Method and apparatus to oppose a short circuit failure mechanism in a printer drive circuit
US6621676B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 2001 |
| Grant date | Sep 16, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 30, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/0458
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method of use opposes a short circuit failure mode in a printer having a printhead controller circuit driving an address bus connected to two or more printheads. A failure protection circuit associates one resistor group with each address line within the address bus that extends into at least two printheads. In particular, one address line resistor is placed in series between the address lead extending from a head driver IC within the printhead controller circuit and each printhead into which the address line extends. Where an address line shorts, the associated address line resistor protects the head driver IC from the short, allowing it to control the voltage potential of that address line in any printhead that has not failed. The user is then able to identify and replace the non-functioning printhead.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.