JP5035261B2 - Wiring structure of driver IC and droplet discharge device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wiring structure of a driver IC for applying a driving signal from two driver ICs to a plurality of driving units of an actuator unit, and a droplet discharge device using the wiring structure.

  As an example of a conventional “droplet discharge device”, an “inkjet printer” is well known. The “inkjet printer” disclosed in Patent Document 1 corresponds to each pressure chamber and a flow path unit having a plurality of nozzles for discharging droplets and a plurality of pressure chambers individually connected to each nozzle. Actuator unit having a plurality of driving units and a plurality of surface electrodes corresponding to the driving units, a plurality of output wirings electrically connected to each of the plurality of surface electrodes, and driving to the driving unit via the output wirings And a flexible wiring board (COF) having one driver IC that outputs a signal. The flexible wiring board is drawn out to one side from the region where the input side end is connected to the actuator unit, and the driver IC is mounted on one side. Another flat cable (FPC, FFC, etc.) for supplying a control signal to the driver IC is connected to the input side end.

  Such a “configuration in which the input side end of the flexible wiring board is pulled out to one side” is a configuration in which a plurality of output wirings in the flexible wiring board are drawn from each surface electrode position to the side where the driver IC is mounted. With higher speed and smaller size, multiple output wirings are arranged with high density and narrow pitch toward the driver IC side, and there is a limit in manufacturing, corresponding to further increase in the number of output wirings It was difficult to do. In addition, it is possible to cope with the increase in the number of output wiring by using a so-called "double-sided printed circuit board" in which output wiring layers are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the base material as a flexible wiring board or flat cable. However, since the cost is higher than the so-called “single-sided printed circuit board” and the manufacturing cost is increased, it is required to arrange a large number of output wirings using the “single-sided printed circuit board”. Therefore, in recent years, a plurality of output wirings are divided into “a group of output wirings” and “another group of output wirings”, which are drawn out in two different directions and connected to two different driver ICs. A “driver IC wiring structure” has been developed (Patent Document 2).

  According to this prior art, since the pitch of the output wiring in the flexible wiring board can be lowered and the pitch can be widened, it is possible to arrange a large number of output wirings with a margin. It is possible to cope with an increase in the number of nozzles accompanying the increase in density. However, in order to provide a control signal to each of the two driver ICs, it is necessary to connect two flat cables to the flexible wiring board, which increases the manufacturing cost and connects the two flat cables. And the assembly process increased, and there was a problem that productivity was bad.

JP 2008-18555 A JP 2005-324453 A JP 2006-062221 A

  As means for solving the problems of the above-described conventional techniques (Patent Documents 1 and 2), Patent Document 3 includes an input wiring electrically connected to each of the input terminals of two driver ICs in a one-to-one manner, There is disclosed a “driver IC wiring structure” in which input side ends of input wirings are collectively arranged on one end of a flexible wiring board.

  According to this prior art, since only one flat cable needs to be connected to one end of the flexible wiring board, the manufacturing cost and work process can be reduced as compared with the case where two flat cables as in Patent Document 2 are used. The flat cable can be easily routed along with the reduction. However, since the input wirings to the two driver ICs are collectively arranged at one input side end of one flat cable, the number of input wirings at the input side end is 2 in the case of using two flat cables. The width of the flat cable has become considerably wide, and the connector for connecting the flat cable has also become larger. For this reason, the manufacturing cost could not be reduced sufficiently, and the demand for miniaturization could not be met.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can easily cope with an increase in the number of output wirings accompanying the increase in the density of nozzles, and can be used for routing a flat cable (FPC, FFC). It is an object of the present invention to provide a driver IC wiring structure and a droplet discharge device that can improve workability and can sufficiently reduce the manufacturing cost.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the wiring structure of the driver IC according to the present invention includes a driver IC for operating an energy generating unit having a plurality of driving units for applying discharge pressure to the liquid discharged from the nozzle. A wiring structure that is electrically connected to a plurality of electrodes corresponding to a plurality of the driving units in a one-to-one manner, and that applies a driving signal to the plurality of driving units; A plurality of first output terminals electrically connected to each of the group of output wirings among the output wiring, a plurality of first input terminals for inputting an input signal, and an input signal input from the first input terminal A first driver IC having a first drive signal generation unit that generates a drive signal based on the first output terminal and outputs the drive signal from each of the first output terminals; and another group of the plurality of output wirings A plurality of second output terminals electrically connected to each of the output wirings, a plurality of second input terminals for inputting an input signal, and a drive signal is generated based on the input signal input from the second input terminal as well as, second and a driver IC, before Symbol first input pin and a second driving signal generation unit for outputting the drive signal from each of said second output terminal, only the first driver IC includes a first input signal terminal for inputting an input signal to be used, and a first common input signal terminal to enter the common input signal which is used in common in each of the first driver IC and the second driver IC Contact is, the second input terminals in the prior SL Ri Contact include a second common input signal terminal to enter the common input signal, the first driver IC is further used only in the second driver IC Input signal A second input signal terminal that outputs power, a relay output terminal that outputs the input signal, and a relay electrical path that electrically connects the second input signal terminal and the relay output terminal. input signal, said energy generating includes a waveform signal for designating the driving mode of the unit, the same common input signal to enter the first common input signal terminal and the second common input signal terminal and said first driver The relay output terminal and one of the second input terminals are electrically connected to each other via an electrical path including a common wiring disposed outside each of the IC and the second driver IC. And the first driver IC and the second driver IC are configured in the same structure, and are connected to the energy generating unit. The rows of the plurality of first input terminals and the rows of the plurality of second input terminals are arranged so as to face each other on both sides of the region where the electrodes are provided, and attention is paid to the first driver IC. The second input signal terminal and the relay output terminal are arranged on one end side of the row of the plurality of first input terminals, and the first input signal terminal is arranged on the other end side than these. It is .

In this configuration, since the first common input signal terminal and the second common input signal terminal are electrically connected via an electric path including the common wiring, the first common input signal terminal or the second common input signal For example, when the “driver IC wiring structure” is incorporated in the flexible wiring board, the total number of input wirings in the flexible wiring board can be reduced. Therefore, even when all the input wirings are electrically connected to the corresponding wirings of one flat cable (FPC, FFC) on a one-to-one basis, the width of the flat cable can be prevented from becoming too wide. Manufacturing costs can be greatly reduced. Further, in this configuration, since the two driver ICs that output the drive signal are configured in the same structure, the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the variation in characteristics between the driver ICs can be reduced. Since the waveform signal that specifies the driving mode of the energy generation unit is a low-voltage signal, even if it is used in common by the two driver ICs, the operating characteristics of the two driver ICs vary greatly. Don't worry. Furthermore, an input signal used only by the second driver IC can be supplied from the first input terminal of the first driver IC to the second driver IC through the relay electrical path and the relay wiring inside the first driver IC. The electric path for the input signal can be arranged in a compact manner.

