Power Supply Circuit Inrush Current Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power supply circuits for recording apparatuses generate a large inrush current when starting, due to the small charge capacity of capacitors, leading to increased circuit scale and costs.
Innovation Solution
A power supply circuit with a first supply circuit for discharging charges from a capacitor and a second supply circuit for supplying power, along with a switch circuit and holding circuit, to manage voltage and prevent inrush current by using a push-pull circuit and FET-based charge/discharge mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a capacitor with small charge capacity is used to stabilize voltage, then the circuit scale is reduced, but a large inrush current is generated when starting
Solution Approach 1:
The holding circuit records whether the power supply circuit has already performed a charging operation before the discharge operation. The discharge circuit is controlled to perform discharge only after confirming that charging has been performed, preventing the capacitor from discharging into the power source and eliminating inrush current generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding circuit provides feedback information about the charging operation status to control the discharge circuit. This feedback mechanism ensures that the discharge circuit operates only under appropriate conditions (after charging), preventing harmful inrush current while maintaining voltage stabilization functionality.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a circuit to suppress inrush current is provided, then inrush current is reduced, but the circuit scale is increased and costs are raised
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply circuit performs multiple functions: it charges the capacitor to stabilize voltage and conditionally discharges the capacitor to maintain voltage during recording operations. The same circuit components serve both charging and discharging functions, eliminating the need for separate suppression circuits and reducing overall circuit scale.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply circuit itself manages the inrush current problem through intelligent control of its discharge operation based on charging status feedback, rather than requiring an external dedicated suppression circuit. The system solves its own problem using its existing components and control logic.
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 effectively stabilizes voltage, reduces inrush current, and minimizes circuit complexity and costs by managing power supply through parallel circuits and intelligent control signals.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitor which is connected to a supply line for supplying electric power to the load from the power source circuit and configured to stabilize a potential of the load
Implementation Method 2
A recording apparatus converts electric power into heat with using an electrothermal conversion device disposed to a recording head
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus which has a load that consumes a predetermined amount of electric power per unit time includes a power source circuit configured to generate a voltage for driving the load, a capacitor which is connected to a supply line for supplying electric power to the load from the power source circuit and configured to stabilize a potential of the load, a first supply circuit which can supply electric power smaller than the predetermined amount to the capacitor and can discharge a charge from the capacitor, a second supply circuit which can supply electric power larger than the predetermined amount to the capacitor, a switch circuit configured to operate each of the first supply circuit and the second supply circuit, and a holding circuit configured to hold information based on the operation of the first supply circuit.