Patent Application
20170087829
Printer ink may be analyzed to determine various characteristics of the ink. However, such analysis may involve digitization of information using circuitry, involving a separate/dedicated convertor/analyzer. Such a device may have a large physical size and associated cost. Digital information is transmitted between the external device and the ink sample. There is a risk that such information can be manipulated by third parties.
Examples provided herein enable the evaluation of ink properties by modules/circuitry that may reasonably be contained on an inkjet printhead die, for purposes of identifying ink health (dehydration, pigment separation, etc.). The modules/circuitry may be produced cost-effectively for use on a disposable inkjet printhead, providing for printhead self-contained ink health evaluation. Although certain examples are described with reference to ink, the same principles may apply to 3D print agents or components for digital titration or bio-printing or other high precision dispensing fluids. Accordingly, references to ink, ink sample, and so on are not meant to be limited to inkjet ink, but any dispensable material capable of affecting impedance consistent with the examples described herein. A need for communicating high frequency signals off-die (e.g., between the printhead and printer/computer) is eliminated, avoiding a need for expensive connectivity that also exposes the signals to manipulation by third parties. Examples may analyze ink properties (e.g., to discriminate between ink types) based on various characteristics of the ink signal, including amplitude characteristics and phase angle characteristics corresponding to various input signal frequencies and associated evaluation intervals.
In operation, an input signal 112 having frequency content 114 may be applied to the ink sample 102 to be analyzed, e.g., ink that is fluidically coupled to sensor(s)/electrode(s) associated with an inkjet printhead nozzle. An ink signal 116 response may be evaluated for characteristics 118. This process may be iteratively repeated for various frequencies, by applying an input signal 112 of a given frequency content 114 for an evaluation interval to evaluate characteristics 118 of the ink signal 116, adjusting the frequency content 114, and applying the updated input signal 112. Various frequencies may be “swept” across the ink sample 102, to obtain a plurality of ink signals 116 and corresponding characteristics 118. The results may form an electrical response that may be compared and evaluated against “known healthy ink,” e.g., compared to a response referred to as an ink signature 132. In alternate examples, the ink sample 102 may be analyzed to build a representative ink signature 132 for that ink sample 102.
The signal module 110 may generate the input signal 112, and corresponding frequency content 114, based on a clock signal or other available signal. For example, a clock signal may be available at an inkjet printhead die 103, and the clock signal may be digitally divided and filtered to create a sine wave and subdivisions thereof, including approximations thereof that may include a wider range of frequency content than a pure sine wave.
The resulting ink signal 116 obtained from the ink sample 102 contains characteristic(s) 118. For example, a characteristic 118 may indicate a frequency amplitude corresponding to the frequency content 114 of the input signal 112 for an evaluation interval. The characteristic 118 may indicate a phase of the ink signal 116, e.g., a phase angle between a voltage and a current related to an impedance of the ink sample 102 for a given frequency content 114 of an evaluation interval. Responses by the ink sample 102 to input signals 112 of varying frequency content 114 over multiple evaluation intervals will correspondingly vary, in accordance with a signature of the ink sample 102 that may identify the ink and distinguish it from faulty or third party ink. Such responses may be passed to the comparison module 120.
The comparison module 120 may compare the characteristic 118 to the reference value 122. The reference value may be set/initialized and stored at the device 100, e.g., by an external controller or printer (not shown in
The evaluation module 130 may evaluate, over time for a given number of multiple iterations, how the characteristic(s) 118 of the ink signal 116 have compared with the reference value(s) 122. The evaluation module 130 also may evaluate a comparison of a number of multiple reference values 122 to corresponding characteristic(s) 118. Thus, the evaluation module 130 may consider multiple pieces of data for a given iteration/evaluation intervals, and may consider multiple pieces of data over a plurality of iterations/evaluation intervals. The signal module 110 may provide the multiple pieces of data based on applying a plurality of input signals 112 having a corresponding plurality of different frequency content 114. The ink sample 102 will have different responses at different frequencies, enabling the evaluation module 130 to identify a “fingerprint” of the ink (which may be used to build an ink signature for the ink sample 102). The ink sample 102 behavior may be matched against a type of expected behavior, such as a sample ink signature 132. Thus, the evaluation module 130 may build an ink signature 132 consistent with the ink sample 102, and the evaluation module 130 also may test the ink sample 102 to see if it is consistent with en existing (e.g., predetermined) sample ink signature 132.
