Inkjet Drive Circuit Segmentation for Voltage and Current Scaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive circuits for inkjet printers require high withstand voltage and current performance to supply control signals to multiple piezoelectric elements simultaneously, making it difficult to reduce the scale of circuitry and leading to increased power consumption and heat generation.
Innovation Solution
A drive circuit that includes a first and second connection path selection section and a voltage generation section, which selectively supply multiple voltages to capacitive loads, allowing for reduced current paths and improved voltage tracking, thereby reducing the required withstand voltage and current performance and enabling more efficient energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If shared control signals are selectively supplied to each piezoelectric element using switches, then all piezoelectric elements can be driven simultaneously, but the circuitry requires high withstand voltage and current performance, making it difficult to reduce circuit scale
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single large-capacity switch into multiple smaller-capacity switches arranged in parallel. Each switch handles a portion of the total current, reducing the individual withstand current requirements. The control signals are segmented and distributed through these multiple switches to the piezoelectric elements, maintaining simultaneous driving capability while lowering complexity requirements for each switch component.
2Manufacturing precision
If high current control signals are supplied to drive multiple piezoelectric elements, then proper waveform control is achieved, but power consumption increases and heat generation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the current path into multiple parallel channels, each with its own switch. This allows the total current to be distributed across multiple lower-current paths, reducing I²R losses and heat generation in each individual switch while maintaining the required waveform control accuracy through synchronized switching of all channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple low-current paths into a unified control system where switches operate in parallel. This merging approach allows the system to achieve the same waveform control as a single high-current path while benefiting from reduced power consumption and heat generation through the parallel architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive circuit is adapted to charge and discharge a first capacitive load and a second capacitive load. The drive circuit includes a first connection path selection section, a second connection path selection section and a voltage generation section. The first connection path selection section is configured to selectively supply a plurality of voltages to the first capacitive load. The first connection path selection section is arranged so as to correspond to the first capacitive load. The second connection path selection section is configured to selectively supply a plurality of voltages to the second capacitive load. The second connection path selection section is arranged so as to correspond to the second capacitive load. The voltage generation section is configured to generate and supply the voltages shared by the first connection path selection section and the second connection path selection section.