Print engine/controller to work in multiples and a printhead driven by multiple print engine/controllers

摘要

A print engine/controller (10) configured to be coupled with others to drive an ink drop printhead (33). It has an interface (27) at which to receive compressed page data. Image decoders (28, 88) decode compressed image planes in the received compressed page data. A half-toner/compositer (29) composites respective strips of the decoded image planes and sends output to a printhead interface (32). A printhead interface (32) interfaces with the printhead. A synchronization signal generator (89, 90) outputs a synchronization signal that is used to synchronize print engine/controllers. One printhead interface (32) acts as master generating the synchronization signal to synchronize all the print engine/controllers to drive the printhead at any one or more of higher speed, higher input resolution, higher outlet resolution or wider format. The printhead interface (32) includes an input (91) at which a signal determines if the print engine controller is a master controller or a slave. The halftoner/compositor (29) scales input image planes under control of a margin unit (57) set the print engine/controller to establish print data for a strip only of the image, the image being built from the respective strips from the multiple print engine/controllers.