JP2002067290A - Printhead, printing apparatus, and data transfer method between printhead and printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To transmit / receive data of the temperature of a recording element substrate and element characteristics to / from a printer body with a small number of signal wires. SOLUTION: A row of printing elements 105, driving circuits 103 and 104 for driving a printing element row in accordance with serially input printing data DATA, and information on driving conditions of the printing elements such as substrate temperature and element characteristic data are stored. In a print head including a plurality of print element substrates H1100 having shift registers 112 and 115 for outputting, each print element substrate H1100 has terminals 121 and 122 for receiving information output from output means of another print element substrate. The shift register 112 and 115 serially output the information of the printing element substrate and the received information of another printing element substrate from the same output terminals 123 and 124.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording head, a recording apparatus, and a data transfer method between the recording head and the recording apparatus, and more particularly, to data transfer between a recording head and a recording apparatus main body on which the recording head is mounted. (Transmission and reception).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an information output device in, for example, a word processor, a personal computer, a facsimile, etc., there is a printer for performing desired information such as characters and images on a sheet-shaped recording medium such as paper or film.

[0003] Various types of printing methods are known for printers. However, ink-jet printing is possible because non-contact printing is possible on printing media such as paper, colorization is easy, and quietness is high. In recent years, the method has attracted special attention. As a configuration, a recording head that ejects ink according to desired recording information is mounted, and recording is performed while reciprocating scanning in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of a recording medium such as paper. Is generally widely used because of its low cost and easy downsizing.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-251479, in order to obtain optimum element driving conditions, a temperature sensor and its output are converted into digital information in a print head and output as a pulse signal. It is known to provide a D converter and to mount a memory for storing element characteristics (rank values) due to variations in the manufacturing process of the recording element.

[0005] These recording heads are capable of recording with a plurality of colors of ink such as three colors, four colors, or six colors with one head in order to realize colorization and further improve image quality. It is often configured to be.

In such a configuration, particularly in the case of an ink jet printer, it is necessary to separate the liquid ink, so that a separate recording element substrate is mounted on the head for each color or every several colors, Electrical connection and sealing will be performed.

This electrical connection is made from a pad on the recording element substrate via a flexible substrate or the like to a printer body via a pad (head pad) provided on the recording head.

Further, the data of the temperature and the element characteristics of the recording element substrate described above are transmitted and received to and from the printer main body via the head pad for each recording element substrate mounted for each color or several colors. Driving is performed under optimal conditions according to the state of the element substrate.

[0009]

However, in order to transmit and receive data on the temperature of the recording element substrates and element characteristics between each of the mounted recording element substrates and the printer body, the number of recording element substrates must be increased. Accordingly, a wiring path via a head pad for electrically connecting the head to the printer body is required.

[0010] In addition to the head pads required for image data transfer, the presence of a large number of pads for data transmission and reception of these temperature and element characteristics causes the wiring path to be complicated, resulting in a large head and printer body. In addition to the above, there are many factors that increase costs, such as the complexity of the signal transmission / reception circuit of the printer body. This is particularly problematic in view of the recent increase in the number of print element substrates mounted on print heads.

Furthermore, unlike a pad for transferring image data, data transmission and reception of these temperature and element characteristics are not always performed during the operation of the printer. In the case of a serial printer, one to several heads are used. Often performed for each scan. Therefore, although the transmission / reception speed has almost no effect on the printing speed of the printer,
At present it is necessary to have many head pads,
The increase in the number of signal wirings causes a cost increase due to a complicated wiring path, an increase in the size of the head and the printer main body, and a complicated signal transmission / reception circuit in the printer main body.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a recording head capable of transmitting and receiving data on the temperature of a recording element substrate and element characteristics to and from a printer body with a small number of signal wires. The purpose is to do.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, a recording head according to the present invention comprises a printing element array, a driving circuit for driving the printing element array in accordance with serially input print data, and a printing element array. Output means for outputting information on driving conditions, comprising: a plurality of print element substrates, wherein each print element substrate receives the information output from another print element substrate output means. Means, wherein the output means is configured to serially output the information and the information of another recording element substrate received by the receiving means through the same signal path.

The object of the present invention is a recording apparatus for performing recording using the recording head, wherein a driving condition can be changed for each recording element substrate in accordance with the information. This is also achieved by the recording device of the invention.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a printing element having a printing element array, a driving circuit for driving the printing element array in accordance with serially input print data, and an output unit for outputting information on driving conditions of the printing element. A method for transferring data between a recording head including a plurality of substrates and a recording apparatus that performs recording using the recording head, wherein each recording element substrate is output from an output unit of another recording element substrate. Receiving the information and outputting the information and the information of another received printing element substrate serially on the same signal path by the output means, by a data transfer method between a print head and a printing apparatus. Achieved.

That is, a plurality of printing element substrates each having a printing element array, a driving circuit for driving the printing element array in accordance with serially input print data, and output means for outputting information on the driving conditions of the printing elements are provided. When transferring data between a recording head and a recording apparatus that performs recording using the recording head, each recording element substrate receives information output from output means of another recording element substrate, and The information of the printing element substrate and the received information of another printing element substrate are serially output by the output means through the same signal path.

According to this, information on driving conditions such as a temperature sensor and element characteristics, which conventionally had to be read from each recording element substrate through separate wiring paths, is used to transfer data from all recording element substrates through the same signal path. Can be read out serially.

Accordingly, the number of signals required for connection between the recording head and the recording apparatus main body can be reduced, the configuration for connection can be simplified, the recording head and the recording apparatus main body can be downsized, and the signal transmission and reception of the recording apparatus main body can be performed. The cost can be reduced by simplifying the circuit.

[0019]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the embodiment described below, a printer will be described as an example of a recording apparatus using an ink jet recording method.

In this specification, "print"
(Sometimes referred to as "records") refers not only to the formation of significant information such as characters and figures,
In addition, regardless of whether or not they are visualized so that humans can perceive them visually, images, patterns,
This also refers to the case where a pattern or the like is formed or the medium is processed.

Here, the term "printing medium" means not only paper used in a general printing apparatus but also a wide range of inks such as cloth, plastic films, metal plates, glass, ceramics, wood, and leather. Shall be referred to.

Further, "ink" (sometimes referred to as "liquid") is to be interpreted widely as in the definition of "print" described above. , Or a liquid that can be subjected to processing of a print medium or processing of ink (for example, coagulation or insolubilization of a colorant in ink applied to a print medium).

[Apparatus Main Body] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a schematic configuration of a printer using an ink jet recording system. In FIG. 1, an apparatus main body M1000 forming the outer shell of the printer in this embodiment includes a lower case M1001, an upper case M100, and a lower case M100.
1002, access cover M1003 and discharge tray M
1004, and a chassis M3019 (see FIG. 2) housed in the exterior member.

