Drive Circuit Timing Adjustment for Inkjet Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as inkjet printers, the use of switching transistors for amplifying drive signals leads to noise interference and reduced print quality due to simultaneous turn-on of transistors, affecting waveform reproducibility and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a drive circuit that includes separate unit circuits for each drive signal, using pairs of transistors and an adjustment unit to delay control signals, ensuring that transistors are not turned on simultaneously, thereby reducing spike noise and waveform disturbances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If switching transistors are used to amplify drive signals, then energy efficiency is improved, but noise interference increases and waveform reproducibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control signal timing is adjusted in advance to prevent simultaneous turn-on of transistors from occurring. The adjustment unit delays or advances control signals before they reach the transistor gates, ensuring that switching operations are staggered and noise interference is avoided before it can affect waveform reproducibility.
2Speed
If multiple transistors are turned on simultaneously, then processing speed is improved, but waveform reproducibility deteriorates due to noise
Solution Approach 1:
The timing adjustment unit applies a counteracting delay or advance to control signals in advance, preventing the harmful effect of simultaneous transistor turn-on. By anticipating and counteracting the timing conflict before it occurs, the system maintains waveform reproducibility while still allowing rapid sequential switching operations.
3Productivity
If transistors are turned on simultaneously, then operational efficiency is improved, but print quality deteriorates due to spike noise and waveform disturbance
Solution Approach 1:
Control signal timing is adjusted in advance to stagger transistor switching operations. The adjustment unit modifies the timing of control signals before they reach the transistors, ensuring that switching occurs sequentially rather than simultaneously, thereby preventing spike noise while maintaining operational efficiency.
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 prevents spike noise and malfunctions, allowing for accurate generation of drive signals and improved print quality by ensuring that transistors are not simultaneously activated, thus enhancing energy efficiency and reproducibility of waveforms.
Implementation Method 1
an ejecting unit which includes a piezoelectric element that is displaced by a drive signal being applied to the piezoelectric element and ejects liquid in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting unit that includes a piezoelectric element which is displaced by a first drive signal or a second drive signal; a first unit circuit that generates the first drive signal by using a first pair of transistors; a second unit circuit that generates the second drive signal by using a second pair of transistors; and an adjustment unit that delays at least one of a first control signal and a second control signal to supply the delayed control signal to a corresponding unit circuit, in a case where timing when a level of the first control signal for controlling the first pair of transistors changes and timing when a level of the second control signal for controlling the second pair of transistors changes are within a threshold time, and in a case where a predetermined condition is satisfied.