Patent Application
20050122352
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a leakage detection apparatus and method, and in particular, the invention relates to a leakage detection apparatus and method for a multi-channel inkjet cartridge.
2. Description of the Related Art
Advances in industries employing chemical and biological processes have created a need for devices that accurately and automatically dispense small quantities of liquids containing chemically or biologically active substances for commercial or experimental use. Accuracy and precision in the amount of liquid dispensed is important both from the standpoint of causing a desired reaction and minimizing the amount of material used. An example of a device with an array of reagents disposed thereupon is a biochip.
Many conventional dispensing methods that can cause a desired reaction and minimize the amount of material are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,487, U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,522, U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,426, WO 02/16021, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,583. From the standpoint of reliability, it is important to prevent different reagents from intermixing during dispensing, thus affecting detection results.
In view of this, a multi-channel inkjet cartridge with replaceable capillary tubes is disclosed, thus preventing intermixing of different reagents. As shown in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,678 discloses an ink leakage detection apparatus. Referring to
Although the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,678 can detect leakage in some inkjet print heads, it is not applicable to a multi-channel inkjet cartridge as shown in
In view of this, the invention provides a leakage detection apparatus and method for a multi-channel inkjet cartridge.
Accordingly, the invention provides a leakage detection apparatus for a multi-channel inkjet cartridge. The leakage detection apparatus includes a plurality of electrodes and a controller. Each of the electrodes is disposed in one of channels of the inkjet cartridge respectively, and contacts a reagent in the corresponding channel. The controller is coupled to the electrodes, and detects leakage between channels.
In a preferred embodiment, the controller includes a voltage supply device, a detection circuit, and a display. The voltage supply device provides voltage to one of the electrodes at a time, and is coupled to the electrodes via the detection circuit. The detection circuit couples any two of the electrodes. The display displays leakage detection results.
In the invention, an inkjet dispensing apparatus is provided. The inkjet dispensing apparatus includes a cartridge, a chip, a plurality of electrodes, and a controller. The cartridge includes a plurality of channels. Reagents are received in the channels. The chip is disposed on the cartridge, and includes a plurality of first through holes communicating with one of the channels respectively. Each of the electrodes is disposed in one of the channels of the cartridge respectively, and contacts the reagent in the corresponding channel. The controller is coupled to the electrodes, and detects leakage between channels.
It is understood that the chip may be made of glass, or covered by an electric-isolating layer.
In a preferred embodiment, the inkjet dispensing apparatus further includes a barrier layer and a nozzle plate. The barrier layer is disposed on the chip, and includes a plurality of second through holes communicating with the first through holes respectively. The nozzle plate is disposed on the barrier layer, and includes a plurality of orifices communicating with the second through holes respectively.
It is understood that the nozzle plate may be made of polyimide.
In the invention, a leakage detection method is provided. The method includes the following steps. First, an inkjet cartridge, a plurality of electrodes, and a controller are provided. The inkjet cartridge includes a chip and a plurality of channels, reagents are received in the channels, and the electrodes are coupled to the controller. The electrodes are then inserted into one of the channels of the inkjet cartridge respectively so that each of the electrodes contacts the reagent in the corresponding channel. The controller detects leakage between channels via the electrodes.
In a preferred embodiment, the method further includes the following steps. After the electrodes are inserted into the channels, the controller provides voltage to one of the electrodes at a time. After the controller detects the leakage, the controller displays leakage detection results.
The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
a is a partial cutaway isometric view of an inkjet printhead as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,678;
b is a top view of the inkjet print head in
Referring to
As shown in
The barrier layer 33 is disposed on the chip 32, and connects the chip 32 and the nozzle plate 34. The barrier layer 33 includes a plurality of second through holes 331 communicating with the first through holes 321 of the chip 32 respectively. The nozzle plate 34 is disposed on the barrier layer 33, and includes a plurality of orifices 341 communicating with the second through holes 331 respectively. Preferably, the nozzle plate 34 may be made of polyimide.
As shown in
The controller 42 is coupled to the electrodes 41, and detects leakage between channels 311 of the cartridge 31. As shown in
Specifically, in normal situations, since the channels 311 of the cartridge 31 are independent from each other, there is no current generated between the channels 311 via the electrodes 41 in the corresponding channels 311. When a gap is generated between the channels 311, current may be generated via the leaked reagents 50. Thus, the generated current passes through the electrodes 41 and the detection circuit 422, and is acknowledged by the display 423. Moreover, as the voltage supply device 421 provides voltage to one of the electrodes 41 at a time, the controller 42 can detect two of the channels 311 at a time.
Referring to
Referring to
It is noted that the reagent is usually conductible. If the reagent is not conductible, a conductible liquid can be added to the channel prior to leakage detection.
By the apparatus and the method of the invention, the leakage between the channels of the inkjet print head can be determined, thus preventing reagents from intermixing. In addition, the leakage position can be accurately located so as to maintain the reliability of the inkjet print head. Moreover, unlike the conventional leakage detection apparatus, the leakage between the cartridge and the chip can be detected by the invention.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.
