Printhead Drive Waveform Multiplexing to Cut Idle Pulse Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printing devices generate four drive pulses during one cycle, but only one is selected, resulting in wasted time for the other three pulses, leading to inefficiencies and potential power consumption and noise issues.

Innovation Solution

A printing device that generates a time-division multiplexed signal using first and second driving waveforms, separated by a synchronizing signal, allowing for efficient ejection of liquid through nozzles by selecting and applying appropriate drive pulses, reducing standby time and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If four drive pulses are continuously generated during one printing cycle, then the printing device can select from multiple drive pulse options to achieve desired dot sizes, but the time allocated to unselected drive pulses becomes waiting time for the nozzle, reducing productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive pulse selection capabilityVSAvoidprinting cycle efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies time-division multiplexing to continuously transmit multiple drive pulse waveforms (first, second, third, and fourth drive pulses) through a single signal line without idle waiting time. The separator unit actively selects and outputs the appropriate drive pulse for each nozzle based on printing requirements, ensuring that the signal transmission process is continuously productive rather than having waiting periods for unselected pulses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Ease of operation

If multiple drive pulses are generated and transmitted through separate signal lines, then each pulse can be independently controlled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent pulse controlVSAvoidsignal line configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple drive pulse signal transmissions into a single signal line using time-division multiplexing. The first, second, third, and fourth drive pulses are transmitted sequentially over the same physical signal line, reducing the number of required signal lines from multiple to one, thereby simplifying the device complexity while maintaining independent control capability through temporal separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from spatial separation (multiple signal lines) to temporal separation (time-division multiplexing on a single line). By adding the time dimension to signal transmission, the system achieves independent control of multiple drive pulses without requiring multiple parallel signal lines, thus reducing device complexity while preserving operational independence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If unselected drive pulses are generated during printing cycles, then multiple dot size options are available, but power is consumed and noise is generated during waiting periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedot size control optionsVSAvoidpower consumption during standby

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent ensures that the signal line continuously transmits useful drive pulse waveforms without idle waiting periods. By using time-division multiplexing to actively transmit all four drive pulse options (first, second, third, and fourth) in sequence, the system eliminates standby time where power would be consumed without productive output, making every moment of signal transmission useful.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 enables efficient liquid ejection with reduced standby time and power consumption by selectively applying drive pulses, improving printing efficiency and reducing noise.

Implementation Method 1

drive the piezoelectric elements of respective nozzles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS12528288B2Printing device, printing method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium therefor

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A printing device includes a nozzle, a multiplexing part configured to generate a time-division multiplexed signal based on first data indicating a first driving waveform and second data indicating a second driving waveform, different from the first driving waveform, and a separator configured to separate a first driving waveform signal indicating the first driving waveform or a second driving waveform signal indicating the second drive waveform from the time-division multiplexed signal. The energy generating element is driven based on the separated first driving waveform signal or the separated second driving waveform signal.