Liquid Discharge Apparatus Drive Circuit Voltage Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses, such as ink jet printers, face challenges in maintaining print quality due to the inability to independently adjust drive voltage waveforms, which limits high-speed multidrop discharge and fails to cope with rapid changes in actuator characteristics when bias voltage is applied, leading to deteriorated print quality.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge apparatus that includes an actuator and a drive circuit capable of suspending bias voltage application and stabilizing actuator characteristics during discharge, using a waveform that maintains the actuator voltage from the end of one discharge cycle until the next trigger, allowing for flexible adjustment of drive voltage waveforms based on ink viscosity and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common COM waveform is used for both drive voltage and bias voltage application, then device complexity is reduced, but waveform adjustment flexibility is lost and print quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the waveform generation into separate components: a common waveform generation unit that provides base waveforms, and individual waveform correction units for each actuator that apply specific adjustments. This segmentation allows the common COM waveform to be reused while enabling independent customization of drive and bias voltage waveforms for each actuator based on its specific characteristics and operational requirements.
2Reliability
If bias voltage is suspended to prevent actuator deterioration, then actuator reliability is improved, but actuator characteristics become unstable during discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by maintaining bias voltage application during the period from the end of one discharge cycle until the next trigger is received. This preliminary maintenance of voltage stabilizes the actuator characteristics in advance, ensuring that when the next discharge occurs, the actuator is already in an optimal state. This prevents the instability that would otherwise occur after suspending bias voltage.
3Device complexity
If COM waveform is repeated for each drive cycle, then device complexity is reduced, but inability to cope with rapid actuator characteristic changes causes print quality deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics by allowing waveform parameters to be adjusted individually for each actuator based on real-time characteristics and operational conditions. The waveform correction units enable dynamic adaptation of drive and bias voltage waveforms to match changing actuator characteristics, rather than relying on fixed repeated COM waveforms. This dynamic adjustment maintains print quality even when actuator characteristics change rapidly.
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 solution enables the stabilization of actuator characteristics during liquid discharge, preventing print quality deterioration and allowing for flexible operation under varying ink conditions, thereby improving print quality and adaptability.
Implementation Method 1
An ink jet head, which is the liquid discharge apparatus of the ink jet printer, includes a piezoelectric drive type actuator as a drive apparatus that discharges ink from a nozzle.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes an actuator and a drive circuit. The actuator is configured to cause liquid to be discharged from a nozzle. The drive circuit is configured to apply a waveform to the actuator during a discharge cycle in accordance with a discharge trigger and to cause a voltage of the actuator to be maintained at a value from an end of the discharge cycle until reception of a subsequent discharge trigger.