  The first driver electric path from the first common input signal terminal to the first drive signal generator and the first common electric path from the first common input signal terminal to the common line are the first driver. The IC is branched inside the IC, and the common input signal input from the first common input signal terminal is supplied to the first drive signal generation unit via the first drive electrical path and the first common signal. The configuration may be such that the signal is supplied to the second drive signal generation unit of the second driver IC through a common electrical path and the common wiring.

  In this configuration, since the first drive electrical path and the first common electrical path are branched inside the first driver IC, there is no need to separately provide a branch wiring for branching outside the first driver IC. Thus, the trouble of providing the branch wiring can be saved and the wiring structure can be reduced in size.

  The first driver IC has a power supply voltage path for supplying power to the first drive signal generator, and at least one of the first drive electrical path and the first common electrical path is: The power supply voltage path may be arranged so as to cross three-dimensionally.

  In this configuration, at least one of the first drive electrical path and the first common electrical path is arranged three-dimensionally intersecting the power supply voltage path, so that the freedom of wiring design is reduced to the power supply voltage. It can be prevented from being damaged by the route.

  A first input wiring for applying an input signal used only by the first driver IC; a second input wiring for applying an input signal used only by the second driver IC; the first driver IC and the first driver IC; The input side ends of the common input wirings for applying a common input signal commonly used in both of the two driver ICs are arranged on the same straight line, and other wirings are arranged on each of these input side ends. May be configured to be electrically connected.

  In this configuration, the input side ends of the first input wiring, the second input wiring, and the common input wiring are arranged on the same straight line, and other wiring is connected to each of these input side ends. Therefore, other wiring can be easily connected.

  The energy generating unit is an actuator unit having a piezoelectric plate, an individual electrode provided on one surface of the piezoelectric plate, and a constant potential electrode provided on the other surface of the piezoelectric plate. A configuration in which a power supply wiring for an actuator for applying a voltage and a power supply wiring for a driver IC for applying a voltage to the first drive signal generation unit and the second drive signal generation unit are electrically connected at a solder point. It may be.

  In this configuration, since the power supply wiring for the actuator and the power supply wiring for the driver IC are electrically connected at the solder point, it is possible to apply a voltage from one power supply wiring to both of them. The arrangement space for the power supply wiring can be reduced as compared with the case where two power supply wirings are used.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a droplet discharge device according to the present invention includes a flow path unit including a plurality of nozzles that discharge droplets and a plurality of pressure chambers individually connected to the nozzles, Each of the pressure chambers has a plurality of driving units individually corresponding to each of the pressure chambers and a plurality of electrodes corresponding to each of the driving units, and selectively drives the driving unit based on a driving signal applied to the electrodes. Accordingly, an energy generation unit that applies discharge pressure to the liquid in the pressure chamber corresponding to the driving unit, and a flexible wiring board in which the wiring structure of any one of the driver ICs is incorporated.

  This configuration relates to a droplet discharge device using any one of the driver IC wiring structures described above.

  The plurality of nozzles are arranged to form a nozzle row for each type of liquid to be discharged, and the plurality of electrodes are arranged to form an electrode row side by side in the same direction as the nozzle row, The first driver IC and the second driver IC are arranged spaced apart from each other in a direction in which the electrode row extends so as to sandwich a region where the electrode of the energy generation unit is provided. The structure common wiring may be arranged at a position facing a region between two adjacent electrode rows.

  In this configuration, it is possible to secure a belt-like region extending in parallel with the electrode row at a position opposite to the region between two adjacent electrode rows, and the common wiring is compactly arranged using the belt-like region. can do.

The first driver IC and the second driver IC are disposed so as to extend long in a direction orthogonal to the electrode row, and the second driver IC is disposed at a longitudinal edge of the first driver IC. At least one relay output terminal for outputting an input signal used in the first driver IC, the longitudinal direction of the second driver IC located on the same side as the side on which the relay output terminal is provided in the first driver IC The end edge may be provided with at least one input terminal for inputting an input signal output from the relay output terminal.

  In this configuration, the electrical path for supplying the input signal output from the relay output terminal to the second driver IC can be compactly arranged using an empty space that has not been used conventionally.

  The plurality of nozzles are arranged so as to form the nozzle row for each type of liquid to be discharged, and at least one of the belt-like regions located between two nozzle rows that discharge different types of liquid is the same type A wide band-like region wider than the band-like region located between the two nozzle rows that discharge the liquid, and the common wiring is disposed at a position corresponding to the wide band-like region. Also good.

  In this configuration, a large number of common wirings can be compactly arranged at positions corresponding to the wide belt-like regions. For example, when the color ink jet printer is stopped, the nozzle cap partition plate is arranged between the nozzle row corresponding to “black” and the nozzle row corresponding to “other color”. The band-like area located between them is a “wide band-like area” that is wider than the band-like areas located between the other nozzle rows, and a large number of common wires can be compacted at positions corresponding to this “wide-band-like area”. Can be arranged.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, and the group of output wirings and the other group of output wirings in the flexible wiring board are drawn out in different directions, the number of output wirings accompanying the increase in the density of the nozzles Can be easily accommodated. Further, since the number of flat cables (FPC, FFC) can be reduced to one, workability when the flat cable is routed can be improved. Furthermore, since the total number of wirings of the flat cable can be reduced by reducing the total number of input wirings, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the ink jet printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of an ink discharge head used in the ink jet printer according to the first embodiment. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a part of an ink discharge head used in the ink jet printer according to the first embodiment. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view in the main scanning direction X showing the configuration of a part of an ink ejection head used in the inkjet printer according to the first embodiment 1 is a partial cross-sectional view in the sub-scanning direction Y showing the configuration of a part of an ink discharge head used in the ink jet printer according to the first embodiment. The bottom view which shows the structure of the flexible wiring board (COF) used with the inkjet printer which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The circuit diagram which shows the whole structure of the electric circuit containing the flexible wiring board (COF) used with the inkjet printer which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a wiring structure of a driver IC used in the ink jet printer according to the first embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the wiring structure of driver IC used with the inkjet printer which concerns on 1st Embodiment The elements on larger scale which show the principal part of the wiring structure of driver IC used with the inkjet printer which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The elements on larger scale which show the solder point in the wiring structure of the driver IC used with the inkjet printer which concerns on 1st Embodiment Table showing the effect of reducing the number of input terminals in a flexible wiring board (COF) A circuit diagram showing a wiring structure of a driver IC used in an ink jet printer according to a second embodiment The circuit diagram which shows the wiring structure of the driver IC used with the ink jet printer which concerns on 3rd Embodiment

  Hereinafter, a “droplet discharge device” according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The “driver IC wiring structure” according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is used in a part of the “droplet discharge device”, and is therefore referred to in the description of the “droplet discharge device”.