The ink signature 132 may be predetermined empirically for an expected type of ink sample 102, such as an official/original ink supply of an inkjet cartridge to be paired with a printhead die. Such an ink signature 132 may correspond to a unique stock keeping unit (SKU) of an ink manufacturer, such that the device 100 may verify whether the ink sample 102 is consistent with at least some discrete points of the predetermined ink signature 132. In an example, a device may determine whether an ink sample is consistent with a plurality of different acceptable SKUs of inks.
The evaluation module 130 may evaluate the ink sample 102 according to the evaluation interval. The evaluation interval also may be identified empirically, for expected types of ink samples 102. The evaluation interval may typically be on the order of microseconds, to provide a timeframe of sufficient time to allow the ink signal 116 to stabilize in value. The evaluation interval also will allow enough processing cycles for the device 100 to evaluate whether or not the ink signal 116 is comfortably within range (e.g., consistent with the ink signature 132). The evaluation interval may be adjusted as needed.
The device 100 may operate iteratively (e.g., sweep through a range of values) according to various approaches, to evaluate the ink signal 116 and associated characteristic(s) 118. For example, the signal module 110 may generate an initial input signal 112, and comparison module 120 may compare it with an initial reference value 122. The signal module 110 may iteratively adjust the input signal 112, and/or the comparison module 120 may iteratively adjust the reference value 122, until the ink signal 116 is consistent with the reference value 122, at which point the evaluation module 130 may evaluate the results of the plurality of iterative comparisons.
In an example iterative approach, the device 100 cycles through various values of the frequency content 114 of the input signal 112, resulting in the ink signal 116 containing different voltage amplitude and phase characteristics 118. Also, the reference value(s) 122 may be changed/updated (swept) to try to match the expected different characteristics 118. The device 100 may thereby pinpoint a given reference value 122 that best corresponds to a given value for the frequency content 114 for that ink sample 102. The device 100 thereby may effectively characterize, for a given ink sample 102, a fairly accurate ink signature 132 consistent with the ink sample 102.
In another example iterative approach, the reference value(s) 122 may be allowed to remain constant, and the signal module 110 may vary the input signal 112 (e.g., by changing a value of a variable resistor in series with the ink sample 102), while also varying the value of the frequency content 114. The comparison module 120 is to compare whether the resulting characteristic 118 of the ink signal 116 remains comparable to the reference value 122 across the varying frequencies applied to the ink sample 102. Thus, instead of varying the reference value(s) 122, the input signal 112 is varied to obtain a match with the reference value 122.
Such approaches may be used to determine different types of characteristics 118. For example, to evaluate an ink sample 102 based on phase characteristics, the reference value 122 may be held constant while the input signal 112 (e.g., frequency content 114) is varied across iterated evaluation intervals. Multiple comparisons may be performed for different frequencies/evaluation intervals of the input signal 112, to evaluate the phase characteristic 118. The input signal 112 may be applied to the ink sample 102 as a voltage level at various frequencies, and the ink sample 102 may respond with an ink signal voltage and an ink signal current. The comparison module 120 may consider the amplitude of the voltage ink signal response, and the phase between the voltage ink signal response and the current ink signal response, to identify the phase characteristic.