The chassis M3019 is composed of a plurality of plate-like metal members having a predetermined rigidity, forms a skeleton of a recording apparatus, and holds each recording operation mechanism described later. Further, the lower case M1001 forms a substantially lower half of the apparatus main body M1000, and the upper case M1002 forms a substantially upper half of the apparatus upper main body M1000. It has a hollow body structure having an accommodating space, and an opening is formed on each of the upper surface and the front surface thereof.

Further, one end of the discharge tray M1004 is rotatably held by the lower case M1001 so that the opening formed on the front surface of the lower case M1001 can be opened and closed by the rotation. For this reason, when performing the recording operation, the discharge tray M100
By rotating the opening 4 to the front side to open the opening, the recording sheets can be discharged from here, and the discharged recording sheets P can be sequentially stacked.
Also, the paper discharge tray M1004 has two auxiliary trays M.
1004a and M1004b are accommodated, and the tray support area can be expanded or reduced in three stages by pulling out each tray as needed.

One end of the access cover M1003 is rotatably held by the upper case M1002 so that an opening formed on the upper surface can be opened and closed. When the access cover M1003 is opened, the inside of the main body is opened. The stored recording head cartridge H1000 or ink tank H1900 can be replaced. Although not particularly shown here, the access cover M10
When the cover 03 is opened and closed, a projection formed on the back surface rotates the cover opening / closing lever, and the open / closed state of the access cover can be detected by detecting the rotation position of the lever with a microswitch or the like. It has become.

On the rear upper surface of the upper case M1002, a power key E0018 and a resume key E0019 are provided.
Is provided so as to be pressed, and an LED E0020 is provided. When the power key E0018 is pressed, L
The ED E0020 lights up to notify the operator that recording is possible. LED E0
020 changes the blinking method and color, and sets the buzzer E0.
Various display functions, such as notifying an operator of a printer trouble or the like by leveling 021 (FIG. 7), are provided.
When the trouble or the like is solved, the recording is restarted by pressing the resume key E0019.

[Recording Operation Mechanism] Next, the recording operation mechanism according to the present embodiment, which is stored and held in the apparatus main body M1000 of the printer, will be described.

The recording operation mechanism in the present embodiment includes an automatic feeding unit M3022 for automatically feeding the recording sheet P into the apparatus main body, and a recording sheet P sent one by one from the automatic feeding unit. A transport unit M3029 that guides a recording sheet P from a recording position to a discharge unit M3030 while guiding the recording sheet P to a desired recording position; a recording unit that performs desired recording on the recording sheet P transported to the transport unit M3029; And a recovery unit (M5000) that performs recovery processing for the same.

(Recording Unit) Here, the recording unit will be described.

A carriage M4001 movably supported by the carriage shaft M4021 and a recording head cartridge H1000 removably mounted on the carriage M4001.

Recording Head Cartridge First, the recording head cartridge will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 3, the recording head cartridge H1000 in this embodiment includes an ink tank H1900 for storing ink and an ink tank H190 for storing the ink.
A recording head H1001 for ejecting ink supplied from nozzles 0 in accordance with the recording information, wherein the recording head H1001 employs a so-called cartridge system which is removably mounted on a carriage M4001 described later. It has become.

The recording head cartridge H10 shown here
In FIG. 4, in order to enable photographic high-quality color recording, for example, ink tanks for each color of black, light cyan, light magenta, cyan, magenta and yellow are prepared as ink tanks. As shown, each is detachable from the recording head H1001.

The recording head H1001, as shown in an exploded perspective view of FIG.
0, first plate H1200, electric wiring board H130
0, second plate H1400, tank holder H15
00, channel forming member H1600, filter H170
0, a seal rubber H1800.

On the printing element substrate H1100, a plurality of printing elements for ejecting ink to one side of the Si substrate and electric wiring of Al or the like for supplying power to each printing element are formed by a film forming technique. A plurality of ink flow paths and a plurality of ejection ports H1100T corresponding to the recording elements are formed by photolithography, and an ink supply port for supplying ink to the plurality of ink flow paths is formed to open on the back surface. Have been. Further, the recording element substrate H110
0 is adhesively fixed to the first plate H1200,
Here, an ink supply port H1201 for supplying ink to the recording element substrate H1100 is formed.
Further, a second plate H1400 having an opening is bonded and fixed to the first plate H1200, and the second plate H1400 is connected to the electric wiring board H130.
0 and the printing element substrate H1100 are held so that the electrical wiring substrate H1300 is electrically connected.

The electric wiring board H1300 is for applying an electric signal for discharging ink to the printing element substrate H1100, and has an electric wiring corresponding to the printing element substrate H1100 and an electric wiring located at an end of the electric wiring. External signal input terminal H1301 for receiving an electric signal from the main body
The external signal input terminal H1301 has:
It is positioned and fixed on the back side of a tank holder H1500 described later.

On the other hand, a flow path forming member H1600 is ultrasonically welded to a tank holder H1500 for detachably holding the ink tank H1900.
An ink flow path H1501 extending from 900 to the first plate H1200 is formed. Also, the ink tank H19
A filter H1700 is provided at the ink tank side end of the ink flow path H1501 that engages with 00, so that dust can be prevented from entering from the outside. In addition, a seal rubber H1800 is attached to an engagement portion with the ink tank H1900, so that evaporation of ink from the engagement portion can be prevented.

Further, as described above, the tank holder H1
500, flow path forming member H1600, filter H170
And a tank element comprising a recording element substrate H1100, a first plate H1200, an electric wiring substrate H1300, and a second plate H1400, which are joined together by bonding or the like. This constitutes the recording head H1001.

(Carriage) Next, the carriage M4001 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown, the carriage M4001 is engaged with the carriage M4001 and
A carriage cover M4002 for guiding the carriage 1 to the mounting position of the carriage M4001, and a recording head H1001.
Head H10 engaged with the tank holder H1500
And a head set lever M4007 that presses the 00 to a predetermined mounting position. That is, the head set lever M4007 is
01 is provided rotatably with respect to the head set lever shaft, and a head set plate (not shown) is provided via a spring at an engagement portion with the print head H1000. And is mounted on the carriage M4001 while pressing.

The recording head H of the carriage M4001
A contact flexible printed cable (hereinafter, referred to as a contact FPC) E0
011 is provided, a contact portion E0011a on the contact FPC E0011 and a contact portion (external signal input terminal) H1301 provided on the recording head H1001.
Are electrically in contact with each other, so that various kinds of information for recording and reception and supply of electric power to the recording head H1001 can be performed.

