Thermal Sensor Placement for Diagonal Ejection Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal type liquid ejecting apparatuses fail to accurately distinguish between normal and misaligned ejection states, leading to potential decreases in recording quality due to erroneous classification of diagonal ejections as normal ejections.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a recording element substrate featuring a heating element and symmetrically arranged first and second temperature detecting elements, which compare output signals to determine if a liquid droplet is diagonally ejected by using a differential amplifier to offset noise and accurately detect misalignment through threshold comparisons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If temperature sensors are disposed at the center and periphery of the heater, then it can be determined whether liquid is normally ejected from the ejection port, but a liquid droplet may be diagonally ejected which cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature detection function is segmented into multiple temperature sensors positioned at different locations (center and multiple peripheral positions) around the heater. This segmentation allows the system to detect temperature variations in different regions, enabling identification of diagonal ejection patterns that a single peripheral sensor would miss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions temperature sensors asymmetrically around the heater, with one sensor at the center and multiple sensors at different peripheral positions. This asymmetric arrangement creates a detection pattern that can identify diagonal ejection by comparing temperature differences across different axes, rather than relying on a single symmetric peripheral position.
2Device complexity
If two temperature detecting elements are used for one heater, then normal ejection state can be determined, but diagonal ejection cannot be distinguished from normal ejection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional detection approach (single peripheral sensor) to a two-dimensional detection pattern (multiple peripheral sensors arranged around the heater). This dimensional expansion allows the system to detect temperature variations in multiple directions, enabling identification of diagonal ejection by comparing temperature differences across different spatial axes.
3Reliability
If temperature sensors are positioned to detect normal ejection, then ejection failure can be detected, but recording quality decreases due to undetected diagonal ejections
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses temperature feedback from multiple sensors positioned around the heater to continuously monitor ejection patterns. By comparing temperature differences between the center sensor and multiple peripheral sensors, the system can detect diagonal ejection and provide feedback for corrective action, ensuring recording quality while maintaining reliable ejection failure detection.
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 apparatus effectively differentiates between normal and misaligned ejections, improving recording quality by accurately classifying ejection states and enabling corrective actions for diagonal ejections.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element that heats the liquid in order to eject the liquid from the ejection port
Implementation Method 2
one of the temperature sensors is disposed at the center of the heater and the other temperature sensor is disposed at the periphery of the heater as viewed in plan view. A voltage applied between both terminals of the temperature sensor disposed at the center of the heater is V1. A voltage applied between both terminals of the temperature sensor disposed at the periphery of the heater is V2.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a recording element substrate including an ejection port that ejects liquid, and a heating element that heats the liquid in order to eject the liquid from the ejection port; and at least a first temperature detecting element and a second temperature detecting element. The first temperature detecting element and the second temperature detecting element are formed at target positions centered on the center of the heating element when the recording element substrate is viewed in plan view.