Print engine controller for an inkjet printhead assembly having infrared tag control

摘要

A print engine controller for an inkjet printhead assembly includes a data bus. A data interface and a memory interface are connected to the data bus for loading compressed page data into the data bus. Contone expansion circuitry is connected to the data bus to expand a contone layer of the compressed page data. Bi-level expansion circuitry is connected to the data bus to expand a bi-level layer of the compressed page data. Tag encoder circuitry is connected to the data bus to establish infrared tag data according to protocols associated with that page. Halftoner and compositor circuitry is connected to the expansion and tag encoder circuitry to halftone and composite the expanded contone and bi-level layers and the infrared tags. Printhead interface circuitry is connected to the halftoner and compositor circuitry and is configured to receive the halftoned and composited data and to generate print data suitable for printing by a micro-electromechanical printhead.