An elastic member such as rubber (not shown) is provided between the contact portion E0011a of the contact FPC E0011 and the carriage M4001, and the contact portion is formed by the elastic force of the elastic member and the pressing force of the headset lever spring. E0011a and carriage M40
01 can be surely contacted. Further, the contact FPC E0011 has a carriage M
Carriage substrate E0013 mounted on the back of 4001
(See FIG. 7).

[Scanner] The printer in this embodiment can also be used as a reading device by replacing the recording head with a scanner.

The scanner moves together with the carriage on the printer side and reads the fed document image instead of the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction. The reading operation and the document feeding operation are alternately performed. , The image information of one document is read.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the scanner M6000.

As shown, the scanner holder M6001
Has a box shape, and contains therein an optical system and a processing circuit necessary for reading. When the scanner M6000 is mounted on the carriage M4001, a scanner reading lens M
Reference numeral 6006 is provided, from which a document image is read. The scanner illumination lens M6005 has a light source (not shown) inside, and the light emitted from the light source irradiates the original.

The scanner cover M6003 fixed to the bottom of the scanner holder M6001 is fitted so as to shield the inside of the scanner holder M6001 from light, and the carriage M4001 is provided by a louver-shaped grip provided on the side surface.
The operability of attaching / detaching to / from is improved. Scanner holder M
The external shape of the print head cartridge 6001 is the print head cartridge H100.
0, and can be attached to and detached from the carriage M4001 by the same operation as the recording head cartridge H1000.

The scanner holder M6001 accommodates a substrate having the processing circuit, while a scanner contact PCB connected to the substrate is provided so as to be exposed to the outside. When attached, the scanner contact P
The CB M6004 comes into contact with the contact FPC E0011 on the carriage M4001 side to electrically connect the substrate to a control system on the main body side via the carriage M4001.

Next, an electric circuit configuration according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of an electric circuit in this embodiment.

The electric circuit in this embodiment mainly includes a carriage board (CRPCB) E0013 and a main PC.
B (Printed Circuit Board) E0014, power supply unit E0015 and the like. Here, the power supply unit is connected to the main PCB E0014 and supplies various driving powers. Also,
The carriage substrate E0013 includes a carriage M4001.
(FIG. 2) is a printed circuit board unit, which functions as an interface for transmitting and receiving signals to and from a recording head through a contact FPC E0011, and also includes an encoder sensor E as the carriage M4001 moves.
A change in the positional relationship between the encoder scale E0005 and the encoder sensor E0004 is detected based on the pulse signal output from the 0004, and the output signal is output to the main PCB E0014 via a flexible flat cable (CRFFC) E0012.

Further, a main PCB is a printed circuit board unit which controls the driving of each part of the ink jet recording apparatus in this embodiment, and includes a paper end detection sensor (PE sensor) E0007, an ASF sensor E0009, a cover sensor E0022, a parallel interface (parallel interface). I
/ F) E0016, serial interface (serial I / F) E0017, resume key E0019, L
ED E0020, power key E0018, buzzer E00
I / O ports for 21 etc. on the board
In addition to being connected to the R motor E0001, the LF motor E0002, and the PG motor E0003 to control their driving,
Ink end sensor E0006, GAP sensor E000
8, PG sensor E0010, CRFFC E0012,
It has a connection interface with the power supply unit E0015.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the main PCB. In the figure, E1001 is a CPU, and this CPU E1001 has an oscillator OSC inside.
E1002 is connected to the oscillation circuit E1005 and generates a system clock by the output signal E1019. Also, RO through the control bus E1014
ME1004 and ASIC (Application Specific I
ASIC control, an input signal E1017 from a power key, an input signal E1016 from a resume key, a cover detection signal E1042,
The state of the head detection signal (HSENS) E1013 is detected, the buzzer E0021 is driven by the buzzer signal (BUZ) E1018, and the ink end detection signal (I) connected to the built-in A / D converter E1003.
NKS) E1011 and thermistor temperature detection signal (T
H) While detecting the state of E1012, it performs various other logical operations and condition determinations, and controls the driving of the inkjet recording apparatus.

Here, the head detection signal E1013 is transmitted from the print head cartridge H1000 to the flexible flat cable E0012, the carriage board E0013, and the contact flexible print cable E0011.
The ink end detection signal is an analog signal output from the ink end sensor E0006, and a thermistor temperature detection signal E10.
Reference numeral 12 denotes an analog signal from a thermistor (not shown) provided on the carriage substrate E0013.

E1008 is a CR motor driver which uses a motor power supply (VM) E1040 as a drive source and
CR motor control signal E1036 from IC E1006
Generates a CR motor drive signal E1037 according to
The R motor E0001 is driven. E1009 is LF / P
A G motor driver that uses a motor power supply E1040 as a drive source, generates an LF motor drive signal E1035 according to a pulse motor control signal (PM control signal) E1033 from the ASIC E1006, and thereby drives the LF motor and the PG motor A drive signal E1034 is generated to drive the PG motor.

E1010 is a power supply control circuit,
In accordance with a power control signal E1024 from CE1006, power supply to each sensor having a light emitting element is controlled.
Parallel I / F E0016 is ASIC E1006
I / F signal E1030 is transmitted to an externally connected parallel I / F cable E1031, and the signal of the parallel I / F cable E1031 is transmitted to an ASIC.
It transmits to E1006. Serial I / F E0017
Is the serial I / F signal E from the ASIC E1006.
1028 is transmitted to the serial I / F cable E1029 connected to the outside, and the signal from the cable E1029 is transmitted to the ASIC E1006.

On the other hand, from the power supply unit E0015, a head power supply (VH) E1039 and a motor power supply (V
M) E1040 and a logic power supply (VDD) E1041 are supplied. Also, the head power ON signal (VHON) E1022 from the ASIC E1006 and the motor power O
N signal (VMOM) E1023 is the power supply unit E001
5 to control ON / OFF of the head power supply E1039 and the motor power supply E1040, respectively. Logic power (VDD) supplied from power supply unit E0015
E1041 is supplied to various parts inside and outside the main PCB E0014 after voltage conversion as necessary.

The head power supply E1039 is connected to the main PC.
After being smoothed on BE0014, it is sent out to the flexible flat cable E0011 and used for driving the print head cartridge H1000.

E1007 is a reset circuit which detects a drop in the logic power supply voltage E1040 and outputs a reset signal to the CPU E1007.
1 and the reset signal (RESE) to ASIC E1006.
T) Supply E1015 to perform initialization.

