IP Library Granted Patent US 9,622,769
Granted Patent B2
US 9,622,769 · App. 14/681,000 · Granted Apr 18, 2017

Fluid ejection device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,622,769
App. No.
14/681,000
Granted
Apr 18, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fluid ejection device includes a fluid ejection unit including a plurality of nozzles and configured to eject fluid from at least any one of the nozzles in a pulse-like manner according to a drive signal, a fluid supplying unit configured to supply the fluid to the fluid ejection unit, an ejecting-instruction input unit configured to receive an ejecting instruction input, a mode-selection input unit configured to receive an input of selection information for selecting any one of a first mode for ejecting the fluid using a first nozzle unit including at least one nozzle and a second mode for ejecting the fluid using a second nozzle unit including at least one nozzle, and a fluid-ejecting control unit configured to output, when receiving the ejecting instruction input, according to the selection information, the drive signal such that the fluid is ejected from the first nozzle unit or second nozzle unit.

Claims (14)

1. A fluid ejection device comprising:

a fluid ejection unit including a plurality of nozzles for ejecting fluid and configured to eject the fluid from at least any one of the nozzles in a pulse-like manner according to a drive signal;

a fluid supplying unit configured to supply the fluid to the fluid ejection unit;

an ejecting-instruction input unit configured to receive an ejecting instruction input for ejecting the fluid from the fluid ejection unit;

a mode-selection input unit configured to receive an input of selection information for selecting, when the fluid is ejected from the fluid ejection unit, any one of a first mode for ejecting the fluid using a first nozzle unit including at least one of the plurality of nozzles and a second mode for ejecting the fluid using a second nozzle unit including at least one of the plurality of nozzles; and

a fluid-ejecting control unit configured to output, when receiving the ejecting instruction input, according to the selection information, the drive signal to the fluid ejection unit such that the fluid is ejected from the first nozzle unit or the second nozzle unit, wherein

a total area of cross sections of ejection ports of the nozzles belonging to the second nozzle unit is larger than a total area of cross sections of ejection ports of the nozzles belonging to the first nozzle unit.

2. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1 , wherein the nozzles belonging to the first nozzle unit also belong to the second nozzle unit.

3. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1 , wherein the nozzles belonging to the first nozzle unit do not belong to the second nozzle unit.

4. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1 , wherein, when the fluid ejection unit ejects the fluid, if the first mode is selected, the fluid supplying unit supplies a first predetermined amount of the fluid to the fluid ejection unit per a predetermined time and, if the second mode is selected, the fluid supplying unit supplies a second predetermined amount of the fluid to the fluid ejection unit per the predetermined time.

5. The fluid ejection device according to claim 4 , wherein the second predetermined amount is larger than the first predetermined amount.

6. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1 , wherein, if the first mode is selected, the fluid ejection unit ejects the fluid from the nozzles belonging to the first nozzle unit at first ejecting strength and, if the second mode is selected, the fluid ejection unit ejects the fluid from the nozzles belonging to the second nozzle unit at second ejecting strength.

7. The fluid ejection device according to claim 6 , wherein the second ejecting strength is higher than the first ejecting strength.

8. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1 , wherein a single nozzle belongs to the first nozzle unit, and the nozzles belonging to the second nozzle unit include all the nozzles other than the nozzle belonging to the first nozzle unit.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: SEIKO EPSON CORP.
To: COLUMBIA PEAK VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 058952/0475 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2015
From: MIYAZAKI, KOICHIRO; GOMI, MASAKI; MATSUZAKI, TAKAHIRO
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035397/0562 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2015
From: MIYAZAKI, KOICHIRO; GOMI, MASAKI; MATSUZAKI, TAKAHIRO
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035363/0446 →