Linear LED Array Segmentation for Digital Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital printing systems with linear LED arrays face limitations in data rate due to minimal wiring, restricting achievable widths and speeds, and suffer from high power consumption and thermal issues due to high clock frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A linear array of light emitting semiconductor components with a plurality of data buses and auxiliary buses, where each component is uniquely identified by its membership in orthogonal subsets, allowing efficient instruction distribution and reducing wiring requirements, enabling longer array assemblies and higher printing widths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a limited number of 8-bit parallel input interfaces are used to supply light pattern data to adjacent light emitting semiconductor components, then wiring requirements are minimized, but the achievable data rate is severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light emitting semiconductor components into multiple subsets (first plurality of subsets and second plurality of subsets) that form orthogonal partitions. Each subset is connected to dedicated data buses, allowing parallel data transmission to multiple components simultaneously. This segmentation enables the system to maintain minimal wiring while significantly increasing the achievable data rate by distributing data across multiple independent communication channels.
2Productivity
If high clock frequencies are used to increase printing speed, then productivity is improved, but power consumption and thermal issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary address allocation where each light emitting semiconductor component is assigned a unique address during initialization. This preliminary action allows subsequent data transmission to proceed efficiently without requiring high clock frequencies for addressing, as the components can directly process data based on their pre-assigned addresses. This reduces the need for high-frequency clocking and consequently lowers power consumption and thermal generation while maintaining high printing speeds.
3Device complexity
If a store-and-forward scheme is used to shift data from one component to the next, then wiring is minimized, but data transmission efficiency is severely reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dimensional change in data transmission by using orthogonal partitions of light emitting semiconductor components into multiple subsets connected to separate data buses. Instead of a single-dimensional sequential data shift, the system enables multi-dimensional parallel data transmission where multiple subsets receive data simultaneously through independent buses. This dimensional expansion maintains wiring minimality while dramatically reducing data transmission time and improving overall efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for greater printing widths up to 1 meter while maintaining high speeds, reduces wiring needs, and minimizes thermal stresses by optimizing data distribution and addressing, thus enhancing the lifespan and efficiency of the printing apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a linear array of light emitting semiconductor components for use in a digital printing apparatus, each light emitting semiconductor component comprising a driver and at least one light emitting device
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an array of light emitting semiconductor components for use in a digital printer. Each component includes a driver and at least one light emitting device. The array includes data buses connecting to first subsets of components, forming a first partition of said component. The array further includes auxiliary buses connecting to second subsets of components, forming a second partition of the components. The first partition and the second partition are chosen such that each component can be uniquely identified by the subset of the first and second partition to which it belongs. The data buses are configured to supply instructions to the first subsets of components. Each component is configured to extract instructions on the basis of its membership of a particular subset according to the second partition.