# US 12,759,290 B2 · Head unit and liquid ejection apparatus

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- Number: US 12,759,290 B2
- Document ID: US12759290B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/925,249
- Filed: 2024-10-24
- Published: 2025-05-01
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2023-10-25
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Toshimichi Yamada
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759290B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/04581: {controlling heads based on piezoelectric elements}
- B41J 2/04541: {Specific driving circuit}
- B41J 2/04588: {using a specific waveform}
- B41J 2/14: Structure thereof {only for on-demand ink jet heads}
- 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 head unit includes an ejection unit which is configured to eject a liquid due to drive of a piezoelectric element, and a drive signal output circuit includes a first switch circuit configured to switch whether to supply a first DC voltage signal to the ejection unit, a second switch circuit configured to switch whether to supply a second DC voltage signal to the ejection unit, and a selection control circuit configured to control the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit, and the first switch circuit includes a first switch element one end of which is supplied with the first DC voltage signal, and another end of which is electrically coupled to the ejection unit, and a second switch element one end of which is supplied with the first DC voltage signal, and another end of which is electrically coupled to the ejection unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A head unit comprising:
an ejection unit which includes a piezoelectric element driven by a drive signal, and which is configured to eject a liquid due to drive of the piezoelectric element; and
a drive signal output circuit to which a first DC voltage signal having a first voltage value, a second DC voltage signal having a second voltage value, and an ejection control signal are input, and which is configured to output the drive signal, wherein
the drive signal output circuit includes
a first switch circuit configured to switch whether to supply the first DC voltage signal to the ejection unit,
a second switch circuit configured to switch whether to supply the second DC voltage signal to the ejection unit, and
a selection control circuit configured to control the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit based on the ejection control signal, and
the first switch circuit includes a first switch element one end of which is supplied with the first DC voltage signal, and another end of which is electrically coupled to the ejection unit, and a second switch element one end of which is supplied with the first DC voltage signal, and another end of which is electrically coupled to the ejection unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The head unit according to claim 1, wherein
the selection control circuit is configured to output a first switch control signal and a second switch control signal based on the ejection control signal,
a conduction state between the one end and the other end of the first switch element is controlled by the first switch control signal, and
a conduction state between the one end and the other end of the second switch element is controlled by the second switch control signal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The head unit according to claim 2, wherein
the second switch circuit includes a third switch element one end of which is supplied with the second DC voltage signal, and another end of which is electrically coupled to the ejection unit, and a fourth switch element one end of which is supplied with the second DC voltage signal, and another end of which is electrically coupled to the ejection unit,
the selection control circuit is configured to output a third switch control signal and a fourth switch control signal based on the ejection control signal,
a conduction state between the one end and the other end of the third switch element is controlled by the third switch control signal, and
a conduction state between the one end and the other end of the fourth switch element is controlled by the fourth switch control signal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The head unit according to claim 3, wherein
a third DC voltage signal having a third voltage value is further input to the drive signal output circuit,
the drive signal output circuit includes a third switch circuit configured to switch whether to supply the third DC voltage signal to the ejection unit, and
the third switch circuit includes a fifth switch element one end of which is supplied with the third DC voltage signal, and another end of which is electrically coupled to the ejection unit, and a sixth switch element one end of which is supplied with the third DC voltage signal, and another end of which is electrically coupled to the ejection unit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The head unit according to claim 1, wherein
the selection control circuit is configured to output a fifth switch control signal and a sixth switch control signal based on the ejection control signal,
a conduction state between the one end and the other end of the fifth switch element is controlled by the fifth switch control signal, and
a conduction state between the one end and the other end of the sixth switch element is controlled by the sixth switch control signal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The head unit according to claim 1, wherein
the drive signal output circuit is configured to output the drive signal including an ejection waveform which drives the piezoelectric element so that the liquid is ejected from the ejection unit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The head unit according to claim 1, wherein
the drive signal output circuit is configured to output the drive signal including a microvibration waveform which drives the piezoelectric element so that the liquid is not ejected from the ejection unit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The head unit according to claim 1, wherein
the drive signal output circuit is configured to output the drive signal including an inspection waveform for inspecting a state of the ejection unit.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The head unit according to claim 1, wherein
the first voltage value and the second voltage value are changeable.

### Claim 10

A liquid ejection apparatus comprising:
an ejection unit which includes a piezoelectric element driven by a drive signal, and which is configured to eject a liquid due to drive of the piezoelectric element;
a drive signal output circuit to which a first DC voltage signal having a first voltage value, a second DC voltage signal having a second voltage value, and an ejection control signal are input, and which is configured to output the drive signal; and
a control circuit configured to output the ejection control signal, wherein
the drive signal output circuit includes
a first switch circuit configured to switch whether to supply the first DC voltage signal to the ejection unit,
a second switch circuit configured to switch whether to supply the second DC voltage signal to the ejection unit, and
a selection control circuit configured to control the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit based on the ejection control signal, and
the first switch circuit includes a first switch element one end of which is supplied with the first DC voltage signal, and another end of which is electrically coupled to the ejection unit, and a second switch element one end of which is supplied with the first DC voltage signal, and another end of which is electrically coupled to the ejection unit.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein
the selection control circuit is configured to output a first switch control signal and a second switch control signal based on the ejection control signal,
a conduction state between the one end and the other end of the first switch element is controlled by the first switch control signal, and
a conduction state between the one end and the other end of the second switch element is controlled by the second switch control signal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
the second switch circuit includes a third switch element one end of which is supplied with the second DC voltage signal, and another end of which is electrically coupled to the ejection unit, and a fourth switch element one end of which is supplied with the second DC voltage signal, and another end of which is electrically coupled to the ejection unit,
the selection control circuit is configured to output a third switch control signal and a fourth switch control signal based on the ejection control signal,
a conduction state between the one end and the other end of the third switch element is controlled by the third switch control signal, and
a conduction state between the one end and the other end of the fourth switch element is controlled by the fourth switch control signal.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 12, wherein
a third DC voltage signal having a third voltage value is further input to the drive signal output circuit,
the drive signal output circuit includes a third switch circuit configured to switch whether to supply the third DC voltage signal to the ejection unit, and
the third switch circuit includes a fifth switch element one end of which is supplied with the third DC voltage signal, and another end of which is electrically coupled to the ejection unit, and a sixth switch element one end of which is supplied with the third DC voltage signal, and another end of which is electrically coupled to the ejection unit.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 13, wherein
the selection control circuit is configured to output a fifth switch control signal and a sixth switch control signal based on the ejection control signal,
a conduction state between the one end and the other end of the fifth switch element is controlled by the fifth switch control signal, and
a conduction state between the one end and the other end of the sixth switch element is controlled by the sixth switch control signal.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein
the drive signal output circuit is configured to output the drive signal including an ejection waveform which drives the piezoelectric element so that the liquid is ejected from the ejection unit.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein
the drive signal output circuit is configured to output the drive signal including a microvibration waveform which drives the piezoelectric element so that the liquid is not ejected from the ejection unit.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein
the drive signal output circuit is configured to output the drive signal including an inspection waveform for inspecting a state of the ejection unit.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein
the first voltage value and the second voltage value are changeable.