Piezoelectric Ink Jet Head With Single-Switch Waveform Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet heads face an increase in drive circuit size due to the inclusion of additional analog switches necessary for generating different drive waveforms for varying ink droplet volumes, leading to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
An ink jet head with a common waveform generation circuit and a switch connected between an electrode pair and the circuit, controlled by a timing controller to alternately apply different drive waveforms without requiring separate switches for each waveform.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional analog switches are included to generate different drive waveforms for varying ink droplet volumes, then the ability to eject different ink volumes is improved, but the drive circuit size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple waveform generation functions into a single waveform generation circuit. Instead of having separate circuits for different drive waveforms (1st tone, 2nd tone, 3rd tone), one circuit generates all waveforms by selectively outputting different waveforms based on control signals. This reduces the number of components and decreases circuit area while maintaining the ability to eject different ink volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveform generation circuit is designed to be multi-functional, capable of generating multiple types of drive waveforms (1st tone, 2nd tone, 3rd tone) for different ink droplet volumes. The circuit responds to different control signals to produce the appropriate waveform, making a single circuit perform the work of what would traditionally require multiple dedicated circuits.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate analog switches are used for each drive waveform type, then waveform selection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple switch functions are merged into a single analog switch. The switch selects between different waveforms generated by the waveform generation circuit based on control signals. This consolidation reduces the number of switches from multiple (one for each waveform type) to just one, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving waveform selection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The analog switch is designed as a universal component that can handle multiple waveform types (1st tone, 2nd tone, 3rd tone) through a single device. By responding to different control signals, the same switch performs the function of what would traditionally require multiple dedicated switches, simplifying the overall circuit structure.
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
The solution allows for generating multiple drive waveforms efficiently, reducing the need for additional analog switches and maintaining consistent ejection velocity and pressure vibration suppression across varying ink droplet volumes.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric member configured to drive a pressure chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An ink jet head includes a piezoelectric member (5) to drive a pressure chamber (51), an electrode pair (53, 55) to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric member, and a common waveform generation circuit (61) to generate a common waveform. The common waveform alternately includes an element of a first output waveform and an element of a second output waveform at a predetermined period. A switch (7) is connected between a first electrode of the electrode pair and the common waveform generation circuit. A timing controller (62) supplies a control signal to turn the switch on and off at the predetermined period such that the first or second output waveform can be selectively applied to the piezoelectric member to drive the pressure chamber to eject a liquid.