513. A printer controller according to claim 509, wherein the predetermined
order is sequential.
514. A printer controller according to claim 513, configurable such that the
predetermined order can
commence at any of a plurality of the rows.
1342
515. A printer controller for outputting to a printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
516. A printer controller according to claim 515, wherein the communication
output is configured to output
the dot data and control data serially.
517. A printer controller according to claim 515, further including a
plurality of the communication outputs.
518. A printer controller according to claim 516, further including a
plurality of the communication outputs.
519. A print engine comprising a print controller according to claim 560 and a
plurality of printhead modules,
the printhead modules being disposed end to end for printing a width exceeding
that of any of the individual
printhead modules, the communications input of each of the printhead modules
being connected to a common dot
data and control data bus, the common dot data and control data bus being in
functional communication with the
communication output.
520. A print engine according to claim 519, wherein each module is configured
to respond to dot data and
control data on the bus only when it is intended for that module.
521. A printer incorporating a print engine according to claim 564.
522. A printer incorporating a print controller according to claim 560.
523. A print engine according to claim 519, wherein the printhead modules
together form a pagewidth
printhead.
524. A printer according to claim 522, further including a pagewidth printhead
comprising a plurality of the
printhead modules.
525. A printer controller according to claim 515, for implementing a method of
at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due
to erroneous rotational displacement of
a printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the
printhead module, the method
comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
1343
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
526. A printer controller according to claim 560 for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
527. A printer controller according to claim 515, for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
528. A printer controller according to claim 515, manufactured in accordance
with a method of manufacturing
a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are capable of being
combined in pairs to form bilithic
pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying out each of the
plurality of printhead modules on
a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is right-
handed and at least another is left-handed.
529. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
530. A printer controller according to claim 515, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
1344
531. A printer controller according to claim 515, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
532. A printer controller according to claim 515, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
533. A printer controller according to claim 515, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
534. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module and at
least partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one
of a plurality of nozzles on the
printhead module due to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead
module relative to a carrier, the printer
being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
1345
535. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the
thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at
least one of the nozzles, the printer
controller being configured to modify operation of at least some of the
nozzles in response to the temperature
rising above a first threshold.
536. A printer controller according to claim 515, for controlling a printhead
comprising at least one
monolithic printhead module, the at least one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to
extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped
into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row,
the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from
each fire group is fired simultaneously
with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire
groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row
by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of
each subsequent row, wherein the
printer controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that
control the order of firing of the
nozzles.
537. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
538. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying print data to
at least one printhead module
capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the at least one
printhead module being configurable
into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
539. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
540. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
(a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each
set of nozzles;
(b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
1346
(c) in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired;
and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each
set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
541. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising
providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle
position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position
x], wherein nozzle position x is at or
adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
542. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module comprising at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a
direction of intended media travel
relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second
pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of
rows and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the
printer controller being configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
543. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module, the at
least one printhead module comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, the printer controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead
module such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints
an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where the
faulty nozzle would otherwise have
printed it.
544. A printer controller according to claim 515, for receiving first data and
manipulating the first data to
produce dot data to be printed, the print controller including at least two
serial outputs for supplying the dot data
to at least one printhead.
545. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1347
546. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying data to a
printhead capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
547. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
548. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink
in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
549. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead being configured to
output ink from nozzles at a first and
nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next inward pair of nozzles
in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
550. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying data to a
printhead module for receiving dot
data to be printed using at least two different inks and control data for
controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a communication input for receiving the dot data
for the at least two colors and the
control data.
551. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
552. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each
row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially
1348
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
553. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising at least
first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at
least some nozzles in the first row being
aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction
of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles
in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles
from the first pair of rows and at least
some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the
second pair of rows.
554. A printer controller according to claim 515, for providing data to a
printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
555. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of
thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least
one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the
temperature rising above a first
threshold.
556. A printer controller according to claim 515, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising a
plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, and being
configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row
prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where
the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
557. A printer controller for supplying data to a printhead module including
at least one row of printhead
nozzles, at least one row including at least one displaced row portion, the
displacement of the row portion
including a component in a direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be
printed, the printer controller being
configured to control order and timing of the data supplied to the printhead
such that the dropped row is
compensated for during printing by the printhead module.
1349
558. A printer controller according to claim 557, wherein the displaced row
portion is disposed adjacent one
end of the printhead module.
559. A printer controller according to claim 557, wherein the printhead module
includes a plurality of the
rows, wherein each of at least a plurality of the rows includes one of the
displaced row portions.
560. A printer controller according to claim 559, wherein the displaced row
portions of at least some of the
rows are different in length than the displaced row portions of at least some
of the other rows.
561. A printer controller according to claim 560, wherein each of the rows has
a displaced row portion, and
the sizes of the respective displaced row portions increase from row to row in
the direction normal to that of the
pagewidth to be printed.
562. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying supplying the
data to a printhead comprising a
plurality of the printhead modules.
563. A printer controller according to claim 602 for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of the
printhead modules, wherein the displaced row portion of at least one of the
printhead modules is disposed adjacent
another of the printhead modules.
564. A printer controller according to claim 563, wherein the printhead
modules are the same shape and
configuration as each other, and are arranged end to end across the intended
print width.
565. A printer controller according to claim 563, the printhead being a
pagewidth printhead.
566. A printer controller according to claim 564, the printhead being a
pagewidth printhead.
567. A printer controller according to claim 557, for implementing a method of
at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due
to erroneous rotational displacement of
a printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the
printhead module, the method
comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
1350
568. A printer controller according to claim 602 for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
569. A printer controller according to claim 557, for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
570. A printer controller according to claim 557, manufactured in accordance
with a method of manufacturing
a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are capable of being
combined in pairs to form bilithic
pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying out each of the
plurality of printhead modules on
a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is right-
handed and at least another is left-handed.
571. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
572. A printer controller according to claim 557, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
573. A printer controller according to claim 557, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being; parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
1351
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
574. A printer controller according to claim 557, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
575. A printer controller according to claim 557, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
576. printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module and at
least partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one
of a plurality of nozzles on the
printhead module due to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead
module relative to a carrier, the printer
being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
577. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the
thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at
least one of the nozzles, the printer
1352
controller being configured to modify operation of at least some of the
nozzles in response to the temperature
rising above a first threshold.
578. A printer controller according to claim 557, for controlling a printhead
comprising at least one
monolithic printhead module, the at least one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to
extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped
into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row,
the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from
each fire group is fired simultaneously
with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire
groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row
by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of
each subsequent row, wherein the
printer controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that
control the order of firing of the
nozzles.
579. A printer controller according to claim 557, for outputting to a
printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
580. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying print data to
at least one printhead module
capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the at least one
printhead module being configurable
into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
581. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
582. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
(a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each
set of nozzles;
(b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
1353
(c) in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired;
and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each
set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
583. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising
providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle
position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position
x], wherein nozzle position x is at or
adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
584. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module comprising at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a
direction of intended media travel
relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second
pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of
rows and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the
printer controller being configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
585. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module, the at
least one printhead module comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, the printer controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead
module such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints
an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where the
faulty nozzle would otherwise have
printed it.
586. A printer controller according to claim 557, for receiving first data and
manipulating the first data to
produce dot data to be printed, the print controller including at least two
serial outputs for supplying the dot data
to at least one printhead.
587. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1354
588. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying data to a
printhead capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
589. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
590. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink
in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
591. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead being configured to
output ink from nozzles at a first and
nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next inward pair of nozzles
in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
592. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying data to a
printhead module for receiving dot
data to be printed using at least two different inks and control data for
controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a communication input for receiving the dot data
for the at least two colors and the
control data.
593. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
594. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each
row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially
1355
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
595. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a
direction of intended media travel
relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second
pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of
rows and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows.
596. A printer controller according to claim 557, for providing data to a
printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
597. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the
thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at
least one of the nozzles, the
printhead module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in
response to the temperature rising above
a first threshold.
598. A printer controller according to claim 557, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising a
plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, and being
configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row
prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where
the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
599. A printer controller for supplying print data to at least one printhead
module capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print data, the at least one printhead module
being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
1356
600. A printer controller according to claim 599, wherein the first number is
n.
601. A printer controller according to claim 599, wherein the first number is
less than n.
602. A printer controller according to claim 599, wherein the printhead module
being configurable into at
least one other mode, in which the at least one printhead module is configured
to receive print data for a third
number of print channels other than the first and second numbers, the printer
controller being selectively
configurable to supply the print data for the third number of print channels.
603. A printer controller according to claim 599, wherein n is 4 and the
second number is less than 4.
604. A printer controller according to claim 599, wherein n is 5 and the
second number is less than 5.
605. A printer controller according to claim 599, wherein n is 6 and the
second number is less than 6.
606. A printer controller according to claim 605, wherein the second number is
3, 4 or 5.
607. A print engine including the print controller according to claim 644 and
the at least one printhead
module.
608. A print engine according to claim 607, wherein the mode is selected based
on the contents of a memory
associated with the at least one printhead module.
609. A printhead according to claim 607, wherein the memory is a register.
610. A printhead according to claim 607, wherein the register is on an
integrated circuit forming part of the
print engine.
611. A printer including a printer controller according to claim 644.
612. A printer including a print engine according to claim 652.
613. A printer according to claim 611, including a pagewidth printhead
comprising a plurality of the printhead
modules of claim 1.
1357
614. A printer controller according to claim 599, for implementing a method of
at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due
to erroneous rotational displacement of
a printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the
printhead module, the method
comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
615. A printer controller according to claim 644 for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
616. A printer controller according to claim 599, for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
617. A printer controller according to claim 599, manufactured in accordance
with a method of manufacturing
a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are capable of being
combined in pairs to form bilithic
pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying out each of the
plurality of printhead modules on
a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is right-
handed and at least another is left-handed.
618. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
619. A printer controller according to claim 599, installed in a printer
comprising:
1358
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
620. A printer controller according to claim 599, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
621. A printer controller according to claim 599, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
622. A printer controller according to claim 599, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
623. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module and at
least partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one
of a plurality of nozzles on the
printhead module due to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead
module relative to a carrier, the printer
being configured to:
1359
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
624. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the
thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at
least one of the nozzles, the printer
controller being configured to modify operation of at least some of the
nozzles in response to the temperature
rising above a first threshold.
625. A printer controller according to claim 599, for controlling a printhead
comprising at least one
monolithic printhead module, the at least one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to
extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped
into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row,
the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from
each fire group is fired simultaneously
with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire
groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row
by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of
each subsequent row, wherein the
printer controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that
control the order of firing of the
nozzles.
626. A printer controller according to claim 599, for outputting to a
printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
627. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
628. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
1360
629. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
630. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising
providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle
position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position
x], wherein nozzle position x is at or
adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
631. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module comprising at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a
direction of intended media travel
relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second
pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of
rows and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the
printer controller being configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
632. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module, the at
least one printhead module comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, the printer controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead
module such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints
an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where the
faulty nozzle would otherwise have
printed it.
633. A printer controller according to claim 599, for receiving first data and
manipulating the first data to
produce dot data to be printed, the print controller including at least two
serial outputs for supplying the dot data
to at least one printhead.
1361
679. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
635. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying data to a
printhead capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
636. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
637. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink
in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
638. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead being configured to
output ink from nozzles at a first and
nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next inward pair of nozzles
in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
639. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying data to a
printhead module for receiving dot
data to be printed using at least two different inks and control data for
controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a communication input for receiving the dot data
for the at least two colors and the
control data.
1362
640. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
641. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each
row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
642. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising at least
first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at
least some nozzles in the first row being
aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction
of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles
in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles
from the first pair of rows and at least
some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the
second pair of rows.
643. A printer controller according to claim 599, for providing data to a
printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
644. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of
thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least
one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the
temperature rising above a first
threshold.
645. A printer controller according to claim 599, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising a
plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, and being
configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row
prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where
the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
1363
646. A printer controller for supplying data to a printhead comprising a
plurality of printhead modules, the
printhead being wider than a reticle step used in forming the modules, the
printhead comprising at least two types
of the modules, wherein each type is determined by its geometric shape in
plan.
647. A printer controller according to claim 646, wherein the printhead
comprises a plurality of at least one of
the types of module.
648. A printer controller according to claim 647, wherein the printhead
comprises a plurality of each of at
least two of the types of module.
649. A printer controller according to claim 646, wherein the printhead
comprises two types of the module.
650. A printer controller according to claim 649, wherein the two types of
module alternate across a print
width of the printhead.
651. A printer controller according to claim 646, each of the modules
including at least one row of print
nozzles, wherein each of the at least one row of print nozzles includes at
least a portion that extends at an acute
angle to an intended relative direction of movement between the printhead and
print media.
652. A printer controller according to claim 651, wherein the different types
of modules are configured, and
arranged relative to each other, such that there is substantially no growth in
offset of each of the at least one row
of print nozzles in a direction across an intended print width of the
printhead.
653. A printer controller according to claim 646, wherein each of the
printhead modules is a monolithic
integrated circuit.
654. A printer controller according to claim 646, each of the modules
including at least one row of print
nozzles, wherein each of the at least one rows includes at least two sub-rows,
each of the sub-rows being parallel
to each other and displaced relative to each other in a direction of intended
movement of print media relative to
the printhead.
655. A printer controller according to claim 646, wherein at least one row in
each of the printhead modules
prints an ink corresponding to at least one row on an adjacent printhead
module, wherein the corresponding rows
of at least two of the different printhead modules are offset from each other
in a direction of intended movement
of print media relative to the printhead,
1364
656. A printer controller according to claim 646, the printhead being a
pagewidth printhead.
657. A printer controller according to claim 652, the printhead being a
pagewidth printhead.
658. A printer controller according to claim 657, the printhead being a
pagewidth printhead.
659. A printer controller according to claim 646, for implementing a method of
at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due
to erroneous rotational displacement of
a printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the
printhead module, the method
comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
660. A printer controller according to claim 691 for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
661. A printer controller according to claim 646, for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
662. A printer controller according to claim 646, manufactured in accordance
with a method of manufacturing
a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are capable of being
combined in pairs to form bilithic
pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying out each of the
plurality of printhead modules on
a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is right-
handed and at least another is left-handed.
1365
663. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
664. A printer controller according to claim 646, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
665. A printer controller according to claim 646, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
666. A printer controller according to claim 646, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
667. A printer controller according to claim 646, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
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the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
668. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module and at
least partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one
of a plurality of nozzles on the
printhead module due to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead
module relative to a carrier, the printer
being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
669. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the
thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at
least one of the nozzles, the printer
controller being configured to modify operation of at least some of the
nozzles in response to the temperature
rising above a first threshold.
670. A printer controller according to claim 646, for controlling a printhead
comprising at least one
monolithic printhead module, the at least one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to
extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped
into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row,
the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from
each fire group is fired simultaneously
with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire
groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row
by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of
each subsequent row, wherein the
printer controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that
control the order of firing of the
nozzles.
671. A printer controller according to claim 646, for outputting to a
printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
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672. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
673. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying print data to
at least one printhead module
capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the at least one
printhead module being configurable
into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
674. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
675. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising
providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle
position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position
x], wherein nozzle position x is at or
adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
676. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module comprising at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a
direction of intended media travel
relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second
pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of
rows and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the
printer controller being configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
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677. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module, the at
least one printhead module comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, the printer controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead
module such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints
an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where the
faulty nozzle would otherwise have
printed it.
678. A printer controller according to claim 646, for receiving first data and
manipulating the first data to
produce dot data to be printed, the print controller including at least two
serial outputs for supplying the dot data
to at least one printhead.
679. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
680. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying data to a
printhead capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
681. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
682. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink
in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
683. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to
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expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead being configured to
output ink from nozzles at a first and
nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next inward pair of nozzles
in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
684. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying data to a
printhead module for receiving dot
data to be printed using at least two different inks and control data for
controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a communication input for receiving the dot data
for the at least two colors and the
control data.
685. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
686. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each
row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
687. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising at least
first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at
least some nozzles in the first row being
aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction
of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles
in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles
from the first pair of rows and at least
some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the
second pair of rows.
688. A printer controller according to claim 646, for providing data to a
printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1370
689. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of
thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least
one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the
temperature rising above a first
threshold.
690. A printer controller according to claim 646, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising a
plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, and being
configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row
prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where
the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
691. A printer controller for supplying one or more control signals to a
printhead module, the printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, such that:
a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
692. A printer controller according to claim 691, wherein the printhead module
includes a plurality of the
rows of nozzles, the printer controller being configured to control the
printhead module such that steps (a) to (d)
are repeated for each of the rows of nozzles.
693. A printer controller according to claim 692, wherein the rows are
disposed in pairs.
694. A printer controller according to claim 693, wherein the rows in each
pair of rows are offset relative to
each other.
695. A printer controller according to claim 694, wherein each pair of rows is
configured to print the same
color ink.
