Patent · US Active

Setting start voltage for driving actuating elements

US9399342B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
2References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 10, 2015
Grant dateJul 26, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 10, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2/04598
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A printhead provides actuation pulses for driving actuating elements from a common drive waveform via respective switching circuits, the waveform having a pre-charge ramp followed by a steeper slope. A start voltage of a leading edge of the actuation pulse is set by opening the switching circuit to decouple the common drive waveform from its actuating element part way along the pre-charge ramp. After the pre-charge ramp the actuating element is coupled again to the common drive waveform, so that the voltage across the actuating element follows the steeper slope to form the leading edge. Adjusting the timing of the decoupling adjusts the start voltage, enables trimming relative to other actuating elements. The gentle slope of the pre-charge ramp enables the precision of timing of switching to be more relaxed, so that trigger circuitry for controlling the switching circuit can be simpler, smaller, cheaper and thermally more efficient.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.