Patent ID: 7290848

Claim:
A printhead test device for determining an optimum driving pulse to drive a printhead, having plural printing elements, a reference voltage source capable of outputting a reference voltage to the outside, and a non-volatile memory for storing a discharge characteristic, comprising: driving power supply means for applying a driving voltage to said printhead; input means for inputting the reference voltage from said reference voltage source; setting means for setting the driving voltage to be supplied from said driving power supply means so as to drive the plural printing elements of said printhead, based on the reference voltage inputted by said input means; test printing means for performing test printing by supplying a test signal and a driving pulse to said printhead while applying the driving voltage set by said setting means to said plural printing elements; and writing means for writing data to set an optimum driving pulse obtained by said test printing means into the non-volatile memory of said printhead.