# US 11,440,314 B2 · Print head control circuit, print head, and liquid discharge apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,314 B2 - Document ID: US11440314B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/572,811 - Filed: 2019-09-17 - Published: 2020-03-19 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-19 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Yusuke Matsumoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440314B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/0451: {for detecting failure, e.g. clogging, malfunctioning actuator} - B41J 2/04521: {reducing number of signal lines needed} - B41J 2/04541: {Specific driving circuit} - B41J 2/04548: {Details of power line section of control circuit} - B41J 2/0455: {Details of switching sections of circuit, e.g. transistors} - B41J 2/04563: {detecting head temperature; Ink temperature} - B41J 2/04581: {controlling heads based on piezoelectric elements} - B41J 2/04588: {using a specific waveform} - B41J 2/04591: {Width of the driving signal being adjusted} - B41J 2/04593: {Dot-size modulation by changing the size of the drop} - B41J 2/04596: {Non-ejecting pulses} - B41J 2/14233: {of film type, deformed by bending and disposed on a diaphragm} - B41J 2002/14491: {Electrical connection} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A print head control circuit includes a first diagnosis signal propagation wiring for propagating a first diagnosis signal, a fifth diagnosis signal propagation wiring for propagating a fifth diagnosis signal indicating a diagnosis result, and a second voltage signal propagation wiring for propagating a second voltage signal. The fifth diagnosis signal propagation wiring and the second voltage signal propagation wiring are electrically coupled to each other via a fifth terminal and a seventh terminal, and the first diagnosis signal propagation wiring and the second diagnosis signal propagation wiring are located to be aligned. The first diagnosis signal propagation wiring and the second voltage signal propagation wiring are located to be adjacent to each other in a direction in which the first diagnosis signal propagation wiring and the second diagnosis signal propagation wiring are aligned. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A print head control circuit that controls an operation of a print head including a driving element that drives based on a driving signal, so as to discharge a liquid from a nozzle, a driving signal selection circuit that controls a supply of the driving signal to the driving element, a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, a fourth terminal, a fifth terminal, a sixth terminal, a seventh terminal, and a diagnosis circuit that diagnoses whether or not normal discharge of the liquid is possible, based on a first diagnosis signal input to the first terminal, a second diagnosis signal input to the second terminal, a third diagnosis signal input to the third terminal, and a fourth diagnosis signal input to the fourth terminal, the print head control circuit comprising: a first diagnosis signal propagation wiring for propagating the first diagnosis signal; a second diagnosis signal propagation wiring for propagating the second diagnosis signal; a third diagnosis signal propagation wiring for propagating the third diagnosis signal; a fourth diagnosis signal propagation wiring for propagating the fourth diagnosis signal; a fifth diagnosis signal propagation wiring for propagating a fifth diagnosis signal which is input to the fifth terminal and indicates a diagnosis result of the diagnosis circuit; a first voltage signal propagation wiring for propagating a first voltage signal which is input to the sixth terminal and is supplied to the driving signal selection circuit; a second voltage signal propagation wiring for propagating a second voltage signal input to the seventh terminal; a diagnosis signal output circuit that outputs the first diagnosis signal, the second diagnosis signal, the third diagnosis signal, and the fourth diagnosis signal; and a driving signal output circuit that outputs the driving signal, wherein when the fifth diagnosis signal propagation wiring and the second voltage signal propagation wiring are electrically coupled to the print head, the fifth diagnosis signal propagation wiring and the second voltage signal propagation wiring are electrically coupled to each other via the fifth terminal and the seventh terminal, the first diagnosis signal propagation wiring and the second diagnosis signal propagation wiring are located to be aligned, and the first diagnosis signal propagation wiring and the second voltage signal propagation wiring are located to be adjacent to each other in a direction in which the first diagnosis signal propagation wiring and the second diagnosis signal propagation wiring are aligned. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The print head control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the fifth diagnosis signal propagation wiring is also used as a wiring for propagating a signal indicating whether or not temperature abnormality occurs in the print head. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The print head control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: a first ground signal propagation wiring for propagating a ground signal, wherein the first diagnosis signal propagation wiring and the first ground signal propagation wiring are located to be adjacent to each other in the direction in which the first diagnosis signal propagation wiring and the second diagnosis signal propagation wiring are aligned. