Printing method, system and printer

Abstract

This application discloses a printing method, system, and printer. The method includes: acquiring feature information of at least one nozzle; grouping the at least one nozzle according to the feature information to obtain at least one nozzle group; determining driving parameters for each nozzle group; and controlling each nozzle to print according to the driving parameters.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of printer technology, specifically to a printing method, system, and printer. Background Technology

[0002] A printer has at least one printhead, and each printhead has multiple nozzles arranged in rows, which may be one or more rows. During printing, if the nozzles deviate from their spray pattern, it will affect the printing accuracy. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a printing method, system, and printer that can improve the printing accuracy of the nozzles.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by this invention to solve the problem is as follows:

[0005] On the one hand, this application provides a printing method, including:

[0006] Obtain feature information for at least one nozzle;

[0007] The at least one nozzle is grouped according to the feature information to obtain at least one nozzle group;

[0008] Determine the drive parameters for each nozzle group;

[0009] Each nozzle is controlled to print according to the driving parameters described herein.

[0010] On the other hand, this application also provides a printing system, including:

[0011] At least one nozzle;

[0012] A driver, electrically connected to the at least one nozzle, the driver being used to drive the at least one nozzle;

[0013] A sensor is used to detect characteristic information of the at least one nozzle;

[0014] The controller is connected to the driver and the sensor respectively. The controller is used to acquire the feature information of the at least one nozzle through the sensor, and to group the at least one nozzle according to the feature information to obtain at least one nozzle group, determine the driving parameters of each nozzle group, and control each nozzle to print based on the driving parameters and through the driver.

[0015] Thirdly, this application also provides a printer, including the printing system described in any of the preceding claims. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a top view of the printer provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a side view of the printer provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a side view of the printer head printing process in an embodiment of this application.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the printing method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the ink droplet impact distribution provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a waveform diagram of the nozzle drive signal provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a control device involved in the printing method provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0024] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of another control device involved in the printing method provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0025] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the mapping relationship structure involved in the printing method provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0026] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram showing the distribution of ink droplet impacts before and after nozzle calibration, as provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0027] Figure 11 This is a structural block diagram of a printing system provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0028] Figure 12 Another structural block diagram of the printing system provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0029] Figure 13 Another structural block diagram of the printing system provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0030] Figure 14A structural block diagram of a printer provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0032] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first," "second," "third," "fourth," etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, and "several" means one or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0033] In this application, the term "exemplary" is used to mean "used as an example, illustration, or description." Any embodiment described as "exemplary" in this application is not necessarily to be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments. The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use this application. Details are set forth in the following description for purposes of explanation. It should be understood that those skilled in the art will recognize that this application can be made without using these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and processes are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the description of this application with unnecessary detail. Therefore, this application is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is consistent with the broadest scope of the principles and features disclosed in this application.

[0034] Please see Figures 1 to 3Common printers, such as inkjet printers, spray colored liquid ink into tiny particles through nozzles onto printing paper. Some inkjet printers have three or four printheads to print the four colors: yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The arrangement of the multiple printheads in a printer is not limited. Figure 1 The examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limitations on printhead arrangement. Each printhead has multiple nozzles arranged in rows, possibly one or more, to cover a wider printing area. These nozzles are piezoelectric, ejecting ink droplets under the influence of a driving voltage. However, during printing, nozzle ejection deviations can affect printing accuracy.

[0035] Based on this, in this embodiment, feature information of at least one nozzle is obtained; the at least one nozzle is grouped according to the feature information to obtain at least one nozzle group; driving parameters of each nozzle group are determined; and each nozzle is controlled to print according to the driving parameters. Grouping the nozzles based on their feature information and correcting them according to the driving parameters of the nozzle groups, with each nozzle group being corrected uniformly, can reduce the number of corrections, or multiple rounds of correction can be performed on each nozzle group to improve correction accuracy and printing accuracy.

[0036] The content of this application will be further explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings and the description of the embodiments.

[0037] This embodiment provides a printing method, such as Figure 4 As shown, the printing method includes:

[0038] Step S110: Obtain feature information of at least one nozzle.

[0039] Please see Figure 5 For example, since multiple nozzles in the same row have the characteristic of spraying together, and multiple nozzles in the same row are usually arranged in a straight line and the distance from the printing substrate is usually constant, theoretically the impact position of the ink droplets sprayed by multiple nozzles in the same row is on the same straight line.

[0040] Due to manufacturing errors and other factors, the ink droplets ejected from multiple nozzles in the same row may become scattered, affecting the printer's printing accuracy.

[0041] To improve the printing accuracy of a printer, nozzles can be calibrated based on their characteristic information. However, not all nozzles necessarily need calibration; nozzle calibration can be performed based on the user's specific requirements. Therefore, characteristic information of at least one nozzle can be obtained.

[0042] The characteristic information of a nozzle can at least be understood as parameter information that measures the nozzle's spray performance.

[0043] For example, the feature information can be inkjet position information, which includes at least the coordinates of the impact position of the ink droplets ejected from the nozzle on the printing substrate.

[0044] For example, nozzle feature information can also be nozzle distribution information. Distribution information can be understood as the position of the nozzles. Distribution information includes, for example, a row of nozzles in the same printhead or different printheads, a column of nozzles in the same printhead or different printheads, nozzles arranged in a specific pattern in the same printhead, all normally used nozzles in the same printhead, and some or all of the nozzles in multiple printheads working together.

[0045] Step S120: Group at least one nozzle according to the feature information to obtain at least one nozzle group.

[0046] In one implementation, nozzles with similar or related features can be grouped into a single nozzle group. Since the same nozzle group has similar or related features, the same nozzle group can be uniformly calibrated, while different nozzle groups can be calibrated separately. This can reduce the number of calibrations or improve the calibration accuracy.

[0047] For example, taking 255 nozzles in 16 nozzle groups as an example, that is, dividing the 255 nozzles into 16 nozzle groups based on their feature information, each nozzle group can be calibrated once, that is, calibrated 16 times. Compared with calibrating all 255 nozzles, this can improve printing accuracy and reduce the number of calibrations, thereby reducing costs.

[0048] Furthermore, if after 16 calibrations, feature information for 255 nozzles is acquired again, and deviations still exist, another round of calibration can be performed based on the 16 nozzle groups. Alternatively, the 16 nozzle groups can be further subdivided for a new round of calibration, or the 255 nozzles can be regrouped for a new round of calibration, until the deviation is reduced to a preset range and calibration stops. Continuous calibration improves calibration accuracy, thereby improving printing accuracy.

[0049] Step S130: Determine the driving parameters for each nozzle group.

[0050] like Figure 6 For piezoelectric printers, the nozzles are driven by trapezoidal waves. The parameters of the driving trapezoidal waves are: jet cycle T, which includes rise time T1, hold time T2, fall time T3, and driving voltage V of the trapezoidal waves.

[0051] Due to manufacturing errors and other reasons, multiple nozzles of the printhead, driven by the same drive signal waveform, will not have the same impact position for the ink droplets ejected by the nozzles. They generally fluctuate around the average value.

[0052] For example, the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by the nozzles can be corrected by the driving parameters of each nozzle group. The driving parameters may be at least one of delay parameters, gain parameters, and wavelength parameters.

[0053] The delay parameter can be understood as a parameter that adjusts the timing of the nozzle's drive signal. For example, the delay parameter can be the duration for which the drive waveform is preset in advance or the duration for which the drive waveform is delayed by a preset duration.

