Recording Element Substrate Voltage Regulation for Ink Droplet Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increased resistance in narrower and longer power lines used in recording heads leads to significant voltage fluctuations, affecting the thermal energy at heaters and resulting in variable ink droplet volumes, which degrades image quality during high-speed printing.
Innovation Solution
A recording element substrate with a first and second power line, and voltage conversion circuits that modulate signal amplitudes to maintain consistent voltage across PMOS and NMOS transistors connected to the heaters, reducing voltage fluctuations and stabilizing ink discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If power lines are made narrower and longer to fit more recording elements on the substrate, then the density of recording elements increases, but the resistance of power lines increases leading to voltage fluctuation
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is segmented into multiple voltage conversion circuits, each serving a specific recording element. Each conversion circuit includes separate first and second power lines that are independently managed, allowing localized voltage regulation without affecting the entire substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
Voltage conversion circuits act as intermediary devices between the power lines and recording elements. These circuits convert voltages between the first and second power lines, compensating for voltage drops caused by line resistance and ensuring stable operation of recording elements.
2Productivity
If simultaneous driving of multiple heaters is implemented for high-speed printing, then productivity increases, but voltage drop due to parasitic resistance increases causing thermal energy variation
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage conversion circuits provide feedback-based voltage regulation by continuously monitoring and adjusting the voltage levels between power lines. This ensures that each recording element receives the appropriate voltage despite simultaneous operation of multiple heaters, maintaining consistent thermal energy and ink droplet volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes voltage parameters by using voltage conversion circuits to adjust voltage levels in real-time. This allows different voltage levels to be applied to different recording elements simultaneously, enabling high-speed printing while maintaining precise control over thermal energy for each element.
3Device complexity
If conventional voltage control is used with suppressed wiring resistance, then device complexity is low, but voltage fluctuation becomes non-negligible as power lines get narrower and longer
Solution Approach 1:
Voltage conversion circuits are incorporated into the power supply design before connecting to recording elements. This preliminary voltage conversion and regulation prevents voltage fluctuations from propagating through the system, eliminating the need for complex compensation circuits while ensuring voltage stability.
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 effectively stabilizes the thermal energy at heaters, ensuring consistent ink droplet volumes and improving image quality by minimizing voltage fluctuations across the transistors, even with increased wiring resistance.
Implementation Method 1
heaters (recording elements)
Data Source
AI summary
A recording element substrate includes a recording element, a first voltage conversion circuit configured to receive a first control signal and to output the first control signal with an increased amplitude, a second voltage conversion circuit configured to receive a second control signal and to output the second control signal with an increased amplitude, a PMOS transistor connected to one end of the recording element, and an NMOS transistor connected to the other end of the recording element, wherein the PMOS transistor has a gate connected to an output of the first voltage conversion circuit, and the NMOS transistor has a gate connected to an output of the second voltage conversion circuit.