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The print head control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: a third voltage signal propagation wiring for propagating a third voltage signal having a voltage value larger than a voltage value of the first voltage signal, wherein the second voltage signal propagation wiring and the third voltage signal propagation wiring are not located to be adjacent to each other in the direction in which the first diagnosis signal propagation wiring and the second diagnosis signal propagation wiring are aligned. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The print head control circuit according to claim 4, further comprising: a second ground signal propagation wiring for propagating the ground signal, wherein the third voltage signal propagation wiring and the second ground signal propagation wiring are located to be adjacent to each other in the direction in which the first diagnosis signal propagation wiring and the second diagnosis signal propagation wiring are aligned. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The print head control circuit according to claim 4, further comprising: a second ground signal propagation wiring for propagating the ground signal, wherein the third voltage signal propagation wiring and the second ground signal propagation wiring are located to overlap each other in a direction intersecting the direction in which the first diagnosis signal propagation wiring and the second diagnosis signal propagation wiring are aligned. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The print head control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: a third voltage signal propagation wiring for propagating a third voltage signal having a voltage value larger than a voltage value of the first voltage signal, wherein the second voltage signal propagation wiring and the third voltage signal propagation wiring are not located to overlap each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first diagnosis signal propagation wiring and the second diagnosis signal propagation wiring are aligned. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The print head control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the print head includes a first connector including the first terminal, the second terminal, the third terminal, the fourth terminal, and the fifth terminal, and a substrate, the first connector and the diagnosis circuit are provided on the same surface of the substrate, the first diagnosis signal propagation wiring, the second diagnosis signal propagation wiring, the third diagnosis signal propagation wiring, the fourth diagnosis signal propagation wiring, and the fifth diagnosis signal propagation wiring are provided in the same cable, and the cable is electrically coupled to the first connector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The print head control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first diagnosis signal propagation wiring is also used as a wiring for propagating a clock signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The print head control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the second diagnosis signal propagation wiring is also used as a wiring for propagating a signal for defining a discharge timing of the liquid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The print head control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the third diagnosis signal propagation wiring is also used as a wiring for propagating a signal for defining a waveform switching timing of the driving signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The print head control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the fourth diagnosis signal propagation wiring is also used as a wiring for propagating a signal for defining selection of a waveform of the driving signal. ### Claim 13 A print head comprising: a driving element that drives based on a driving signal, so as to discharge a liquid from a nozzle; a driving signal selection circuit that controls a supply of the driving signal to the driving element; a diagnosis circuit that diagnoses whether or not normal discharge of the liquid is possible, based on a first diagnosis signal, a second diagnosis signal, a third diagnosis signal, and a fourth diagnosis signal; a first terminal to which the first diagnosis signal is input; a second terminal to which the second diagnosis signal is input; a third terminal to which the third diagnosis signal is input; a fourth terminal to which the fourth diagnosis signal is input; a fifth terminal to which a fifth diagnosis signal indicating a diagnosis result of the diagnosis circuit is input; a sixth terminal to which a first voltage signal to be supplied to the driving signal selection circuit is input; and a seventh terminal to which a second voltage signal is input, wherein the fifth terminal and the seventh terminal are electrically coupled to each other, the first terminal and the second terminal are located to be aligned, and the first terminal and the seventh terminal are located to be adjacent to each other in a direction in which the first terminal and the second terminal are aligned. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The print head according to claim 13, further comprising: a temperature abnormality detection circuit that diagnoses whether or not temperature abnormality occurs, wherein the fifth terminal is also used as a terminal to which a signal indicating whether or not temperature abnormality occurs is input. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The print head according to claim 13, further comprising: a first ground terminal to which a ground signal is input, wherein the first terminal and the first ground terminal are located to be adjacent to each other in the direction in which the first terminal and the second terminal are aligned. