Patent ID: 6945622

Claim:
A printhead including a plurality of printing elements, comprising: an input terminal arranged to input a signal for dividing the plurality of printing elements into a plurality of groups and divisionally driving the plurality of printing elements; an input circuit arranged to input the signal from said input terminal; a decoder arranged to receive the signal from said input circuit and drive the plurality of printing elements in units of the groups; a first resistance connected between said input terminal and said input circuit; a first pair of diodes, arranged between said input terminal and said first resistance, including a first diode connecting said input terminal to a power supply potential and a second diode connecting said input terminal to a base potential; and a second pair of diodes, arranged between said first resistance and said input circuit, including a third diode connecting said first resistance to the power supply potential and a fourth diode connecting said first resistance to the base potential, wherein one end of said first resistance is connected between said first diode and said second diode, and the other end of said first resistance is connected between said third diode and said fourth diode.