The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 22, 1995
Filed:
May. 10, 1993
James L Stortz, Spring, TX (US);
Compaq Computer Corporation, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A differential drive system is used to actuate an ink jet printhead having a spaced, parallel series of internal ink receiving channels opening outwardly through ink discharge orifices formed in the printhead body. The channels are laterally bounded by a spaced series of piezoelectrically deflectable internal sidewall actuator sections of the printhead body interdigitated with the channels. The printhead body is specially configured to facilitate wiring access to spaced apart first and second electrical connection portions on each of the actuators. Electrical leads from a first controller are connected to the first actuator portions and are ganged in groups that are selectively connected to a driving voltage source, or to ground, by the first controller. A second controller has a first set of electrical leads similarly ganged in groups and connected to a first set of the second actuator portions, and a second set of unganged electrical leads individually connected to the rest of the second actuator portions. The second controller is operative to selectively connect any of its individual leads, or any of its ganged lead groups, to the driving voltage source or to ground. In conjunction with the dual controllers, this combination of ganged and individually addressable leads connected to the first and second actuator portions permits the actuators to be differentially driven in a manner digitally synthesizing a more complex bipolar drive system.