Method for generating a reference signal for use in an imaging apparatus

1. A method for generating a reference signal for use in an imaging apparatus having an encoder system that supplies an original encoder signal, comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of encoder signal conditioning algorithms, said plurality of encoder signal conditioning algorithms corresponding to a plurality of desired functions, each encoder signal conditioning algorithm of said plurality of encoder signal conditioning algorithms being directed to facilitating a specific predefined function of said plurality of desired functions relating to a modification of said original encoder signal;

reading values into the selected encoder signal conditioning algorithm to generate at least one programming parameter; and

programming a hardware reference unit using said at least one programming parameter to generate a synthesized encoder signal representing said modification of said original encoder signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting one of said original encoder signal and said synthesized encoder signal as said reference signal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said specific predefined function is providing a filtered version of said original encoder signal ES.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said specific predefined function is adjusting the timing of encoder edges of said original encoder signal based on at least one of a printhead carrier position, a printhead carrier velocity, and drop velocity of ink drops ejected from a printhead.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said specific predefined function is modifying a horizontal print resolution along a bi-directional main scan path of said imaging apparatus.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of encoder signal conditioning algorithms is in firmware.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said values read into said selected encoder signal conditioning algorithm is a plurality of waveform periods associated with said original encoder signal.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said synthesized encoder signal generated by said hardware reference unit is synchronized with said original encoder signal.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one programming parameter is a plurality of waveform periods associated with said synthesized encoder signal.

10. A method for providing a reference signal to printhead fire logic for controlling generation of fire pulses that are supplied to a printhead in an imaging apparatus, comprising:

generating an original encoder signal;

selecting one of a plurality of encoder signal conditioning algorithms, said plurality of encoder signal conditioning algorithms corresponding to a plurality of desired functions, each encoder signal conditioning algorithm of said plurality of encoder signal conditioning algorithms being directed to facilitating a specific predefined function of said plurality of desired functions relating to a modification of said original encoder signal;

reading values associated with said original encoder signal into the selected encoder signal conditioning algorithm to generate at least one programming parameter;

programming a hardware reference unit using said at least one programming parameter to generate a synthesized encoder signal representing said modification of said original encoder signal;

selecting one of said original encoder signal and said synthesized encoder signal as said reference signal; and

supplying said reference signal to said printhead fire logic.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said specific predefined function is providing a filtered version of said original encoder signal ES.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said specific predefined function is adjusting the timing of encoder edges of said original encoder signal based on at least one of a printhead carrier position, a printhead carrier velocity, and drop velocity of ink drops ejected from said printhead.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said specific predefined function is modifying a horizontal print resolution along a bi-directional main scan path of said imaging apparatus.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said plurality of encoder signal conditioning algorithms is in firmware.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein said values read into said selected encoder signal conditioning algorithm is a plurality of waveform periods associated with said original encoder signal.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein said synthesized encoder signal generated by said hardware reference unit is synchronized with said original encoder signal.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein said at least one programming parameter is a plurality of waveform periods associated with said synthesized encoder signal.