Adaptive Drive Pulse Control for Piezoelectric Liquid Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid discharge methods using piezoelectric elements are not compatible with rectangular wave-shaped drive pulses, and require adaptable drive pulses to accommodate varying recording conditions such as discharge amount, rate, and dot coverage, which current technologies fail to address effectively.

Innovation Solution

A liquid discharge method that acquires specific discharge characteristics, determines a drive pulse using a weighting method prioritizing the first discharge characteristic over the second, and applies this pulse to a drive element to achieve desired discharge characteristics, including varying potentials and potential changes, thereby imparting various characteristics to the discharged liquid and formed dots.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a rectangular wave-shaped drive pulse is applied to a piezoelectric element, then the drive element can be controlled, but the discharge characteristics cannot be adapted to various recording conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to recording conditionsVSAvoiddrive pulse control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the drive pulse waveform adaptable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically generates drive pulses with varying waveforms (rectangular, triangular, sinusoidal, etc.) and adjusts parameters such as pulse width, amplitude, and frequency according to the required discharge characteristics. This allows the same piezoelectric element to achieve different discharge behaviors for varying recording conditions without hardware changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter changes by modifying multiple parameters of the drive pulse including waveform type, pulse width modulation, amplitude levels, and frequency. The control unit selects and adjusts these parameters based on the desired discharge amount, rate, and dot coverage, enabling precise control over liquid discharge characteristics while using a single piezoelectric element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If different drive pulses are applied to achieve various discharge characteristics, then recording condition adaptability improves, but the control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge characteristic variabilityVSAvoidcontrol operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs self-service by automatically determining the appropriate drive pulse parameters based on the recording conditions. The system includes built-in determination logic that selects suitable waveforms and parameters without requiring manual intervention or complex external control mechanisms. The control unit autonomously adjusts pulse characteristics to achieve the desired discharge behavior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies universality by designing a single control unit that can generate multiple types of drive pulses (rectangular, triangular, sinusoidal, and other waveforms) and adapt them to various recording conditions. This multi-functional control approach eliminates the need for separate control mechanisms for different discharge characteristics, simplifying the overall system while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method enables the realization of various discharge characteristics, ensuring optimal dot formation on a recording medium by adapting the drive pulse to the specific recording conditions, thereby improving the precision and quality of the discharge process.

Implementation Method 1

when the drive element is a piezoelectric element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11491779B2Liquid discharge method, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing drive pulse determination program, and liquid discharge apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.11.08 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A liquid discharge method of discharging a liquid from a nozzle of a liquid discharge head by applying a drive pulse to a drive element of the liquid discharge head includes an acquisition step of acquiring a recording condition including a first discharge characteristic and a second discharge characteristic of the liquid from the liquid discharge head, a determination step of determining the drive pulse to be applied to the drive element, based on the recording condition, and a driving step of applying the drive pulse determined in the determination step to the drive element. In the liquid discharge method, in the determination step, the drive pulse is determined by a determination method subjected to weighting in which a weight of the first discharge characteristic is greater than a weight of the second discharge characteristic.