Print head substrate, print head using the same, and printing apparatus

Abstract

The present invention is directed to resolve the noise problem with the ink in an ink jet head without changing the substrate manufacturing process for the ink jet head, that is, increasing the cost on the manufacture, and without needs of disposing a noise countermeasure component on the side of the printer main device, or making the design change for the countermeasure. The present invention is characterized in that to prevent malfunction from arising by the noise, a hysteresis circuit to provide different input data threshold values upon rising and falling is provided on an input portion of the signal for a drive control logic system such as a drive input signal for a shift register and a latch circuit on the same substrate as that of the heating elements, the driver and the drive control logic circuit, utilizing a diffusion layer constituting a driver.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A print head substrate, comprising:
 a plurality of recording elements; 
 a driver for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with image data; 
 an input portion for inputting a pulse width definition signal to define a width of a driving pulse pulses to be applied respectively to said plurality of recording elements; 
 driving means for dividing said plurality of recording elements into blocks, each of said blocks consisting of a predetermined number of said plurality of recording elements greater than 2 for a time-division driving of each said block as a unit; and 
 an integration circuit comprising a resistive component and a capacitive component for producing, corresponding to an input of the pulse width definition signal, a plurality of drive pulses, for applying said driving pulses having the width defined by said pulse width definition signal to at least some of said plurality of recording elements in said a block of said blocks, the plurality of drive pulses being shifted by predetermined interval by a predetermined interval from one another, by a delay in rise of the drive pulses due to the resistive component and the capacitive component, wherein said driving pulses are applied to the least some of said plurality of recording elements in the block at a timing corresponding to the plurality of drive pulses shifted from one another. 
 
     
     
       2. A print head substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of recording elements comprise heating elements for generating heat energy as a consequence of the driving pulse pulses. 
     
     
       3. A print head substrate according to  claim 2 , wherein said print head substrate is used in a print head of an ink jet system for discharging an ink using said heating elements. 
     
     
       4. A print head substrate according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a shift register for outputting serially input image data in parallel format; and 
 a latch circuit for temporarily storing data output from said shift register. 
 
     
     
       5. A print head substrate according to  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of recording elements, said driver, said input portion, said driving means, said shift register, and said latch circuit are formed on said print head substrate through a film formation process, and wherein said integration circuit has a form of a CR integration circuit constituted of a the resistive component of a diffusion layer used in a film configuration of said driver, and a the capacitive component utilizing utilizes a gate oxide film used in the film configuration of a drive control logic system including said shift register and said latch circuit. 
     
     
       6. A print head substrate according to  claim 4 , wherein said driver is formed through a film formation process, said integration circuit being formed simultaneously in said film formation process. 
     
     
       7. A print head substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein said pulse width definition signal is inputted correspondingly to the driving per each of said blocks, and recording elements of the a selected block is are driven by plural drive pulses produced by said integration circuit. 
     
     
       8. A print head substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein said integration circuit is formed in a line of said pulse width definition signal. 
     
     
       9. A print head substrate, comprising:
 a plurality of recording elements; 
 a driver for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with an image data; 
 a current input portion receiving the current for supplying to said plurality of recording elements; 
 a drive control logic system outputting the an input image signal to said driver for controlling the driving of the plurality of recording elements; 
 a signal input portion receiving the a signal for inputting to said drive control logic system; and 
 a hysteresis circuit comprising a resistor for preventing the current inputted to said current input portion from influencing said signal arranged on the signal input portion for the signal of said drive control logic system, wherein a threshold value of the signal inputted into said drive control logic system may be defined by the hysteresis circuit is different depending upon whether the signal is rising or falling, 
 wherein the resistor of the hysteresis circuit is made of a resistive component of a diffusion layer used in a film configuration of said driver. 
 
     
     
       10. A print head substrate according to  claim 9 , wherein said input portion and a block selection means are formed on said print head substrate through a film formation process, wherein said print head substrate further comprises an integration circuit having a form of a CR integration circuit constituted of a resistive component of a diffusion layer used in a the film configuration of said driver, and a capacitive component utilizing a gate oxide film used in the film configuration of a said drive control logic system, said drive control logic system including said a shift register and said a latch circuit, said CR integration circuit being formed simultaneously with said hysteresis circuit in said film formation process. 
     