[0054] For example, the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by the nozzle is most directly affected by the timing state of the drive signal. Therefore, by adjusting the timing state of the drive signals of multiple nozzles corresponding to each nozzle group, such as leading or delaying, that is, by shifting the overall ejection cycle of the printhead forward or backward, the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by the nozzle, such as the center point, can be adjusted so that the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by the nozzle is located at the reference position, or the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by the nozzle fluctuates around the reference position within the accuracy requirement range, such as 1%.

[0055] The gain parameter can be understood as a parameter that adjusts the amplitude of the driving voltage of the nozzle's driving signal. The gain parameter can be, for example, the magnitude of increasing or decreasing the driving voltage amplitude by a preset value.

[0056] For example, gain parameters can affect the droplet impact area, which in turn affects the impact position. By adjusting the droplet impact area, the distance by which the overall droplet deviates from the reference position can be reduced.

[0057] The wavelength parameter can be understood as a parameter that adjusts at least one of the following: the length of the spray cycle of the nozzle drive signal, or the length of the rise time, the length of the hold time, and the length of the fall time in the spray cycle. The wavelength parameter can be a length value that increases or decreases the aforementioned length.

[0058] For example, wavelength parameters can affect the droplet's impact position by influencing its impact velocity. By adjusting the droplet's impact velocity, the problem of droplet deviation from the reference position due to velocity deviation can be reduced.

[0059] Since the same nozzle group has similar or related characteristics, the driving parameters of each nozzle group can be determined separately, that is, there is one driving parameter for each nozzle group.

[0060] The determination of driving parameters can be related to the characteristic information of the nozzles. For example, when the characteristic information is inkjet position information, if the actual inkjet position information deviates from the target position information by 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm, respectively, and 0.2 mm corresponds to the first nozzle group and 0.6 mm corresponds to the second nozzle group, the driving parameters of the first nozzle group can be determined to be such that the delay parameter is 0.1 seconds, and the driving parameters of the second nozzle group can be determined to be such that the delay parameter is 0.4 seconds. That is, the driving parameters are determined according to the actual offset value or the offset value range, which can improve the accuracy of the correction.

[0061] It should be noted that the driving parameter can be at least one of the delay parameter, gain parameter, and wavelength parameter. The above is only used as an example of the driving parameter being the delay parameter, and should not be construed as a limitation on the driving parameter.

[0062] Step S140: Control each nozzle to print according to each drive parameter.

[0063] The nozzle ejection is controlled by drive signals and drive waveforms. The drive signals of each nozzle group are adjusted based on drive parameters, such as delaying the drive waveforms of each nozzle group based on delay parameters. The adjusted drive signals drive each nozzle to perform ejection printing. Because drive correction has been performed, the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by the nozzle can be adjusted to be close to or at the theoretical position, thereby improving printing accuracy.

[0064] In the printing method of this application embodiment, the nozzles are grouped based on the nozzle feature information, and the nozzles are corrected according to the driving parameters of the nozzle group, which can improve the printing accuracy.

[0065] Obtaining nozzle feature information can be achieved by taking images of the ink droplets ejected from the nozzle. In one implementation, step S110, obtaining feature information of at least one nozzle, includes:

[0066] Step S111: Obtain an inkjet image of at least one nozzle;

[0067] Step S112: Extract features from the inkjet image to obtain feature information.

[0068] For example, multiple ink droplets ejected in a single stroke from multiple nozzles located in the same row are photographed to obtain an inkjet image. Feature extraction is then performed on the inkjet image to obtain feature information. Features include, for example, multiple initial impact positions of the ink droplets, and feature information includes, for example, N initial impact positions obtained after extracting these multiple initial impact positions.

[0069] The ink droplets in the inkjet image are calibrated, for example, by selecting a coordinate base point and using the center point of the ink droplet in the inkjet image as the coordinate position of the ink droplet. The coordinate data of each ink droplet, including the horizontal and vertical coordinates, are obtained from the coordinate base point, thus obtaining multiple initial impact positions corresponding to each nozzle.

[0070] In other embodiments, the multiple nozzles can be specific rows, specific columns, specific arrangements of nozzles, or all nozzles of a single-row printhead, a multi-row multi-column printhead, or some or all of the nozzles of multiple printheads. Therefore, multiple initial impact positions can be arranged according to the positions of the multiple nozzles described above, and scattered at or near the reference position.

[0071] Based on the inkjet image, multiple initial impact positions are extracted to obtain N initial impact positions.

[0072] For example, a threshold for the impact position can be set. Ink droplets that exceed the threshold for the impact position can be considered to have too large a deviation, making them difficult to correct and requiring solutions such as disabling the nozzle.

[0073] The impact position threshold can be determined based on the impact distribution ratio within a preset distance. The preset distance is the distance with a reference position as the baseline. The reference position can be a straight line formed by the position projection of a row of nozzles. The impact distribution ratio can be understood as the ratio of the number of impacts within the preset distance range to the total number of impacts.

[0074] For example, a preset distance, such as 10 millimeters, is used as the threshold for the impact position of ink droplets with a 99% impact ratio. Of course, the impact ratio is not limited to 99%; for example, the impact ratio can be greater than 90%.

[0075] In this embodiment, all initial impact positions of the ink droplets ejected by multiple nozzles in a single stroke are located at the reference position and on both sides of the reference position. There can be two impact position thresholds, that is, there is one impact position threshold on each side of the reference position. This application embodiment takes the acquisition of the impact position threshold on one side as an example for explanation. At this time, the impact position threshold is determined by the impact distribution ratio on one side of the reference position.

[0076] For example, see further. Figure 5 If 250 out of 256 initial impact positions are within a preset distance of 10 mm from the reference position, that is, if more than 95% of the ink droplets impact within the preset distance of 10 mm, then the impact position threshold is determined to be 10 mm.

[0077] For example, initial impact positions in the inkjet image that exceed the impact position threshold are removed or grouped into a discarded data group, thereby extracting N initial impact positions. For instance, the impact position image may have 256 initial impact positions, and 1 initial impact position exceeds the impact position threshold, thus obtaining N = 255 initial impact positions. N = 255 is the sample value in this embodiment of the application.

[0078] It should be noted that an ink droplet testing instrument can be designed to test the ejection characteristics of each nozzle. The impact position can be determined by sensors within the instrument, such as by capturing images of the ejection process or results via a camera, and then using a computer system to calculate and determine the position according to specific rules. The ink droplet testing instrument can be a standalone device, installed into the printing system during testing for easy maintenance and replacement; alternatively, it can be integrated into the printing system as a single component, reducing the complexity of testing and increasing the system's intelligence.

[0079] In this embodiment of the application, the method of obtaining feature information by acquiring inkjet images and extracting features from the inkjet images can improve the accuracy and efficiency of feature information acquisition compared to manually collecting feature information, thereby improving work efficiency.

[0080] Nozzle grouping can be achieved based on inkjet position and / or nozzle distribution information.

[0081] In one implementation, nozzle grouping is based on inkjet position, that is, step S120, grouping at least one nozzle according to feature information to obtain at least one nozzle group, includes:

[0082] Step S121: When the feature information includes actual inkjet position information, at least one nozzle is grouped according to the actual inkjet position information and target inkjet position information of each nozzle to obtain at least one nozzle group.

[0083] Actual inkjet position information includes the actual or initial impact position of the ink droplet, while target inkjet position information includes the theoretical impact position of the ink droplet. In practice, the center point of the ink droplet can be used as its impact position.