  In each of the following embodiments, the present invention is applied to an “inkjet printer” that ejects ink (liquid) using an “actuator unit” as an “energy generating unit”. “Inkjet printer” that discharges ink (liquid) using “pressure when heated by a heating element”, “colored liquid discharge device” that discharges colored liquid (liquid) in color filter manufacturing equipment, The present invention can also be applied to other “droplet discharge devices” such as a “conductive liquid discharge device” that discharges a conductive liquid (liquid) in a wiring device. When the present invention is applied to a “droplet ejection device” other than an ink jet printer, “ink” in the following description is read as “liquid”, and “ink color” is read as “type of liquid”. To do. Further, “lower” used in the following description means the direction in which ink is ejected, and “upper” means the opposite direction.

(First embodiment)
[Overall configuration of droplet discharge device]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of an inkjet printer 10 as a “droplet ejection device” according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printer 10 forms an image on the surface of the paper P by ejecting ink onto the paper P, and includes an ink ejection head 12 that ejects ink, and an ink ejection head. 12, an ink supply unit 14 that supplies ink to 12, a scanning unit 16 that reciprocates the ink ejection head 12, a paper conveyance unit 18 that conveys the paper P to the scanning region S of the ink ejection head 12, and an image forming unit And a control unit 20 that executes various controls. In the present embodiment, since the configuration of the ink discharge head 12 is particularly characteristic, the configuration of the ink supply unit 14, the scanning unit 16, the paper transport unit 18, and the control unit 20 will be briefly described below. Thereafter, the configuration of the ink discharge head 12 will be described in detail.

[Configuration of ink supply unit]
As shown in FIG. 1, the ink supply unit 14 includes four ink tanks 22 a to 22 d that store four color inks of black (BK), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and cyan (C), and ink. A damper device 24 having four damper chambers (not shown) for individually accommodating the four color inks supplied to the ejection head 12, each of the ink tanks 22 a to 22 d, and each damper chamber of the damper device 24 are 1 There are four ink tubes 26a to 26d communicating in a one-to-one relationship, and a damper device 24 is disposed in a carriage 28 (described later) above the ink ejection head 12, and each of the ink tanks 22a to 22d is an ink. It is disposed at a predetermined position below the ejection head 12. When supplying ink to the ink discharge head 12, the ink in the ink tanks 22a to 22d is supplied to the corresponding damper chamber of the damper device 24 via the ink tubes 26a to 26d, and the ink discharge head 12 is supplied from the damper chamber. To the corresponding ink flow paths N1 to N4 (FIG. 3).

[Configuration of scanning unit]
As shown in FIG. 1, the scanning unit 16 includes a carriage 28 that holds the ink discharge head 12 and the damper device 24, two long plate-shaped guide rails 30 a and 30 b that guide the carriage 28, and one guide rail. A main driving pulley 32a provided at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of 30a, a driven pulley 32b provided at the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the rail 30a, and an annular loop between the main driving pulley 32a and the driven pulley 32b The drive belt 34 and a drive motor 36 for applying a rotational force to the main driving pulley 32 a are provided, and the carriage 28 is fixed to the drive belt 34. When the manual pulley 32a is rotated by the drive motor 36, the drive belt 34 is rotated with the rotation of the main pulley 32a, and the carriage 28 fixed to the drive belt 34 is reciprocated linearly along the rails 30a and 30b. The

  In the following description, the direction in which the carriage 28 is moved is referred to as “main scanning direction X”, and the direction orthogonal to the “main scanning direction X” is referred to as “sub-scanning direction Y”.

[Configuration of paper transport unit]
The paper transport unit 18 includes a paper transport path R that transports the paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y, an upstream transport roller 38 a disposed upstream of the scanning region S in the paper transport path R, and a paper transport path R. A downstream conveyance roller 38b disposed downstream of the scanning region S and a drive motor (not shown) that rotationally drives the conveyance rollers 38a and 38b at a predetermined timing. When the paper P is transported to the scanning region S by rotating the transport rollers 38a and 38b by the drive motor, the upper surface of the paper P is opposed to the lower surface of the ink ejection head 12 mounted on the carriage 28. An image can be formed on the upper surface of the paper P.

[Configuration of control unit]
The control unit 20 controls drive components such as the drive motor 36 of the scanning unit 16, the drive motor (not shown) of the paper transport unit 18, and the actuator unit 48 of the ink discharge head 12, as shown in FIG. These are electrically connected to a flexible wiring board (COF) 50 through a flat cable 106, a carriage board 104 and a flat cable 102. The control unit 20 includes a control circuit 40, a high voltage power circuit 42, and a low voltage power circuit 44. Among these, the control circuit 40 includes a central processing unit (CPU) that executes various arithmetic processes and a storage device (RAM, ROM) that stores various programs or data. Each drive component is controlled based on various output control signals. The high-voltage power supply circuit 42 applies a high-voltage power supply voltage to the ink discharge head 12, and the low-voltage power supply circuit 44 applies a low-voltage power supply voltage to the ink discharge head 12. Will be referred to in the description of the ink discharge head 12.

[Configuration of ink discharge head]
2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the ink discharge head 12, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a part of the ink discharge head 12, and FIG. 4 shows the internal configuration of the ink discharge head 12. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view in the main scanning direction X, and FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view in the sub-scanning direction Y showing the internal configuration of the ink discharge head 12. The ink discharge head 12 receives the ink supplied from the ink tanks 22a to 22d (FIG. 1) from the plurality of nozzles 66 (FIG. 4) based on the control signal applied from the control unit 20 (FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, it is provided with a flow path unit 46, an actuator unit 48, and a flexible wiring board (COF) 50.

<Configuration of flow path unit>
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the flow path unit 46 is configured by stacking five plates: a pressure chamber plate 52, an aperture plate 54, a connection flow path plate 56, a manifold plate 58 and a nozzle plate 60. These plates 52 to 60 are formed with “concave portions” or “through holes” by etching, laser processing, or the like. In the flow path unit 46, these “recesses” or “through holes” communicate with each other, whereby a plurality of (four in this embodiment) manifolds 62 that store ink for each color, and manifolds Four ink supply ports 64 that supply ink to each of the 62, a plurality of nozzles 66 that discharge the ink in the manifold 62 to the outside, a plurality of pressure chambers 68 that communicate with each of the plurality of nozzles 66, and the manifold 62 And an aperture 70 that communicates with the pressure chamber 68. In other words, inside the flow path unit 46, four ink flow paths N1 to N1 extending from each of the four ink supply ports 64 to the plurality of nozzles 66 through the one manifold 62, the plurality of apertures 70, and the plurality of pressure chambers 68. N4 (FIG. 3) is configured for each ink color. Each of the ink supply ports 64 is provided with a filter 65 (FIG. 3) for removing dust and bubbles contained in the ink.

