Patent ID: 6830307
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A method of activating a printing element within an array of printing elements on a printhead of an inkiet printer, the printhead including groups of printing elements, power switching devices, pass switching devices, and ground switching devices, and wherein the power switching devices are coupled to the printing elements, each of the pass switching devices is coupled to control the switching of a corresponding power switching device, the ground switching devices provide switched paths to ground for current flowing through the printing elements and power switching devices, and wherein, within each of the groups, subsets of printing elements and associated pass switching devices are defined, the method comprising:(a) providing a subset selection signal to the pass switching devices and power switching devices of a selected one of the subsets; (b) providing an address signal to a selected subset of the pass switching devices; (c) providing a heater select signal to one or more of the ground switching devices; and (d) providing a primitive signal to a select one of the groups of printing elements on the printhead.