Printhead Determination Circuit for Signal Normalcy Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as ink jet printers, face malfunctions due to poor accuracy in signal supply, leading to reduced printing quality and increased likelihood of short circuits from liquid mist particles, as they do not effectively detect normal high- and low-voltage signals essential for printhead operation.
Innovation Solution
A printhead with a determination circuit that assesses the normalcy of voltage potentials at different terminals and a permission circuit to permit printing only when both signal determinations are normal, ensuring accurate signal supply and reducing the risk of malfunctions and short circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the printhead operates without signal accuracy detection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of printing operation deteriorates due to undetected signal abnormalities
Solution Approach 1:
The determination circuit performs preliminary detection of signal abnormalities before printing operations commence. By detecting potential issues with voltage signals in advance, the system prevents malfunctions during actual printing, thereby improving reliability without requiring complex real-time monitoring throughout the entire printing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The printhead incorporates self-diagnostic functionality through the determination circuit, which automatically detects signal abnormalities without requiring external inspection equipment. This self-service approach maintains reliability while avoiding the added complexity of external monitoring systems.
2Reliability
If the printhead lacks voltage signal detection capability, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to undetected short circuits from liquid mist particles
Solution Approach 1:
The determination circuit provides feedback regarding the normality of voltage signals to the control unit. This feedback mechanism enables the system to respond to signal abnormalities by preventing printing operations when short circuits are detected, thereby improving reliability against liquid mist particle-induced failures without requiring complex manual intervention systems.
3Measurement precision
If multiple determination criteria are implemented for signal verification, then the measurement precision of signal normality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The determination circuit employs multiple segmentation criteria for detecting signal abnormalities, including separate detection of high-voltage signal normality and low-voltage signal normality. By dividing the detection process into distinct segments with specific criteria, the system achieves high measurement precision while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular detection functions.
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 solution enhances the reliability of the printhead by ensuring normal voltage potentials are maintained, reducing the likelihood of malfunctions and improving printing quality by preventing short circuits caused by liquid mist particles.
Implementation Method 1
drives a piezoelectric element provided for a printhead by using a drive signal and thereby ejects liquid
Implementation Method 2
The liquid mist particles floating within the liquid ejecting apparatus are very small and are therefore charged due to the Lenard effect
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a printhead that performs printing by supplying a drive signal inputted to a second terminal to a drive element according to print data inputted to a first terminal, the printhead including: the first terminal; the second terminal; a determination circuit configured to perform based on different criteria, first determination to determine, in response to a first signal inputted to the first terminal, whether a potential of the second terminal is normal and second determination to determine, in response to a second signal inputted to the first terminal, whether the potential of the second terminal is normal; and a permission circuit configured to permit printing when the potential of the second terminal is determined to be normal in the first determination and second determination and does not permit printing when the potential of the second terminal is determined to be not normal in the first determination or second determination.