Liquid Ejecting Head with Differential Lead Content for Stable Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The relationship between the lead contents of the lower and upper electrodes in existing liquid ejecting heads, such as those used in piezoelectric ink jet printers, is not considered, leading to potential improvements in performance and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting head design where the individual electrode contains a higher lead content than the common electrode, with a lower lead content in the common electrode to improve adhesion and reduce resistance variations, using a piezoelectric material containing lead as a constituent element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the lead content in electrodes is increased to improve adhesion, then adhesion between electrodes and piezoelectric layer is improved, but resistance variations increase and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different lead contents to different electrodes: the individual electrode (lower electrode) has a higher lead content (5-20 mass%) to improve adhesion to the piezoelectric layer, while the common electrode (upper electrode) has a lower lead content (0-5 mass%) to minimize resistance variations. This local differentiation of material composition resolves the contradiction by optimizing each electrode's lead content according to its specific functional requirements.
2Ease of manufacture
If lead content is uniformly distributed in all electrodes, then manufacturing is simplified, but adhesion and resistance stability cannot be simultaneously optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by specifying different lead content ranges for different electrodes: individual electrodes contain 5-20 mass% lead for optimal adhesion, while common electrodes contain 0-5 mass% lead for stable resistance characteristics. This differentiated approach prioritizes ejection performance stability over manufacturing simplicity, as the additional control step ensures optimized performance.
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 variations in piezoelectric element potential and enhances the reliability of the liquid ejecting head by improving adhesion and reducing resistance, thus stabilizing the ejection performance.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric element including an individual electrode 56a, a piezoelectric layer 56b, and a common electrode 56c
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting head includes a piezoelectric element including an individual electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a common electrode, and a vibration plate, and the individual electrode is individually provided for each of a plurality of the piezoelectric elements, the common electrode is provided in common for the plurality of piezoelectric elements, the piezoelectric layer is made of a piezoelectric material containing lead as a constituent element, each of the individual electrode and the common electrode contains lead, and a lead content in the common electrode is lower than a lead content in the individual electrode.