IP Library Granted Patent US 9,469,106
Granted Patent B2
US 9,469,106 · App. 14/757,952 · Granted Oct 18, 2016

Liquid ejection control device, liquid ejection system, and control method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,469,106
App. No.
14/757,952
Granted
Oct 18, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a liquid ejection control device, an operation unit includes an energy dial for inputting an energy instructing value related to kinetic energy of a pulsed liquid jet ejected from a liquid ejection device, and a repetitive frequency dial for inputting a repetitive frequency instructing value related to the number of times ejection of the pulsed liquid occurs per unit time. In addition, a controller includes a voltage magnitude setting section that sets voltage magnitude of the drive voltage waveform such that the kinetic energy becomes the energy instructing value, based on a rising index value related to rising of the drive voltage waveform and the repetitive frequency instructing value.

Claims (42)

1. A liquid ejection control device in which a predetermined drive voltage waveform is applied to a piezoelectric element to control the ejection of a pulsed liquid jet of liquid having a pulsed shape from a liquid ejection device that uses the piezoelectric element, the liquid ejection control device comprising:

a first operation unit for inputting a first instructing value related to kinetic energy of the pulsed liquid jet;

a second operation unit for inputting a second instructing value related to a number of times an ejection of the pulsed liquid is performed per unit time; and

a voltage magnitude setting section that sets voltage magnitude of the drive voltage waveform such that the kinetic energy becomes the first instructing value, based on an index value related to rising of the drive voltage waveform and the second instructing value.

2. The liquid ejection control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a third operation unit for inputting a third instructing value related to the index value.

3. A liquid ejection system comprising:

the liquid ejection control device according to claim 2 ;

a liquid ejection device; and

a feeding pump device.

4. The liquid ejection control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a falling shape setting section that changeably sets a falling shape of the drive voltage waveform depending on the second instructing value.

5. A liquid ejection system comprising:

the liquid ejection control device according to claim 4 ;

a liquid ejection device; and

a feeding pump device.

6. The liquid ejection control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a display control unit that performs control of display of at least one of the first instructing value and the second instructing value.

7. A liquid ejection system comprising:

the liquid ejection control device according to claim 6 ;

a liquid ejection device; and

a feeding pump device.

8. The liquid ejection control device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the liquid ejection device is controlled such that the pulsed liquid jet has momentum in a range from 2 nNs (nanonewton seconds) to 2 mNs (millinewton seconds) or kinetic energy in a range from 2 nJ (nanojules) to 200 mJ (millijules).

9. A liquid ejection system comprising:

the liquid ejection control device according to claim 8 ;

a liquid ejection device; and

a feeding pump device.

10. The liquid ejection control device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the liquid ejection device is controlled to cut a living tissue using the pulsed liquid jet.

11. A liquid ejection system comprising:

the liquid ejection control device according to claim 10 ;

a liquid ejection device; and

a feeding pump device.

12. A liquid ejection system comprising:

the liquid ejection control device according to claim 1 ;

a liquid ejection device; and

a feeding pump device.

13. A control method in which a predetermined drive voltage waveform is applied to a piezoelectric element to control the ejection of a pulsed liquid jet of liquid having a pulsed shape from a liquid ejection device that uses the piezoelectric element, the control method comprising:

inputting a first instructing value related to kinetic energy of the pulsed liquid jet;

inputting a second instructing value related to the number of times an ejection of the pulsed liquid is performed per unit time; and

setting voltage magnitude of the drive voltage waveform such that the kinetic energy becomes the first instructing value, based on a rising index value related to rising of the drive voltage waveform and the second instructing value.

Assignments (2)
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 Mar 10, 2016
From: KARASAWA, JUNICHI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037950/0674 →