Liquid Discharge Substrate Transistor Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid discharge heads face challenges in reducing size while maintaining high liquid discharge characteristics due to increased wiring length and voltage drop, which is exacerbated by the large number of transistors required for each discharge element.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge substrate design that shares a first transistor among multiple discharge elements and uses independently controlled second transistors, reducing the overall transistor count and minimizing wiring length, thereby decreasing the substrate size and improving discharge characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of discharge elements is increased to increase recording speed, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to the large number of transistors required
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple discharge elements share a common first transistor, merging the control function for power supply into a single component. This reduces the total transistor count while maintaining the ability to drive multiple discharge elements independently through the second transistors.
Solution Approach 2:
The control function is segmented into two levels: a common first transistor for power supply control and multiple second transistors for individual discharge element control. This hierarchical segmentation reduces overall complexity while maintaining independent control capability.
2Manufacturing precision
If the number of transistors per discharge element is increased to improve control precision, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the substrate size increases due to larger wiring length
Solution Approach 1:
The first transistors are merged into a common structure that serves multiple discharge elements simultaneously. This sharing of common transistors reduces the total component count and minimizes the wiring length required on the substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The first transistor structure is designed to be universal, serving multiple discharge elements through shared power supply control. This multi-functional design reduces substrate area requirements while maintaining control precision through the combination of common and individual transistor control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the wiring length is increased to connect more discharge elements, then adaptability is improved, but voltage drop increases reducing power supply efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple discharge elements are merged into a common electrical path through the shared first transistor. This configuration reduces the total wiring length required compared to having separate transistors for each element, thereby minimizing voltage drop and improving power supply efficiency.
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 a smaller liquid discharge substrate with improved discharge characteristics by reducing voltage drop and increasing the efficiency of power supply to discharge elements, enabling high-speed recording and reduced substrate size.
Implementation Method 1
An electric path is formed from a first power supply node to a second power supply node in an order of the first transistor, one of the plurality of discharge elements, and one of the plurality of second transistors
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge substrate includes a plurality of discharge elements disposed on a substrate, a first transistor electrically connected to the plurality of discharge elements, and a plurality of second transistors. The first transistor is disposed between the plurality of discharge elements and the plurality of second transistors.