  When the entire lower surface (nozzle surface) of the flow path unit 46 is viewed, the plurality of nozzles 66 constituting each of the ink flow paths N1 to N4 are sub-scanned for each color of ink to be ejected as shown in FIG. The nozzle rows 72 extending in the direction Y are arranged in one or a plurality of rows (two rows in this embodiment), and all the nozzle rows 72 are arranged in parallel to each other in the main scanning direction X. Yes. As a result, a “band-like region” extending in the sub-scanning direction Y is formed between the two adjacent nozzle rows 72, and the band-like region Q1 positioned between the two nozzle rows 72 that ejects different color inks. At least one of them (all in this embodiment) is a “wide belt-like region” that is wider than the belt-like region Q2 located between the two nozzle rows 72 that eject the same color ink. In the present embodiment, the nozzles are formed in the belt-like region Q1 located between the nozzle row 72 of the ink flow path N1 that discharges black ink and the nozzle row 72 of the ink flow path N2 that discharges ink of other colors (magenta ink). In order to arrange the partition plate (not shown) of the cap, the belt-like region Q1 is the “wide belt-like region” having the widest width.

<Configuration of actuator unit>
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the actuator unit 48 constitutes an inner upper surface 68 a of the pressure chamber 68 in the flow path unit 46 and selectively applies discharge pressure to the ink in the plurality of pressure chambers 68. In other words, the bottom layer 74, the intermediate layer 76, and the top layer 78 are laminated. Each of the bottom layer 74, the intermediate layer 76, and the top layer 78 is a piezoelectric plate made of a ferroelectric material (PZT or the like) having a thickness of about 20 μm, and a pressure chamber is formed on the upper surface (one surface) of the top layer 78. A plurality of individual electrodes 80 corresponding to each of 68 and a plurality of surface electrodes (electrodes) 82 electrically connected to each of the individual electrodes 80 are formed, and the individual electrode 80 is formed on the upper surface of the intermediate layer 76. A plurality of first constant potential electrodes 84 corresponding to are formed, and a second constant potential electrode 86 is formed on the upper surface of the bottom layer 74. The individual electrode 80 is disposed at a position facing the pressure chamber 68 on the upper surface of the top layer 78, and the plurality of surface electrodes 82 extend in the sub-scanning direction Y to positions away from the position facing the pressure chamber 68. The electrode rows 88 (FIG. 3) are arranged. Each electrode row 88 corresponds to the nozzle 66 in a one-to-one relationship, and in a region where the interval between the two nozzle rows 72 is wide, that is, a region corresponding to the “wide band-like region”, FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the interval between the two electrode rows 88 is also widened. The first constant potential electrodes 84 are arranged so as to form an electrode array extending in the sub-scanning direction Y, and all the first constant potential electrodes 84 included in the actuator unit 48 have a common first constant potential (for example, 28V). The length of the first constant potential electrode 84 in the sub-scanning direction Y is designed to be shorter than the length of the individual electrode 80 in the sub-scanning direction Y, as shown in FIG. Accordingly, in the central portion of the individual electrode 80 in the sub-scanning direction Y, the individual electrode 80, the first constant potential electrode 84, and the second constant potential electrode 86 overlap in the stacking direction, and the individual electrode 80 and the first constant potential electrode are overlapped. The first active part 90 as a “driving part” is formed between the first active part 90 and the reference numeral 84. The second constant potential electrode 86 is formed in a strip shape extending in the sub-scanning direction Y so as to face the plurality of pressure chambers 68 arranged in the sub-scanning direction Y, and all the second constant potentials included in the actuator unit 48 are included. A common second constant potential (for example, 0 V) is applied to the electrode 86. At both ends of the individual electrode 80 in the sub-scanning direction Y, as shown in FIG. 5, the individual electrode 80 and the second constant potential electrode 86 overlap in the stacking direction without sandwiching the first constant potential electrode 84, Between the individual electrode 80 and the second constant potential electrode 86 at both ends, a second active part 92 as a “driving part” is configured. That is, a portion where the intermediate layer 76 and the top layer 78 are continuously stacked functions as a piezoelectric layer. Since the bottom layer 74 functions as a so-called “vibrating plate”, the bottom layer 74 does not necessarily have to be a piezoelectric plate made of a piezoelectric material.
<Overall configuration of flexible wiring board>
FIG. 6 is a bottom view (bottom view) showing the configuration of the flexible wiring board 50, and FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing the overall configuration of an electric circuit including the flexible wiring board 50. As shown in FIG. 6, the flexible wiring board 50 includes two driver ICs 100A and 100B on the lower surface side of a base material 96 made of a flexible synthetic resin material (polyimide resin, polyester resin, polyamide resin, etc.). An IC wiring structure 98 (FIG. 8) is formed, and various wirings arranged on the lower surface of the base material 96 are covered with an insulating material (not shown) such as a solder resist. On-film) ”. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, one flat cable (FPC) 102 is electrically connected to the flexible wiring board 50, and the flat cable (FPC) 102 is connected to the carriage board 104 and the flat cable (FFC). It is electrically connected to the control unit 20 via 106. The flexible wiring board 50 is a so-called “single-sided printed board”.

  The driver IC wiring structure 98 receives the “control signal” input from the control circuit 40 (FIG. 7) to the flexible wiring board 50 and the “low-voltage system power supply voltage” input from the low-voltage power supply circuit 44 to the flexible wiring board 50. The first driver IC 100A and the second driver IC 100B are distributed, and the “high-voltage power supply voltage” input from the high-voltage power supply circuit 42 to the flexible wiring board 50 is distributed to the actuator unit 48, the first driver IC 100A, and the second driver IC 100B. Further, the “drive signal” generated by each of the first driver IC 100A and the second driver IC 100B is distributed to the plurality of surface electrodes 82 of the actuator unit 48.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, specifically, the “control signal” output from the control circuit 40 includes six waveform signals FIRE1 to FIRE6 that specify the driving mode of the actuator unit 48, and the first driver IC 100A. Four instruction signals SIN0A to SIN3A for instructing the waveform of the “drive signal” output from each channel, and four instruction signals SIN0B for instructing the waveform of the “drive signal” output from the second driver IC 100B for each channel SIN3B, a temperature detection signal VTEMPA for detecting the temperature of the first driver IC 100A, a temperature detection signal VTEMPB for detecting the temperature of the second driver IC 100B, and a clock signal CLK. Specifically, the “high-voltage power supply voltage” output from the high-voltage power supply circuit 42 includes two first constant potential voltages VCOM (28 V) applied to the first constant potential electrode 84 and the second constant potential electrode 86. Two second constant potential voltages COM (0V) applied to the first driver IC 100A and the second driver IC 100B, two high voltage system drive voltages VDD2 (28V) applied to the first driver IC 100A and the first driver IC 100A and the second driver IC 100B, respectively. Two high-voltage system ground voltages VSS2 (0 V) applied to each of the two driver ICs 100B. The “low-voltage power supply voltage” output from the low-voltage power supply circuit 44 is specifically the two low-voltage system drive voltages VDD1 (3.3 V) applied to the first driver IC 100A and the second driver IC 100B, respectively. And two low-voltage system ground voltages VSS1 (0 V) applied to the first driver IC 100A and the second driver IC 100B, respectively.

