Inkjet Printhead Control via Dot Counting for Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing apparatuses face challenges in maintaining image quality while limiting power consumption, as increased power demands lead to higher costs and larger sizes, and existing methods to reduce power consumption can result in decreased throughput and image degradation.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus that counts the outputs of printing elements in the printhead, sets a wait time or divides the printing data based on a threshold, allowing for efficient power management without degrading image quality by maintaining consistent scan speed across scans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the multi-element arrangement of printing elements is increased to cope with high-speed printing demand, then printing speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The printing data is divided into multiple pieces and printed through multiple scans instead of printing all data in one scan. This segmentation of the printing process allows the printhead to operate at lower power levels across multiple passes rather than requiring high power in a single pass, thus maintaining printing speed while reducing peak power consumption demands
2Use of energy by moving object
If the scan speed of the carriage is reduced or printing is performed by multiple scans to limit power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The printing data is analyzed in advance to count the number of printing dots, and based on this analysis, the data is divided into appropriate number of scans. This preliminary analysis allows optimization of the printing process before execution, ensuring that power consumption is controlled while maintaining efficient throughput by determining the optimal number of scans needed
3Use of energy by moving object
If printing data is divided into multiple scans to limit power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but image quality may degrade
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a printing dot count function that analyzes the printing data to count the number of dots that will be printed. This feedback information is used to determine the optimal division of printing data into multiple scans, ensuring that image quality is maintained while power consumption is controlled. The wait time function also provides feedback control by adjusting timing based on the printing dot count
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a control apparatus that comprises at least one processor and at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor. The at least one memory stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to count data representing outputs of a plurality of printing elements of a printhead in printing data used in one scan of the printhead of an inkjet printing apparatus, and based on a threshold and a printing dot count representing a sum of the data counted in the printing data, set at least one of (a) a wait time after printing according to the printing data or some of the printing data, and (b) division of the printing data.