     
       11. A print head substrate according to  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of recording elements comprise heating elements for generating heat energy as a consequence of the a driving pulse. 
     
     
       12. A print head substrate according to  claim 11 , wherein said print head substrate is used in a print head of an ink jet system for discharging an ink using said heating elements. 
     
     
       13. A print head substrate according to  claim 9 , wherein the signal inputted into said drive control logic system includes a signal of the image data inputted into said a shift register. 
     
     
       14. A print head substrate according to  claim 9 , wherein the signal inputted into said drive control logic system includes a latch signal inputted for controlling a latch circuit. 
     
     
       15. A print head substrate according to  claim 9 , wherein said drive control logic system includes block selecting means for driving said plurality of recording elements by blocks, each of said blocks consisting of a predetermined number of said recording elements for a time-division driving of each said block as a unit, and wherein a signal inputted into said drive control logic system includes a signal for selecting each of said blocks. 
     
     
       16. A print head substrate according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an input portion for receiving a pulse width definition signal for defining a width of a driving pulse applied to said plurality of recording elements, 
 wherein said hysteresis circuit sets a threshold value of said pulse width definition signal so that the threshold value differs depending upon whether the signal is rising or falling. 
 
     
     
       17. A print head substrate according to  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of recording elements, said driver, said a shift register, and said a latch circuit are formed on said print head substrate through a film formation process, and said hysteresis circuit has a form of a resistor made of a resistive component of a diffusion layer used in a film configuration of said driver, said resistor of the hysteresis circuit being formed simultaneously in said film formation process. 
     
     
       18. A print head substrate according to  claim 17 , wherein there are further formed, on said print head substrate,: 
 an input portion for inputting of a pulse width definition signal defining a width of a driving pulse pulses applied to said heating elements and of said recording elements;  
 block selecting means for driving said recording elements by blocks, each of said blocks consisting of a predetermined number of said recording elements for time-division driving of each said block as a unit, the print head substrate comprising; and  
 an integration circuit in a line of said pulse width definition signal to shift the timing of said driving pulse to be applied to the heating elements within a block selected by said block selecting means. 
 
     
     
       19. A print head substrate according to  claim 9 , said drive control logic system further comprising:
 a shift register for outputting serially input image data in parallel format; and 
 a latch circuit for temporarily storing data output from said shift register. 
 
     
     
       20. An ink jet head, comprising:
 a print head substrate, comprising;:  
 a plurality of recording elements,;  
 a driver for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with an image data,;  
 an input portion for inputting a pulse width definition signal to define a width of a driving pulse pulses to be applied respectively to said plurality of recording elements,;  
 driving means for dividing said plurality of recording elements into blocks, each of said blocks consisting of a predetermined number of said recording elements greater than 2 for a time-division driving of each said block as a unit,; and  
 an integration circuit comprising a resistive component and a capacitive component for producing, corresponding to an input of the pulse width definition signal, a plurality of drive pulses, for applying said driving pulses having a width defined by said pulse width definition signal to at least two of said plurality of recording elements in said a block of the blocks, the plurality of drive pulses being shifted by predetermined interval by a predetermined interval from one another, by a delay in rise of the drive pulses due to the resistive component and the capacitive component, wherein said driving pulses are applied to the at least two of said plurality of recording elements in the block at a timing corresponding to the plurality of drive pulses shifted from one another; and 
 an orifice for emitting an ink as a consequence of energy generated by at least one said recording element. 
 
     
     
       21. An ink jet head according to  claim 20 , wherein said plurality of recording elements comprise heating elements for generating heat energy as a consequence of the driving pulse pulses. 
     
     
       22. An ink jet head according to  claim 21 , wherein said print head substrate is used in a print head of an ink jet system for discharging an ink using said heating elements. 
     
     
       23. A print apparatus, comprising:
 an ink jet head according to  claim 20 ; and 
 means for mounting and reciprocating an said ink jet head. 
 