696. A printer controller according to claim 695, wherein each pair of rows is
connected to a common ink
source.
1371
697. A printer controller according to claim 691, wherein the sets of nozzles
are adjacent each other.
698. A printer controller according to claim 691, wherein the sets of nozzles
are separated by an intermediate
nozzle, the intermediate nozzle being fired either prior to the nozzle at
position I in each set, or following the
nozzle at position n.
699. A printer controller according to claim 691, wherein the printhead module
is one of a plurality of
printhead modules that form a pagewidth printhead, the printer controller
being configure to supply the control
signals to at least a plurality of the printhead modules.
700. A printer controller according to claim 691, for implementing a method of
at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due
to erroneous rotational displacement of
a printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the
printhead module, the method
comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
701. A printer controller according to claim 736 for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
702. A printer controller according to claim 691, for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
(b) providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each set
have been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
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748. A printer controller according to claim 691, manufactured in accordance
with a method of manufacturing
a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are capable of being
combined in pairs to form bilithic
pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying out each of the
plurality of printhead modules on
a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is right-
handed and at least another is left-handed.
704. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
705. A printer controller according to claim 691, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
706. A printer controller according to claim 691, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
707. A printer controller according to claim 691, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
708. A printer controller according to claim 691, installed in a printer
comprising:
1373
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
709. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module and at
least partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one
of a plurality of nozzles on the
printhead module due to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead
module relative to a carrier, the printer
being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
710. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the
thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at
least one of the nozzles, the printer
controller being configured to modify operation of at least some of the
nozzles in response to the temperature
rising above a first threshold.
711. A printer controller according to claim 691, for controlling a printhead
comprising at least one
monolithic printhead module, the at least one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to
extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped
into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row,
the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from
each fire group is fired simultaneously
with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire
groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row
by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of
each subsequent row, wherein the
printer controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that
control the order of firing of the
nozzles.
712. A printer controller according to claim 691, for outputting to a
printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
1374
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
713. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
714. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying print data to
at least one printhead module
capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the at least one
printhead module being configurable
into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
715. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
716. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising
providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle
position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position
x], wherein nozzle position x is at or
adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
717. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module comprising at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a
direction of intended media travel
relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second
pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of
rows and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the
printer controller being configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
718. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module, the at
least one printhead module comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for
1375
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, the printer controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead
module such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints
an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where the
faulty nozzle would otherwise have
printed it.
719. A printer controller according to claim 691, for receiving first data and
manipulating the first data to
produce dot data to be printed, the print controller including at least two
serial outputs for supplying the dot data
to at least one printhead.
720. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
721. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying data to a
printhead capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
722. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
723. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink
in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
724. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead being configured to
output ink from nozzles at a first and
nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next inward pair of nozzles
in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
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in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
725. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying data to a
printhead module for receiving dot
data to be printed using at least two different inks and control data for
controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a communication input for receiving the dot data
for the at least two colors and the
control data.
726. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
727. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each
row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
728. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising at least
first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at
least some nozzles in the first row being
aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction
of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles
in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles
from the first pair of rows and at least
some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the
second pair of rows.
729. A printer controller according to claim 691, for providing data to a
printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
730. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of
thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least
one of the nozzles, the printhead
1377
module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the
temperature rising above a first
threshold.
731. A printer controller according to claim 691, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising a
plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, and being
configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row
prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where
the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
732. A printer controller according to claim 691, wherein the printhead module
includes a plurality of the
rows, the printer controller being configured to cause firing of each nozzle
in each row simultaneously with the
nozzle or nozzles at the same position in the other rows.
733. A printer controller according to claim 691, including a plurality of
pairs of the rows, each pair of rows
including an odd row and an even row, the odd and even rows in each pair being
offset from each other in both x
and y directions relative to an intended direction of print media movement
relative to the printhead, the printer
controller being configured to control the at least one printhead module to
cause firing of at least a plurality of the
odd rows prior to firing any of the even rows, or vice versa.
734. A printer controller according to claim 733, wherein all the odd rows are
fired before any of the even
rows are fired, or vice versa.
735. A printer controller according to claim 733, configured to control the
printhead such that the odd rows, or
the even rows, or both, are fired in a predetermined order.
736. A printer controller according to claim 735, configurable such that the
predetermined order is selectable
from a plurality of predetermined available orders.
737. A printer controller according to claim 733, wherein the predetermined
order is sequential.
738. A printer controller according to claim 737, configurable such that the
predetermined order can
commence at any of a plurality of the rows.
739. A printer controller for supplying one or more control signals to a
printhead module, the printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
1378
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
740. A printer controller according to claim 739, configured to cause the
nozzle at each given position within
the set to be fired simultaneously with the nozzles in the other sets at
respective corresponding positions.
741. A printer controller according to claim 739, wherein the printhead module
includes a plurality of the
rows of nozzles, the printer controller being configured to control the
printhead module such that the steps are
repeated for each of the rows of nozzles.
742. A printer controller according to claim 741, wherein the rows are
disposed in pairs.
743. A printer controller according to claim 742, wherein the rows in each
pair of rows are offset relative to
each other.
744. A printer controller according to claim 743, wherein each pair of rows is
configured to print the same
color ink.
745. A printer controller according to claim 744, wherein each pair of rows is
connected to a common ink
source.
746. A printer controller according to claim 739, wherein the sets of nozzles
are adjacent each other.
747. A printer controller according to claim 739, wherein the sets of nozzles
are separated by an intermediate
nozzle, the intermediate nozzle being fired either prior to the nozzle at
position 1 in each set, or following the
nozzle at position n.
748. A printer controller according to claim 739, wherein the printhead module
is one of a plurality of
printhead modules that form a pagewidth printhead, the printer controller
being configure to supply the control
signals to at least a plurality of the printhead modules.
749. A printer controller according to claim 739, for implementing a method of
at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due
to erroneous rotational displacement of
a printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the
printhead module, the method
comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
1379
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
750. A printer controller according to claim 784 for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
751. A printer controller according to claim 739, for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
752. A printer controller according to claim 739, manufactured in accordance
with a method of manufacturing
a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are capable of being
combined in pairs to form bilithic
pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying out each of the
plurality of printhead modules on
a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is right-
handed and at least another is left-handed.
753. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
754. A printer controller according to claim 739, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
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755. A printer controller according to claim 739, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
756. A printer controller according to claim 739, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
757. A printer controller according to claim 739, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
758. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module and at
least partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one
of a plurality of nozzles on the
printhead module due to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead
module relative to a carrier, the printer
being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
1381
759. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the
thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at
least one of the nozzles, the printer
controller being configured to modify operation of at least some of the
nozzles in response to the temperature
rising above a first threshold.
760. A printer controller according to claim 739, for controlling a printhead
comprising at least one
monolithic printhead module, the at least one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to
extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped
into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row,
the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from
each fire group is fired simultaneously
with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire
groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row
by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of
each subsequent row, wherein the
printer controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that
control the order of firing of the
nozzles.
761. A printer controller according to claim 739, for outputting to a
printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
762. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
763. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying print data to
at least one printhead module
capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the at least one
printhead module being configurable
into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
764. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
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765. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
766. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module comprising at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a
direction of intended media travel
relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second
pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of
rows and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the
printer controller being configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
767. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module, the at
least one printhead module comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, the printer controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead
module such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints
an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where the
faulty nozzle would otherwise have
printed it.
768. A printer controller according to claim 739, for receiving first data and
manipulating the first data to
produce dot data to be printed, the print controller including at least two
serial outputs for supplying the dot data
to at least one printhead.
769. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1383
770. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying data to a
printhead capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
771. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
772. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink
in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
773. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead being configured to
output ink from nozzles at a first and
nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next inward pair of nozzles
in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
774. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying data to a
printhead module for receiving dot
data to be printed using at least two different inks and control data for
controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a communication input for receiving the dot data
for the at least two colors and the
control data.
775. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
776. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each
row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is
1384
fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
777. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising at least
first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at
least some nozzles in the first row being
aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction
of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles
in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles
from the first pair of rows and at least
some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the
second pair of rows.
778. A printer controller according to claim 739, for providing data to a
printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
779. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of
thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least
one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the
temperature rising above a first
threshold.
780. A printer controller according to claim 739, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising a
plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, and being
configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row
prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where
the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
781. A printer controller according to claim 739, wherein the printhead module
includes a plurality of the
rows, the printer controller being configured to cause firing of each nozzle
in each row simultaneously with the
nozzle or nozzles at the same position in the other rows.
782. A printer controller according to claim 739, including a plurality of
pairs of the rows, each pair of rows
including an odd row and an even row, the odd and even rows in each pair being
offset from each other in both x
and y directions relative to an intended direction of print media movement
relative to the printhead, the printer
1385
controller being configured to control the at least one printhead module to
cause firing of at least a plurality of the
odd rows prior to firing any of the even rows, or vice versa.
783. A printer controller according to claim 827 wherein all the odd rows are
fired before any of the even
rows are fired, or vice versa.
784. A printer controller according to claim 827 configured to control the
printhead such that the odd rows, or
the even rows, or both, are fired in a predetermined order.
785. A printer controller according to claim 784, configurable such that the
predetermined order is selectable
from a plurality of predetermined available orders.
786. A printer controller according to claim 827 wherein the predetermined
order is sequential.
787. A printer controller according to claim 786, configurable such that the
predetermined order can
commence at any of a plurality of the rows.
788. A printer controller for supplying dot data to a printhead module
comprising at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at least some nozzles
in the first row being aligned with
respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction of intended
media travel relative to the
printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles in
the first and second pairs of rows are
fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from
the first pair of rows and at least
some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the
second pair of rows, the printer controller
being configurable to supply dot data to the printhead module for printing.
789. A print engine comprising a printer controller according to claim 833 and
the printhead module, wherein
the printhead module is controllable such that either of the nozzles in each
aligned pair of nozzles in the first and
second rows can be selected to output ink for a selected dot to be printed on
the print media.
790. A print engine according to claim 789, wherein, in the event a nozzle in
the first row is faulty, the
corresponding nozzle in the second row is selected to output ink for a dot for
which the faulty nozzle would
otherwise have output ink.
791. A print engine according to claim 789, including a plurality of sets of
the first and second rows.
1386
792. A print engine according to claim 791, wherein each of the sets of the
first and second rows is configured
to print in a single color or ink type.
793. A print engine according to claim 792, wherein the first and second rows
in at least one of the sets are
separated by one or more rows from the other set or sets.
794. A print engine according to claim 788, wherein each of the rows includes
an odd sub-row and an even
sub-row, the odd and even sub-rows being offset with respect to each other in
a direction of intended print media
travel relative to the printhead.
795. A print engine according to claim 794, wherein the odd and even sub-rows
are transversely offset relative
to each other.
796. A print engine according to claim 789, configured such that the first and
second rows are fired
alternately.
797. A print engine according to claim 789, comprising a plurality of the
printhead modules.
798. A printer including a printer controller according to claim 833.
799. A printer including a print engine according to claim 834.
800. A printer controller according to claim 788, for implementing a method of
at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due
to erroneous rotational displacement of
a printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the
printhead module, the method
comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
801. A printer controller according to claim 833 for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
1387
802. A printer controller according to claim 788, for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
803. A printer controller according to claim 788, manufactured in accordance
with a method of manufacturing
a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are capable of being
combined in pairs to form bilithic
pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying out each of the
plurality of printhead modules on
a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is right-
handed and at least another is left-handed.
804. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
805. A printer controller according to claim 788, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
806. A printer controller according to claim 788, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
807. A printer controller according to claim 788, installed in a printer
comprising:
1388
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
808. A printer controller according to claim 788, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
809. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module and at
least partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one
of a plurality of nozzles on the
printhead module due to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead
module relative to a carrier, the printer
being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
810. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the
thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at
least one of the nozzles, the printer
controller being configured to modify operation of at least some of the
nozzles in response to the temperature
rising above a first threshold.
811. A printer controller according to claim 788, for controlling a printhead
comprising at least one
monolithic printhead module, the at least one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to
extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped
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into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row,
the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from
each fire group is fired simultaneously
with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire
groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row
by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of
each subsequent row, wherein the
printer controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that
control the order of firing of the
nozzles.
812. A printer controller according to claim 788, for outputting to a
printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
813. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
814. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying print data to
at least one printhead module
capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the at least one
printhead module being configurable
into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
815. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
816. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
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817. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising
providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle
position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position
x], wherein nozzle position x is at or
adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
818. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module, the at
least one printhead module comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, the printer controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead
module such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints
an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where the
faulty nozzle would otherwise have
printed it.
819. A printer controller according to claim 788, for receiving first data and
manipulating the first data to
produce dot data to be printed, the print controller including at least two
serial outputs for supplying the dot data
to at least one printhead.
820. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
821. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying data to a
printhead capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
822. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
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823. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink
in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
824. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead being configured to
output ink from nozzles at a first and
nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next inward pair of nozzles
in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
825. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying data to a
printhead module for receiving dot
data to be printed using at least two different inks and control data for
controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a communication input for receiving the dot data
for the at least two colors and the
control data.
826. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
827. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each
row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
828. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising at least
first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at
least some nozzles in the first row being
aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction
of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles
in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles
from the first pair of rows and at least
some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the
second pair of rows.
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829. A printer controller according to claim 788, for providing data to a
printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
830. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of
thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least
one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the
temperature rising above a first
threshold.
831. A printer controller according to claim 788, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising a
plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, and being
configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row
prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where
the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
832. A printer controller for supplying dot data to at least one printhead
module, the at least one printhead
module comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality
of nozzles for ejecting ink,
wherein the printhead module includes at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, the printer controller being configured to supply the dot data to the
at least one printhead module such that,
in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle in
the second row prints an ink dot at a
position on print media at or adjacent a position where the faulty nozzle
would otherwise have printed it.
833. A print engine comprising a printer controller according to claim 877 and
the at least one printhead
module, wherein each nozzle in the first row is paired with a nozzle in the
second row, such that each pair of
nozzles is aligned in an intended direction of print media travel relative to
the printhead module.
834. A print engine according to claim 833, including a plurality of sets of
the first and second rows.
835. A print engine according to claim 834, wherein each of the sets of the
first and second rows is configured
to print in a single color or ink type.
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836. A print engine according to claim 832, wherein each of the rows includes
an odd and an even sub-row,
the odd and even sub-rows being offset with respect to each other in a
direction of print media travel relative to
the printhead in use.
837. A print engine according to claim 836, wherein the odd and even sub-rows
are transversely offset with
respect to each other.
838. A printer including at least one printer controller according to claim
877.
839. A printer including at least one print engine according to claim 878.
840. A printer controller according to claim 832, for implementing a method of
at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due
to erroneous rotational displacement of
a printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the
printhead module, the method
comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
841. A printer controller according to claim 877 for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
842. A printer controller according to claim 832, for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
(b) providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each set
have been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
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843. A printer controller according to claim 832, manufactured in accordance
with a method of manufacturing
a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are capable of being
combined in pairs to form bilithic
pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying out each of the
plurality of printhead modules on
a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is right-
handed and at least another is left-handed.
844. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
845. A printer controller according to claim 832, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
846. A printer controller according to claim 832, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
847. A printer controller according to claim 832, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
848. A printer controller according to claim 832, installed in a printer
comprising:
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a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
849. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module and at
least partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one
of a plurality of nozzles on the
printhead module due to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead
module relative to a carrier, the printer
being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
850. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the
thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at
least one of the nozzles, the printer
controller being configured to modify operation of at least some of the
nozzles in response to the temperature
rising above a first threshold.
851. A printer controller according to claim 832, for controlling a printhead
comprising at least one
monolithic printhead module, the at least one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to
extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped
into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row,
the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from
each fire group is fired simultaneously
with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire
groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row
by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of
each subsequent row, wherein the
printer controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that
control the order of firing of the
nozzles.
852. A printer controller according to claim 832, for outputting to a
printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
1396
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
853. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
854. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying print data to
at least one printhead module
capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the at least one
printhead module being configurable
into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
855. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
856. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
857. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising
providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle
position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position
x], wherein nozzle position x is at or
adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1397
858. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module comprising at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a
direction of intended media travel
relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second
pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of
rows and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the
printer controller being configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
859. A printer controller according to claim 832, for receiving first data and
manipulating the first data to
produce dot data to be printed, the print controller including at least two
serial outputs for supplying the dot data
to at least one printhead.
860. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
861. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying data to a
printhead capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
862. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
863. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink
in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
864. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to
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expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead being configured to
output ink from nozzles at a first and
nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next inward pair of nozzles
in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
865. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying data to a
printhead module for receiving dot
data to be printed using at least two different inks and control data for
controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a communication input for receiving the dot data
for the at least two colors and the
control data.
866. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
867. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each
row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
868. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising at least
first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at
least some nozzles in the first row being
aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction
of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles
in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles
from the first pair of rows and at least
some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the
second pair of rows.
