Method and apparatus for droplet deposition

Abstract

A method for depositing droplets onto a substrate employs an apparatus, such as an inkjet printhead, the apparatus having: an array of channels, acting as fluid chambers, separated by interspersed walls, with each channel communicating with an aperture or nozzle for the release of droplets of a fluid contained within the channel, such as ink. Each of the walls separates two neighboring channels and is actuable such that, in response to a first voltage, it will deform so as to decrease the volume of one channel and increase the volume of the other channel, and, in response to a second voltage, it will deform so as to cause the opposite effect on the volumes of the neighboring channels. The method includes the steps of: receiving input data, such as an array of image data pixels; selecting pairs of adjacent channels based on the input data; assigning the selected pairs of adjacent channels as firing channels and the remaining channels as non-firing channels. While the pairs of firing channels may generally have any spacing, one of the pairs of firing channels is spaced apart from another of the pairs of firing channels by an odd number of non-firing channels. Within each of these selected pairs, the separating wall of that pair is actuated so as to cause the release of at least one droplet from each of said firing channels. The actuations for all the pairs overlap in time so as to ensure a high level of throughput or printing speed.