[0084] For example, at least one nozzle can be grouped according to the actual inkjet position information. Since the actual inkjet position information may deviate from the theoretical value, that is, the nozzle has a jetting deviation. The nozzle needs to be corrected according to the target jetting position information. Therefore, the process of grouping the nozzles can be achieved based on the deviation between the actual inkjet position information and the target jetting position information.

[0085] In one implementation, step S121, when the feature information includes actual inkjet position information, involves grouping at least one nozzle according to the actual inkjet position information and the target inkjet position information of each nozzle to obtain at least one nozzle group; including:

[0086] Step S1210: When the feature information includes actual inkjet position information, determine the jetting deviation distance information of each nozzle based on the actual inkjet position information and the target inkjet position information of each nozzle.

[0087] Step S1212: Based on the spray deviation distance information of each nozzle, at least one nozzle is grouped to obtain at least one nozzle group.

[0088] For each actual inkjet position information and the target inkjet position information, there is a deviation distance information. Based on the deviation distance information, the corresponding nozzles are grouped to obtain at least one nozzle group.

[0089] For example, the data of the N initial impact positions are grouped by the actual impact position (e.g., a row of N initial impact positions) and the theoretical impact position (e.g., a reference position) to obtain M deviation data groups. Each deviation data group corresponds to a nozzle group. The N nozzles are divided into M nozzle groups by the M deviation data groups, where N and M are both integers greater than 0.

[0090] The reference position can be a straight line formed by the projection of the positions of a row of nozzles, a straight line formed by the theoretical impact positions, or a straight line pre-set on the printing substrate. Of course, the reference position can also be obtained in other ways, which will not be listed here. Using the reference position as the basis for correcting the impact position of the inkjet nozzles can unify the ejection accuracy of different nozzles.

[0091] It should be noted that the reference position is not limited to a straight line; it can also be a point or a range, depending on the distribution of the actual impact points. For example, when the actual impact points are distributed in a set number of rows or columns, the reference position is a straight line; when the actual impact points are distributed in both rows and columns, the reference position can be two perpendicular straight lines or the intersection of two perpendicular straight lines; and when the actual impact points are distributed over a region, the reference position can be the midpoint of the region or the target area formed by the theoretical impact points.

[0092] Correspondingly, the distribution of the initial impact positions is not limited to one row or one column. It can also be a set number of rows or columns, or the actual impact positions can be a set number of rows and columns, or the actual impact positions can be a regional distribution.

[0093] For example, when M=N, that is, N sets of deviation data are obtained. Since the impact position of each nozzle is adjusted, the adjustment of the impact position of the nozzle for inkjet printing has high accuracy.

[0094] For example, when M < N, that is, when M deviation data groups are obtained, the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by the nozzle in each deviation data group is relatively similar. Based on this case, the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by the nozzle can be adjusted. While ensuring a certain accuracy, the setting of the calibration device can be reduced, thereby saving costs.

[0095] For example, taking N=255 and M=32 as an example, the 255 initial impact positions are divided into 32 deviation data groups. The number of initial impact positions in each deviation data group is not necessarily the same. Since the distance between the initial impact position and the reference position in each deviation data group is close, the impact position of the nozzle inkjet can be corrected uniformly. That is, at most 32 corrections are required in one round of correction, because there may be at least one group with no deviation or deviation within the accuracy requirement range among the 32 deviation data groups. Compared with the case of 255 corrections for 255 nozzles, the correction speed can be improved and the setting of correction devices can be reduced.

[0096] It's important to note that N and M are not proportional. That is, the grouping of deviation data sets is based on accuracy requirements, and the number of initial impact positions in each deviation data set is not necessarily the same. For example, if N = 256 and M = 2, there are two deviation data sets. One set could have 1 initial impact position, while the other could have 255. Another example is N = 237 and M = 5, resulting in five deviation data sets with possible initial impact positions of 3, 25, 67, 89, and 53. Of course, these are merely illustrative examples and should not be interpreted as limitations on N and M.

[0097] For example, when M > N, the feature information of at least one nozzle can be grouped and corrected in more than one round. Because the nozzles are corrected in multiple rounds, the correction accuracy of the nozzles can be improved, thereby improving printing accuracy.

[0098] For example, taking N=30 and M=36 as an example, that is, 30 initial impact positions are divided into 36 deviation data groups. This can be done in two rounds, such as the first round with 24 deviation groups and the second round with 12 deviation groups. The second round of grouping can be based on the first round's grouping, or it can be based on a new grouping of the 30 initial impact positions. If, after the first round of correction with the first accuracy requirement, you want to improve the correction accuracy to the second accuracy requirement, you can regroup the 30 initial impact positions (N=30) to obtain 12 deviation data groups, or you can regroup the 24 deviation data groups to obtain 12 deviation data groups, and then perform the second round of grouping. After two rounds of grouping, a maximum of 32×16 corrections can be performed.

[0099] By doing so, a set number of correction cycles can be obtained, which means continuously approaching the theoretical impact position, thereby improving the correction accuracy and thus the printing accuracy.

[0100] The number of groups needs to be determined based on the required precision.

[0101] For example, the choice of M is usually related to accuracy requirements; that is, the larger M is, the more accurate the corrected impact point is usually. In practice, a balance needs to be struck between correction accuracy and cost when grouping.

[0102] The accuracy requirement determines the number of groups; the higher the accuracy, the larger the number of groups. Accuracy requirements can be categorized as high, medium, and low, with corresponding errors of no more than 1%, no more than 5%, and no more than 10%, respectively.

[0103] In one implementation, M deviation data groups can be obtained based on the accuracy requirements and the maximum deviation among the N deviations between the N initial impact positions and the reference position.

[0104] The maximum deviation is the initial impact position furthest from the reference position. Based on the accuracy requirements and the maximum deviation, M sets of deviation data can be obtained.

[0105] In this system, the distance between any two adjacent deviation data groups can be equal, i.e., equally spaced. For example, assuming a low accuracy requirement and a maximum deviation of 10 mm, for N = 255, we can obtain M = 11 deviation data groups. These 11 data groups can be located on both sides of the reference position. Taking a maximum deviation of 10 mm on one side of the reference position, and assuming that this side has 5 deviation data groups, then these 5 data groups on the reference position side could be in the ranges of 0 to 2 mm, 2 to 4 mm, 4 to 6 mm, 6 to 8 mm, and 8 to 10 mm. Deviations between the initial impact position and the reference position falling within the range of 4 to 6 mm are grouped into one deviation data group, resulting in 5 deviation data groups. The 6 deviation data groups on the other side of the reference position are then grouped at equal distances as described above. Alternatively, these 6 deviation data groups can be grouped at non-equal distances, resulting in 11 deviation data groups.

[0106] The distance between adjacent deviation data groups can also be unequal, for example, by further dividing the data based on the density of impact points; for example, the deviation data groups can be smaller for areas with higher impact point density and larger for areas with lower impact point density. For instance, assuming a low accuracy requirement and a maximum deviation of 10 mm, with N = 255, we get M = 6 deviation data groups. These 6 deviation ranges can be located on both sides of the reference position. Taking a maximum deviation of 10 mm on one side of the reference position, and assuming that side has 4 deviation data groups, then these 4 deviation data groups on the reference position side can be in the ranges of 0 mm to 3 mm, 3 mm to 4 mm, 4 mm to 5 mm, and 5 mm to 10 mm. For example, deviations between the initial impact position and the reference position falling within the range of 4 mm to 5 mm are grouped into one deviation data group, resulting in 4 deviation data groups. The deviation data groups on the other side of the reference position are grouped using the same non-equidistant grouping method as described above, or they can be grouped using the same equidistant grouping method, resulting in 6 deviation data groups.

