Piezoelectric Ejecting Head Groove Layout for Electrode Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing piezoelectric actuators in liquid ejecting apparatuses face challenges in efficiently forming individual and common electrodes, leading to complex fabrication processes and potential increased resistance, which can affect printing quality.
Innovation Solution
A novel design where grooves are formed in the piezoelectric member to create individual and common electrodes, with varying depths to facilitate easier separation of individual electrodes and maintain continuous common electrodes, simplifying the fabrication process and reducing electrode resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If grooves are formed in the piezoelectric member to create individual and common electrodes, then electrode formation efficiency is improved, but the fabrication process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piezoelectric member is segmented into multiple piezoelectric elements by forming grooves that extend from the lateral surface toward the opposite surface. These grooves divide the electrode-forming layer into separate regions, creating individual electrodes for each piezoelectric element while maintaining a continuous common electrode, thus improving electrode formation efficiency through structural segmentation
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves are designed with varying depths: deeper in regions where individual electrodes need separation and shallower in regions where the common electrode needs continuity. This local variation in groove depth allows simultaneous formation of both individual and common electrodes with a single groove structure, improving efficiency without significantly increasing fabrication complexity
2Ease of manufacture
If grooves with varying depths are used to separate individual electrodes, then electrode separation is facilitated, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure is segmented into two functional zones: a first groove portion extending deeper to separate individual electrodes, and a second groove portion extending shallower to maintain common electrode continuity. This segmentation of the groove itself into functional zones facilitates electrode separation while distributing precision requirements across different groove regions
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves extend partially through the thickness of the piezoelectric member rather than completely through. This partial penetration is sufficient to achieve the necessary electrode separation and continuity functions, reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements compared to full-through grooves
3Reliability
If common electrodes are made continuous, then electrode resistance is reduced, but individual electrode separation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The groove depth is locally optimized: in regions where individual electrode separation is needed, grooves extend deeper to create isolation; in regions where common electrode continuity is needed, grooves extend shallower to maintain connection. This local quality variation in groove depth simultaneously achieves both electrode separation and continuity
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode separation and continuity are achieved not by varying the lateral position of grooves, but by varying the depth dimension. By controlling groove depth rather than lateral placement, the design achieves both individual electrode separation and common electrode continuity in a single fabrication step
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 allows for more efficient electrode formation, reducing processing steps and enhancing printing quality by minimizing common electrode resistance, thereby improving the performance of liquid ejecting heads.
Implementation Method 1
A piezoelectric actuator using a piezoelectric material such as PZT can be used to drive liquid ejections of a liquid ejecting apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting head includes a piezoelectric member formed of a piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric member has grooves extending lengthwise in a first direction. The grooves separate portions of the piezoelectric member into a plurality of piezoelectric elements spaced from each other in a second direction. A connection portion of the piezoelectric member is under at least a portion of the grooves in a third direction. The connection portion connects the piezoelectric elements to each other. Individual electrodes are on first lateral surfaces of the piezoelectric elements on a first side of the piezoelectric member. A common (shared) electrode is on second lateral surfaces of the piezoelectric elements on a second side of the piezoelectric member. Each groove has a depth in an end portion of the groove on the first side that is deeper than a depth in an end portion of the groove on the second side.