Dual Channel Smart Power Amplifier Uses Mixed-Signal Processing to Generate MultiPulse Waveforms Used in Industrial Ink Jet Printing
Apex Microtechnology is making the design of power analog drive circuitry for industrial ink jet printer nozzles less of a challenge by pairing a high performance power amplifier with a digital front end.
The MP113 is a complete solution for implementing multi-pulse waveforms required to drive a changing number of print nozzles with quality and accuracy in large format printing applications.
The MP113 features onboard firmware that controls a dual channel amplifier that allows the user to define the desired waveform for their specific end system. The amplifier is rated at >10A PEAK per channel with a voltage supply operation of 180V and up to 135V of output voltage.
“The MP113’s graphical user interface provides a simplified solution that is easy to implement with an existing drive system or an entirely new design,” explains Apex Strategic Marketing Manager Jens Eltze. “The MP113 supports expanded printing capabilities including the use of grayscale and the ability to change droplet sizes for greater intensity which is needed to print higher resolution images.”
The modular design of the MP113 is in a broader sense its own evaluation kit. The embedded firmware allows users to test various parameters such as the size and speed of droplet formation and to optimize these specifications for specific types of ink. The MP113 also is designed with protection and diagnostic features to enhance the overall reliability of the system.
About APEX
Apex Microtechnology, a subsidiary of HEICO Corporation, is based in Tucson, Arizona. Apex designs and manufactures precision power analog monolithic, hybrid and open frame components for a wide range of industrial, test and measurement, medical, aerospace and military applications. Apex Microtechnology is a recognized leader for consistently developing products that lead the industry in terms of performance, quality, and reliability.
Founded in 1980, Apex Microtechnology was acquired in 2007 by Cirrus Logic. Following a five-year tenure as a division of the Austin, Texas, based developer of complex chip designs, Apex Microtechnology was returned to a stand-alone corporation in 2012 with its sale to a private investor group led by Alerion Capital Group, a private equity and management advisory firm located in Scottsdale, Arizona. In 2018, Apex was acquired by HEICO Corporation as a part of their Electronics Technologies Group.
