Liquid Ejection Waveform Control for Lower Instantaneous Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses experience an instantaneous increase in power consumption when ejecting very fine liquid droplets due to complex drive signal waveforms, leading to inefficiencies and potential disruptions in ejection rates.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs multiple drive circuits and drive waveforms to control droplet volumes and gradation levels, utilizing overlapping and non-overlapping periods of drive signal outputs to manage power consumption and ejection rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a complex drive signal waveform is used to eject very fine liquid droplets, then the ejection accuracy and droplet fineness are improved, but the power consumption increases instantaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The drive signal waveform is divided into multiple segments (first through fifth drive waveforms) with different voltage levels and time durations. Each segment corresponds to a specific droplet volume, allowing the system to achieve fine droplet ejection accuracy by selecting appropriate waveform segments while managing power consumption through controlled activation of each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the drive signal waveform (voltage level, time duration, waveform shape) to create multiple drive waveforms with different characteristics. By adjusting these parameters, the system can eject droplets of varying volumes with high precision while controlling instantaneous power consumption by selecting waveforms with lower voltage or shorter duration when appropriate.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple drive waveforms with different droplet volumes are used to achieve multiple gradation levels, then the gradation expression capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple drive waveforms (first through fifth) are merged into a single unified drive signal structure that can be selectively activated. The drive signal generation unit integrates all waveforms into one coherent system, allowing the ejection unit to respond to different waveform segments based on the desired droplet volume, thereby achieving multiple gradation levels without requiring separate drive circuits for each waveform type.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive signal generation unit is designed with multi-functionality to generate and select from multiple drive waveforms (first through fifth waveforms) within a single unit. This universal drive signal generation capability allows the system to achieve various droplet volumes and gradation levels using one integrated unit rather than multiple specialized circuits, reducing overall device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the ejection unit responds to multiple drive waveforms with different volumes, then the droplet volume control precision is improved, but the loss of time in signal processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple drive waveforms with different characteristics are prepared in advance within the drive signal generation unit. The system pre-configures the first through fifth drive waveforms with specific voltage levels and time durations corresponding to different droplet volumes. When a droplet ejection is required, the appropriate pre-prepared waveform is selected and activated immediately, eliminating the need for real-time waveform synthesis and reducing signal processing time while maintaining precise droplet volume control.
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 approach reduces the probability of instantaneous power spikes and maintains efficient ejection rates by optimizing power usage and droplet volumes across various gradation levels.
Implementation Method 1
a driven element, such as piezoelectric elements... the driven element is driven according to a drive signal to cause the corresponding nozzle to eject a liquid droplet
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus performs gradation expression with multiple gradation levels by ejecting liquid droplets onto a medium. In the liquid ejecting apparatus, a period in which a first drive circuit outputs a second drive waveform as a first drive signal at least partially overlaps a period in which a second drive circuit outputs a fourth drive waveform as a second drive signal; a period in which the first drive circuit outputs a third drive waveform as the first drive signal does not overlap the period in which the second drive circuit outputs the fourth drive waveform as the second drive signal; and in a drive cycle, the first drive circuit outputs a first drive waveform as the first drive signal, subsequently outputs the second drive waveform as the first drive signal, and then outputs the third drive waveform as the first drive signal.