Daisy-Chain Ink-Jet Head Serial Data Transfer Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In ink-jet recording apparatuses with daisy-chain-connected recording head units, existing technologies face delays in data transfer, making real-time operation and high-speed recording difficult due to the need for serial data to be converted through shift registers, leading to increased circuit complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A data transfer system with serial/parallel conversion sections and identification information management allows direct output of serial data to subsequent devices, converting it to parallel data for essential signal selection and processing, enabling efficient data transfer without delay across daisy-chain-connected head drive control sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If serial data is transferred through shift registers in daisy-chain-connected recording head units, then data can be distributed to multiple heads, but large delay occurs and real-time operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the data transfer path into multiple independent parallel channels, with each recording head unit having its own data input terminal that receives serial data directly from the host apparatus. This segmentation eliminates the sequential bottleneck of shift registers by allowing simultaneous data distribution to multiple heads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a bypass mechanism that allows serial data to be transmitted directly to each recording head unit without passing through the shift register intermediary. This direct connection acts as an alternative pathway that eliminates the delay caused by the traditional shift register mediation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of recording head units increases with daisy-chain connection, then more recording positions are available, but the number of connectors and transmission lines increases leading to larger circuit scale and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal data input interface where each recording head unit is equipped with its own data input terminal that can directly receive serial data. This multi-functional design allows any number of head units to be connected in daisy-chain while maintaining a consistent, simplified interface standard, eliminating the need for increasing numbers of connectors and complex wiring as systems expand.
3Productivity
If image data is transferred through shift register to each recording head, then data reaches all heads, but operation must wait until data is completely transferred making high-speed operation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary data transmission by allowing the host apparatus to send serial data to multiple recording head units simultaneously at the beginning of the recording operation. Each head unit receives and buffers its designated data in advance, eliminating the need to wait for sequential shift register transmission to complete before starting recording operations.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An ink-jet recording apparatus, including plural ink-jet head units which are daisy-chain-connected to a control section and eject ink; and the control section which sends serial driving data to the plural ink-jet head units, wherein each ink-jet head unit includes a head drive control section, which includes: a serial/parallel conversion section which converts the serial driving data inputted from a preceding ink-jet head unit to parallel driving data, and sends the parallel driving data to a post-ceding ink-jet head unit; an identification information setting section which sets identification information for selecting a signal essential to drive the ink-jet head unit, a data extracting section which selects the signal essential to drive the ink-jet head unit, based on identification information, and a data processing section which conducts process for driving the ink-jet head unit, by the signal essential to drive the ink-jet head unit selected by the data extracting section.