Printer With Movable Capping Member And Fixed Printhead And Platen

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates substantially to the concept of a disposable camera having instant printing capabilities and in particular, discloses a printhead re-capping assembly for a digital camera system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, the concept of a “single use” disposable camera has become an increasingly popular consumer item. Disposable camera systems presently on the market normally include an internal film roll and a simplified gearing mechanism for traversing the film roll across an imaging system including a shutter and lensing system. The user, after utilizing a single film roll returns the camera system to a film development center for processing. The film roll is taken out of the camera system and processed and the prints returned to the user. The camera system can then be re-manufactured through the insertion of a new film roll into the camera system, the replacement of any worn or wearable parts and the re-packaging of the camera system in accordance with requirements. In this way, the concept of a single use “disposable” camera is provided to the consumer.

Recently, a camera system has been proposed by the present applicant which provides for a handheld camera device having an internal print head, image sensor and processing means such that images sense by the image sensing means, are processed by the processing means and adapted to be instantly printed out by the printing means on demand. The proposed camera system further discloses a system of internal “print rolls” carrying print media such as film on to which images are to be printed in addition to ink to supplying the printing means for the printing process. The print roll is further disclosed to be detachable and replaceable within the camera system.

Unfortunately, such a system is likely to only be constructed at a substantial cost and it would be desirable to provide for a more inexpensive form of instant camera system which maintains a substantial number of the quality aspects of the aforementioned arrangement.

It would be further advantageous to provide for the effective interconnection of the sub components of a camera system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a printhead re-capping assembly for a printer having a chassis, a platen assembly and a pagewidth printhead operatively mounted on the chassis to carry out a printing operation on print media passing over the platen assembly, the re-capping assembly comprising

a base structure that is mounted on the chassis;

at least one static solenoid that is mounted on the base structure and that is connected to an electrical power supply of the printer;

a support member that is actuable by the solenoid to be movable with respect to the chassis between an operative position and an inoperative position; and a printhead capping member that is mounted on the support member such that when the support member is in the operative position, the capping member engages the printhead to cap the printhead and when the support member is in the inoperative position, the capping member is disengaged from the printhead.

The support member may be configured to be normally in the operative position and to move into the inoperative position when the solenoid is energized by the electrical power supply.

A biasing mechanism may be engaged with the support member to bias the support member into the operative position when the solenoid is de-energized.

The base structure and the solenoid may both be elongate to correspond with a length of the printhead.

The support member may also be elongate and may correspond generally with the printhead.

The capping member may include a length of sponge that is dimensioned to cover the printhead when the support member is displaced into its operative position.

A sealing member may be positioned on the support member to bound the length of sponge such that, when the length of sponge caps the printhead, the sealing member serves to seal a region about the printhead.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided in a camera system comprising: an image sensor device for sensing an image; a processing means for processing the sensed image; a print media supply means for the supply of print media to a print head; a print head for printing the sensed image on the print media stored internally to the camera system; a portable power supply interconnected to the print head, the sensor and the processing means; and a guillotine mechanism located between the print media supply means and the print head and adapted to cut the print media into sheets of a predetermined size.

Further, preferably, the guillotine mechanism is detachable from the camera system. The guillotine mechanism can be attached to the print media supply means and is detachable from the camera system with the print media supply means. The guillotine mechanism can be mounted on a platen unit below the print head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of the assembled camera of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view, partly exploded, of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the chassis of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the chassis illustrating mounting of electric motors;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective of the ink supply mechanism of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 is rear perspective of the assembled form of the ink supply mechanism of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the assembled form of the ink supply mechanism of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the platen unit of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the assembled form of the platen unit;

FIG. 10 is also a perspective view of the assembled form of the platen unit;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the printhead recapping mechanism of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a close up exploded perspective of the recapping mechanism of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective of the ink supply cartridge of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a close up perspective, view partly in section, of the internal portions of the ink supply cartridge in an assembled form;

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of one form of integrated circuit layer of the image capture and processing integrated circuit of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 16 is an exploded view perspective illustrating the assembly process of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 17 illustrates a front exploded perspective view of the assembly process of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 18 illustrates a perspective view of the assembly process of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 19 illustrates a perspective view of the assembly process of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating the insertion of the platen unit in the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 21 illustrates the interconnection of the electrical components of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 22 illustrates the process of assembling the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 23 is a perspective view further illustrating the assembly process of the preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS

Turning initially simultaneously to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 there are illustrated perspective views of an assembled camera constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment with FIG. 1 showing a front perspective view and FIG. 2 showing a rear perspective view. The camera 1 includes a paper or plastic film jacket 2 which can include simplified instructions 3 for the operation of the camera system 1. The camera system 1 includes a first “take” button 4 which is depressed to capture an image. The captured image is output via output slot 6. A further copy of the image can be obtained through depressing a second “printer copy” button 7 whilst an LED light 5 is illuminated. The camera system also provides the usual view finder 8 in addition to a CCD image capture/lensing system 9.

The camera system 1 provides for a standard number of output prints after which the camera system 1 ceases to function. A prints left indicator slot 10 is provided to indicate the number of remaining prints. A refund scheme at the point of purchase is assumed to be operational for the return of used camera systems for recycling.

Turning now to FIG. 3, the assembly of the camera system is based around an internal chassis 12 which can be a plastic injection molded part. A pair of paper pinch rollers 28, 29 utilized for decurling are snap fitted into corresponding frame holes eg. 26, 27.

As shown in FIG. 4, the chassis 12 includes a series of mutually opposed prongs eg. 13, 14 into which is snapped fitted a series of electric motors 16, 17. The electric motors 16, 17 can be entirely standard with the motor 16 being of a stepper motor type. The motor 16, 17 include cogs 19, 20 for driving a series of gear wheels. A first set of gear wheels is provided for controlling a paper cutter mechanism and a second set is provided for controlling print roll movement.

Turning next to FIGS. 5 to 7, there is illustrated an ink supply mechanism 40 utilized in the camera system. FIG. 5 illustrates a back exploded perspective view, FIG. 6 illustrates a back assembled view and FIG. 7 illustrates a front assembled view. The ink supply mechanism 40 is based around an ink supply cartridge 42 which contains printer ink and a print head mechanism for printing out pictures on demand. The ink supply cartridge 42 includes a side aluminium strip 43 which is provided as a shear strip to assist in cutting images from a paper roll.

A dial mechanism 44 is provided for indicating the number of “prints left”. The dial mechanism 44 is snap fitted through a corresponding mating portion 46 so as to be freely rotatable.

As shown in FIG. 6, the mechanism 40 includes a flexible PCB strip 47 which interconnects with the print head and provides for control of the print head. The interconnection between the Flex PCB strip and an image sensor and print head integrated circuit can be via Tape Automated Bonding (TAB) Strips 51, 58. A moulded aspherical lens and aperture shim 50 (FIG. 5) is also provided for imaging an image onto the surface of the image sensor integrated circuit normally located within cavity 53 and a light box module or hood 52 is provided for snap fitting over the cavity 53 so as to provide for proper light control. A series of decoupling capacitors eg. 34 can also be provided. Further a plug 45 (FIG. 7) is provided for re-plugging ink holes after refilling. A series of guide prongs eg. 55-57 are further provided for guiding the flexible PCB strip 47.

The ink supply mechanism 40 interacts with a platen unit 60 which guides print media under a printhead located in the ink supply mechanism. FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of the platen unit 60, while FIGS. 9 and 10 show assembled views of the platen unit. The platen unit 60 includes a first pinch roller 61 which is snap fitted to one side of a platen base 62. Attached to a second side of the platen base 62 is a cutting mechanism 63 which traverses the platen unit 60 by means of a rod 64 having a screw thread which is rotated by means of cogged wheel 65 which is also fitted to the platen base 62. The screw threaded rod 64 mounts a block 67 which includes a cutting wheel 68 fastened via a fastener 69. Also mounted to the block 67 is a counter actuator which includes a pawl 71. The pawl 71 acts to rotate the dial mechanism 44 of FIG. 6 upon the return traversal of the cutting wheel. As shown previously in FIG. 6, the dial mechanism 44 includes a cogged surface which interacts with pawl 71, thereby maintaining a count of the number of photographs by means of numbers embossed on the surface of dial mechanism 44. The cutting mechanism 63 is inserted into the platen base 62 by means of a snap fit via clips 74.

The platen unit 60 includes an internal recapping mechanism 80 for recapping the print head when not in use. The recapping mechanism 80 includes a sponge portion 81 and is operated via a solenoid coil so as to provide for recapping of the print head. In the preferred embodiment, there is provided an inexpensive form of printhead re-capping mechanism provided for incorporation into a handheld camera system so as to provide for printhead re-capping of an inkjet printhead.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded view of the recapping mechanism whilst FIG. 12 illustrates a close up of the end portion thereof. The re-capping mechanism 80 is structured around a solenoid including a 16 turn coil 75 which can comprise insulated wire. The coil 75 is turned around a first stationery solenoid arm 76 which is mounted on a bottom surface of the platen base 62 (FIG. 8) and includes a post portion 77 to magnify effectiveness of operation. The arm 76 can comprise a ferrous material.

A second moveable arm 78 of the solenoid actuator is also provided. The arm 78 is moveable and is also made of ferrous material. Mounted on the arm is a sponge portion surrounded by an elastomer strip 79. The elastomer strip 79 is of a generally arcuate cross-section and act as a leaf spring against the surface of the printhead ink supply cartridge 42 (FIG. 5) so as to provide for a seal against the surface of the printhead ink supply cartridge 42. In the quiescent position an elastomer spring unit 87, 88 acts to resiliently deform the elastomer seal 79 against the surface of the ink supply unit 42.

When it is desired to operate the printhead unit, upon the insertion of paper, the solenoid coil 75 is activated so as to cause the arm 78 to move down to be adjacent to the end plate 76. The arm 78 is held against end plate 76 while the printhead is printing by means of a small “keeper current” in coil 75. Simulation results indicate that the keeper current can be significantly less than the actuation current. Subsequently, after photo printing, the paper is guillotined by the cutting mechanism 63 of FIG. 8 acting against Aluminium Strip 43, and rewound so as to clear the area of the re-capping mechanism 80. Subsequently, the current is turned off and springs 87, 88 return the arm 78 so that the elastomer seal is again resting against the printhead ink supply cartridge.

It can be seen that the preferred embodiment provides for a simple and inexpensive means of re-capping a printhead through the utilisation of a solenoid type device having a long rectangular form. Further, the preferred embodiment utilises minimal power in that currents are only required whilst the device is operational and additionally, only a low keeper current is required whilst the printhead is printing.

Turning next to FIGS. 13 and 14, FIG. 13 illustrates an exploded perspective of the ink supply cartridge 42 whilst FIG. 14 illustrates a close up sectional view of a bottom of the ink supply cartridge with the printhead unit in place. The ink supply cartridge 42 is based around a pagewidth printhead 102 which comprises a long slither of silicon having a series of holes etched on the back surface for the supply of ink to a front surface of the silicon wafer for subsequent ejection via a micro electro mechanical system. The form of ejection can be many different forms such as those set out in the tables below.

Of course, many other inkjet technologies, as referred to the attached tables below, can also be utilised when constructing a printhead unit 102. The fundamental requirement of the ink supply cartridge 42 is the supply of ink to a series of colour channels etched through the back surface of the printhead 102. In the description of the preferred embodiment, it is assumed that a three colour printing process is to be utilised so as to provide full colour picture output. Hence, the print supply unit includes three ink supply reservoirs being a cyan reservoir 104, a magenta reservoir 105 and a yellow reservoir 106. Each of these reservoirs is required to store ink and includes a corresponding sponge type material 107-109 which assists in stabilising ink within the corresponding ink channel and inhibiting the ink from sloshing back and forth when the printhead is utilised in a handheld camera system. The reservoirs 104, 105, 106 are formed through the mating of first exterior plastic piece 110 and a second base piece 111.