The ASIC E1006 is a one-chip semiconductor integrated circuit.
U E1001 and outputs the above-described CR motor control signal E1036, PM control signal E1033, power control signal E1024, head power ON signal E1022, motor power ON signal E1023, etc., and outputs the parallel I / F E0016 and serial I / F. In addition to exchanging signals with the FE0017, a PE detection signal (PES) E1025 from the PE sensor E0007, an ASF sensor E0
ASF detection signal (ASFS) E1026 from 009,
The GAP detection signal (GAP) from the GAP sensor E0008
S) E1027, the state of the PG detection signal (PGS) E1032 from the PG sensor E0007 is detected, and data representing the state is transmitted to the CPU E via the control bus E1014.
1001 and the CPU based on the input data
E1001 controls the driving of the LED driving signal E1038 to blink LEDE0020.

Further, an encoder signal (ENC) E10
20 is detected to generate a timing signal, and the printhead cartridge H100 is generated by the head control signal E1021.
The interface with 0 controls the recording operation. Here, the encoder signal (ENC) E1020 is an output signal of the CR encoder sensor E0004 input through the flexible flat cable E0012. The head control signal E1021 is transmitted to the flexible flat cable E0012 and the carriage board E001.
3, and via the contact FPC E0011 to the print head cartridge H1000.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the ASIC E1006.

In the figure, the connection between the blocks shows only the flow of data related to the control of the head and the mechanical components such as recording data and motor control data, and the registers built in each block. Control signals and clocks related to reading and writing of the data, control signals related to DMA control, and the like are omitted to avoid complication in the drawings.

In the figure, reference numeral E2002 denotes a PLL. As shown in FIG. 9, a clock signal (CLK) E2031 output from the CPU E1001 and a PLL control signal (P
LLON) E2033 generates a clock (not shown) to be supplied to most of the ASIC E1006.

E2001 is a CPU interface (CPU I / F), and a reset signal E1015,
Soft reset signal (PDWN) E2032 and clock signal (CLK) E2 output from CPU E1001
031 and a control signal from the control bus E1014,
Control of register read / write for each block as described below, supply of a clock to some blocks, acceptance of an interrupt signal, etc. (all not shown) are performed, and an interrupt signal (IN) is sent to the CPU E1001.
T) Output E2034 to notify the occurrence of an interrupt in ASIC E1006.

E2005 is a DRAM, and as a data buffer for recording, a reception buffer E2010,
Work buffer E2011, print buffer E201
4. It has various areas such as a data buffer E2016 for development and a motor control buffer E for motor control.
2023. Further, as buffers used in the scanner operation mode, there are areas such as a scanner fetch buffer E2024, a scanner data buffer E2026, and a transmission buffer E2028 instead of the above-described recording data buffers.

The DRAM E2005 has a CP
It is also used as a work area necessary for the operation of the EU 1001. That is, E2004 is a DRAM control unit, which is provided from the CPU E1001 by the control bus to the DRAM control unit.
Access to E2005 and DMA control unit E described later
Switching from access to the DRAM E2005 from 2003 is performed to perform a read / write operation to the DRAM E2005.

The DMA controller E2003 receives a request (not shown) from each block, and receives an address signal, a control signal (not shown), and write data (E2038, E2041, E2044, E2044) in the case of a write operation.
2053, E2055, and E2057) are output to the RAM control unit to perform DRAM access. In the case of reading, read data (E2040, E2043, E2045, E2040) from the DRAM control unit E2004 is read.
51, E2054, E2056, E2058, E205
9) is passed to the requesting block.

E2006 is 1284 I / F, and CPU E10 via CPU I / F E2001
01, a bidirectional communication interface with an external host device (not shown) is performed through the parallel I / F E0016, and the parallel I / F E0 is used during recording.
Reception data (PIF reception data E203)
6) is transferred to the reception control unit E2008 by the DMA processing, and the DRAM E2005 is read when the scanner is read.
The data (12) stored in the transmission buffer E2028
84 transmission data (RDPIF) E2059) to the parallel I / F by DMA processing.

E2007 is a USB I / F, and CPU
Under the control of the CPU E1001 via the I / F E2001, a bidirectional communication interface with an external host device (not shown) is performed via the serial I / F E0017, and during recording, data received from the serial I / F E0017 (USB reception data E2037) ) Is transferred to the reception control unit E2008 by the DMA processing, and the transmission buffer E in the DRAM E2005 is read at the time of scanner reading.
2028 (USB transmission data (RD
USB) E2058) by DMA processing
Send to FE0017. The reception control unit E2008 includes:
1284 I / FE 2006 or USB I / FE
The received data (WDIF) E2038 from the selected I / F in 2007 is transferred to the reception buffer controller E2.
039 is written to the reception buffer write address managed. E2009 is a compression / expansion DMA, which is used for CPUI /
Under the control of the CPU E1001 via the FE2001, the reception data (raster data) stored in the reception buffer E2010 is read from the reception buffer read address managed by the reception buffer control unit E2039.
The data (RDWK) E2040 is compressed and decompressed according to the designated mode, and the recording code string (WDWK) E2
The data is written in the work buffer area as 041.

E2013 is a recording buffer transfer DMA,
CPU E1007 via CPU I / F E2001
The control reads the recording code (RDWP) E2043 on the work buffer E2011, rearranges each recording code into an address on the print buffer E2014 suitable for the data transfer order to the print head cartridge H1000, and transfers the data (WDWP E2044). I do. E2012 is a work clear DMA,
Under the control of the CPU E1001 via the PUI / FE 2001, the designated work fill data (WDWF) E2042 is repeatedly written and transferred to the area on the work buffer to which the transfer by the recording buffer transfer DMA E2015 has been completed.

E2015 is a recording data expansion DMA, which is a CPU E10 via the CPU I / F E2001.
01, the recording code written rearranged on the print buffer and the data for development written on the data buffer for development E2016 are triggered by the data development timing signal E2050 from the head control unit E2018 as a trigger. Read and expanded recording data (RDHDG) E2
045 is generated, and is generated as column buffer write data (WDHDG) E2047.
Write to 17. Here, the column buffer E2017 is
An SRAM for temporarily storing transfer data (expanded print data) to the print head cartridge H1000;
The print data development DMA and the head control unit share and manage the data by a handshake signal (not shown) between the two blocks.

E2018 denotes a head control unit, which is a CPU I /
Under the control of the CPU E1001 via the FE2001, the recording head cartridge H is controlled via a head control signal.
1000 or the interface with the scanner, and based on the head drive timing signal E2049 from the E2019 encoder signal processing unit E2019, the data development timing signal E2
050 is output.

