Piezoelectric Pressure-Chamber Drive Feedback for Stable Ink Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The piezoelectric properties of piezoelectric bodies in liquid ejecting apparatuses change over time due to continuous printing, leading to variations in the amount of liquid ejected, which can result in color differences and decreased printing quality.
Innovation Solution
A method of driving a liquid ejecting apparatus that involves generating pairs of first and second drive signals with specific electrical potential differences, detecting residual vibration signals, and identifying the deformation properties of the piezoelectric element to adjust the drive signals accordingly, thereby maintaining consistent ejection performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If drive voltage is set based on piezoelectric properties measured during manufacture, then initial ejection performance is good, but ejection performance degrades over time due to piezoelectric property changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies test drive signals to the piezoelectric element and detects residual vibration signals to identify deformation properties in real-time. This feedback mechanism allows the system to continuously monitor and adapt to changes in piezoelectric properties, correcting drive signals to maintain consistent ejection performance over time without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of drive signals (electrical potential differences) based on detected deformation properties of the piezoelectric element. By dynamically adjusting signal parameters according to actual piezoelectric response, the system compensates for property changes and maintains optimal ejection performance throughout the device lifecycle.
2Manufacturing precision
If piezoelectric properties are measured during manufacture, then initial drive voltage can be optimized, but properties change during operation leading to color differences
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors piezoelectric element response through residual vibration detection and adjusts drive signals accordingly. This closed-loop feedback ensures that printing quality remains consistent even as piezoelectric properties change during operation, eliminating color differences caused by property degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs deformation property identification and drive signal correction during idle periods or between printing operations. By proactively adjusting parameters before quality degradation becomes apparent, the system maintains manufacturing precision throughout extended operation without interrupting the printing workflow.
3Measurement precision
If multiple pairs of drive signals with different electrical potential differences are applied, then deformation properties can be accurately identified, but detection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies multiple pairs of drive signals with different electrical potential differences in a periodic sequence during designated identification periods. This structured periodic approach allows accurate deformation property measurement without requiring simultaneous complex signal processing, managing system complexity while maintaining measurement 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 approach allows for accurate identification of the piezoelectric element's deformation properties and hysteresis changes, enabling correction of drive signals to maintain consistent ink ejection, thus reducing the likelihood of color differences and improving printing quality over time.
Implementation Method 1
The piezoelectric body deforms according to an applied drive voltage, that is, a difference in electrical potential between an upper electrode film and a lower electrode film. The deformation of the piezoelectric body is used to cause a fluctuation in the pressure applied to the ink in the pressure chamber and thereby cause a droplet to be ejected from the nozzle.
Implementation Method 2
a detector that detects, as residual vibration signals for the respective pairs, variations in electromotive force of the piezoelectric element according to variations in residual pressure applied to liquid in the pressure chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A method of driving a liquid ejecting apparatus including a piezoelectric element, and a pressure chamber. The method includes: generating a plurality of pairs of first drive signals and second drive signals, the first drive signals include electrical potential-changing elements that change in electrical potential, and the second drive signals that include electrical potential-maintained elements that maintain fixed electrical potentials, and detecting, as a plurality of residual vibration signals for the plurality of pairs, variations in electromotive force of the piezoelectric element according to variations in residual pressure that is applied to liquid in the pressure chamber after every supplying the electrical potential-changing element and the electrical potential-maintained element to the piezoelectric element for the plurality of the pairs, and identifying a first deformation property of the piezoelectric element based on the plurality of residual vibration signals for the plurality of pairs.