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The print head according to claim 13, further comprising: an eighth terminal to which a third voltage signal having a voltage value larger than a voltage value of the first voltage signal is input, wherein the seventh terminal and the eighth terminal are not located to be adjacent to each other in the direction in which the first terminal and the second terminal are aligned. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The print head according to claim 16, further comprising: a second ground terminal to which the ground signal is input, wherein the eighth terminal and the second ground terminal are located to be adjacent to each other in the direction in which the first terminal and the second terminal are aligned. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The print head according to claim 16, further comprising: a second ground terminal to which the ground signal is input, wherein the eighth terminal and the second ground terminal are located to overlap each other in a direction intersecting the direction in which the first terminal and the second terminal are aligned. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The print head according to claim 13, further comprising: an eighth terminal to which a third voltage signal having a voltage value larger than a voltage value of the first voltage signal is input, wherein the seventh terminal and the eighth terminal are not located to overlap each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first terminal and the second terminal are aligned. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The print head according to claim 13, further comprising: a first connector including the first terminal, the second terminal, the third terminal, the fourth terminal, and the fifth terminal; and a substrate, wherein the first connector and the diagnosis circuit are provided on the same surface of the substrate. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The print head according to claim 13, wherein the first terminal is also used as a terminal to which a clock signal is input. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The print head according to claim 13, wherein the second terminal is also used as a terminal to which a signal for defining a discharge timing of the liquid is input. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The print head according to claim 13, wherein the third terminal is also used as a terminal to which a signal for defining a waveform switching timing of the driving signal is input. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The print head according to claim 13, wherein the fourth terminal is also used as a terminal to which a signal for defining selection of a waveform of the driving signal is input. ### Claim 25 A liquid discharge apparatus comprising: a print head; and a print head control circuit that controls an operation of the print head, wherein the print head includes a driving element that drives based on a driving signal, so as to discharge a liquid from a nozzle, a driving signal selection circuit that controls a supply of the driving signal to the driving element, a diagnosis circuit that diagnoses whether or not normal discharge of the liquid is possible, based on a first diagnosis signal, a second diagnosis signal, a third diagnosis signal, and a fourth diagnosis signal, a first terminal to which the first diagnosis signal is input, a second terminal to which the second diagnosis signal is input, a third terminal to which the third diagnosis signal is input, a fourth terminal to which the fourth diagnosis signal is input, a fifth terminal to which a fifth diagnosis signal indicating a diagnosis result of the diagnosis circuit is input, a sixth terminal to which a first voltage signal to be supplied to the driving signal selection circuit is input, and a seventh terminal to which a second voltage signal is input, the print head control circuit includes a first diagnosis signal propagation wiring for propagating the first diagnosis signal, a second diagnosis signal propagation wiring for propagating the second diagnosis signal, a third diagnosis signal propagation wiring for propagating the third diagnosis signal, a fourth diagnosis signal propagation wiring for propagating the fourth diagnosis signal, a fifth diagnosis signal propagation wiring for propagating the fifth diagnosis signal, a first voltage signal propagation wiring for propagating the first voltage signal, a second voltage signal propagation wiring for propagating the second voltage signal, a diagnosis signal output circuit that outputs the first diagnosis signal, the second diagnosis signal, the third diagnosis signal, and the fourth diagnosis signal, and a driving signal output circuit that outputs the driving signal, the first diagnosis signal propagation wiring is electrically in contact with the first terminal at a first contact section, the second diagnosis signal propagation wiring is electrically in contact with the second terminal at a second contact section, the third diagnosis signal propagation wiring is electrically in contact with the third terminal at a third contact section, the fourth diagnosis signal propagation wiring is electrically in contact with the fourth terminal at a fourth contact section, the fifth diagnosis signal propagation wiring is electrically in contact with the fifth terminal at a fifth contact section, the first voltage signal propagation wiring is electrically in contact with the sixth terminal at a sixth contact section, the second voltage signal propagation wiring is electrically in contact with the seventh terminal at a seventh contact section, the fifth diagnosis signal propagation wiring and the second voltage signal propagation wiring are electrically coupled to each other via the fifth terminal, the fifth contact section, the seventh contact section, and the seventh terminal, the first contact section and the second contact section are located to be aligned, and the first contact section and the seventh contact section are located to be adjacent to each other in a direction in which the first contact section and the second contact section are aligned. