Fluidic Die Pulse Delay for Peak Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid ejection printing systems face challenges in managing peak power demands, leading to over-burdened power supplies and reduced print speed due to the need to limit the maximum time rate of change of current (di/dt) and ensure sufficient power delivery to each actuator within the printhead.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a fluidic die with a plurality of delays between primitives, controlled by a processing device, which delays activation pulses to reduce peak power demands and manage current effectively, using a multiplexer to select signals and a programmable clock divider to slow down pulse propagation, allowing for temporal delays based on the number of actuators, primitives, print function, or print demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If activation pulses are delivered to all primitives simultaneously, then print speed is improved, but peak power demands increase and cause over-burdened power supplies
Solution Approach 1:
The printhead array is divided into multiple primitives (groups of nozzles), and activation pulses are delivered to different primitives at different times through programmable delays. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high print speed by keeping multiple primitives ready while reducing peak power demand by activating them sequentially rather than simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Activation pulses are delivered periodically to different primitives with controlled time intervals. The system uses a continuous stream of activation pulses that are delayed relative to each other, creating a periodic activation pattern that distributes power demands over time while maintaining continuous printing operation.
2Reliability
If the maximum time rate of change of current (di/dt) is limited to ensure sufficient power delivery, then power supply stability is improved, but print speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the printhead into multiple primitives with staggered activation, the system limits di/dt for each individual primitive while maintaining overall high-speed printing. The segmentation allows power supply stability to be maintained for each actuator group without compromising the global print speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares activation pulses for multiple primitives in advance with programmed delays, so that when power delivery begins, the di/dt is already controlled within safe limits. This preliminary timing arrangement ensures both power supply stability and maintained print speed.
3Productivity
If more primitives are activated simultaneously to increase print speed, then productivity is improved, but peak current increases and burdens the power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The printhead is segmented into multiple primitives that can be activated in a controlled sequence. This segmentation enables the system to activate multiple primitives for high productivity while using programmable delays to distribute the current draw over time, preventing excessive peak current that would burden the power supply.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple primitives are activated in a periodic pattern with controlled intervals. This periodic activation maintains high productivity by keeping multiple nozzles operational while distributing the electrical load to prevent dangerous peak current levels.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluidic die includes a number of actuators to eject fluid from the fluidic die. The number of actuators form a number of primitives. The fluidic die includes a plurality of delays within a column of the primitives, and a processing device to control the delays through which a number of activation pulses pass. The activation pulses activate each of the actuators associated with the primitives. The activation pulses are delayed between the primitives via at least one of the delays to reduce peak power demands of the fluidic die.