Piezoelectric Print Head Temperature Feedback for Accurate Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses face challenges in size reduction, improvement of discharge accuracy, and productivity enhancement, despite advancements in increasing the number of nozzles and discharge amount per unit time.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge apparatus with a print head, substrate unit, and control circuit that includes a first piezoelectric element, temperature sensor, and drive circuit, where the control circuit adjusts operations based on environmental temperature to enhance discharge accuracy and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of nozzles and discharge amount per unit time are increased to improve productivity, then productivity is improved, but the size of the liquid discharge apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drive circuit and temperature sensor directly onto the substrate unit that is integrated with the print head, eliminating the need for separate housing and cooling mechanisms. This merging of functions allows multiple nozzles to operate at high productivity while maintaining a compact apparatus size.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate unit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the structural base for the print head, provides electrical connections through integrated connectors, houses the drive circuit for piezoelectric element control, and incorporates temperature sensing capabilities. This multi-functionality reduces overall apparatus size while supporting high-productivity operation.
2Productivity
If the number of nozzles and discharge amount per unit time are increased to improve productivity, then productivity is improved, but liquid discharge accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor integrated on the substrate unit provides real-time temperature feedback to the control circuit, which adjusts the drive signals to the piezoelectric elements accordingly. This feedback mechanism compensates for temperature-induced variations in piezoelectric performance, maintaining discharge accuracy even as productivity increases with more nozzles.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit dynamically adjusts drive parameters (voltage, frequency, pulse width) based on temperature sensor readings to compensate for piezoelectric element performance variations. This parameter adjustment ensures consistent liquid discharge accuracy across multiple nozzles operating at high productivity levels.
3Temperature
If a cooling mechanism is added to cool the drive circuit, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature sensing function from a separate cooling system and integrates it directly into the substrate unit. This eliminates the need for complex external cooling mechanisms while maintaining effective temperature control of the drive circuit through the integrated sensor and control loop.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate unit itself provides temperature monitoring capabilities through the integrated sensor, eliminating the need for external cooling infrastructure. The system uses its own structural components (substrate unit) to perform the temperature control function, reducing overall device complexity.
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 apparatus achieves improved discharge accuracy and productivity by stabilizing the environmental conditions for the piezoelectric elements, reducing size, and optimizing the discharge process.
Implementation Method 1
a first discharge section that has a first piezoelectric element that is displaced by receiving a first driving signal and discharges a liquid by displacement of the first piezoelectric element
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including: a print head; a substrate unit; and a control circuit that controls operations of the print head and the substrate unit, in which the print head includes a first discharge section that has a first piezoelectric element that is displaced by receiving a first driving signal and discharges a liquid by displacement of the first piezoelectric element, and a first connector, the substrate unit includes a second connector that is electrically coupled to the print head by being fitted to the first connector, a first drive circuit that outputs the first driving signal, a temperature sensor that acquires environmental temperature, and a wiring substrate provided with the first drive circuit and the temperature sensor, and the control circuit controls the first drive circuit and the print head based on the environmental temperature acquired by the temperature sensor.