Patent ID: 6439697
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An integrated circuit firing array for a thermal ink jet printhead comprising:a plurality of firing cells, each firing cell comprising: an ink jet heater resistor, a dynamic memory element for receiving and storing energizing data presented to the firing cell only for said ink jet heater resistor, a data switching circuit for selectively transferring said energizing data to said dynamic memory element based upon control information received by the firing cell, and an energy switching circuit for enabling a transfer of energizing energy received by the firing cell to said heater resistor as a function of a state of said energizing data stored on said dynamic memory element; said plurality of firing cells being divided into a plurality of fire groups of firing cells, and each of said fire groups having a plurality of fire subgroups of firing cells; a plurality of data lines connected to said plurality of firing cells for providing energizing data to said plurality of firing cells, wherein each of said data lines provides energizing data to firing cells in multiple subgroups in multiple fire groups, and wherein each of said firing cells of each of said fire subgroups is connected to only one of said data lines; a plurality of control lines connected to said plurality of firing cells for providing control information to said plurality of firing cells, wherein all firing cells within each of said fire subgroups are connected to a common subset of said control lines which allows for concurrent storage of energizing data in all firing cells within each of said subgroups; and a plurality of fire lines connected to said plurality of firing cells for supplying energizing energy to said plurality of firing cells, wherein all firing cells of each of said fire groups are connected to only one of said fire lines.