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the print head further includes a temperature abnormality detection circuit that diagnoses whether or not temperature abnormality occurs, and the fifth diagnosis signal propagation wiring is also used as a wiring for propagating a signal indicating whether or not the temperature abnormality occurs. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the print head further includes a first ground terminal to which a ground signal is input, the print head control circuit further includes a first ground signal propagation wiring for propagating the ground signal, the first ground signal propagation wiring is electrically in contact with the first ground terminal at a first ground contact section, and the first contact section and the first ground contact section are located to be adjacent to each other in the direction in which the first contact section and the second contact section are aligned. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the print head further includes an eighth terminal to which a third voltage signal having a voltage value larger than a voltage value of the first voltage signal is input, the print head control circuit further includes a third voltage signal propagation wiring for propagating the third voltage signal, the third voltage signal propagation wiring is electrically in contact with the eighth terminal at an eighth contact section, and the seventh contact section and the eighth contact section are not located to be adjacent to each other in the direction in which the first contact section and the second contact section are aligned. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the print head further includes a second ground terminal to which the ground signal is input, the print head control circuit further includes a second ground signal propagation wiring for propagating the ground signal, the second ground signal propagation wiring is electrically in contact with the second ground terminal at a second ground contact section, and the eighth contact section and the second ground contact section are located to be adjacent to each other in the direction in which the first contact section and the second contact section are aligned. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the print head further includes a second ground terminal to which the ground signal is input, the print head control circuit further includes a second ground signal propagation wiring for propagating the ground signal, the second ground signal propagation wiring is electrically in contact with the second ground terminal at a second ground contact section, and the eighth contact section and the second ground contact section are located to overlap each other in a direction intersecting the direction in which the first contact section and the second contact section are aligned. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the print head further includes an eighth terminal to which a third voltage signal having a voltage value larger than a voltage value of the first voltage signal is input, the print head control circuit further includes a third voltage signal propagation wiring for propagating the third voltage signal, the third voltage signal propagation wiring is electrically in contact with the eighth terminal at an eighth contact section, and the seventh contact section and the eighth contact section are not located to overlap each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first contact section and the second contact section are aligned. ### Claim 32 (depends on 25) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the print head further includes a first connector including the first terminal, the second terminal, the third terminal, the fourth terminal, and the fifth terminal and a substrate, the first connector and the diagnosis circuit are provided on the same surface of the substrate, the first diagnosis signal propagation wiring, the second diagnosis signal propagation wiring, the third diagnosis signal propagation wiring, the fourth diagnosis signal propagation wiring, and the fifth diagnosis signal propagation wiring are provided in the same cable, and the cable is electrically coupled to the first connector. ### Claim 33 (depends on 25) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the first diagnosis signal propagation wiring is also used as a wiring for propagating a clock signal. ### Claim 34 (depends on 25) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the second diagnosis signal propagation wiring is also used as a wiring for propagating a signal for defining a discharge timing of the liquid. ### Claim 35 (depends on 25) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the third diagnosis signal propagation wiring is also used as a wiring for propagating a signal for defining a waveform switching timing of the driving signal. ### Claim 36 (depends on 25) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the fourth diagnosis signal propagation wiring is also used as a wiring for propagating a signal for defining selection of a waveform of the driving signal.