At a first end 118 of the base piece 111 a series of air inlet 113-115 are provided. Each air inlet leads to a corresponding winding channel which is hydrophobically treated so as to act as an ink repellent and therefore repel any ink that may flow along the air inlet channel. The air inlet channel further takes a convoluted path assisting in resisting any ink flow out of the chambers 104-106. An adhesive tape portion 117 is provided for sealing the channels within end portion 118.

At the top end, there is included a series of refill holes (not shown) for refilling corresponding ink supply chambers 104, 105, 106. A plug 121 is provided for sealing the refill holes.

Turning now to FIG. 14, there is illustrated a close up perspective view, partly in section through the ink supply cartridge 42 of FIG. 13 when formed as a unit. The ink supply cartridge includes the three colour ink reservoirs 104, 105, 106 which supply ink to different portions of the back surface of printhead 102 which includes a series of apertures 128 defined therein for carriage of the ink to the front surface.

The ink supply cartridge 42 includes two guide walls 124, 125 which separate the various ink chambers and are tapered into an end portion abutting the surface of the printhead 102. The guide walls 124, 125 are further mechanically supported by block portions eg. 126 which are placed at regular intervals along the length of the ink supply unit. The block portions 126 leave space at portions close to the back of printhead 102 for the flow of ink around the back surface thereof.

The ink supply unit is preferably formed from a multi-part plastic injection mould and the mould pieces eg. 110, 111 (FIG. 13) snap together around the sponge pieces 107, 109.

Subsequently, a syringe type device can be inserted in the ink refill holes and the ink reservoirs filled with ink with the air flowing out of the air outlets 113-115. Subsequently, the adhesive tape portion 117 and plug 121 are attached and the printhead tested for operation capabilities. Subsequently, the ink supply cartridge 42 can be readily removed for refilling by means of removing the ink supply cartridge, performing a washing cycle, and then utilising the holes for the insertion of a refill syringe filled with ink for refilling the ink chamber before returning the ink supply cartridge 42 to a camera.

Turning now to FIG. 15, there is shown an example layout of the Image Capture and Processing integrated circuit (ICP) 48.

The Image Capture and Processing integrated circuit 48 provides most of the electronic functionality of the camera with the exception of the print head integrated circuit. The integrated circuit 48 is a highly integrated system. It combines CMOS image sensing, analog to digital conversion, digital image processing, DRAM storage, ROM, and miscellaneous control functions in a single integrated circuit.

The integrated circuit is estimated to be around 32 mm²using a leading edge 0.18 micron CMOS/DRAM/APS process. The integrated circuit size and cost can scale somewhat with Moore's law, but is dominated by a CMOS active pixel sensor array 201, so scaling is limited as the sensor pixels approach the diffraction limit.

The ICP 48 includes CMOS logic, a CMOS image sensor, DRAM, and analog circuitry. A very small amount of flash memory or other non-volatile memory is also preferably included for protection against reverse engineering.

Alternatively, the ICP can readily be divided into two integrated circuits: one for the CMOS imaging array, and the other for the remaining circuitry. The cost of this two integrated circuit solution should not be significantly different than the single integrated circuit ICP, as the extra cost of packaging and bond-pad area is somewhat cancelled by the reduced total wafer area requiring the color filter fabrication steps.

The ICP preferably contains the following functions:

Function

1.5 megapixel image sensor

Analog Signal Processors

Image sensor column decoders

Image sensor row decoders

Analogue to Digital Conversion (ADC)

Column ADC's

Auto exposure

12 Mbits of DRAM

DRAM Address Generator

Color interpolator

Convolver

Color ALU

Halftone matrix ROM

Digital halftoning

Print head interface

8 bit CPU core

Program ROM

Flash memory

Scratchpad SRAM

Parallel interface (8 bit)

Motor drive transistors (5)

Clock PLL

JTAG test interface

Test circuits

Busses

Bond pads

The CPU, DRAM, Image sensor, ROM, Flash memory, Parallel interface, JTAG interface and ADC can be vendor supplied cores. The ICP is intended to run on 1.5V to minimize power consumption and allow convenient operation from two AA type battery cells.

FIG. 15 illustrates a layout of the ICP 48. The ICP 48 is dominated by the imaging array 201, which consumes around 80% of the integrated circuit area. The imaging array is a CMOS 4 transistor active pixel design with a resolution of 1,500×1,000. The array can be divided into the conventional configuration, with two green pixels, one red pixel, and one blue pixel in each pixel group. There are 750×500 pixel groups in the imaging array.

The latest advances in the field of image sensing and CMOS image sensing in particular can be found in the October, 1997 issue of IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices and, in particular, pages 1689 to 1968. Further, a specific implementation similar to that disclosed in the present application is disclosed in Wong et. al, “CMOS Active Pixel Image Sensors Fabricated Using a 1.8V, 0.25 μm CMOS Technology”, IEDM 1996, page 915

The imaging array uses a 4 transistor active pixel design of a standard configuration. To minimize integrated circuit area and therefore cost, the image sensor pixels should be as small as feasible with the technology available. With a four transistor cell, the typical pixel size scales as 20 times the lithographic feature size. This allows a minimum pixel area of around 3.6 μm×3.6 μm. However, the photosite must be substantially above the diffraction limit of the lens. It is also advantageous to have a square photosite, to maximize the margin over the diffraction limit in both horizontal and vertical directions. In this case, the photosite can be specified as 2.5 μm×2.5 μm. The photosite can be a photogate, pinned photodiode, charge modulation device, or other sensor.

The four transistors are packed as an ‘L’ shape, rather than a rectangular region, to allow both the pixel and the photosite to be square. This reduces the transistor packing density slightly, increasing pixel size. However, the advantage in avoiding the diffraction limit is greater than the small decrease in packing density.

The transistors also have a gate length which is longer than the minimum for the process technology. These have been increased from a drawn length of 0.18 micron to a drawn length of 0.36 micron. This is to improve the transistor matching by making the variations in gate length represent a smaller proportion of the total gate length.

The extra gate length, and the ‘L’ shaped packing, mean that the transistors use more area than the minimum for the technology. Normally, around 8 μm²would be required for rectangular packing. Preferably, 9.75 μm²has been allowed for the transistors.

The total area for each pixel is 16 μm², resulting from a pixel size of 4 μm×4 μm.

With a resolution of 1,500×1,000, the area of the imaging array 101 is 6,000 μm×4,000 μm, or 24 mm².

The presence of a color image sensor on the integrated circuit affects the process required in two major ways:

- The CMOS fabrication process should be optimized to minimize dark current

Color filters are required. These can be fabricated using dyed photosensitive polyimides, resulting in an added process complexity of three spin coatings, three photolithographic steps, three development steps, and three hardbakes.

There are 15,000 analog signal processors (ASPs) 205, one for each of the columns of the sensor. The ASPs amplify the signal, provide a dark current reference, sample and hold the signal, and suppress the fixed pattern noise (FPN).

There are 375 analog to digital converters 206, one for each four columns of the sensor array. These may be delta-sigma or successive approximation type ADC's. A row of low column ADC's are used to reduce the conversion speed required, and the amount of analog signal degradation incurred before the signal is converted to digital. This also eliminates the hot spot (affecting local dark current) and the substrate coupled noise that would occur if a single high speed ADC was used. Each ADC also has two four bit DAC's which trim the offset and scale of the ADC to further reduce FPN variations between columns. These DAC's are controlled by data stored in flash memory during integrated circuit testing.

The column select logic 204 is a 1:1500 decoder which enables the appropriate digital output of the ADCs onto the output bus. As each ADC is shared by four columns, the least significant two bits of the row select control 4 input analog multiplexors.

A row decoder 207 is a 1:1000 decoder which enables the appropriate row of the active pixel sensor array. This selects which of the 1000 rows of the imaging array is connected to analog signal processors. As the rows are always accessed in sequence, the row select logic can be implemented as a shift register.

An auto exposure system 208 adjusts the reference voltage of the ADC 205 in response to the maximum intensity sensed during the previous frame period. Data from the green pixels is passed through a digital peak detector. The peak value of the image frame period before capture (the reference frame) is provided to a digital to analogue converter (DAC), which generates the global reference voltage for the column ADCs. The peak detector is reset at the beginning of the reference frame. The minimum and maximum values of the three RGB color components are also collected for color correction.

The second largest section of the integrated circuit is consumed by a DRAM 210 used to hold the image. To store the 1,500×1,000 image from the sensor without compression, 1.5 Mbytes of DRAM 210 are required. This equals 12 Mbits, or slightly less than 5% of a 256 Mbit DRAM. The DRAM technology assumed is of the 256 Mbit generation implemented using 0.18 μm CMOS.

Using a standard 8F cell, the area taken by the memory array is 3.11 mm². When row decoders, column sensors, redundancy, and other factors are taken into account, the DRAM requires around 4 mm².

This DRAM 210 can be mostly eliminated if analog storage of the image signal can be accurately maintained in the CMOS imaging array for the two seconds required to print the photo. However, digital storage of the image is preferable as it is maintained without degradation, is insensitive to noise, and allows copies of the photo to be printed considerably later.

A DRAM address generator 211 provides the write and read addresses to the DRAM 210. Under normal operation, the write address is determined by the order of the data read from the CMOS image sensor 201. This will typically be a simple raster format. However, the data can be read from the sensor 201 in any order, if matching write addresses to the DRAM are generated. The read order from the DRAM 210 will normally simply match the requirements of a color interpolator and the print head. As the cyan, magenta, and yellow rows of the print head are necessarily offset by a few pixels to allow space for nozzle actuators, the colors are not read from the DRAM simultaneously. However, there is plenty of time to read all of the data from the DRAM many times during the printing process. This capability is used to eliminate the need for FIFOs in the print head interface, thereby saving integrated circuit area. All three RGB image components can be read from the DRAM each time color data is required. This allows a color space converter to provide a more sophisticated conversion than a simple linear RGB to CMY conversion.

Also, to allow two dimensional filtering of the image data without requiring line buffers, data is re-read from the DRAM array.

The address generator may also implement image effects in certain models of camera. For example, passport photos are generated by a manipulation of the read addresses to the DRAM. Also, image framing effects (where the central image is reduced), image warps, and kaleidoscopic effects can all be generated by manipulating the read addresses of the DRAM.

While the address generator 211 may be implemented with substantial complexity if effects are built into the standard integrated circuit, the integrated circuit area required for the address generator is small, as it consists only of address counters and a moderate amount of random logic.

A color interpolator 214 converts the interleaved pattern of red, 2×green, and blue pixels into RGB pixels. It consists of three 8 bit adders and associated registers. The divisions are by either 2 (for green) or 4 (for red and blue) so they can be implemented as fixed shifts in the output connections of the adders.

A convolver 215 is provided as a sharpening filter which applies a small convolution kernel (5×5) to the red, green, and blue planes of the image. The convolution kernel for the green plane is different from that of the red and blue planes, as green has twice as many samples. The sharpening filter has five functions:

- To improve the color interpolation from the linear interpolation provided by the color interpolator, to a close approximation of a sinc interpolation.
- To compensate for the image ‘softening’ which occurs during digitization.
- To adjust the image sharpness to match average consumer preferences, which are typically for the image to be slightly sharper than reality. As the single use camera is intended as a consumer product, and not a professional photographic products, the processing can match the most popular settings, rather than the most accurate.
- To suppress the sharpening of high frequency (individual pixel) noise. The function is similar to the ‘unsharp mask’ process.
- To antialias Image Warping.