869. A printer controller according to claim 832, for providing data to a
printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
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870. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of
thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least
one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the
temperature rising above a first
threshold.
871. A printer controller according to claim 832, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising a
plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, and being
configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row
prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where
the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
872. A printer controller for receiving first data and manipulating the first
data to produce dot data to be
printed, the print controller including at least two serial outputs for
supplying the dot data to at least one printhead,
wherein each of the serial outputs is configured to supply dot data for at
least two channels of the at least one
printhead.
873. A printer controller according to claim 872, wherein the at least two
channels include at least two color
channels.
874. A printer controller according to claim 872, wherein the at least two
channels include at least one fixative
channel.
875. A printer controller according to claim 872, wherein the at least two
channels include at least one
infrared ink channel.
876. A printer controller according to claim 872, wherein the first data
includes one or more instructions
associated with production of the dot data from the first data, the print
controller including processing means for
producing the dot data from the first data on the basis of the one or more
instructions.
877. A printer controller according to claim 872, wherein the printhead is a
pagewidth printhead.
878. A printer controller according to claim 872, for implementing a method of
at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of nozzles due
to erroneous rotational displacement of
a printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being disposed on the
printhead module, the method
comprising the steps of:
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determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
879. A printer controller according to claim 917 for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
880. A printer controller according to claim 872, for implementing a method of
expelling ink from a printhead
module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles
being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
(b) providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
881. A printer controller according to claim 872, manufactured in accordance
with a method of manufacturing
a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are capable of being
combined in pairs to form bilithic
pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying out each of the
plurality of printhead modules on
a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is right-
handed and at least another is left-handed.
882. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
883. A printer controller according to claim 872, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
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at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
884. A printer controller according to claim 872, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
885. A printer controller according to claim 872, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
886. A printer controller according to claim 872, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
887. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module and at
least partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one
of a plurality of nozzles on the
printhead module due to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead
module relative to a carrier, the printer
being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
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determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
888. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the
thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at
least one of the nozzles, the printer
controller being configured to modify operation of at least some of the
nozzles in response to the temperature
rising above a first threshold.
889. A printer controller according to claim 872, for controlling a printhead
comprising at least one
monolithic printhead module, the at least one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to
extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped
into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row,
the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from
each fire group is fired simultaneously
with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire
groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row
by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of
each subsequent row, wherein the
printer controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that
control the order of firing of the
nozzles.
890. A printer controller according to claim 872, for outputting to a
printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
891. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
892. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying print data to
at least one printhead module
capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the at least one
printhead module being configurable
into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
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wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
893. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
894. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
895. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising
providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle
position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position
x], wherein nozzle position x is at or
adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
896. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying dot data to a
printhead module comprising at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a
direction of intended media travel
relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second
pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of
rows and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the
printer controller being configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
897. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying dot data to at
least one printhead module, the at
least one printhead module comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, the printer controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead
module such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints
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an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where the
faulty nozzle would otherwise have
printed it.
898. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
899. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying data to a
printhead capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
900. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
901. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink
in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
902. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead being configured to
output ink from nozzles at a first and
nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next inward pair of nozzles
in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
903. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying data to a
printhead module for receiving dot
data to be printed using at least two different inks and control data for
controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a communication input for receiving the dot data
for the at least two colors and the
control data.
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904. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
905. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each
row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
906. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising at least
first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at
least some nozzles in the first row being
aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction
of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles
in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles
from the first pair of rows and at least
some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the
second pair of rows.
907. A printer controller according to claim 872, for providing data to a
printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
908. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of
thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least
one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the
temperature rising above a first
threshold.
909. A printer controller according to claim 872, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising a
plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, and being
configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row
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prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where
the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
910. A printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
911. A printhead module according to claim 910, wherein there is a one to one
correspondence between the
nozzles and respective elements of the first and second shift registers.
912. A printhead module according to claim 911, wherein each of the shift
registers supplies dot data to about
half of the nozzles in a row.
913. A printhead module according to claim 910, including at least one pair of
rows of the nozzles, the rows in
each pair being offset in a direction parallel to the rows by half the intra-
row nozzle spacing.
914. A printhead module according to claim 914, wherein each of the at least
two shift registers supplies dot
data to at least some of the nozzles in at least the pair of rows.
915. A printhead module according claim 910, including a plurality of the rows
configured to print using at
least two ink channels, the nozzles for each of the ink channels being fed the
dot data from at least one pair of first
and second registers.
916. A printhead module according to claim 910, configured to receive dot data
to which a method of at least
partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a
plurality of nozzles due to erroneous
rotational displacement of a printhead module relative to a carrier has been
applied, the nozzles being disposed on
the printhead module, the method comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
917. A printhead module according to claim 910, configured to receive dot data
to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in
1407
response to a fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with
the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
918. A printhead module according to claim 910, configured to receive dot data
to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to
a fire signal, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
(b) providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each set
have been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
919. A printhead module according to claim 910, having been manufactured in
accordance with a method of
manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are
capable of being combined in pairs to
form bilithic pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying
out each of the plurality of printhead
modules on a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is
right-handed and at least another is
left-handed.
920. A printhead module according to claim 910, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
921. A printhead module according to claim 910, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least the first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
922. A printhead module according to claim 910, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
1408
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
923. A printhead module according to claim 910, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
924. A printhead module according to claim 910, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
925. A printhead module according to claim 910, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying dot
data to at least one printhead module and at least partially compensating for
errors in ink dot placement by at least
one of a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module due to erroneous
rotational displacement of the printhead
module relative to a carrier, the printer being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
926. A printhead module according to claim 910, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying dot
data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink,
the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being configured to
respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printer controller being configured
to modify operation of at least some of
the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
1409
927. A printhead module according to claim 910, in communication with a
printer controller for controlling a
head comprising at least one monolithic printhead module, the at least one
printhead module having a plurality of
rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth of the printhead, the
nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups,
the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group,
such that each nozzle in the sequence
from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective corresponding
nozzles in the sequence in the other
fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of
each row are all fired before the
nozzles of each subsequent row, wherein the printer controller is configured
to provide one or more control
signals that control the order of firing of the nozzles.
928. A printhead module according to claim 910, in communication with a
printer controller for outputting to
a printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
929. A printhead module according to claim 910, including at least one row of
printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
930. A printhead module according to claim 910, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
print data to at least one printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n
of channels of print data, the at
least one printhead module being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
931. A printhead module according to claim 910, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
data to a printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead
being wider than a reticle step used
in forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the
modules, wherein each type is
determined by its geometric shape in plan.
932. A printhead module according to claim 910, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
1410
a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
(a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each
set of nozzles;
(b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired;
and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each
set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
933. A printhead module according to claim 910, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
934. A printhead module according to claim 910, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying dot
data to a printhead module comprising at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second row
in a direction of intended media travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are fired such that some
dots output to print media are printed to
by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some other dots output to
print media are printed to by nozzles
from the second pair of rows, the printer controller being configurable to
supply dot data to the printhead module
for printing.
935. A printhead module according to claim 910, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying dot
data to at least one printhead module, the at least one printhead module
comprising a plurality of rows, each of the
rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and
second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, the printer
controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead module such that, in the event a nozzle
in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on
print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
936. A printhead module according to claim 910, in communication with a
printer controller for receiving first
data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be printed, the
print controller including at least two
serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one printhead.
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937. A printhead module according to claim 910, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
938. A printhead module according to claim 955 being capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of
print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
939. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 910, the printhead being
wider than a reticle step used in forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules,
wherein each type is determined by its geometric shape in plan.
940. A printhead module according to claim 910, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, such that, for
each set of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position
n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein
nozzle position x is at or adjacent the
centre of the set of nozzles.
941. A printhead module according to claim 910, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of
adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire
signal, the printhead being configured to output ink from nozzles at a first
and nth position in each set of nozzles,
and then each next inward pair of nozzles in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
942. A printhead module according to claim 910, for receiving dot data to be
printed using at least two
different inks and control data for controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a
communication input for receiving the dot data for the at least two colors and
the control data.
943. A printhead module according to claim 910, including at least one row of
printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1412
944. A printhead module according to claim 910, having a plurality of rows of
nozzles configured to extend,
in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each row
being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each
fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that
the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
945. A printhead module according to claim 910, comprising at least first and
second rows configured to print
ink of a similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being
aligned with respective corresponding
nozzles in the second row in a direction of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module
being configurable such that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output
to print media are printed to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at
least some other dots output to print
media are printed to by nozzles from the second pair of rows.
946. A printhead module according to claim 910, in communication with a
printer controller for providing
data to a printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
947. A printhead module according to claim 910, having a plurality of nozzles
for expelling ink, the printhead
module including a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors
being configured to respond to a
temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printhead module
being configured to modify operation
of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
948. A printhead module according to claim 910, comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows comprising
a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes
at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type or color, and being configured such
that, in the event a nozzle in the first
row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a
position on print media at or adjacent
a position where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
949. A printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of
print data, the printhead module
being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a first number of the channels;
and
1413
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
950. A printhead module according to claim 949, wherein the first number is n.
951. A printhead module according to claim 949, wherein the first number is
less than n.
952. A printhead module according to claim 949, configurable into at least one
other mode, in which the
printhead is configured to receive print data for a number of print channels
other than the first and second
numbers.
953. A printhead module according to claim 949, wherein n is 4 and the second
number is less than 4.
954. A printhead module according to claim 949, wherein n is 5 and the second
number is less than 5.
955. A printhead module according to claim 949, wherein n is 6 and the second
number is less than 6.
956. A printhead module according to claim 955, wherein the second number is
3, 4 or 5.
957. A printhead module according to claim 949, wherein the selected mode is
selected based on the contents
of a memory associated with the printhead.
958. A printhead module according to claim 957, wherein the memory is a
register.
959. A printhead module according to claim 957, wherein the register is on an
integrated circuit, and wherein
the integrated circuit and the printhead are mounted to a print engine.
960. A printhead according to claim 949, comprising a plurality of printhead
modules.
961. A printhead according to claim 960, wherein the printhead is a pagewidth
printhead.
962. A printhead module according to claim 949, configured to receive dot data
to which a method of at least
partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a
plurality of nozzles due to erroneous
rotational displacement of a printhead module relative to a carrier has been
applied, the nozzles being disposed on
the printhead module, the method comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
1414
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
963. A printhead module according to claim 949, configured to receive dot data
to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with
the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
964. A printhead module according to claim 949, configured to receive dot data
to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to
a fire signal, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
965. A printhead module according to claim 949, having been manufactured in
accordance with a method of
manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are
capable of being combined in pairs to
form bilithic pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying
out each of the plurality of printhead
modules on a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is
right-handed and at least another is
left-handed.
966. A printhead module according to claim 949, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
967. A printhead module according to claim 949, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least the first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
1415
968. A printhead module according to claim 949, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
969. A printhead module according to claim 949, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
970. A printhead module according to claim 949, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
971. A printhead module according to claim 949, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying dot
data to at least one printhead module and at least partially compensating for
errors in ink dot placement by at least
one of a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module due to erroneous
rotational displacement of the printhead
module relative to a carrier, the printer being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
1416
972. A printhead module according to claim 949, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying dot
data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink,
the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being configured to
respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printer controller being configured
to modify operation of at least some of
the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
973. A printhead module according to claim 949, in communication with a
printer controller for controlling a
head comprising at least one monolithic printhead module, the at least one
printhead module having a plurality of
rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth of the printhead, the
nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups,
the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group,
such that each nozzle in the sequence
from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective corresponding
nozzles in the sequence in the other
fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of
each row are all fired before the
nozzles of each subsequent row, wherein the printer controller is configured
to provide one or more control
signals that control the order of firing of the nozzles.
974. A printhead module according to claim 949, in communication with a
printer controller for outputting to
a printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
975. A printhead module according to claim 949, including at least one row of
printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
976. A printhead module according to claim 949, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
print data to at least one printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n
of channels of print data, the at
least one printhead module being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
1417
977. A printhead module according to claim 949, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
data to a printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead
being wider than a reticle step used
in forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the
modules, wherein each type is
determined by its geometric shape in plan.
978. A printhead module according to claim 949, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
(a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each
set of nozzles;
(b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired;
and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each
set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
979. A printhead module according to claim 949, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
980. A printhead module according to claim 949, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying dot
data to a printhead module comprising at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second row
in a direction of intended media travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are fired such that some
dots output to print media are printed to
by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some other dots output to
print media are printed to by nozzles
from the second pair of rows, the printer controller being configurable to
supply dot data to the printhead module
for printing.
981. A printhead module according to claim 949, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying dot
data to at least one printhead module, the at least one printhead module
comprising a plurality of rows, each of the
rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and
second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, the printer
controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead module such that, in the event a nozzle
in the first row is faulty, a
1418
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on
print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
982. A printhead module according to claim 949, in communication with a
printer controller for receiving first
data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be printed, the
print controller including at least two
serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one printhead.
983. A printhead module according to claim 949, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
984. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 949, the printhead being
wider than a reticle step used in forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules,
wherein each type is determined by its geometric shape in plan.
985. A printhead module according to claim 949, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, such that, for
each set of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position
n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein
nozzle position x is at or adjacent the
centre of the set of nozzles.
986. A printhead module according to claim 949, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of
adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire
signal, the printhead being configured to output ink from nozzles at a first
and nth position in each set of nozzles,
and then each next inward pair of nozzles in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
987. A printhead module according to claim 949, for receiving dot data to be
printed using at least two
different inks and control data for controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a
communication input for receiving the dot data for the at least two colors and
the control data.
1419
988. A printhead module according to claim 949, including at least one row of
printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
989. A printhead module according to claim 949, having a plurality of rows of
nozzles configured to extend,
in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each row
being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each
fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that
the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
990. A printhead module according to claim 949, comprising at least first and
second rows configured to print
ink of a similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being
aligned with respective corresponding
nozzles in the second row in a direction of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module
being configurable such that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output
to print media are printed to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at
least some other dots output to print
media are printed to by nozzles from the second pair of rows.
991. A printhead module according to claim 949, in communication with a
printer controller for providing
data to a printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
992. A printhead module according to claim 949, having a plurality of nozzles
for expelling ink, the printhead
module including a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors
being configured to respond to a
temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printhead module
being configured to modify operation
of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
993. A printhead module according to claim 949, comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows comprising
a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes
at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type or color, and being configured such
that, in the event a nozzle in the first
row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a
position on print media at or adjacent
a position where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1420
994. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead
being wider than a reticle step
used in forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of
the modules, wherein each type is
determined by its geometric shape in plan.
995. A printhead according to claim 994, comprising a plurality of at least
one of the types of module.
996. A printhead according to claim 995, comprising a plurality of each of at
least two of the types of module.
997. A printhead according to claim 994, comprising two types of the module.
998. A printhead according to claim 997, wherein the two types of module
alternate across a print width of the
printhead.
999. A printhead according to claim 994, each of the modules including at
least one row of print nozzles,
wherein each of the at least one row of print nozzles includes at least a
portion that extends at an acute angle to an
intended relative direction of movement between the printhead and print media.
1000. A printhead according to claim 999, wherein the different types of
modules are configured, and arranged
relative to each other, such that there is substantially no growth in offset
of each of the at least one row of print
nozzles in a direction across an intended print width of the printhead.
1001. A printhead according to claim 994, wherein each of the printhead
modules is a monolithic integrated
circuit.
1002. A printhead according to claim 994, each of the modules including at
least one row of print nozzles,
wherein each of the at least one rows includes at least two sub-rows, each of
the sub-rows being parallel to each
other and displaced relative to each other in a direction of intended movement
of print media relative to the
printhead.
1003. A printhead according to claim 994, the printhead being a pagewidth
printhead.
1004. A printhead according to claim 1000, the printhead being a pagewidth
printhead.
1005. A printhead according to claim 1004, the printhead being a pagewidth
printhead.
1006. A printhead according to claim 994, configured to receive dot data to
which a method of at least partially
compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of
nozzles due to erroneous rotational
1421
displacement of a printhead module relative to a carrier has been applied, the
nozzles being disposed on the
printhead module, the method comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
1007. A printhead according to claim 994, configured to receive dot data to
which a method of expelling ink
has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module including at
least one row that comprises a
plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1008. A printhead according to claim 994, configured to receive dot data to
which a method of expelling ink
has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module including at
least one row that comprises a
plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured
to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
1009. A printhead according to claim 994, having been manufactured in
accordance with a method of
manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are
capable of being combined in pairs to
form bilithic pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying
out each of the plurality of printhead
modules on a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is
right-handed and at least another is
left-handed.
