Inkjet printer having associated printhead, control and memory modules

1. An inkjet printer comprising:

at least one printhead assembly that extends substantially across the width of a print medium to define a printing zone;

the at least one printhead assembly comprising

a plurality of printhead modules, each printhead module printing a plurality of ink colors in a different section of the printing zone;

a plurality of physically and logically distinct control modules, each control module controlling at least one associated printhead module; and

a plurality of logically distinct memory modules, each memory module storing print data for at least one associated printhead module,

wherein each control module reads print data from an associated memory module and controls an associated printhead module to print information derived from the read print data in said plurality of ink colors, and

each memory module defines a buffer.

2. A printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the buffer is configured so that print data may be simultaneously stored in the buffer and read from the buffer by the control modules.

3. A printer as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one data input and a serial data connection interconnecting the buffer with the data input.

4. A printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the buffer is configured to allow continuous printing.

5. A printer as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a conveyor for conveying print media along a path past the printhead modules at a substantially constant speed.

6. A printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the printhead modules are arranged end on end across the printing zone.

7. A printer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each control module includes two printer engine controllers.