US 11,850,846 B2
Methods, apparatus and control systems for droplet deposition apparatus
Jesus Garcia Maza, Huntingdon (GB); Nigel Heather, Huntingdon (GB); Tomas Cerny, Huntingdon (GB); Peter Boltryk, Huntingdon (GB); and Mario Massucci, Huntingdon (GB)
Assigned to Xaar Technology Limited, Huntingdon (GB)
Appl. No. 17/602,955
Filed by Xaar Technology Limited, Huntingdon (GB)
PCT Filed Apr. 9, 2020, PCT No. PCT/GB2020/050937
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 11, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/208369, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 15, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1905170 (GB), filed on Apr. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0184942 A1, Jun. 16, 2022
Int. Cl. B41J 2/045 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 2/04525 (2013.01) [B41J 2/04526 (2013.01); B41J 2/04573 (2013.01); B41J 2/04581 (2013.01); B41J 2/04588 (2013.01); B41J 2/04595 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for reducing nozzle meniscus instability of a droplet deposition apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving a first data block for a first line pixel and a second data block for a second line pixel;
(b) receiving a data set of forbidden pixel periods that cause harmonic/subharmonic excitation of the meniscus surface and lead to meniscus instability;
(c) determining at least one first jitter delay value based on the data set of forbidden pixel periods;
(d) generating first print data based on the first data block, wherein
the first print data comprises data defining a first holding period, determined by the first jitter delay value, and one or more drive pulses; and
(e) generating second print data based on the second data block, wherein
the second print data comprises data defining one or more drive pulses, the time between each first of the one or more drive pulses defined by the first and second print data determining a first pixel period;
wherein the first and second print data are for generating first and second actuating element signals for controlling at least one actuating element of the droplet deposition apparatus according to the first and second print data;
such that each drive pulse causes the actuating element to eject at least one droplet from a respective nozzle of the droplet deposition apparatus; and
the first jitter delay value adjusts the first pixel period to fall outside of the data set of forbidden pixel periods so as to reduce the occurrence of nozzle meniscus instability.