These functions are all combined into a single convolution matrix. As the pixel rate is low (less than 1 Mpixel per second) the total number of multiplies required for the three color channels is 56 million multiplies per second. This can be provided by a single multiplier. Fifty bytes of coefficient ROM are also required.

A color ALU 113 combines the functions of color compensation and color space conversion into the one matrix multiplication, which is applied to every pixel of the frame. As with sharpening, the color correction should match the most popular settings, rather than the most accurate.

A color compensation circuit of the color ALU provides compensation for the lighting of the photo. The vast majority of photographs are substantially improved by a simple color compensation, which independently normalizes the contrast and brightness of the three color components.

A color look-up table (CLUT) 212 is provided for each color component. These are three separate 256×8 SRAMs, requiring a total of 6,144 bits. The CLUTs are used as part of the color correction process. They are also used for color special effects, such as stochastically selected “wild color” effects.

A color space conversion system of the color ALU converts from the RGB color space of the image sensor to the CMY color space of the printer. The simplest conversion is a 1's complement of the RGB data. However, this simple conversion assumes perfect linearity of both color spaces, and perfect dye spectra for both the color filters of the image sensor, and the ink dyes. At the other extreme is a tri-linear interpolation of a sampled three dimensional arbitrary transform table. This can effectively match any non-linearity or differences in either color space. Such a system is usually necessary to obtain good color space conversion when the print engine is a color electrophotographic

However, since the non-linearity of a halftoned ink jet output is very small, a simpler system can be used. A simple matrix multiply can provide excellent results. This requires nine multiplies and six additions per contone pixel. However, since the contone pixel rate is low (less than 1 Mpixel/sec) these operations can share a single multiplier and adder. The multiplier and adder are used in a color ALU which is shared with the color compensation function.

Digital halftoning can be performed as a dispersed dot ordered dither using a stochastic optimized dither cell. A halftone matrix ROM 216 is provided for storing dither cell coefficients. A dither cell size of 32×32 is adequate to ensure that the cell repeat cycle is not visible. The three colors—cyan, magenta, and yellow—are all dithered using the same cell, to ensure maximum co-positioning of the ink dots. This minimizes ‘muddying’ of the mid-tones which results from bleed of dyes from one dot to adjacent dots while still wet. The total ROM size required is 1 KByte, as the one ROM is shared by the halftoning units for each of the three colors.

The digital halftoning used is dispersed dot ordered dither with stochastic optimized dither matrix. While dithering does not produce an image quite as ‘sharp’ as error diffusion, it does produce a more accurate image with fewer artifacts. The image sharpening produced by error diffusion is artificial, and less controllable and accurate than ‘unsharp mask’ filtering performed in the contone domain. The high print resolution (1,600 dpi×1,600 dpi) results in excellent quality when using a well formed stochastic dither matrix.

Digital halftoning is performed by a digital halftoning unit 217 using a simple comparison between the contone information from the DRAM 210 and the contents of the dither matrix 216. During the halftone process, the resolution of the image is changed from the 250 dpi of the captured contone image to the 1,600 dpi of the printed image. Each contone pixel is converted to an average of 40.96 halftone dots.

The ICP incorporates a 16 bit microcontroller CPU core 219 to run the miscellaneous camera functions, such as reading the buttons, controlling the motor and solenoids, setting up the hardware, and authenticating the refill station. The processing power required by the CPU is very modest, and a wide variety of processor cores can be used. As the entire CPU program is run from a small ROM 220[.], program compatibility between camera versions is not important, as no external programs are run. A 2 Mbit (256 Kbyte) program and data ROM 220 is included on integrated circuit. Most of this ROM space is allocated to data for outline graphics and fonts for specialty cameras. The program requirements are minor. The single most complex task is the encrypted authentication of the refill station. The ROM requires a single transistor per bit.

A Flash memory 221 may be used to store a 128 bit authentication code. This provides higher security than storage of the authentication code in ROM, as reverse engineering can be made essentially impossible. The Flash memory is completely covered by third level metal, making the data impossible to extract using scanning probe microscopes or electron beams. The authentication code is stored in the integrated circuit when manufactured. At least two other Flash bits are required for the authentication process: a bit which locks out reprogramming of the authentication code, and a bit which indicates that the camera has been refilled by an authenticated refill station. The flash memory can also be used to store FPN correction data for the imaging array. Additionally, a phase locked loop resealing parameter is stored for scaling the clocking cycle to an appropriate correct time. The clock frequency does not require crystal accuracy since no date functions are provided. To eliminate the cost of a crystal, an on integrated circuit oscillator with a phase locked loop 224 is used. As the frequency of an on-integrated circuit oscillator is highly variable from integrated circuit to integrated circuit, the frequency ratio of the oscillator to the PLL is digitally trimmed during initial testing. The value is stored in Flash memory 221. This allows the clock PLL to control the ink-jet heater pulse width with sufficient accuracy.

A scratchpad SRAM is a small static RAM 222 with a 6T cell. The scratchpad provided temporary memory for the 16 bit CPU. 1024 bytes is adequate.

A print head interface 223 formats the data correctly for the print head. The print head interface also provides all of the timing signals required by the print head. These timing signals may vary depending upon temperature, the number of dots printed simultaneously, the print medium in the print roll, and the dye density of the ink in the print roll.

The following is a table of external connections to the print head interface:

Connection
Function
Pins

DataBits[0-7]
Independent serial data to the eight segments of
8

the print head

BitClock
Main data clock for the print head
1

ColorEnable[0-2]
Independent enable signals for the CMY
3

actuators, allowing different pulse times for

each color.

BankEnable[0-1]
Allows either simultaneous or interleaved
2

actuation of two banks of nozzles. This allows

two different

print speed/power consumption tradeoffs

NozzleSelect[0-4]
Selects one of 32 banks of nozzles for
5

simultaneous actuation

ParallelXferClock
Loads the parallel transfer register with the
1

data from the shift registers

Total

20

The print head utilized is composed of eight identical segments, each 1.25 cm long. There is no connection between the segments on the print head integrated circuit. Any connections required are made in the external TAB bonding film, which is double sided. The division into eight identical segments is to simplify lithography using wafer steppers. The segment width of 1.25 cm fits easily into a stepper field. As the print head integrated circuit is long and narrow (10 cm×0.3 mm), the stepper field contains a single segment of 32 print head integrated circuits. The stepper field is therefore 1.25 cm×1.6 cm. An average of four complete print heads are patterned in each wafer step.

A single BitClock output line connects to all 8 segments on the print head. The 8 DataBits lines lead one to each segment, and are clocked into the 8 segments on the print head simultaneously (on a BitClock pulse). For example, dot 0 is transferred to segment₀, dot 750 is transferred to segment₁, dot 1500 to segment₂etc simultaneously.

The ParallelXferClock is connected to each of the 8 segments on the print head, so that on a single pulse, all segments transfer their bits at the same time.

The NozzleSelect, BankEnable and ColorEnable lines are connected to each of the 8 segments, allowing the print head interface to independently control the duration of the cyan, magenta, and yellow nozzle energizing pulses. Registers in the Print Head Interface allow the accurate specification of the pulse duration between 0 and 6 ms, with a typical duration of 2 ms to 3 ms.

A parallel interface 125 connects the ICP to individual static electrical signals. The CPU is able to control each of these connections as memory mapped I/O via a low speed bus.

The following is a table of connections to the parallel interface:

Connection
Direction
Pins

Paper transport stepper motor
Output
4

Capping solenoid
Output
1

Copy LED
Output
1

Photo button
Input
1

Copy button
Input
1

Total

8

Seven high current drive transistors eg. 227 are required. Four are for the four phases of the main stepper motor, two are for the guillotine motor, and the remaining transistor is to drive the capping solenoid. These transistors are allocated 20,000 square microns (600,000 F) each. As the transistors are driving highly inductive loads, they must either be turned off slowly, or be provided with a high level of back EMF protection. If adequate back EMF protection cannot be provided using the integrated circuit process chosen, then external discrete transistors should be used. The transistors are never driven at the same time as the image sensor is used. This is to avoid voltage fluctuations and hot spots affecting the image quality. Further, the transistors are located as far away from the sensor as possible.

A standard JTAG (Joint Test Action Group) interface 228 is included in the ICP for testing purposes and for interrogation by the refill station. Due to the complexity of the integrated circuit, a variety of testing techniques are required, including BIST (Built In Self Test) and functional block isolation. An overhead of 10% in integrated circuit area is assumed for integrated circuit testing circuitry for the random logic portions. The overhead for the large arrays the image sensor and the DRAM is smaller.

The JTAG interface is also used for authentication of the refill station. This is included to ensure that the cameras are only refilled with quality paper and ink at a properly constructed refill station, thus preventing inferior quality refills from occurring. The camera must authenticate the refill station, rather than vice versa. The secure protocol is communicated to the refill station during the automated test procedure. Contact is made to four gold plated spots on the ICP/print head TAB by the refill station as the new ink is injected into the print head.

FIG. 16 illustrates a rear view of the next step in the construction process whilst FIG. 17 illustrates a front view.

Turning now to FIG. 16, the assembly of the camera system proceeds via first assembling the ink supply mechanism 40. The flex PCB is interconnected with batteries 84 only one of which is shown, which are inserted in the middle portion of a print roll 85 which is wrapped around a plastic former 86. An end cap 89 is provided at the other end of the print roll 85 so as to fasten the print roll and batteries firmly to the ink supply mechanism.

The solenoid coil is interconnected (not shown) to interconnects 97, 98 (FIG. 8) which include leaf spring ends for interconnection with electrical contacts on the Flex PCB so as to provide for electrical control of the solenoid.

Turning now to FIGS. 17-19 the next step in the construction process is the insertion of the relevant gear trains into the side of the camera chassis. FIG. 17 illustrates a front view, FIG. 18 illustrates a rear view and FIG. 19 also illustrates a rear view. The first gear train comprising gear wheels 22, 23 is utilised for driving the guillotine blade with the gear wheel 23 engaging the gear wheel 65 of FIG. 8. The second gear train comprising gear wheels 24, 25 and 26 engage one end of the print roller 61 of FIG. 8. As best indicated in FIG. 18, the gear wheels mate with corresponding pins on the surface of the chassis with the gear wheel 26 being snap fitted into corresponding mating hole 27.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 20, the assembled platen unit 60 is then inserted between the print roll 85 and aluminium cutting blade 43.

Turning now to FIG. 21, by way of illumination, there is illustrated the electrically interactive components of the camera system. As noted previously, the components are based around a Flex PCB board and include a TAB film 58 which interconnects the printhead 102 with the image sensor and processing integrated circuit 48. Power is supplied by two AA type batteries 83, 84 and a paper drive stepper motor 16 is provided in addition to a rotary guillotine motor 17.

An optical element 31 is provided for snapping into a top portion of the chassis 12. The optical element 31 includes portions defining an optical view finder 32, 33 which are slotted into mating portions 35, 36 in view finder channel 37. Also provided in the optical element 31 is a lensing system 38 for magnification of the prints left number in addition to an optical pipe element 39 for piping light from the LED 5 for external display.

Turning next to FIG. 22, the assembled unit 90 is then inserted into a front outer case 91 which includes button 4 for activation of printouts.

Turning now to FIG. 23, next, the unit 90 is provided with a snap-on back cover 93 which includes a slot 6 and copy print button 7. A wrapper label containing instructions and advertising (not shown) is then wrapped around the outer surface of the camera system and pinch clamped to the cover by means of clamp strip 96 which can comprise a flexible plastic or rubber strip.