     
     
       24. An ink jet head, comprising:
 a print head substrate, comprising;:  
 a plurality of recording elements; 
 a driver for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with an image data; 
 a current input portion receiving the current for supplying to said plurality of recording elements; 
 a drive control logic system outputting the an input image signal to said driver for controlling the driving of the plurality of recording elements; 
 a signal input portion receiving the a signal for inputting to said drive control logic system; and 
 a hysteresis circuit comprising a resistor for preventing the current inputted to said current input portion from influencing said signal arranged on the signal input portion for the signal of said drive control logic system, wherein a threshold value of the signal inputted into said drive control logic system may be defined by the hysteresis circuit is different depending upon whether the signal is rising or falling; and 
 an orifice for emitting an ink as a consequence of energy generated by at least one said recording element, 
 wherein the resistor of the hysteresis circuit is made of a resistive component of a diffusion layer used in a film configuration of said driver. 
 
     
     
       25. An ink jet head according to either of  claims 24  and  19  claim 24, wherein said plurality of recording elements comprise heating elements for generating heat energy as a consequence of the a driving pulse. 
     
     
       26. An ink jet head according to either of  claims 24  and  19  claim 24, wherein said print head substrate is used in a print head of an ink jet system for discharging an ink using said heating elements of the plurality of recording elements. 
     
     
       27. An ink jet head, comprising:
 a plurality of recording elements,;  
 a driver for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with an image data,;  
 a current input portion receiving the current for supplying to said plurality of recording elements; 
 a drive control logic system outputting the an input image signal to said driver for controlling the driving of the plurality of recording elements; 
 a signal input portion receiving the a signal for inputting to said drive control logic system; and 
 a hysteresis circuit comprising a resistor for preventing the current inputted to said current input portion from influencing said signal arranged on the signal input portion for the signal of said drive control logic system, wherein a threshold value of the signal inputted into said drive control logic system may be defined by the hysteresis circuit is different depending upon whether the signal is rising or falling; and 
 an orifice for emitting an ink as a consequence of the energy generated by at least one said recording element, 
 wherein the resistor of the hysteresis circuit is made of a resistive component of a diffusion layer used in a film configuration of said driver. 
 
     
     
       28. An ink jet head according to  claim 27 , said drive control logic system further comprising:
 a shift register for outputting serially input image data in parallel format; 
 and a latch circuit for temporarily storing data output from said shift register. 
 
     
     
       29. An ink jet head according to either of  claims 24  and  28  claim 24, wherein the signal inputted into said drive control logic system includes a signal of the image data inputted into said a shift register of the drive control logic system. 
     
     
       30. An ink jet head according to either of  claims 24  and  28  claim 24, wherein the signal inputted into said drive control logic system includes a latch signal inputted for controlling a latch circuit. 
     
     
       31. An ink jet head according to either of  claims 24  and  28  claim 24 or claim 28, wherein said drive control logic system includes block selecting means for driving said plurality of recording elements by blocks, each of said blocks consisting of a predetermined number of said recording elements for a time-division driving of each said block as a unit, and wherein a the signal inputted into said drive control logic system includes a signal for selecting each of said blocks. 
     
     
       32. An ink jet head according to either of  claims 24  and  28  claim 24 or 28, further comprising:
 an input portion for receiving a pulse width definition signal for defining a width of a driving pulse applied to said recording elements, 
 wherein said hysteresis circuit sets a threshold value of said pulse width definition signal so that the threshold value differs depending upon whether the pulse width definition signal is rising or falling. 
 
     
     
       33. A print apparatus, comprising:
 an ink jet head according to  claim 27 ; and 
 means for mounting and reciprocating an said ink jet head. 
 
     
     
       34. A print apparatus according to  claim 33 , further comprising:
 means for supplying said signal. 
 
     
     
       35. A print apparatus according to either of  claims 33  and  34  claim 33 or 34, wherein said recording elements comprise heating elements for generating heat energy as a consequence of the a driving pulse. 
     
     
       36. A print-apparatus according to  claim 33 , said drive control logic system further comprising:
 a shift register for outputting serially input image data in parallel format; and 
 a latch circuit for temporarily storing data output from said shift register. 
 
     
     
       37. A print head substrate according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of recording elements comprise heating elements for generating heat energy as a consequence of a driving pulse. 
     
