Background

[0001] Hardware changes may be performed to a printer after its introduction into the market, for example to solve performance or reliability issues. When such hardware changes affect the printer motor, it is desirable that the printer be able to determine motor characteristics, for example, detect which version of the printer motor is installed in order to correspondingly adapt the respective firmware parameters for the printer motor to operate properly.

Description of Drawings

[0002] The following detailed description will best be understood with reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0003] Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a printer according to an example;

[0004] Fig. 2 shows a flow diagram of a method of determining a characteristic of a printer motor in a printer according to an example;

[0005] Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a motor configuration module according to an example.

Description of Examples

[0006] Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a printer 10 according to an example. The printer 10 may be, may include, or may be part of a desktop printer, a large format printer, a plotter or the like, for example. The printer 10 maybe a 2D printer or a 3D printer.

[0007] The printer 10 may print a printable medium 30 with a printing fluid. In the example described, the printing fluid may be an ink, such as a color ink, including CMYK inks, and white ink. The ink may be a latex ink or another type of ink. In other examples, the printing fluid can be a type of conditioning fluid used in inkjet type printers, including 2D and 3D printer.

[0008] In the example described, the printable medium 30 may a printable material, which can be a sheet-like material, such as paper, cardboard, plastic, fabric or the like. The printer 10 may comprise one or more printheads to print the printable medium 30.

[0009] The printer 10 comprises a printer motor 12. In the example described, the printer motor 12 is a motor to convey the printable medium 30, such that the printable medium is moved with respect to the printer 10 in order to be printed. The printer motor 12 may comprise rolling elements, a conveyor belt, and the like. The printer motor 12 may be a stepper motor to generate the motion to convey the printable medium 30. The printer motor 12 may be or comprise a rotor to generate a rotation motion usable to convey the printable medium 30. The printer motor 12 may move the printable medium 30 to be printed with respect to the printer so that different regions of the printable medium 30 can be printed. The printer 10 may comprise a plurality of printer motors 12.

[00010] The printer 10 comprises an encoder 14 coupled to the printer motor 12 to detect a motion of the printer motor 12. The encoder 14 can be a distance-tracking or rotationtracking device to generate a plurality of signal pulses, which can be relatively high-resolution timing pulses, as the printer motor 12 moves. This may allow tracking in fine increments the movement of the printer motor 12. The encoder 14 may generate a number of signal pulses per unit of time (or per unit of movement or rotation of the printer motor 12 or a movable part thereof), for example per second, that is higher when the printer motor 12 operates faster to move the printable medium 30 faster and is lower when the printer motor 12 operates slower to move the printable medium 30 slower.

[00011] A maximum number of signal pulses generable by the encoder 14 per unit of time (or per unit of movement or rotation of the printer motor 12) may correspond to a resolution of the encoder 14. In other words, a ratio of signal pulses detectable by the encoder 14 by unit of speed of the printer motor 12 may correspond to the resolution of the encoder 14.

[00012] For example, if the encoder 14 is a rotatable encoder coupled to a rotor of the printer motor 12, the number of signal pulses generated by the encoder 14 per unit of time may be higher when the rotor of the printer motor 12 rotates faster while it may be lower when the rotor of the printer motor 12 rotates slower. If the rotor of the printer motor 12 rotates at 1 rpm, an encoder having a resolution of 32 may generate 32 signal pulses per minute (i.e. per rotation of the rotor of the printer motor 12), while an encoder having a resolution of 64 may generate 64 signal pulses per minute (i.e. per rotation of the rotor of the printer motor 12). If the rotor of the printer motor 12 rotates at 2 rpm, an encoder having a resolution of 32 may generate 64 signal pulses per minute (i.e. per rotation of the rotor of the printer motor 12), while an encoder having a resolution of 64 may generate 128 signal pulses per minute (i.e. per rotation of the rotor of the printer motor 12).

[00013] The resolution of the encoder 14 may be determined by a number of hardwarebased characteristic of the encoder 14, for example by a number of detecting units, such as photodiodes or the like, of the encoder 14. The resolution of the encoder 14 may be specifically adapted to a given printer motor 12 and may hence be used for identifying the type of printer motor 12 used in the printer 10. [00014] The printer 10 may comprise a control module 16 to control an operation of the printer motor 12 and a motor configuration module 20. The motor configuration module 20 may comprise a voltage control unit 22 to apply a predetermined voltage to the printer motor 12 during a predetermined time, a counter unit 24 to count a number of signal pulses detected by the encoder 14 while the voltage control unit 22 applies the predetermined voltage to the printer motor 12 during the predetermined time, and a parameter reconfiguration unit 26 to reconfigure at least one control parameter used to control the printer motor 12 based on a number of signal pulses counted by the counter unit 24 during the predetermined time, while the predetermined voltage is applied to the printer motor 12.

[00015] The motor configuration module may further comprise a speed unit 28 to determine a speed of the printer motor 12. The parameter reconfiguration unit 26 may then be programmed to reconfigure the at least one control parameter based on the number of signal pulses counted by the counter unit 24 during the predetermined time and also based on a speed of the printer motor 12 determined by the speed unit 28.

