# US 12,214,592 B2 · Liquid discharge apparatus and method of driving liquid discharge head > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,592 B2 - Document ID: US12214592B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/165,391 - Filed: 2023-02-07 - Published: 2023-08-10 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-02-07 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Masanori Mikoshiba; Motoki Takabe; Takanori Aimono; Jingling Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214592B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/04588: {using a specific waveform} - B41J 2/04508: {aiming at correcting other parameters} - B41J 2/0451: {for detecting failure, e.g. clogging, malfunctioning actuator} - B41J 2/04536: {using history data} - B41J 2/04541: {Specific driving circuit} - B41J 2/04563: {detecting head temperature; Ink temperature} - B41J 2/04571: {detecting viscosity} - B41J 2/04581: {controlling heads based on piezoelectric elements} - B41J 2/04593: {Dot-size modulation by changing the size of the drop} - B41J 2/14233: {of film type, deformed by bending and disposed on a diaphragm} - B41J 2002/14354: {Sensor in each pressure chamber} - B41J 2002/14491: {Electrical connection} - B41J 2202/11: characterised by specific geometrical characteristics - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A liquid discharge apparatus includes a diaphragm, a pressure chamber substrate including a partition wall partitioning a pressure chamber communicating with a nozzle discharging liquid, a piezoelectric element including a first active portion that overlaps a center of the pressure chamber and a second active portion that overlaps the pressure chamber at a position closer to an outer edge of the pressure chamber than the first active portion, and a drive signal generation portion that generates a discharge signal for discharging the liquid by being supplied to one of the first active portion and the second active portion and a correction signal that is supplied to the other of the first active portion and the second active portion, in which a potential of the discharge signal changes over time and a potential of the correction signal is constant during a discharge period for discharging the liquid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid discharge apparatus comprising: a diaphragm that has a first surface and a second surface facing in a direction opposite to the first surface; a pressure chamber substrate laminated on the first surface and including a partition wall partitioning a pressure chamber communicating with a nozzle discharging liquid; a piezoelectric element laminated on the second surface and including a first active portion that overlaps a center of the pressure chamber when viewed in a thickness direction of the diaphragm and a second active portion that overlaps the pressure chamber at a position closer to an outer edge of the pressure chamber than the first active portion; and a drive signal generation portion that generates a discharge signal for discharging the liquid from the nozzle by being supplied to one of the first active portion and the second active portion and a correction signal that is supplied to the other of the first active portion and the second active portion, wherein a potential of the discharge signal changes over time and a potential of the correction signal is constant during a discharge period for discharging the liquid from the nozzle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge signal is supplied to the first active portion, and the correction signal is supplied to the second active portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge signal is supplied to the second active portion, and the correction signal is supplied to the first active portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a first discharge portion; and a second discharge portion, wherein the first discharge portion and the second discharge portion include the nozzle, the pressure chamber, the first active portion, and the second active portion, respectively, and a potential of the correction signal used for the first discharge portion is different from a potential of the correction signal used for the second discharge portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a first discharge portion; and a second discharge portion, wherein the first discharge portion and the second discharge portion include the nozzle, the pressure chamber, the first active portion, and the second active portion, respectively, and a potential of the correction signal used for the first discharge portion is equal to a potential of the correction signal used for the second discharge portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an amount of deflection of the diaphragm in a state where the correction signal is supplied to one of the first active portion and the second active portion is smaller than an amount of deflection of the diaphragm in a state where the correction signal is supplied to neither the first active portion nor the second active portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a control portion that controls driving of the drive signal generation portion, wherein the control portion adjusts the correction signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control portion adjusts the correction signal based on deterioration information on deterioration of at least one of a nozzle plate having the nozzle, the pressure chamber substrate, the diaphragm, and the piezoelectric element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control portion adjusts the correction signal based on viscosity information on a viscosity of the liquid discharged from the nozzle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control portion adjusts the correction signal based on temperature information on a temperature of the liquid discharged from the nozzle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control portion adjusts the correction signal based on droplet amount information on an amount of the liquid discharged from the nozzle per one discharge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein during a period other than the discharge period, the potential of the correction signal is lowered, or the correction signal is supplied to neither the first active portion nor the second active portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a detection circuit, wherein the drive signal generation portion generates an inspection signal to be supplied to one of the first active portion and the second active portion, and the detection circuit detects an electromotive force generated in one of the first active portion and the second active portion by supplying the inspection signal to the other of the first active portion and the second active portion. ### Claim 14 A liquid discharge apparatus comprising: a diaphragm that has a first surface and a second surface facing in a direction opposite to the first surface; a pressure chamber substrate laminated on the first surface and including a partition wall partitioning a pressure chamber communicating with a nozzle for discharging liquid; a piezoelectric element laminated on the second surface and including a first active portion that overlaps a center of the pressure chamber when viewed in a thickness direction of the diaphragm and a second active portion that overlaps the pressure chamber at a position closer to an outer edge of the pressure chamber than the first active portion, the method comprising: supplying a discharge signal for discharging the liquid from the nozzle to one of the first active portion and the second active portion and supplying a correction signal to the other of the first active portion and the second active portion, and changing a potential of the discharge signal over time, and maintaining a potential of the correction signal constant during a discharge period for discharging the liquid from the nozzle.