Amplifier Gain Control for Cable Attenuation in Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses fail to account for varying attenuation characteristics of cables due to bending and stretching, leading to signal distortion and potential damage from incorrect gain settings in amplification processes.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a transceiver circuit, a movable carriage, a counter to track movement, and an amplifier circuit that adjusts its gain based on the count value to compensate for changing attenuation characteristics of the cable, ensuring accurate signal amplification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the amplifier circuit uses a fixed gain setting, then the circuit design is simple, but the signal amplification becomes inaccurate when cable attenuation characteristics change due to bending and stretching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the control circuit detect the movement state of the carriage (which changes cable attenuation) and automatically adjust the amplifier gain accordingly. The counter detects carriage movement, and based on this feedback, the control circuit modifies the gain setting to compensate for varying cable attenuation, ensuring accurate signal amplification despite physical cable changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a static fixed gain amplifier to a dynamic adjustable gain system. The amplifier gain is no longer fixed but dynamically adjusted based on the detected carriage movement state. This allows the amplification characteristics to adapt in real-time to changing cable conditions caused by carriage movement.
2Reliability
If the amplifier circuit uses high gain to compensate for maximum cable attenuation, then signal transmission is reliable under worst-case conditions, but the amplifier may output excessive signal strength when cable attenuation is low, causing distortion or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit uses feedback from the carriage movement detection to dynamically set appropriate gain levels. When the carriage is in positions that cause high cable attenuation, the gain is increased to maintain signal strength. When the carriage moves to positions with lower attenuation, the gain is reduced accordingly, preventing excessive signal output that could cause distortion or damage to the amplifier.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the amplifier gain parameter dynamically based on the detected carriage movement state. Instead of using a fixed high gain setting, the system adjusts the gain parameter to match the actual cable attenuation conditions, optimizing both signal reliability and preventing harmful over-amplification effects.
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
The solution effectively amplifies signals transmitted through cables with varying attenuation characteristics, preventing signal distortion and damage by dynamically adjusting the amplifier gain in response to the carriage's movement, thereby maintaining signal integrity and apparatus safety.
Implementation Method 1
an amplifier circuit mounted on the carriage which receives the signal from the transceiver circuit through a cable and amplifies the received signal
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: a transceiver circuit configured to transmit a signal. A carriage having a recording head is movable relative to the transceiver circuit. A counter counts how many times the carriage moves. An amplifier circuit mounted on the carriage receives the signal from the transceiver circuit through a cable and amplifies the received signal. A carriage controller changes a gain of the amplifier circuit, based on a count value of the counter.