Head Drive Controller Waveform Segmentation for Nozzle Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid discharge heads, variations in manufacturing lead to inconsistent discharge speed and amount among nozzles, which existing technologies fail to uniformly control.
Innovation Solution
A head drive controller that generates a drive voltage waveform with specific expansion and contraction waveform elements, including a switch to selectively apply or block these waveforms to the piezoelectric elements, adjusting the timing to unify discharge characteristics across nozzles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single drive voltage waveform is applied to all nozzles, then the control system is simple, but discharge speed and amount vary among nozzles due to manufacturing variations
Solution Approach 1:
The drive voltage waveform is segmented into multiple waveform elements (first expansion waveform element, second expansion waveform element, contraction waveform element) that can be selectively applied to different nozzles based on their individual characteristics, allowing customized drive signals for each nozzle while maintaining a structured waveform framework
Solution Approach 2:
Different waveform elements are applied to different nozzles according to their specific discharge characteristics. The switch selectively applies or blocks waveform elements for each nozzle, providing localized optimization of discharge speed and amount while maintaining overall system simplicity
2Manufacturing precision
If the switch timing is adjusted to unify discharge characteristics, then discharge uniformity improves, but the control timing becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The drive waveform is pre-configured with multiple waveform elements that can be selectively applied. The switch is programmed with predetermined timing to selectively block or pass specific waveform elements, eliminating the need for real-time complex calculations and simplifying the control timing while achieving uniform discharge characteristics
3Manufacturing precision
If waveform elements are trimmed to reduce discharge variations, then discharge consistency improves, but the waveform generation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive voltage waveform is divided into distinct waveform elements (first expansion, second expansion, contraction) that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows selective trimming of specific elements to optimize discharge characteristics without redesigning the entire waveform generation system
Solution Approach 2:
The switch selectively blocks or passes waveform elements by changing the timing parameters of waveform application. By adjusting which waveform elements are applied and when, the system trims the effective drive waveform to achieve uniform discharge while keeping the waveform generation logic relatively simple
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
The solution reduces variations in discharge characteristics by trimming the drive voltage waveform, ensuring consistent discharge speed and amount among nozzles, thereby improving the uniformity of liquid discharge.
Implementation Method 1
a drive voltage waveform to a piezoelectric element of the liquid discharge head
Data Source
AI summary
A head drive controller to drive a head to discharge a liquid, the head drive controller includes a drive waveform generator configured to generate a drive voltage waveform to drive the head, a switch coupled to the head and the drive waveform generator, the switch configured to select passing or non-passing of the drive voltage waveform generated by the drive waveform generator to the head. The drive voltage waveform includes a first expansion waveform element to expand a pressure chamber in the head, and a second expansion waveform element to expand the pressure chamber, the second expansion waveform element having a slew rate smaller than a slew rate of the first expansion waveform element.