Liquid detection device, liquid ejecting apparatus, and method of detecting liquid

• US 8,052,266 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2008
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Nishihara, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng; Charlie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Radkowski; Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/108,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20080259136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 347/11, 347/19, 347/67, 347/68, 347/84
• US Class Current: 347/93
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 Ink level or ink residue control

Abstract

A liquid detection device that drives a liquid detecting portion includes a driving portion, a signal detecting portion, a high-pass filter portion, a first switch, and a control portion. The driving portion supplies a driving signal or a preliminary charging voltage to the liquid detecting portion. The signal detecting portion receives a detection signal from the liquid detecting portion. The high-pass filter portion has a capacitor portion and is arranged between the liquid detecting portion and the signal detecting portion. The first switch is arranged between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion, and electrically connects or interrupts a line between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion. The control portion controls the driving portion and the first switch to execute detection of liquid.

Claims

1. A liquid detection device that drives a liquid detecting portion, comprising:

a driving portion that supplies a driving signal or a preliminary charging voltage to the liquid detecting portion;

a signal detecting portion that receives a detection signal from the liquid detecting portion;

a high-pass filter portion that has a capacitor portion and that is arranged between the liquid detecting portion and the signal detecting portion;

a first switch that is arranged between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion, and that electrically connects or interrupts a line between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion;

a control portion configured to control the driving portion and the first switch to execute detection of liquid such that the driving portion applies the driving signal to the liquid detecting portion when the first switch is turned off; and

a second switch that is arranged between the driving portion and the liquid detecting portion and that is controlled by the control portion to electrically connect or interrupt a line between the driving portion and the liquid detecting portion, wherein

the control portion, before the driving signal is applied to the liquid detecting portion, is configured to control the first switch to electrically connect a line between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion, to control the second switch to electrically connect a line between the driving portion and the liquid detecting portion, and to control the driving portion to apply the preliminary charging voltage to the liquid detecting portion;

the control portion, when liquid is detected, controls the first switch to electrically interrupt a line between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion, controls the second switch to electrically connect a line between the driving portion and the liquid detecting portion, and controls the driving portion to apply the driving signal to the liquid detecting portion at a first phase, and

the control portion then controls the first switch to electrically connect a line between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion, and controls the second switch to electrically interrupt a line between the driving portion and the liquid detecting portion at a next phase after the first phase.

2. The liquid detection device according to claim 1, wherein the first switch is arranged between the liquid detecting portion and the capacitor portion.

3. The liquid detection device according to claim 1, wherein

the liquid detecting portion includes a plurality of terminals and is provided on a liquid containing body that is detachable from the liquid detection device, wherein

the liquid detection device further comprises a plurality of device terminals that are formed at an attachment portion that attaches the liquid containing body, and that contact the terminals of the liquid detecting portion, wherein

the plurality of device terminals include a first attachment terminal and a second attachment terminal that is different from the first device terminal, and wherein

the driving portion is electrically connected to the first attachment terminal, and the signal detecting portion is electrically connected to the first attachment terminal or the second attachment terminal.

4. The liquid detection device according to claim 1, wherein

the liquid detecting portion includes a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein

the high-pass filter portion includes first and second input portions that are electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, respectively, wherein

the first switch is arranged between the first electrode and the first input portion, wherein

the liquid detection device further comprises:

a ground portion;

a second switch that is arranged between the driving portion and the first electrode and that electrically connects or interrupts a line between the driving portion and the first electrode;

a third switch that is arranged between the second input portion and the second electrode and that electrically connects or interrupts a line between the second input portion and the second electrode; and

a fourth switch that is arranged between the ground portion and the second electrode and that electrically connects or interrupts a line between the ground portion and the second electrode.

5. The liquid detection device according to claim 4, wherein

the liquid detecting portion outputs mutually opposite-phase detection signals by receiving an input of the driving signal, wherein

the high-pass filter portion includes first and second output portions, wherein

the liquid detection device further comprises:

a differential amplifier that is arranged between the signal detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion, that includes first and second input portions to which the first and second output portions of the high-pass filter portion are electrically connected, respectively, and that performs differential amplification on the mutually opposite-phase detection signals.

6. The liquid detection device according to claim 4, wherein

the liquid detecting portion includes a plurality of terminals and is provided on a liquid containing body that is detachable from the liquid detection device, wherein

the liquid detection device further comprises a plurality of device terminals that are formed at an attachment portion that attaches the liquid containing body, and that contact the terminals of the liquid detecting portion, wherein

the plurality of device terminals include a first attachment terminal and a second attachment terminal that is different from the first attachment terminal, and wherein

the driving portion is electrically connected to the first attachment terminal, the ground portion is electrically connected to the second attachment terminal, and the signal detecting portion is electrically connected to the first attachment terminal and the second attachment terminal.

7. The liquid detection device according to claim 1, wherein the control portion, before the driving signal is applied to the liquid detecting portion, controls the first switch to electrically connect a line between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion, and controls the driving portion to apply the preliminary charging voltage to the liquid detecting portion.

8. The liquid detection device according to claim 7, wherein the control portion, when liquid is detected, controls the first switch to electrically interrupt a line between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion, controls the driving portion to apply the driving signal to the liquid detecting portion, and wherein

the control portion then controls the first switch to electrically connect a line between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion, and controls the driving portion to stop applying the driving signal to the liquid detecting portion.

9. The liquid detection device according to claim 1, wherein

the driving signal is biased to a predetermined electric potential, and wherein

the electric potential of the preliminary charging voltage is the predetermined electric potential.

10. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising the liquid detection device according to claim 1.

11. A method of detecting liquid in a liquid detection device, comprising:

electrically connecting a line between a liquid detecting portion and a high-pass filter portion;

applying a preliminary charging voltage to the liquid detecting portion when the line between the liquid detecting portion and the high pass filter is connected;

electrically interrupting the line between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion;

applying a driving signal to the liquid detecting portion when the line between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion is interrupted;

electrically connecting the line between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion; and

detecting the presence or absence of the liquid using a detection signal output from the liquid detecting portion through the high-pass filter portion.