  In the prior art (Patent Document 3), as shown in FIG. 12, control signals (FIRE1 to FIRE6, VTEMP, SIN0 to SIN3, CLK), and high-voltage system power supply voltages (VDD2, VSS2) are respectively supplied to the two driver ICs. And the low-voltage power supply voltage (VDD1, VSS1) are separately applied, and the high-voltage power supply voltage (VCOM, COM) applied to the actuator unit is separately applied to each of the two driver ICs. Therefore, at the input side end of the flexible wiring board (COF), the total number of input terminals is 44 pins, and the width of the input side end of the flexible wiring board (COF) and the flat cable (FPC, FFC) Will become too wide. In this respect, in the present embodiment, since the following driver IC wiring structure 98 is used, the number of input terminals 108 (FIG. 8) of the flexible wiring board (COF) 50 can be reduced to a total of 27 pins. Thus, the width of the flexible wiring board (COF) and the flat cable (FPC, FFC) can be reduced.

  In the following description, “control signals (FIRE1 to FIRE6, VTEMPA, VTEMPB, SIN0A to SIN3A, SIN0B to SIN3B, CLK)” input to the first driver IC 100A and the second driver IC 100B and “low voltage system power supply voltage ( VDD1 and VSS1) ”are collectively referred to as an“ input signal ”. Among these“ input signals ”, signals (VTEMPA, SIN0A to SIN3A) used only by the first driver IC 100A are referred to as“ first input signals ”. Signals used only by the second driver IC 100B (VTEMPB, SIN0B to SIN3B) are referred to as “second input signals” and signals commonly used by the two driver ICs 100A and 100B (FIRE1 to FIRE6, VDD1, VSS1). , CLK) is called "common input signal" .

<Configuration of driver IC wiring structure>
8 is a circuit diagram showing the wiring structure 98 of the driver IC, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the wiring structure 98 of the driver IC, and FIG. 10 is a portion showing the main part of the wiring structure 98 of the driver IC. It is an enlarged view. As shown in FIG. 8, the driver IC wiring structure 98 includes a plurality of output wirings 110, a first driver IC 100A, a second driver IC 100B, a plurality of input wirings 112a to 112c, and a plurality of common wirings 114. The plurality of relay lines 116 and the plurality of power supply lines 118a to 118f are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the plurality of output wirings 110 are wirings that connect the driver ICs 100 </ b> A and 100 </ b> B to the plurality of surface electrodes 82 of the actuator unit 48 that constitutes the ink ejection head 12. Are wirings that are electrically connected to each other and apply a “drive signal” to the plurality of active portions 90 and 92 corresponding to each of the plurality of surface electrodes 82. Among the plurality of output wirings 110, one group of output wirings 110 is led out from the region T where the plurality of surface electrodes 82 are formed to one side in the main scanning direction X, and the other group of output wirings 110 includes a plurality of output wirings 110. As shown in FIG. 6, the surface electrode 82 is electrically connected to the output side end of each output wiring 110 from the region T where the surface electrode 82 is formed to the other side in the main scanning direction X. A connection land 110a to be connected is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the first driver IC 100A is designed to have a substantially rectangular shape in plan view extending in the sub-scanning direction Y. As shown in FIG. 10, the first driver IC 100A has a width direction (main scanning direction X ) At one edge, a first input signal terminal 120a for inputting a “first input signal”, a second input signal terminal 120b for inputting a “second input signal”, and a first input for inputting a “common input signal”. One common input signal terminal 120c is arranged in the longitudinal direction (sub-scanning direction Y). Each of the “first input signal terminal 120a”, “second input signal terminal 120b”, and “first common input signal terminal 120c” has a function of inputting an “input signal” to the first driver IC 100A. 1 input terminal ".

  In addition, a plurality of output terminals 122 that output a “drive signal” are arranged in the longitudinal direction on the other edge in the width direction on the lower surface of the first driver IC 100A. A plurality of power supply terminals 124 for inputting "" are arranged in the longitudinal direction. Then, the “second input signal” and the “common input signal” input from the second input signal terminal 120b and the first common input signal terminal 120c are output as they are to one edge in the longitudinal direction on the lower surface of the first driver IC 100A. A plurality of relay output terminals 126 are arranged side by side in the width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the first driver IC 100A includes a first drive signal generator 128 that generates a “drive signal” and a first input signal terminal 120a or a first common input signal terminal 120c. A first drive electrical path 130a leading to one drive signal generator 128, a first common electrical path 130b leading from the first common input signal terminal 120c to the relay output terminal 126 (ie, the common wiring 114), and a second input A relay electrical path 130c from the signal terminal 120b to the relay output terminal 126 and a power supply voltage path 130d (FIG. 9) from the power terminal 124 to the first drive signal generator 128 are configured, and the first common input signal terminal The first drive electrical path 130a from 120c to the first drive signal generation unit 128, and the first drive electrical path 130a from the first common input signal terminal 120c to the common wiring 114 A common electrical path 130b is branched inside the first driver IC 100a. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, at least one of the first drive electrical path 130a, the first common electrical path 130b, or the relay electrical path 130c is three-dimensionally intersected with the power supply voltage path 130d. ing. Therefore, even when the power supply wirings 118c and 118d for supplying the power supply voltages (VDD2, VSS2) for the driver IC are arranged over the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the first driver IC 100A, the first drive electrical path 130a, the first It is possible to arrange at least one of the common electric path 130b or the relay electric path 130c so as to jump over the power supply voltage path 130d, and the power supply voltage path 130d arranges the other electric paths 130a to 130c. It is possible to prevent obstruction when doing. As a method of three-dimensionally arranging the first drive electrical path 130a, the first common electrical path 130b, or the relay electrical path 130c, for example, it corresponds to these electrical paths 130a to 130c in the upper layer portion of the first driver IC 100A. In addition to forming a pattern, a through hole is formed between the upper layer portion and the lower layer portion, and the pattern of the upper layer portion and the terminals 120a to 120c, 122, 126 of the lower layer portion are interposed through the conductive material filled in the through hole. And a method of electrically connecting the two can be used.

