Fluidic Actuator Scheduling for Peak Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid ejection printers face challenges in efficiently managing the simultaneous firing of multiple fluidic actuators, leading to peak power consumption and potential reductions in print speed or quality, due to limitations in communication frequency and power supply capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an actuator selection engine and a balancing engine that schedules fluidic actuators across multiple fire pulse groups, ensuring that large sets of actuators are fired at distinct times to avoid simultaneous activation, thereby optimizing power usage and maintaining print speed and quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple fluidic actuators are fired simultaneously to improve print speed, then productivity increases, but peak power consumption increases beyond supply capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the set of fluidic actuators into multiple subsets or groups that are fired in sequential time slots rather than all simultaneously. The controller divides the actuator firing sequence into discrete groups, where each group contains a manageable number of actuators that can be powered within available power supply limits. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high overall productivity while preventing peak power consumption from exceeding supply capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by cycling through different groups of actuators in repeated time slots. Each time slot activates a specific subset of actuators, and this pattern repeats across multiple scan lines or print cycles. The periodic firing sequence ensures that power consumption remains within limits while maintaining continuous printing operation, as different actuator groups are activated in each period.
2Power
If the number of simultaneously firing actuators is reduced to lower peak power consumption, then power supply limitations are addressed, but print speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-planning and pre-organizing actuators into multiple groups before the printing operation begins. The controller analyzes the print data and assigns actuators to specific time slots and groups in advance, optimizing the firing sequence to minimize peak power consumption while maintaining print speed. This preliminary organization allows the system to execute the printing operation efficiently without real-time power management overhead.
3Power
If actuators are scheduled across multiple time slots to reduce peak power consumption, then power usage is optimized, but communication complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (the controller) that manages the scheduling and coordination of actuator firing sequences. The controller acts as a mediator between the print data and the actuators, translating complex power management requirements into simple, pre-defined firing patterns. This intermediary handles the communication complexity centrally, allowing the actuators themselves to operate with simple, repeatable instruction sets rather than requiring complex individual control logic.
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 approach allows for improved printer performance by reducing peak power consumption while maintaining print speed and quality, without the need for redesigning communication hardware or reducing the number of firing actuators.
Implementation Method 1
The actuators may include a piezoelectric membrane based actuator
Implementation Method 2
a thermal resistor based actuator
Implementation Method 3
an electrostatic membrane actuator
Implementation Method 4
a magneto-strictive actuator
Data Source
AI summary
An example printer includes an actuator selection engine. The actuator selection engine is to determine, for an array including a plurality of fluidic actuators, which fluidic actuators to fire. The printer also includes a balancing engine. The balancing engine is to analyze the determined fluidic actuators to identify a large set of fluidic actuators scheduled to fire substantially simultaneously. The balancing engine is also to schedule the large set of fluidic actuators among a plurality of fire pulse groups. Each fire pulse group may include a subset of the large set of fluidic actuators to be fired at a time distinct from another subset.