Apparatus and method using a combined read/write head for processing and storing read signals and for providing firing signals to thermally actuated ink ejection elements

Claim 1

A reproducing apparatus, comprising a semiconductor substrate; a photodetector fabricated on the substrate; an ink droplet ejector including: a heating element fabricated on the substrate; and means defining an ink chamber containing the heating element, the chamber including an orifice through which ink in the chamber can be ejected upon the heating of the heating element by electrical firing signals; and processing means coupled to the detector for processing and storing output signals produced by the photodetector and for providing to the heating element electrical firing signals corresponding to the stored output signals, the processor means including: a semiconductor read/write memory fabricated the substrate; means for writing data corresponding to output signals of the photodetector into the memory; and means for reading the data from the memory and for providing electrical firing signals corresponding thereto to the heating element.