Programmable print head and multi-level encoding of print head data

摘要

A printer (20) has a print head (26) with multiple nozzles (28) and an encoder (32) to encode print head data into firing bits used to determine various firing patterns of the print head nozzles. A decoder (36) is integrated on the print head to decode the firing bits into firing pulses used to fire selected print head nozzles. The encoder (32) encodes the print head data in such a manner that there are fewer firing bits than there are possible firings controlled by the firing bits. For instance, the encoder encodes the print head data such that "n" firing bits define 2<n> firing levels (where "n" is an integer), with each firing level defining a different number of firings. With the multi-level encoding, the encoder is able to control more than n possible firings with each n firing bits. <IMAGE>