1010. A printhead according to claim 994, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
1011. A printhead according to claim 994, installed in a printer comprising:
1422
a printhead comprising at least the first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
1012. A printhead according to claim 994, installed in a printer comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
1013. A printhead according to claim 994, installed in a printer comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
1014. A printhead according to claim 994, installed in a printer comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
1015. A printhead according to claim 994, in communication with a printer
controller for supplying dot data to
at least one printhead module and at least partially compensating for errors
in ink dot placement by at least one of
a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module due to erroneous rotational
displacement of the printhead module
relative to a carrier, the printer being configured to:
1423
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
1016. A printhead according to claim 994, in communication with a printer
controller for supplying dot data to
a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the
printhead module including a plurality of
thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being configured to respond to a
temperature at or adjacent at least
one of the nozzles, the printer controller being configured to modify
operation of at least some of the nozzles in
response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
1017. A printhead according to claim 994, in communication with a printer
controller for controlling a head
comprising at least one monolithic printhead module, the at least one
printhead module having a plurality of rows
of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a printable
pagewidth of the printhead, the nozzles
in each row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the
printhead module being configured to
sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that
each nozzle in the sequence from each fire
group is fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the
sequence in the other fire groups,
wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are
all fired before the nozzles of each
subsequent row, wherein the printer controller is configured to provide one or
more control signals that control the
order of firing of the nozzles.
1018. A printhead according to claim 994, in communication with a printer
controller for outputting to a
printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
1019. A printhead according to claim 994, including at least one row of
printhead nozzles, at least one row
including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1020. A printhead according to claim 994, in communication with a printer
controller for supplying print data
to at least one printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n of
channels of print data, the at least one
printhead module being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
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a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
1021. A printhead according to claim 994, in communication with a printer
controller for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead being
wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the
modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
1022. A printhead according to claim 994, used in conjunction with a printer
controller for supplying one or
more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module including at
least one row that comprises a
plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured
to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
1023. A printhead according to claim 994, used in conjunction with a printer
controller for supplying one or
more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module including at
least one row that comprises a
plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1024. A printhead according to claim 994, in communication with a printer
controller for supplying dot data to
a printhead module comprising at least first and second rows configured to
print ink of a similar type or color, at
least some nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second row in a
direction of intended media travel relative to the printhead, the printhead
module being configurable such that the
nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are fired such that some dots
output to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some other dots output to
print media are printed to by nozzles from
the second pair of rows, the printer controller being configurable to supply
dot data to the printhead module for
printing.
1025. A printhead according to claim 994, in communication with a printer
controller for supplying dot data to
at least one printhead module, the at least one printhead module comprising a
plurality of rows, each of the rows
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comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, the printer
controller being configured to supply the dot
data to the at least one printhead module such that, in the event a nozzle in
the first row is faulty, a corresponding
nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or
adjacent a position where the faulty
nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1026. A printhead according to claim 994, in communication with a printer
controller for receiving first data
and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be printed, the print
controller including at least two serial
outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one printhead.
1027. A printhead according to claim 994, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1028. A printhead according to claim 1039 being capable of printing a maximum
of n of channels of print data,
the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
1029. A printhead according to claim 994, including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n
adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, such that, for each
set of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in accordance with the sequence:
[nozzle position 1, nozzle position n,
nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein
nozzle position x is at or adjacent the
centre of the set of nozzles.
1030. A printhead according to claim 994, including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel the ink
in response to a fire signal, the
printhead being configured to output ink from nozzles at a first and nth
position in each set of nozzles, and then
each next inward pair of nozzles in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
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1031. A printhead according to claim 994, for receiving dot data to be printed
using at least two different inks
and control data for controlling printing of the dot data, the printhead
module including a communication input for
receiving the dot data for the at least two colors and the control data.
1032. A printhead according to claim 994, including at least one row of
printhead nozzles, at least one row
including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1033. A printhead according to claim 994, having a plurality of rows of
nozzles configured to extend, in use,
across at least part of a printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each row being
grouped into at least first and second
fire groups, the printhead being configured to sequentially fire, for each
row, the nozzles of each fire group, such
that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously
with respective corresponding
nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups, wherein the nozzles are
fired row by row such that the nozzles of
each row are all fired before the nozzles of each subsequent row.
1034. A printhead according to claim 994, comprising at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned
with respective corresponding nozzles in
the second row in a direction of intended media travel relative to the
printhead, the printhead module being
configurable such that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are
fired such that some dots output to print
media are printed to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some
other dots output to print media are
printed to by nozzles from the second pair of rows.
1035. A printhead according to claim 994, in communication with a printer
controller for providing data to a
printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1036. A printhead according to claim 994, having a plurality of nozzles for
expelling ink, the printhead module
including a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being
configured to respond to a temperature
at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printhead module being
configured to modify operation of the
nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
1037. A printhead according to claim 994, comprising a plurality of rows, each
of the rows comprising a
plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes
at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type or color, and being configured such
that, in the event a nozzle in the first
1427
row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a
position on print media at or adjacent
a position where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1038. A printhead module including at least one row that comprises a plurality
of sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a
fire signal is provided in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle position 1,
nozzle position n, nozzle position 2,
nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle position x is
at or adjacent the centre of the set of
nozzles.
1039. A printhead module according to claim 1038, wherein the nozzle at each
given position within the set is
fired simultaneously with the nozzles in the other sets at respective
corresponding positions.
1040. A printhead module according to claim 1038, wherein the printhead module
includes a plurality of the
rows of nozzles, the printhead module being configured to fire all the nozzles
on each row prior to firing any
nozzles from a subsequent row.
1041. A printhead module according to claim 1039, wherein the rows are
disposed in pairs.
1042. A printhead module according to claim 1040, wherein the rows in each
pair of rows are offset relative to
each other.
1043. A printhead module according to claim 1041, wherein each pair of rows is
configured to print the same
color ink.
1044. A printhead module according to claim 1042, wherein each pair of rows is
connected to a common ink
source.
1045. A printhead module according to claim 1038, wherein the sets of nozzles
are adjacent each other.
1046. A printhead module according to claim 1038, wherein the sets of nozzles
are separated by an
intermediate nozzle, the intermediate nozzle being fired either prior to the
nozzle at position 1 in each set, or
following the nozzle at position n.
1047. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 1083.
1048. A printhead according to claim 1047, wherein the printhead is a
pagewidth printhead.
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1049. A printhead module according to claim 1038, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of at least
partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a
plurality of nozzles due to erroneous
rotational displacement of a printhead module relative to a carrier has been
applied, the nozzles being disposed on
the printhead module, the method comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
1050. A printhead module according to claim 1038, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with
the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1051. A printhead module according to claim 1038, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to
a fire signal, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
1052. A printhead module according to claim 1038, having been manufactured in
accordance with a method of
manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are
capable of being combined in pairs to
form bilithic pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying
out each of the plurality of printhead
modules on a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is
right-handed and at least another is
left-handed.
1053. A printhead module according to claim 1038, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
1429
1054. A printhead module according to claim 1038, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least the first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
1055. A printhead module according to claim 1038, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
1056. A printhead module according to claim 1038, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
1057. A printhead module according to claim 1038, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
1058. A printhead module according to claim 1038, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to at least one printhead module and at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at
1430
least one of a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module due to erroneous
rotational displacement of the
printhead module relative to a carrier, the printer being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
1059. A printhead module according to claim 1038, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling
ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being configured to
respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printer controller being configured
to modify operation of at least some of
the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
1060. A printhead module according to claim 1038, in communication with a
printer controller for controlling a
head comprising at least one monolithic printhead module, the at least one
printhead module having a plurality of
rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth of the printhead, the
nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups,
the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group,
such that each nozzle in the sequence
from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective corresponding
nozzles in the sequence in the other
fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of
each row are all fired before the
nozzles of each subsequent row, wherein the printer controller is configured
to provide one or more control
signals that control the order of firing of the nozzles.
1061. A printhead module according to claim 1038, in communication with a
printer controller for outputting to
a printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
1062. A printhead module according to claim 1038, including at least one row
of printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1431
1063. A printhead module according to claim 1038, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
print data to at least one printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n
of channels of print data, the at
least one printhead module being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
1064. A printhead module according to claim 1038, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
data to a printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead
being wider than a reticle step used
in forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the
modules, wherein each type is
determined by its geometric shape in plan.
1065. A printhead module according to claim 1038, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
(a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each
set of nozzles;
(b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired;
and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each
set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
1066. A printhead module according to claim 1038, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1067. A printhead module according to claim 1038, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to a printhead module comprising at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type
or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second
row in a direction of intended media travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such
that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are fired such that
some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some other dots output
to print media are printed to by
1432
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the printer controller being
configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
1068. A printhead module according to claim 1038, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to at least one printhead module, the at least one printhead module
comprising a plurality of rows, each of
the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the
printhead module includes at least first and
second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, the printer
controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead module such that, in the event a nozzle
in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on
print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1069. A printhead module according to claim 1038, in communication with a
printer controller for receiving
first data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be printed,
the print controller including at least
two serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one printhead.
1070. A printhead module according to claim 1038, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1071. A printhead module according to claim 1083 being capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of
print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
1072. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 1038, the printhead being
wider than a reticle step used in forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules,
wherein each type is determined by its geometric shape in plan.
1073. A printhead module according to claim 1038, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of
adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire
signal, the printhead being configured to output ink from nozzles at a first
and nth position in each set of nozzles,
and then each next inward pair of nozzles in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
1433
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
1074. A printhead module according to claim 1038, for receiving dot data to be
printed using at least two
different inks and control data for controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a
communication input for receiving the dot data for the at least two colors and
the control data.
1075. A printhead module according to claim 1038, including at least one row
of printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1076. A printhead module according to claim 1038, having a plurality of rows
of nozzles configured to extend,
in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each row
being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each
fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that
the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
1077. A printhead module according to claim 1038, comprising at least first
and second rows configured to
print ink of a similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction of intended media
travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles in the first and
second pairs of rows are fired such that
some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the first pair
of rows and at least some other dots
output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the second pair of rows.
1078. A printhead module according to claim 1038, in communication with a
printer controller for providing
data to a printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1079. A printhead module according to claim 1038, having a plurality of
nozzles for expelling ink, the
printhead module including a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond
to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify
operation of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first
threshold.
1434
1080. A printhead module according to claim 1038, comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, and being configured
such that, in the event a nozzle in the
first row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink
dot at a position on print media at or
adjacent a position where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1081. A printhead module according to claim 1038, comprising a plurality of
the rows, the printhead module
being configured to fire each nozzle in each row simultaneously with the
nozzle or nozzles at the same position in
the other rows.
1082. A printhead module according to claim 1038, including a plurality of
pairs of the rows, each pair of rows
including an odd row and an even row, the odd and even rows in each pair being
offset from each other in both x
and y directions relative to an intended direction of print media movement
relative to the printhead, the printhead
module being configured to cause firing of at least a plurality of the odd
rows prior to firing any of the even rows,
or vice versa.
1083. A printhead module according to claim 1082, wherein all the odd rows are
fired before any of the even
rows are fired, or vice versa.
1084. A printhead module according to claim 1082, wherein all the odd rows, or
the even rows, or both, are
fired in a predetermined order.
1085. A printhead module according to claim 1084, configurable such that the
predetermined order is selectable
from a plurality of predetermined available orders.
1086. A printhead module according to claim 1082, wherein the predetermined
order is sequential.
1087. A printhead module according to claim 1086, configurable such that the
predetermined order can
commence at any of a plurality of the rows.
1088. A printhead module including at least one row that comprises a plurality
of adjacent sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel the ink in response to
a fire signal, the printhead being
configured to output ink from nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles, and then each next inward
pair of nozzles in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
1435
1089. A printhead module according to claim 1088, wherein the printhead module
includes a plurality of the
rows of nozzles, the printhead module being configured to fire all the nozzles
on each row prior to firing any
nozzles from a subsequent row.
1090. A printhead module according to claim 1089, wherein the rows are
disposed in pairs.
1091. A printhead module according to claim 1090, wherein the rows in each
pair of rows are offset relative to
each other.
1092. A printhead module according to claim 1091, wherein each pair of rows is
configured to print the same
color ink.
1093. A printhead module according to claim 1092, wherein each pair of rows is
connected to a common ink
source.
1094. A printhead module according to claim 1088, wherein the sets of nozzles
are adjacent each other.
1095. A printhead module according to claim 1088, wherein the sets of nozzles
are separated by an
intermediate nozzle, the intermediate nozzle being fired either prior to the
nozzle at position 1 in each set, or
following the nozzle at position n.
1096. A printhead module according to claim 1088, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of at least
partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a
plurality of nozzles due to erroneous
rotational displacement of a printhead module relative to a carrier has been
applied, the nozzles being disposed on
the printhead module, the method comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
1097. A printhead module according to claim 1088, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with
the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
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1098. A printhead module according to claim 1088, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to
a fire signal, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
(b) providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each set
have been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
1099. A printhead module according to claim 1088, having been manufactured in
accordance with a method of
manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are
capable of being combined in pairs to
form bilithic pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying
out each of the plurality of printhead
modules on a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is
right-handed and at least another is
left-handed.
1100. A printhead module according to claim 1088, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
1101. A printhead module according to claim 1088, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least the first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
1102. A printhead module according to claim 1088, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
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1103. A printhead module according to claim 1088, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
1104. A printhead module according to claim 1088, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
1105. A printhead module according to claim 1088, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to at least one printhead module and at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at
least one of a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module due to erroneous
rotational displacement of the
printhead module relative to a carrier, the printer being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
1106. A printhead module according to claim 1088, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling
ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being configured to
respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printer controller being configured
to modify operation of at least some of
the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
1107. A printhead module according to claim 1088, in communication with a
printer controller for controlling a
printhead comprising at least one monolithic printhead module, the at least
one printhead module having a
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plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least
part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module
being configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire
group, such that each nozzle in the
sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the
nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent row, wherein the printer controller is
configured to provide one or more
control signals that control the order of firing of the nozzles.
1108. A printhead module according to claim 1088, in communication with a
printer controller for outputting to
a printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
1109. A printhead module according to claim 1088, including at least one row
of printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1110. A printhead module according to claim 1088, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
print data to at least one printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n
of channels of print data, the at
least one printhead module being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
1111. A printhead module according to claim 1088, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
data to a printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead
being wider than a reticle step used
in forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the
modules, wherein each type is
determined by its geometric shape in plan.
1112. A printhead module according to claim 1088, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
(a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each
set of nozzles;
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(b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired;
and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each
set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
1113. A printhead module according to claim 1088, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1114. A printhead module according to claim 1088, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to a printhead module comprising at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type
or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second
row in a direction of intended media travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such
that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are fired such that
some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some other dots output
to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the printer controller being
configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
1115. A printhead module according to claim 1088, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to at least one printhead module, the at least one printhead module
comprising a plurality of rows, each of
the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the
printhead module includes at least first and
second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, the printer
controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead module such that, in the event a nozzle
in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on
print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1116. A printhead module according to claim 1088, in communication with a
printer controller for receiving
first data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be printed,
the print controller including at least
two serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one printhead.
1117. A printhead module according to claim 1088, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
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at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1118. A printhead module according to claim 1133 being capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of
print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
1119. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 1088, the printhead being
wider than a reticle step used in forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules,
wherein each type is determined by its geometric shape in plan.
1120. A printhead module according to claim 1088, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, such that, for
each set of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position
n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein
nozzle position x is at or adjacent the
centre of the set of nozzles.
1121. A printhead module according to claim 1088, for receiving dot data to be
printed using at least two
different inks and control data for controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a
communication input for receiving the dot data for the at least two colors and
the control data.
1122. A printhead module according to claim 1088, including at least one row
of printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1123. A printhead module according to claim 1088, having a plurality of rows
of nozzles configured to extend,
in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each row
being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each
fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that
the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
1124. A printhead module according to claim 1088, comprising at least first
and second rows configured to
print ink of a similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective
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corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction of intended media
travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles in the first and
second pairs of rows are fired such that
some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the first pair
of rows and at least some other dots
output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the second pair of rows.
1125. A printhead module according to claim 1088, in communication with a
printer controller for providing
data to a printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1126. A printhead module according to claim 1088, having a plurality of
nozzles for expelling ink, the
printhead module including a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond
to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify
operation of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first
threshold.
1127. A printhead module according to claim 1088, comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, and being configured
such that, in the event a nozzle in the
first row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink
dot at a position on print media at or
adjacent a position where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1128. A printhead module according to claim 1088, comprising a plurality of
the rows, the printhead module
being configured to fire each nozzle in each row simultaneously with the
nozzle or nozzles at the same position in
the other rows.
1129. A printhead module according to claim 1088, including a plurality of
pairs of the rows, each pair of rows
including an odd row and an even row, the odd and even rows in each pair being
offset from each other in both x
and y directions relative to an intended direction of print media movement
relative to the printhead, the printhead
module being configured to cause firing of at least a plurality of the odd
rows prior to firing any of the even rows,
or vice versa.
1130. A printhead module according to claim 1129, wherein all the odd rows are
fired before any of the even
rows are fired, or vice versa.
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1131. A printhead module according to claim 1129, wherein all the odd rows, or
the even rows, or both, are
fired in a predetermined order.
1132. A printhead module according to claim 1131, configurable such that the
predetermined order is selectable
from a plurality of predetermined available orders.
