Piezoelectric Drive Circuit Heat Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing droplet discharging devices, such as inkjet recording devices and particle manufacturing devices, face significant heat generation issues due to high power consumption in their drive signal generator circuits, which limits size reduction and requires large heat dissipation mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The use of a piezoelectric drive circuit with high and low side field effect transistors (FETs) for controlled charging and discharging, along with an inductor to reduce heat generation, eliminates the need for a large heat dissipation mechanism by minimizing heat production and allowing for a compact device design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If bipolar transistors are used in the electric current amplifier circuit to drive the piezoelectric element, then the droplet discharging function is achieved, but large amounts of heat are generated requiring large heat dissipation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the transistor type from bipolar to field effect transistor (FET), fundamentally altering the electrical parameters of the switching element. FETs have higher input impedance and lower power consumption, which directly reduces heat generation while maintaining the required drive capability for the piezoelectric element
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the bipolar transistor-based electric current amplifier circuit with a FET-based switching circuit. This replacement eliminates the need for large heat dissipation mechanisms while achieving the same droplet discharging function, as FETs generate significantly less heat during switching operations
2Temperature
If large heat dissipation mechanisms are added to manage transistor heat, then temperature control is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the large heat dissipation mechanisms from the device by using FETs that inherently generate minimal heat. This removal of unnecessary components directly reduces device volume while maintaining effective temperature control
Solution Approach 2:
By changing to FETs with different thermal characteristics (lower power consumption and heat generation), the patent eliminates the need for extensive heat dissipation infrastructure, thereby reducing overall device volume
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 significantly reduces heat generation in the drive signal output unit, enabling the creation of a smaller, more efficient droplet discharging device with stable internal temperatures and improved particle size distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric element that deforms with electrical charging and discharging to discharge droplets from the discharging hole
Data Source
AI summary
A droplet discharging device including a discharging hole to discharge droplets, a piezoelectric element that deforms with electrical charging and discharging to discharge droplets therefrom, a piezoelectric element drive circuit that drives the piezoelectric element to cause it to charge and discharge, wherein the piezoelectric element drive circuit has a control signal generating unit to generate control signals that control outputs of drive signals applied to the piezoelectric circuit and a drive signal output unit to output the drive signals applied to the piezoelectric element based on the control signals, wherein the drive signal output unit includes a first field effect transistor that operates to supply an electric current to the piezoelectric element based on the control signals when charging the piezoelectric element and a second field effect transistor that operates to discharge an electric current from the piezoelectric element based on the control signals when discharging the piezoelectric element.