Liquid Ejection Apparatus Common Wire Intra-Row Void Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid ejection apparatuses face issues with uniform voltage application to piezoelectric elements, leading to potential short-circuiting and faulty electrical connections due to the small width of common lead electrodes and poor connections between the common lead electrode and wire electrode.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a liquid ejection apparatus with intra-row voids between individual channels, allowing for a first common wire to connect the common electrode to the external circuit board between individual wires, ensuring more uniform voltage application and reducing the likelihood of faulty connections by increasing the space for connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the common lead electrode is provided between adjacent piezoelectric active portions to ensure uniform voltage application, then voltage uniformity is improved, but the width of the common lead electrode becomes small leading to short-circuit risk and poor electrical connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar electrode layout to a three-dimensional wire-based configuration. Individual wires extend from each piezoelectric element to the outside connecting region, and the common wire runs through the intra-row void, creating a spatial arrangement that resolves the conflict between connection reliability and configuration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The common wire acts as an intermediary element that connects the common electrode to the external circuit board through the intra-row void. This intermediary structure provides a dedicated pathway for common electrical connection, separating it from individual wire connections and improving overall electrical connection reliability.
2Area of stationary object
If piezoelectric elements are arranged in rows with common electrode covering all elements, then device compactness is improved, but voltage applied to piezoelectric elements becomes non-uniform due to distance from connection terminal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrical connection path into individual wires for each piezoelectric element and a separate common wire. This segmentation allows each element to have its own direct connection to the external circuit board, ensuring uniform voltage application regardless of position in the row, while maintaining compact arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
By extending individual wires in the depth direction (from piezoelectric elements through intra-row voids to outside connecting region), the patent creates a three-dimensional connection architecture that maintains compact two-dimensional footprint while achieving uniform voltage distribution across all elements.
3Reliability
If common lead electrode is made wider to improve electrical connection, then connection reliability is improved, but space for individual channels is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the common electrical connection from a planar two-dimensional layout to a three-dimensional configuration using the intra-row void space. The common wire extends through the depth direction, utilizing previously unused vertical space, thereby maintaining high channel arrangement density while ensuring reliable electrical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The common wire functions as a flexible conductive element that can be routed through the intra-row void and positioned between individual wires. This flexible wire configuration adapts to the compact space constraints while providing reliable electrical connection, unlike rigid wide electrodes that would consume horizontal space.
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 ensures more uniform voltage application to piezoelectric layers, reducing the occurrence of short-circuits and faulty electrical connections, thereby improving the reliability and efficiency of the liquid ejection process.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the piezoelectric elements includes a piezoelectric layer interposed between an individual electrode as a driving electrode and a common electrode as a ground electrode. When a voltage is applied to the electrodes, the piezoelectric element is driven to apply the ejection pressure to the liquid.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus includes: channel rows each including individual channels; piezoelectric elements each constituted by an individual electrode, a common electrode, and a piezoelectric layer; and individual wires respectively extending from the individual electrodes to an outside connecting region, connectable to an external circuit board, and each having a contact connectable to an individual terminal of the external circuit board. A portion of each of the channel rows has an intra-row void between adjacent two of the individual channels. Each of the individual wires extends to a portion of the outside connecting region which corresponds to one of the individual channels. A first common wire extending from the common electrode and connectable to a common terminal of the external circuit board is provided at a portion of the outside connecting region which corresponds to the intra-row void.