Fluidic Die Addressing Scheme for Peak Current Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluidic dies face limitations in concurrently actuating fluid actuators due to electrical and fluidic constraints, which restrict the number of actuators that can be activated simultaneously, leading to peak voltage demands and reduced flexibility in actuation order.
Innovation Solution
A novel addressing scheme where a single address enabling event on a fluid actuator address line concurrently enables different types of fluid actuators with varying energy demands, allowing for staggered actuation of fluid ejectors and fluid pumps across multiple primitives, reducing peak currents and enhancing flexibility in actuation order.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple fluid actuators are concurrently actuated to increase productivity, then the output increases, but the peak voltage demands and current loads increase beyond system capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid actuators are divided into multiple primitives or groups, each with its own address line. This segmentation allows the system to manage and actuate actuators in controlled groups rather than all at once, thereby reducing peak power demands while maintaining the capability for concurrent actuation within each primitive.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the actuation sequence and timing of different fluid actuators based on their energy demands. By staggering the actuation events and using dynamic voltage regulation, the system can actuate multiple actuators without exceeding peak voltage limits, effectively managing power delivery in real-time.
2Device complexity
If a fixed actuation order is used to simplify control, then the device complexity is reduced, but the flexibility in optimizing energy usage and actuation timing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes multiple address lines and decoding logic that enable different actuation sequences to be selected based on operational requirements. This preliminary setup allows flexible reconfiguration of actuation orders without adding complex real-time control logic during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system can change parameters such as actuation timing, voltage levels, and sequence order dynamically based on the specific operational context. This allows the same hardware to adapt to different energy optimization requirements while maintaining a relatively simple base control architecture.
3Productivity
If all fluid ejectors are enabled simultaneously to maximize output, then the productivity increases, but the current consumption exceeds available power supply capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
Fluid ejectors are organized into multiple primitives with separate addressing, allowing the system to enable and actuate subsets of ejectors in different time slots. This segmentation enables high throughput over time while keeping instantaneous current consumption within supply capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic or staggered actuation cycles where different groups of fluid ejectors are enabled at different times. This periodic approach maintains high overall productivity while distributing current consumption across multiple time periods, preventing any single moment from exceeding power supply limits.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluidic die may include a substrate supporting a fluid actuator address line and first and second groups of fluid actuators connected to the fluid actuator address line. The first group of fluid actuators may include first and second types of fluid actuators having different operating characteristics. The second group of fluid actuators may include the first and the second types of fluid actuators. The fluid actuators of the first and second groups have addresses such that a fluid actuator of the first type in the first group and a fluid actuator of the second type in the second group are both enabled in response to a single enabling event on the fluid actuator address line.