Patent ID: 6601941
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A method of controlling a temperature of a print chip of a printhead in an ink jet printer, said method comprising the steps of:providing a memory device within the printer; emitting ink from the printhead; recording temperature data associated with said print chip during said emitting step; calculating at least one of a thermal resistance value associated with the printhead and a thermal capacitance value associated with the printhead, said calculating being dependent upon said recorded temperature data; storing the at least one of a thermal resistance value associated with the printhead and a thermal capacitance value associated with the printhead in said memory device; estimating a temperature of the print chip at a future point in time, said estimating step being based upon: a number of ink drops to be emitted by the printhead before the future point in time; and the at least one of a thermal resistance value associated with the printhead and a thermal capacitance value associated with the printhead; comparing the estimated temperature to a predetermined limit temperature; and if the estimated temperature exceeds the predetermined limit temperature, reducing the number of ink drops to be emitted by the printhead before the future point in time.