  Such a first driver IC 100A is configured so as to be a line object on both sides of the central portion in the longitudinal direction, and has the same configuration as the relay output terminal 126 on the other longitudinal end edge of the first driver IC 100A. Terminals (not shown) are provided, and electric paths (not shown) having the same configuration as the first drive electric path 130a, the first common electric path 130b, and the relay electric path 130c are provided.

  The second driver IC 100B is configured in the same structure as the first driver IC 100A in order to suppress variation in characteristics with the first driver IC 100A. As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of second input signal terminals 132b and a plurality of second common input signal terminals 132c are arranged side by side in the width direction on one end edge in the longitudinal direction of the second driver IC 100B. The output-side ends of the relay wiring 116 are electrically connected to the plurality of second input signal terminals 132b on a one-to-one basis, and the output-side ends of the plurality of common wirings 114 are a plurality of second common input signal terminals. It is electrically connected to 132c on a one-to-one basis.

  The first driver IC 100A and the second driver IC 100B have a region T in which the plurality of surface electrodes 82 of the actuator unit 48 are formed such that the edges in the width direction on the side where the plurality of output terminals 122 are formed face each other. The plurality of output terminals 122 of the first driver IC 100A are electrically connected to the group of output wirings 110, and the plurality of output terminals 122 of the second driver IC 100B are connected to the other group of outputs. The wiring 110 is electrically connected.

  Specifically, the plurality of input wirings 112 a to 112 c include a first input wiring 112 a through which a “first input signal” flows, a second input wiring 112 b through which a “second input signal” flows, and a “common input signal”. The common input wiring 112c that flows, the output side end of the first input wiring 112a is electrically connected to the first input signal terminal 120a of the first driver IC 100A, and the output side end of the second input wiring 112b is The second input signal terminal 120b of the first driver IC 100A is electrically connected, and the output side end of the common input wiring 112c is electrically connected to the first common input signal terminal 120c of the first driver IC 100A. . The input side ends of the first input wiring 112a, the second input wiring 112b, and the common input wiring 112c are arranged on the same straight line, and a flat cable ( A plurality of wirings provided in the FPC) 102 are electrically connected via a plurality of input terminals 108 (FIG. 8) provided at one end edge of the base material 96.

  The plurality of common lines 114 are a pair of the plurality of relay output terminals 126 of the first driver IC 100A that outputs the common input signal and the plurality of second common input signal terminals 132c of the second driver IC 100B that inputs the common input signal. 1 is a wiring to be electrically connected. In the present embodiment, a plurality of relay output terminals 126 to which the input side ends of the common wiring 114 are connected and a plurality of second common input signal terminals 132c to which the output side ends of the common wiring 114 are connected are the first. The first driver IC 100A and the second driver IC 100B are disposed at the end portions on the same side in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, it is possible to connect the plurality of relay output terminals 126 and the plurality of second common input signal terminals 132c at a short distance, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

  Further, among the plurality of common wirings 114, the one sharing the low-voltage ground voltage VSS1 (0V) is disposed closest to the region T in which the plurality of surface electrodes 82 are formed. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of crosstalk (electrical noise) between the output wiring 110 existing in the circuit and the other common wiring 114.

The plurality of relay wirings 116 pair a plurality of relay output terminals 126 of the first driver IC 100A that outputs the second input signal and a plurality of second input signal terminals 132b of the second driver IC 100B that inputs the second input signal. 1 is a wiring to be electrically connected. The second input signal is given to the second drive signal generation unit 134 of the second driver IC 100B, but the output side end portion of the relay electrical path 135c electrically connected to the second input signal terminal 132b is Since it is only connected to the relay input terminal 136, the second input signal cannot be applied to the second drive signal generation unit 134 as it is. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the relay input terminal 136 and the input terminal 138 are electrically connected by the wiring 140 outside the second driver IC 100B, whereby the second input signal is given to the second drive signal generation unit 134. Like to do. Each of the “second input signal terminal 132b”, the “second common input signal terminal 132c”, and the “input terminal 138” has a function of inputting an “input signal” to the second driver IC 100B. Is.

  Specifically, the plurality of power supply wirings 118a to 118f (FIG. 8) have two first power supply voltages for applying the first constant potential voltage VCOM (28V) to the first constant potential electrode 84 (FIG. 5) of the actuator unit 48. A constant potential wiring 118a, two second constant potential wirings 118b for applying two second constant potential voltages COM (0V) to the second constant potential electrode 86 (FIG. 5) of the actuator unit 48, and a first driver IC 100A. A loop-shaped first drive voltage wiring 118c for applying a high-voltage system drive voltage VDD2 (28V) to the first driver IC 100A and a loop-shaped first ground voltage wiring 118d for applying a high-voltage system ground voltage VSS2 (0V) to the first driver IC 100A. A loop-like second drive voltage wiring 118e for applying a high-voltage drive voltage VDD2 (28V) to the second driver IC 100B, and a second driver The second drive voltage line 118e and the second ground voltage line 118f are formed on the bottom surface of the base material 96. The loop-like second ground voltage line 118f is used to apply a high-voltage ground voltage VSS2 (0V) to the C100B. Are branched from the first drive voltage line 118c and the first ground voltage line 118d.

  Among the plurality of power supply wirings 118a to 118f, the second ground voltage wiring 118f for the high voltage system ground voltage VSS2 (0V) is the first constant potential wiring 118a for the first constant voltage VCOM (28V) and the high voltage system driving voltage VDD2. Since the second driving voltage wiring 118e for (28V) is disposed closer to the relay wiring 116, crosstalk is caused between the first constant potential wiring 118a or the second driving voltage wiring 118e and the relay wiring 116. Generation of (electrical noise) can be prevented.

  The two first constant potential wirings 118a and the two second constant potential wirings 118b are respectively disposed on both sides in the sub-scanning direction Y with the actuator unit 48 interposed therebetween, whereby the voltage inside the actuator unit 48 is increased. Is balanced. The loop-shaped first drive voltage wiring 118c and the loop-shaped first ground voltage wiring 118d are arranged over the entire length in the longitudinal direction below the first drive signal generation unit 128, and are loop-shaped. The second drive voltage line 118e and the loop-shaped second ground voltage line 118f are disposed over the entire length in the longitudinal direction below the second drive signal generation unit 134, thereby the first driver. The balance of the voltages inside the IC 100A and the second driver IC 100B is achieved, and electrical influence is not caused on the ejection characteristics. The input side ends of the first constant potential wiring 118 a, the second constant potential wiring 118 b, the first drive voltage wiring 118 c, and the first ground voltage wiring 118 d are arranged in a straight line on one edge of the base material 96. Are electrically connected to each of the plurality of input terminals 108 on a one-to-one basis.

