Integrated Circuit Customization Bits for Flexible Inkjet Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet printing systems lack flexibility in customizing the behavior of integrated circuits for different geographic regions, subscription or non-subscription customers, or other reasons, necessitating separate fabrication and management of multiple physical circuits.
Innovation Solution
Integrated circuits with non-volatile memory cells storing customization bits that modify address inputs and configure operations, allowing a single circuit to behave differently by summing customization bits with address streams and using control logic to manage access and inversion of data streams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple physical integrated circuits are fabricated to serve different geographic regions or customer types, then customization capability is improved, but device complexity and management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single integrated circuit design serves multiple functions by incorporating non-volatile memory cells that store customization bits. These bits enable the circuit to adapt its behavior for different geographic regions, subscription types, and applications without requiring physically different circuits. The circuit becomes universal, replacing what would otherwise require multiple specialized circuit variants.
Solution Approach 2:
Customization bits are programmed into non-volatile memory cells during manufacturing or initialization, before the circuit enters service. This preliminary configuration establishes the circuit's specific behavior pattern upfront, allowing it to function correctly for its intended application without requiring later reconfiguration or complex runtime decision-making.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple physical integrated circuits are fabricated for different applications, then operational flexibility is improved, but manufacturing cost and inventory management worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated circuit is designed as a universal platform that can serve multiple applications through software-like configuration via customization bits. This eliminates the need to fabricate and manage separate physical circuit designs for different applications, reducing manufacturing complexity and inventory requirements while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit's operational parameters are changed by modifying the state of customization bits in non-volatile memory, rather than by creating physically different circuits. This allows a single manufacturing process to produce circuits that can be configured for different applications through parameter changes alone, significantly simplifying production and inventory management.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single integrated circuit is used for all applications, then manufacturing and management are simplified, but adaptability to different regions and customer types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit is preliminarily configured with customization bits during manufacturing that determine its specific behavior pattern. This preliminary action enables the single circuit design to adapt to different regions and customer types without requiring complex runtime configuration or multiple physical variants.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating multiple physical circuit copies for different applications, the invention uses a single physical circuit design that is logically copied or replicated through different customization bit configurations. This allows the same hardware to emulate multiple specialized circuit behaviors.
Data Source
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AI summary
An integrated circuit to drive a plurality of fluid actuation devices includes a plurality of first non-volatile memory cells and control logic. Each first non-volatile memory cell stores a customization bit. The control logic configures an operation of the integrated circuit based on the customization bits.