Printer Controller Ink Ejection Drive Signal Pattern

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing diversity of printing contracts, including those with high volume and low-cost requirements, poses a challenge for traditional printing devices that rely on fixed ink ejection control methods, leading to potential disadvantages for service providers due to excessive ink consumption and cost imbalances.

Innovation Solution

A printing device with a controller that automatically sets a drive signal pattern for the ink ejection head based on contract information, allowing for flexible optimization of ink ejection according to the contract terms, including switching between different ink ejection modes and types to manage ink usage effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed ink ejection control method is used, then the printing device structure is simple, but the adaptability to diverse printing contracts deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to diverse printing contractsVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control of ink ejection by switching between multiple drive signal patterns based on contract type. The controller automatically selects appropriate drive signal patterns from stored patterns according to the specific printing contract requirements, enabling the system to adapt its ink ejection characteristics dynamically rather than using a fixed control method.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of the drive signal pattern to optimize ink ejection for different contract types. By storing multiple drive signal patterns with different parameters and selecting the appropriate pattern based on contract information, the system can adjust ink ejection volume, speed, and other parameters to match specific printing requirements without hardware modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of substance

If traditional fixed control methods are used, then the device complexity is low, but ink consumption increases leading to service provider disadvantages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink consumptionVSAvoidcontroller complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller receives contract information and automatically determines the appropriate drive signal pattern based on this input. The system monitors the printing contract type and adjusts the ink ejection parameters accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes ink consumption based on actual service requirements rather than using fixed, inefficient parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The controller dynamically adjusts ink ejection parameters by selecting from multiple stored drive signal patterns based on contract type. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize ink consumption for each specific printing contract, preventing excessive ink usage that would occur with fixed control methods while managing the increased controller complexity through automated pattern selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If diverse contract types are supported, then service flexibility improves, but control precision deteriorates without automatic adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice flexibilityVSAvoidink ejection precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing multiple drive signal patterns in the controller before actual printing operations. Each pattern is pre-configured for specific contract types, allowing the controller to quickly and precisely select the appropriate pattern based on contract information without requiring complex real-time calculations, thus maintaining both service flexibility and ejection precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains precision across diverse contracts by changing the parameters of the drive signal pattern based on contract type. The controller automatically adjusts parameters such as ejection voltage, pulse width, and frequency by selecting from pre-optimized patterns, ensuring precise ink ejection control for each specific printing requirement while supporting service diversity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20220314607A1Printing device and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium therefor

Publication Date: 2022.10.06 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

There is provided a printing device, which includes a print engine provided with an ejection head configured to eject droplets of ink introduced from a container containing the ink and configured to perform printing using the ink droplets on a recording sheet, and a controller. The controller is configured to automatically set a drive signal pattern defining a signal pattern to drive the ejection head in accordance with contract information concluded for the printing device or for a use by a user of the printing device.