At the time of recording, in accordance with the head drive timing signal E2049, the development recording data (RDHD) E2048 is read from the column buffer, and the data is output to the recording head cartridge H1000 through the head control signal E1021. In the scanner reading mode, the capture data (WDHD) E2053 input through the head control signal E1021 is transferred to the scanner capture buffer E2 on the DRAM E2005.
No. 024. Reference numeral E2025 denotes a scanner data processing DMA, which reads the capture buffer read data (RDAV) E2054 stored in the scanner capture buffer E2024 under the control of the CPU E1001 via the CPU I / F E2001, and performs processing such as averaging. The finished data (WDAV) E2055 to the scanner data buffer E2 on the DRAM E2005.
026. E2027 is scanner data compression DM
A, CPU E1 via CPU I / F E2001
001 controls the scanner data buffer E202.
6, the processed data (RDYC) E2056 is read out and compressed, and the compressed data (WDYC) E20
57 is written to the transmission buffer E2028.

Reference numeral E2019 denotes an encoder signal processing unit which receives an encoder signal (ENC) and receives a signal from the CPU E1.
In addition to outputting the head drive timing signal E2049 in accordance with the mode determined by the control of 001, information relating to the position and speed of the carriage M4001 obtained from the encoder signal E1020 is stored in a register.
1001. The CPU E1001 determines various parameters in controlling the CR motor E0001 based on this information. E2020 denotes a CR motor control unit, which is a CPU via a CPU I / F E2001.
By the control of E1001, the CR motor control signal E103
6 is output.

Reference numeral E2022 denotes a sensor signal processing unit which receives detection signals output from the PG sensor E0010, the PE sensor E0007, the ASF sensor E0009, the GAP sensor E0008, etc., and according to the mode determined by the control of the CPU E1001. CPU information of CPU
E1001 and LF / PG motor controller D
The sensor detection signal E2052 is output to the MA E2021.

LF / PG motor control DMAE2021
Is the CPU E10 via the CPU I / F E2001
01, reads a pulse motor drive table (RDPM) E2051 from a motor control buffer E2023 on the DRAM E2005 and outputs a pulse motor control signal E. In addition, depending on an operation mode, the pulse motor is used as a control trigger by the sensor detection signal. Control signal E
1033 is output. Reference numeral E2030 denotes an LED control unit which controls the CPU E via the CPU I / F E2001.
Under the control of 1001, an LED drive signal E1038 is output. Further, E2029 is a port controller, and C20
A head power ON signal E1022, a motor power ON signal E1023, and a power control signal E1024 are output under the control of the CPU E1001 via the PUI / FE 2001.

Next, the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the device is connected to an AC power supply,
In step S1, a first initialization process of the device is performed. In this initialization process, a check of an electric circuit system such as a check of the ROM and RAM of the apparatus is performed to confirm whether the apparatus is electrically operable normally.

Next, in step S2, the apparatus main body M100
0 power key E001 provided on the upper case M1002.
8 is turned on, and the power key E00
If the button 18 has been pressed, the process moves to the next step S3, where a second initialization process is performed.

In the second initialization processing, various drive mechanisms and a head system of the apparatus are checked. That is,
When initializing various motors and reading head information, confirm that the device can operate normally.

Next, in step S4, an event is waited. That is, the apparatus monitors command events from the external I / F, panel key events due to user operations, internal control events, and the like, and when these events occur, executes processing corresponding to the events.

For example, if a recording command event is received from the external I / F in step S4, the process proceeds to step S5, and if a power key event is generated by a user operation in the same step, the process proceeds to step S10. The process proceeds to step S11 when another event occurs in the same step. Here, in step S5, the recording command from the external I / F is analyzed, and the designated paper type,
The paper size, recording quality, paper feeding method, and the like are determined, data representing the determination result is stored in the RAM E2005 in the apparatus, and the process proceeds to step S6. Next, in step S6, sheet feeding is started by the sheet feeding method designated in step S5, the sheet is fed to a recording start position, and the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, a recording operation is performed. In this recording operation, the recording data sent from the external I / F is temporarily stored in the recording buffer, and then stored in the CR motor E0001.
Is started to move the carriage M4001 in the scanning direction, and the print data stored in the print buffer E2014 is transferred to the print head cartridge H100.
When the recording operation of one line is completed by supplying the data to 0, the LF motor E0002 is driven and the LF roller M3001 is rotated to feed the sheet in the sub-scanning direction. Thereafter, the above operation is repeatedly performed, and when the recording of one page of recording data from the external I / F is completed, the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S8, the LF motor E0002
Is driven to drive the paper discharge roller M2003, and the paper feeding is repeated until it is determined that the paper is completely fed out of the apparatus. When the paper is completely discharged, the paper is completely discharged onto the paper discharge tray M1004a. Becomes

Next, in step S9, it is determined whether or not the recording operation of all the pages to be recorded has been completed. If the pages to be recorded remain, the process returns to step S5. The operations from S5 to S9 are repeated,
When the recording operation of all pages to be recorded is completed, the recording operation ends, and thereafter, the process shifts to step S4 to wait for the next event.

On the other hand, in step S10, a printer termination process is performed, and the operation of this apparatus is stopped. That is, in order to turn off the power of various motors and heads, the state is shifted to a state where the power can be turned off, and then the power is turned off and step S4
Go to and wait for the next event.

In step S11, other event processing than the above is performed. For example, a process corresponding to a recovery command from various panel keys or an external I / F of the apparatus or a recovery event generated internally is performed. After the process is completed, the process proceeds to step S4 and waits for the next event.

[First Embodiment] The internal configuration of the recording head H1001 mounted on the above-described printer and the transmission and reception of data with the printer will be described below.

Here, a heater is used as a printing element,
In a so-called thermal ink jet type recording head that discharges ink by using thermal energy generated from the heater, a case where n recording element substrates H1100 are mounted in one recording head will be described. Each printing element substrate is provided with a nozzle row corresponding to one color of ink, and performs color printing using n colors of ink as a whole. For example, the n colors are four colors of black, yellow, cyan, and magenta, or six colors obtained by combining two colors of light cyan and light magenta.

First, the operation of the printing element substrate H1100 will be described with reference to one printing element substrate.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration inside printing element substrate H1100. FIG. 1 shows only one recording element substrate, and omits a flexible wiring substrate connected thereto and a head drive circuit of the printer body.

In the figure, 101 is a shift register for storing image data, 102 is a latch for temporarily storing the image data output from the shift register 101, and 103 is a drive for each recording element from the output from the latch 102 and the heat pulse. An AND gate for obtaining a condition; 104, a power transistor driven by an output from the AND gate;
A printing element 105 uses a heater such as a resistor.

Reference numeral 111 denotes a memory such as a fuse ROM for storing characteristic values of the printing element 105; 112, a shift register for sequentially outputting data stored in the memory 111 one bit at a time; 113, the temperature of the printing element substrate; A temperature sensor 114 for detection, an A / D converter 114 for converting the output of the temperature sensor into digital data, and a shift register 115 for outputting the output of the A / D converter bit by bit.
121 is a terminal for inputting a memory output from another printing element substrate, 122 is a terminal for inputting a temperature sensor output from another printing element substrate, and 123 is a memory output to another printing element substrate. 124 is a terminal for outputting a temperature sensor output to another printing element substrate.