  Since the potential of the first constant potential wiring 118a and the potential of the first drive voltage wiring 118c are the same potential, the potential of the second constant potential wiring 118b and the potential of the first ground voltage wiring 118d are the same potential. As shown in FIG. 11, in the flat cable (FPC) 102, the two voltage wirings 142a and 142c corresponding to the first constant potential wiring 118a and the first drive voltage wiring 118c are short-circuited at the solder point 144, respectively. As a result, the first constant potential wiring 118a which is the “power supply wiring for the actuator” and the first drive voltage wiring 118c which is the “power supply wiring for the driver IC” are electrically connected. In addition, the two voltage wirings 142b and 142d corresponding to the second constant potential wiring 118b and the first ground voltage wiring 118d are short-circuited at the solder point 146, thereby being the “power supply wiring for the actuator”. The second constant potential wiring 118b and the first ground voltage wiring 118d which is a “power supply wiring for driver IC” are electrically connected. For either one of the voltage wirings 142a or 142c (the voltage wiring 142a in this embodiment), the portion on the input side with respect to the solder point 144 is omitted, and the manufacturing cost due to the common use of the voltage wirings 142a and 142c is reduced. Reduction is being achieved.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the solder points 144 and 146 are short-circuit points for short-circuiting the electrically divided wiring with a short-circuit material 148 made of a conductive material such as solder. In the state where the solder points 144 are divided When the first active portion 90 is polarized by applying a voltage between the individual electrode 80 and the first constant potential electrode 84 and the solder point 146 is divided, the individual electrode 80 and the second constant potential electrode 86 are separated. By applying a voltage between them, the second active part 92 is polarized. After the polarization treatment, each of the solder points 144 and 146 is short-circuited by the short-circuit material 148, and a voltage having a predetermined potential is applied to the first constant potential electrode 84 and the second constant potential electrode 86. The reason why the solder points 144 and 146 are electrically disconnected during the polarization process is to prevent the first driver IC 100A and the second driver IC 100B from being destroyed by the polarization voltage (for example, 33 V) applied during the polarization process. . The positions where the solder points 144 and 146 are provided are not limited to the flat cable (FPC) 102 but may be on the flexible wiring board (COF) 50 or on the carriage board 104. However, from the viewpoint of preventing the occurrence of noise, it is desirable that the position be as close as possible to the first driver IC 100A and the second driver IC 100B.

[Operation of droplet discharge device]
When an image is printed on the surface of the paper P using the inkjet printer 10 (FIG. 1), the drive signals generated by the first driver IC 100A and the second driver IC 100B are selected for the plurality of individual electrodes 80. Apply the power. Then, an electric field acts on the first active part 90 (FIG. 5) corresponding to the individual electrode 80 to which the drive signal is applied, and the first active part 90 is perpendicular to the thickness direction (that is, the polarization direction). The intermediate layer 76 and the top layer 78 are deformed so as to protrude downward. At this time, since the lower surface of the bottom layer 74 constitutes the inner upper surface 68 a of the pressure chamber 68, the lower surface is deformed so as to protrude to the inside of the pressure chamber 68, thereby reducing the volume of the pressure chamber 68. Therefore, pressure is applied to the ink existing in the pressure chamber 68 at a timing according to the drive signal, and the ink pressurized by the pressure is discharged from the nozzle hole 66 (FIG. 4) to the surface of the paper P. The When ink is ejected from the nozzle holes 66, negative pressure is generated in the ink flow paths N1 to N4, so that the ink in the ink tubes 26a to 26d passes through the filter 65 and the ink supply port 64 and enters the ink flow paths N1 to N4. Drawn into.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing a wiring structure 150 of a driver IC used in the ink jet printer according to the second embodiment. In the wiring structure 150 of the driver IC, a plurality of relay output terminals 126 that directly output the “second input signal” and the “common signal” are arranged in a row together with the plurality of output terminals 122 at the edge in the width direction of the first driver IC 152A. In the second driver IC 152B, the relay output terminal 126 of the first driver IC 152A and the terminal (second input terminal) 132 corresponding to the configuration are arranged in a row together with the plurality of output terminals 122 at the edge in the width direction. Are arranged side by side. The common wiring 114 and the relay wiring 116 that electrically connect the relay output terminal 126 of the first driver IC 152A and the terminal (second input terminal) 132 of the second driver IC 152B are the band-shaped region Q1 (FIG. 3). In the position corresponding to the “wide band-like region”, the region between the two surface electrode rows 88 is disposed to face the region. Therefore, according to the second embodiment, it is not necessary to secure a space for disposing the common wiring 114 and the relay wiring 116 outside the region T where the plurality of surface electrodes 82 are formed, and these can be arranged extremely compactly. Can be set.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram showing a wiring structure 160 of a driver IC used in the ink jet printer according to the third embodiment. In the driver IC wiring structure 98 (FIG. 8) in the first embodiment, as described above, each of the first driver IC 100A and the second driver IC 100B is configured to be a line object on both sides of the longitudinal center portion thereof. However, in the wiring structure 160 (FIG. 14) of the driver IC in the third embodiment, each of the first driver IC 162A and the second driver IC 162B is configured to be non-target on both sides across the longitudinal center portion thereof. The plurality of relay output terminals 126 are provided only at one end edge in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, according to the third embodiment, since it is not necessary to provide electrodes or electrical paths that are not actually used, the first driver IC 162A and the second driver IC 162B can be further downsized.

  In the above embodiment, the actuator unit 48 is provided with two constant potential electrodes 84 and 86 for one individual electrode 80. However, the configuration of the “actuator unit” is limited to this. For example, one constant potential electrode may be provided for one individual electrode. Further, the configuration of the “flow path unit” can be changed as appropriate. For example, an apparatus having an ink separation layer that separates the flow path unit and the actuator unit may be used.

N1 to N4 ... Ink flow path P ... Paper Q1, Q2 ... Strip-like area R ... Paper transport path S ... Scanning area T ... Area 10 on which a plurality of surface electrodes are formed ... Inkjet printer (droplet ejection device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Ink discharge head 20 ... Control part 28 ... Carriage 46 ... Flow path unit 48 ... Actuator unit 50 ... Flexible wiring board (COF)
66 ... Nozzle 68 ... Pressure chamber 72 ... Nozzle row 80 ... Individual electrode 84 ... First constant potential electrode 86 ... Second constant potential electrode 88 ... Surface electrode row 90 ... First active part (drive part)
92 ... 2nd active part (drive part)
98 ... Wiring structure 100A of driver IC ... First driver IC
100B ... Second driver IC
110 ... Output wiring 110a ... Connection land 112a ... First input wiring 112b ... Second input wiring 112c ... Common input wiring 114 ... Common wiring 116 ... Relay wiring 118a ... First constant potential wiring (power supply wiring)
118b ... Second constant potential wiring (power supply wiring)
118c ... 1st drive voltage wiring (power supply wiring)
118d ... First ground voltage wiring (power supply wiring)
118e ... Second drive voltage wiring (power supply wiring)
118f ... Second ground voltage wiring (power supply wiring)
120a ... 1st input signal terminal (1st input terminal)
120b ... Second input signal terminal (first input terminal)
120c ... 1st common input signal terminal (1st input terminal)
122 ... output terminal 124 ... power supply terminal 126 ... relay output terminal 128 ... first drive signal generator 130a ... first drive electrical path 130b ... first common electrical path 130c ... relay electrical path 130d ... power supply voltage path 132 ... terminal ( (2nd input terminal)
132b ... Second input signal terminal (second input terminal)
132c ... Second common input signal terminal (second input terminal)
136: Relay input terminal 134 ... Second drive signal generator 138 ... Terminal (second input terminal)
140 ... Wiring 144, 146 ... Solder point

