Patent ID: 7600836
Filing Date: 2009-10-13
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A printhead driving method for driving an inkjet printhead having plural printing elements, a reference voltage source capable of outputting a reference voltage and a non-volatile memory for storing data indicating a pulse width of a drive signal for driving the plural printing elements, wherein the inkjet printhead is mounted to a printing apparatus or a printhead test device, the inkjet printhead further comprising a voltage dividing circuit for dividing a voltage supplied from the printing apparatus or the printhead test device, and a differential amplifier for comparing the voltage divided by the voltage dividing circuit with the reference voltage from the reference voltage source and outputting a signal based on a result of the comparison, the printing apparatus and the printhead test device each including a power supply circuit having a similar construction, and each power supply circuit is operable in a manner such that a difference between the divided voltage and the reference voltage is eliminated, said method comprising the steps of: mounting the inkjet printhead to the printhead test device; supplying a voltage based on the signal outputted from the differential amplifier and a drive signal having a pulse width based on data set in the printhead test device to the inkjet printhead; measuring an ink amount discharged from the inkjet printhead; storing the data indicating the pulse width with which the drive signal is used for driving the inkjet printhead into the non-volatile memory; removing the inkjet printhead from the printhead test device and mounting the printhead to the printing apparatus; and supplying the voltage based on the signal outputted from the differential amplifier and the drive signal based on the data indicating the pulse width stored in the non-volatile memory to the inkjet printhead.