VH is an input terminal of the heater power supply, GN
D is a ground terminal, Heat is a heat signal input terminal, La
tch is a latch signal input terminal, DATA is an image data input terminal, and CLK is a clock signal input terminal.

FIG. 17 is a timing chart showing the states of signals input to each terminal of the printing element substrate. Hereinafter, the operation of the recording element substrate will be described with reference to the timing chart.

First, image data is input as serial data from an image data terminal DATA in synchronization with a clock signal applied to a clock terminal CLK. The input image data is input to the shift register 101, and is sequentially transferred to an adjacent register in synchronization with a clock signal.

Here, the clock signal and the image data are inputted by the number corresponding to the number of heaters 105, that is, the number of nozzles, and the shift register 101 and the latch 102 have a capacity capable of holding data for each heater.

When the image data has been transferred to all the bits of the shift register 101, a latch signal is applied to the latch signal input terminal Latch, so that the image data is temporarily stored in the latch 102. Here, the latch 102 is active low, and the latch operation is performed when the signal goes low. Through these operations, the input image data is converted from serial data to parallel data.

Next, from the heat signal input terminal Heat,
A heat signal is input, and the AND gate 103 takes a logical product of the heat signal and the image data held in the data latch. If the logical product becomes true, the heater 105 corresponding to this bit (nozzle) is heated. A current IH defined by the power supply VH and the resistance value Rh of the heater 105 flows.

Here, when a heat signal is applied for a time during which the heat energy required for bubbling and ejection of the ink is generated by the heater 105, the ink is ejected from the corresponding nozzle.

Further, while the heater current IH is supplied, image data for forming an image is simultaneously inputted by the next heat signal, so that image transfer and heater heating can be performed efficiently. After repeating the application of the heater current IH and the image data transfer an arbitrary number of times, the image forming sequence is completed by applying only the heater current IH without performing the image data transfer.

As described above, this recording element substrate H110
In order to determine the conditions for optimally performing the recording operation, the temperature sensor 113 and an A / D converter 114 that converts the output of the temperature sensor 113 into digital information and outputs it as a pulse signal in order to obtain conditions for optimally performing the recording operation. And a memory 111 for storing element characteristics due to variations in the manufacturing process of the recording element.

In order to be able to output these data as serial data, two shift registers 115 and 112 are mounted for output of a temperature sensor and output of device characteristics. Output from terminals 124 and 123.

First, for example, a diode type temperature sensor 1 for detecting the temperature of the element substrate by the A / D converter 114
The analog signal from 13 is converted into a digital signal of several bits. The temperature information converted into the digital signal is La
When a latch signal is input from the tch terminal, the latch signal is transferred to the temperature sensor output shift register 115 and held therein. The temperature information held in the shift register 115 is sequentially transferred to an adjacent register in synchronization with a clock signal input from a CLK terminal, and output as serial data from a temperature sensor output terminal 124.

On the other hand, the element characteristic memory 111 is a non-volatile memory such as a fuse ROM built in the recording element substrate, and its memory output is parallelized by the element characteristic output shift register 112 in the same manner as the temperature sensor output. -Serial conversion is performed.

That is, when a latch signal is input from the Latch terminal, the data signal from the memory 111 is held in each register of the shift register 112. The data held in the register is sequentially transferred to an adjacent register in synchronization with a clock signal input from the CLK terminal, and is output from the memory output terminal 123 as serial data. Note that the image data transfer shift register 101
The low active latch signal is now high active in these shift registers 115 and 112.

In the present embodiment, during the image data transfer period, even if a clock signal is input, data output from the temperature sensor output terminal 124 and the memory output terminal 123 is not performed. This uses the latch signal also as a gate signal for validating / invalidating the output from the temperature sensor output shift register 115 and the memory output shift register 112. When the latch signal is at a high level, the output becomes invalid. This is because the output is made valid only when is low level.

The reason for adopting such a configuration is that, when information is read from elements such as the temperature sensor 113 and the A / D converter 114, the detection accuracy of which is considered to be degraded by noise, image data transfer, heater current drive, etc. Performing at a different timing from the sequence of
This is because it is often preferable.

For this reason, in the timing chart of FIG. 17, after the energization (ON) of the heater current and the input of the image data are completed, the latch signal is set to the low level, and the clock pulse corresponding to the bit number of the temperature sensor output and the element characteristic memory output is set. Is input, and data output at that time is assumed to be used for optimizing the conditions for driving the printing element performed immediately thereafter.

Next, a description will be given of wiring to a head pad for making an electrical connection with a printer main body when only n such printing element substrates are mounted.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing n printing element substrates, wiring between these element substrates, and connection to a head pad for connection to the printer main body.

As shown, the heater power supplies VH, GN
The D, Latch, and CLK signals need only be given to the n printing element substrates with the same voltage and signal. Therefore, the signals are branched from one head pad in the flexible wiring board and applied to each printing element substrate. In the figure, these head pads are omitted.

On the other hand, DATA which is image data and a Heat signal which regulates the energizing time of the heater need to perform recording image formation and optimal driving for each recording element substrate.
It must be applied separately to each recording element substrate. Therefore, two head pads 201 to 20n are provided for each print element substrate so that signals are separately input to each print element substrate.

The temperature sensor output terminal 12 of each recording element substrate
4 and the memory (element characteristic) output terminal 123 are cascade-connected to the temperature sensor input terminal 122 and the memory input terminal 121 of the adjacent printing element substrate by flexible wiring. Further, the temperature sensor input terminal 122 and the memory input terminal 12 of the end printing element substrate without the adjacent printing element substrate, that is, the first printing element substrate.
1 is connected to VSS, wiring is drawn out from the temperature sensor output terminal 124 and the memory output terminal 123 of the n-th printing element substrate, and Memory Out and Te
mp. Out is connected to two head pads 210.

The operation for reading out the temperature sensor output and the memory output from the printing element substrate connected in this manner will be described below. The transfer of the image data of the printing element substrate and the operation of driving the heater are the same as the operations of the single printing element substrate described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 15 is a timing chart showing the state of each signal when reading out the temperature sensor output and the memory output from the printing element substrate connected in this way. The signals shown in this timing chart are all signals input or output to the head pad.

Here, the operations of the temperature sensor output and the element characteristic memory output are performed in the same manner as the operation of the single recording element substrate described above, and the Latch signal and the Latch signal commonly applied from one head pad to each recording element. Controlled by the CLK signal.