1133. A printhead module according to claim 1129, wherein the predetermined
order is sequential.
1134. A printhead module according to claim 1133, configurable such that the
predetermined order can
commence at any of a plurality of the rows.
1135. A printhead module for receiving dot data to be printed using at least
two different inks and control data
for controlling printing of the dot data, the printhead module including a
communication input for receiving the
dot data for the at least two colors and the control data.
1136. A printhead module according to claim 1135, wherein the communication
input is configured to receive
the dot data and control data serially.
1137. A printhead module according to claim 1135, further including a
plurality of the communication inputs.
1138. A printhead module according to claim 1136, further including a
plurality of the communication inputs.
1139. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 1135, the printhead modules
being disposed end to end for printing a width exceeding that of any of the
individual printhead modules, the
communications input of each of the printhead modules being connected to a
common dot data and control data
bus.
1140. A printhead according to claim 1139, wherein each module is configured
to respond to dot data and
control data on the bus only when it is intended for that module.
1141. A printhead module according to claim 1135, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of at least
partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a
plurality of nozzles due to erroneous
rotational displacement of a printhead module relative to a carrier has been
applied, the nozzles being disposed on
the printhead module, the method comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
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using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
1142. A printhead module according to claim 1] 35, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with
the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1143. A printhead module according to claim 1135, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to
a fire signal, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
1144. A printhead module according to claim 1135, having been manufactured in
accordance with a method of
manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are
capable of being combined in pairs to
form bilithic pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying
out each of the plurality of printhead
modules on a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is
right-handed and at least another is
left-handed.
1145. A printhead module according to claim 1135, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
1146. A printhead module according to claim 1135, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least the first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
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1147. A printhead module according to claim 1135, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
1148. A printhead module according to claim 1135, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
1149. A printhead module according to claim 1135, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
1150. A printhead module according to claim 1135, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to at least one printhead module and at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at
least one of a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module due to erroneous
rotational displacement of the
printhead module relative to a carrier, the printer being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
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1151. A printhead module according to claim 1135, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling
ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being configured to
respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printer controller being configured
to modify operation of at least some of
the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
1152. A printhead module according to claim 1135, in communication with a
printer controller for controlling a
printhead comprising at least one monolithic printhead module, the at least
one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least
part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module
being configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire
group, such that each nozzle in the
sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the
nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent row, wherein the printer controller is
configured to provide one or more
control signals that control the order of firing of the nozzles.
1153. A printhead module according to claim 1135, in communication with a
printer controller for outputting to
a printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
1154. A printhead module according to claim 1135, including at least one row
of printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1155. A printhead module according to claim 1135, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
print data to at least one printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n
of channels of print data, the at
least one printhead module being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
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1156. A printhead module according to claim 1135, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
data to a printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead
being wider than a reticle step used
in forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the
modules, wherein each type is
determined by its geometric shape in plan.
1157. A printhead module according to claim 1135, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
(a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each
set of nozzles;
(b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired;
and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each
set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
1158. A printhead module according to claim 1135, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1159. A printhead module according to claim 1135, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to a printhead module comprising at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type
or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second
row in a direction of intended media travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such
that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are fired such that
some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some other dots output
to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the printer controller being
configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
1160. A printhead module according to claim 1135, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to at least one printhead module, the at least one printhead module
comprising a plurality of rows, each of
the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the
printhead module includes at least first and
second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, the printer
controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead module such that, in the event a nozzle
in the first row is faulty, a
1447
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on
print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1161. A printhead module according to claim 1135, in communication with a
printer controller for receiving
first data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be printed,
the print controller including at least
two serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one printhead.
1162. A printhead module according to claim 1135, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1163. A printhead module according to claim 1180 being capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of
print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
1164. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 1135, the printhead being
wider than a reticle step used in forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules,
wherein each type is determined by its geometric shape in plan.
1165. A printhead module according to claim 1135, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, such that, for
each set of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position
n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein
nozzle position x is at or adjacent the
centre of the set of nozzles.
1166. A printhead module according to claim 1135, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of
adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire
signal, the printhead being configured to output ink from nozzles at a first
and nth position in each set of nozzles,
and then each next inward pair of nozzles in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
1448
1167. A printhead module according to claim 1135, including at least one row
of printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1168. A printhead module according to claim 1135, having a plurality of rows
of nozzles configured to extend,
in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each row
being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each
fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that
the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
1169. A printhead module according to claim 1135, comprising at least first
and second rows configured to
print ink of a similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction of intended media
travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles in the first and
second pairs of rows are fired such that
some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the first pair
of rows and at least some other dots
output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the second pair of rows.
1170. A printhead module according to claim 1135, in communication with a
printer controller for providing
data to a printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1171. A printhead module according to claim 1135, having a plurality of
nozzles for expelling ink, the
printhead module including a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond
to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify
operation of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first
threshold.
1172. A printhead module according to claim 1135, comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, and being configured
such that, in the event a nozzle in the
first row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink
dot at a position on print media at or
adjacent a position where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1449
1173. A printhead module including at least one row of printhead nozzles, at
least one row including at least
one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row portion including a
component in a direction normal to
that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1174. A printhead module according to claim 1173, wherein the displaced row
portion is disposed adjacent one
end of the monolithic printhead module.
1175. A printhead module according to claim 1173, including a plurality of the
rows, wherein each of at least a
plurality of the rows includes one of the displaced row portions.
1176. A printhead module according to claim 1175, wherein the displaced row
portions of at least some of the
rows are different in length than the displaced row portions of at least some
of the other rows.
1177. A printhead module according to claim 1176, wherein each of the rows has
a displaced row portion, and
the sizes of the respective displaced row portions increase from row to row in
the direction normal to that of the
pagewidth to be printed.
1178. A printhead module according to claim 1177, wherein the dropped rows
together comprise a generally
trapezoidal shape, in plan.
1179. A printhead module according to claim 1177, wherein the dropped rows
together comprise a generally
triangular shape, in plan.
1180. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, including at
least one of the printhead modules
according to claim 1218.
1181. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, including at
least one the printhead modules
according to claim 2, wherein the displaced row portion of at least one of the
printhead modules is disposed
adjacent another of the printhead modules.
1182. A printhead according to claim 1181, wherein the printhead modules are
the same shape and
configuration as each other, and are arranged end to end across the intended
print width.
1183. A printhead according to claim 1180, the printhead being a pagewidth
printhead.
1184. A printhead according to claim 1182, the printhead being a pagewidth
printhead.
1450
1185. A printhead module according to claim 1173, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of at least
partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a
plurality of nozzles due to erroneous
rotational displacement of a printhead module relative to a carrier has been
applied, the nozzles being disposed on
the printhead module, the method comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
1186. A printhead module according to claim 1173, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with
the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1187. A printhead module according to claim 1173, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to
a fire signal, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
1188. A printhead module according to claim 1173, having been manufactured in
accordance with a method of
manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are
capable of being combined in pairs to
form bilithic pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying
out each of the plurality of printhead
modules on a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is
right-handed and at least another is
left-handed.
1189. A printhead module according to claim 1173, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
1451
1190. A printhead module according to claim 1173, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least the first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
1191. A printhead module according to claim 1173, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
1192. A printhead module according to claim 1173, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
1193. A printhead module according to claim 1173, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
1194. A printhead module according to claim 1173, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to at least one printhead module and at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at
1452
least one of a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module due to erroneous
rotational displacement of the
printhead module relative to a carrier, the printer being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
1195. A printhead module according to claim 1173, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling
ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being configured to
respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printer controller being configured
to modify operation of at least some of
the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
1196. A printhead module according to claim 1173, in communication with a
printer controller for controlling a
printhead comprising at least one monolithic printhead module, the at least
one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least
part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module
being configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire
group, such that each nozzle in the
sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the
nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent row, wherein the printer controller is
configured to provide one or more
control signals that control the order of firing of the nozzles.
1197. A printhead module according to claim 1173, in communication with a
printer controller for outputting to
a printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
1198. A printhead module according to claim 1173, including at least one row
of printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1453
1199. A printhead module according to claim 1173, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
print data to at least one printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n
of channels of print data, the at
least one printhead module being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
1200. A printhead module according to claim 1173, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
data to a printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead
being wider than a reticle step used
in forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the
modules, wherein each type is
determined by its geometric shape in plan.
1201. A printhead module according to claim 1173, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
1202. A printhead module according to claim 1173, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1203. A printhead module according to claim 1173, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to a printhead module comprising at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type
or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second
row in a direction of intended media travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such
that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are fired such that
some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some other dots output
to print media are printed to by
1454
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the printer controller being
configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
1204. A printhead module according to claim 1173, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to at least one printhead module, the at least one printhead module
comprising a plurality of rows, each of
the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the
printhead module includes at least first and
second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, the printer
controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead module such that, in the event a nozzle
in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on
print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1205. A printhead module according to claim 1173, in communication with a
printer controller for receiving
first data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be printed,
the print controller including at least
two serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one printhead.
1206. A printhead module according to claim 1173, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1207. A printhead module according to claim 1218 being capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of
print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
1208. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 1173, the printhead being
wider than a reticle step used in forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules,
wherein each type is determined by its geometric shape in plan.
1209. A printhead module according to claim 1173, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, such that, for
each set of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position
n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein
nozzle position x is at or adjacent the
centre of the set of nozzles.
1455
1210. A printhead module according to claim 1173, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of
adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire
signal, the printhead being configured to output ink from nozzles at a first
and nth position in each set of nozzles,
and then each next inward pair of nozzles in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
1211. A printhead module according to claim 1173, for receiving dot data to be
printed using at least two
different inks and control data for controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a
communication input for receiving the dot data for the at least two colors and
the control data.
1212. A printhead module according to claim 1173, having a plurality of rows
of nozzles configured to extend,
in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each row
being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each
fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that
the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
1213. A printhead module according to claim 1173, comprising at least first
and second rows configured to
print ink of a similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction of intended media
travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles in the first and
second pairs of rows are fired such that
some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the first pair
of rows and at least some other dots
output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the second pair of rows.
1214. A printhead module according to claim 1173, in communication with a
printer controller for providing
data to a printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1215. A printhead module according to claim 1173, having a plurality of
nozzles for expelling ink, the
printhead module including a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond
to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify
operation of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first
threshold.
1456
1216. A printhead module according to claim 1173, comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, and being configured
such that, in the event a nozzle in the
first row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink
dot at a position on print media at or
adjacent a position where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1217. A printhead module having a plurality of rows of nozzles configured to
extend, in use, across at least part
of a printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each row being grouped into at least
first and second fire groups, the
printhead module being configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the
nozzles of each fire group, such that
each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with
respective corresponding nozzles in
the sequence in the other fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by
row such that the nozzles of each row
are all fired before the nozzles of each subsequent row.
1218. A printhead module according to claim 1262 wherein the rows are disposed
in pairs extending generally
transverse to a direction media is to be moved relative to the printhead.
1219. A printhead module according to claim 1218, wherein the rows in each
pair of rows are configured to
print the same color ink as each other.
1220. A printhead module according to claim 1219, wherein the rows in each
pair of rows share an ink supply.
1221. A printhead module according to claim 1217, wherein the rows in each
pair of rows are offset with
respect to each other.
1222. A printhead module according to claim 1262 configured to fire the
nozzles such that at least some ink
dots from one row land on top of dots previously deposited by one or more of
the other rows.
1223. A printhead module according to claim 1262 operable in at least two fire
modes, wherein at least some of
the at least two fire modes define relatively different numbers of nozzles in
each of the fire groups.
1224. A printhead module according to claim 1223, wherein at least some of the
at least two fire groups define
relatively different fire group sequences.
1225. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 1262.
1226. A printhead according to claim 1225, wherein the printhead is a
pagewidth printhead.
1457
1227. A printhead module according to claim 1262 configured to receive dot
data to which a method of at least
partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a
plurality of nozzles due to erroneous
rotational displacement of a printhead module relative to a carrier has been
applied, the nozzles being disposed on
the printhead module, the method comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
1228. A printhead module according to claim 1262 configured to receive dot
data to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with
the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1229. A printhead module according to claim 1262 configured to receive dot
data to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to
a fire signal, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
1230. A printhead module according to claim 1262 having been manufactured in
accordance with a method of
manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are
capable of being combined in pairs to
form bilithic pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying
out each of the plurality of printhead
modules on a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is
right-handed and at least another is
left-handed.
1231. A printhead module according to claim 1262 including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
1458
1232. A printhead module according to claim 1262 installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least the first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
1233. A printhead module according to claim 1262 installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
1234. A printhead module according to claim 1262 installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
1235. A printhead module according to claim 1262 installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
1236. A printhead module according to claim 1262 in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to at least one printhead module and at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at
1459
least one of a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module due to erroneous
rotational displacement of the
printhead module relative to a carrier, the printer being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
1237. A printhead module according to claim 1262 in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling
ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being configured to
respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printer controller being configured
to modify operation of at least some of
the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
1238. A printhead module according to claim 1262 in communication with a
printer controller for controlling a
printhead comprising at least one monolithic printhead module, the at least
one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least
part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module
being configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire
group, such that each nozzle in the
sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the
nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent row, wherein the printer controller is
configured to provide one or more
control signals that control the order of firing of the nozzles.
1239. A printhead module according to claim 1262 in communication with a
printer controller for outputting to
a printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
1240. A printhead module according to claim 1262 including at least one row of
printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1460
1241. A printhead module according to claim 1262 in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
print data to at least one printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n
of channels of print data, the at
least one printhead module being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
1242. A printhead module according to claim 1262 in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
data to a printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead
being wider than a reticle step used
in forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the
modules, wherein each type is
determined by its geometric shape in plan.
1243. A printhead module according to claim 1262 used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
(a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each
set of nozzles;
(b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired;
and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each
set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
1244. A printhead module according to claim 1262 used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1245. A printhead module according to claim 1262 in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to a printhead module comprising at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type
or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second
row in a direction of intended media travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such
that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are fired such that
some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some other dots output
to print media are printed to by
1461
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the printer controller being
configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
1246. A printhead module according to claim 1262 in communication with a
printer controller for
supplying dot data to at least one printhead module, the at least one
printhead module comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink,
wherein the printhead module includes at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, the printer controller being configured
to supply the dot data to the at least one printhead module such that, in the
event a nozzle in the first row is faulty,
a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on
print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1247. A printhead module according to claim 1262 in communication with a
printer controller for
receiving first data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be
printed, the print controller including
at least two serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one
printhead.
1248. A printhead module according to claim 1262 including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1249. A printhead module according to claim 1 being capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of
print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
1250. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 1262 the printhead being
wider than a reticle step used in forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules,
wherein each type is determined by its geometric shape in plan.
1251. A printhead module according to claim 1262 including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of
sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink
in response to a fire signal, such that,
for each set of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle
position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position
x], wherein nozzle position x is at or
adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1462
1252. A printhead module according to claim 1262 including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of
adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire
signal, the printhead being configured to output ink from nozzles at a first
and nth position in each set of nozzles,
and then each next inward pair of nozzles in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
1253. A printhead module according to claim 1262 for receiving dot data to be
printed using at least two
different inks and control data for controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a
communication input for receiving the dot data for the at least two colors and
the control data.
1254. A printhead module according to claim 1262 including at least one row of
printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1255. A printhead module according to claim 1262 comprising at least first and
second rows configured to print
ink of a similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being
aligned with respective corresponding
nozzles in the second row in a direction of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module
being configurable such that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output
to print media are printed to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at
least some other dots output to print
media are printed to by nozzles from the second pair of rows.
1256. A printhead module according to claim 1262 in communication with a
printer controller for providing
data to a printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1257. A printhead module according to claim 1262 having a plurality of nozzles
for expelling ink, the printhead
module including a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors
being configured to respond to a
temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printhead module
being configured to modify operation
of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
1258. A printhead module according to claim 1262 comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows comprising
a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes
at least first and second rows
1463
configured to print ink of a similar type or color, and being configured such
that, in the event a nozzle in the first
row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a
position on print media at or adjacent
a position where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1259. A printhead module according to claim 1262 comprising a plurality of the
rows, the printhead module
being configured to fire each nozzle in each row simultaneously with the
nozzle or nozzles at the same position in
the other rows.
1260. A printhead module according to claim 1262 including a plurality of
pairs of the rows, each pair of rows
including an odd row and an even row, the odd and even rows in each pair being
offset from each other in both x
and y directions relative to an intended direction of print media movement
relative to the printhead, the printhead
module being configured to cause firing of at least a plurality of the odd
rows prior to firing any of the even rows,
or vice versa.
1261. A printhead module according to claim 1260, wherein all the odd rows are
fired before any of the even
rows are fired, or vice versa.
1262. A printhead module according to claim 1260, wherein all the odd rows, or
the even rows, or both, are
fired in a predetermined order.
1263. A printhead module according to claim 1262, configurable such that the
predetermined order is selectable
from a plurality of predetermined available orders.
1264. A printhead module according to claim 1260, wherein the predetermined
order is sequential.
