Universal Drive Circuit for Inkjet Head Waveform Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid jet recording devices face challenges in controlling costs while maintaining high printing quality and efficiency, particularly in selecting and configuring drive waveforms for inkjet heads, which often require complex circuitry and increased information transmission, leading to instability and higher manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a drive circuit and liquid jet head configuration that allows for the selection of waveform configurations using a combination of predefined waveform configuration signals and additional data configuration signals, enabling flexible waveform selection without the need for multiple drive circuits, thereby reducing development and manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple drive circuits are used to support different waveform configurations, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single drive circuit that can generate multiple waveform configurations by using a waveform configuration signal to select from pre-stored waveform data patterns. This allows one circuit to perform the functions of multiple dedicated circuits, reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability for different ejection requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The drive circuit dynamically switches between different waveform configurations based on the waveform configuration signal. The circuit can adapt its output waveform in real-time according to the liquid ejection state and printing requirements, enabling flexible adaptation without requiring multiple fixed-function circuits
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple drive circuits are implemented for different waveform configurations, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By designing a universal drive circuit that can generate multiple waveform types through software-controlled selection rather than hardware multiplication, the patent reduces manufacturing costs. The single circuit design simplifies production, testing, and assembly processes while maintaining the ability to support different waveform configurations for various printing scenarios
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex circuitry is used for waveform selection, then waveform configuration flexibility is improved, but reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a waveform configuration signal as an intermediary that carries selection information from the control unit to the drive circuit. This simple digital signal acts as a mediator between the control logic and waveform generation, avoiding complex direct control mechanisms and improving signal transmission reliability while maintaining flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple waveform patterns are pre-stored in the drive circuit's memory before operation. The waveform configuration signal simply selects from these pre-prepared patterns rather than generating complex waveforms in real-time, reducing computational complexity and improving system reliability while maintaining flexibility in waveform selection
Data Source
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AI summary
A drive circuit (4) configured to output a drive signal (Sd) to be applied to a liquid jet head (1), comprising: a waveform storage section (40) configured to store a plurality of pieces of waveform configuration information (Dw0-Dw3); a waveform selection section (431, 432) which is configured to select one of the plurality of pieces of waveform configuration information stored in the waveform storage section, and which is configured to output the waveform configuration information (Dwa) selected as selected waveform configuration information; and a signal generation section (433, 434, 44) configured to generate the drive signal (Sd) configured to jet liquid, based on the selected waveform configuration information output from the waveform selection section and an image datum (Dp) input from an outside of the liquid jet head, wherein the waveform selection section selects the selected waveform configuration information from the plurality of pieces of waveform configuration information, using one of a first configuration signal (Sw) set in advance and a second configuration signal (Spa) defined by an additional data signal (Dp) included in the image datum.