US Patent 7384111 Liquid ejection apparatus and method of controlling the same

A liquid ejection head includes a nozzle orifice communicated with a pressure chamber, and a pressure generating element. A drive signal generator generates a drive signal containing, within one cycle thereof, a first drive subsignal containing first drive pulses driving the pressure generating element so as to eject the liquid, and a second drive pulse driving the pressure generating element so as not to eject the liquid, and at least one second drive subsignal containing the first drive pulses without containing the second drive pulse. A pulse supplier selectively supplies at least one of the first drive pulses and the second drive pulse to the pressure generating element, in accordance with an amount of the liquid to be ejected. Each of the first drive subsignal and the second drive subsignal is associated with a minimum area subjected to the liquid ejection.