Liquid Discharge Head Unit with Variable Cross-Section Coupling Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses face challenges in achieving high image formation speed without increasing the size of the head unit due to the increased current required for faster dot formation cycles.
Innovation Solution
The liquid discharge apparatus incorporates a head unit with a discharge section driven by a piezoelectric element, a switching circuit, and substrates that propagate driving signals. The head unit includes coupling members with conductive sections of varying cross-sectional areas to manage the increased current efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the image formation speed is increased to achieve high productivity, then the dot formation cycle is shortened, but the amount of current generated by the driving signal increases causing the head unit size to increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the cross-sectional areas of conductive sections within the coupling members. Specifically, the first conductive section has a larger cross-sectional area than the second conductive section, allowing different parts of the same component to have different electrical properties. This enables efficient current distribution where high current paths have larger cross-sections to reduce resistance and heat, while maintaining overall compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the conductive sections by varying their cross-sectional areas. The first conductive section has a larger cross-sectional area compared to the second conductive section, which optimizes the electrical characteristics for handling increased current demands at high image formation speeds without proportionally increasing the overall head unit size.
2Productivity
If the driving amount of the driving element per unit time is increased to increase the dot formation cycle speed, then the image formation speed is improved, but the amount of current generated by the driving signal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling members are designed with non-uniform cross-sectional areas in their conductive sections. The first conductive section has a larger cross-sectional area to handle higher current densities in critical paths, while the second conductive section has a smaller cross-sectional area where lower current flow is expected. This localized optimization manages power distribution efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses the current management problem by transitioning from a uniform one-dimensional wire concept to a multi-dimensional structure with varying cross-sectional areas. This allows the coupling members to optimize current flow in three-dimensional space, distributing current more efficiently through strategically sized conductive paths.
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 configuration allows for high image formation speed while minimizing the increase in head unit size, as the increased current is effectively managed through the use of substrates and coupling members with optimized cross-sectional areas.
Implementation Method 1
a discharge section that includes a piezoelectric element driven by a first driving signal and discharges a liquid in response to drive of the piezoelectric element
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a head unit including: a discharge section that includes a piezoelectric element driven by a first driving signal and discharges a liquid; a switching circuit that switches whether or not to supply the first driving signal; a first substrate that propagates the first driving signal and the discharge control signal to the switching circuit; a second substrate to which the first driving signal and the discharge control signal are supplied and which propagates the first driving signal and the discharge control signal to the first substrate; a first coupling member including a first conductive section that electrically couples the first substrate and the second substrate; and a second coupling member including a second conductive section that electrically couples the first substrate and the second substrate, in which a cross-sectional area of the first conductive section is larger than a cross-sectional area of the second conductive section.