Piezoelectric Element Wire Routing for High Density Nozzles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid discharging apparatuses face challenges in achieving a small alignment pitch for pressure chambers and piezoelectric elements while maintaining insulation and allowing wires to pass between adjacent piezoelectric elements, which affects uniform discharging characteristics and nozzle density.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a configuration with a vibration film covering pressure chambers, where the length of active portions in piezoelectric elements is adjusted to accommodate wires between adjacent elements, allowing for a smaller alignment pitch and improved discharging characteristics by compensating for differences in active portion lengths and widths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the alignment pitch of pressure chambers is made small to increase nozzle density, then the head size is reduced and nozzle arrangement density is improved, but it becomes difficult to arrange wires between adjacent piezoelectric elements while maintaining insulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration by having wires pass through the thickness direction of the piezoelectric element. This allows wires to route through the body of adjacent piezoelectric elements rather than requiring lateral spacing, enabling small alignment pitch while maintaining wire insulation and connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire is embedded within the piezoelectric element structure itself, passing through the thickness direction of adjacent elements. This nesting approach integrates the wiring system into the piezoelectric element array, eliminating the need for external wire routing that would require larger spacing.
2Length of stationary object
If wires are arranged to overlap with piezoelectric elements to reduce spacing, then device size is reduced, but the overlapping wire inhibits or hinders the deformation of the piezoelectric element
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful effect of wire overlap on piezoelectric element deformation is eliminated by extracting the wire from the lateral arrangement and routing it through the thickness direction. This separates the wire routing function from the deformation function, allowing the piezoelectric element to deform freely while the wire passes through without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire routing is moved from the lateral plane to the thickness direction, changing the spatial dimension of wire arrangement. This dimensional shift eliminates the interference between wire and piezoelectric element deformation while maintaining compact head size.
3Productivity
If the alignment pitch is made small to achieve high-density nozzle arrangement, then productivity and compactness are improved, but it becomes difficult to maintain insulation property among wires and secure adequate distance from electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
Wires are nested within the piezoelectric element structure, passing through the thickness direction of adjacent elements. This integration ensures that wires maintain adequate insulation distance from electrodes through the element body while enabling high-density lateral arrangement of nozzles.
Solution Approach 2:
The piezoelectric element itself acts as an intermediary medium through which wires pass. This intermediary structure provides the necessary insulation and physical separation between wires and electrodes while enabling compact high-density nozzle arrangement.
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 enables a higher nozzle density and uniform discharging characteristics by allowing wires to pass between piezoelectric elements, enhancing the miniaturization and performance of the liquid discharging apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of piezoelectric elements (piezoelectric actuator) corresponding to the plurality of pressure chambers
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a liquid discharging apparatus including: a substrate formed with a first pressure chamber and two second pressure chambers; a vibration film; a first piezoelectric element; two second piezoelectric elements; a first wire connected to the first piezoelectric element; two second wires connected to the two second piezoelectric elements, respectively; and three contact sections to which the first wire and the two second wires are connected, respectively. The first wire passes between the two second piezoelectric elements and extends toward one of the three contact sections corresponding thereto; and length in the first direction of second active portions in second piezoelectric portions of the two second piezoelectric elements, is shorter than that of a first active portion in a first piezoelectric portion of the first piezoelectric element; and length in the second direction of the second active portion is longer than that of the first active portion.