LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS, DRIVE CIRCUIT, AND INTEGRATED CIRCUIT

• US 20170266958A1
• Filed: 03/01/2017
• Published: 09/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: YAMADA, Tomokazu
• Granted Patent: US 9,849,670 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04501 Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04541 Specific driving circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04581 controlling heads based on piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04588 using a specific waveform
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04593 Dot-size modulation by changing the size of the drop
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/06 Drive circuits; Control arrangements or methods

Abstract

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting unit that includes a piezoelectric element and ejects liquid by driving the piezoelectric element; a first drive circuit that is mounted on a front surface of a circuit substrate and generates a first drive signal; and a second drive circuit that is mounted on a rear surface of the circuit substrate and generates a second drive signal. The first drive circuit includes a first control circuit which is integrated into a first integrated circuit. The second drive circuit includes a second control circuit which is integrated into a second integrated circuit. The first integrated circuit includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The second integrated circuit includes a third terminal and a fourth terminal. A distance between the first terminal and the third terminal is shorter than a distance between the first terminal and the fourth terminal.

Claims

1. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:

an ejecting unit that includes a piezoelectric element and ejects liquid by driving the piezoelectric element;

a first drive circuit that is mounted on a front surface of a circuit substrate and generates a first drive signal from a first original drive signal which is an origin of the first drive signal driving the piezoelectric element in accordance with a first voltage and a second voltage higher than the first voltage; and

a second drive circuit that is mounted on a rear surface of the circuit substrate and generates a second drive signal from a second original drive signal which is an origin of the second drive signal driving the piezoelectric element in accordance with the first voltage and the second voltage,

wherein the first drive circuit includes,

a first control circuit;

a first pair of transistors to which the first voltage is applied; and

a second pair of transistors which is electrically coupled in series to the first pair of transistors and to which the second voltage is applied,

wherein the first control circuit is integrated into a first integrated circuit, and outputs a first control signal for controlling an operation of the first pair of transistors and a second control signal for controlling an operation of the second pair of transistors respectively, in accordance with the first original drive signal,

wherein the second drive circuit includes,

a second control circuit;

a third pair of transistors to which the first voltage is applied; and

a fourth pair of transistors which is electrically coupled in series to the first pair of transistors and to which the second voltage is applied,

wherein the second control circuit is integrated into a second integrated circuit, and outputs a third control signal for controlling an operation of the third pair of transistors and a fourth control signal for controlling an operation of the fourth pair of transistors respectively, in accordance with the second original drive signal,

wherein the first integrated circuit includes,

a first terminal to which the first voltage is applied; and

a second terminal to which the second voltage is applied,

wherein the second integrated circuit includes,

a third terminal to which the first voltage is applied; and

a fourth terminal to which the second voltage is applied,

wherein the first integrated circuit and the second integrated circuit are disposed on the circuit substrate such that a distance between the first terminal and the third terminal is shorter than a distance between the first terminal and the fourth terminal, and

wherein the first integrated circuit and the second integrated circuit are disposed on the circuit substrate such that a distance between the second terminal and the fourth terminal is shorter than a distance between the second terminal and the third terminal.

2. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first voltage is applied to the first terminal and the third terminal through a first wire, and

wherein the second voltage is applied to the second terminal and the fourth terminal through a second wire.

3. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first integrated circuit includes a plurality of the first terminals and a plurality of the second terminals,

wherein the second integrated circuit includes a plurality of the third terminals and a plurality of the fourth terminals,

wherein one of the first terminals and one of the second terminals are arranged on a side and another of the first terminals and another of the second terminals are arranged on a side different from the side, in the first integrated circuit, and

wherein one of the third terminals and one of the fourth terminals are arranged on a side and another of the third terminals and another of the fourth terminals are arranged on a side different from the side, in the second integrated circuit.

4. A drive circuit which is provided on a circuit substrate, generates a drive signal from an original drive signal, and drives a load in accordance with the drive signal, the circuit comprising:

a control circuit;

a first pair of transistors to which a first voltage is applied; and

a second pair of transistors which is electrically coupled in series to the first pair of transistors and to which a second voltage higher than the first voltage is applied,

wherein the control circuit is integrated into an integrated circuit, and outputs a first control signal for controlling an operation of the first pair of transistors and a second control signal for controlling an operation of the second pair of transistors respectively, in accordance with the original drive signal,

wherein the integrated circuit includes,

a plurality of first terminals to which the first voltage is applied; and

a plurality of second terminals to which the second voltage is applied,

wherein one of the first terminals and one of the second terminals are arranged on a side of the integrated circuit, and

wherein another of the first terminals and another of the second terminals are arranged on a side different from the side of the integrated circuit.

5. An integrated circuit which is obtained by integrating a control circuit of a drive circuit which is provided on a circuit substrate, generates a drive signal from an original drive signal, and drives a load in accordance with the drive signal, the circuit comprising:

a plurality of first terminals to which a first voltage is applied; and

a plurality of second terminals to which a second voltage higher than the first voltage is applied,

wherein one of the first terminals and one of the second terminals are arranged on a side,

wherein another of the first terminals and another of the second terminals are arranged on a side different from the side,

wherein the drive circuit includes,

a first pair of transistors to which the first voltage is applied; and

a second pair of transistors which is electrically coupled in series to the first pair of transistors and to which the second voltage is applied, and

wherein the control circuit outputs a first control signal for controlling an operation of the first pair of transistors and a second control signal for controlling an operation of the second pair of transistors respectively, in accordance with the original drive signal.