Driving Signal Output Circuit Segmentation for Liquid Discharge Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of discharge sections in liquid discharge apparatuses leads to a decrease in operational stability and waveform accuracy of the driving signal output circuit due to increased heat generation and wiring impedance, which existing technologies, such as those using class D amplifier circuits, are insufficient to address.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge apparatus with a driving signal output circuit that includes an integrated circuit, surface-mount type transistors, and a coil, where the transistors are configured to change terminal couplings based on control signals, and the coil is strategically positioned to minimize wiring length and reduce noise interference, operating as a class D amplifier circuit with optimized transistor frequencies to improve stability and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of discharge sections is increased to improve liquid discharge rate and miniaturization, then productivity is improved, but heat generation and wiring impedance increase causing operational stability and waveform accuracy to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The driving signal output circuit is segmented into multiple independent amplifier circuits, each capable of driving a specific group of piezoelectric elements. This segmentation distributes the current load across multiple circuits, reducing heat generation and wiring impedance in each individual circuit while maintaining the ability to drive a large total number of discharge sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimensional approach (one amplifier circuit driving all piezoelectric elements) to a multi-dimensional architecture where multiple amplifier circuits are arranged in a systematic configuration. This dimensional expansion allows parallel current paths and distributed heat dissipation, resolving the contradiction between driving capacity and operational stability.
2Productivity
If the number of discharge sections is increased to improve liquid discharge rate, then productivity is improved, but waveform accuracy of the driving signal deteriorates due to increased wiring impedance
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the driving signal output circuit into multiple amplifier circuits with separate current paths, each circuit maintains low wiring impedance independently. This segmentation ensures that the driving signal waveform accuracy is preserved for each group of piezoelectric elements driven, even when the total number of discharge sections is large.
3Productivity
If the amount of current output by the driving signal output circuit is increased to drive more piezoelectric elements, then productivity is improved, but heat generation increases causing operational stability to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The total current requirement is segmented across multiple amplifier circuits, each handling a portion of the total load. This distribution reduces the current density and heat generation in each individual circuit while achieving the capability to drive a large total number of piezoelectric elements through parallel operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of high heat generation into a benefit by using the heat dissipation capacity of multiple distributed circuits. The heat that would concentrate in a single circuit is instead distributed across multiple circuits, each operating at lower temperature, thereby improving overall operational stability while maintaining high productivity.
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 stabilizes the operation of the driving signal output circuit and enhances the waveform accuracy even when driving a large number of piezoelectric elements, such as 5000 or more, while reducing power consumption and heat generation.
Implementation Method 1
a discharge head that includes a piezoelectric element and discharges a liquid by driving the piezoelectric element
Implementation Method 2
a coil that has one end electrically coupled to the first transistor and the second transistor, and the other end electrically coupled to the discharge head
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus includes a first transistor in which a second terminal and a third terminal are electrically coupled to according to a first terminal, a second transistor in which a fifth terminal and a sixth terminal are electrically coupled to according to a fourth terminal, and a coil that has one end electrically coupled to the second terminal and the sixth terminal, and the other end electrically coupled to the discharge head, a shortest distance between the second terminal and the one end of the coil is shorter than that between the third terminal and the one end of the coil, a shortest distance between the sixth terminal and the one end of the coil is shorter than that between the fifth terminal and the one end of the coil.