Patent ID: 6431677
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A method of selectively activating a printing element within an array of printing elements on a printhead of an ink jet printer, the method comprising the steps of:(a) providing a plurality of printing elements, each printing element having an associated pass-gate device and power device, each pass-gate device and power device having a source, drain, and gate, where the source of each pass-gate device is connected to the gate of a corresponding one of the power devices, and where the source of each power device is connected to a corresponding one of the printing elements, (b) defining a plurality of subsets of printing elements and associated pass-gate and power devices, (c) providing a quadrant selection signal to the pass-gate devices of a selected one of the subsets to thereby select a subset of printing elements in the array of printing elements based on the quadrant selection signal, (d) defining a plurality of groups of printing elements and associated pass-gate devices and power devices within each subset, (e) providing an address signal to a selected group of the power devices within the selected subset to thereby select a group of printing elements based on the address signal, (f) providing a primitive signal to the selected group of printing elements on the printhead, and (g) activating a selected printing element within the selected group based on the primitive signal.