Subsequently, the preferred embodiment is ready for use as a one time use camera system that provides for instant output images on demand. It will be evident that the preferred embodiment further provides for a refillable camera system. A used camera can be collected and its outer plastic cases removed and recycled. A new paper roll and batteries can be added and the ink cartridge refilled. A series of automatic test routines can then be carried out to ensure that the printer is properly operational. Further, in order to ensure only authorised refills are conducted so as to enhance quality, routines in the on-integrated circuit program ROM can be executed such that the camera authenticates the refilling station using a secure protocol. Upon authentication, the camera can reset an internal paper count and an external case can be fitted on the camera system with a new outer label. Subsequent packing and shipping can then take place.

It will be further readily evident to those skilled in the art that the program ROM can be modified so as to allow for a variety of digital processing routines. In addition to the digitally enhanced photographs optimised for mainstream consumer preferences, various other models can readily be provided through mere re-programming of the program ROM. For example, a sepia classic old fashion style output can be provided through a remapping of the colour mapping function. A further alternative is to provide for black and white outputs again through a suitable colour remapping algorithm. Minimum colour can also be provided to add a touch of colour to black and white prints to produce the effect that was traditionally used to colourize black and white photos. Further, passport photo output can be provided through suitable address remappings within the address generators. Further, edge filters can be utilised as is known in the field of image processing to produce sketched art styles. Further, classic wedding borders and designs can be placed around an output image in addition to the provision of relevant clip arts. For example, a wedding style camera might be provided. Further, a panoramic mode can be provided so as to output the well known panoramic format of images. Further, a postcard style output can be provided through the printing of postcards including postage on the back of a print roll surface. Further, cliparts can be provided for special events such as Halloween, Christmas etc. Further, kaleidoscopic effects can be provided through address remappings and wild colour effects can be provided through remapping of the colour lookup table. Many other forms of special event cameras can be provided for example, cameras dedicated to the Olympics, movie tie-ins, advertising and other special events.

The operational mode of the camera can be programmed so that upon the depressing of the take photo a first image is sampled by the sensor array to determine irrelevant parameters. Next a second image is again captured which is utilised for the output. The captured image is then manipulated in accordance with any special requirements before being initially output on the paper roll. The LED light is then activated for a predetermined time during which the DRAM is refreshed so as to retain the image. If the print copy button is depressed during this predetermined time interval, a further copy of the photo is output. After the predetermined time interval where no use of the camera has occurred, the onboard CPU shuts down all power to the camera system until such time as the take button is again activated. In this way, substantial power savings can be realized.

Ink Jet Technologies

The embodiments of the invention use an ink jet printer type device. Of course many different devices could be used. However presently popular ink jet printing technologies are unlikely to be suitable.

The most significant problem with thermal inkjet is power consumption. This is approximately 100 times that required for high speed, and stems from the energy-inefficient means of drop ejection. This involves the rapid boiling of water to produce a vapor bubble which expels the ink. Water has a very high heat capacity, and must be superheated in thermal inkjet applications. This leads to an efficiency of around 0.02%, from electricity input to drop momentum (and increased surface area) out.

The most significant problem with piezoelectric inkjet is size and cost. Piezoelectric crystals have a very small deflection at reasonable drive voltages, and therefore require a large area for each nozzle. Also, each piezoelectric actuator must be connected to its drive circuit on a separate substrate. This is not a significant problem at the current limit of around 300 nozzles per print head, but is a major impediment to the fabrication of pagewide print heads with 19,200 nozzles.

Ideally, the inkjet technologies used meet the stringent requirements of in-camera digital color printing and other high quality, high speed, low cost printing applications. To meet the requirements of digital photography, new inkjet technologies have been created. The target features include:

low power (less than 10 Watts)

high resolution capability (1,600 dpi or more)

photographic quality output

low manufacturing cost

small size (pagewidth times minimum cross section)

high speed (<2 seconds per page).

All of these features can be met or exceeded by the inkjet systems described below with differing levels of difficulty. 45 different inkjet technologies have been developed by the Assignee to give a wide range of choices for high volume manufacture. These technologies form part of separate applications assigned to the present Assignee as set out in the table below.

The inkjet designs shown here are suitable for a wide range of digital printing systems, from battery powered one-time use digital cameras, through to desktop and network printers, and through to commercial printing systems

For ease of manufacture using standard process equipment, the print head is designed to be a monolithic 0.5 micron CMOS integrated circuit with MEMS post processing. For color photographic applications, the print head is 100 mm long, with a width which depends upon the inkjet type. The smallest print head designed is IJ38, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a integrated circuit area of 35 square mm. The print heads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus data and control circuitry.

Ink is supplied to the back of the print head by injection molded plastic ink channels. The molding requires 50 micron features, which can be created using a lithographically micromachined insert in a standard injection molding tool. Ink flows through holes etched through the wafer to the nozzle chambers fabricated on the front surface of the wafer. The print head is connected to the camera circuitry by tape automated bonding.

CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATIONS

The following table is a guide to cross-referenced patent applications filed concurrently herewith and discussed hereinafter with the reference being utilized in subsequent tables when referring to a particular case:

Docket

No.
Reference
Title

IJ01US
IJ01
Radiant Plunger Ink Jet Printer

IJ02US
IJ02
Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer

IJ03US
IJ03
Planar Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet

IJ04US
IJ04
Stacked Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer

IJ05US
IJ05
Reverse Spring Lever Ink Jet Printer

IJ06US
IJ06
Paddle Type Ink Jet Printer

IJ07US
IJ07
Permanent Magnet Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer

IJ08US
IJ08
Planar Swing Grill Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer

IJ09US
IJ09
Pump Action Refill Ink Jet Printer

IJ10US
IJ10
Pulsed Magnetic Field Ink Jet Printer

IJ11US
IJ11
Two Plate Reverse Firing Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer

IJ12US
IJ12
Linear Stepper Actuator Ink Jet Printer

IJ13US
IJ13
Gear Driven Shutter Ink Jet Printer

IJ14US
IJ14
Tapered Magnetic Pole Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer

IJ15US
IJ15
Linear Spring Electromagnetic Grill Ink Jet Printer

IJ16US
IJ16
Lorenz Diaphragm Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer

IJ17US
IJ17
PTFE Surface Shooting Shuttered Oscillating Pressure Ink Jet Printer

IJ18US
IJ18
Buckle Grip Oscillating Pressure Ink Jet Printer

IJ19US
IJ19
Shutter Based Ink Jet Printer

IJ20US
IJ20
Curling Calyx Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printer

IJ21US
IJ21
Thermal Actuated Ink Jet Printer

IJ22US
IJ22
Iris Motion Ink Jet Printer

IJ23US
IJ23
Direct Firing Thermal Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer

IJ24US
IJ24
Conductive PTFE Ben Activator Vented Ink Jet Printer

IJ25US
IJ25
Magnetostrictive Ink Jet Printer

IJ26US
IJ26
Shape Memory Alloy Ink Jet Printer

IJ27US
IJ27
Buckle Plate Ink Jet Printer

IJ28US
IJ28
Thermal Elastic Rotary Impeller Ink Jet Printer

IJ29US
IJ29
Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer

IJ30US
IJ30
Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Using PTFE and Corrugated Copper

Ink Jet Printer

IJ31US
IJ31
Bend Actuator Direct Ink Supply Ink Jet Printer

IJ32US
IJ32
A High Young's Modulus Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printer

IJ33US
IJ33
Thermally actuated slotted chamber wall ink jet printer

IJ34US
IJ34
Ink Jet Printer having a thermal actuator comprising an external

coiled spring

IJ35US
IJ35
Trough Container Ink Jet Printer

IJ36US
IJ36
Dual Chamber Single Vertical Actuator Ink Jet

IJ37US
IJ37
Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Fulcrum Actuator Ink Jet

IJ38US
IJ38
Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Actuator Ink Jet

IJ39US
IJ39
A single bend actuator cupped paddle ink jet printing device

IJ40US
IJ40
A thermally actuated ink jet printer having a series of thermal

actuator units

IJ41US
IJ41
A thermally actuated ink jet printer including a tapered heater

element

IJ42US
IJ42
Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet

IJ43US
IJ43
Inverted Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet

IJ44US
IJ44
Surface bend actuator vented ink supply ink jet printer

IJ45US
IJ45
Coil Acutuated Magnetic Plate Ink Jet Printer

Tables of Drop-on-Demand Inkjets

Eleven important characteristics of the fundamental operation of individual inkjet nozzles have been identified. These characteristics are largely orthogonal, and so can be elucidated as an eleven dimensional matrix. Most of the eleven axes of this matrix include entries developed by the present assignee.

The following tables form the axes of an eleven dimensional table of inkjet types.

Actuator mechanism (18 types)

Basic operation mode (7 types)

Auxiliary mechanism (8 types)

Actuator amplification or modification method (17 types)

Actuator motion (19 types)

Nozzle refill method (4 types)

Method of restricting back-flow through inlet (10 types)

Nozzle clearing method (9 types)

Nozzle plate construction (9 types)

Drop ejection direction (5 types)

Ink type (7 types)

The complete eleven dimensional table represented by these axes contains 36.9 billion possible configurations of inkjet nozzle. While not all of the possible combinations result in a viable inkjet technology, many million configurations are viable. It is clearly impractical to elucidate all of the possible configurations. Instead, certain inkjet types have been investigated in detail. These are designated IJ01 to IJ45 above.

Other inkjet configurations can readily be derived from these 45 examples by substituting alternative configurations along one or more of the 11 axes. Most of the IJ01 to IJ45 examples can be made into inkjet print heads with characteristics superior to any currently available inkjet technology.

Where there are prior art examples known to the inventor, one or more of these examples are listed in the examples column of the tables below. The IJ01 to IJ45 series are also listed in the examples column. In some cases, a printer may be listed more than once in a table, where it shares characteristics with more than one entry.

Suitable applications include: Home printers, Office network printers, Short run digital printers, Commercial print systems, Fabric printers, Pocket printers, Internet WWW printers, Video printers, Medical imaging, Wide format printers, Notebook PC printers, Fax machines, Industrial printing systems, Photocopiers, Photographic minilabs etc.

The information associated with the aforementioned 11 dimensional matrix are set out in the following tables.

ACTUATOR MECHANISM (APPLIED ONLY TO SELECTED INK DROPS)

Actuator

Mechan-

ism
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples

Thermal
An electrothermal heater heats the
1)
Large force generated
6)
High power
16)
Canon

bubble
ink to above boiling point,
2)
Simple construction
7)
Ink carrier limited to water

Bubblejet

transferring significant heat to the
3)
No moving parts
8)
Low efficiency

1979 Endo

aqueous ink. A bubble nucleates
4)
Fast operation
9)
High temperatures required

et al GB

and quickly forms, expelling the
5)
Small integrated circuit
10)
High mechanical stress

patent

ink.

area required for actuator
11)
Unusual materials required

2,007,162

The efficiency of the process is

12)
Large drive transistors
17)
Xerox

low, with typically less than

13)
Cavitation causes actuator

heater-

0.05% of the electrical energy

failure

in-pit

being transformed into kinetic

14)
Kogation reduces bubble

1990

energy of the drop.

formation

Hawkins et

15)
Large print heads are difficult

al U.S. Pat.

to fabricate

No.

4,899,181

18)
Hewlett-

Packard

TIJ 1982

Vaught et

al U.S. Pat.

No.

4,490,728

Piezoelec-
A piezoelectric crystal such as
19)
Low power
23)
Very large area required for
28)
Kyser et al

tric
lead lanthanum zirconate (PZT) is

consumption

actuator

U.S. Pat.

electrically activated, and either
20)
Many ink types can
24)
Difficult to integrate with

No.

expands, shears, or bends to apply

be used

electronics

3,946,398

pressure to the ink, ejecting drops.
21)
Fast operation
25)
High voltage drive transistors
29)
Zoltan U.S.

22)
High efficiency

required

Pat. No.

26)
Full pagewidth print heads

3,683,212

impractical due to actuator size
30)
1973

27)
Requires electrical poling in

Stemme

high field strengths during

U.S. Pat.

manufacture

No.