     
       38. A print head substrate according to claim 19, wherein said print head substrate is used in a print head of an ink jet system for discharging ink using heating elements of the plurality of recording elements. 
     
     
       39. An ink jet head according to claim 28, wherein the signal inputted into said drive control logic system includes a signal of the image data inputted into said shift register. 
     
     
       40. An ink jet head according to claim 28, wherein the signal inputted into said drive control logic system includes a latch signal inputted for controlling the latch circuit. 
     
     
       41. A print head substrate, comprising:
 a plurality of recording elements;   a driver for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with image data;   an input portion for inputting a pulse width definition signal to define a width of driving pulses to be applied respectively to said plurality of recording elements;   driving means for dividing said plurality of recording elements into blocks, each of said blocks consisting of a predetermined number of said plurality of recording elements, greater than 2, for a time-division driving of each said block as a unit; and   a delaying circuit for producing, corresponding to an input of the pulse width definition signal, a plurality of drive pulses, for applying said driving pulses having the width defined by said pulse width definition signal to at least some of said plurality of recording elements in a block of said blocks,   the plurality of drive pulses being shifted by a predetermined interval from one another, by a delay in rise of the drive pulses due to the electrical resistance and electrical capacitance in the delaying circuit, wherein said driving pulses are applied to at least some of said plurality of recording elements in the block at a timing corresponding to the plurality of drive pulses shifted from one another.   
     
     
       42. A print head substrate according to claim 41, wherein said driving pulses are applied to at least two of said plurality of recording elements in the block at a timing such that driving periods of the at least two of said predetermined number of said plurality of recording elements in the block are partially overlapped with each other. 
     
     
       43. A print head substrate according to claim 41, wherein the plurality of drive pulses are shifted by a predetermined interval from one another such that HIGH state periods of the plurality of drive pulses are partially overlapped with each other. 
     
     
       44. A print head substrate according to claim 41, wherein the delaying circuit is in a line of the pulse width definition signal electrically connected to the input portion. 
     
     
       45. A print head substrate according to claim 44, wherein said plurality of recording elements comprise heating elements for generating heat energy as a consequence of the driving pulses. 
     
     
       46. A print head substrate according to claim 45, wherein said print head substrate is used in a print head of an ink jet system for discharging an ink using said heating elements. 
     
     
       47. A print head substrate according to claim 44, further comprising:
 a shift register for outputting serially input image data in parallel format; and   a latch circuit for temporarily storing data output from said shift register.   
     
     
       48. A print head substrate according to claim 47, wherein said plurality of recording elements, said driver, said input portion, said driving means, said shift register, and said latch circuit are formed on said print head substrate through a film formation process, and wherein said delaying circuit has a form of a CR integration circuit constituted of a resistive component of a diffusion layer used in a film configuration of said driver, and a capacitive component utilizes a gate oxide film used in the film configuration of a drive control logic system including said shift register and said latch circuit. 
     
     
       49. A print head substrate according to claim 47, wherein said driver is formed through a film formation process, said delaying circuit being formed simultaneously in said film formation process. 
     
     
       50. A print head substrate according to claim 44, wherein said pulse width definition signal is inputted correspondingly to the driving per each of said blocks, and recording elements of a selected block are driven by plural drive pulses produced by said delaying circuit. 
     
     
       51. A print head substrate according to claim 41, wherein at least two of the plurality of drive pulses are shifted by a predetermined interval from one another such that at least two of the plurality of drive pulses are partially overlapped with each other. 
     
     
       52. A print head substrate, comprising:
 a plurality of recording elements;   a driver for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with image data;   an input portion for inputting a pulse width definition signal to define a width of driving pulses to be applied respectively to said plurality of recording elements;   driving means for dividing said plurality of recording elements into blocks, each of said blocks consisting of at least some of said plurality of recording elements greater in number than 2, for a time-division driving of each said block as a unit; and   a delaying circuit for producing, corresponding to an input of the pulse width definition signal, a plurality of drive pulses, for applying said driving pulses having the width defined by said pulse width definition signal to at least some of said plurality of recording elements in a block of said blocks, the plurality of drive pulses being shifted by a predetermined interval from one another, by a delay in rise of the drive pulses due to electrical resistance and electrical capacitance effected by the delaying circuit, wherein said driving pulses are applied to said plurality of recording elements in the block at a timing corresponding to the plurality of drive pulses shifted from one another.   
     
