Detailed Introduction of Printer Driver Board
1. Definition of the Control Board
The inkjet printing control board is the core control system of an inkjet printer.
It is a customized PCB designed specifically for inkjet printing equipment, together with embedded firmware and PC-based control software.
It performs critical functions such as halftone dot algorithms, motion control, color management, printhead control, and high-volume/high-speed data processing throughout the inkjet printing workflow.
Inkjet printing actions are achieved when the control system processes the incoming data, sends commands to all subsystems, and each subsystem executes accordingly to complete inkjet ejection.
As the core module of an inkjet printer, the performance of the control board—including its algorithm and control capabilities—directly determines the printing performance. Improvements in print performance are reflected in:
* Finer ink droplets
* More reproducible tonal gradations
* Larger color gamut
* Increased image sharpness
* Faster printing speed
* Wider print width
* Higher stability
* Compatibility with more substrates
All of these enhancements rely on the continuous advancement of the control board.
The control system integrates circuit design, algorithm development, motion control, and color management.
The control board acts as the hardware carrier, running embedded system software that includes halftone algorithms, motion control, color management, printhead control, and high-speed data processing.
Together with PC-based desktop control software, it forms a complete industrial inkjet control solution for inkjet printer manufacturers.
2. Basic Functions of the Control Board
1. Receive and interpret data from the RIP software
Inkjet printers typically use CMYK inks.
During RIP processing, all image colors are converted into CMYK values.
After the control board receives the RIP data, it controls each printhead channel according to the ink sequence defined in the PM software.
The ink sequence in the PM settings must correspond to the actual ink order inside the printhead.
2. Provide power to certain components
The control board supplies power or control signals to electronic components:
A. Supply working voltage (power delivery)
* Linear encoder
* Ink pump
B. Supply control signals
* Motors
* UV lamps
The control board also supplies power and control signals to the printhead to ensure proper jetting operation.
3. Receive feedback signals and control accordingly
The control board receives feedback signals from:
* Linear encoder
* Secondary ink tank float sensor
* Limit switches
* Anti-collision sensors
Examples:
* Encoder feedback → controls X-axis printing position
* Float sensor → controls ink supply
* Limit switches → control carriage/substrate movement
* Anti-collision switch → prevents carriage damage
3. Major Control Board Suppliers
1. GIS — Global Inkjet Systems (UK)
2. Meteor (TTP Group)
3. Beijing Boyuan Hengxin Technology Co., Ltd.
4. Shenzhen Hans Software Co., Ltd.
5. JetBlue Printing Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
6. Beijing Lanyin Technology Co., Ltd.
(Shanghai Tongyin Inkjet Technology Co., Ltd.)
7. Guangzhou Senyang Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
8. Wuhan Jingfeng Technology Co., Ltd.
9. Shanghai Yeshuo Digital Information Technology Co., Ltd.
10. Shenzhen Weiliyin Technology Co., Ltd.
11. Shanghai Rongyue Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
4. Design of the Control Board
Designing a printhead driver board is highly technical and requires extensive expertise.
The driver system must generate precise high-voltage trapezoidal pulse waveforms under varying jetting loads.
It must also support multiple pulse amplitudes within a single waveform and allow programmable waveform adjustments for different inks and applications.
The data path circuitry must update printhead switch states *exactly* before each pulse inside the waveform.
To ensure each droplet has the correct size and velocity, the waveform must be highly accurate. Droplet formation is affected by:
* Droplets fired earlier leave the nozzle earlier
* Smaller droplets have slower flight time than larger ones
* Different pulse amplitudes produce different droplet velocities
* Droplets may merge in mid-air
* Nozzle-to-media distance varies during printing
* Different inks require different optimized waveforms
A high-quality driver board includes a dedicated power amplifier for each nozzle row, allowing independent waveform optimization.
In contrast, low-cost boards simply switch between two voltage levels, leading to inferior jetting performance.
Ideally, each sub-droplet pulse should have its own waveform shape.
For example, the first pulse requires more energy than the second because the piezo element is already oscillating.
Therefore, the driver hardware must support a variety of analog pulse shapes—not just simple on/off control.
By independently controlling the timing of each pulse and mapping each pulse segment to a specific droplet size, the system achieves highly precise droplet placement.
Key Features of a Professional Printhead Driver Board
* Generates digitally defined multi-pulse complex waveforms
* Uses selected pulses to produce different droplet volumes with accurate placement
* Includes multi-pulse amplifiers and multi-bit encoding/decoding
* Supports multiple trapezoidal pulses of different amplitudes within one waveform
* Updates printhead switch states precisely before each pulse
* Provides fully programmable waveform tuning for different inks and applications
* One power amplifier per nozzle row (not simple two-level switching)
* Supports unique analog pulse shapes for each sub-droplet
* Provides intuitive hardware–software integration with global technical support