3,747,120

31)
Epson Stylus

32)
Tektronix

33)
IJ04

Electro-
An electric field is used to
34)
Low power
39)
Low maximum strain (approx.
44)
Seiko Epson,

strictive
activate electrostriction in relaxor

consumption

0.01%)

Usui et all JP

materials such as lead lanthanum
35)
Many ink types can
40)
Large area required for

253401/96

zirconate titanate (PLZT) or lead

be used

actuator due to low strain
45)
IJ04

magnesium niobate (PMN).
36)
Low thermal
41)
Response speed is marginal (~10 μs)

expansion
42)
High voltage drive transistors

37)
Electric field

required

strength required (approx.
43)
Full pagewidth print heads

3.5 V/μm) can be

impractical due to actuator size

generated without

difficulty

38)
Does not require

electrical poling

Ferroelec-
An electric field is used to induce
46)
Low power
52)
Difficult to integrate with
55)
IJ04

tric
a phase transition between the

consumption

electronics

antiferroelectric (AFE) and
47)
Many ink types can
53)
Unusual materials such as

ferroelectric (FE) phase.

be used

PLZSnT are required

Perovskite materials such as tin
48)
Fast operation (<1 μs)
54)
Actuators require a large area

modified lead lanthanum
49)
Relatively high

zirconate titanate (PLZSnT)

longitudinal strain

exhibit large strains of up to 1%
50)
High efficiency

associated with the AFE to FE
51)
Electric field

phase transition.

strength of around 3 V/μm

can be readily

provided

Electro-
Conductive plates are separated
56)
Low power
59)
Difficult to operate
64)
IJ02, IJ04

static
by a compressible or fluid

consumption

electrostatic devices in an aqueous

plates
dielectric (usually air). Upon
57)
Many ink types can

environment

application of a voltage, the plates

be used
60)
The electrostatic actuator will

attract each other and displace
58)
Fast operation

normally need to be separated from

ink, causing drop ejection. The

the ink

conductive plates may be in a

61)
Very large area required to

comb or honeycomb structure, or

achieve high forces

stacked to increase the surface

62)
High voltage drive transistors

area and therefore the force.

may be required

63)
Full pagewidth print heads are

not competitive due to actuator size

Electro-
A strong electric field is applied
65)
Low current
67)
High voltage required
72)
1989 Saito et

static
to the ink, whereupon electrostatic

consumption
68)
May be damaged by sparks due

al, U.S.

pull on ink
attraction accelerates the ink
66)
Low temperature

to air breakdown

Pat. No.

towards the print medium.

69)
Required field strength

4,799,068

increases as the drop size decreases
73)
1989 Miura

70)
High voltage drive transistors

et al, U.S.

required

Pat. No.

71)
Electrostatic field attracts dust

4,810,954

74)
Tone-jet

Permanent
An electromagnet directly attracts
75)
Low power
80)
Complex fabrication
86)
IJ07, IJ10

magnet
a permanent magnet, displacing

consumption
81)
Permanent magnetic material

electro-
ink and causing drop ejection.
76)
Many ink types can

such as Neodymium Iron Boron

magnetic
Rare earth magnets with a field

be used

(NdFeB) required.

strength around 1 Tesla can be
77)
Fast operation
82)
High local currents required

used. Examples are: Samarium
78)
High efficiency
83)
Copper metalization should be

Cobalt (SaCo) and magnetic
79)
Easy extension from

used for long electromigration

materials in the neodymium iron

single nozzles to

lifetime and low resistivity

boron family (NdFeB,

pagewidth print heads
84)
Pigmented inks are usually

NdDyFeBNb, NdDyFeB, etc)

infeasible

85)
Operating temperature limited

to the Curie temperature (around

540 K)

Soft
A solenoid induced a magnetic
87)
Low power
92)
Complex fabrication
98)
IJ01, IJ05,

magnetic
field in a soft magnetic core or

consumption
93)
Materials not usually present in

IJ08, IJ10

core
yoke fabricated from a ferrous
88)
Many ink types can

a CMOS fab such as NiFe, CoNiFe,
99)
IJ12, IJ14,

electro-
material such as electroplated iron

be used

or CoFe are required

IJ15, IJ17

magnetic
alloys such as CoNiFe [1], CoFe,
89)
Fast operation
94)
High local currents required

or NiFe alloys. Typically, the soft
90)
High efficiency
95)
Copper metalization should be

magnetic material is in two parts,
91)
Easy extension from

used for long electromigration

which are normally held apart by

single nozzles to

lifetime and low resistivity

a spring. When the solenoid is

pagewidth print heads
96)
Electroplating is required

actuated, the two parts attract,

97)
High saturation flux density is

displacing the ink.

required (2.0-2.1 T is achievable

with CoNiFe [1])

Magnetic
The Lorenz force acting on a
100)
Low power
105)
Force acts as a twisting motion
110)
IJ06, IJ11,

Lorenz
current carrying wire in a

consumption
106)
Typically, only a quarter of the

IJ13, IJ16

force
magnetic field is utilized.
101)
Many ink types can

solenoid length provides force in a

This allows the magnetic field to

be used

useful direction

be supplied externally to the print
102)
Fast operation
107)
High local currents required

head, for example with rare earth
103)
High efficiency
108)
Copper metalization should be

permanent magnets.
104)
Easy extension from

used for long electromigration

Only the current carrying wire

single nozzles to

lifetime and low resistivity

need be fabricated on the print-

pagewidth print heads
109)
Pigmented inks are usually

head, simplifying materials

infeasible

requirements.

Magneto-
The actuator uses the giant
111)
Many ink types can
115)
Force acts as a twisting motion
120)
Fischenbeck,

striction
magnetostrictive effect of

be used
116)
Unusual materials such as

U.S. Pat.

materials such as Terfenol-D (an
112)
Fast operation

Terfenol-D are required

No.

alloy of terbium, dysprosium and
113)
Easy extension from
117)
High local currents required

4,032,929

iron developed at the Naval

single nozzles to
118)
Copper metalization should be
121)
IJ25

Ordnance Laboratory, hence Ter-

pagewidth print heads

used for long electromigration

Fe-NOL). For best efficiency, the
114)
High force is

lifetime and low resistivity

actuator should be pre-stressed to

available
119)
Pre-stressing may be required

approx. 8 MPa.

Surface
Ink under positive pressure is held
122)
Low power
127)
Requires supplementary force
130)
Silverbrook,

tension
in a nozzle by surface tension.

consumption

to effect drop separation

EP 0771

reduction
The surface tension of the ink is
123)
Simple construction
128)
Requires special ink

658 A2 and

reduced below the bubble
124)
No unusual materials

surfactants

related

threshold, causing the ink to

required in fabrication
129)
Speed may be limited by

patent

egress from the nozzle.
125)
High efficiency

surfactant properties

applications

126)
Easy extension from

single nozzles to

pagewidth print heads

Viscosity
The ink viscosity is locally
131)
Simple construction
134)
Requires supplementary force
139)
Silverbrook,

reduction
reduced to select which drops are
132)
No unusual materials

to effect drop separation

EP 0771 658

to be ejected. A viscosity

required in fabrication
135)
Requires special ink viscosity

A2 and

reduction can be achieved
133)
Easy extension from

properties

related

electrothermally with most inks,

single nozzles to
136)
High speed is difficult to

patent

but special inks can be engineered

pagewidth print heads

achieve

applications

for a 100:1 viscosity reduction.

137)
Requires oscillating ink

pressure

138)
A high temperature difference

(typically 80 degrees) is required

Acoustic
An acoustic wave is generated and
140)
Can operate without
141)
Complex drive circuitry
146)
1993

focussed upon the drop ejection

a nozzle plate
142)
Complex fabrication

Hadimioglu

region.

143)
Low efficiency

et al, EUP

144)
Poor control of drop position

550,192

145)
Poor control of drop volume
147)
1993 Elrod

et al, EUP

572,220

Thermo-
An actuator which relies upon
148)
Low power
157)
Efficient aqueous operation
160)
IJ03, IJ09,

elastic
differential thermal expansion

consumption

requires a thermal insulator on the

IJ17, 1J18

bend
upon Joule heating is used.
149)
Many ink types can

hot side
161)
IJ19, IJ20,

actuator

be used
158)
Corrosion prevention can be

IJ21, IJ22

150)
Simple planar

difficult
162)
IJ23, IJ24,

fabrication
159)
Pigmented inks may be

IJ27, IJ28

151)
Small integrated

infeasible, as pigment particles may
163)
IJ29, IJ30,

circuit area required for

jam the bend actuator

IJ31, IJ32

each actuator

164)
IJ33, IJ34,

152)
Fast operation

IJ35, IJ36

153)
High efficiency

165)
IJ37, IJ38,

154)
CMOS compatible

IJ39, IJ40

voltages and currents

166)
IJ41

155)
Standard MEMS

processes can be used

156)
Easy extension from

single nozzles to

pagewidth print heads

High CTE
A material with a very high
167)
High force can be
177)
Requires special material (e.g.
181)
IJ09, IJ17,

thermo-
coefficient of thermal expansion

generated

PTFE)

IJ18, IJ20

elastic
(CTE) such as
168)
PTFE is a candidate
178)
Requires a PTFE deposition
182)
IJ21, IJ22,

actuator
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is

for low dielectric constant

process, which is not yet standard in

IJ23, IJ24

used. As high CTE materials are

insulation in ULSI

ULSI fabs
183)
IJ27, IJ28,

usually non-conductive, a heater
169)
Very low power
179)
PTFE deposition cannot be

IJ29, IJ30

fabricated from a conductive

consumption

followed with high temperature
184)
IJ31, IJ42,

material is incorporated. A 50 μm
170)
Many ink types can

(above 350° C.) processing

IJ43, IJ44

long PTFE bend actuator with

be used
180)
Pigmented inks may be

polysilicon heater and 15 mW
171)
Simple planar

infeasible, as pigment particles may

power input can provide 180 μN

fabrication

jam the bend actuator

force and 10 μm deflection.
172)
Small integrated

Actuator motions include:

circuit area required for

Bend

each actuator

Push
173)
Fast operation

Buckle
174)
High efficiency

Rotate
175)
CMOS compatible

voltages and currents

176)
Easy extension from

single nozzles to

pagewidth print heads

Conduc-
A polymer with a high coefficient
185)
High force can be
194)
Requires special materials
199)
IJ24

tive
of thermal expansion (such as

generated

development (High CTE conductive

polymer
PTFE) is doped with conducting
186)
Very low power

polymer)

thermoe-
substances to increase its

consumption
195)
Requires a PTFE deposition

lastic
conductivity to about 3 orders of
187)
Many ink types can

process, which is not yet standard in

actuator
magnitude below that of copper.

be used

ULSI fabs

The conducting polymer expands
188)
Simple planar
196)
PTFE deposition cannot be

when resistively heated.

fabrication

followed with high temperature

Examples of conducting dopants
189)
Small integrated

(above 350° C.) processing

include:

circuit area required for
197)
Evaporation and CVD

Carbon nanotubes

each actuator

deposition techniques cannot be

Metal fibers
190)
Fast operation

used

Conductive polymers such as
191)
High efficiency
198)
Pigmented inks may be

doped polythiophene
192)
CMOS compatible

infeasible, as pigment particles may

Carbon granules

voltages and currents

jam the bend actuator

193)
Easy extension from

single nozzles to

pagewidth print heads

Shape
A shape memory alloy such as
200)
High force is
206)
Fatigue limits maximum
213)
IJ26

memory
TiNi (also known as Nitinol -

available (stresses of

number of cycles

alloy
Nickel Titanium alloy developed

hundreds of MPa)
207)
Low strain (1%) is required to

at the Naval Ordnance
201)
Large strain is

extend fatigue resistance

Laboratory) is thermally switched

available (more than 3%)
208)
Cycle rate limited by heat

between its weak martensitic state
202)
High corrosion

removal

and its high stiffness austenic

resistance
209)
Requires unusual materials

state. The shape of the actuator in
203)
Simple construction

(TiNi)

its martensitic state is deformed
204)
Easy extension from
210)
The latent heat of

relative to the austenic shape. The

single nozzles to

transformation must be provided

shape change causes ejection of a

pagewidth print heads
211)
High current operation

drop.
205)
Low voltage
212)
Requires pre-stressing to

operation

distort the martensitic state

Linear
Linear magnetic actuators include
214)
Linear Magnetic
218)
Requires unusual
222)
IJ12