[0107] The spray groups corresponding to the deviation data groups are divided into a nozzle group. Since the impact positions in this nozzle group are close, they can be adjusted uniformly, which improves the convenience of calibration.

[0108] Nozzle grouping can be achieved based on inkjet position and / or nozzle distribution information.

[0109] In another implementation, nozzle grouping can be based on nozzle distribution information, such as step S120, which involves grouping at least one nozzle according to feature information to obtain at least one nozzle group, and further includes:

[0110] Step S122: When the feature information includes nozzle distribution information, at least one nozzle is grouped according to a set number and the nozzle distribution information to obtain at least one nozzle group.

[0111] Nozzle distribution information includes, for example, a set number of rows and / or columns of nozzles in a printhead, some or all of the nozzles in a printhead, a set number of rows and / or columns of nozzles in multiple printheads, or some or all of the nozzles in multiple printheads. When grouping nozzles, a set number of nozzles can be divided into a nozzle group, and the nozzles in a nozzle group can be uniformly calibrated, which can reduce the number of calibrations or improve calibration accuracy.

[0112] In one implementation, the nozzles also need to be grouped according to a preset screening strategy. For example, in step S122, if the feature information includes nozzle distribution information, at least one nozzle is grouped according to a set number and the nozzle distribution information to obtain at least one nozzle group, including:

[0113] Step S1220: When the feature information includes nozzle distribution information, select a target nozzle as a nozzle group from at least one nozzle according to the set quantity, nozzle distribution information and preset screening strategy.

[0114] The preset filtering strategy includes at least one of adjacent, interval, or random selection.

[0115] It should be noted that the set quantity may be dynamically adjusted, meaning that the set quantity is dynamically determined according to appropriate rules based on the system conditions. In other words, the set quantity can be changed, adjusted based on actual operating conditions such as the number of nozzles with potential errors.

[0116] For example, consider 10 nozzles arranged in a row, with nozzles 1 to 10 arranged sequentially. The number of nozzles can be set to 2, meaning that two nozzles are grouped together. For instance, a preset filtering strategy could be to group each pair of adjacent nozzles into a nozzle group, that is, to use the two adjacent nozzles as the target nozzles of the nozzle group, such as dividing them into 5 nozzle groups: nozzle 1 and nozzle 2, nozzle 3 and nozzle 4, nozzle 5 and nozzle 6, nozzle 7 and nozzle 8, and nozzle 9 and nozzle 10.

[0117] For example, consider 12 nozzles arranged in a row, with nozzles 1 to 12 arranged sequentially. The number of nozzles can be set to 2, meaning two nozzles are grouped together. Another example is a preset filtering strategy that groups two nozzles that are spaced one nozzle apart as a single nozzle group, such as nozzles 1 and 3, nozzles 2 and 4, nozzles 5 and 7, nozzles 6 and 8, nozzles 9 and 11, and nozzles 10 and 12, for a total of 6 nozzle groups.

[0118] For example, consider 10 nozzles arranged in a row, with nozzles 1 to 10 arranged sequentially. The number of nozzles can be set to 2, meaning that two nozzles are grouped together. Alternatively, the preset filtering strategy can be random grouping, such as dividing the nozzles into five groups: nozzles 1 and 7, nozzles 2 and 5, nozzles 3 and 6, nozzles 4 and 9, and nozzles 8 and 10.

[0119] The number of nozzles is not limited to 10, the distribution of nozzles is not limited to row distribution, the number of settings is not limited to 2, and there may be other preset filtering strategies. The above are just examples and should not be construed as restrictions on the number of nozzles, the distribution of nozzles, the number of settings, and the preset filtering strategies.

[0120] Performing a round of group calibration on the nozzles can reduce the number of calibrations or improve calibration accuracy.

[0121] Similarly, the nozzles can be grouped and calibrated in multiple rounds to continuously approach the theoretical impact position, thus improving calibration accuracy and printing accuracy.

[0122] In at least one round of grouping, there may be grouping of nozzles based on inkjet position information, grouping of nozzles based on nozzle distribution information, or grouping of nozzles based on both inkjet position information and nozzle distribution information. The combined grouping methods can be adapted to the above independent grouping embodiments, which will not be elaborated here.

[0123] The embodiments of this application perform group calibration of nozzles, which can improve calibration accuracy and thus improve printing accuracy.

[0124] The driving parameters can be determined based on the corresponding injection deviation distance information of each nozzle.

[0125] In one implementation, steps such as S130, determining the drive parameters for each nozzle group, include:

[0126] Step S131: For each nozzle group, determine the delay parameter, gain parameter and wavelength parameter of the nozzle group based on the spray deviation distance information corresponding to each nozzle in the nozzle group.

[0127] Step S132: Determine the driving parameters of each nozzle group based on at least one of the delay parameter, gain parameter, and wavelength parameter.

[0128] The determination of the jetting deviation distance information can be referred to step S1210. When the feature information includes the actual inkjet position information, the jetting deviation distance information of each nozzle is determined based on the actual inkjet position information and the target inkjet position information of each nozzle. This will not be elaborated further here.

[0129] It should be noted that for different types of nozzle grouping methods based on actual inkjet position information and / or nozzle distribution information, the delay parameters, gain parameters and wavelength parameters of the nozzle group can be determined by the jet deviation distance information corresponding to each nozzle in the nozzle group. That is, when determining the delay parameters, gain parameters and wavelength parameters, the jet deviation distance information should not be interpreted as a limitation on the grouping method.

[0130] The driving parameters can be at least one of the following: delay parameters, gain parameters, and wavelength parameters.

[0131] The delay parameter can be understood as a parameter that adjusts the timing of the nozzle's drive signal. For example, the delay parameter can be the duration for which the drive waveform is preset in advance or the duration for which the drive waveform is delayed by a preset duration.

[0132] For example, the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by the nozzle is most directly affected by the timing state of the drive signal. Therefore, by adjusting the timing state of the drive signals of multiple nozzles corresponding to each nozzle group, such as leading or delaying, that is, by shifting the overall ejection cycle of the printhead forward or backward, the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by the nozzle, such as the center point, can be adjusted so that the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by the nozzle is located at the reference position, or the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by the nozzle fluctuates around the reference position within the accuracy requirement range, such as 1%.

[0133] For example, the jet deviation distance information corresponding to each nozzle can be positively correlated with the delay parameter of the nozzle group. For example, the jet deviation distance information, i.e., the deviation data group, can be used to represent the degree of deviation of the nozzle jet. The greater the degree of deviation, the larger the value of the corresponding delay parameter, so as to correct the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by the nozzle within a set accuracy range.

[0134] For example, if the spray deviation distance information corresponding to the first nozzle group and the second nozzle group is in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm to 0.9 mm respectively, the delay parameters corresponding to the first nozzle group and the second nozzle group can be 0.1 seconds and 0.4 seconds respectively. Therefore, the first nozzle group and the second nozzle group can be corrected to a nozzle group with a uniform accuracy, which can unify the overall correction accuracy and is beneficial to control the overall accuracy of all nozzles.

[0135] The gain parameter can be understood as a parameter that adjusts the amplitude of the driving voltage of the nozzle's driving signal. The gain parameter can be, for example, the magnitude of increasing or decreasing the driving voltage amplitude by a preset value.

[0136] For example, gain parameters can affect the droplet impact area, which in turn affects the impact position. By adjusting the droplet impact area, the distance by which the overall droplet deviates from the reference position can be reduced.

