Liquid Jet Head Electrode Depth Variation for Droplet Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid jet heads require a large number of potential levels of drive voltage to maintain uniformity in droplet ejection, leading to complex and costly configurations, especially when trying to eject small droplets with precise control over ejection channels and dummy channels.
Innovation Solution
The liquid jet head design features ejection channels and dummy channels with alternately positioned drive electrodes of varying depths, where the average depth of electrodes on facing side surfaces of ejection channels is different from those on dummy channels, and the groove widths differ, allowing for reduced voltage levels and improved recording quality without increasing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the applied voltage is continuously changed according to the position of the channel wall to decrease variation in droplet ejection, then the droplet ejection uniformity is improved, but the drive circuit becomes complicated and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the electrode depths position-dependent, with deeper electrodes at positions where greater droplet displacement occurs. This creates a non-uniform electrode structure that compensates for position-dependent variations in droplet ejection, improving uniformity without requiring complex continuous voltage adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of electrode depth to compensate for droplet displacement variation. By adjusting the depth parameter of electrodes at different positions, the system achieves uniform droplet ejection with a simpler drive circuit that uses fewer voltage levels
2Productivity
If the number of nozzles is increased to improve productivity, then the output is improved, but the base material size becomes large requiring a larger film-forming chamber and increasing manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar electrode arrangement to a three-dimensional structure by varying electrode depths. This allows more nozzles to be effectively utilized within the same base material footprint by compensating for position-dependent ejection variations, thereby increasing productivity without proportionally increasing the base material area
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 design reduces variation in droplet displacement and improves recording quality by equalizing ejection conditions across the substrate position, achieving stable and precise droplet ejection with fewer voltage levels, thus simplifying the drive circuit and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The shear mode-type liquid jet head has ejection channels and dummy channels alternately formed in a surface of a piezoelectric substrate, and momentarily deforms partitions between the ejection channels and the dummy channels to eject liquid droplets through nozzles communicating into the ejection channels
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid jet head includes ejection channels and dummy channels alternately arrayed across partitions to configure a channel row, and drive electrodes that are side surfaces of the partitions and are positioned from upper ends of the partitions in a depth direction, and an average depth of two drive electrodes positioned on facing side surfaces of the ejection channel is different from an average depth of two drive electrodes positioned on facing side surfaces of the dummy channel adjacent to the ejection channel.