By performing these operations on an inkjet printhead die, the printhead itself may evaluate the ink sample 102, without communicating off-die (e.g., with the printer/computer), where signals could be intercepted or otherwise compromised. In alternate examples, such information (and modules) may be provided off-die. In an alternate example, the printhead may write an identifier (e.g., a warranty bit) to ‘red flag’ the device 100, without a need to send or receive signals off-die. Accordingly, a 3rd party is not given easy access to corrupt or alter the signal/data in an attempt to prevent or overwrite the identifier. In an example, a visible indicator (e.g., a fuse) may be used to provide a visible indication of an issue with the ink sample 102. Accordingly, warranty returns of an inkjet printhead die may self-identify whether an ink sample 102 has failed to be consistent with a desired ink signature 132. In an alternate example, the printhead die may contain a programmable storage/bit, e.g., in on-die memory, which a printer may routinely access to verify the bit and enable standard printer operation, whereby the printer may treat the printhead differently according to the programmable storage being set to a problem state. Thus, a printhead may effectively void its own warranty without providing an opportunity for a 3rd party to reverse-engineer or otherwise prevent such action.
The clock signal 206 is available to be used by the signal module 210 to generate sine waves of a variety of frequencies. The signal module 210 may modify the clock signal 206, e.g., a clock signal that is provided to a printhead by printer electronics and/or a computer. The clock signal 206, generally a square wave, may be filtered by the signal module 210 to approximate a sine wave. The filtering may be based on a simple resistor-capacitor (RC) low-pass filter, for example. The clock signal 206 also may be subdivided according to various values (e.g., 2, 4, 8, etc.) to create additional frequencies. In an example, an RC filter may be for generating multiple subdivisions of frequencies, based on tuning at least one of the R and/or C components.
Such sine waves may be used (e.g., applied in sequence) to drive a signal through a series-connected divider resistor, into the ink sample 202, based on an electrode (not shown in
The device 200 may be operated iteratively by shifting at least one of the reference values 222, 223, which may be used by the comparison module 220 as a threshold voltage(s) against which the ink signal 216 is compared. The reference values 222, 223 may be used to determine when the ink signal 216 meets or exceeds the threshold, according to a comparison. In an example, the first reference value 222 may be a frequency voltage amplitude characteristic, and the second reference value 223 may be a phase characteristic. The device 200 may perform multiple (e.g., iterative) such comparisons/measurements, based on multiple input signals 212 and corresponding frequency content 214 over a plurality of evaluation intervals. In an iteration, the threshold reference values 222, 223 may be set at an updated value. For example, the reference values 222, 223 may be set low, and the comparison module 220 may check whether the ink signal 216 meets or exceeds the reference values 222, 223. If not, the reference values 222, 223 may be incremented (or, in an alternate example, decremented), and another iteration may be performed. Iterations may be repeated until the comparison module 220 identifies that the ink signal 216 meets or exceeds at least one of the reference values 222, 223, at which point value(s) for the ink signal 216 have been characterized (e.g., value(s) corresponding to the reference values 222 and/or 223). The counter 224 also may be used for characterization. Thus, the ink signal 216 may be characterized based on reference value(s) 222, 223, and timing of the counter 224, which can characterize the shape/slope of the ink signal 216 over time according to iteratively comparing with threshold reference value(s) 222, 223.
Signal module 310 is to receive the clock signal and/or a subdivision thereof. A number of different frequencies may be used, based on the frequency divider block and the sine wave filter block to generate different frequencies. The resulting input signal 312 may be fed into a resistor divider based on the illustrated known resistor as a first resistor, and the ink sample serving as an impedance having unknown resistance, in series with the known resistor (which may be a variable resistor for varying the resulting ink signal 316). Resistance of the ink sample should vary with frequency in accordance with an ink signature for that ink. Based on what impedance/resistance the ink sample assumes in response to a given frequency of the input signal 312, an intermediate voltage taken between the resistor and ink sample may serve as the ink signal 316, which is passed from the signal module 310 to the comparison module 320.