First, when the latch signal Latch (high active) is applied from the head pad, the shift register 11 for temperature sensor output is provided in all the print element substrates.
5, and data is held in each register of the element characteristic output shift register 112.

Next, when the clock signal CLK is applied from the head pad, those shift registers sequentially transfer the held temperature information and memory data to the adjacent registers.

Since this data transfer is performed between the shift registers of the cascade-connected printing element substrates, the temperature sensor outputs of the adjacent printing element substrates and the information of the element characteristic memory are sequentially read from the left in the figure. In the right direction, the data is sequentially transferred from the first print element substrate to the nth print element substrate and the head pad output terminal, and the number of bits of the shift register in each print element substrate (x in the timing chart of FIG. 15) ), The temperature of all the recording element substrates and the data of the element characteristic memory are changed to the Me of the head pad 210.
memory Out terminal and Temp. It will be serially output from the Out terminal.

In this embodiment, the substrate potential is connected to the temperature sensor input terminal 122 and the memory input terminal 121 of the first recording element substrate having no recording element substrate adjacent to the input side. Therefore, when a clock pulse of n times or more of the bit number (x) of the shift register is applied, “Low” is output from the corresponding terminal of the head pad 210 as an output.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
Conventionally, information such as temperature sensor and element characteristics, which had to be pulled out from each printing element substrate to the head pad separately and read, can be read serially from all printing element substrates using only one head pad. The number of head pads for connection to the printer body can be reduced because it is possible, and the connection can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced by downsizing the recording head and printer body and simplifying the signal transmission / reception circuit of the printer body. Becomes

[Second Embodiment] Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the recording head according to the present invention will be described. In the following description, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. As in the first embodiment, the present embodiment is also a thermal inkjet printhead, in which n print element substrates are mounted.

First, the operation of the printing element substrate H1100 will be described with reference to one printing element substrate.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration inside printing element substrate H1100. FIG. 1 shows only one recording element substrate, and omits a flexible wiring substrate connected thereto and a head drive circuit of the printer body.

As in the first embodiment, the temperature sensor 113 and its output are converted to digital information and output as pulse signals on the printing element substrate of this embodiment in order to obtain conditions for optimally performing a printing operation. A / D converter 114 is mounted, and a memory 111 for storing element characteristics due to variations in the manufacturing process of the recording element is mounted.

In order to output these data as serial data, serial output circuits 131 and 134 are provided for each of them. That is, in the first embodiment, the data is serially output using the shift register.
This embodiment includes a serial output circuit that is not limited to a shift register. Also, for controlling output data, each serial output circuit has an AND gate and an OR gate.

FIG. 18 is a timing chart showing a state of a signal input to each terminal of the recording element substrate. Hereinafter, the operation of the recording element substrate will be described with reference to the timing chart. The transfer of the image data and the operation of driving the heater are the same as the operations of the printing element described in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

First, the A / D converter 114 converts an analog signal from, for example, a diode-type temperature sensor 113 for detecting the temperature of the recording element substrate into a digital signal of several bits. The temperature signal converted to a digital signal is
It is input to the serial output circuit 131. Then, the serial output circuit 131 uses Latch as a reset signal in the same manner as the shift register of the first embodiment, and sequentially outputs data according to the CLK signal.

Further, in this embodiment, the output of the serial output circuit 131 and the DATA input for inputting image data to the recording element are connected to the input of the AND gate 132. Thus, the output from the AND gate 132 is valid only when the DATA signal is at a high level (true). The output of the AND gate 132 and the signal input from the temperature input terminal 122 are OR gate 133
And the output of the OR gate 133 is output to the temperature sensor output terminal 124.

That is, when the DATA signal is at the high level (true), the temperature sensor output circuit in the recording element is enabled, and when the input from the temperature input terminal 122 is at the high level (true), the temperature sensor output terminal 124 Is valid.

The element characteristic memory 1 which is a nonvolatile memory such as a fuse ROM built in the recording element substrate.
Similarly, the output from 11 is output as serial data by the serial output circuit 134. Also at this time, the serial output circuit 134 sets Latch as a reset signal,
The data is sequentially output according to the CLK signal.

Also in this case, the output of the serial output circuit 134 is connected to the input of the AND gate 135 together with the DATA signal, and the output of the AND gate 135 is connected to the input of the OR gate 136 together with the signal from the memory input terminal 121. Have been. The output from the OR gate 136 is output from the memory output terminal 123.

As described above, in this embodiment, in addition to the gating operation by the DATA signal, as in the first embodiment, the gating operation by the latch signal, that is, when the latch signal is at the high level (true), the output becomes invalid, and the latch signal becomes invalid. The serial output circuit is configured so that the output becomes valid when is low level (false), thereby preventing data from being output from the temperature sensor output 124 or the memory output 123 during image data transfer.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing n printing element substrates, wiring between these element substrates, and connection to a head pad for connection to the printer main body.

As shown, the heater power supplies VH, GN
The D, Latch, and CLK signals need only be given to the n printing element substrates with the same voltage and signal. Therefore, the signals are branched from one head pad in the flexible wiring board and applied to each printing element substrate. In the figure, these head pads are omitted.

On the other hand, the DATA which is image data and the Heat signal which regulates the energization time of the heater need to perform recording image formation and optimal driving for each recording element substrate.
It must be applied separately to each recording element substrate. Therefore, two head pads 201 to 20n are provided for each print element substrate so that signals are separately input to each print element substrate.

The temperature sensor output terminal 12 of each recording element substrate
4 and a memory (element characteristic) output terminal 123 are connected to a temperature sensor input terminal 122 and a memory input terminal 121 of an adjacent printing element substrate by flexible wiring, respectively. In addition, the recording element substrate at the end without the adjacent recording element substrate, that is, the temperature sensor input terminal 122 and the memory input terminal 121 of the first recording element substrate are connected to the substrate potential, and the nth recording element substrate Are drawn out from the temperature sensor output terminal 124 and the memory output terminal 123 of Memory Out and Temp. Ou
t are connected to the two head pads 210.

The operation for reading the temperature sensor output and the memory output from the printing element substrate connected in this manner will be described below. The transfer of the image data of the printing element substrate and the operation of driving the heater are the same as those in the conventional example and the first embodiment, and thus the description is omitted.

FIG. 16 is a timing chart showing the state of each signal when reading the temperature sensor output and the memory output from the printing element substrate connected in this way. The signals shown in this timing chart are all signals input or output to the head pad.

Here, the operation of the temperature sensor output and the element characteristic memory output is similar to the operation of the single recording element substrate described above, and the Latch signal and the Latch signal commonly applied from one head pad to each recording element are used. Controlled by the CLK signal.