1265. A printhead module according to claim 1264, configurable such that the
predetermined order can
commence at any of a plurality of the rows.
1266. A printhead module comprising at least first and second rows configured
to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second row
in a direction of intended media travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second rows are fired such that some dots output
to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the first row and at least some other dots output to print media
are printed to by nozzles from the
second row.
1464
1267. A printhead module according to claim 1266, controllable such that
either of the nozzles in each aligned
pair of nozzles in the first and second rows can be selected to output ink for
a selected dot to be printed on the
print media.
1268. A printhead module according to claim 1267, wherein, in the event a
nozzle in the first row is faulty, the
corresponding nozzle in the second row is selected to output ink for a dot for
which the faulty nozzle would
otherwise have output ink.
1269. A printhead module according to claim 1267, including a plurality of
sets of the first and second rows.
1270. A printhead module according to claim 1269, wherein each of the sets of
the first and second rows is
configured to print in a single color or ink type.
1271. A printhead module according to claim 1270, wherein the first and second
rows in at least one of the sets
are separated by one or more rows from the other set or sets.
1272. A printhead module according to claim 1266, wherein each of the rows
includes an odd sub-row and an
even sub-row, the odd and even sub-rows being offset with respect to each
other in a direction of intended print
media travel relative to the printhead.
1273. A printhead module according to claim 1272, wherein the odd and even sub-
rows are transversely offset
relative to each other.
1274. A printhead module according to claim 1266, configured such that the
first and second rows are fired
alternately.
1275. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 1311.
1276. A printhead according to claim 1275, the printhead being a pagewidth
printhead.
1277. A printhead module according to claim 1266, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of at least
partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a
plurality of nozzles due to erroneous
rotational displacement of a printhead module relative to a carrier has been
applied, the nozzles being disposed on
the printhead module, the method comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
1465
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
1278. A printhead module according to claim 1266, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with
the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1279. A printhead module according to claim 1266, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to
a fire signal, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
1280. A printhead module according to claim 1266, having been manufactured in
accordance with a method of
manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are
capable of being combined in pairs to
form bilithic pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying
out each of the plurality of printhead
modules on a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is
right-handed and at least another is
left-handed.
1281. A printhead module according to claim 1266, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
1282. A printhead module according to claim 1266, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least the first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
1466
1283. A printhead module according to claim 1266, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
1284. A printhead module according to claim 1266, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
1285. A printhead module according to claim 1266, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
1286. A printhead module according to claim 1266, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to at least one printhead module and at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at
least one of a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module due to erroneous
rotational displacement of the
printhead module relative to a carrier, the printer being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
1467
1287. A printhead module according to claim 1266, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling
ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being configured to
respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printer controller being configured
to modify operation of at least some of
the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
1288. A printhead module according to claim 1266, in communication with a
printer controller for controlling a
printhead comprising at least one monolithic printhead module, the at least
one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least
part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module
being configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire
group, such that each nozzle in the
sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the
nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent row, wherein the printer controller is
configured to provide one or more
control signals that control the order of firing of the nozzles.
1289. A printhead module according to claim 1266, in communication with a
printer controller for outputting to
a printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
1290. A printhead module according to claim 1266, including at least one row
of printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1291. A printhead module according to claim 1266, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
print data to at least one printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n
of channels of print data, the at
least one printhead module being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
1468
1292. A printhead module according to claim 1266, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
data to a printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead
being wider than a reticle step used
in forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the
modules, wherein each type is
determined by its geometric shape in plan.
1293. A printhead module according to claim 1266, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
(a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each
set of nozzles;
(b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired;
and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each
set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
1294. A printhead module according to claim 1266, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1295. A printhead module according to claim 1266, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to a printhead module comprising at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type
or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second
row in a direction of intended media travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such
that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are fired such that
some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some other dots output
to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the printer controller being
configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
1296. A printhead module according to claim 1266, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to at least one printhead module, the at least one printhead module
comprising a plurality of rows, each of
the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the
printhead module includes at least first and
second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, the printer
controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead module such that, in the event a nozzle
in the first row is faulty, a
1469
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on
print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1297. A printhead module according to claim 1266, in communication with a
printer controller for receiving
first data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be printed,
the print controller including at least
two serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one printhead.
1298. A printhead module according to claim 1266, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1299. A printhead module according to claim 1 being capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print
data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
1300. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 1266, the printhead being
wider than a reticle step used in forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules,
wherein each type is determined by its geometric shape in plan.
1301. A printhead module according to claim 1266, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, such that, for
each set of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position
n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein
nozzle position x is at or adjacent the
centre of the set of nozzles.
1302. A printhead module according to claim 1266, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of
adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire
signal, the printhead being configured to output ink from nozzles at a first
and nth position in each set of nozzles,
and then each next inward pair of nozzles in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
1470
1303. A printhead module according to claim 1266, for receiving dot data to be
printed using at least two
different inks and control data for controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a
communication input for receiving the dot data for the at least two colors and
the control data.
1304. A printhead module according to claim 1266, including at least one row
of printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1305. A printhead module according to claim 1266, having a plurality of rows
of nozzles configured to extend,
in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each row
being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each
fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that
the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
1306. A printhead module according to claim 1266, in communication with a
printer controller for providing
data to a printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1307. A printhead module according to claim 1266, having a plurality of
nozzles for expelling ink, the
printhead module including a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond
to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify
operation of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first
threshold.
1308. A printhead module according to claim 1266, comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, and being configured
such that, in the event a nozzle in the
first row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink
dot at a position on print media at or
adjacent a position where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
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1309. A printer controller for providing data to a printhead module that
includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1310. A printer controller according to claim 1309, wherein there is a one to
one correspondence between the
nozzles and respective elements of the first and second shift registers.
1311. A printer controller according to claim 13 10, wherein each of the shift
registers supplies dot data to about
half of the nozzles in a row.
1312. A printer controller according to claim 1309, including at least one
pair of rows of the nozzles, the rows
in each pair being offset in a direction parallel to the rows by half the
intra-row nozzle spacing.
1313. A printer controller according to claim 1312, wherein each of the at
least two shift registers supplies dot
data to at least some of the nozzles in at least the pair of rows.
1314. A printer controller according claim 1309, including a plurality of the
rows configured to print using at
least two ink channels, the nozzles for each of the ink channels being fed the
dot data from at least one pair of first
and second registers.
1315. A printer controller according to claim 1314, wherein the printhead
module forms part of a printhead.
1316. A printer controller according to claim 1314, wherein the printhead
includes a plurality of the printhead
modules and the printer controller is configured to supply data to a plurality
of the modules.
1317. A printer controller according to claim 1315, wherein the printhead is a
pagewidth printhead comprising
a plurality of the printhead modules.
1318. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for implementing a method
of at least partially
compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a plurality of
nozzles due to erroneous rotational
displacement of a printhead module relative to a carrier, the nozzles being
disposed on the printhead module, the
method comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
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determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
1319. A printer controller according to claim 1354 for implementing a method
of expelling ink from a
printhead module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of
adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each
of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the
method comprising providing, for
each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the sequence: [nozzle
position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle
position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein nozzle
position x is at or adjacent the centre of
the set of nozzles.
1320. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for implementing a method
of expelling ink from a
printhead module including at least one row that comprises a plurality of sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire signal, the method
comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
1321. A printer controller according to claim 1309, manufactured in accordance
with a method of
manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are
capable of being combined in pairs to
form bilithic pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying
out each of the plurality of printhead
modules on a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is
right-handed and at least another is
left-handed.
1322. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
1323. A printer controller according to claim 1309, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least a first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
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1324. A printer controller according to claim 1309, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
1325. A printer controller according to claim 1309, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
1326. A printer controller according to claim 1309, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
1327. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying dot data to
at least one printhead module and
at least partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least
one of a plurality of nozzles on the
printhead module due to erroneous rotational displacement of the printhead
module relative to a carrier, the printer
being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
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1328. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying dot data to
a printhead module having a
plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the
thermal sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at
least one of the nozzles, the printer
controller being configured to modify operation of at least some of the
nozzles in response to the temperature
rising above a first threshold.
1329. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for controlling a
printhead comprising at least one
monolithic printhead module, the at least one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to
extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped
into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead module being
configured to sequentially fire, for each row,
the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from
each fire group is fired simultaneously
with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire
groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row
by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of
each subsequent row, wherein the
printer controller is configured to provide one or more control signals that
control the order of firing of the
nozzles.
1330. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for outputting to a
printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
1331. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
1332. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying print data
to at least one printhead module
capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the at least one
printhead module being configurable
into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
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1333. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
1334. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
(a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each
set of nozzles;
(b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired;
and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each
set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
1335. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying one or more
control signals to a printhead
module, the printhead module including at least one row that comprises a
plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent
nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising
providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle
position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position
x], wherein nozzle position x is at or
adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1336. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying dot data to
a printhead module comprising at
least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or
color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a
direction of intended media travel
relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that
the nozzles in the first and second
pairs of rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of
rows and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the
printer controller being configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
1337. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying dot data to
at least one printhead module, the
at least one printhead module comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles
for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes at least first and
second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, the printer controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead
module such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints
an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where the
faulty nozzle would otherwise have
printed it.
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1338. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for receiving first data
and manipulating the first data to
produce dot data to be printed, the print controller including at least two
serial outputs for supplying the dot data
to at least one printhead.
1339. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying data to a
printhead module including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1340. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying data to a
printhead capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
1341. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying data to a
printhead comprising a plurality of
printhead modules, the printhead being wider than a reticle step used in
forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules, wherein each type is determined
by its geometric shape in plan.
1342. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink
in response to a fire signal, such that, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1343. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row that comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles,
each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire signal, the printhead being configured to
output ink from nozzles at a first and
nth position in each set of nozzles, and then each next inward pair of nozzles
in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
1344. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying data to a
printhead module for receiving dot
data to be printed using at least two different inks and control data for
controlling printing of the dot data, the
1477
printhead module including a communication input for receiving the dot data
for the at least two colors and the
control data.
1345. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying data to a
printhead module including at least
one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one
displaced row portion, the displacement of
the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a
pagewidth to be printed.
1346. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a
printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each
row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
1347. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising at least
first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at
least some nozzles in the first row being
aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction
of intended media travel relative to
the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles
in the first and second pairs of rows
are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles
from the first pair of rows and at least
some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the
second pair of rows.
1348. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying data to a
printhead module having a plurality
of nozzles for expelling ink, the printhead module including a plurality of
thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least
one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify operation of the nozzles in response to the
temperature rising above a first
threshold.
1349. A printer controller according to claim 1309, for supplying data to a
printhead module comprising a
plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, and being
configured such that, in the event a nozzle in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row
prints an ink dot at a position on print media at or adjacent a position where
the faulty nozzle would otherwise
have printed it.
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1350. A printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink, the
printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being configured to
respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printhead module being configured to
modify operation of the nozzles in
response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
1351. A printhead module according to claim 1350, configured to modify the
operation of the nozzles at or
adjacent the at least one thermal sensor, such that operation of nozzles not
at or adjacent the at least one thermal
sensor is not modified.
1352. A printhead module according to claim 1351, wherein each thermal sensor
is associated with a
predetermined group of the nozzles, the nozzles in the predetermined group
being those for which the operation is
modified.
1353. A printhead module according to claim 1352, wherein each thermal sensor
is associated with a single
nozzle.
1354. A printhead module according to claim 1353, wherein the modification
includes preventing operation of
the nozzle.
1355. A printhead module according to claim 1354, wherein the modification
includes preventing operation of
the nozzle for a predetermined period.
1356. A printhead module according to claim 1354, wherein the modification
includes preventing operation of
the nozzle until the temperature drops below a second threshold.
1357. A printhead module according to claim 1356, wherein the second threshold
is lower than the first
threshold.
1358. A printhead module according to claim 1357, wherein the second threshold
is the same as the first
threshold.
1359. A printhead module according to claim 1350, wherein the temperature is
not determined explicitly by the
at least one thermal sensor or the module.
1360. A printhead module according to claim 1350, wherein the printhead module
is a thermal inkjet printhead
module and each of the nozzles includes a thermal ink ejection mechanism.
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1361. A printhead module according to claim 1360, wherein the thermal sensor
comprises at least part of one of
the thermal inkjet mechanisms.
1362. A printhead module according to claim 1361, wherein the thermal sensor
comprises a heating element.
1363. A printhead module according to claim 1362, wherein the thermal sensor
determines the temperature by
determining a resistance of the heating element.
1364. A printhead module according to claim 1350, configured to:
output thermal information from the at least one thermal sensor to a
controller; and
receive control information back from the controller, the control information
being indicative of the modification
to make to the operation of the one or more nozzles.
1365. A printhead module according to claim 1350, further including a
plurality of data latches, the data latches
being configured to provide dot data to respective ones of the nozzles, at
least some of the data latches being
configured to receive thermal signals from respective ones of the thermal
sensors during an acquisition period.
1366. A printhead module according to claim 1361, wherein the data latches are
configured to form a shift
register, the shift register being configured to:
shift the print data in during a print load phase;
sample the signals from the thermal sensors during a temperature load phase;
and
shift the thermal signals out during an output phase.
1367. A printhead module according to claim 1366, wherein the output phase
coincides with a subsequent print
load phase.
1368. A printhead module according to claim 1363, further including logic
circuitry configured to perform a
bitwise operation on: each thermal signal as it is clocked out of the shift
register; and each piece of dot data to be
clocked into the shift register, such that when a thermal signal is indicative
of a thermal problem with a nozzle, the
logic circuitry prevents loading of data that would cause firing of that
nozzle.
1369. A printhead module according to claim 1368, wherein the logic circuitry
includes an AND circuit that
receives as inputs the dot data and the thermal signal corresponding to the
nozzle for which the dot data is
intended, an output of the AND circuit being in communication with an input of
the shift register.
1370. A printhead module according to claim 1350, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of at least
partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a
plurality of nozzles due to erroneous
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rotational displacement of a printhead module relative to a carrier has been
applied, the nozzles being disposed on
the printhead module, the method comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
1371. A printhead module according to claim 1350, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with
the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1372. A printhead module according to claim 1350, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to
a fire signal, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set of
nozzles;
providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
in each set has been fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the nozzles
but a central nozzle in each set have
been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
1373. A printhead module according to claim 1350, having been manufactured in
accordance with a method of
manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are
capable of being combined in pairs to
form bilithic pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying
out each of the plurality of printhead
modules on a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is
right-handed and at least another is
left-handed.
1374. A printhead module according to claim 1350, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
1375. A printhead module according to claim 1350, installed in a printer
comprising:
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a printhead comprising at least the first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
1376. A printhead module according to claim 1350, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
1377. A printhead module according to claim 1350, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
1378. A printhead module according to claim 1350, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
1379. A printhead module according to claim 1350, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to at least one printhead module and at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at
least one of a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module due to erroneous
rotational displacement of the
printhead module relative to a carrier, the printer being configured to:
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access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
1380. A printhead module according to claim 1350, in communication with a
printer controller for
supplying dot data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for
expelling ink, the printhead module
including a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being
configured to respond to a temperature
at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printer controller being
configured to modify operation of at least
some of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first
threshold.
1381. A printhead module according to claim 1350, in communication with a
printer controller for
controlling a printhead comprising at least one monolithic printhead module,
the at least one printhead module
having a plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at
least part of a printable pagewidth of
the printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead
module being configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of
each fire group, such that each nozzle in
the sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence
in the other fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that
the nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent row, wherein the printer controller is
configured to provide one or more
control signals that control the order of firing of the nozzles.
1382. A printhead module according to claim 1350, in communication with a
printer controller for
outputting to a printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
1383. A printhead module according to claim 1350, including at least one row
of printhead nozzles, at least
one row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the
row portion including a component
in a direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1384. A printhead module according to claim 1350, in communication with a
printer controller for
supplying print data to at least one printhead module capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of print
data, the at least one printhead module being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
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a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
1385. A printhead module according to claim 1350, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
data to a printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead
being wider than a reticle step used
in forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the
modules, wherein each type is
determined by its geometric shape in plan.
1386. A printhead module according to claim 1350, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
(a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each
set of nozzles;
(b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired;
and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each
set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
1387. A printhead module according to claim 1350, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1388. A printhead module according to claim 1350, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to a printhead module comprising at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type
or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second
row in a direction of intended media travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such
that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are fired such that
some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some other dots output
to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the printer controller being
configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
1484
1389. A printhead module according to claim 1350, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to at least one printhead module, the at least one printhead module
comprising a plurality of rows, each of
the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the
printhead module includes at least first and
second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, the printer
controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead module such that, in the event a nozzle
in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on
print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1435, A printhead module according to claim 1350, in communication with a
printer controller for receiving
first data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be printed,
the print controller including at least
two serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one printhead.
1391. A printhead module according to claim 1350, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1392. A printhead module according to claim 1395 being capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of
print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
1393. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 1350, the printhead being
wider than a reticle step used in forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules,
wherein each type is determined by its geometric shape in plan.