Magnetic
the Linear Induction Actuator

actuators can be

semiconductor materials such as

Actuator
(LIA), Linear Permanent Magnet

constructed with high

soft magnetic alloys (e.g. CoNiFe

Synchronous Actuator (LPMSA),

thrust, long travel, and

[1])

Linear Reluctance Synchronous

high efficiency using
219)
Some varieties also require

Actuator (LRSA), Linear

planar semiconductor

permanent magnetic materials such

Switched Reluctance Actuator

fabrication techniques

as Neodymium iron boron (NdFeB)

(LSRA), and the Linear Stepper
215)
Long actuator travel
220)
Requires complex multi-phase

Actuator (LSA).

is available

drive circuitry

216)
Medium force is
221)
High current operation

available

217)
Low voltage

operation

BASIC OPERATION MODE

Opera-

tional

mode
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples

Actuator
This is the simplest mode of
223)
Simple operation
227)
Drop repetition rate is usually
230)
Thermal inkjet

directly
operation: the actuator directly
224)
No external fields

limited to less than 10 KHz.
231)
Piezoelectric

pushes
supplies sufficient kinetic energy

required

However, this is not fundamental to

inkjet

ink
to expel the drop. The drop must
225)
Satellite drops can

the method, but is related to the
232)
IJ01, IJ02,

have a sufficient velocity to

be avoided if drop

refill method normally used

IJ03, IJ04

overcome the surface tension.

velocity is less than
228)
All of the drop kinetic energy
233)
IJ05, IJ06,

4 m/s

must be provided by the actuator

IJ07, IJ09

226)
Can be efficient,
229)
Satellite drops usually form if
234)
IJ11, IJ12,

depending upon the

drop velocity is greater than 4.5 m/s

IJ14, IJ16

actuator used

235)
IJ20, IJ22,

IJ23, IJ24

236)
IJ25, IJ26,

IJ27, IJ28

237)
IJ29, IJ30,

IJ31, IJ32

238)
IJ33, IJ34,

IJ35, IJ36

239)
IJ37, IJ38,

IJ39, IJ40

240)
IJ41, IJ42,

IJ43, IJ44

Proximity
The drops to be printed are
241)
Very simple print
243)
Requires close proximity
246)
Silverbrook,

selected by some manner (e.g.

head fabrication can be

between the print head and the print

EP 0771 658 A2

thermally induced surface tension

used

media or transfer roller

and related patent

reduction of pressurized ink).
242)
The drop selection
244)
May require two print heads

applications

Selected drops are separated from

means does not need

printing alternate rows of the image

the ink in the nozzle by contact

to provide the energy
245)
Monolithic color print heads

with the print medium or a

required to separate

are difficult

transfer roller.

the drop from the

nozzle

Electro-
The drops to be printed are
247)
Very simple print
249)
Requires very high
252)
Silverbrook,

static
selected by some manner (e.g.

head fabrication can be

electrostatic field

EP 0771 658 A2

pull on ink
thermally induced surface tension

used
250)
Electrostatic field for small

and related patent

reduction of pressurized ink).
248)
The drop selection

nozzle sizes is above air breakdown

applications

Selected drops are separated from

means does not need
251)
Electrostatic field may attract
253)
Tone-Jet

the ink in the nozzle by a strong

to provide the energy

dust

electric field.

required to separate

the drop from the

nozzle

Magnetic
The drops to be printed are
254)
Very simple print
256)
Requires magnetic ink
259)
Silverbrook,

pull on ink
selected by some manner (e.g.

head fabrication can be
257)
Ink colors other than black are

EP 0771 658 A2

thermally induced surface tension

used

difficult

and related patent

reduction of pressurized ink).
255)
The drop selection
258)
Requires very high magnetic

applications

Selected drops are separated from

means does not need

fields

the ink in the nozzle by a strong

to provide the energy

magnetic field acting on the

required to separate

magnetic ink.

the drop from the

nozzle

Shutter
The actuator moves a shutter to
260)
High speed (>50 KHz)
263)
Moving parts are required
267)
IJ13, IJ17,

block ink flow to the nozzle. The

operation can be
264)
Requires ink pressure

IJ21

ink pressure is pulsed at a

achieved due to

modulator

multiple of the drop ejection

reduced refill time
265)
Friction and wear must be

frequency.
261)
Drop timing can be

considered

very accurate
266)
Stiction is possible

262)
The actuator energy

can be very low

Shuttered
The actuator moves a shutter to
268)
Actuators with small
271)
Moving parts are required
275)
IJ08, IJ15,

grill
block ink flow through a grill to

travel can be used
272)
Requires ink pressure

IJ18, IJ19

the nozzle. The shutter movement
269)
Actuators with small

modulator

need only be equal to the width of

force can be used
273)
Friction and wear must be

the grill holes.
270)
High speed (>50 KHz)

considered

operation can be
274)
Stiction is possible

achieved

Pulsed
A pulsed magnetic field attracts
276)
Extremely low
278)
Requires an external pulsed
281)
IJ10

magnetic
an ‘ink pusher’ at the drop

energy operation is

magnetic field

pull on
ejection frequency. An actuator

possible
279)
Requires special materials for

ink
controls a catch, which prevents
277)
No heat dissipation

both the actuator and the ink pusher

pusher
the ink pusher from moving when

problems
280)
Complex construction

a drop is not to be ejected.

AUXILIARY MECHANISM (APPLIED TO ALL NOZZLES)

Auxiliary

Mechanism
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples

None
The actuator directly fires the ink
282)
Simplicity of
285)
Drop ejection energy must be
286)
Most inkjets,

drop, and there is no external field

construction

supplied by individual nozzle

including

or other mechanism required.
283)
Simplicity of

actuator

piezoelectric and

operation

thermal bubble.

284)
Small physical size

287)
IJ01-IJ07,

IJ09, IJ11

288)
IJ12, IJ14,

IJ20, IJ22

289)
IJ23-IJ45

Oscillating
The ink pressure oscillates,
290)
Oscillating ink
293)
Requires external ink pressure
296)
Silverbrook,

ink
providing much of the drop

pressure can provide a

oscillator

EP 0771 658 A2

pressure
ejection energy. The actuator

refill pulse, allowing
294)
Ink pressure phase and

and related patent

(including
selects which drops are to be fired

higher operating speed

amplitude must be carefully

applications

acoustic
by selectively blocking or
291)
The actuators may

controlled
297)
IJ08, IJ13,

stimulation)
enabling nozzles. The ink pressure

operate with much
295)
Acoustic reflections in the ink

IJ15, IJ17

oscillation may be achieved by

lower energy

chamber must be designed for
298)
IJ18, IJ19,

vibrating the print head, or
292)
Acoustic lenses can

IJ21

preferably by an actuator in the

be used to focus the

ink supply.

sound on the nozzles

Media
The print head is placed in close
299)
Low power
302)
Precision assembly required
305)
Silverbrook,

proximity
proximity to the print medium.
300)
High accuracy
303)
Paper fibers may cause

EP 0771 658 A2

Selected drops protrude from the
301)
Simple print head

problems

and related patent

print head further than unselected

construction
304)
Cannot print on rough

applications

drops, and contact the print

substrates

medium. The drop soaks into the

medium fast enough to cause drop

separation.

Transfer
Drops are printed to a transfer
306)
High accuracy
309)
Bulky
312)
Silverbrook,

roller
roller instead of straight to the
307)
Wide range of print
310)
Expensive

EP 0771 658 A2

print medium. A transfer roller

substrates can be used
311)
Complex construction

and related patent

can also be used for proximity
308)
Ink can be dried on

applications

drop separation.

the transfer roller

313)
Tektronix hot

melt piezoelectric

inkjet

314)
Any of the IJ

series

Electrostatic
An electric field is used to
315)
Low power
317)
Field strength required for
318)
Silverbrook,

accelerate selected drops towards
316)
Simple print head

separation of small drops is near or

EP 0771 658 A2

the print medium.

construction

above air breakdown

and related patent

applications

319)
Tone-Jet

Direct
A magnetic field is used to
320)
Low power
322)
Requires magnetic ink
324)
Silverbrook,

magnetic
accelerate selected drops of
321)
Simple print head
323)
Requires strong magnetic field

EP 0771 658 A2

field
magnetic ink towards the print

construction

and related patent

medium.

applications

Cross
The print head is placed in a
325)
Does not require
326)
Requires external magnet
328)
IJ06, IJ16

magnetic
constant magnetic field. The

magnetic materials
327)
Current densities may be high,

field
Lorenz force in a current carrying

to be integrated in

resulting in electromigration

wire is used to move the actuator.

the print head

problems

manufacturing process

Pulsed
A pulsed magnetic field is used to
329)
Very low power
331)
Complex print head
333)
IJ10

magnetic
cyclically attract a paddle, which

operation is possible

construction

field
pushes on the ink. A small
330)
Small print head size
332)
Magnetic materials required in

actuator moves a catch, which

print head

selectively prevents the paddle

from moving.

ACTUATOR AMPLIFICATION OR MODIFICATION METHOD

Actuator

amplifi-

cation
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples

None
No actuator mechanical
334)
Operational
335)
Many actuator mechanisms
336)
Thermal

amplification is used. The actuator

simplicity

have insufficient travel, or

Bubble Inkjet

directly drives the drop ejection

insufficient force, to efficiently
337)
IJ01, IJ02,

process.

drive the drop ejection process

IJ06, IJ07

338)
IJ16, IJ25,

IJ26

Differ-
An actuator material expands
339)
Provides greater
341)
High stresses are involved
344)
Piezoelectric

ential
more on one side than on the

travel in a reduced print
342)
Care must be taken that the
345)
IJ03, IJ09,

expansion
other. The expansion may be

head area

materials do not delaminate

IJ17-IJ24

bend
thermal, piezoelectric,
340)
The bend actuator
343)
Residual bend resulting from
346)
IJ27, IJ29-IJ39,

actuator
magnetostrictive, or other

converts a high force low

high temperature or high stress

IJ42,

mechanism.

travel actuator

during formation
347)
IJ43, IJ44

mechanism to high travel,

lower force mechanism.

Transient
A trilayer bend actuator where the
348)
Very good
351)
High stresses are involved
353)
IJ40, IJ41

bend
two outside layers are identical.

temperature stability
352)
Care must be taken that the

actuator
This cancels bend due to ambient
349)
High speed, as a new

materials do not delaminate

temperature and residual stress.

drop can be fired before

The actuator only responds to

heat dissipates

transient heating of one side or the
350)
Cancels residual

other.

stress of formation

Actuator
A series of thin actuators are
354)
Increased travel
356)
Increased fabrication
358)
Some

stack
stacked. This can be appropriate
355)
Reduced drive

complexity

piezoelectric ink

where actuators require high

voltage
357)
Increased possibility of short

jets

electric field strength, such as

circuits due to pinholes
359)
IJ04

electrostatic and piezoelectric

actuators.

