Ink-jet Drive Waveform Selection Circuit for Multi-Ink Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink-jet printers face challenges in uniformizing ejection performance across multiple types of ink, leading to increased circuit complexity and costs due to the need for optimized drive signals for each ink type.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an ink-jet recording apparatus with a drive waveform generation circuit, drive waveform selection circuits, and drive signal generation circuits, which generate and select drive waveforms based on ink ejection characteristics, allowing for shared drive waveform generation and reduced circuit scale.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If separate drive waveforms are generated for each ink type to uniformize ejection performance, then ejection uniformity is improved, but circuit scale and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single drive waveform generation circuit generates drive waveforms for multiple ink types by storing different waveform patterns in a waveform memory. The same circuit structure serves all ink types through software-controlled waveform selection, eliminating the need for separate dedicated circuits for each ink type while maintaining optimized ejection performance for each ink.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the drive waveform parameters (amplitude, pulse width, frequency) dynamically based on ink type by selecting different stored waveform patterns. This allows one circuit to adapt its output characteristics to match the requirements of different inks without hardware changes, achieving both uniformity and circuit reduction.
2Reliability
If drive waveforms are optimized for each ink type, then ejection characteristics are improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating separate physical circuits for each ink type, the system creates copies of waveform patterns in memory that can be selectively reproduced. The same hardware circuit generates different waveform copies on demand, reducing complexity while maintaining optimized ejection characteristics for each ink type.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit is designed as a universal unit that can generate drive waveforms for multiple ink types through software control of waveform selection, rather than requiring multiple specialized circuits. This multi-functional approach reduces control system complexity while preserving ink-specific optimization.
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 uniformized ejection performance across multiple ink types while reducing the circuit scale of the control system, thereby lowering costs and improving ink-jet printer efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A portion of the piezoelectric sheet sandwiched between this individual electrode and the common electrode kept at a predetermined potential is applied with an electric field in a thickness direction, and thus this portion of the piezoelectric sheet deforms
Data Source
AI summary
An ink-jet recording apparatus of the present invention includes one or more ink-jet heads, a drive waveform generation circuit, a plurality of drive waveform selection circuits, and a plurality of drive signal generation circuits. The drive waveform generation circuit generates m different drive waveforms (m is equal to or greater than three). The drive waveform selection circuit selects n drive waveforms (n is smaller than m, and equal to or greater than two) from the m drive waveforms. The drive signal generation circuit selects in every predetermined recording cycle one drive waveform for one nozzle from the n drive waveforms selected by the drive waveform selection circuit, and generates a drive signal based on the drive waveform thus selected. At least one of the n drive waveforms selected by any one of the plurality of drive waveform selection circuits is the same as the drive waveform selected by another one of the drive waveform selection circuits.