Printing Apparatus Sensor Signal Distribution for Motor Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printing apparatuses, using a single sensor signal to control multiple motors across different substrates leads to control delays due to communication time, increasing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus configuration with a first and second circuit board, each controlling a motor, and a shared sensor signal input via a signal line, allowing direct control without intermediate communication delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single sensor signal is used to control multiple motors across different substrates through communication between controllers, then the number of sensors is reduced, but control delay occurs due to communication time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the system into multiple independent substrates, each with its own controller that directly receives sensor signals. This segmentation allows each controller to independently process sensor data without waiting for communication with other controllers, eliminating communication delays while maintaining sensor reduction through shared sensor usage across substrates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional approach by providing separate signal lines from the sensor to each controller on different substrates. Instead of using a sequential communication pathway (one dimension), the system uses parallel direct connections (adding another dimension), allowing simultaneous access to sensor data by multiple controllers without temporal delays.
2Device complexity
If individual controllers are arranged for each substrate to reduce ports and simplify control, then device complexity is reduced, but control speed decreases when sharing sensor signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system by placing individual controllers on each substrate, which simplifies the overall architecture by reducing inter-substrate communication requirements. Each controller independently processes sensor signals directly received from the sensor, eliminating the need for complex inter-controller communication protocols while maintaining fast response times.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor serves multiple functions by providing signals to multiple controllers simultaneously through separate signal lines. This multi-functionality allows a single sensor to control multiple motors on different substrates without requiring additional sensors or complex communication infrastructure, maintaining both simplicity and speed.
3Device complexity
If sensor signals are input serially to a controller instead of in parallel, then wiring within devices is minimized, but control of multiple motors requires additional communication time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal distribution by providing separate signal lines from the sensor to each controller on different substrates. This segmentation allows each controller to receive sensor signals independently and simultaneously, eliminating the sequential processing delays inherent in serial input configurations while maintaining wiring efficiency through direct connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a serial one-dimensional signal path to a parallel multi-dimensional signal distribution architecture. By establishing independent signal lines that branch to multiple controllers simultaneously, the system achieves both wiring minimization and fast response times by utilizing parallel communication pathways.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus, comprises a first circuit board configured to control a first motor and a printing unit that performs printing to a print medium, a second circuit board configured to control a second motor, a sensor configured to output a sensor signal used to control the first motor and the second motor, and a signal line configured to input the sensor signal from the sensor to the first circuit board and the second circuit board.