Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Circuit Substrate Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid ejecting apparatuses with replaceable circuit substrates face complexity in replacing the drive signal output circuit, which increases user inconvenience due to the larger size of the circuit substrates, necessitating a reduction in size to simplify maintenance and improve user convenience.
Innovation Solution
The liquid ejecting apparatus incorporates a configuration with a first and second circuit substrate, where the second substrate is detachably attached to the first, featuring electrolytic capacitors and optimized terminal placements to reduce wiring length and improve signal stability, allowing for downsized drive signal output circuits and enhanced ink ejection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the circuit substrate is made replaceable to facilitate maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for additional coupling interfaces and wiring arrangements
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid ejecting apparatus is divided into separable circuit substrate and head unit, allowing the circuit substrate to be independently replaced. The coupling interface is designed with male and female connection parts that enable simple attachment and detachment operations, resolving the contradiction between ease of repair and device complexity by creating a modular architecture with standardized connection points.
2Ease of operation
If the circuit substrate is downsized to simplify replacement work, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to tighter space constraints for electrical components
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit substrate utilizes three-dimensional space efficiently by arranging electrolytic capacitors and other components in optimized spatial configurations. The substrate design incorporates vertical stacking and layered routing of electrical connections, allowing compact component placement while maintaining adequate spacing for heat dissipation and signal integrity, thus achieving small size without excessive manufacturing precision requirements.
3Reliability
If electrolytic capacitors are positioned close to the print head to reduce wiring length, then signal stability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional coupling terminals and wiring arrangements
Solution Approach 1:
The electrolytic capacitors are extracted from the head unit and relocated to the circuit substrate, positioned as close as possible to the print head while maintaining a simple wiring architecture. This extraction allows the capacitors to provide stable voltage signals to the piezoelectric elements without requiring complex internal wiring within the head unit, resolving the contradiction between signal stability and device complexity by separating the power conditioning function from the ejection mechanism.
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 reduces the complexity of replacing the drive signal output circuit substrates, improves the accuracy of ink ejection by stabilizing voltage signals, and simplifies maintenance by minimizing the size of the drive signal output circuits, thereby enhancing user convenience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric element such as a piezo element to print an image or a document on a medium by ejecting the ink as a liquid
Implementation Method 2
a first electrolytic capacitor, and a first substrate on which the first coupling terminal and the first electrolytic capacitor are provided
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a print head that includes a first terminal and a second terminal, a first circuit substrate electrically coupled to the print head, and a second circuit substrate electrically coupled to the first circuit substrate, wherein the first circuit substrate includes a first coupling terminal electrically coupled to the print head, and a first electrolytic capacitor, wherein the second circuit substrate includes a constant voltage output circuit that outputs a constant voltage signal supplied to the second terminal, a first output terminal that is electrically coupled to the first circuit substrate, and a second output terminal that is electrically coupled to the first circuit substrate, and through which the constant voltage signal is output to the first circuit substrate, wherein the first electrolytic capacitor is electrically coupled to the second output terminal and the first coupling terminal.