1394. A printhead module according to claim 1350, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, such that, for
each set of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position
n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein
nozzle position x is at or adjacent the
centre of the set of nozzles.
1395. A printhead module according to claim 1350, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of
adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire
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signal, the printhead being configured to output ink from nozzles at a first
and nth position in each set of nozzles,
and then each next inward pair of nozzles in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
1396. A printhead module according to claim 1350, for receiving dot data to be
printed using at least two
different inks and control data for controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a
communication input for receiving the dot data for the at least two colors and
the control data.
1397. A printhead module according to claim 1350, including at least one row
of printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1398. A printhead module according to claim 1350, having a plurality of rows
of nozzles configured to extend,
in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each row
being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each
fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that
the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
1399. A printhead module according to claim 1350, comprising at least first
and second rows configured to
print ink of a similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction of intended media
travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles in the first and
second pairs of rows are fired such that
some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the first pair
of rows and at least some other dots
output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the second pair of rows.
1400. A printhead module according to claim 1350, in communication with a
printer controller for providing
data to a printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1401. A printhead module according to claim 1350, comprising a plurality of
rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the printhead
module includes at least first and second
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rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, and being configured
such that, in the event a nozzle in the
first row is faulty, a corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink
dot at a position on print media at or
adjacent a position where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1402. A printhead module according to claim 1369, further including a logic
circuit accepting as inputs a
masking signal and the thermal signal corresponding to the nozzle for which
the dot data is intended, the logic
circuit outputting the thermal signal to the input of the AND circuit in
reliance on a value of the masking signal.
1403. A printhead module according to claim 1402, wherein the value of the
masking signal enables masking
of the thermal signal for at least one nozzle position, including the nozzle
for which the current dot data is
intended.
1404. A printhead module according to claim 1402, wherein the value of the
masking signal enables masking
of the thermal signal for a plurality of nozzle positions corresponding to a
region of the printhead associated the
nozzle for which the current dot data is intended.
1405. A printhead module according to claim 1402, wherein the value of the
masking signal enables masking
of the thermal signal for all of the nozzle positions of the printhead.
1406. A printhead module comprising a plurality of rows, each of the rows
comprising a plurality of nozzles for
ejecting ink, wherein the printhead module includes at least first and second
rows configured to print ink of a
similar type or color, and being configured such that, in the event a nozzle
in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on
print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1407. A printhead module according to claim 1406, wherein each nozzle in the
first row is paired with a nozzle
in the second row, such that each pair of nozzles is aligned in an intended
direction of print media travel relative
to the printhead module.
1408. A printhead module according to claim 1407, including a plurality of
sets of the first and second rows.
1409. A printhead module according to claim 1408, wherein each of the sets of
the first and second rows is
configured to print in a single color or ink type.
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1455. A printhead module according to claim 1406, wherein each of the rows
includes an odd and an even sub-
row, the odd and even sub-rows being offset with respect to each other in a
direction of print media travel relative
to the printhead in use.
1411. A printhead module according to claim 1410, wherein the odd and even sub-
rows are transversely offset
with respect to each other.
1412. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 1452.
1413. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 1454.
1414. A printhead according to claim 1412, the printhead being a pagewidth
printhead.
1415. A printhead module according to claim 1406, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of at least
partially compensating for errors in ink dot placement by at least one of a
plurality of nozzles due to erroneous
rotational displacement of a printhead module relative to a carrier has been
applied, the nozzles being disposed on
the printhead module, the method comprising the steps of:
determining the rotational displacement;
determining at least one correction factor that at least partially compensates
for the ink dot displacement; and
using the correction factor to alter the output of the ink dots to at least
partially compensate for the rotational
displacement.
1416. A printhead module according to claim 1406, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the
nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of
nozzles, a fire signal in accordance with
the sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1417. A printhead module according to claim 1406, configured to receive dot
data to which a method of
expelling ink has been applied, the method being applied to a printhead module
including at least one row that
comprises a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to
a fire signal, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a fire signal to nozzles at a first and nth position in each set
of nozzles;
(b) providing a fire signal to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired; and
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(d) in the event n is an odd number, repeating step (b) until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each set
have been fired, and then firing the central nozzle.
1418. A printhead module according to claim 1406, having been manufactured in
accordance with a method of
manufacturing a plurality of printhead modules, at least some of which are
capable of being combined in pairs to
form bilithic pagewidth printheads, the method comprising the step of laying
out each of the plurality of printhead
modules on a wafer substrate, wherein at least one of the printhead modules is
right-handed and at least another is
left-handed.
1419. A printhead module according to claim 1406, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least two shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied from a data
source to each of the at least one rows,
wherein each print nozzle obtains dot data to be fired from an element of one
of the shift registers.
1420. A printhead module according to claim 1406, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising at least the first elongate printhead module, the at
least one printhead module including at
least one row of print nozzles for expelling ink; and
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first and second printer controllers are
connected to a common input of the
printhead.
1421. A printhead module according to claim 1406, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein the first printer controller outputs dot data
only to the first printhead module and the
second printer controller outputs dot data only to the second printhead
module, wherein the printhead modules are
configured such that no dot data passes between them.
1422. A printhead module according to claim 1406, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data to the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second printhead module; and the second printer controller outputs dot
data only to the second printhead
module.
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1423. A printhead module according to claim 1406, installed in a printer
comprising:
a printhead comprising first and second elongate printhead modules, the
printhead modules being parallel to each
other and being disposed end to end on either side of a join region, wherein
the first printhead module is longer
than the second printhead module;
at least first and second printer controllers configured to receive print data
and process the print data to output dot
data for the printhead, wherein: the first printer controller outputs dot data
to both the first printhead module and
the second controller; and the second printer controller outputs dot data to
the second printhead module, wherein
the dot data output by the second printer controller includes dot data it
generates and at least some of the dot data
received from the first printer controller.
1424. A printhead module according to claim 1406, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to at least one printhead module and at least partially compensating
for errors in ink dot placement by at
least one of a plurality of nozzles on the printhead module due to erroneous
rotational displacement of the
printhead module relative to a carrier, the printer being configured to:
access a correction factor associated with the at least one printhead module;
determine an order in which at least some of the dot data is supplied to at
least one of the at least one printhead
modules, the order being determined at least partly on the basis of the
correction factor, thereby to at least
partially compensate for the rotational displacement; and
supply the dot data to the printhead module.
1425. A printhead module according to claim 1406, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling
ink, the printhead module including a
plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors being configured to
respond to a temperature at or
adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printer controller being configured
to modify operation of at least some of
the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold.
1426. A printhead module according to claim 1406, in communication with a
printer controller for controlling a
printhead comprising at least one monolithic printhead module, the at least
one printhead module having a
plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least
part of a printable pagewidth of the
printhead, the nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module
being configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire
group, such that each nozzle in the
sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in
the other fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the
nozzles of each row are all fired
before the nozzles of each subsequent row, wherein the printer controller is
configured to provide one or more
control signals that control the order of firing of the nozzles.
1490
1427. A printhead module according to claim 1406, in communication with a
printer controller for outputting to
a printhead module:
dot data to be printed with at least two different inks; and
control data for controlling printing of the dot data;
the printer controller including at least one communication output, each or
the communication output being
configured to output at least some of the control data and at least some of
the dot data for the at least two inks.
1428. A printhead module according to claim 1406, including at least one row
of printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1429. A printhead module according to claim 1406, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
print data to at least one printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n
of channels of print data, the at
least one printhead module being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive data for
a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print
data for a second number of the
channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number;
wherein the printer controller is selectively configurable to supply dot data
for the first and second modes.
1430. A printhead module according to claim 1406, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
data to a printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead
being wider than a reticle step used
in forming the modules, the printhead comprising at least two types of the
modules, wherein each type is
determined by its geometric shape in plan.
1431. A printhead module according to claim 1406, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
a plurality of sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a fire
signal, such that:
(a) a fire signal is provided to nozzles at a first and nth position in each
set of nozzles;
(b) a fire signal is provided to the next inward pair of nozzles in each set;
(c) in the event n is an even number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles in each set has been fired;
and
(d) in the event n is an odd number, step (b) is repeated until all of the
nozzles but a central nozzle in each
set have been fired, and then the central nozzle is fired.
1432. A printhead module according to claim 1406, used in conjunction with a
printer controller for supplying
one or more control signals to a printhead module, the printhead module
including at least one row that comprises
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a plurality of adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being
configured to expel ink in response to a
fire signal, the method comprising providing, for each set of nozzles, a fire
signal in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position n, nozzle position 2, nozzle
position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x],
wherein nozzle position x is at or adjacent the centre of the set of nozzles.
1433. A printhead module according to claim 1406, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to a printhead module comprising at least first and second rows
configured to print ink of a similar type
or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second
row in a direction of intended media travel relative to the printhead, the
printhead module being configurable such
that the nozzles in the first and second pairs of rows are fired such that
some dots output to print media are printed
to by nozzles from the first pair of rows and at least some other dots output
to print media are printed to by
nozzles from the second pair of rows, the printer controller being
configurable to supply dot data to the printhead
module for printing.
1434. A printhead module according to claim 1406, in communication with a
printer controller for supplying
dot data to at least one printhead module, the at least one printhead module
comprising a plurality of rows, each of
the rows comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, wherein the
printhead module includes at least first and
second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, the printer
controller being configured to supply the
dot data to the at least one printhead module such that, in the event a nozzle
in the first row is faulty, a
corresponding nozzle in the second row prints an ink dot at a position on
print media at or adjacent a position
where the faulty nozzle would otherwise have printed it.
1435. A printhead module according to claim 1406, in communication with a
printer controller for receiving
first data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be printed,
the print controller including at least
two serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one printhead.
1436. A printhead module according to claim 1406, including:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1437. A printhead module according to claim 1451 being capable of printing a
maximum of n of channels of
print data, the printhead being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a
first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for
a second number of the channels,
wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
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1438. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to
claim 1406, the printhead being
wider than a reticle step used in forming the modules, the printhead
comprising at least two types of the modules,
wherein each type is determined by its geometric shape in plan.
1439. A printhead module according to claim 1406, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of sets
of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to expel ink in
response to a fire signal, such that, for
each set of nozzles, a fire signal is provided in accordance with the
sequence: [nozzle position 1, nozzle position
n, nozzle position 2, nozzle position (n-1), ... , nozzle position x], wherein
nozzle position x is at or adjacent the
centre of the set of nozzles.
1440. A printhead module according to claim 1406, including at least one row
that comprises a plurality of
adjacent sets of n adjacent nozzles, each of the nozzles being configured to
expel the ink in response to a fire
signal, the printhead being configured to output ink from nozzles at a first
and nth position in each set of nozzles,
and then each next inward pair of nozzles in each set, until:
in the event n is an even number, all of the nozzles in each set has been
fired; and
in the event n is an odd number, all of the nozzles but a central nozzle in
each set have been fired, and then to fire
the central nozzle.
1441. A printhead module according to claim 1406, for receiving dot data to be
printed using at least two
different inks and control data for controlling printing of the dot data, the
printhead module including a
communication input for receiving the dot data for the at least two colors and
the control data.
1442. A printhead module according to claim 1406, including at least one row
of printhead nozzles, at least one
row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row
portion including a component in a
direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.
1443. A printhead module according to claim 1406, having a plurality of rows
of nozzles configured to extend,
in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each row
being grouped into at least first and
second fire groups, the printhead module being configured to sequentially
fire, for each row, the nozzles of each
fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is
fired simultaneously with respective
corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups, wherein the
nozzles are fired row by row such that
the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of each subsequent
row.
1444. A printhead module according to claim 1406, comprising at least first
and second rows configured to
print ink of a similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row
being aligned with respective
corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction of intended media
travel relative to the printhead, the
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printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles in the first and
second pairs of rows are fired such that
some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the first pair
of rows and at least some other dots
output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the second pair of rows.
1445. A printhead module according to claim 1406, in communication with a
printer controller for providing
data to a printhead module that includes:
at least one row of print nozzles;
at least first and second shift registers for shifting in dot data supplied
from a data source, wherein each shift
register feeds dot data to a group of nozzles, and wherein each of the groups
of the nozzles is interleaved with at
least one of the other groups of the nozzles.
1446. A printhead module according to claim 1406, having a plurality of
nozzles for expelling ink, the
printhead module including a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal
sensors being configured to respond
to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles, the printhead
module being configured to modify
operation of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first
threshold.
1447. A first entity configured to authenticate a digital signature supplied
by a second entity, wherein one of
the entities includes a base key and the other of the entities includes a
variant key and a bit-pattern, the variant key
being based on the result of applying a one way function to the base key and
the bit-pattern, the digital signature
having been generated by the second entity using its key to digitally signing
at least part of data to be
authenticated, the first entity being configured to:
(a) receive the digital signature from the second entity;
(b) receive the data; and
(c) authenticate the digital signature based on the received data and the
first entity's key.
1448. A first entity according to claim 1447,including the base key, the first
entity being configured to receive,
from the second entity, the bit-pattern, wherein (c) includes:
generating the variant key from the bit-pattern and the base key; and
authenticating the digital signature using the generated variant key.
1449. A first entity according to claim 1448,the first entity storing
information, wherein the data is indicative of
a request to be performed on the information.
1450. A first entity according to claim 1449,wherein the information is a
value.
1451. A first entity according to claim 1448,wherein the data is indicative of
a read instruction.
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1452. A first entity according to claim 1448,wherein the data is indicate of a
write instruction, the data being
indicative of new information to be written.
1453. A first entity according to claim 1448,wherein the data is indicative of
a function to be applied to the
information.
1454. A first entity according to claim 1453,wherein the function is a
decrement or increment function.
1455. A first entity according to claim 1448,wherein the data is indicative of
a value stored in the second entity.
1456. A first entity according to claim 1448,the first entity being configured
to send a request to the second
entity, the data being returned in response to the request.
1457. A first entity according to claim 1456,wherein the data is indicative of
a value stored in the second entity.
1458. A first entity according to claim 1456,the first entity being configured
to digitally sign at least some of
the request with the base key.
1459. A first entity according to claim 1447,wherein the first entity has the
base key.
1460. A first entity according to claim 1458,the first entity storing
information, wherein the data is indicative of
a request to be performed on the information.
1461. A first entity according to claim 1459,wherein the information is a
value.
1462. A first entity according to claim 1458,wherein the data is indicative of
a read instruction.
1463. A first entity according to claim 1458,wherein the data is indicate of a
write instruction, the data being
indicative of new information to be written.
1464. A first entity according to claim 1458,wherein the data is indicative of
a function to be applied to the
information.
1465. A first entity according to claim 1463,wherein the function is a
decrement or increment function.
1466. A first entity according to claim 1458,wherein the data is indicative of
a value stored in the second entity.
1495
1467. A first entity according to claim 1465,the first entity being configured
to send a read request to the
second entity, the data being returned in response to the request.
1468. A first entity according to claim 1466,wherein the data is indicative of
a value stored in the second entity.
1469. A first entity according to claim 1466,the first entity being configured
to digitally sign at least some of
the request with the base key.
1470. A first entity according to claim 1447,including:
a first bit-pattern
a non-volatile memory storing resource data,
a first base key for use with at least a first variant key;
a second variant key for use with a second base key, the second variant key
being the result of a one way function
applied to: the second base key; and the first bit-pattern or a modified bit-
pattern based on the first bit-pattern.
1471. A first entity according to claim 1447,configured for use in a method of
enabling or disabling a
verification process of a first entity in response to a predetermined event,
the first entity having at least one
associated bit-pattern and at least one variant key, each of the variant keys
having been generated by applying a
one way function to: a base key; and one or more of the at least one bit-
patterns, respectively; or one or more
alternative bit patterns, each of the alternative bit-patterns being based on
one or the at least one bit-patterns, the
method including
the method including:
(a) determining that the predetermined event has happened; and
(b) enabling or disabling at least one of the first variant keys in response
the predetermined event.
1472. A first entity according to claim 1447,for use in a system for enabling
authenticated communication
between a first entity and at least one other entity, the system including a
second entity, wherein:
the first entity and the second entity share transport keys; and
the second entity includes at least one authentication key configured to be
transported from the second entity to
the first entity using the transport keys, the authentication key being usable
to enable the authenticated
communication by the first entity.
1473. A first entity according to claim 1447,configured for use in a method of
storing a first bit-pattern in non-
volatile memory of a device, the method comprising:
1496
(a) applying a one way function to a second bit-pattern associated with the
device, thereby to generate a first
result;
(b) applying a second function to the first result and the first bit-pattern,
thereby to generate a second result;
and
(c) storing the second result in the memory, thereby indirectly storing the
first bit-pattern.
1474. A first entity according to claim 1447,configured for use in a method of
storing a bit-pattern in each of a
plurality of devices, each of the devices having a memory, the method
comprising, for each device:
determining a first memory location; and
storing the bit-pattern at the first memory location; wherein the first memory
locations are different in at least a
plurality of the respective devices.
