Method and apparatus to eject drops having straight trajectories
Described herein is a method and apparatus for driving a drop ejection device to produce drops having straight trajectories. In one embodiment, a method for driving a drop ejection device having an actuator includes building a drop of a fluid with at least one drive pulse by applying a multi-pulse waveform having the at least one drive pulse and a straightening pulse to the actuator. Next, the method includes causing the drop ejection device to eject the drop with a straight trajectory in response to the pulses of the multi-pulse waveform. The straightening pulse is designed to ensure that the drop is ejected without a drop trajectory error.
1. A method for driving a drop ejection device having an actuator and a nozzle, comprising:
building a drop of a fluid with at least one drive pulse by applying a multi-pulse waveform to the actuator, the waveform having the at least one drive pulse and a straightening pulse following the at least one drive pulse; and
causing the drop ejection device to eject the drop with a straightened trajectory in response to the pulses of the multi-pulse waveform, wherein the straightening pulse is designed to cause the straightening of the drop with respect to the nozzle, wherein the straightening pulse has a pulse width that is less than a pulse width of the at least one drive pulse.
2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the nozzle comprises a non-circular shape.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the straightening pulse is tuned at approximately a minimum drop velocity in a frequency response of the drop ejection device.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising causing a meniscus position of fluid in the nozzle to bulge past the nozzle in response to the straightening pulse.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the multi-pulse waveform comprises a drive pulse having a first peak voltage followed by the straightening pulse having a second peak voltage with the second peak voltage being based on the first peak voltage.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second peak voltage is less than the first peak voltage.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein increasing the second peak voltage causes the meniscus position of fluid in the nozzle to further bulge past the nozzle.
8. A method for driving a drop ejection device having an actuator and a nozzle, comprising:
building a drop of a fluid with at least one drive pulse by applying a multi-pulse waveform to the actuator, the waveform having the at least one drive pulse and a straightening pulse following the at least one drive pulse; and
causing the drop ejection device to eject the drop with a straightened trajectory in response to the pulses of the multi-pulse waveform, wherein a first time period is associated with a first delay segment, a fill segment, and a second delay segment of the drive pulse and a second time period is associated with a fire segment of the drive pulse and a third delay segment with the second time period being at least 63% of the first time period.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second time period is approximately 80% of the first time period.
10. An apparatus, comprising:
a pumping chamber;
an actuator coupled to the pumping chamber, the actuator to eject a drop of a fluid from the pumping chamber; and
drive electronics coupled to the actuator, wherein during operation the drive electronics drive the actuator with a multi-pulse waveform having at least one drive pulse to build a drop of a fluid and a straightening pulse to cause the actuator to eject the drop forming at a nozzle with a straightened trajectory, wherein the straightening pulse is designed to cause the straightening of the drop with respect to the nozzle, wherein the straightening pulse has a pulse width that is less than a pulse width of the at least one drive pulse.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the nozzle comprises a non-circular shape.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the straightening pulse is tuned at approximately a minimum drop velocity in a frequency response of the apparatus.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the drive electronics to cause a meniscus position of fluid in the nozzle to bulge past the nozzle in response to the straightening pulse.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the multi-pulse waveform comprises a drive pulse having a first peak voltage followed by the straightening pulse having a second peak voltage with the second peak voltage being based on the first peak voltage.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the second peak voltage is less than the first peak voltage.
16. An apparatus, comprising:
a pumping chamber;
an actuator coupled to the pumping chamber, the actuator to eject a drop of a fluid from the pumping chamber; and
drive electronics coupled to the actuator, wherein during operation the drive electronics drive the actuator with a multi-pulse waveform having at least one drive pulse to build a drop of a fluid and a straightening pulse to cause the actuator to eject the drop forming at a nozzle with a straightened trajectory, wherein a first time period is associated with a first delay segment, a fill segment, and a second delay segment of the drive pulse and a second time period is associated with a fire segment of the drive pulse and a third delay segment with the second time period being at least 63% of the first time period.
17. A printhead, comprising:
an ink jet module that comprises,
a pumping chamber;
an actuator coupled to the pumping chamber, the actuator to eject a drop of a fluid from the pumping chamber; and
drive electronics coupled to the actuator, wherein during operation the drive electronics drive the actuator with a multi-pulse waveform having at least one drive pulse to build a drop of a fluid and a straightening pulse to cause the actuator to eject the drop forming at a nozzle with a straightened trajectory, wherein the straightening pulse is designed to cause the straightening of the drop with respect to the nozzle, wherein the straightening pulse has a pulse width that is less than a pulse width of the at least one drive pulse.
18. The printhead of claim 17 , wherein the straightening pulse is tuned at approximately a minimum drop velocity in a frequency response of the printhead.
19. The printhead of claim 17 , wherein the multi-pulse waveform comprises first and second drive pulses with the first drive pulse having a first peak voltage followed by the straightening pulse having a second peak voltage with the second peak voltage being based on the first peak voltage.
20. The printhead of claim 17 , wherein the ink jet module further comprises: a carbon body, a stiffener plate, a cavity plate, a first flexprint, a nozzle plate, an ink fill passage, and a second flexprint.