초록 ▼

A system and method are provided for selectively warming a printhead in response to a relatively sudden change in one or more operating conditions of a printer. These operating conditions may include, for example, duty cycle, print density, print speed, and the like, which can be empirically detecte

A system and method are provided for selectively warming a printhead in response to a relatively sudden change in one or more operating conditions of a printer. These operating conditions may include, for example, duty cycle, print density, print speed, and the like, which can be empirically detected, calculated, or predicted. Because sudden changes in printing conditions generally do not occur frequently, the printhead will not be warmed at all for much of its operating time. This reduces dramatic fluctuations in drop volume, to prevent thermal banding, while not maintaining the printhead at an undesirably high temperature.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A printhead control system comprising:a printer operating condition sensor, said sensor outputting a present value for an operating condition within a printer; a memory storing at least one historical value for the operating condition; and a controller coupled to the printer operating condition s

1. A printhead control system comprising:a printer operating condition sensor, said sensor outputting a present value for an operating condition within a printer; a memory storing at least one historical value for the operating condition; and a controller coupled to the printer operating condition sensor and the memory, the controller sensing an amount of change in the operating condition between the present and historical values, the controller further initiating warming of a printhead in the printer in response to the sensed amount of change.