[0137] For example, the jet deviation distance information corresponding to each nozzle can be inversely correlated with the gain parameter of that nozzle group. For instance, the jet deviation distance information, i.e., the deviation data set, can represent the degree of nozzle jet deviation. The greater the deviation, the smaller the corresponding gain parameter value can be; that is, by reducing the droplet's impact area, the overall distance of the droplet from the reference position is reduced. Conversely, when the deviation is small, the value of the gain parameter can be increased, i.e., by increasing the droplet's impact area, the overall distance between the droplet and the reference position can be reduced. This can also be used for nozzle calibration to improve printing accuracy.

[0138] For example, if the spray deviation distance information corresponding to the first nozzle group and the second nozzle group is in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm to 0.9 mm respectively, the gain parameters corresponding to the first nozzle group and the second nozzle group can be 0.5V and 0.2V respectively. Therefore, the first nozzle group and the second nozzle group can be corrected to a nozzle group with a uniform accuracy, which can unify the overall correction accuracy and is beneficial to control the overall accuracy of all nozzles.

[0139] The wavelength parameter can be understood as a parameter that adjusts at least one of the following: the length of the spray cycle of the nozzle drive signal, or the length of the rise time, the length of the hold time, and the length of the fall time in the spray cycle. The wavelength parameter can be a length value that increases or decreases the aforementioned length.

[0140] For example, wavelength parameters can affect the droplet's impact position by influencing its impact velocity. By adjusting the droplet's impact velocity, the problem of droplet deviation from the reference position due to velocity deviation can be reduced.

[0141] For example, the jet deviation distance information corresponding to each nozzle can be inversely correlated with the wavelength parameter of that nozzle group. For example, the jet deviation distance information, i.e., the deviation data group, can represent the degree of deviation of the nozzle jet. The greater the deviation, the smaller the value of the corresponding wavelength parameter can be. That is, by increasing the droplet impact speed, the droplet can be made to impact earlier, thereby shortening the distance between the droplet impact position and the reference position. This can also be used to correct the nozzle and improve printing accuracy.

[0142] For example, if the spray deviation distance information corresponding to the first nozzle group and the second nozzle group is in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm to 0.9 mm respectively, the wavelength parameters corresponding to the first nozzle group and the second nozzle group can be 0.6 seconds and 0.2 seconds respectively. Therefore, the first nozzle group and the second nozzle group can be corrected to a nozzle group with a uniform accuracy, which can unify the overall correction accuracy and is beneficial to control the overall accuracy of all nozzles.

[0143] Of course, the nozzle can also be calibrated by using parameter groups such as delay parameters and gain parameters, delay parameters and wavelength parameters, gain parameters and wavelength parameters, or delay parameters, gain parameters and wavelength parameters together. Under the combined effect of different parameters in each parameter group, the nozzle can be calibrated, such as calibrating the nozzle under large deviation conditions, thus improving the calibration range and accuracy.

[0144] Regarding the method of applying driving parameters to control nozzles, in one implementation, such as controlling the driving waveform through driving parameters, as in step S140, controlling each nozzle to print according to each driving parameter, including:

[0145] Step S141: Adjust the drive signal of each nozzle in the nozzle group corresponding to each drive parameter according to the drive parameter.

[0146] Step S142: Control the nozzle to print based on the adjusted new drive signal.

[0147] Piezoelectric inkjet printheads are driven by trapezoidal waves. The parameters of the driving trapezoidal wave are: jet cycle T, which includes rise time T1, hold time T2, fall time T3, and driving voltage V of the trapezoidal wave.

[0148] Due to manufacturing errors in the printhead, multiple nozzles of the printhead driven by the same drive signal waveform do not have exactly the same impact position for the ink droplets ejected by the nozzles; they generally fluctuate around the average value.

[0149] The impact position of the ink droplets ejected from the nozzle is affected by the timing of the drive signal, the amplitude of the drive voltage, and the wavelength of the drive waveform. For example, by adjusting the timing of the drive signal, the amplitude of the drive voltage, and the wavelength of the drive waveform, the impact position, impact area, and impact speed of the ink droplets can be changed. Therefore, the drive signal can be adjusted based on the drive parameters.

[0150] The driving parameter can be at least one of the delay parameter, gain parameter and wavelength parameter. The determination of the driving parameter can refer to the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0151] In this embodiment of the application, taking the driving parameter as the delay parameter as an example, the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by the nozzle is most directly affected by the timing state of the driving signal. For example, the timing state of the driving signal corresponding to each nozzle group can be controlled, such as leading or delaying, that is, the overall ejection cycle of the printhead is shifted forward or backward, so as to adjust the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by each nozzle group, so that the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by each nozzle group is located at the reference position, or so that the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by each nozzle group fluctuates around the reference position within the accuracy requirement range.

[0152] like Figure 7 and Figure 8 Taking N nozzles, M nozzle groups and M deviation data groups as an example, M first drive signals are obtained based on the M deviation data groups after adjustment based on the delay parameter.

[0153] The FPGA is used to process the data and generate delay parameters and drive data. Delay timing control can process the delay parameters. The DAC is a digital-to-analog converter. The M-to-N signal switching matrix can be referenced. Figure 9 The schematic diagram shown illustrates the control of N nozzles based on M nozzle groups. A variable-gain high-voltage amplifier is used to adjust the voltage amplitude, such as increasing or decreasing, according to a gain parameter. A PZT is used as a brake to drive the nozzles.

[0154] For example, the timing of the drive signals is adjusted based on the delay parameter for M sets of deviation data. Taking the left and right sides of the reference position as examples, the situation on both sides of the reference position is explained. For example, the timing of the signal on the left side of the reference position is adjusted in advance, and the timing of the signal on the right side of the reference position is adjusted in delay, so as to obtain M first drive signals after timing adjustment based on the delay parameter.

[0155] In this M-group deviation data, the delay parameter requiring timing advance adjustment can be set to 0, and the delay parameter requiring timing delay adjustment can be set to 1, resulting in M ​​data groups. Converting these M data groups into drive signals requires a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). If each of the N nozzles were to be calibrated individually, a large number of DACs would be needed. Therefore, in this embodiment, the N nozzles are calibrated in M ​​groups.

[0156] There are multiple combinations of timing adjustment and digital-to-analog conversion based on delay parameters for M sets of deviation data.

[0157] It should be noted that for the drive signal waveform, the timing advance adjustment and delay adjustment can be unified as delay adjustment. Since the advance adjustment of one cycle can be adjusted to the delay adjustment of the previous cycle, the following explanation will take delay adjustment as an example, and should not be interpreted as a restriction on timing adjustment.

[0158] In one implementation, a first delayed signal and M first drive data are generated based on M sets of deviation data. The M first drive data are then delayed by the first delayed signal and converted from digital to analog to obtain M first drive signals after timing adjustment.

[0159] The first case, such as Figure 7 In this case, a delay is performed before digital-to-analog conversion. One timer and M DACs can be set.

[0160] For example, a first delay signal and M first drive data are generated based on M sets of deviation data. That is, the FPGA processes the M sets of deviation data to generate the first delay signal and M first drive data. The M first drive data are, for example, data that are 0 and 1. The M first drive data are delayed according to the first delay signal to obtain the M first drive signals after timing adjustment.

[0161] Among them, M first drive data correspond to M or M channels of DAC.

[0162] The first delay signal can be generated by a timer. For example, an FPGA generates a first delay signal for each first drive data, thereby forming a clock signal. After processing the M first drive data with the clock signal, M timing-adjusted first drive data are obtained. Then, the M first drive data are converted from digital to analog to obtain M timing-adjusted first drive signals.