Multiple
Multiple smaller actuators are
360)
Increases the force
362)
Actuator forces may not add
363)
IJ12, IJ13,

actuators
used simultaneously to move the

available from an actuator

linearly, reducing efficiency

IJ18, IJ20

ink. Each actuator need provide
361)
Multiple actuators

364)
IJ22, IJ28,

only a portion of the force

can be positioned to

IJ42, IJ43

required.

control ink flow

accurately

Linear
A linear spring is used to
365)
Matches low travel
367)
Requires print head area for the
368)
IJ15

Spring
transform a motion with small

actuator with higher

spring

travel and high force into a longer

travel requirements

travel, lower force motion.
366)
Non-contact method

of motion transformation

Reverse
The actuator loads a spring. When
369)
Better coupling to
370)
Fabrication complexity
372)
IJ05, IJ11

spring
the actuator is turned off, the

the ink
371)
High stress in the spring

spring releases. This can reverse

the force/distance curve of the

actuator to make it compatible

with the force/time requirements

of the drop ejection.

Coiled
A bend actuator is coiled to
373)
Increases travel
376)
Generally restricted to planar
377)
IJ17, IJ21,

actuator
provide greater travel in a reduced
374)
Reduces integrated

implementations due to extreme

IJ34, IJ35

integrated circuit area.

circuit area

fabrication difficulty in other

375)
Planar

orientations.

implementations are

relatively easy to

fabricate.

Flexure
A bend actuator has a small
378)
Simple means of
379)
Care must be taken not to
382)
IJ10, IJ19,

bend
region near the fixture point,

increasing travel of a

exceed the elastic limit in the

IJ33

actuator
which flexes much more readily

bend actuator

flexure area

than the remainder of the actuator.

380)
Stress distribution is very

The actuator flexing is effectively

uneven

convened from an even coiling to

381)
Difficult to accurately model

an angular bend, resulting in

with finite element analysis

greater travel of the actuator tip.

Gears
Gears can be used to increase
383)
Low force, low
385)
Moving parts are required
390)
IJ13

travel at the expense of duration.

travel actuators can be
386)
Several actuator cycles are

Circular gears, rack and pinion,

used

required

ratchets, and other gearing
384)
Can be fabricated
387)
More complex drive

methods can be used.

using standard surface

electronics

MEMS processes
388)
Complex construction

389)
Friction, friction, and wear are

possible

Catch
The actuator controls a small
391)
Very low actuator
393)
Complex construction
396)
IJ10

catch. The catch either enables or

energy
394)
Requires external force

disables movement of an ink
392)
Very small actuator
395)
Unsuitable for pigmented inks

pusher that is controlled in a bulk

size

manner.

Buckle
A buckle plate can be used to
397)
Very fast movement
398)
Must stay within elastic limits
401)
S. Hirata et al,

plate
change a slow actuator into a fast

achievable

of the materials for long

“An Ink-jet

motion. It can also convert a high

device life

Head . . . ”,

force, low travel actuator into a

399)
High stresses involved

Proc. IEEE

high travel, medium force motion.

400)
Generally high power

MEMS, February

requirement

1996,

pp 418-423.

402)
IJ18, IJ27

Tapered
A tapered magnetic pole can
403)
Linearizes the
404)
Complex construction
405)
IJ14

magnetic
increase travel at the expense of

magnetic force/distance

pole
force.

curve

Lever
A lever and fulcrum is used to
406)
Matches low travel
408)
High stress around the fulcrum
409)
IJ32, IJ36,

transform a motion with small

actuator with higher

IJ37

travel and high force into a

travel requirements

motion with longer travel and
407)
Fulcrum area has no

lower force. The lever can also

linear movement, and can

reverse the direction of travel.

be used for a fluid seal

Rotary
The actuator is connected to a
410)
High mechanical
412)
Complex construction
414)
IJ28

impeller
rotary impeller. A small angular

advantage
413)
Unsuitable for pigmented inks

deflection of the actuator results
411)
The ratio of force to

in a rotation of the impeller vanes,

travel of the actuator can

which push the ink against

be matched to the nozzle

stationary vanes and out of the

requirements by varying

nozzle.

the number of impeller

vanes

Acoustic
A refractive or diffractive (e.g.
415)
No moving parts
416)
Large area required
418)
1993

lens
zone plate) acoustic lens is used to

417)
Only relevant for acoustic ink

Hadimioglu et al,

concentrate sound waves,

jets

EUP 550,192

419)
1993 Elrod et

al, EUP 572,220

Sharp
A sharp point is used to
420)
Simple construction
421)
Difficult to fabricate using
423)
Tone-jet

conductive
concentrate an electrostatic field.

standard VLSI processes for a

point

surface ejecting ink-jet

422)
Only relevant for electrostatic

ink jets

ACTUATOR MOTION

Actuator

motion
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples

Volume
The volume of the actuator
424)
Simple construction
425)
High energy is typically
426)
Hewlett-

expansion
changes, pushing the ink in all

in the case of thermal ink

required to achieve volume

Packard Thermal

directions.

jet

expansion. This leads to thermal

Inkjet

stress, cavitation, and kogation in
427)
Canon

thermal ink jet implementations

Bubblejet

Linear,
The actuator moves in a
428)
Efficient coupling to
429)
High fabrication complexity
430)
IJ01, IJ02,

normal
direction normal to the print

ink drops ejected normal

may be required to achieve

IJ04, IJ07

to
head surface. The nozzle is

to the surface

perpendicular motion
431)
IJ11, IJ14

integrated
typically in the line of

circuit
movement.

surface

Linear,
The actuator moves parallel
432)
Suitable for planar
433)
Fabrication complexity
436)
IJ12, IJ13,

parallel to
to the print head surface. Drop

fabrication
434)
Friction

IJ15, IJ33,

integrated
ejection may still be normal to the

435)
Stiction
437)
IJ34, IJ35,

circuit
surface.

IJ36

surface

Membrane
An actuator with a high force
438)
The effective area of
439)
Fabrication complexity
442)
1982 Howkins

push
but small area is used to push

the actuator becomes the
440)
Actuator size

U.S. Pat.

a stiff membrane that is in

membrane area
441)
Difficulty of integration in a

No. 4,459,601

contact with the ink.

VLSI process

Rotary
The actuator causes the rotation
443)
Rotary levers may
445)
Device complexity
447)
IJ05, IJ08,

of some element, such a grill

be used to increase travel
446)
May have friction at a pivot

IJ13, IJ28

or impeller
444)
Small integrated

point

circuit area requirements

Bend
The actuator bends when
448)
A very small change
449)
Requires the actuator to be
450)
1970 Kyser et

energized. This may be due to

in dimensions can be

made from at least two distinct

al U.S. Pat. No.

differential thermal expansion,

converted to a large

layers, or to have a thermal

3,946,398

piezoelectric expansion,

motion.

difference across the actuator
451)
1973 Stemme

magnetostriction, or other form

U.S. Pat. No.

of relative dimensional change.

3,747,120

452)
IJ03, IJ09,

IJ10, IJ19

453)
IJ23, IJ24,

IJ25, IJ29

454)
IJ30, IJ31,

IJ33, IJ34

455)
IJ35

Swivel
The actuator swivels around a
456)
Allows operation
458)
Inefficient coupling to the ink
459)
IJ06

central pivot. This motion is

where the net linear force

motion

suitable where there are opposite

on the paddle is zero

forces applied to opposite sides
457)
Small integrated

of the paddle, e.g. Lorenz force.

circuit area requirements

Straighten
The actuator is normally bent,
460)
Can be used with
461)
Requires careful balance of
462)
IJ26, IJ32

and straightens when

shape memory alloys

stresses to ensure that the quiescent

energized.

where the austenic phase

bend is accurate

is planar

Double
The actuator bends in one
463)
One actuator can be
466)
Difficult to make the drops
468)
IJ36, IJ37,

bend
direction when one element is

used to power two

ejected by both bend directions

IJ38

energized, and bends the other

nozzles.

identical.

way when another element is
464)
Reduced integrated
467)
A small efficiency loss

energized.

circuit size.

compared to equivalent single bend

465)
Not sensitive to

actuators.

ambient temperature

Shear
Energizing the actuator causes a
469)
Can increase the
470)
Not readily applicable to other
471)
1985 Fishbeck

shear motion in the actuator

effective travel of

actuator mechanisms

U.S. Pat. No.

material.

piezoelectric actuators

4,584,590

Radial
The actuator squeezes an ink
472)
Relatively easy to
473)
High force required
476)
1970 Zoltan

constric-
reservoir, forcing ink from a

fabricate single nozzles
474)
Inefficient

U.S. Pat. No.

tion
constricted nozzle.

from glass tubing as
475)
Difficult to integrate with

3,683,212

macroscopic structures

VLSI processes

Coil/
A coiled actuator uncoils or coils
477)
Easy to fabricate as a
479)
Difficult to fabricate for non-
481)
IJ17, IJ21,

uncoil
more tightly. The motion of the

planar VLSI process

planar devices

IJ34, IJ35

free end of the actuator ejects
478)
Small area required,
480)
Poor out-of-plane stiffness

the ink.

therefore low cost

Bow
The actuator bows (or buckles)
482)
Can increase the
484)
Maximum travel is constrained
486)
IJ16, IJ18,

in the middle when energized.

speed of travel
485)
High force required

IJ27

483)
Mechanically rigid

Push-Pull
Two actuators control a shutter.
487)
The structure is
488)
Not readily suitable for inkjets
489)
IJ18

One actuator pulls the shutter,

pinned at both ends, so

which directly push the ink

and the other pushes it.

has a high out-of-plane

rigidity

Curl
A set of actuators curl inwards
490)
Good fluid flow to
491)
Design complexity
492)
IJ20, IJ42

inwards
to reduce the volume of ink

the region behind the

that they enclose.

actuator increases

efficiency

Curl
A set of actuators curl outwards,
493)
Relatively simple
494)
Relatively large integrated
495)
IJ43

outwards
pressurizing ink in a chamber

construction

circuit area

surrounding the actuators, and

expelling ink from a nozzle

in the chamber.

Iris
Multiple vanes enclose a volume
496)
High efficiency
498)
High fabrication complexity
500)
IJ22

of ink. These simultaneously
497)
Small integrated
499)
Not suitable for pigmented

rotate, reducing the volume

circuit area

inks

between the vanes.

Acoustic
The actuator vibrates at a high
501)
The actuator can be
502)
Large area required for
506)
1993

vibration
frequency.

physically distant from

efficient operation at useful

Hadimioglu et al,

the ink

frequencies

EUP 550,192

503)
Acoustic coupling and
507)
1993 Elrod et

crosstalk

al, EUP 572,220

504)
Complex drive circuitry

505)
Poor control of drop volume

and position

None
In various ink jet designs the
508)
No moving parts
509)
Various other tradeoffs are
510)
Silverbrook,

actuator does not move.

required to eliminate moving parts

EP 0771 658 A2

and related patent

applications

511)
Tone-jet

NOZZLE REFILL METHOD

Nozzle

refill

method
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples

Surface
After the actuator is energized, it
512)
Fabrication
514)
Low speed
517)
Thermal inkjet

tension
typically returns rapidly to its

simplicity
515)
Surface tension force relatively
518)
Piezoelectric

normal position. This rapid return
513)
Operational

small compared to actuator force

inkjet

sucks in air through the nozzle

simplicity
516)
Long refill time usually
519)
IJ01-IJ07,

opening. The ink surface tension

dominates the total repetition rate

IJ10-IJ14

at the nozzle then exerts a small

520)
IJ16, IJ20,

force restoring the meniscus to a

IJ22-IJ45

minimum area.

