Image forming apparatus and method of controlling image forming apparatus with amplifier gain control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11106956-B2
Application number	US-202016832950-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2020
Priority date	Apr 1, 2019
Publication date	Aug 31, 2021
Grant date	Aug 31, 2021

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: a transceiver circuit configured to transmit a signal. A carriage having a recording head is movable relative to the transceiver circuit. A counter counts how many times the carriage moves. An amplifier circuit mounted on the carriage receives the signal from the transceiver circuit through a cable and amplifies the received signal. A carriage controller changes a gain of the amplifier circuit, based on a count value of the counter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a transceiver circuit configured to transmit a signal;
a carriage having a recording head, the carriage configured to be movable;
a counter configured to count how many times the carriage moves;
an amplifier circuit configured to receive the signal from the transceiver circuit through a cable and amplifies the received signal,
the amplifier circuit configured to be mounted on the carriage; and a processor configured to increase a gain of the amplifier circuit, based on a count value of the counter that exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the signal is an image signal,
the transceiver circuit converts the image signal into a transmission signal, and
the image forming apparatus further comprises a receiver circuit configured to convert the transmission signal amplified by the amplifier circuit into the image signal, the receiver circuit configured to be mounted on the carriage.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the processor causes the amplifier circuit to amplify the signal so as to compensate for an attenuation of the signal transmitted through the cable.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the count value of the counter exceeds the predetermined threshold, the processor increases the gain of the amplifier circuit by a predetermined value.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first substrate on which the transceiver circuit is mounted, and
a second substrate on which the counter, the amplifier circuit, and the processor are mounted.

6. A method of controlling an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including a transceiver circuit configured to transmit a signal,
a carriage having a recording head, the carriage configured to be movable,
a counter configured to count how many times the carriage moves, and an amplifier circuit configured to receive the signal from the transceiver circuit through a cable and amplifies the received signal, the amplifier circuit configured to be mounted on the carriage, the method comprising:
increasing a gain of the amplifier circuit based on a count value of the counter that exceeds a predetermined threshold.

7. The method of controlling the image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein
the image forming apparatus further includes a receiver circuit mounted on the carriage,
the signal is an image signal,
the transceiver circuit converts the image signal into a transmission signal, and
the receiver circuit converts the transmission signal into the image signal.

8. The method of controlling the image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein
the amplifier circuit amplifies the signal so as to compensate for an attenuation of the signal transmitted through the cable.

9. The method of controlling the image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein
the changing of the gain of the amplifier circuit includes, when the count value of the counter exceeds a predetermined threshold, increasing the gain of the amplifier circuit by a predetermined value.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Hamano Yusuke

Classifications

• G06K15/4045 Primary

  Managing the interface to the data source, e.g. choosing an interface for data reception · CPC title

• H04B3/06 Primary

  by the transmitted signal · CPC title

• G06K15/4025

  Managing optional units, e.g. sorters, document feeders · CPC title

• B41J19/005

  Cable or belt constructions for driving print, type or paper-carriages, e.g. attachment, tensioning means · CPC title

• B41J19/202

  Drive control means for carriage movement · CPC title