Liquid Ejection Head Substrate Temperature Control via Merged Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection head substrates face challenges in maintaining temperature distribution and ink ejection consistency at low temperatures, particularly due to increased space and manufacturing costs associated with providing temperature detection and heating elements for each ejection port array, which affects image quality and printing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection head substrate design featuring a supply port array between energy generating element arrays, with temperature detection elements on one side and heating elements on the other, allowing for efficient temperature regulation across the substrate while minimizing the area and cost by reducing the number of temperature detection and heating elements required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If temperature detection elements and heating elements are provided for each ejection port array, then temperature distribution can be regulated, but the number of elements increases causing larger substrate area and higher manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple temperature detection elements and heating elements into single elements that serve the entire substrate. Specifically, one temperature detection element detects temperature across the substrate, and one heating element heats the entire substrate, eliminating the need for multiple individual elements for each ejection port array.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature detection element and heating element are designed to serve multiple ejection port arrays simultaneously. The temperature detection element detects temperature distribution across the entire substrate regardless of how many ejection port arrays are present, and the heating element provides uniform heating across the whole substrate, making the system universal and adaptable to different configurations without requiring additional elements.
2Measurement precision
If temperature detection elements and heating elements are provided for each ejection port array, then temperature control precision improves, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple temperature detection functions into a single temperature detection element and multiple heating functions into a single heating element. This merging reduces the total number of components that need to be manufactured, assembled, and tested, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining adequate temperature control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal temperature detection element and heating element can serve any number of ejection port arrays, making the manufacturing process simpler and more cost-effective. Instead of manufacturing and assembling multiple specialized elements, a single pair of universal elements is used, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Temperature
If temperature detection elements and heating elements are arranged close to each other, then local temperature control improves, but temperature detection accuracy decreases due to heating interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the temperature detection and heating functions spatially by placing the temperature detection element and heating element on opposite sides of the substrate. This segmentation prevents the heating element from interfering with the temperature detection element, ensuring accurate temperature measurements while still enabling effective temperature control of the entire substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate itself acts as an intermediary medium between the heating element and temperature detection element. The heating element heats the substrate, and the temperature detection element measures the temperature of the substrate, which then uniformly distributes the heat to all ejection port arrays. This intermediary approach allows temperature control without direct proximity between heating and detection elements.
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 effectively maintains consistent ink ejection volume and quality by accurately regulating temperature distribution, suppressing variations in ejection volume and speed, and reducing the substrate's area and manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element that is configured to heat the liquid ejection head substrate
Implementation Method 2
a temperature detection element that is configured to detect a temperature of the liquid ejection head substrate
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of energy generating element arrays each including a plurality of energy generating elements configured to generate energy for ejecting liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection head substrate includes:a plurality of energy generating element arrays each including a plurality of energy generating elements configured to generate energy for ejecting liquid;a supply port array in which a plurality of supply ports configured to supply liquid to the plurality of energy generating elements are arranged between the plurality of energy generating element arrays in an arrangement direction in which the plurality of energy generating elements are arranged;a temperature detection element that is configured to detect a temperature of the liquid ejection head substrate and that is provided on one side of the supply port array; anda heating element that is configured to heat the liquid ejection head substrate and that is provided on the other side of the supply port array.