ABSTRACT
The two basic types of electronic circuits used to drive drop-on-demand piezoelectric elements are gated voltage sources and high voltage linear amplifiers.
Piezoelectric elements that are used to actuate drop ejectors can be highly reactive low impedance loads. In addition, the pulse widths that the drive electronics must furnish are on the order of 1 microsecond or less at voltages of up to 1000 volts. Cost effective, low-duty cycle, high current, high voltage pulses at MHz bandwidths require specialized circuits.
