Flow Path Component Inclined Plane Reduces Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid discharge heads, the existing flow path components face challenges in achieving both necessary depth and length for individual communication openings, leading to increased flow path resistance and pressure loss, which hinders miniaturization and discharge efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A flow path component is designed with a hollow portion in a silicon substrate where the sum of the individual flow path length and depth exceeds the substrate thickness, allowing for adjustable length and depth independent of each other, using an inclined plane to optimize flow path resistance and inertance, and improve dischargeability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the length of the individual communication opening is increased to reduce inertance, then the depth of the liquid chamber hollow portion becomes shallow, increasing flow path resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the individual communication opening from a single-dimensional hole through the substrate into a multi-dimensional structure that includes both a through-opening and an extended portion within the liquid chamber hollow portion. This dimensional extension allows the flow path length to be increased without proportionally increasing the opening diameter, thereby reducing inertance while maintaining manageable flow path resistance through optimized geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The individual communication opening is segmented into two functional portions: a through-opening portion that penetrates the substrate and an extended portion that resides within the liquid chamber hollow portion. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each portion's dimensions and characteristics, enabling the through-opening to be minimized for structural integrity while the extended portion provides the necessary flow path length for reduced inertance.
2Loss of energy
If the depth of the liquid chamber hollow portion is increased to suppress pressure loss, then the length of the individual communication opening becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension within the liquid chamber hollow portion to extend the individual communication opening beyond what would be achievable with a simple through-substrate opening. By allowing the opening to extend into the depth of the liquid chamber, the effective flow path length is increased without requiring a proportionally deeper substrate penetration, thereby maintaining adequate opening length while suppressing pressure loss through increased liquid chamber depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The extended portion of the individual communication opening is strategically positioned within the liquid chamber hollow portion where local space availability allows for additional length. This local quality optimization enables the flow path to be lengthened in regions where it is most beneficial for reducing inertance, while the liquid chamber depth is increased in regions where it helps suppress pressure loss without interfering with each other.
Data Source
AI summary
An inclined plane which inclines toward a lower plane of a ceiling portion, that is, the lower plane of a communication substrate from a ceiling plane of a second liquid chamber is formed in the second liquid chamber of the communication substrate. Therefore, an individual communication opening is formed, in a state of penetrating the communication substrate from the inclined plane. One end (lower end) of the individual communication opening communicates with the second liquid chamber by being open onto the inclined plane, and the other end (upper end) of the individual communication opening individually communicates with a pressure chamber of a pressure chamber forming substrate by being open onto an upper plane of the communication substrate. When a thickness of the communication substrate is referred to as T, a length of the individual communication opening is referred to as L, and a substantial depth of the second liquid chamber is referred to as D, the dimensions are configured so as to be L+D>T.