Evaluation of crosstalk effects in inkjet printing with Xaar 1001

Abstract

Measurements of crosstalk-induced dot placement errors were conducted with the Xaar 1001 printhead printing in 3-phase mode using multiple different print patterns containing active pixels from nine neighboring channels on both sides of the monitored channel and including pixels from four earlier print cycles. The test data attributed a 'crosstalk weight factor' to each pixel proportional to its effect on the drop velocity of the monitored channel. The largest crosstalk effect was exerted by the nearest phase neighbor channels, and they reduced the drop velocity from the monitored channel. The 'crosstalk weight factors' of the other pixels was typically one order of magnitude smaller, and they were partially positive or negative, i.e. that they increase or decreased the drop velocity, respectively. The test results further proved that the total crosstalk effect of large print pattern as calculated by a linear superposition of the individual 'crosstalk weight factors' of the active pixels was within 4% of the measured data . The evaluation of crosstalk was further supported by measurements of the meniscus motion within the nozzle in real time. This provided the possibility to measure the pressure variations within printing and non-printing channels, and thus enable to monitor the 'pure' effect of crosstalk from neighboring channels. ©2011 Society for Imaging Science and Technology.