Claims
- 1. A device for discharging liquid as liquid droplets, comprising:
- at least one nozzle for providing a liquid flow path;
- heating means for applying thermal energy to an area of said nozzle; and
- means for detecting the absence of liquid in said area, including a conductive element having an electrical conductivity that varies according to the temperature of said conductive element, said conductive element being disposed proximate to said area for detecting changes in the temperature thereof in accordance with changes in the electric current passing through said conductive element.
- 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said heating means includes a resistance heating element.
- 3. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said nozzles.
- 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said conductive element detects the rate of change of temperature of said area.
- 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said heating means is disabled when the rate of change of the temperature of said area is above a reference level.
- 6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the reference level corresponds to the rate of change of the temperature of said area when there is an absence of liquid therein.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
57-933 |
Jan 1982 |
JPX |
|
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 453,159, filed Dec. 27, 1982, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3761953 |
Helgeson et al. |
Sep 1973 |
|
4337467 |
Yano |
Jun 1982 |
|
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
455249 |
Nov 1975 |
SUX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 8, No. 3, 8-65, "Semiconductor Temperature Sensor", E. E. Gardner. |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
453159 |
Dec 1982 |
|