A printhead comprises: a printing element; a driving circuit configured to drive the printing element; an analog signal processing circuit configured to process one or more analog signals; a bias circuit configured to supply a bias voltage to the analog signal processing circuit; and a control terminal to which a control signal is inputted, wherein, in a state where the analog signal processing circuit and the bias circuit are receiving a supply of power, it is possible to switch starting and stopping of at least one of the analog signal processing circuit and the bias circuit based on the control signal.

A drive circuit includes an amplification unit that amplifies a signal and outputs the amplified signal toward a node; and a voltage output unit that outputs a voltage responding to the signal toward the node during a predetermined period of a part or all of a period in which a magnitude of a voltage change of the signal is less than or equal to a threshold. The amplification unit includes a differential amplifier, a selector, and transistors, and the voltage output unit includes a linear amplifier and a switch.

A method of printing an image using a printing system having first and second overlapping printhead segments. The method includes the steps of: (i) identifying a strip of the image to be printed in an overlap region of the first and second printhead segments; (ii) determining a continuous seam in the strip based on a cost function, the cost function including a parameter selected from the group consisting of: (a) minimizing a density of printed ink along the seam; and (b) maximizing a luminance along the seam; and (iii) printing the image using the first and second printhead segments, the printing including stitching the first and second printhead segments across the seam. The strip contains variable image content and the seam has a varying position within the strip.

A method of printing an image using a printing system having first and second overlapping printhead segments. The method includes the steps of: (i) identifying a strip of the image to be printed in an overlap region of the first and second printhead segments; (ii) identifying a foreground image and a background image for image content contained in the strip; (iii) determining a seam in the foreground image; (iv) printing the foreground image using only nozzles from the first printhead segment at one side of the seam and only nozzles from the second printhead segment at the other side of the seam; and (v) printing the background image using nozzles from both the first and second printhead segments across the overlap region.

A drive circuit includes an amplification unit that amplifies a signal and outputs the amplified signal toward a node; and a voltage output unit that outputs a voltage responding to the signal toward the node during a predetermined period of a part or all of a period in which a magnitude of a voltage change of the signal is less than or equal to a threshold. The amplification unit includes a differential amplifier, a selector, and transistors, and the voltage output unit includes a linear amplifier and a switch.

A head drive IC includes: a first waveform input part to which a first waveform signal being used for generation of drive signals is inputted; a second waveform input part to which a second waveform signal different from the first waveform signal and being used for generation of the drive signals is inputted; a switching signal input part to which a switching signal is inputted; and an input switching circuit which performs switching between a state in which both of the input of the first waveform signal and the input of the second waveform signal are allowed, and a state in which the input of the first waveform signal is allowed and the input of the second waveform signal is blocked.

A head drive IC includes: a first waveform input part to which a first waveform signal being used for generation of drive signals is inputted; a second waveform input part to which a second waveform signal different from the first waveform signal and being used for generation of the drive signals is inputted; a switching signal input part to which a switching signal is inputted; and an input switching circuit which performs switching between a state in which both of the input of the first waveform signal and the input of the second waveform signal are allowed, and a state in which the input of the first waveform signal is allowed and the input of the second waveform signal is blocked.