Piezoelectric Liquid Discharge Head Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge heads face issues with residual vibration in the nozzle layer after liquid discharge, which can cause fluctuations in discharge speed and result in abnormal images, due to the lack of effective techniques to manage the natural vibration of the piezoelectric actuator.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a drive waveform with a first and second waveform, where the second waveform's rising or falling edge is delayed by a specific interval (m−0.5)×Tc or n×Tc relative to the first waveform's edge, where m and n are positive integers, and Tc is the natural period of vibration, to reduce residual vibration in the nozzle layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a piezoelectric actuator is driven to discharge liquid from nozzles, then liquid discharge capability is improved, but residual vibration in the nozzle layer occurs causing discharge speed fluctuations and abnormal images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic drive waveforms with specific timing relationships to the piezoelectric actuator. The drive waveform includes a first drive signal for liquid discharge and a second drive signal for vibration reduction, where the second signal is delayed by (m-0.5)×Tc from the first signal. This periodic control strategy synchronizes with the natural vibration period of the piezoelectric layer to effectively reduce residual vibrations while maintaining liquid discharge capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action by applying a second drive signal that generates vibrations opposite to the residual vibrations caused by liquid discharge. This second signal is timed to occur after the first discharge signal, with a delay of (m-0.5)×Tc, creating a counter-vibration that cancels out the harmful residual vibrations before they can cause discharge speed fluctuations or abnormal images.
2Reliability
If drive waveform is optimized to reduce residual vibration, then discharge stability is improved, but drive waveform complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes discharge stability by changing the timing parameters of the drive waveform. Specifically, it introduces a time delay parameter of (m-0.5)×Tc between the first and second drive signals, where Tc is the natural vibration period of the piezoelectric layer. This parameter adjustment allows the system to achieve vibration reduction without requiring complex hardware modifications, simply by tuning the temporal characteristics of the drive signal.
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 effectively reduces residual vibration in the nozzle layer, ensuring stable and accurate liquid discharge by synchronizing the drive waveform with the natural vibration period of the piezoelectric actuator, thereby improving the quality of the discharge process.
Implementation Method 1
a nozzle layer (1) including a piezoelectric actuator (12) and having a nozzle (4) penetrating the nozzle layer (1)
Implementation Method 2
The second rising edge is delayed from the first rising edge by (m−0.5)×Tc, where m represents a positive integer, and Tc represents a natural period of vibration of the piezoelectric layer
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge head includes a nozzle layer including a piezoelectric layer and having a nozzle penetrating through the nozzle layer, a liquid chamber communicating with the nozzle, and a drive circuit to apply a drive waveform to the piezoelectric layer to drive the piezoelectric layer. The drive waveform has a first waveform and a second waveform. The first waveform has a first voltage to discharge a liquid in the liquid chamber from the nozzle. The first voltage has a first rising edge from which the first voltage rises. The second waveform has a second voltage having a second rising edge from which the second voltage rises. The second rising edge is delayed from the first rising edge by (m−0.5)×Tc, where m represents a positive integer, and Tc represents a natural period of vibration of the piezoelectric layer.