Patent ID: 6168252
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink jet printer having a printhead formed of a piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element being deformed to eject ink drops from the printhead in accordance with drive voltages applied to the piezoelectric element, the printer comprising: a capacitance measuring section, measuring a value of a capacitance of the printhead at a value of a temperature; a memory, storing a reference value of the temperature and a reference value of the capacitance of the printhead measured at the reference value of the temperature; a temperature computing section, computing the value of the temperature on the basis of the reference value of the capacitance, the reference value of the temperature, and the value of the capacitance; a table which lists a plurality of values of the temperature and values of the drive voltage corresponding to the plurality of values of the temperature; and a voltage selecting section, selecting a value of the drive voltage from among the values of the drive voltage listed in said table, the value of the drive voltage corresponding to a temperature closest to the value of the temperature and being used for driving the printhead at the value of the temperature.