Liquid Discharge Head Layout for Stable Flow and Bubble Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge heads face challenges in achieving high nozzle density and efficient discharge performance due to the need for high-temperature piezoelectric materials, which damage drive circuits and wiring, and alignment issues between fluid resistor and pressure chamber substrates, leading to altered discharge characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge head design using a nozzle plate vibration method with piezoelectric materials like ScAlN, which have lower crystallization temperatures, allows for high nozzle density and efficient discharge, and elongated fluid resistors aligned to minimize positional shifts and blockages, ensuring optimal fluid resistance and bubble removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-temperature piezoelectric materials are used to achieve high nozzle density, then discharge performance is improved, but drive circuits and wiring are damaged due to high temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter by using ScAlN piezoelectric material with lower crystallization temperature (below 1000°C) instead of traditional high-temperature materials, enabling high nozzle density while protecting drive circuits from thermal damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal field (high-temperature processing) with a low-temperature piezoelectric material system, substituting the harmful thermal effect with a compatible low-temperature material solution that achieves the same functional goal
2Manufacturing precision
If fluid resistor and pressure chamber substrates are aligned to achieve precise discharge, then discharge characteristics are optimized, but alignment errors cause positional shifts and blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an elongated fluid resistor shape instead of a symmetric circular shape, creating an asymmetric configuration that provides larger clearance in critical directions and reduces the impact of alignment errors on fluid flow stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary alignment optimization by designing the fluid resistor geometry in advance to accommodate expected alignment variations, ensuring stable fluid flow even when positional shifts occur during assembly
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
The design achieves power-efficient droplet discharge with high nozzle density, reduces head size, and maintains discharge performance by using lower-temperature piezoelectric materials and optimizing fluid resistor alignment, preventing blockages and enhancing bubble removal.
Implementation Method 1
A liquid discharge head design using a nozzle plate vibration method with piezoelectric materials like ScAlN
Implementation Method 2
The fluid resistor layer has a first fluid resistor and a second fluid resistor, each communicating with the pressure chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge head includes a nozzle layer, a pressure chamber layer, a fluid resistor layer, and a channel layer. The nozzle layer has nozzles arrayed in a first direction, orthogonal to a discharge direction. The pressure chamber layer has a pressure chamber. The fluid resistor layer has a first fluid resistor and a second fluid resistor. The channel layer has a first channel, a second channel, and a partition partitioning the first channel and the second channel. The first fluid resistor is elongated in a second direction orthogonal to each of the first direction and the discharge direction in an area overlapping with the first channel of the pressure chamber in a plan of the pressure chamber layer. The second fluid resistor is elongated in the second direction in an area overlapping the second channel of the pressure chamber in the plan.