     
       53. A print head substrate according to claim 52, wherein said driving pulses are applied to at least two of said plurality of recording elements in the block at a timing such that driving periods of the at least two of said plurality of recording elements in the block are partially overlapped with each other. 
     
     
       54. A print head substrate according to claim 52, wherein the plurality of drive pulses are shifted by a predetermined interval from one another such that the plurality of drive pulses are partially overlapped with each other. 
     
     
       55. A print head substrate according to claim 52, wherein the delaying circuit is in a line of the pulse width definition signal electrically connected to the input portion. 
     
     
       56. A print head substrate according to claim 55, wherein said plurality of recording elements comprise heating elements for generating heat energy as a consequence of the driving pulses. 
     
     
       57. A print head substrate according to claim 56, wherein said print head substrate is used in a print head of an ink jet system for discharging an ink using said heating elements. 
     
     
       58. A print head substrate according to claim 55, further comprising:
 a shift register for outputting serially input image data in parallel format; and   a latch circuit for temporarily storing data output from said shift register.   
     
     
       59. A print head substrate according to claim 58, wherein said plurality of recording elements, said driver, said input portion, said driving means, said shift register, and said latch circuit are formed on said print head substrate through a film formation process, and wherein said delaying circuit has a form of a CR integration circuit constituted of the resistive component of a diffusion layer used in a film configuration of said driver, and the capacitive component utilizes a gate oxide film used in the film configuration of a drive control logic system including said shift register and said latch circuit. 
     
     
       60. A print head substrate according to claim 58, wherein said driver is formed through a film formation process, said delaying circuit being formed simultaneously in said film formation process. 
     
     
       61. A print head substrate according to claim 55, wherein said pulse width definition signal is inputted correspondingly to the driving per each of said blocks, and recording elements of a selected block are driven by plural drive pulses produced by said delaying circuit. 
     
     
       62. A print head substrate according to claim 52, wherein the plurality of drive pulses are shifted by a predetermined interval from one another such that HIGH state periods of at least two of the plurality of drive pulses are partially overlapped with each other. 
     
     
       63. A print head comprising:
 a plurality of recording elements;   a driver for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with image data;   an input portion for inputting a pulse width definition signal to define a width of driving pulses to be applied respectively to said plurality of recording elements;   driving means for dividing said plurality of recording elements into blocks, each of said blocks consisting of a predetermined number of said plurality of recording elements, greater than 2, for a time-division driving of each said block as a unit; and   a delaying circuit for producing, corresponding to an input of the pulse width definition signal, a plurality of drive pulses, for applying said driving pulses having the width defined by said pulse width definition signal to at least some of said plurality of recording elements in a block of said blocks,   the plurality of drive pulses being shifted by a predetermined interval from one another, by a delay in rise of the drive pulses due to the electrical resistance and electrical capacitance in the delaying circuit, wherein said driving pulses are applied to at least some of said plurality of recording elements in the block at a timing corresponding to the plurality of drive pulses shifted from one another.   
     
     
       64. A print head, comprising:
 a plurality of recording elements;   a driver for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with image data;   an input portion for inputting a pulse width definition signal to define a width of driving pulses to be applied respectively to said plurality of recording elements;   driving means for dividing said plurality of recording elements into blocks, each of said blocks consisting of a predetermined number of said plurality of recording elements greater than 2, for a time-division driving of each said block as a unit; and   a delaying circuit for producing, corresponding to an input of the pulse width definition signal, a plurality of drive pulses, for applying said driving pulses having the width defined by said pulse width definition signal to said plurality of recording elements in a block of said blocks, the plurality of drive pulses being shifted by a predetermined interval from one another, by a delay in rise of the drive pulses due to electrical resistance and electrical capacitance effected by the delaying circuit, wherein said driving pulses are applied to said plurality of recording elements in the block at a timing corresponding to the plurality of drive pulses shifted from one another.