[0163] In another implementation, second drive data and M second delay signals are generated based on M sets of deviation data. After digital-to-analog conversion of the second drive data, each data set is delayed according to the M second delay signals to obtain M first drive signals after timing adjustment.

[0164] The second scenario, such as Figure 8 First, perform digital-to-analog conversion and then delay. In this case, you can set up one DAC and M delay units.

[0165] For example, based on M sets of deviation data, second driving data and M second delay signals are generated. That is, the FPGA processes the M sets of deviation data to generate second driving data and M second delay signals. The second driving data is, for example, data that is 0 and 1. After the second driving data is converted from digital to analog, it is delayed according to the M second delay signals to obtain the M first driving signals after timing adjustment.

[0166] The second driving data only requires one DAC or one channel.

[0167] The second delay signal can be generated by a delay unit. For example, after the FPGA performs digital-to-analog conversion on the second driving data to obtain an analog signal, it is then delayed according to M second delay signals to obtain M first driving signals after timing adjustment.

[0168] The third scenario, an extension of the second, also involves performing digital-to-analog conversion first and then applying a delay. In this case, X DACs and Y delay units can be set, where X+Y=M+1.

[0169] In another implementation, X second drive data and Y second delay signals are generated based on M sets of deviation data; X and Y are both integers greater than 0, and X + Y = M + 1. After performing digital-to-analog conversion on the X second drive data, and delaying them according to the Y second delay signals respectively, M first drive signals after timing adjustment are obtained.

[0170] It should be noted that during circuit implementation, in order to balance the placement of components with their functions, the number and combination of DACs and delay units can be set as needed.

[0171] For example, X second driving data and Y second delay signals are generated based on M sets of deviation data. That is, the FPGA processes the M sets of deviation data to generate X second driving data and Y second delay signals. The second driving data are, for example, data that are 0 and 1. After the X second driving data are converted from digital to analog, they are delayed according to the Y second delay signals to obtain M first driving signals after timing adjustment.

[0172] Among them, the second driving data requires only X DACs, or X channels.

[0173] The second delay signal can be generated by a delay unit. For example, an FPGA performs digital-to-analog conversion on X second drive data to obtain analog signals, and then delays them according to Y second delay signals to obtain M first drive signals after timing adjustment.

[0174] The driving of N nozzles by M first driving signals is achieved through a mapping relationship.

[0175] For example, M first driving signals are mapped to generate N second driving signals, and the N second driving signals are used to drive N nozzles respectively to adjust the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by the N nozzles.

[0176] Since N nozzles need to be driven, but the above process only generates M first drive signals, a matrix transformation from M to N, or a mapping from M to N, needs to be achieved.

[0177] For example, please refer to Figure 9As shown, an M-row, N-column array of switches can be configured. Through switch control signals, any single drive signal can be used to drive a specific nozzle. For example, if 255 nozzles are grouped into 32 groups, a 32-row, 255-column array of switches can be configured, resulting in a total of 32*255 switches. Therefore, any one of the 255 nozzles can be driven by 32 first drive signals. This achieves a mapping from M to N, that is, a conversion from 32 first drive signals to 255 second drive signals.

[0178] By using N second drive signals with adjusted timing to drive N nozzles respectively, the impact position of ink droplets ejected from N nozzles can be adjusted.

[0179] Please continue reading. Figure 5 During the nozzle ejection process, inconsistent ink droplet sizes may occur. In the manufacturing process of display devices using printing, there are strict requirements for the size of the ink droplets ejected by each nozzle, such as droplet volume, with a volume deviation not exceeding 1%. Furthermore, when multiple printheads are joined together to complete wide-format printing, the size of the printed ink droplets between the printheads must also be consistent.

[0180] Based on this, embodiments of this application also provide a printing method, including:

[0181] Step S210: Obtain inkjet size data for at least one nozzle;

[0182] Step S220: Determine the gain parameters of each nozzle based on the inkjet size data;

[0183] Step S230: Control each nozzle to print according to the gain parameters.

[0184] Piezoelectric inkjet printheads are driven by trapezoidal waves. The parameters of this trapezoidal wave include: the ejection cycle T, which contains a rise time T1, a hold time T2, a fall time T3, and the driving voltage V. The size of the ink droplets ejected by each nozzle, such as the droplet volume, is related to the driving voltage V of the piezoelectric ceramic actuator. Therefore, different droplet sizes can be adjusted or corrected by adjusting the amplitude of the nozzle driving voltage V. In other words, the gain parameter can be understood as the amplitude adjustment parameter of the driving voltage.

[0185] At least one nozzle can be some or all of the nozzles in a single printhead, or some or all of the nozzles in multiple printheads. In other words, multiple nozzles can be located in a set number of rows and / or a set number of columns. Multiple nozzles can also be nozzles in at least one printhead selected without any arrangement pattern.

[0186] The gain parameter can be determined based on the inkjet size data and dimensional accuracy.

[0187] The inkjet size data for at least one nozzle can be obtained by testing the jetting characteristics using an ink droplet testing instrument, such as by photographing multiple ink droplets to obtain dimensions like volume. For multiple droplet sizes, a reference size is needed as the basis for correction. The reference size is the theoretical size of the ejected ink droplet, such as its volume. For each droplet size deviation and dimensional accuracy, multiple corresponding gain parameters are generated. For example, if the droplet size is larger than the reference size, the original first driving voltage is reduced using the gain parameters to obtain a second driving voltage, i.e., the droplet size is reduced by decreasing the amplitude of the driving voltage, such as reducing it to a preset accuracy range. If the droplet size is smaller than the reference size, the original first driving voltage is amplified using the gain parameters to obtain a second driving voltage, such as amplifying it to a preset accuracy range, i.e., the droplet size is increased by increasing the amplitude of the driving voltage.

[0188] It should be noted that the droplet size correction can be performed separately. Referring to the above method, the droplet size can also be corrected based on the nozzle impact position correction.

[0189] For example, based on the impact position correction of N nozzles corresponding to N initial impact positions, the sizes of N ink droplets ejected by N nozzles can be obtained. These N droplet sizes can be obtained by testing the ejection characteristics using an ink droplet testing instrument, such as by taking photographs to obtain dimensions like volume. For each of the N droplet sizes, a reference size is needed as the basis for correction. This reference size is the theoretical size of the ejected ink droplet, such as its volume. For each droplet size deviation, N corresponding gain parameters are generated. For example, if the droplet size is larger than the reference size, the original first driving voltage is reduced by the gain signal to obtain a second driving voltage. If the droplet size is reduced to a preset accuracy range, the droplet size is reduced by decreasing the amplitude of the driving voltage. Conversely, if the droplet size is smaller than the reference size, the original first driving voltage is amplified by the gain parameters to obtain a second driving voltage. If the amplification is increased to a preset accuracy range, the droplet size is increased by increasing the amplitude of the driving voltage.

[0190] Based on the aforementioned grouping of nozzles according to their feature information, M first driving signals are used to generate N second driving signals through a mapping relationship. N gain parameters are used to perform gain processing on the N second driving signals, that is, to amplify or reduce the N second driving signals, and N third driving signals are generated. The N third driving signals are used to drive the N nozzles respectively, thereby enabling synchronous processing of the ink droplet size and impact position ejected by the N nozzles.