The comparison module 320 includes two voltage comparators to compare the ink signal 316 against two preset values (e.g., a first reference value 322 and a second reference value 323). In this example circuit, the lower comparator may compare whether the second reference value 323 (e.g., a minimum) is at least exceeded. The upper comparator may compare whether the first reference value 322 was not exceeded. Accordingly, the two comparators may perform a range check on the ink signal 316. In an example, values for reference values 322, 323 may be loaded and stored at registers of the storage module 340. The registers may maintain these value(s) for a duration of the evaluation interval for a specific frequency content. In an alternate example, the reference values 322, 323 may be stored in an on-die memory such as an electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM) to avoid a need for communication of the reference values from a controller/printer to the die. The reference values 322, 323 of the registers are converted to analog voltages by digital to analog converters (DACs or D2As). The analog voltages of the reference values 322, 323 may be fed to the two comparators. In an alternate example, a DAC and a comparator may be omitted, by time-multiplexing the measurements and sharing the remaining DAC and comparator. Additionally, examples enabling the borrowing/repurposing of existing circuitry available on-die, such as by using circuit elements that are present on the printhead die for temperature control and so on.
The first reference value 322 may represent a maximum (or slightly greater than maximum) peak amplitude expected of the ink signal 316 at the given frequency associated with that evaluation interval. Similarly, the second reference value 323 may represent the minimum expected amplitude. By means of the two comparators, the comparison module 320 may determine whether the peak value of the ink signal 316 is within a range defined by the two preset reference values 322, 323. Outputs from the two comparators may feed into the evaluation module 330.
The evaluation module 330 may include latches and logic to evaluate the output of the comparison module 320. Output from the comparators may be received as a “set” input of two set/reset latches used for peak detection. The latches may initially be held in “reset” until an evaluation window (time) when the ink signal 316 has become stable for the given frequency of the evaluation interval. In an alternate example, other circuit elements may be used. For example, other types of peak-detect or threshold detector circuits may be used. The evaluation module 330 may evaluate outputs of the two latches via logic gates to determine if i) the minimum amplitude of the second reference value 323 was achieved, and if ii) the maximum amplitude of the first reference value 322 was not exceeded. That binary result may be latched by the “range” latch of the evaluation module, for communication to the printer or other controller, or even “accumulated” in on-die circuitry of a printhead for eventual determination of ink characteristics.
The device 300 may be used repeatedly/iteratively for as many frequencies/evaluation intervals as desired for satisfactory ink characterization. For example, at each frequency/evaluation interval, minimum and maximum reference values are loaded into the range registers, the two peak detect latches are held reset, an input signal 312 is applied to the ink sample, a peak value of the ink signal 316 is “range tested” by the two comparators while the peak detect latches have their reset turned off, and logic (NOR and AND gates) identifies whether the ink signal peak value was in range.
A latching circuit may be used to accumulate the results of the range testing of the ink signal for various frequencies. For example, an “ink good” latch can be initially set “true.” Each successive peak value range result can be applied to the latch to reset it, based on the range signal being false (peak was out of range). A range fail at any frequency may reset (“ink bad”) the latch for the duration of the evaluation. That overall evaluation result can then be communicated to the printer and/or used on-die to modify the behavior of the printhead.
Thus, the various examples/modules discussed herein may be achieved using a minimal amount of circuitry to determine ink characteristics/signatures. The circuitry is minimal enough to be contained on the limited real-estate of a printhead die. Accordingly, the examples described herein enable the printhead die to have self-contained ink evaluation. This can eliminate a need for communicating analog signals, such as an ink failure indicator, off-die, resulting in avoiding extra connectivity expenses, and avoiding a need to expose the signals off-die, where the signals may be manipulated by third parties. Further reduction in circuit elements is possible, e.g., by sharing other components available on the printhead die, such as registers, counters, gates, etc., by using additional logic gates and pass transistors to multiplex the circuit elements for use in various modules.
The signal module 410 includes a frequency divider and filter to convert a clock signal to an input signal 412 that contains frequency content. The input signal 412 is applied to a resistor in series with the ink sample, providing a resistor divider arrangement. Input signals for an amplifier are provided by the values across the resistor, such that the output of the amplifier provides an ink signal current. The amplifier may provide a gain appropriate for the next module/stage of the circuit. The ink signal current and ink signal voltage are passed to the comparison module 420.
