Print Element Substrate Same-Layer Temperature Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal inkjet printing apparatuses face challenges in accurately detecting temperature changes based on ink discharge mode due to the structural limitations of temperature sensors in relation to heaters.
Innovation Solution
A print element substrate with a heater and temperature sensors formed from the same material, positioned in the same layer, and arranged to detect temperature changes in the bubbling chamber, enhancing detection accuracy through improved heat propagation and thermal resistance management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the temperature sensor is provided in a lower layer than the heater with a conductive plug connection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature detection precision deteriorates because the sensor cannot accurately detect temperature changes based on ink discharge mode
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is moved from a lower layer (vertical separation) to the same layer as the heater (horizontal arrangement), changing the spatial dimension of sensor placement. This allows the sensor to detect temperature changes at the heater's actual location without requiring vertical layer transitions or conductive plugs, thereby improving temperature detection precision while maintaining structural simplicity through planar integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater substrate serves as an intermediary medium that directly transmits temperature changes from the heater to the temperature sensor when both are in the same layer. This eliminates the need for conductive plugs as intermediaries to transfer thermal signals across layers, enabling more accurate detection of temperature changes related to ink discharge mode.
2Measurement precision
If the temperature sensor is positioned closer to the heater for better temperature detection, then the temperature detection precision improves, but the sensor may detect temperature changes based on heater driving mode rather than ink discharge mode
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is positioned at a specific location in the same layer as the heater, optimized to detect temperature changes in the bubbling chamber where ink discharge occurs. This localized positioning ensures the sensor captures temperature variations specific to ink discharge mode rather than general heater heating, achieving both high precision and reliability by targeting the thermally active region where phase change occurs.
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 configuration allows for precise detection of temperature changes in the bubbling chamber, improving the accuracy of ink discharge and enabling better determination of ink droplet discharge direction and quality.
Implementation Method 1
a heater provided on the base and configured to generate heat used to discharge ink
Implementation Method 2
the temperature sensor being formed of the same material as the heater and provided in the same layer as the heater on the base
Data Source
AI summary
A print element substrate, comprising a base, a heater provided on the base and configured to generate heat used to discharge ink, a flow path member, which forms an ink flow path, configured to form, together with the base, a bubbling chamber in which the ink is bubbled by the heat of the heater provided in a bottom surface of the bubbling chamber, and a temperature sensor capable of detecting a temperature of the bubbling chamber, the temperature sensor being formed of the same material as the heater and provided in the same layer as the heater on the base.