A liquid discharge system including a piezoelectric element that is displaced in accordance with a drive signal and discharges liquid; a drive signal output circuit that outputs the drive signal; a measurement circuit that measures a first capacitance of the piezoelectric element; and a determination circuit that determines a deterioration state of the piezoelectric element based on the first capacitance.

Various embodiments disclose a method for operating a printer apparatus. The method comprising monitoring a utilization rate of each heating element in a first set of heating elements defined by a print head arrangement. Further, the method comprises generating a utilization dataset based upon monitoring of the utilization rate of each heating element in the first set of heating elements print head arrangement. Furthermore, the method includes analyzing the utilization dataset to identify one or more overutilized heating elements of the first set of heating elements. Additionally, the method includes identifying a second set of heating elements defined by the print head arrangement. The second set of heating elements comprises a portion of the first set of heating elements exclusive of the one or more overutilized heating elements. The method further includes processing a print job. The processed print job utilized the second set of heating elements during printing.

According to one embodiment, an actuator of a liquid ejection head is supplied with a drive signal including a first waveform and at least one second waveform. First waveform includes a first change from a first voltage to a second voltage, and a second change from the second voltage to a third voltage less than the first voltage. A second waveform begins after a time equal to one half of the natural oscillation period of liquid in a pressure chamber of the liquid ejection head. The second waveform includes a change from the third voltage to the second voltage and a change from second voltage to the third voltage after a time less than one half of the natural oscillation period.

An integrated circuit to drive a plurality of fluid actuation devices includes a strain gauge sensor, an amplifier, and a voltage bias generator. The strain gauge sensor generates a strain gauge signal. The amplifier amplifies the strain gauge signal. The voltage bias generator offsets the amplified strain gauge signal.

Example implementations relate to a method to manage printhead operational life; the method comprising firing at least one nozzle of a printhead according to an associated firing parameter to produce a respective drop of print liquid, measuring a parameter associated with the drop of print liquid, and adjusting the firing parameter in response to the measuring to reduce the measured parameter associated with the drop of print liquid on a subsequent firing while maintaining the firing parameter at or above a predetermined parameter limit to maintain print image quality.

An electronic device inputs a voltage from each of a first and a second constant voltage sources, amplifies the inputted voltage, and converts the inputted voltage or a voltage amplified by an amplifier into a digital value. Using a first and a second digital values based on the inputted voltage, and a third and fourth digital values based on the inputted, amplified and converted voltage, an amplification factor of the amplifier and an offset voltage of the amplifier are calculated, and the amplifier is corrected based on the calculated amplification factor and offset voltage.

Current usage metrics are maintained for a consumable of a resource. A history of usage metrics associated with consumable and other consumables used by the resource are acquired for the resource. A predicted date for which the consumable will need a replacement consumable is predicted based on one or more of the current usage metrics and the history of usage metrics. The replacement consumable is ordered on a second date that precedes the predicted date ensuring that the replacement consumable arrives at a site where the resource is located before the predicted date.

Various embodiments disclose a method for operating a printer apparatus. The method comprising monitoring a utilization rate of each heating element in a first set of heating elements defined by a print head arrangement. Further, the method comprises generating a utilization dataset based upon monitoring of the utilization rate of each heating element in the first set of heating elements print head arrangement. Furthermore, the method includes analyzing the utilization dataset to identify one or more overutilized heating elements of the first set of heating elements. Additionally, the method includes identifying a second set of heating elements defined by the print head arrangement. The second set of heating elements comprises a portion of the first set of heating elements exclusive of the one or more overutilized heating elements. The method further includes processing a print job. The processed print job utilized the second set of heating elements during printing.

Current usage metrics are maintained for a consumable of a resource. A history of usage metrics associated with consumable and other consumables used by the resource are acquired for the resource. A predicted date for which the consumable will need a replacement consumable is predicted based on one or more of the current usage metrics and the history of usage metrics. The replacement consumable is ordered on a second date that precedes the predicted date ensuring that the replacement consumable arrives at a site where the resource is located before the predicted date.

A liquid ejection apparatus, an ejection control method, and a liquid ejection head are capable of suppressing shortening of the life of the liquid ejection head and maintaining stable ejection operation. For this purpose, voltage is applied to upper electrodes and counter electrodes so as to make the voltage at the upper electrodes lower than the voltage at the counter electrodes before heat generating resistive elements are driven, and voltage is applied to the upper electrodes and the counter electrodes so as to make the voltage at the upper electrodes higher than the voltage at the counter electrodes at the same time as or after the start of driving of the heat generating resistive elements.