Method and apparatus for establishing ink-jet printhead operating energy from an optical determination of turn-on energy

摘要

A method and apparatus for optical determination of turn-on energy and operational printhead energy for ink-jet printing includes a computerized method for using reflectance readings from a test pattern generated by a printhead under test. The test pattern includes regions (¦1¦ - ¦N¦) generated by applying to the printhead ink drop generators firing pulses having a pulse energy substantially equal to a predetermined reference pulse energy at a predetermined pulse frequency starting with a pulse energy substantially equal to the predetermined reference energy and incrementally changing the pulse energy of the firing pulses such that firing pulses of increasing or decreasing pulse energies are sequentially applied to the drop generators. Using the reflectance data, determining a printhead operational firing energy pulse value that is a predetermined percentage of a turn-on energy defined as a value greater than an energy pulse value where said heaters cease to fire ink, wherein said printhead operational firing energy pulse value is provided to a printhead controller for printing operations subsequent thereto. The process can be automatically implemented in order to perform subsequent printing operation with a printhead operating energy that provides a desired print quality while avoiding premature failure of printhead heater resistors. <IMAGE>