Image Forming System Waveform Control for Droplet Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming systems struggle to design driving waveforms that achieve a suitable ejecting volume for both low and high driving frequencies, leading to issues with granular quality and image density.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a method where a first driving waveform and a second driving waveform are applied alternately to actuators at specific timings, with the first waveform increasing and the second waveform decreasing the ejecting volume, allowing for a balanced volume at different frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the image forming system performs image forming at a low driving frequency, then the pixels are sparsely located on the medium, but making the volume of liquid to be ejected small to suppress granular quality results in insufficient image density at high driving frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the driving waveform adjustable based on the driving frequency. The control unit selects between a first driving waveform (for low frequency) and a second driving waveform (for high frequency) to dynamically adapt the ejecting volume to the current operating conditions, thereby maintaining both granular quality and image density across different frequencies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of driving waveform characteristics based on driving frequency. By modifying the waveform parameters (amplitude, pulse width, frequency) according to whether the system operates at low or high frequency, the ejecting volume is optimized for each condition, resolving the contradiction between granular quality and image density requirements
2Manufacturing precision
If the image forming system performs image forming at a high driving frequency, then the pixels are densely located on the medium, but making the volume of liquid to be ejected large to ensure sufficient image density enhances granular quality
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit dynamically adjusts the driving waveform based on the detected driving frequency. When high driving frequency is detected, the system switches to a second driving waveform that produces larger ejecting volume, ensuring sufficient image density while maintaining adaptability to different operating conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the driving waveform parameters according to the operating frequency. At high driving frequencies, the waveform parameters are adjusted to increase ejecting volume, thereby achieving the required image density without compromising the system's versatility across different frequency ranges
3Manufacturing precision
If a single driving waveform is designed to achieve suitable ejecting volume at one driving frequency, then the ejecting volume becomes unsuitable when operating at a different driving frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by providing multiple driving waveforms that can handle different operating conditions. The control unit selects the appropriate waveform based on the driving frequency, making the system universally applicable across both low and high frequency operations while maintaining suitable ejecting volume in each case
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different driving waveforms based on the operating frequency. This dynamic adaptation ensures that the ejecting volume remains suitable regardless of whether the system operates at low or high frequency, resolving the contradiction between precision at a single frequency and consistency across frequencies
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 enables the system to maintain a suitable ejecting volume across varying driving frequencies, improving image quality by balancing granular quality and image density.
Implementation Method 1
When voltage is applied to each of the plurality of actuators, a droplet is ejected from the nozzle corresponding to the actuator
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided an image forming method executed by an image forming system (1000). The method including applying a first driving waveform (DWI, DWn, DWI2, DWI3, DWD, DWD1) to a first actuator (AC) at a first timing and applying a second driving waveform (DWI, DWn, DWI2, DWI3, DWD, DWD1) to the first actuator at a second timing, and/or applying the first driving waveform to the first actuator and applying the second driving waveform to the second actuator (AC) at the first timing. The first/second driving waveform is configured so that, in a case where the first/second driving waveform is continuously applied to the actuator at a driving frequency, an ejecting volume of a droplet ejected thirdly from a nozzle (NZ) is R1/R2 times of an ejecting volume of a droplet ejected firstly from the nozzle. R1 and R2 are different values from each other.