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:
Jan. 23, 2001
Filed:
Aug. 05, 1999
Frank Edward Anderson, Sadieville, KY (US);
Bruce David Gibson, Lexington, KY (US);
George Keith Parish, Winchester, KY (US);
Thomas Jon Eade, Lexington, KY (US);
Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, KY (US);
Abstract
An apparatus addresses ink jet heating elements based on image data to cause ejection of ink droplets toward a print medium. The apparatus includes a controller for generating address signals, power signals, and first and second bank signals. The first and second bank signals, which are carried on first and second bank lines, alternate between on and off states. The first bank signal is off when the second bank signal is on, and the second bank signal is off when the first bank signal is on. The apparatus has m address lines and n power lines connected to the controller for carrying the address signals and the power signals. A print head has m×n number of first driver circuits, each of which is connected to the first bank line and to a corresponding one of the m address lines. The first driver circuits enable flow of a first driving current when the first bank signal and the address signal are simultaneously on on the first bank line and the corresponding address line. The print head has m×n number of second driver circuits, each of which is connected to the second bank line and to a corresponding one of the m address lines. The second driver circuits enable flow of a second driving current when the second bank signal and the address signal are simultaneously on on the second bank line and the corresponding address line. First heating elements are each connected to a corresponding one of the first driver circuits and to one of the n power lines. A first heating element is activated by the first driving current when the power signal is on on the connected power line and the corresponding first driver circuit enables flow of the first driving current. Second heating elements are each connected to a corresponding one of the second driver circuits and to one of the n power lines. A second heating element is activated by the second driving current when the power signal is on on the connected power line and the corresponding second driver circuit enables flow of the second driving current.