[00016] The printer motor 12 may operate faster or slower depending on a voltage applied to the printer motor 12 by a voltage control unit 22 of the motor configuration module 20. For example, a rotor of the printer motor 12 may rotate faster when a higher voltage is applied to the printer motor 12 by the voltage control unit 22 and may rotate slower for a lower voltage. The control module 16 may control an operation of the printer 10, including an operation of the printer motor 12 and possibly of one or more printheads of the printer. The control module 16 may for example allow a voltage provided by the voltage control unit 22 to be applied (or not) to the printer motor 12.

[00017] The voltage control unit 22 and the control module 16 may apply a predetermined voltage to the printer motor 12 for a predetermined time. A number of signal pulses produced by the encoder 14 coupled to the printer motor 12 during the predetermined time may depend on the duration of the predetermined time, on the predetermined voltage applied to the printer motor 12 during the predetermined time and on the settings of the printer motor 12. If a given predetermined voltage is applied over a given predetermined time to the printer motor 12, depending on the settings of the printer motor 12 this may cause the printer motor to operate faster or slower in reaction to the applied voltage.

[00018] The counter unit 24 may register a number of signal pulses generated by the encoder 14 while a predetermined voltage V is applied to the printer motor 12 for a predetermined time T. [00019] The speed unit 28 may determine a speed of the printer motor 12 and may be used to calibrate the printer motor 12 by registering different speeds of the printer motor 12 when different predetermined voltages are applied to the printer motor 12. Knowing a speed at which the printer motor 12 operates when provided with a given predetermined voltage, it is possible to infer a resolution of the encoder 14 from a number of signal pulses generated by the encoder 14 when the predetermined voltage is applied to the printer motor 12 for a predetermined time.

[00020] Fig. 2 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method 100 of determining a characteristic of a printer motor 12 in the printer 10 according to an example. The method 100 may be implemented by a motor configuration module 20 installed in the printer 10. The motor configuration module 20 may be hardware-based or software-based.

[00021] At 102, a predetermined voltage is applied to the printer motor 12 by the voltage control unit 22, and the speed unit 28 determines a speed at which the printer motor 12 operates triggered by the predetermined voltage V.

[00022] As a consequence of 102, it is known at which speed the printer motor 12 operates when provided with a voltage corresponding to the predetermined voltage V. In other examples, at 102, a general relationship between a voltage applied to the printer motor 12 and a speed at which the printer motor 12 operates can be determined, for example as a curve or as a table of values of the speed v of the printer motor 12 as a function of the voltage V applied to the printer motor 12.

[00023] At 104, a predetermined voltage V is applied to the printer motor 12 during a predetermined time T by the voltage control unit 22. The predetermined voltage V may be a voltage for which a corresponding speed v of the printer motor has been determined at 102. As a consequence of a predetermined voltage V being applied to the printer motor 12 at 104, the printer motor 12 operates at a corresponding speed v during the predetermined time T, at least after an initial stabilization time after the predetermined voltage V starts being applied to the printer motor 12.

[00024] At 106, the counter unit 24 of the motor configuration module 20 registers a number of signal pulses generated by the encoder 14 during the predetermined time T while the predetermined voltage V is applied to the printer motor 12, i.e. while the printer motor 12 is operating at the speed v. 106 may take place concurrently with 104 or after 104.

[00025] The number of signal pulses generated by the encoder may be associated to a characteristic of the printer motor 12 to thereby determine said characteristic of the printer motor 12. For example, taking into account the speed v at which the printer motor 12 operates when provided with the predetermined voltage V, it is possible to infer a resolution of the encoder 14 of the printer 10 from a number of signal pulses generated by the encoder 14 during the predetermined time T while the predetermined voltage V is being applied to the printer motor 12.

[00026] Said characteristic of the printer motor may be determined out of a predetermined set of characteristics of the printer motor, for example out of a predetermined set of different resolutions of the encoder 14. In some examples, the number of signal pulses detected by the encoder 14 during the predetermined time T maybe compared with a sequence of predetermined ranges of numbers of signal pulses, each associated to a different resolution of the printer motor. In the example illustrated in Fig. 2, at 1081 to IO8N, the number of signal pulses detected by the encoder 14 during the predetermined time T is associated is sequentially checked for compatibility with a plurality of N predetermined ranges of numbers of signal pulses.

[00027] If the number of signal pulses detected at 106 is determined at 1081 to be within a first range, it may be determined that the resolution of the encoder 14 corresponds to a first resolution associated to the first range. Accordingly, at 11O1 the parameter reconfiguration unit 26 of the motor configuration module 20 may reconfigure at least one parameter used by the control module 16 to control the printer motor 12 to adapt to a first type of printer motor “motori” accordingly, based on the first resolution. This may for example comprise adapting a firmware of the printer 10 to the characteristics of the encoder 14 and of the printer motor 12 associated thereto .

