Liquid Discharge Head Integrated Heater for Compact Thermal Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge heads face challenges in accurately adjusting the temperature of the liquid in the pressure chamber due to a long distance between the heater and the pressure chamber, which increases the size of the head when the heater is placed nearby.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge head is designed with a piezoelectric element laminated on a pressure chamber substrate, featuring individual and common electrodes, a piezoelectric body, drive wiring, and a heating resistor made of the same material as the electrodes and wiring, allowing for efficient heating and temperature control within the head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the heater is disposed in the vicinity of the pressure chamber to improve temperature adjustment accuracy, then the temperature control precision is improved, but the size of the liquid discharge head is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heater and the piezoelectric element into a single integrated component structure. The heater is formed as part of the piezoelectric element assembly, allowing thermal contact with the pressure chamber while maintaining a compact footprint. This integration eliminates the need for separate heater mounting structures and reduces overall head size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a planar arrangement of components to a three-dimensional stacked configuration. The heater is positioned in the thickness direction (Z-axis) adjacent to the pressure chamber, utilizing the vertical dimension rather than expanding the horizontal footprint. This layered structure allows close thermal coupling without increasing the lateral size of the discharge head.
2Volume of moving object
If the heater is placed far from the pressure chamber to maintain compact size, then the device size is reduced, but the thermal transfer efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a thermal conduction path through the piezoelectric element itself, which serves as an intermediary between the heater and the pressure chamber. The piezoelectric element has high thermal conductivity and acts as a heat transfer medium, efficiently conducting thermal energy from the heater to the pressure chamber liquid despite the heater being positioned in the thickness direction rather than directly adjacent to the chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes thin film structures in the stacked architecture to maintain thermal contact. The piezoelectric element and surrounding components are formed as thin films or thin sections that minimize thermal resistance while maintaining structural integrity. This thin-film approach ensures efficient heat transfer through the layered structure without requiring large gaps or thick barriers.
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 configuration allows for improved thermal transfer efficiency, enabling precise temperature adjustment of the ink in the pressure chamber, while maintaining a compact size of the liquid discharge head.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric body provided between the individual electrode and the common electrode in a lamination direction of the piezoelectric element and provided to apply pressure to a liquid in the pressure chamber
Implementation Method 2
a heating resistor that is formed of the same material as any of the individual electrode, the common electrode, and the drive wiring, and provided to heat the liquid in the pressure chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge head includes a pressure chamber substrate that has a plurality of pressure chambers, a piezoelectric element that is laminated at the pressure chamber substrate, and has an individual electrode individually provided for each of the plurality of pressure chambers, a common electrode commonly provided for the plurality of pressure chambers, and a piezoelectric body provided between the individual electrode and the common electrode in a lamination direction of the piezoelectric element and provided to apply pressure to a liquid in the pressure chamber, a drive wiring that is electrically coupled to the individual electrode and the common electrode, and provided to apply a voltage for driving the piezoelectric body to the piezoelectric body, and a heating resistor that is formed of the same material as any of the individual electrode, the common electrode, and the drive wiring, and provided to heat the liquid in the pressure chamber.