Fluidic Actuator Sense Measurement Selection via Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid dispensing systems, particularly in printing applications, face issues with fluidic actuator degradation over time, leading to clogged nozzles and inefficient sense measurements, which result in decreased performance and unwanted fluid deposition on print media.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a controller that shifts the activation of fluidic actuators for sense measurements to avoid simultaneous firing, using a decoder to suppress activation during normal intervals and enable it during designated sense measurement intervals, and employing a chain of sense measurement storage elements to efficiently select actuators for measurement without re-populating indicators on each iteration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sense measurements are performed by activating fluidic actuators, then actuator performance can be monitored, but fluid is wasted and unwanted deposition occurs on print media
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the actuator array into groups, with only selected actuators activated for sense measurements while others remain inactive for normal printing. This selective activation approach monitors actuator performance without requiring all actuators to fire, thereby reducing fluid consumption and preventing unwanted deposition on print media.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller pre-determines which fluidic actuators will undergo sense measurements based on stored sense measurement indicators before the printing operation begins. This preliminary selection allows the system to prepare measurement schedules in advance, activating only predetermined actuators at specific times, thus avoiding unnecessary fluid activation and waste during the printing process.
2Reliability
If all fluidic actuators are activated for sense measurements, then comprehensive monitoring is achieved, but system complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller divides the actuator monitoring task into segments by maintaining sense measurement indicators for different groups of actuators. Instead of processing all actuators simultaneously, the system handles groups sequentially, reducing the computational burden at any given moment while still achieving comprehensive monitoring coverage over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic sense measurements where actuators are selected for monitoring at intervals rather than continuously. The controller activates fluidic actuators for sense measurements in a periodic manner based on stored indicators, allowing comprehensive monitoring to be achieved through repeated cycles of selective measurement rather than constant full-array activation.
3Measurement precision
If sense measurement indicators are re-populated on each iteration, then accurate selection is maintained, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
Sense measurement indicators are populated in advance before the printing operation begins and are maintained in storage throughout the process. This preliminary population eliminates the need to re-populate indicators on each iteration, as the pre-established indicators continue to guide actuator selection accurately without requiring repeated computational processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sense measurement indicators serve multiple functions: they are used for selecting actuators for sense measurements, for tracking which actuators have been measured, and for guiding the periodic activation sequence. This multi-functional use of the same data structure maintains selection accuracy across iterations without requiring separate processing steps for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a fluid dispensing device includes a plurality of fluidic actuators, and a plurality of sense measurement storage elements to store sense measurement indicators for indicating whether sense measurement is to be performed for fluidic actuators of the plurality of fluidic actuators. The fluid dispensing device further includes a controller to control setting of the sense measurement indicators in the sense measurement storage elements to select which fluidic actuator is to be subject to a sense measurement.