IP Library Granted Patent US 9,669,625
Granted Patent B2
US 9,669,625 · App. 15/268,558 · Granted Jun 6, 2017

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

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,669,625
App. No.
15/268,558
Granted
Jun 6, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid ejection control apparatus, which controls a drive voltage waveform applied to a piezoelectric element so as to control ejection of a pulsed liquid jet, includes a first operation unit that receives input of an index value for setting a flow velocity peak timing of a main jet of the pulsed liquid jet, and a control unit that sets a rising portion of the drive voltage waveform according to the index value so as to control changing of the drive voltage waveform.

Claims (47)

1. A liquid ejection control apparatus which controls a drive voltage waveform applied to a piezoelectric element so as to control ejection of a pulsed liquid jet, the apparatus comprising:

a first operation unit that receives input of an index value for setting a flow velocity peak timing of a main jet of the pulsed liquid jet; and

a control unit that sets a rising portion of the drive voltage waveform according to the index value so as to control changing of the drive voltage waveform.

2. The liquid ejection control apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control unit moves an inflection point along a line segment connecting a rising start point to a maximum voltage in the rising portion so as to set the rising portion corresponding to the index value.

3. A liquid ejection system comprising:

the liquid ejection control apparatus according to claim 2 ;

a liquid ejection device that ejects the pulsed liquid jet; and

a liquid feeding pump that feeds a liquid to the liquid ejection device.

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

a second operation unit that receives input of an indication value of momentum or kinetic energy of the pulsed liquid jet,

wherein the control unit sets the rising portion according to the index value, and controls changing of the drive voltage waveform so that the indication value is obtained.

5. The liquid ejection control apparatus according to claim 4 ,

wherein the control unit controls amplitude of the drive voltage waveform so that the indication value is obtained.

6. A liquid ejection system comprising:

the liquid ejection control apparatus according to claim 5 ;

a liquid ejection device that ejects the pulsed liquid jet; and

a liquid feeding pump that feeds a liquid to the liquid ejection device.

7. The liquid ejection control apparatus according to claim 4 ,

wherein the control unit controls any one of time, a rising frequency, and a repetition frequency related to rising of the drive voltage waveform so that the indication value is obtained.

8. A liquid ejection system comprising:

the liquid ejection control apparatus according to claim 7 ;

a liquid ejection device that ejects the pulsed liquid jet; and

a liquid feeding pump that feeds a liquid to the liquid ejection device.

9. A liquid ejection system comprising:

the liquid ejection control apparatus according to claim 4 ;

a liquid ejection device that ejects the pulsed liquid jet; and

a liquid feeding pump that feeds a liquid to the liquid ejection device.

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

wherein ejection control of the pulsed liquid jet is performed so that momentum of the pulsed liquid jet is equal to or more than 2 nanonewton seconds (nNs) and is equal to or less than 2 millinewton seconds (mNs), or kinetic energy of the pulsed liquid jet is equal to or more than 2 nanojoules (nJ) and is equal to or less than 200 millijoules (mJ).

11. A liquid ejection system comprising:

the liquid ejection control apparatus according to claim 10 ;

a liquid ejection device that ejects the pulsed liquid jet; and

a liquid feeding pump that feeds a liquid to the liquid ejection device.

12. The liquid ejection control apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein ejection control of the pulsed liquid jet is performed so that living tissue is cut.

13. A liquid ejection system comprising:

the liquid ejection control apparatus according to claim 12 ;

a liquid ejection device that ejects the pulsed liquid jet; and

a liquid feeding pump that feeds a liquid to the liquid ejection device.

14. A liquid ejection system comprising:

the liquid ejection control apparatus according to claim 1 ;

a liquid ejection device that ejects the pulsed liquid jet; and

a liquid feeding pump that feeds a liquid to the liquid ejection device.

15. A control method of controlling a drive voltage waveform applied to a piezoelectric element so as to control ejection of a pulsed liquid jet, the method comprising:

receiving input of an index value for setting a flow velocity peak timing of a main jet of the pulsed liquid jet; and

setting a rising portion of the drive voltage waveform according to the index value so as to control changing of the drive voltage waveform.

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 Sep 19, 2016
From: KARASAWA, JUNICHI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039784/0399 →