[00028] If the number of signal pulses detected by the encoder 14 during the predetermined time T is not determined at 1081 to correspond to the first range, it may be subsequently checked whether it corresponds to any of the subsequent ranges at steps 1082 (not shown) to IO8N, until compatibility with one of the ranges can be asserted. Then, the parameter reconfiguration unit 26 of the motor configuration module 20 may reconfigure at least one parameter used by the control module 16 to control the printer motor 12 to adapt to a corresponding type of printer motor (e.g. “motori”, ..., “motorN”) accordingly, based on the corresponding resolution. This may for example comprise adapting a firmware of the printer 10 to the characteristics of the encoder 14 and of the printer motor 12 associated thereto.

[00029] If the number of signal pulses is for example determined to correspond to the Nth-range at IO8N, the parameter reconfiguration unit 26 may reconfigure the one or more control parameters to adapt to the N-th type of printer motor “motorN” accordingly based on an N-th resolution of the encoder 14 associated to the N-th-range at HON. [00030] According to some examples, the different ranges of numbers of signal pulses, each associated to a possible value of the resolution of the encoder 14, may be determined after 104, for example by the motor configuration module 20, based on the corresponding speeds v at which the printer motor 12 operates when provided with different values of the predetermined voltage V. The different ranges may be defined including a tolerance margin around a corresponding exact number of signal pulses. Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram showing two ranges (windows) of expected numbers of signal pulses to be counted during the predetermined time T for a given predetermined voltage V applied to the printer motor 12. The first (left-most) range may be associated to a first characteristic of the of the printer motor 12, for instance to a first resolution of the encoder 14, while the second (right-most) range may be associated to a second characteristic of the printer motor 12, for instance to a second resolution of the encoder 14. The first and second ranges may be determined based on the corresponding speed at which the printer motor 12 operates when provided with the predetermined voltage V. The printer motor 12 is determined to be a printer motor of a first type if the number of signal pulses generated by the encoder 14 during the predetermined time T falls within the first (left-most) range and is determined to be a printer motor of a second type if the number of signal pulses generated by the encoder 14 during the predetermined time T falls within the second (right-most) range.

[00031] Back to Fig. 2, optionally, if the number of signal pulses generated by the encoder 14 during the predetermined time T at 106 cannot be associated with any of the first to N-th-ranges, a diagnostic test may be run at 112.

[00032] Accordingly, it is possible to automatically detect the version or type of a printer motor 12 assembled in the printer 10 based on a resolution of the encoder 14. This makes it unnecessary to keep supporting outdated firmware versions while enabling retrocompatibility in cases in which hardware modifications must be performed in a printer during a service intervention.

[00033] This is achieved by applying a known predetermined voltage V to the printer motor 12 and by tracking the number of signal pulses registered by the encoder 14 during a certain period of time T, while the predetermined voltage V is being applied to the printer motor 12. If a speed at which the printer motor 12 operates when supplied with a predetermined voltage V has been previously determined, it is possible to predict a corresponding range of numbers of signal pulses expected to be generated by the encoder 14 during a predetermined time T, during which the predetermined voltage V is applied to the printer motor 12. The number of signal pulses may depend on the speed of the printer motor 12 and on the resolution of the encoder 14. Depending on the range in which the number of signal pulses detected by the encoder 14 is determined to be, it is possible to recognise a model or version of the printer motor 12 installed in the printer 10 and to reconfigure control parameters of the printer motor 12 accordingly.

[00034] Such control parameters to be reconfigured may be related to a resolution of the encoder 12 and, additionally or alternatively, to a target speed of the printer motor 12. For example, different types of printer motor may have different gear ratios and reconfiguring control parameters related to a target speed of the printer motor 12 may allow setting a desired speed of movement of the printable medium 30 taking into account the corresponding gear ratio and the target speed of the printer motor 12. However, according to the present examples, it is possible to reconfigure control parameters related to any characteristic of the printer motor 12.

[00035] The functions of registering a number of signal pulses detected by the encoder 14 when a predetermined voltage V is applied to the printer motor 12 for a predetermined time T (cf. 1081 to IO8N in Fig. 2) and of reconfiguring at least one control parameter used by the control module 16 to control the printer motor 12 based on the number of signal pulses detected by the encoder 14 during the predetermined time T (cf. 11O1 to HON in Fig. 2) may be implemented by a hardware-based or software-based motor configuration module 20 installable in the printer 10.

[00036] The speed unit 28 of the motor configuration module 20 may programmed to determine a speed v of the printer motor when the predetermined voltage V is applied to the printer motor (cf. 102 in Fig. 2). The determined speed v may be taken into account for reconfiguring the at least one control parameter.

[00037] The parameter reconfiguration unit 26 of the motor configuration module 20 may be programmed to reconfigure the at least one control parameter by setting the at least one control parameter to correspond to at least one predefined parameter associated with the number of signal pulses detected by the encoder 14 during the predetermined time T.

[00038] The description is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to any of the examples described above. The printer, method and user interface disclosed herein can be implemented in various ways and with many modifications without altering the underlying basic properties. The methods and user interface can be implanted in a printer as shown in Fig. 1, including variations of that printer and other types of printers, as outlined above. Moreover, the aspects of the printer, the methods and the user interface described herein can be combined, in total and in part, and can be modified within the scope of the following claims.