Ink-jet Recording Apparatus Clock Signal Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet recording apparatuses face issues with erroneous ink jetting due to noise superimposed on the clock signal, leading to ink wastage and contamination, as the head control circuit may incorrectly recognize signal patterns.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a recording head and a controller connected through signal lines, where pattern signals are synchronized with the clock signal to ensure accurate selection and application of driving voltage, with specific processing to differentiate between non-jetting and ink-jetting patterns, reducing erroneous ink jetting by adjusting signal extraction based on clock signal edges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the head control circuit uses a clock signal to synchronize FIRE and SIN signals for parallel conversion, then the image recording speed and processing efficiency are improved, but noise superimposition on the clock signal causes erroneous signal recognition leading to incorrect ink jetting patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by arranging the non-jetting driving pattern signal (FIRE7) to always be adjacent to the second pattern signal (FIRE2) in the signal sequence. This pre-arranged configuration ensures that even when noise causes a one-clock-cycle shift, the head control circuit will still select a safe pattern (either FIRE7 or FIRE2) that minimizes ink waste, rather than potentially selecting an inappropriate jetting pattern due to the shift.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of noise-induced signal shifts into a beneficial outcome by strategically positioning the non-jetting pattern signal adjacent to the second pattern signal. When noise causes erroneous recognition, the system is designed to default to either FIRE7 (non-jetting) or FIRE2 (small ink amount), transforming the potential harm of noise into a situation where ink waste is minimized or eliminated.
2Speed
If the system continuously outputs pattern signals and selection signals synchronized with the clock signal, then the ink jetting response time is reduced, but noise interference causes boundary recognition failures between FIRE and SIN signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary action by pre-configuring the signal sequence so that the non-jetting driving pattern signal (FIRE7) is always positioned adjacent to the second pattern signal (FIRE2). This advance arrangement ensures that even when noise causes boundary recognition failures, the resulting pattern selection will still be safe (either non-jetting or minimal jetting), preventing erroneous large-amount ink jetting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the arrangement order of pattern signals in the signal sequence. Specifically, it sets the non-jetting driving pattern signal (FIRE7) to be adjacent to the second pattern signal (FIRE2), creating a safe zone in the parameter space of signal patterns that minimizes the impact of noise-induced boundary recognition errors.
3Measurement precision
If the head control circuit selects driving voltage patterns based on synchronized signals, then the control precision is improved, but noise on the clock signal causes selection of incorrect patterns leading to ink wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-arranging the signal sequence so that the non-jetting driving pattern signal (FIRE7) is always adjacent to the second pattern signal (FIRE2). This advance configuration ensures that when noise causes incorrect pattern selection, the system defaults to safe patterns that minimize ink waste, rather than potentially selecting patterns that cause significant ink loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of noise-induced pattern selection errors into a beneficial outcome by strategically positioning patterns in the signal sequence. When noise causes erroneous selection, the system is designed to choose either FIRE7 (non-jetting) or FIRE2 (minimal jetting), transforming the potential harm of control errors into situations where ink wastage is minimized.
Data Source
AI summary
An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a recording head including nozzles and driving elements corresponding to the nozzles respectively; a controller; and a head driving circuit connected to the controller by a first signal line, a second signal line, and a third signal line through which a clock signal including edges is transmitted, the head driving circuit connected electrically to the driving elements. Each of the driving elements jets an ink from one of the nozzles corresponding thereto by an amount corresponding to driving voltage applied from the head driving circuit. The controller repeatedly executes output processing in which pattern signals indicating patterns of the driving voltage are continuously outputted to the first signal line while being synchronized with the clock signal and selection signals are continuously outputted to the second signal line while being synchronized with the clock signal.