Patent ID: 6652067
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A printing apparatus capable of selectively forming any of N types of dots which are different in at least one of an ink amount and a dot-formed position in a pixel area on a print medium, N being an integer of at least 2, comprising:a print head having a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of ejection drive elements for ejecting ink drops from corresponding plurality of nozzles; and a drive signal generator configured to generate drive signals for driving the ejection drive elements to form one of the N types of dots in each pixel area in response to print signals, each print signal for one pixel including 2 types of mask selection data, the 2 types of mask selection data being indicative of one type of masking signal among a plurality of types of masking signals corresponding to the N types of dots; wherein the drive signal generator comprises: an original drive signal generator configured to generate an original drive signal having a plurality of pulses within a main scan period for a single pixel, the original drive signal being commonly applicable to the plurality of ejection drive elements; a mask signal generator configured to select one type of masking signal from the plurality of type of masking signals in response to the 2 types of mask selection data in order to generate the masking signal; and a masking unit configured to selectively mask the plurality of pulses in the original drive signal using the generated masking signal in order to generate the drive signal to be supplied to the each ejection drive element.