IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,552,153
Granted Patent B2
US 12,552,153 · App. 18/476,386 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Drive circuit unit, head unit, and liquid discharge apparatus

Inventor: Yoichiro Kondo (Nagano, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
B41J2/04541B41J2/04581B41J29/377
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,552,153
App. No.
18/476,386
Granted
Feb 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a drive circuit unit generating a drive signal for driving a head, the drive circuit unit including: a first connector coupled to the head; a drive circuit generating the drive signal; a fan generating wind for the drive circuit; and a conversion circuit converting a control signal for controlling the head, in which the first connector, the drive circuit, the fan, and the conversion circuit are arranged in an order of the first connector, the drive circuit, the fan, and the conversion circuit.

Claims (45)

1 . A drive circuit unit generating a drive signal for driving a head, the drive circuit unit comprising:

a first connector coupled to the head;

a drive circuit generating the drive signal;

a fan generating wind for the drive circuit; and

a conversion circuit converting a control signal for controlling the head, wherein

the first connector, the drive circuit, the fan, and the conversion circuit are arranged in an order of the first connector, the drive circuit, the fan, and the conversion circuit in a direction, and

the fan partially overlaps with the conversion circuit and the drive circuit as viewed in the direction.

2 . The drive circuit unit according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a fourth connector receiving the control signal input to the conversion circuit, wherein

the first connector, the drive circuit, the fan, the conversion circuit, and the fourth connector are arranged in an order of the first connector, the drive circuit, the fan, the conversion circuit, and the fourth connector.

3 . The drive circuit unit according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first substrate on which the first connector is mounted; and

a second substrate on which the conversion circuit is mounted, wherein

the first substrate and the second substrate are B-to-B-coupled.

4 . The drive circuit unit according to claim 3 , wherein

the second substrate is mounted with a fourth connector receiving the control signal input to the conversion circuit,

the conversion circuit operates by power supplied from the first substrate to the second substrate, and

the control signal is received by the fourth connector not via the first substrate.

5 . The drive circuit unit according to claim 4 , wherein

the second substrate is mounted with the fan, and

the fan operates by the power supplied from the first substrate to the second substrate.

6 . The drive circuit unit according to claim 5 , wherein

the fan has fins rotating around a rotation axis of the fan, and

a height of a heat sink of the conversion circuit is shorter than a radius of a cylindrical region swept by the rotation of the fins.

7 . A head unit comprising:

a head; and

a drive circuit unit generating a drive signal for driving the head, wherein

the drive circuit unit includes

a first connector coupled to the head,

a drive circuit generating the drive signal,

a fan generating wind for the drive circuit, and

a conversion circuit converting a control signal for controlling the head, and

the first connector, the drive circuit, the fan, and the conversion circuit are arranged in an order of the first connector, the drive circuit, the fan, and the conversion circuit in a direction, and

the fan partially overlaps with the conversion circuit and the drive circuit as viewed in the direction.

8 . A liquid discharge apparatus comprising:

a transport unit transporting a medium;

a head; and

a drive circuit unit generating a drive signal for driving the head, wherein

the drive circuit unit includes

a first connector coupled to the head,

a drive circuit generating the drive signal,

a fan generating wind for the drive circuit, and

a conversion circuit converting a control signal for controlling the head, and

the first connector, the drive circuit, the fan, and the conversion circuit are arranged in an order of the first connector, the drive circuit, the fan, and the conversion circuit in a direction, and

the fan partially overlaps with the conversion circuit and the drive circuit as viewed in the direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2023
From: KONDO, YOICHIRO
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065057/0523 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-157644 · Sep 30, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240109295A1 · Apr 4, 2024
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