Ejection Element Substrate Layout for High-Density Liquid Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection heads face challenges in downsizing due to the large distance between arrays of liquid ejection ports, which increases the area of the ejection element substrate.
Innovation Solution
The ejection element substrate is designed with first and second energy generation elements and drive circuits arranged alternately in a main direction, along with common and individual flow paths, allowing for a compact layout that reduces the substrate area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple ink supply ports and through-holes are arranged between two arrays of liquid ejection ports, then the number of ejection ports is increased, but the distance between the two arrays becomes large, increasing the substrate area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional arrangement where ink supply ports and through-holes are positioned between two arrays of liquid ejection ports (requiring large spacing) to a configuration where liquid ejection ports are arranged in a single array with ink supply ports positioned adjacent to them. This dimensional reorganization eliminates the need for large inter-array spacing, reducing the substrate area while maintaining the number of ejection ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of liquid ejection ports and ink supply ports into a more compact integrated layout. By positioning ink supply ports adjacent to liquid ejection ports in the same array rather than separating them into two arrays with through-holes in between, the design combines spatial resources efficiently, reducing the overall substrate area required.
2Ease of manufacture
If the distance between two arrays of liquid ejection ports is increased to accommodate ink supply ports and through-holes, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the substrate area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reorganizes the spatial arrangement from a two-array configuration requiring large inter-array distance to a single-array configuration with adjacent port positioning. This dimensional change simplifies the manufacturing layout by eliminating the need for precise large-spacing alignment between arrays, while simultaneously reducing the substrate area.
Data Source
AI summary
An object is to reduce the area of an ejection element substrate. To this end, the ejection element substrate includes multiple n-th (n=1, 2) energy generation elements, multiple n-th drive circuits configured to drive the respective n-th energy generation elements, and an n-th selection circuit configured to select some of the n-th drive circuits from the multiple n-th drive circuits and cause the selected n-th drive circuits to drive some of the n-th energy generation elements corresponding to the selected n-th drive circuits, respectively. The multiple n-th drive circuits are arranged in a first direction, multiple first energy generation elements and multiple second energy generation elements are arranged side by side in a region between a region where multiple first drive circuits are arranged and a region where multiple second drive circuits are arranged such that a first direction is a main direction.