Liquid Discharge Waveform Timing for Stable Droplet Landing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses, such as inkjet printers, experience deviations in droplet landing positions due to fluctuations in electrical potential of bias voltage signals, leading to reduced image quality when discharging droplets of different sizes.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge apparatus with individual drive signals for each discharger, utilizing a combination of first and second waveforms with specific timing relationships to stabilize the pressure chamber volume, preventing changes in discharge characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If common drive signals are used to discharge droplets of different sizes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the landing position precision of droplets deteriorates due to electrical potential fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the drive signal control into separate channels for different droplet sizes. Instead of using a single common drive signal for all nozzles, the system uses first drive signals for first nozzles discharging first droplets and second drive signals for second nozzles discharging second droplets. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each drive signal to maintain stable electrical potential and precise droplet landing positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different drive signal characteristics to different nozzle groups based on their specific requirements. First nozzles receiving first drive signals and second nozzles receiving second drive signals have tailored control parameters optimized for their respective droplet discharge characteristics, ensuring each local system operates at optimal performance rather than using a uniform approach.
2Adaptability or versatility
If drive waveforms cause large current changes, then the discharge amount of droplets can be controlled, but the electrical potential of bias voltage signals fluctuates causing droplet discharge characteristic changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent anticipates the harmful effect of electrical potential fluctuations by pre-designing drive signals with limited current change characteristics. The first and second drive signals are specifically constructed to minimize current variations during waveform transitions, thereby preventing bias voltage fluctuations before they can affect droplet discharge characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the parameters of drive waveforms to achieve the desired balance. By adjusting the temporal and amplitude characteristics of first and second drive signals, the system maintains the ability to control droplet discharge amounts while limiting current changes that would cause electrical potential fluctuations and discharge characteristic variations.
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 solution effectively reduces deviations in droplet landing positions, maintaining consistent discharge characteristics even when mixing different dot sizes, thereby enhancing the quality of printed images.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric element to change a volume of a pressure chamber in which liquid is stored, and a nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a plurality of dischargers including a nozzle, a pressure chamber, and a drive element to discharge liquid in the pressure chamber through the nozzle; and a driver that generates, for each of the plurality of dischargers, an individual drive signal to drive the drive element based on a plurality of drive signals including a first drive signal having a first contraction waveform in which an electrical potential changes to cause a volume of the pressure chamber to contract, and a second drive signal having a second contraction waveform in which an electrical potential changes to cause the volume of the pressure chamber to contract. In one cycle, a center of one of a time period of the first contraction waveform and a time period of the second contraction waveform is located in the other of the time periods.