Enhanced communications protocol for improved modularity in a micro-fluid ejection device
Methods and apparatus for improving modularity in a micro-fluid ejection device and for providing instruction data to a plurality of data handling devices within a micro-fluid ejection device. The method includes generating device data and appending an address to the device data to generate instruction data. The address typically indicates at least one data handling device within the micro-fluid ejection device for which the device data is intended. The instruction data is provided to a plurality of data handling devices including at least one data controller. The data controller is operated to decode the address from the instruction data and select at least one data handling device to receive the device data based upon the decoded address. The device data is thereby input into each selected data handling device and subsequently used to operate the micro-fluid ejection device.
1. A micro-fluid ejection device configured for ejecting one or more ink droplets to an object comprising:
a power circuit;
at least one heater element for ejecting the one or more ink droplets to an object; and
a control circuit comprising:
a plurality of addressable data handling devices configured to receive instruction data, the instruction data comprising device data and an address associated with at least one data handling device destination of the device data; and
at least one data controller configured to be programmed with addresses of the plurality of addressable data handling devices and operative to receive the instruction data, separate the address from the device data, determine the at least one data handling device destination of the device data based upon the address, and transmit an enabling signal to said at least one data handling device destination associated with the address to allow a selected data handling device at the at least one data handling device destination to input the device data upon enablement.
2. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data controller selects the at least one data handling device destination based upon a signal received from an integrated circuit.
3. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one data controller receives the instruction data when a load signal is enabled.
4. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the addressable data handling devices is configured to accommodate a corresponding bit length of device data such that the at least one data controller receives instruction data of multiple bit lengths depending on the bit length of the device data for a corresponding data handling device destination.
5. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the instruction data includes parity data, and wherein the data controller monitors such parity data, and is configured to generate an error signal in the event of a parity error.
6. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of addressable data handling devices is a memory device.
7. The device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a second micro-fluid ejection device comprising a second data controller wherein the micro-fluid ejection devices are addressed and the data controllers are operative to decode an address from the instruction data and select at least one micro-fluid ejection device to receive device data from the instruction data based upon the decoded address.
8. The device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of micro-fluid ejection devices, each comprising a data controller wherein the micro-fluid ejection devices are addressed and the data controllers are operative to decode an address from the instruction data and select at least one micro-fluid ejection device to receive device data from the instruction data based upon the decoded address.
9. The device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the plurality of micro-fluid ejection devices are contained on a printhead.
10. The device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the plurality of micro-fluid ejection devices are contained on a plurality of printheads.
11. The device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a second data controller coupled to the at least one data controller to accommodate additional data handling devices.