Orthogonal Cable Group for Ink Jet Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink mist clinging to flexible flat cables in ink jet printers causes uneven impedance and increased heat emission due to the formation of a current path between the cables' wirings, leading to an uneven load on the drive circuit.
Innovation Solution
A cable group configuration where two cables overlap orthogonally, with specific terminal positions to ensure that drive signals and reference voltage signals are closely positioned and alternately disposed, reducing the impact of ink mist clinging on the cables and minimizing inductance components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high voltage drive signals are transmitted through flexible flat cables to drive piezoelectric elements, then the piezoelectric elements can be operated to eject ink, but ink mist clings to the cables forming current paths that change impedance and increase heat emission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-layer cable arrangement to a multi-layer stacked configuration where cables are arranged in orthogonal directions. This dimensional change creates spatial separation between signal transmission paths, reducing the surface area exposed to ink mist and minimizing current path formation while maintaining electrical connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable group is divided into multiple independent cables, each carrying specific drive signals or reference voltages. By segmenting the signal transmission into separate physical pathways, the patent reduces the overall exposure to ink mist and prevents uniform contamination that would create harmful current paths.
2Productivity
If multiple flexible flat cables are used to drive multiple piezoelectric elements, then sufficient drive signals can be supplied, but uneven ink mist clinging creates uneven load and increased heat emission in specific drive circuits
Solution Approach 1:
By stacking cables in orthogonal dimensions rather than placing them in a single plane, the patent creates three-dimensional signal distribution. This reduces the projected area exposed to ink mist, preventing uneven clinging that would concentrate current paths and heat generation in specific drive circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
Different cables are assigned different functions (drive signals vs. reference voltages) and positioned to minimize their exposure to ink mist. The patent applies different spatial arrangements to different cable types, optimizing each cable's position to reduce local contamination and heat generation.
3Device complexity
If cables are arranged in a conventional single-layer configuration, then the structure is simple, but inductance components are increased and drive signal overshoot occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical stacking dimension to the cable arrangement, transitioning from two-dimensional planar layout to three-dimensional configuration. This reduces the loop area and inductance components by minimizing the horizontal spread of cables, thereby reducing signal overshoot while maintaining structural simplicity through modular stacking.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the cable bundle into orthogonally arranged layers, the patent reduces electromagnetic coupling between adjacent cables. This segmentation minimizes inductance effects and signal interference, improving drive signal precision without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.
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 reduces the increase in output of drive circuits, minimizes heat emission, and decreases the overshoot of drive signals, thereby maintaining stable operation and reducing unnecessary currents to the piezoelectric elements.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric element such as a piezo element is used in an ink jet printer that prints an image or a document by ejecting ink as a liquid
Implementation Method 2
The first cable and the second cable are disposed to at least partially overlap with each other in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the first terminal and the second terminal are lined up
Data Source
AI summary
The second terminal is disposed between the first terminal and the third terminal. The fifth terminal is disposed between the fourth terminal and the sixth terminal. The first cable and the second cable are disposed to at least partially overlap with each other in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the first terminal and the second terminal are lined up.