[0191] like Figure 10In addition to correcting the impact position of ink droplets ejected from the nozzles, the droplet size must also be adjusted simultaneously. For example, the ejection characteristics of N nozzles can be tested using an ink droplet testing instrument. Based on the test results—i.e., droplet size and initial impact position—the impact position range can be analyzed: the maximum and minimum distances between the initial impact position and the reference position are defined as the impact position range. For instance, if 99% of the ink droplets fall within the impact position range, those outside the range will be disabled due to excessive error. During grouping, the nozzles can be divided at equal or non-equal distances. Droplets falling within different impact range intervals are statistically analyzed to complete the grouping of impact positions and corresponding nozzles. Each group generates a corresponding timing adjustment drive signal. Then, a second drive signal for the N nozzles is obtained through a mapping relationship. The drive signals for the N nozzles are then amplified to obtain the final N third drive signals driving the N nozzles.

[0192] In the printing method provided in this application embodiment, the accuracy of the printed ink droplet size can be improved by correcting the ink jet size data of the nozzle based on the adjustment of the driving voltage amplitude, thereby improving the printing accuracy. Furthermore, the ink jet size and impact position can be corrected simultaneously, improving the correction efficiency.

[0193] To better implement the printing method in the embodiments of this application, based on the printing method, the embodiments of this application also provide a printing system, such as... Figure 11 As shown, the printing system 400 includes at least one nozzle 410, a driver 420, a sensor 430, and a controller 440.

[0194] For example, at least one nozzle 410 can be understood as a nozzle to be calibrated. For instance, at least one nozzle 410 can be a row of nozzles in the same or different printheads, a column of nozzles in the same or different printheads, nozzles arranged according to a specific pattern in the same printhead, all normally used nozzles in the same printhead, or some or all of the nozzles in multiple printheads working together. The number of nozzles 410 is not limited. Figure 11 The example uses N nozzles and should not be interpreted as a limitation on the number of nozzles 410.

[0195] The driver 420 is used to drive at least one nozzle 410, such as by receiving a drive signal to drive at least one nozzle 410. The driver 420 can be in the form of a drive circuit to drive the nozzle 410, or it can be in the form of a drive chip to drive the nozzle 410. The number of nozzles 410 can be one, that is, at least one nozzle 410 can be driven through different pins of a single driver 420. The number of pins can be the same as the number of nozzles 410, which can improve driving accuracy and convenience. Of course, the number of pins can also be different from the number of nozzles 410, such as by using multiplexed pins to drive at least one nozzle 410, which can save on device setup and reduce costs.

[0196] The sensor 430 is used to detect feature information of at least one nozzle 410, such as the impact position of the ink droplets ejected by the nozzle, the size of the ink droplets ejected by the nozzle (e.g., volume), and the distribution position of the nozzle.

[0197] For example, sensor 430 can be a camera. The camera takes pictures of the test position to obtain ink droplet images or nozzle images, and then extracts features from the ink droplet images or nozzle images. After processing by controller 440, feature information of at least one nozzle 410 can be obtained.

[0198] Of course, sensor 430 can also be a laser-type coordinate measuring machine. This is just an example and should not be construed as a limitation on the type of sensor 430.

[0199] It should be noted that an ink droplet testing instrument can be designed to test the ejection characteristics or nozzle distribution information of at least one nozzle 410. The sensor 430 can be integrated into the ink droplet testing instrument. The ink droplet testing instrument can be a separate device, installed in the printing system 400 for use during testing, facilitating maintenance and replacement; alternatively, it can be integrated into the printing system 400 as a single component, reducing the difficulty of testing and increasing the intelligence level of the printing system 400.

[0200] The controller 440 is the data processing and control center of the printing system 400, controlling at least one nozzle 410 to operate according to preset rules. For example, the controller 440 is connected to both the driver 420 and the sensor 430, and is used to execute printing methods to calibrate at least one nozzle 410. For instance, the controller 440 acquires feature information of at least one nozzle 410 via the sensor 430, groups the at least one nozzle 410 according to the feature information to obtain at least one nozzle group, determines the driving parameters of each nozzle group, and controls each nozzle 410 to print based on the driving parameters and via the driver 420.

[0201] In one implementation, such as Figure 12 For example, controller 440 includes acquisition module 441, grouping module 442, determination module 443 and control module 444.

[0202] The acquisition module 441 is used to acquire feature information of at least one nozzle. In one implementation, the acquisition module 441 is further used to acquire an inkjet image of at least one nozzle, perform feature extraction on the inkjet image, and obtain feature information. The working process of the acquisition module 441, such as feature extraction of the inkjet image, can be referred to the description of the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0203] The grouping module 442 is used to group at least one nozzle according to feature information to obtain at least one nozzle group.

[0204] For example, the grouping module 442 includes a first grouping unit and / or a second grouping unit.

[0205] The first grouping unit is used to group at least one nozzle according to the actual inkjet position information and the target inkjet position information when the feature information includes the actual inkjet position information, so as to obtain at least one nozzle group.

[0206] The second grouping unit is used to group at least one nozzle according to a set number and the nozzle distribution information when the feature information includes nozzle distribution information, so as to obtain at least one nozzle group.

[0207] The working process of the first grouping unit and the second grouping unit can be referred to the description of the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0208] The determination module 443 is used to determine the driving parameters of each nozzle group.

[0209] For example, the determining module 443 is further configured to, for each nozzle group, determine the delay parameter, gain parameter, and wavelength parameter of the nozzle group based on the injection deviation distance information corresponding to each nozzle in the nozzle group; and determine the driving parameter of each nozzle group based on at least one of the delay parameter, gain parameter, and wavelength parameter. The working process of the determining module 443 can be referred to the above description, and will not be repeated here.

[0210] The control module 444 is used to control each nozzle to print according to each drive parameter.

[0211] For example, control module 444 includes an adjustment unit and a control unit.

[0212] The adjustment unit is used to adjust the drive signal of each nozzle in the nozzle group corresponding to each drive parameter according to each drive parameter.

[0213] The control unit is used to control the nozzle to print based on the adjusted new drive signal.

[0214] The working process of the adjustment unit and the control unit can be referred to the description of the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0215] For example, such as Figure 13 The controller 440 also includes a gain module 445, which includes an acquisition unit, a determination unit, and a gain control unit.

[0216] For example, the acquisition unit is used to acquire inkjet size data for at least one nozzle.

[0217] The determination unit is used to determine the gain parameters of each nozzle based on the inkjet size data.

[0218] The gain control unit is used to control each nozzle to print according to the gain parameters.

[0219] The working process of the acquisition unit, the determination unit, and the gain control unit can be referred to the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0220] In the printing system 400 of this application embodiment, at least one nozzle 410 is grouped by the feature information of at least one nozzle 410 obtained by the sensor 430, and the nozzle 410 is corrected according to the driving parameters of the nozzle group, which can improve printing accuracy.

[0221] Accordingly, this application also provides a printer (not shown in the figure), which is a piezoelectric printer. The printer integrates any of the printing systems provided in this application embodiment, and the printer includes:

[0222] One or more processors;

[0223] Memory; and

[0224] One or more applications, wherein the applications are stored in memory and configured to be executed by a processor from the steps of the printing method in any of the embodiments described above.

[0225] like Figure 14 As shown, it illustrates a schematic diagram of the printer involved in an embodiment of this application. Specifically:

[0226] The printer may include components such as a processor 510 with one or more processing cores, a memory 520 with one or more computer-readable storage media, a power supply 530, and an input unit 540. Those skilled in the art will understand that... Figure 14The printer structure shown does not constitute a limitation on the printer and may include more or fewer parts than shown, or combine certain parts, or have different arrangements of parts.