Claims (10)

A wiring structure of a driver IC for operating an energy generation unit having a plurality of driving units for applying discharge pressure to liquid discharged from a nozzle,
A plurality of output wirings which are electrically connected to a plurality of electrodes corresponding to the plurality of driving units on a one-to-one basis and which apply driving signals to the plurality of driving units;
A plurality of first output terminals electrically connected to each of a group of output wirings among the plurality of output wirings, a plurality of first input terminals for inputting an input signal, and input from the first input terminal A first driver IC having a first drive signal generation unit that generates a drive signal based on an input signal and outputs the drive signal from each of the first output terminals;
A plurality of second output terminals electrically connected to each of the other group of output wirings among the plurality of output wirings, a plurality of second input terminals for inputting an input signal, and an input from the second input terminal A second driver IC having a second drive signal generation unit that generates a drive signal based on the input signal and outputs the drive signal from each of the second output terminals,
Before Symbol first input pin is used as the first input signal terminal for inputting an input signal to be used only the first driver IC, commonly at each of the first driver IC and the second driver IC Contact Ri and a first common input signal terminal to enter the common input signal,
It said second input terminals, the Ri Contact include a second common input signal terminal to enter the pre-Symbol common input signal,
The first driver IC further includes a second input signal terminal for inputting an input signal used only by the second driver IC, a relay output terminal for outputting the input signal, the second input signal terminal, and the relay. A relay electrical path for electrically connecting the output terminal,
The common input signal includes a waveform signal that specifies a driving mode of the energy generation unit,
Said first common input signal terminal to enter the same common input signal and the second common input signal terminal comprises a common wiring arranged on each of the outside of the first driver IC and the second driver IC Are electrically connected via an electrical path ,
A relay wiring that electrically connects the relay output terminal and one of the second input terminals is disposed along the common wiring;
The first driver IC and the second driver IC are configured in the same structure, and the rows of the plurality of first input terminals on both sides of the region where the electrode of the energy generation unit is provided The plurality of second input terminal rows are arranged to face each other,
When paying attention to the first driver IC, the second input signal terminal and the relay output terminal are disposed on one end side of the row of the plurality of first input terminals, and the other end side is located on the other end side. A wiring structure of a driver IC in which a first input signal terminal is arranged .   The second driver IC has a relay input terminal electrically connected to one of the second input terminals via a wiring external to the second driver IC,
  When paying attention to the first driver IC, a terminal corresponding to the relay input terminal is arranged on the other end side,
  The wiring structure of the driver IC according to claim 1, wherein an input signal applied to the relay input terminal is applied to one of the second input terminals via the wiring. The first driver electric path from the first common input signal terminal to the first drive signal generator and the first common electric path from the first common input signal terminal to the common line are the first driver. Branched inside the IC,
The common input signal input from the first common input signal terminal is supplied to the first drive signal generation unit via the first drive electrical path, and the first common electrical path and the common wiring are connected to each other. after applied to the second drive signal generation unit of the second driver IC, the wiring structure of the driver IC according to claim 1 or 2. The first driver IC has a power supply voltage path for supplying power to the first drive signal generator,
4. The driver IC according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first drive electrical path and the first common electrical path is sterically intersected with the power supply voltage path. 5. Wiring structure. A first input wiring for applying an input signal used only by the first driver IC; a second input wiring for applying an input signal used only by the second driver IC; the first driver IC and the first driver IC; The input side ends of the common input wirings for applying a common input signal commonly used in both of the two driver ICs are arranged on the same straight line, and other wirings are arranged on each of these input side ends. It is electrically connected to each of the driver IC according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wiring structure. The energy generating unit is an actuator unit having a piezoelectric plate, an individual electrode provided on one surface of the piezoelectric plate, and a constant potential electrode provided on the other surface of the piezoelectric plate,
A power line for an actuator that applies a voltage to the constant potential electrode and a power line for a driver IC that applies a voltage to the first drive signal generation unit and the second drive signal generation unit are electrically connected at a solder point. are connected, the wiring structure of the driver IC according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A flow path unit having a plurality of nozzles for discharging droplets and a plurality of pressure chambers individually communicated with each of the nozzles;
Each of the pressure chambers has a plurality of driving units individually corresponding to each of the pressure chambers and a plurality of electrodes corresponding to each of the driving units, and selectively drives the driving unit based on a driving signal applied to the electrodes. An energy generating unit for applying a discharge pressure to the liquid in the pressure chamber corresponding to the driving unit,
Claims 1 and a flexible wiring board on which a wiring structure of a driver IC described is incorporated into one of 6, the droplet discharge device. The plurality of nozzles are arranged to form a nozzle row for each type of liquid to be ejected,
The plurality of electrodes are arranged to form an electrode row side by side in the same direction as the nozzle row,
The first driver IC and the second driver IC are spaced apart from each other in a direction in which the electrode row extends so as to sandwich a region where the electrode of the energy generation unit is provided,
The liquid droplet ejection apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the common wiring of the wiring structure of the driver IC is disposed at a position facing a region between two adjacent electrode arrays. The first driver IC and the second driver IC are arranged to extend long in a direction orthogonal to the electrode row,
Wherein the longitudinal edges of the first driver IC, and at least one relay output terminals provided to output an input signal that are used in the second driver IC,
The input signal output from the relay output terminal is input to the longitudinal edge of the second driver IC located on the same side as the longitudinal edge of the side where the relay output terminal is provided in the first driver IC. The droplet discharge device according to claim 7 or 8 , wherein at least one input terminal for inputting is provided. The plurality of nozzles are arranged to form the nozzle row for each type of liquid to be discharged,
At least one of the belt-like regions located between two nozzle rows that eject different types of liquid is a wider belt-like region that is wider than the belt-like region located between two nozzle rows that eject the same type of liquid. And
The liquid droplet ejection apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the common wiring is disposed at a position corresponding to the wide band-shaped region.

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