First, when the latch signal Latch (high active) is applied from the head pad, the serial output circuit 131 for the temperature sensor is
Then, the serial output circuit for element characteristics 134 is reset. Next, when the clock signal CLK is applied from the head pad, those serial output circuits sequentially output the temperature information and the memory data one bit at a time in synchronization with the CLK signal.

Here, this output is valid only when the image data transfer DATA is at the high level (true), and the recording is performed when the DATA terminal is at the low level (false). The element substrate has a temperature input terminal 12
2, the temperature input terminal 124 and the memory output terminal 123
(Through).

Here, when reading out the temperature sensor output and the element characteristic output from the head pad 210, only one of the n recording element substrates has a DA signal.
When TA is set to a high level and a latch and a clock signal are input, only the output from the printing element substrate whose DATA is set to a high level becomes valid, and is output from the output terminal of the printing element substrate. This output is sent to the head pad 21 via another recording element substrate whose DATA is at a low level.
The output is output as it is to the output terminal of 0.

That is, according to the configuration of this embodiment, DA
Using the TA signal as a gate signal, data such as the temperature and element characteristics of an arbitrary print element substrate selected from the n print element substrates can be read from the head pad 210.

Here, since the DATA pad provided corresponding to the recording element substrate is originally required to correspond to each recording element substrate for forming a recorded image, this is used as in the present embodiment. It can be used as a gate signal,
This does not lead to an increase in head pads.

The timing chart shown in FIG. 16 shows signals for sequentially outputting respective data from each recording element substrate sequentially when both the temperature sensor output and the memory output are x bits. DAT
A1 is the DATA signal of the first recording element substrate, and D1
ATAn is a DATA signal of the n-th printing element substrate.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
In addition to the effects of the first embodiment, only the temperature and element characteristics of an arbitrary selected printing element substrate can be output from the head pad.

[Other Embodiments] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the data of the temperature sensor and the element characteristics are output serially. However, the same applies to other data transmitted and received between the recording head and the printer body. It will be clear that this is possible.

The above-described embodiment is particularly provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection even in an ink jet recording system. By using a method in which a change in the state of the ink is caused by energy, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method is applicable to both on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling to the electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path in which Since thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. It is valid.

The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, The configurations described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which the heat acting surface is arranged in a bending region, are also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal transducer for a plurality of electrothermal transducers, or an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is discharged. A configuration based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to each unit, may be adopted.

Further, as a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is determined by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. This may be either a configuration satisfying the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition to the cartridge type recording head in which the ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself described in the above embodiment, the recording head is electrically connected to the apparatus main body by being mounted on the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip-type recording head, which enables a simple connection and supply of ink from the apparatus main body, may be used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the print head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like to the configuration of the printing apparatus described above, since the printing operation can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof. It is also effective to provide a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection that is different from printing, in order to perform stable printing.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be a recording head integrally formed or a combination of a plurality of recording heads. Alternatively, the apparatus may be provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

In the embodiments described above, the description is made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid. However, even if the ink solidifies at room temperature or lower, it is possible to use an ink that softens or liquefies at room temperature. Or, in the ink jet method, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself in a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range.
It is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied.

In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to heat energy as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, the temperature is positively prevented.
Alternatively, in order to prevent evaporation of the ink, an ink which solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used.

In such a case, ink is disclosed in JP-A-54-5.
No. 6,847, or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-71260, in which the porous sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter while being held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It may be. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or the apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described timing charts (shown in FIG. 15 and / or FIG. 16).

[0169]

As described above, according to the present invention, information relating to driving conditions such as temperature sensors and element characteristics, which had to be read out from each recording element substrate through separate wiring paths in the past, can be transmitted through the same signal path. Data from all the printing element substrates can be read out serially.

Therefore, the number of signals required for connection between the printhead and the printing apparatus main body can be reduced, the configuration for connection can be simplified, the printhead and the printing apparatus main body can be downsized, and the signal transmission and reception of the printing apparatus main body can be performed. The cost can be reduced by simplifying the circuit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an external configuration of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state shown in FIG. 1 with an exterior member removed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a recording head cartridge used in an embodiment of the present invention is assembled.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the print head cartridge shown in FIG. 3 is separated into a print head and an ink tank.

5 is an exploded perspective view of the recording head shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a scanner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of an electric circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a main PCB shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the ASIC shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of one print element substrate in the first embodiment of the print head of the present invention.

12 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a print head including a plurality of print element substrates of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of one print element substrate in a second embodiment of the print head of the present invention.

14 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a print head including a plurality of print element substrates of FIG.

15 is a timing chart showing the state of each signal when reading out temperature data and memory data in the configuration of FIG. 12;

16 is a timing chart showing the state of each signal when reading out temperature data and memory data in the configuration of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a timing chart showing the state of each signal when reading out temperature data and memory data in the configuration of FIG. 11;

18 is a timing chart showing the state of each signal when reading out temperature data and memory data in the configuration of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 H1100 Recording element substrate 101, 112, 115 Shift register 102 Latch 103, 132, 135 AND gate 104 Power transistor 105 Heater 111 Element characteristic memory 113 Temperature sensor 114 A / D converter 121 Memory input terminal 122 Temperature input terminal 123 Memory output terminal 124 Temperature output terminal 133, 134 Serial output circuit 133, 136 OR gate 201, 202, 20n, 210 Head pad

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A printing element substrate comprising: a printing element array; a driving circuit that drives the printing element array in accordance with serially input print data; and an output unit that outputs information on a driving condition of the printing element. A recording head, wherein each recording element substrate has a receiving unit that receives the information output from an output unit of another recording element substrate, and the output unit receives the information and the reception by the receiving unit. A print head configured to serially output the information of another print element substrate through the same signal path. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the output unit includes an output terminal, the reception unit includes an input terminal, and the plurality of printing element substrates are cascaded by the output terminal and the input terminal. The recording head according to claim 1. 3. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein said output means includes a shift register. 4. The printhead according to claim 1, wherein the output unit is configured to control the output by a signal used for inputting the print data. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information on the driving condition of the printing element includes at least one of temperature data of the printing element substrate and characteristic data of the printing element. Recording head. 6. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink. 7. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects ink using thermal energy, and the recording element includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. The recording head according to claim 6. 8. A printing apparatus for performing printing using the print head according to claim 1, wherein a driving condition can be changed for each printing element substrate according to the information. A recording apparatus characterized in that it is performed. 9. A plurality of printing element substrates each including a printing element array, a driving circuit for driving the printing element array in accordance with print data input serially, and output means for outputting information on driving conditions of the printing element. A method for transferring data between a recording head provided and a recording apparatus that performs recording using the recording head, wherein each recording element substrate receives the information output from output means of another recording element substrate. And outputting the information and the received information of another print element substrate serially by the output means through the same signal path.