Printhead Control Circuit Data Requests for Faster Print Data Flow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming systems face inefficiencies in data transmission due to the need for a receiver board unit to wait for busy signal indications from distributor board units before transmitting print data, leading to potential delays and suboptimal data flow.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a main controlling circuit and a subsidiary controlling circuit group that includes multiple subsidiary controlling circuits, where data transfer requests are determined based on outgoing and incoming data volumes, allowing for efficient data transmission through coordinated data requests and transfers among the circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the receiver board unit waits for a busy signal from the distributor board unit before transmitting print data, then data transmission reliability is improved, but data transmission time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor board unit proactively transmits busy signals before actually receiving print data. This preliminary action allows the receiver board unit to prepare for data transmission in advance, eliminating the need to wait for capacity confirmation and reducing transmission delays while maintaining reliability through the busy signal mechanism
2Speed
If the receiver board unit transmits print data as soon as possible, then data transmission speed is improved, but data transmission reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the distributor board unit continuously monitors its capacity and sends busy signals to the receiver board unit. This feedback loop allows the receiver board unit to transmit data as soon as capacity is available, achieving high transmission speed while maintaining reliability through the coordinated busy signal protocol
3Productivity
If the subsidiary controlling circuit transmits data-transfer requests based on data volume calculations, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The controlling circuit is divided into multiple independent subsidiary controlling circuits, each responsible for managing data transmission to specific heads. Each segment independently calculates data volumes and manages its own transmission requests, which simplifies the overall system architecture while improving data transmission efficiency through parallel processing and localized control
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a main controlling circuit, a subsidiary controlling circuit group, and heads. The subsidiary controlling circuit group includes a plurality of subsidiary controlling circuits, including a first subsidiary controlling circuit and a second subsidiary controlling circuit connected with one another serially, and is configured to transmit print data received from the main controlling circuit from upstream to downstream. The first subsidiary controlling circuit is configured to, based on a volume of outgoing data to be transmitted to one of the heads and a volume of incoming data from the second subsidiary controlling circuit, determine whether a first data-transfer request is to be transmitted to the second subsidiary controlling circuit, and based on a determination that the first data-transfer request is to be transmitted, transmit the first data-transfer request to the second subsidiary controlling circuit.