Piezoelectric Wiring Arrangement for Inkjet Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printers using piezoelectric elements face issues with signal interference due to mutual inductance, leading to voltage deviations and performance deterioration when printing on large media, as the lengthened flexible flat cables (FFCs) experience crosstalk and increased weight, causing overshooting and undershooting in driving signals.
Innovation Solution
The configuration of the liquid ejecting apparatus includes specific wiring arrangements where the second wiring is placed between the first and fourth wiring, and the fourth wiring is placed between the second and third wiring, reducing voltage variations caused by mutual inductance, and allows these wirings to be included in a single flexible flat cable, even when the number of piezoelectric elements exceeds 300, supporting large media printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If multiple lengthened FFCs are used to supply driving signals to the print head for large media printing, then the driving signals can reach the piezoelectric elements, but the weight of the FFCs increases causing interference in high-speed movement of the print head
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate FFCs into a single integrated FFC that contains all necessary wirings (driving signal wirings and ground wirings) for multiple piezoelectric element groups. This merging reduces the total weight and eliminates interference issues associated with multiple separate cables while maintaining the ability to supply driving signals to all piezoelectric elements across the large media printing width.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If driving signals and ground signals are arranged in alternating pairs in FFCs, then magnetic fields are compensated, but mutual inductance from other wiring pairs increases causing voltage deviations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wirings into distinct groups: driving signal wirings and ground wirings are separated and arranged in specific sequences rather than alternating pairs. This segmentation allows for better control of mutual inductance effects and enables the implementation of shielding structures between different signal groups, thereby maintaining voltage accuracy while managing magnetic field interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ground wirings as intermediary elements between driving signal wirings. These ground wirings act as shields that reduce mutual inductance effects between adjacent driving signal wirings. The specific arrangement where ground wirings are positioned between driving signal wirings creates a shielding effect that maintains signal integrity and reduces voltage deviations caused by mutual inductance.
3Area of stationary object
If the number of piezoelectric elements exceeds 300 for large media printing, then coverage area increases, but voltage variations due to mutual inductance increase causing overshooting and undershooting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a simple linear wiring arrangement to a two-dimensional wiring layout within the FFC. Multiple ground wirings are strategically positioned between driving signal wirings in a planar configuration, creating shielding zones that reduce mutual inductance effects. This dimensional approach allows the system to support over 300 piezoelectric elements while maintaining voltage precision by managing electromagnetic interference in the spatial domain.
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 effectively reduces voltage variations and failures due to mutual inductance, ensuring accurate ink ejection and maintaining the performance of piezoelectric elements by minimizing the impact of mutual inductance on driving signals, even when printing on large media sizes.
Implementation Method 1
Ink jet printers using piezoelectric elements have been well known as printing apparatuses that perform printing of images and/or documents by ejecting inks
Implementation Method 2
the directions of currents flowing through the two wirings are opposite to each other, thus causing magnetic fields produced by the currents to be mutually compensated for, and thus, it seems that the influence of mutual inductance is reduced
Data Source
AI summary
A first wiring supplies a first driving signal to one end of a first piezoelectric elements; a second wiring supplies a first voltage to the other end of the first piezoelectric element to allow the first voltage to maintain the other end of the first piezoelectric element to a common electric potential; a third wiring supplies a second driving signal to one end of a second piezoelectric elements; and a fourth wiring supplies a second signal to the other end of the second piezoelectric element to allow the second signal to maintain the other end of the second piezoelectric element to the common electric potential. The second wiring is arranged between the first wiring and the fourth wiring, the fourth wiring is arranged between the second wiring and the third wiring, and the second wiring and the fourth wiring are arranged between the first wiring and the third wiring.