The comparison module 420 includes two comparators. A reference value 422 may be stored digitally in an optional register, and converted to an analog value by the optional D2A, for comparison by the two comparators. In an alternate example, the register and D2A may be omitted, and the reference value 422 may be applied directly to the comparators. The reference value 422 may be chosen low enough so that the comparators will flip when the ink signal voltage and ink signal current are rising. Because the ink signal voltage is connected to one of the comparators, and the ink signal current is connected to the other, a timing between the flipping of the two comparators is related to a phase characteristic (e.g., phase angle) of the ink signal. The phase angle may vary according to the particular reference value 422 that is chosen (e.g., increasing or decreasing the phase angle between voltage and current ink signals). Output of the comparison module 420 may be fed to an evaluation module 430.
The evaluation module 430 may include an RC circuit (illustrated by the capacitor in parallel with the resistor at the output of the charge latch). The RC circuit may be used to smooth out the phase information that is passed from the comparators through the charge latch. When the ink signal voltage comparator flips high, it begins charging the capacitor. When the ink signal current comparator flips high, the charging ends. A bleeder resistor is to constantly discharge the capacitor. Accordingly, the greater the phase angle between the ink signal current and ink signal voltage, the greater the time between the flipping of the two comparators, and the greater the resulting charge/voltage on the capacitor.
The device 400 may consider the amplitude of the ink signal voltage waveform that is coming off the ink sample, while simultaneously considering the ink signal current (by sensing the voltage drop across the resistor in series with the ink sample). The reference value 422 is used to set a ‘trip’ point, or reference level, for the two state comparators to turn on and off. Thus, operation of the comparators may control the charge function of the charging latch.
The voltage on the capacitor may be further filtered and then analyzed. Alternatively, the voltage on the capacitor may be sampled and held at a fixed time (such as when one of the comparators flips). In an example, the results of the evaluation module 430 may be digitized, “range compared,” or used in other ways by the existing circuitry (registers, D2A, comparators), for the purpose of checking that the ink has an appropriate phase angle at the given frequency. This comparison may be repeated/iterated at as many frequencies and corresponding evaluation intervals as desired, to improve the analysis of the ink and resulting ink signature.
Thus, the minimal circuit shown in
Two evaluation intervals 508, 509, are illustrated. For a given evaluation interval, a corresponding frequency characteristic of the ink signal is evaluated. The resulting frequency characteristic corresponds to a frequency content of the input signal applied to an ink sample. The ink signal is evaluated to determine whether, at a reference frequency, the amplitude is within a maximum/minimum range as set by, e.g., a first reference value and a second reference value. Accordingly, each evaluation interval 508, 509, is associated with its own set of first/second reference values. As illustrated, the first evaluation interval 508 has an amplitude that remains within the bounds of the first and second reference values for that first frequency characteristic. Similarly, the second evaluation interval 508 has an amplitude that remains within the bounds of the first and second reference values for that second frequency characteristic. Two frequency characteristics/iterations are illustrated, showing that the ink signal of
The sampled voltage 618 of the phase characteristic illustrates charging of a capacitor, for the time when the ink signal voltage 616 crosses the reference value 622 at the first intersection 626, and when the ink signal current 617 ‘catches up’ and crosses the reference value 623 at the second intersection 627. The difference in the (represented by the horizontal arrow between the times of the intersections) indicates the phase characteristic. The greater the difference in phase, the longer time the capacitor has to charge up.
The reference values 622, 623 are equal to each other in chart 600, and have been chosen to place the first and second intersections 626, 627 at a portion of the sinusoidal signals that enables improved evaluation of the transitioning waveforms 616, 617. In other words, the first and second intersections 626, 627 are set by choosing the reference values 622, 623 to avoid troughs or peaks of the sinusoid signals (where the intersection points might be relatively stalled time-wise). Placing the intersections 626, 627 approximately halfway up their respective waveform slopes enhances evaluation precision and enables clearer, easier-to-resolve signals (phase).
The reference values 622, 623 may be chosen to differ from each other, e.g., by moving reference value until the signals cross each other. However, a single value may be chosen for both reference values 622, 623, to establish enhanced time discrimination at the occurrence of the transition along a portion of the waveform away from a peak and/or trough.
Referring to
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2014/044829 | 6/30/2014 | WO | 00 |
