Liquid Sensor Package With Selective Thermal Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Print systems face issues with damage and reduced print quality due to depleted or improperly pressurized ink cartridges, as existing technologies lack effective sensors to monitor liquid levels and pressure within replaceable print components, leading to user dissatisfaction and potential hardware damage.
Innovation Solution
A sensor circuitry package with multiple sensing zones and stimulating devices, such as thermal sensors and heater circuits, is integrated into replaceable print cartridges to accurately measure liquid levels and pressure, using a serial-to-parallel data converter and actuation logic to enable efficient sensing operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If replaceable print cartridges are used without effective sensors, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to damage from depleted or improperly pressurized ink cartridges
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing system is divided into multiple independent sensing zones (first sensing zone, second sensing zone, etc.) that can be selectively activated. Each zone has its own stimulating device and sensor, allowing the system to monitor different liquid levels independently without requiring a fully integrated complex sensor array.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor package is pre-configured with multiple sensing zones and stimulating devices during manufacturing. The serial-to-parallel data converter and actuation logic are pre-programmed to selectively activate specific sensing zones based on detected conditions, enabling the system to prepare for various liquid level scenarios in advance rather than reacting to each condition separately.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensing zones with stimulating devices are integrated into print cartridges, then measurement precision is improved for liquid levels and pressure, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects which sensing zones to activate based on the specific measurement needs. The actuation logic selectively enables stimulating devices for only the necessary sensing zones at any given time, allowing high measurement precision where needed while keeping the overall system operation simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The serial-to-parallel data converter acts as an intermediary between the multiple sensing zones and the processing logic. It efficiently manages the data flow from multiple sensors by converting serial data streams into parallel processing channels, reducing the complexity of handling multiple sensor inputs simultaneously.
3Reliability
If sensors are added to monitor liquid levels and pressure, then reliability is improved by preventing damage, but loss of energy increases due to continuous monitoring operations
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the system uses periodic sensing operations where stimulating devices are activated only when needed to check liquid levels or pressure conditions. The actuation logic determines when sensing is necessary and activates the appropriate zones temporarily, significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies sensing operations locally to specific zones that have detected potential issues. When a particular sensing zone indicates a problem (such as low liquid level or improper pressure), only that local zone receives intensive monitoring, while other zones operate at lower energy levels or remain dormant.
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
The solution provides reliable monitoring of ink levels and pressure, preventing damage and ensuring optimal print quality by alerting users to low ink conditions and maintaining proper pressurization, thus enhancing user experience and component longevity.
Implementation Method 1
each sensing zone including a heater circuit and a thermal sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid level sensor package for a replaceable print liquid reservoir, the package including a number of heater circuits, each heater circuit including a heater element to dissipate heat and a number of control devices, each control device individually controllable to be electrically connected to the heater element, the heater element to dissipate a different amount of heat when electrically connected to different ones of the control devices.