LED Print-Head Driver With Process Direction Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
LED print-heads suffer from process direction profile variability, leading to image misalignment and quality issues, which existing compensation methods address at the expense of increased processing overhead and complexity.
Innovation Solution
Integration of configurable print delay within LED driver chips, allowing for 'line' and 'sub-line' process direction profile compensation, reducing effective misalignment without additional processing overhead by loading print delay values into memory and using real-time print data compensation circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If process direction profile compensation is implemented using existing methods, then image alignment quality is improved, but processing overhead and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the process direction profile compensation function with the LED driver chip by integrating a delay circuit directly into the driver architecture. This merging eliminates the need for separate compensation processing, thereby improving image alignment quality without increasing overall system complexity or processing overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The LED driver chip performs self-compensation for process direction profile variations through its internal delay circuit. Each LED array chip automatically adjusts its timing based on stored delay values, enabling the system to correct alignment issues without requiring external processing intervention, thus maintaining low complexity while achieving high precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If process direction profile compensation is implemented, then effective misalignment is reduced, but additional processing overhead is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing optimal delay values for each LED array chip in memory during the manufacturing process. These pre-computed compensation values are then directly applied during operation without requiring real-time calculation, thereby reducing effective misalignment while minimizing processing overhead and time loss.
3Measurement precision
If real-time print data compensation is implemented, then process direction profile variability is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the compensation function by implementing separate delay circuits for each LED array chip rather than a centralized compensation system. This segmentation allows each chip to independently adjust its timing based on pre-stored delay values, reducing process direction profile variability while keeping individual chip complexity low and avoiding the need for complex real-time coordination across the entire array.
Data Source
AI summary
A light emitting diode (LED) print head arranged to receive a set of raw print data. The print head includes a plurality of LED array chips each having a plurality of LEDs, wherein each LED of the plurality of LEDs includes a process direction position. The print head further includes at least one matrix drive circuit arranged to control activation of the plurality of LEDs in response to the set of raw print data and at least one real-time print data compensation circuit, wherein the at least one real-time print data compensation circuit receives the set of raw print data and delays transmitting the set of raw print data to the at least one matrix drive circuit based on a relative relationship between the process direction position of each LED.