[0227] in:

[0228] The processor 510 is the control center of the printer, connecting various parts of the printer via various interfaces and lines. It performs various printer functions and processes data by running or executing software programs and / or modules stored in the memory 520, and by calling data stored in the memory 520, thereby providing overall monitoring of the printer. Optionally, the processor 510 may include one or more processing cores; preferably, the processor 510 may integrate an application processor and a modem processor, wherein the application processor mainly handles the operating system, user interface, and applications, and the modem processor mainly handles wireless communication. It is understood that the modem processor may also not be integrated into the processor 510.

[0229] The memory 520 can be used to store software programs and modules. The processor 510 executes various functional applications and data processing by running the software programs and modules stored in the memory 520. The memory 520 may mainly include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system, application programs required for at least one function (such as sound playback function, image playback function, etc.), etc.; the data storage area may store data created based on the use of the printer, etc. In addition, the memory 520 may include high-speed random access memory, and may also include non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, or other volatile solid-state storage device. Accordingly, the memory 520 may also include a memory controller to provide the processor 510 with access to the memory 520.

[0230] The printer also includes a power supply 530 that supplies power to the various components. Preferably, the power supply 530 is logically connected to the processor 510 through a power management system, thereby enabling functions such as charging, discharging, and power consumption management through the power management system. The power supply 530 may also include one or more DC or AC power supplies, recharging systems, power fault detection circuits, power converters or inverters, power status indicators, and other arbitrary components.

[0231] The printer may also include an input unit 540, which can be used to receive input digital or character information and generate keyboard, mouse, joystick, optical or trackball signal inputs related to user settings and function control.

[0232] Although not shown, the printer may also include a display unit, etc., which will not be described in detail here. Specifically, in this embodiment, the processor 510 in the printer loads the executable files corresponding to the processes of one or more applications into the memory 520 according to the following instructions, and the processor 510 runs the applications stored in the memory 520 to realize various functions, as follows:

[0233] Obtain feature information for at least one nozzle;

[0234] The at least one nozzle is grouped according to the feature information to obtain at least one nozzle group;

[0235] Determine the drive parameters for each nozzle group;

[0236] Each nozzle is controlled to print according to the driving parameters described herein.

[0237] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps in the various methods of the above embodiments can be performed by instructions, or by instructions controlling related hardware. These instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium and loaded and executed by a processor.

[0238] Therefore, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium, which may include: read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, etc. A computer program is stored thereon, and the computer program is loaded by a processor to execute the steps in any of the printing methods provided in embodiments of this application. For example, the computer program loaded by the processor can execute the following steps:

[0239] Obtain feature information for at least one nozzle;

[0240] The at least one nozzle is grouped according to the feature information to obtain at least one nozzle group;

[0241] Determine the drive parameters for each nozzle group;

[0242] Each nozzle is controlled to print according to the driving parameters described herein.

[0243] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the detailed descriptions of other embodiments above, which will not be repeated here.

[0244] In practice, each of the above units or structures can be implemented as an independent entity or can be arbitrarily combined to be implemented as the same or several entities. For the specific implementation of each of the above units or structures, please refer to the previous method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0245] For details on the implementation of each of the above operations, please refer to the previous examples, which will not be repeated here.

[0246] The foregoing has provided a detailed description of a printing method, system, and printer provided in the embodiments of this application. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of the embodiments above are only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this application. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the ideas of this application. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

Claims

1. A printing method, characterized in that, include: Obtain feature information for at least one nozzle; The at least one nozzle is grouped according to the feature information to obtain at least one nozzle group; Determine the drive parameters for each nozzle group; Each nozzle is controlled to print according to the driving parameters described herein.

2. The printing method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The acquisition of feature information of at least one nozzle includes: Acquire an inkjet image of the at least one nozzle; Feature extraction is performed on the inkjet image to obtain feature information.

3. The printing method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of grouping the at least one nozzle according to the feature information to obtain at least one nozzle group includes: When the feature information includes actual inkjet position information, the at least one nozzle is grouped according to the actual inkjet position information and the target inkjet position information of each nozzle to obtain at least one nozzle group; and / or When the feature information includes nozzle distribution information, the at least one nozzle is grouped according to a set number and the nozzle distribution information to obtain at least one nozzle group.

4. The printing method according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the feature information includes actual inkjet position information, the at least one nozzle is grouped according to the actual inkjet position information and the target inkjet position information of each nozzle to obtain at least one nozzle group, including: When the feature information includes actual inkjet position information, the jetting deviation distance information of each nozzle is determined based on the actual inkjet position information and the target inkjet position information of each nozzle; The at least one nozzle is grouped according to the spray deviation distance information of each nozzle to obtain at least one nozzle group.

5. The printing method according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the feature information includes nozzle distribution information, the process of grouping the at least one nozzle according to a set quantity and the nozzle distribution information to obtain at least one nozzle group includes: When the feature information includes nozzle distribution information, a target nozzle is selected from the at least one nozzle as a nozzle group according to a set number, the nozzle distribution information and a preset screening strategy. The preset filtering strategy includes at least one of adjacent, interval, or random selection.

6. The printing method according to claim 3, characterized in that, Determining the driving parameters for each nozzle group includes: For each nozzle group, the delay parameter, gain parameter and wavelength parameter of the nozzle group are determined based on the spray deviation distance information of each nozzle in the nozzle group; The driving parameters for each nozzle group are determined based on at least one of the delay parameter, the gain parameter, and the wavelength parameter.

7. The printing method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of controlling each nozzle to print according to each of the driving parameters includes: According to each of the driving parameters, adjust the driving signal of each nozzle in the nozzle group corresponding to the driving parameter; The nozzle is controlled to print based on the adjusted new drive signal.

8. The printing method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The printing method further includes: Obtain the inkjet size data of the at least one nozzle; The gain parameters of each nozzle are determined based on the inkjet size data; The nozzles are controlled to print according to the gain parameters.

9. A printing system, characterized in that, include: At least one nozzle; A driver, electrically connected to the at least one nozzle, the driver being used to drive the at least one nozzle; A sensor is used to detect characteristic information of the at least one nozzle; The controller is connected to the driver and the sensor respectively. The controller is used to acquire the feature information of the at least one nozzle through the sensor, and to group the at least one nozzle according to the feature information to obtain at least one nozzle group, determine the driving parameters of each nozzle group, and control each nozzle to print based on the driving parameters and through the driver.

10. The printing system according to claim 9, characterized in that, The controller includes: A grouping module is configured to, when the feature information includes actual inkjet position information, group the at least one nozzle according to the actual inkjet position information and the target inkjet position information of each nozzle to obtain at least one nozzle group; and / or When the feature information includes nozzle distribution information, the at least one nozzle is grouped according to a set number and the nozzle distribution information to obtain at least one nozzle group. A determination module, connected to the grouping module, is used to determine the delay parameter, gain parameter, and wavelength parameter of each nozzle group based on the injection deviation distance information corresponding to each nozzle in the nozzle group; and to determine the driving parameter of each nozzle group based on at least one of the delay parameter, the gain parameter, and the wavelength parameter.

11. The printing system according to claim 10, characterized in that, The controller also includes: A control module, connected to the determining module, is used to adjust the drive signal of each nozzle in the nozzle group corresponding to each drive parameter according to the drive parameter.

12. The printing system according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that, The controller further includes a gain module, which is used to acquire inkjet size data of the at least one nozzle; determine gain parameters for each nozzle based on the inkjet size data; and control each nozzle to print according to the gain parameters.

13. A printer, characterized in that, Including the printing system as described in any one of claims 9 to 12.

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