Piezoelectric Liquid Ejecting Head with Spanning Active Region
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting heads with piezoelectric elements face challenges in maintaining precise ejection characteristics due to manufacturing errors, especially when dealing with high viscosity inks or large-diameter droplets, as they require precise separation of active regions which can be difficult to achieve accurately.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting head design featuring a common electrode and individual electrodes for multiple pressure compartments, with a piezoelectric body spanning across compartments, allowing for shared nozzle communication and reduced active-region pitch, thereby minimizing the impact of manufacturing errors on ejection characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If two pressure compartments located at different positions in the intersecting direction are in communication with one nozzle, then liquid ejection capability for high viscosity inks and large-diameter droplets is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to the need for high-precision separation of piezoelectric active regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control of multiple pressure compartments into a single piezoelectric element with a continuous active region. Instead of separating active regions for different pressure compartments, the invention uses one active region that spans across multiple compartments, eliminating the need for high-precision separation while maintaining the ability to eject liquid from multiple compartments through a shared nozzle.
Solution Approach 2:
The single piezoelectric element with a continuous active region serves multiple functions by controlling multiple pressure compartments simultaneously. The active region acts as a universal control mechanism that can pressurize different compartments as needed, allowing one element to perform what would traditionally require multiple separate elements with precisely separated active regions.
2Measurement precision
If piezoelectric active regions are separated for different pressure compartments, then control precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for high-precision manufacturing and alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines multiple piezoelectric active regions into a single continuous active region within one piezoelectric element. This merging eliminates the complex alignment and separation requirements between multiple independent active regions, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining control precision through the unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
While the active region is continuous, the patent employs segmentation in the electrode structure, with different electrode patterns applied to different pressure compartments. This allows independent control of each compartment through selective electrode activation while maintaining the simplicity of a single continuous active region, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity without sacrificing control precision.
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 enhances the precision and consistency of liquid ejection by offsetting manufacturing errors and improving drive efficiency, allowing for more reliable ejection of high viscosity inks and large-diameter droplets.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric element that changes pressure inside the pressure compartment
Data Source
AI summary
The plurality of pressure compartments includes a first pressure compartment and a second pressure compartment located next to the first pressure compartment in the first direction. The plurality of nozzles includes a first nozzle that is in communication with the first pressure compartment and the second pressure compartment in a shared manner. The piezoelectric element includes a first active region where the piezoelectric body is sandwiched between the common electrode and, among the plurality of individual electrodes, a first individual electrode. The first active region is located to span from at least a part of the first pressure compartment to at least a part of the second pressure compartment as viewed in the second direction.