Control systems challenges in the HP personal ink jet printing application

This paper presents several of the major control systems challenges faced by the Hewlett-Packard Company in designing competitive ink jet mechanisms for today's desktop printer and multifunction device market. A discussion of the physical plants under control, as well as the performance goals and the constraints on the control system is provided. It is hoped that this paper would afford the control systems community a deeper understanding of the problems faced in the ink jet printer industry, and generate interest in solving these problems.