1475. A first entity according to claim 1447,configured for use in a method of
storing at least one functionally
identical code segment in each of a plurality of devices, each of the devices
having a memory, the method
comprising, for each device:
determining a first memory location; and
storing a first of the at least one code segments in the memory at the first
memory location; wherein the first
memory location is different in at least a plurality of the respective
devices.
1476. A first entity according to claim 1447,configured for implementing a
method for providing a sequence of
nonces (R0, R1, R2, ... ) commencing with a current seed of a sequence of
seeds (x1, x2, x3,...), the method
comprising:
(a) applying a one-way function to the current seed, thereby to generate a
current nonce; (b) outputting the
current nonce;
(b) using the current seed to generate a next seed in a sequence of seeds, the
seed so generated becoming the
current seed; and
(c) repeating steps (a) to (c) as required to generate further nonces in the
sequence of nonces.
1477. A first entity according to claim 1447,configured for implementing a
method of storing multiple first bit-
patterns in non-volatile memory of a device, the method comprising, for each
of the first bit-patterns to be stored:
(a) applying a one way function to a third bit-pattern based on a second bit-
pattern associated with the
device, thereby to generate a first result;
(b) applying a second function to the first result and the first bit-pattern,
thereby to generate a second result;
and
(c) storing the second result in the memory, thereby indirectly storing the
first bit-pattern;wherein the third
bit-patterns used for the respective first bit-patterns are relatively unique
compared to each other.
1497
1478. A first entity including:
a first bit-pattern
a non-volatile memory storing resource data,
a first base key for use with at least a first variant key;
a second variant key for use with a second base key, the second variant key
being the result of a one way function
applied to: the second base key; and the first bit-pattern or a modified bit-
pattern based on the first bit-pattern.
1479. A first entity according to claim 1478,wherein the first variant key is
stored in a second entity.
1480. A first entity according to claim 1478,wherein the second base key is
stored in a third entity.
1481. A first entity according to claim 1478,configured to receive a request
from any of a plurality of second
entities, the request being indicative of at least one operation to be
performed on the resource data, each of the
second entities having an associated bit-pattern and one of the first variant
keys, the first variant key in each of
second entities being based on the result of applying a one way function to
the first base key and the associated
bit-pattern of that second entity, the first entity being configured to:
(a) receive the request from one of the second entities;
(b) perform the at least one operation in the request, thereby to generate a
response;
(c) use the first base key to digitally sign at least part of the response,
thereby to generate a digital signature;
and
(d) send the response and the digital signature to the second entity from
which the request was received, such
that the second entity can verify the at least part of the response using its
variant key.
1482. A first entity according to claim 1481,configured to, prior to (b),
receive the associated bit-pattern from
the second entity that makes the request in (a), wherein (c) includes:
(i) using the first base key and the associated bit-pattern received from the
second entity to generate the first
variant key of the second entity making the request in (a); and
(ii) using the first variant key generated in (i) to perform the signing of at
least part of the response the
response.
1483. A first entity according to claim 1478,configured to receive a request
from any of one or more third
entities, the request being indicative of at least one operation to be
performed on the resource data, each of the one
or more third entities having the second base key, the first entity being
configured to:
(a) receive the request from the one of the third entities;
(b) perform the at least one operation in the request, thereby to generate a
response;
(c) use the second variant key to digitally sign at least part of the
response, thereby to generate a digital
signature; and
1498
(d) send the response and the digital signature to the third entity from which
the request was received, such
that the third entity can verify the at least part of the response using its
base key.
1484. A first entity according to claim 1483,configured to send the first bit-
pattern to the third entity that makes
the request in (e), such that the third entity can:
(i) use the second base key and the bit-pattern received from the first entity
to generate the second variant
key; and
(ii) use the second variant key generated in (i) to perform the verification.
1485. A first entity according to claim 1481,configured to receive a request
from any of one or more third
entities, the request being indicative of at least one operation to be
performed on the resource data, each of the one
or more third entities having the second base key, the first entity being
configured to:
(a) receive the request from the one of the third entities;
(b) perform the at least one operation in the request, thereby to generate a
response;
(c) use the first variant key to digitally sign at least part of at least the
response, thereby to generate a digital
signature; and
(d) send the response and the digital signature to the third entity from which
the request was received, such
that the third entity can verify at least part of the response using its base
key.
1486. A first entity according to claim 1485,configured to send the first bit-
pattern the third entity that makes
the request in (a), such that the third entity can:
(i) use the second base key and the bit-pattern received from the first entity
to generate the second variant
key; and
(ii) use the second variant key generated in (i) to perform the verification.
1487. A first entity according to claim 1485,wherein the second and third
entities have different permissions in
relation to the operations they can perform on the resource data, the
permissions being defined based which of the
first and second base key and variant key combinations is used for the
verification.
1488. A first entity according to claim 1487,wherein the first base and
variant key combination provides a
higher permission to perform an operation on the resource data than the second
base key and variant key
combination.
1489. A first entity according to claim 1486,wherein the second and third
entities have different permissions in
relation to the operations they can perform on the resource data, the
permissions being defined based which of the
first and second base key and variant key combinations is used for the
verification.
1499
1490. A first entity according to claim 1489, wherein the first base and
variant key combination provides a
higher permission to perform an operation on the resource data than the second
base key and variant key
combination.
1491. A first entity according to claim 1478, configured to receive a request
from any of a plurality of second
entities, the request being indicative of at least one operation to be
performed on the resource data, each of the
second entities having an associated bit-pattern and one of the first variant
keys, the first variant key in each of
second entities being based on the result of applying a one way function to
the first base key and the associated
bit-pattern of that second entity, the first entity being configured to:
(a) receive the request from one of the second entities;
(b) receive the bit-pattern associated with the entity from which the request
was received;
(c) receive a digital signature from the entity from which the request was
received, the digital signature
having been generated by digitally signing at least part of the request using
the variant key;
(d) generate the variant key of the entity from which the request sent, by
applying the one way function to
the first base key and the received bit pattern; and
(e) verify the request by digitally signing at least part of the request using
the variant key generated in (d)
and comparing the produced signature against the signature received in (d).
1492. A first entity according to claim 1478,configured to receive a request
from any of one or more third
entities, the request being indicative of at least one operation to be
performed on the resource data, each of the one
or more third entities having the second base key, the first entity being
configured to:
(a) receive the request from the one of the third entities;
(b) receive a digital signature from the third entity from which the request
was received, the digital signature
having been generated by the third entity signing at least part of the request
using the second variant key;
(c) verify the at least part of the request by digitally signing at least part
of the request using the second
variant key and comparing the produced signature against the signature
received in (g).
1493. A first entity according to claim 1492, configured to send the first bit-
pattern to the third entity that
makes the request in (f), such that the third entity can:
use the second base key and the bit-pattern received from the first entity to
generate the second variant key; and
use the second variant key generated in (i) to digitally sign at least part of
the request; and
send the request for receipt by the first entity in (a).
1494. A first entity according to claim 1491, configured to receive a request
from any of one or more third
entities, the request being indicative of at least one operation to be
performed on the resource data, each of the one
or more third entities having the second base key, the first entity being
configured to:
1500
(a) receive the request from the one of the third entities;
(b) receive a digital signature from the third entity from which the request
was received, the digital signature
having been generated by the third entity signing at least part of the request
using the second variant key;
(c) verify the at least part of the request by digitally signing at least part
of the request using the second
variant key and comparing the produced signature against the signature
received in (g).
1495. A first entity according to claim 1494, wherein the second and third
entities have different permissions in
relation to the operations they can perform on the resource data, the
permissions being defined based which of the
first and second base key and variant key combinations is used for the
verification.
1496. A first entity according to claim 1495, wherein the first base and
variant key combination provides a
higher permission to perform an operation on the resource data than the second
base key and variant key
combination.
1497. A first entity according to claim 1478,wherein the resource data
represents a physical property.
1498. A first entity according to claim 1497, wherein the physical property is
a remaining amount of a physical
resource.
1499. A first entity according to claim 1498, wherein the resource is a
consumable resource.
1500. A first entity according to claim 1499, wherein the resource entity is
physically attached to a reservoir or
magazine that holds the consumable resource.
1501. A first entity according to claim 1500, wherein the resource is a fluid.
1502. A first entity according to claim 1501, wherein the fluid is ink.
1503. A first entity according to claim 1485,wherein the operation includes a
read, in which the resource data is
read by the entity making the request.
1504. A first entity according to claim 1478,wherein the operation includes
write, in which the resource data is
modified by the entity making the request.
1505. A first entity according to claim 1478,wherein the operation includes
decrementing, in which the
resource is decremented by the entity making the request.
1501
1506. A first entity according to claim 1478,wherein the one way function is a
hash function.
1507. A first entity according to claim 1506, wherein the one way function is
SHA1.
1508. A second entity configured for use with the first entity of claim 1523.
1509. A second entity configured for use with the first entity of claim 1526.
1510. A second entity configured for use with the first entity of claim 1536.
1511. A third entity configured for use with the first entity of claim 1528.
1512. A third entity configured for use with the first entity of claim 1530.
1513. A third entity configured for use with the first entity of claim 1537.
1514. A first entity according to claim 1478,configured to authenticate a
digital signature supplied by a second
entity, wherein one of the entities includes a base key and the other of the
entities includes a variant key and a bit-
pattern, the variant key being based on the result of applying a one way
function to the base key and the bit-
pattern, the digital signature having been generated by the second entity
using its key to digitally signing at least
part of data to be authenticated, the first entity being configured to:
(a) receive the digital signature from the second entity;
(b) receive the data; and
(c) authenticate the digital signature based on the received data and the
first entity's key.
1515. A first entity according to claim 1478,configured to implement a method
of enabling or disabling a
verification process of a first entity in response to a predetermined event,
the first entity having at least one
associated bit-pattern and at least one variant key, each of the variant keys
having been generated by applying a
one way function to: a base key; and one or more of the at least one bit-
patterns, respectively; or one or more
alternative bit patterns, each of the alternative bit-patterns being based on
one or the at least one bit-patterns, the
method including
the method including:
(a) determining that the predetermined event has happened; and
(b) enabling or disabling at least one of the first variant keys in response
the predetermined event.
1502
1516. A first entity according to claim 1478,configured for usein a system for
enabling authenticated
communication between a first entity and at least one other entity, the system
including a second entity, wherein:
the first entity and the second entity share transport keys; and
the second entity includes at least one authentication key configured to be
transported from the second entity to
the first entity using the transport keys, the authentication key being usable
to enable the authenticated
communication by the first entity.
1517. A first entity according to claim 1478,configured to implement a method
of storing a first bit-pattern in
non-volatile memory of a device, the method comprising:
(a) applying a one way function to a second bit-pattern associated with the
device, thereby to generate a first
result;
(b) applying a second function to the first result and the first bit-pattern,
thereby to generate a second result;
and
(c) storing the second result in the memory, thereby indirectly storing the
first bit-pattern.
1518. A first entity according to claim 1478,configured to implement a method
of storing a bit-pattern in each
of a plurality of devices, each of the devices having a memory, the method
comprising, for each device:
(a) determining a first memory location; and
(b) storing the bit-pattern at the first memory location; wherein the first
memory locations are different in at
least a plurality of the respective devices.
1519. A first entity according to claim 1478,configured to implement a method
of storing at least one
functionally identical code segment in each of a plurality of devices, each of
the devices having a memory, the
method comprising, for each device:
(a) determining a first memory location; and
(b) storing a first of the at least one code segments in the memory at the
first memory location; wherein the
first memory location is different in at least a plurality of the respective
devices.
1520. A first entity according to claim 1478,configured to implement a method
for providing a sequence of
nonces (R0, R1, R2, ... ) commencing with a current seed of a sequence of
seeds (x1, x2, x3,...), the method
comprising:
(a) applying a one-way function to the current seed, thereby to generate a
current nonce; (b) outputting the
current nonce;
1503
(b) using the current seed to generate a next seed in a sequence of seeds, the
seed so generated becoming the
current seed; and
(c) repeating steps (a) to (c) as required to generate further nonces in the
sequence of nonces.
1521. A first entity according to claim 1478,configured to implement a method
of storing multiple first bit-
patterns in non-volatile memory of a device, the method comprising, for each
of the first bit-patterns to be stored:
(a) applying a one way function to a third bit-pattern based on a second bit-
pattern associated with the
device, thereby to generate a first result;
(b) applying a second function to the first result and the first bit-pattern,
thereby to generate a second result;
and
(c) storing the second result in the memory, thereby indirectly storing the
first bit-pattern; wherein the third
bit-patterns used for the respective first bit-patterns are relatively unique
compared to each other.
1522. A method of enabling or disabling a verification process of a first
entity in response to a predetermined
event, the first entity having at least one associated bit-pattern and at
least one variant key, each of the variant
keys having been generated by applying a one way function to: a base key; and
one or more of the at least one bit-
patterns, respectively; or one or more alternative bit patterns, each of the
alternative bit-patterns being based on
one or the at least one bit-patterns, the method including
the method including:
(a) determining that the predetermined event has happened; and
(b) enabling or disabling at least one of the first variant keys in response
the predetermined event.
1523. A method according to claim 1522, wherein step (a) includes disabling at
least one of the variant keys,
such that the disabled at least one variant key can no longer be used to
digitally sign information in that entity.
1524. A method according to claim 1522, wherein step (a) includes disabling at
least one of the variant keys,
such that the disabled at least one variant key can no longer be used to
verify information signed by one or more
respective base keys related to the disabled at least one variant key in that
entity.
1525. A method according to claim 1522, wherein the step of disabling the at
least one variant key includes
modifying a status of a flag associated with that at least one variant key.
1526. A method according to claim 1522, wherein the step of disabling the at
least one variant key includes
deleting that at least one variant key.
1504
1527. A method according to claim 1522, wherein the step of disabling the at
least one variant key includes
modifying that at least one variant key
1528. A method according to claim 1522, wherein the event is a predetermined
point in time being reached or
passed.
1529. A method according to claim 1522, wherein the first entity includes a
plurality of the variant keys, the
plurality of variant keys being based on the result of a one way function
applied to: a respective one of a
corresponding plurality of base keys; and one of the at least one bit-patterns
or one of the at least one alternative
bit-patterns, the method including the steps of:
determining that a predetermined event related to one of the variant keys has
happened; and
enabling or disabling at least one of the plurality of variant keys with which
the predetermined event is associated.
1530. A method according to claim 1522, wherein the plurality of base keys has
a corresponding sequence of
predetermined events associated with them, the method including the steps of:
(a) determining that one of the predetermined event has happened; and
(b) enabling or disabling the variant key in the sequence corresponding to
predetermined event that is
determined to have happened.
1531. A method according to claim 1530, wherein the variant keys are disabled
in the order of the sequence of
predetermined events.
1532. A method according to claim 1531, wherein the sequence of events is
chronological.
1533. A method according to claim 1532, wherein each of the events includes a
time being reached.
1534. A method according to claim 1533, wherein the step of determining that
one of the events has happened
includes receiving a time from a trusted source.
1535. A method according to claim 1534, wherein the time is a date.
1536. A method according to claim 1535, wherein the date is determined with a
resolution of a month.
1537. A method according to claim 1523, wherein the predetermined event
includes detection of compromise
of one or more of the keys, the method including disabling the one or more
variant keys corresponding to the one
or more keys that were compromised.
1505
1538. A method according to claim to claim 1523, wherein the predetermined
event includes suspect
compromise of one or more of the keys, the method including disabling the one
or more variant keys
corresponding to the one or more keys that were suspected of being
compromised.
1539. A method of manufacturing second entities for use in the verification
process with the first entity of
claim 1522, each of the first entities including at least first and second
variant key, the first variant key having
been generated by applying a one way function to a first base key and a first
bit-pattern, and the second variant
key having been generated by applying a one way function to a second base key
and a second bit-pattern, the
method comprising the steps of:
manufacturing a plurality of second entities for use with the first entities,
each of the second entities including at
least the first base key; and
upon the first variant key being disabled in response to one of the
predetermined event, manufacturing a plurality
of third entities for use with the first entities, each of the third entities
including at least the second base key.
1540. A method according to claim 1522, wherein the first variant key is
automatically disabled in response to
a predetermined event.
1541. A method according to claim 1540, further including the step of causing
the first variant key to be
disabled.
1542. A method according to claim 1541, wherein the first variant key is
disabled in response to a time being
reached.
1543. A method according to claim 1537, wherein at least some of the first
entities have one or more further
variant keys, each of the respective further variant keys having been
generated by applying a one way function to
respective further base keys and bit-patterns, each of the variant keys being
enabled or disabled in response to
respective predetermined events, the method comprising the step of
manufacturing a sequence of sets of second
entities, each set of the second entities being manufactured such that the
variant key corresponding to its base key
is enabled for the verification process during the life of that set.
1544. A method according to claim 1543, wherein the predetermined events are
selected such that the variant
keys corresponding with the base keys of more than one of the sets are enabled
at once.
1545. A method according to claim 1522, using a first entity configured to
authenticate a digital signature
supplied by a second entity, wherein one of the entities includes a base key
and the other of the entities includes a
variant key and a bit-pattern, the variant key being based on the result of
applying a one way function to the base
