1. A printhead module having a plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth, each row including an offset row portion disposed at only one end of the printhead module, the nozzles in each row being logically grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the nozzles of each offset row portion being misaligned with respect to the other nozzles of that row, the printhead module being configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups, wherein:
the rows are disposed in pairs extending generally transverse to a direction media is to be moved relative to the printhead module, the rows in each pair of rows being configured to print the same color ink as each other;
the nozzles are fired row by row such that, for a first print line, the nozzles of one row of each pair of rows are fired, and for a sequential second print line, the nozzles of the other row of each pair of rows are fired; and
the offset row portions of at least some of the rows are different in length than the offset row portions of at least some of the other rows.
2. A printhead module according to claim 1, wherein the rows in each pair of rows share an ink supply.
3. A printhead module according to claim 1, wherein the rows in each pair of rows are offset with respect to each other.
4. A printhead module according to claim 1, configured to fire the nozzles such that at least some ink dots from one row land on top of dots previously deposited by one or more of the other rows.
5. A printhead module according to claim 1, operable in at least two fire modes, wherein at least some of the at least two fire modes define relatively different numbers of nozzles in each of the fire groups.
6. A printhead module according to claim 5, wherein at least some of the at least two fire groups define relatively different fire group sequences.
7. A printhead comprising a plurality of printhead modules according to claim 1.
8. A printhead according to claim 7, wherein the printhead is a pagewidth printhead.
9. A printhead module according to claim 1, in communication with a printer controller for receiving first data and manipulating the first data to produce dot data to be printed, the printer controller including at least two serial outputs for supplying the dot data to at least one printhead.
10. A printhead module according to claim 1 being capable of printing a maximum of n channels of print data, the printhead module being configurable into:
a first mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print data for a first number of the channels; and
a second mode, in which the printhead module is configured to receive print data for a second number of the channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
11. A printhead module according to claim 1, for receiving dot data to be printed using at least two different inks and control data for controlling printing of the dot data, the printhead module including a communication input for receiving the dot data for the at least two colors and the control data.
12. A printhead module according to claim 1, including a plurality of pairs of the rows, each pair of rows including an odd row and an even row, the odd and even rows in each pair being offset from each other in both x and y directions relative to an intended direction of print media movement relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configured to cause firing of at least a plurality of the odd rows prior to firing any of the even rows, or vice versa.
13. A printhead module according to claim 12 wherein all the odd rows are fired before any of the even rows are fired, or vice versa.
14. A printhead module according to claim 12 wherein all the odd rows, or the even rows, or both, are fired in a predetermined order.
15. A printhead module according to claim 14 configurable such that the predetermined order is selectable from a plurality of predetermined available orders.
16. A printhead module according to claim 12 wherein the predetermined order is sequential.
17. A printhead module according to claim 16 configurable such that the predetermined order can commence at any of a plurality of the rows.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An electric cable comprising:
a support body having an axial length and a cross sectional length, said axial length being larger than said cross-sectional length, said support body having an exterior surface and defining a hollow interior;
a plurality of conductors arranged axially along said exterior surface of said support body, each of said plurality of conductors including a metal conducting portion circumferentially surrounded by an insulating layer;
another insulating layer circumferentially surrounding all of said plurality of conductors and said support body;
a connector post arranged at an axial end of said support body, all of said metal conducting portions of said plurality of conductors being electrically connected to said connector post.
2. A cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support body is a round hollow pipe, wherein said conductors are in an axial direction along an axial direction of the round hollow pipe so as to be arranged in order outside said round hollow pipe.
3. An electric cable in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
said metal conducting portions of said plurality of conductor extend beyond said axial end of said support body.
4. An electric cable in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
each of said plurality of conductors lie flat on said exterior surface and are not twisted about another one of said plurality of conductors.
5. An electric cable in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
said plurality of conductors lie directly adjacent said exterior surface of said support body for an entire said axial length of said support body.
6. An electric cable in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
each of said plurality of conductors are directly adjacent a same two of said plurality of conductors over said entire axial length of said support body.
7. An electric cable in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
said support body has a circular cross sectional shape.
8. An electric cable in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
said support body has an overall general polygonal cross sectional shape;
a first group of said plurality of conductors being arranged in a plane along a first side of said support body, a second group of said plurality of conductors being arranged in a plane along a second side of said support body.
9. An electric cable in accordance with claim 8, wherein:
said support body defines a plurality of sinking grooves to receive said plurality of conductors.
10. An electric cable in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
said hollow interior of said support body is a passage for removing heat generated in said metal conducting portions of said plurality of conductors.
11. An electric cable in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
said support body is flexible.
12. An electric cable in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
insulating material completely filling a spaced between said support body and said plurality of conductors.
13. An electric cable comprising:
a support body having an axial length and a cross sectional length, said axial length being larger than said cross-sectional length, said support body having an exterior surface and defining a hollow interior;
a plurality of conductors arranged axially along said exterior surface of said support body, each of said plurality of conductors including a metal conducting portion circumferentially surrounded by an insulating layer, said plurality of conductors lying directly adjacent said exterior surface for an entire said axial length of said support body;
another insulating layer circumferentially surrounding all of said plurality of conductors and said support body.
14. An electric cable in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:
a connector post arranged at an axial end of said support body, all of said metal conducting portions of said plurality of conductors being electrically connected to said connector post.
15. An electric cable in accordance with claim 14, wherein:
said metal conducting portions of said plurality of conductor extend beyond said axial end of said support body.
16. An electric cable in accordance with claim 14, wherein:
each of said plurality of conductors lie flat on said exterior surface of said support body and are not twisted about another one of said plurality of conductors.
17. An electric cable in accordance with claim 14, wherein:
said metal conducting portions of said plurality of conductor extend beyond said axial end of said support body;
each of said plurality of conductors lie flat on said exterior surface of said support body and are not twisted about another one of said plurality of conductors;
each of said plurality of conductors are directly adjacent a same two of said plurality of conductors over said entire axial length of said support body
said hollow interior of said support body is a gas passage for removing heat generated in said metal conducting portions of said plurality of conductors
said support body is flexible;
insulating material completely fills a spaced between said support body and said plurality of conductors.
18. An electric cable in accordance with claim 13, wherein:
each of said plurality of conductors are directly adjacent a same two of said plurality of conductors over said entire axial length of said support body.
19. An electric cable in accordance with claim 13, wherein:
said hollow interior of said support body is a passage for removing heat generated in said metal conducting portions of said plurality of conductors.
20. An electric cable in accordance with claim 13, wherein:
said support body is flexible.