Printhead assembly with minimized interconnections to an inkjet printhead

Abstract

An inkjet printhead assembly ( ) for an inkjet printer having a printhead ( ) with a plurality of nozzles ( ) and data path and control electronics circuitry ( ) operably coupled with the printhead ( ) for providing image data that control the flow of ink through the nozzles ( ). The nozzles ( ) are arranged in sections with at least two heater elements, an upper heater ( ) and a lower heater ( ), predisposed about each nozzle ( ), the heater elements configured to actuate a nozzle ( ) for printing. The data path and control electronics circuitry ( ) comprises a plurality of shift registers ( ) configured to drive the nozzles, causing them to deliver ink in the direction of a receiver media, such as paper. Interconnections ( ) between the data path and control electronics circuitry ( ) and printhead ( ) include DATA, CLOCK, LATCH and ENABLE lines which are used to operate the printhead ( ) and, in turn, the nozzles ( ) via the shift register stages ( ). The number of interconnections are minimized by interleaving data to the shift registers between upper and lower heater elements of the printhead ( ) or by interleaving the data on the DATA line to the shift register stages ( ) for the upper and lower heater elements.