Liquid Ejecting Head Rigid Layer Convex Concave Edge Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid ejecting heads face challenges in maintaining precise pressure chamber formation, leading to potential offset of piezoelectric bodies, which reduces the quantity of liquid ejected due to insufficient displacement.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting head design featuring a substrate with a piezoelectric layer and rigid layers with nonlinear edges, allowing for increased displacement and ink ejection even when pressure chambers deviate from their intended positions, by overlapping the rigid layers with the pressure chambers' edges to compensate for positional deviations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the etching process is used to form pressure chambers, then the pressure chambers can be formed with reference to piezoelectric body patterns, but the etching process cannot be performed with great precision causing pressure chambers to deviate from desired positions
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid layer is formed with a predetermined pattern before the etching process, creating reference marks that guide the subsequent etching of pressure chambers. This preliminary formation of structural references enables precise positioning despite the inherent imprecision of the etching process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces reliance on direct etching precision with a mechanical reference system consisting of the rigid layer pattern. The rigid layer serves as a mechanical reference framework that compensates for etching process variations, substituting the need for highly precise etching control.
2Quantity of substance
If piezoelectric bodies are positioned in the centers of pressure chambers, then the displacement is greatest at the center enabling sufficient liquid ejection, but position offset reduces displacement and liquid ejection quantity
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid layer pattern is designed with specific geometric parameters (convex and concave portions) that create compensation effects. By carefully controlling the dimensions and positions of these rigid layer features, the system compensates for piezoelectric body position offsets to maintain adequate displacement and liquid ejection.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid layer acts as an intermediary element between the piezoelectric bodies and the pressure chambers. It provides a reference framework that mediates the relationship between the piezoelectric body position and the pressure chamber geometry, enabling compensation for position mismatches.
3Strength
If lead electrodes are formed of metal to reinforce piezoelectric bodies, then the piezoelectric bodies are strengthened, but the overall device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it reinforces the piezoelectric bodies (replacing or supplementing metal lead electrodes), provides positioning references for pressure chamber formation, and maintains structural integrity. By merging these functions into a single component, the patent reduces device complexity while maintaining reinforcement benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid layer is designed as a multi-functional element that performs reinforcement, positioning, and structural support functions. This universal component replaces the need for separate metal lead electrodes and positioning structures, simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining piezoelectric body strength.
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 enhances the displacement of the piezoelectric regions, ensuring consistent liquid ejection quantities even when pressure chambers are offset, thereby suppressing the reduction in ejected liquid.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric layer; The piezoelectric layer is provided on the first surface of the substrate to cover the first electrode
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting head includes: a substrate; a first electrode; a piezoelectric layer covering the first electrode; a second electrode positioned on the piezoelectric layer; a plurality of pressure chambers arrayed in a first direction; and a rigid layer. Each pressure chamber has one end portion and another end portion in a second direction. The rigid layer has an edge providing a plurality of convex parts and a plurality of concave parts. Each convex part and each concave part are alternately arrayed with each other in the first direction. Each convex part is positioned outside each pressure chamber and protrudes in the second direction toward the another end portion. Each concave part is positioned at each pressure chamber and is concaved in the second direction away from the another end portion.