Printhead and printing apparatus using the same - Patents

Printhead and printing apparatus using the same

Patent Agent: Fitzpatrick Cella Harper & Scinto - New York, NY, US
Patent Inventor: Tatsuo Furukawa
Applicaton #: 20070002340
Class: 358001400 (USPTO)
01/04/07
In a printhead having an element substrate on which a digital circuit including a printing element and a drive circuit for driving the printing element in accordance with input print data, and an analog circuit including a detection circuit for obtaining information, a voltage generation circuit for generating the voltage for driving the analog circuit when the value of the voltage for driving the digital circuit is different from that of the analog circuit is arranged on the element substrate, and when the voltage for driving the digital circuit is actually different from that of the analog circuit, only the voltage for driving the digital circuit is externally supplied except a power supply voltage for the printing element, thereby simplifying the overall arrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a printhead which can simplify the overall arrangement when the voltage for driving a digital circuit and the voltage for driving an analog circuit (such as an analog circuit for obtaining information on the temperature etc.), except a power supply voltage for a printing element, are different, by supplying only the power supply voltage of the digital circuit from an external circuit, and a printing apparatus using the printhead.
[0011] The above object is achieved by a printhead of the present invention, which comprises an element substrate having a digital circuit and analog circuit formed thereon, the digital circuit including a printing element and drive means for driving the printing element in accordance with input print data, and the analog circuit including detection means for obtaining information, wherein a value of a voltage for driving the digital circuit is different from a value of a voltage for driving the analog circuit, and a voltage generation circuit for generating the voltage for driving the analog circuit is arranged on the element substrate.
[0012] The object of the present invention is also achieved by a printing apparatus having the printhead.
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