Shuttered
Ink to the nozzle chamber is
521)
High speed
523)
Requires common ink pressure
525)
IJ08, IJ13,

oscillating
provided at a pressure that
522)
Low actuator

oscillator

IJ15, IJ17

ink
oscillates at twice the drop

energy, as the actuator
524)
May not be suitable for
526)
IJ18, IJ19,

pressure
ejection frequency. When a drop

need only open or close

pigmented inks

IJ21

is to be ejected, the shutter is

the shutter, instead of

opened for 3 half cycles: drop

ejecting the ink drop

ejection, actuator return, and

refill.

Refill
After the main actuator has
527)
High speed, as the
528)
Requires two independent
529)
IJ09

actuator
ejected a drop a second (refill)

nozzle is actively refilled

actuators per nozzle

actuator is energized. The refill

actuator pushes ink into the nozzle

chamber. The refill actuator

returns slowly, to prevent its

return from emptying the chamber

again.

Positive
The ink is held a slight positive
530)
High refill rate,
531)
Surface spill must be prevented
533)
Silverbrook,

ink
pressure. After the ink drop is

therefore a high drop
532)
Highly hydrophobic print head

EP 0771 658 A2

pressure
ejected, the nozzle chamber fills

repetition rate is possible

surfaces are required

and related patent

quickly as surface tension and ink

applications

pressure both operate to refill the

534)
Alternative

nozzle.

for:

535)
IJ01-IJ07,

IJ10-IJ14

536)
IJ16, IJ20,

IJ22-IJ45

METHOD OF RESTRICTING BACK-FLOW THROUGH INLET

Inlet

back-flow

restriction

method
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples

Long inlet
The ink inlet channel to the nozzle
537)
Design simplicity
540)
Restricts refill rate
543)
Thermal inkjet

channel
chamber is made long and
538)
Operational
541)
May result in a relatively large
544)
Piezoelectric

relatively narrow, relying on

simplicity

integrated circuit area

inkjet

viscous drag to reduce inlet back-
539)
Reduces crosstalk
542)
Only partially effective
545)
IJ42, IJ43

flow.

Positive
The ink is under a positive
546)
Drop selection and
548)
Requires a method (such as a
549)
Silverbrook,

ink
pressure, so that in the quiescent

separation forces can be

nozzle rim or effective

EP 0771 658 A2

pressure
state some of the ink drop already

reduced

hydrophobizing, or both) to

and related patent

protrudes from the nozzle.
547)
Fast refill time

prevent flooding of the ejection

applications

This reduces the pressure in the

surface of the print head.
550)
Possible

nozzle chamber which is required

operation of the

to eject a certain volume of ink.

following:

The reduction in chamber

551)
IJ01-IJ07,

pressure results in a reduction in

IJ09-IJ12

ink pushed out through the inlet.

552)
IJ14, IJ16,

IJ20, IJ22,

553)
IJ23-IJ34,

IJ36-IJ41

554)
IJ44

Baffle
One or more baffles are placed in
555)
The refill rate is not
557)
Design complexity
559)
HP Thermal

the inlet ink flow. When the

as restricted as the long
558)
May increase fabrication

Ink Jet

actuator is energized, the rapid ink

inlet method.

complexity (e.g. Tektronix hot
560)
Tektronix

movement creates eddies which
556)
Reduces crosstalk

melt Piezoelectric print heads).

piezoelectric

restrict the flow through the inlet.

ink jet

The slower refill process is

unrestricted, and does not result in

eddies.

Flexible
In this method recently disclosed
561)
Significantly reduces
562)
Not applicable to most inkjet
565)
Canon

flap
by Canon, the expanding actuator

back-flow for edge-

configurations

restricts
(bubble) pushes on a flexible flap

shooter thermal ink jet
563)
Increased fabrication

inlet
that restricts the inlet.

devices

complexity

564)
Inelastic deformation of

polymer flap results in

creep over extended use

Inlet
A filter is located between the ink
566)
Additional
568)
Restricts refill rate
570)
IJ04, IJ12,

filter
inlet and the nozzle chamber. The

advantage of ink filtration
569)
May result in complex

IJ24, IJ27

filter has a multitude of small
567)
Ink filter may be

construction
571)
IJ29, IJ30

holes or slots, restricting ink flow.

fabricated with no

The filter also removes particles

additional process steps

which may block the nozzle.

Small
The ink inlet channel to the nozzle
572)
Design simplicity
573)
Restricts refill rate
576)
IJ02, IJ37,

inlet
chamber has a substantially

574)
May result in a relatively large

IJ44

compared
smaller cross section than that of

integrated circuit area

to nozzle
the nozzle, resulting in easier ink

575)
Only partially effective

egress out of the nozzle than out

of the inlet.

Inlet
A secondary actuator controls the
577)
Increases speed of
578)
Requires separate refill
579)
IJ09

shutter
position of a shutter, closing off

the ink-jet print head

actuator and drive circuit

the ink inlet when the main

operation

actuator is energized.

The inlet
The method avoids the problem of
580)
Back-flow problem
581)
Requires careful design to
582)
IJ01, IJ03,

is located
inlet back-flow by arranging the

is eliminated

minimize the negative pressure

1J05, IJ06

behind
ink-pushing surface of the

behind the paddle
583)
IJ07, IJ10,

the ink-
actuator between the inlet and the

IJ11, IJ14

pushing
nozzle.

584)
IJ16, IJ22,

surface

IJ23, IJ25

585)
IJ28, IJ31,

IJ32, IJ33

586)
IJ34, IJ35,

IJ36, IJ39

587)
IJ40, IJ41

Part
The actuator and a wall of the ink
588)
Significant
590)
Small increase in fabrication
591)
IJ07, IJ20,

of the
chamber are arranged so that the

reductions in back-flow

complexity

IJ26, IJ38

actuator
motion of the actuator closes off

can be achieved

moves to
the inlet.
589)
Compact designs

shut off

possible

the inlet

Nozzle
In some configurations of ink jet,
592)
Ink back-flow
593)
None related to ink back-flow
594)
Silverbrook,

actuator
there is no expansion or

problem is eliminated

on actuation

EP 0771 658 A2

does not
movement of an actuator which

and related patent

result in
may cause ink back-flow through

applications

ink back-
the inlet.

595)
Valve-jet

flow

596)
Tone-jet

597)
IJ08, IJ13,

IJ15, IJ17

598)
IJ18, IJ19,

IJ21

NOZZLE CLEARING METHOD

Nozzle

Clearing

method
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples

Normal
All of the nozzles are fired
599)
No added
600)
May not be sufficient to
601)
Most ink jet

nozzle
periodically, before the ink has a

complexity on the print

displace dried ink

systems

firing
chance to dry. When not in use

head

602)
IJ01-IJ07,

the nozzles are sealed (capped)

IJ09-IJ12

against air.

603)
IJ14, IJ16,

The nozzle firing is usually

IJ20, IJ22

performed during a special

604)
IJ23-IJ34,

clearing cycle, after first moving

IJ36-IJ45

the print head to a cleaning

station.

Extra
In systems which heat the ink, but
605)
Can be highly
606)
Requires higher drive voltage
608)
Silverbrook,

power to
do not boil it under normal

effective if the heater is

for clearing

EP 0771 658

ink heater
situations, nozzle clearing can be

adjacent to the nozzle
607)
May require larger drive

A2 and related

achieved by over-powering the

transistors

patent

heater and boiling ink at the

applications

nozzle.

Rapid
The actuator is fired in rapid
609)
Does not require
611)
Effectiveness depends
612)
May be used

succession
succession. In some

extra drive circuits on the

substantially upon the configuration

with:

of actuator
configurations, this may cause

print head

of the inkjet nozzle
613)
IJ01-IJ07,

pulses
heat build-up at the nozzle which
610)
Can be readily

IJ09-IJ11

boils the ink, clearing the nozzle.

controlled and initiated

614)
IJ14, IJ16,

In other situations, it may cause

by digital logic

IJ20, IJ22

sufficient vibrations to dislodge

615)
IJ23-IJ25,

clogged nozzles.

IJ27-IJ34

616)
IJ36-IJ45

Extra
Where an actuator is not normally
617)
A simple solution
618)
Not suitable where there is a
619)
May be used

power
driven to the limit of its motion,

where applicable

hard limit to actuator movement

with:

to ink
nozzle clearing may be assisted by

620)
IJ03, IJ09,

pushing
providing an enhanced drive

IJ16, IJ20

actuator
signal to the actuator.

621)
IJ23, IJ24,

IJ25, IJ27

622)
IJ29, IJ30,

IJ31, IJ32

623)
IJ39, IJ40,

IJ41, IJ42

624)
IJ43, IJ44,

IJ45

Acoustic
An ultrasonic wave is applied to
625)
A high nozzle
627)
High implementation cost if
628)
IJ08, IJ13,

resonance
the ink chamber. This wave is of

clearing capability can be

system does not already include an

IJ15, IJ17

an appropriate amplitude and

achieved

acoustic actuator
629)
IJ18, IJ19,

frequency to cause sufficient force
626)
May be implemented

IJ21

at the nozzle to clear blockages.

at very low cost in

This is easiest to achieve if the

systems which already

ultrasonic wave is at a resonant

include acoustic actuators

frequency of the ink cavity.

Nozzle
A microfabricated plate is pushed
630)
Can clear severely
631)
Accurate mechanical
635)
Silverbrook,

clearing
against the nozzles. The plate has

clogged nozzles

alignment is required

EP 0771 658

plate
a post for every nozzle. The array

632)
Moving parts are required

A2 and related

of posts

633)
There is risk of damage to the

patent

nozzles

applications

634)
Accurate fabrication is

required

Ink
The pressure of the ink is
636)
May be effective
637)
Requires pressure pump or
640)
May be used

pressure
temporarily increased so that ink

where other methods

other pressure actuator

with all IJ

pulse
streams from all of the nozzles.

cannot be used
638)
Expensive

series ink jets

This may be used in conjunction

639)
Wasteful of ink

with actuator energizing.

Print head
A flexible ‘blade’ is wiped across
641)
Effective for planar
643)
Difficult to use if print head
646)
Many ink jet

wiper
the print head surface. The blade

print head surfaces

surface is non-planar or very fragile

systems

is usually fabricated from a
642)
Low cost
644)
Requires mechanical parts

flexible polymer, e.g. rubber or

645)
Blade can wear out in high

synthetic elastomer.

volume print systems

Separate
A separate heater is provided at
647)
Can be effective
649)
Fabrication complexity
650)
Can be used

ink
the nozzle although the normal

where other nozzle

with many IJ

boiling
drop e-ection mechanism does

clearing methods cannot

series ink

heater
not require it. The heaters do not

be used

jets

require individual drive circuits,
648)
Can be implemented

as many nozzles can be cleared

at no additional cost in

simultaneously, and no imaging is

some inkjet

required.

configurations

NOZZLE PLATE CONSTRUCTION

Nozzle plate

construction
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples

Electroformed
A nozzle plate is separately
651)
Fabrication
652)
High temperatures and
655)
Hewlett

nickel
fabricated from

simplicity

pressures are required to bond

Packard Thermal

electroformed nickel,

nozzle plate

Inkjet

and bonded to the print

653)
Minimum thickness constraints

head integrated circuit.

654)
Differential thermal expansion

Laser ablated
Individual nozzle holes are
656)
No masks required
660)
Each hole must be individually
664)
Canon

or drilled
ablated by an intense UV
657)
Can be quite fast

formed

Bubblejet

polymer
laser in a nozzle plate,
658)
Some control over
661)
Special equipment required
665)
1988 Sercel et

which is typically a

nozzle profile is possible
662)
Slow where there are many

al., SPIE, Vol. 998

polymer such as polyimide
659)
Equipment required

thousands of nozzles per print head

Excimer Beam

or polysulphone

is relatively low cost
663)
May produce thin burrs at exit

Applications, pp.

holes

76-83

666)
1993

Watanabe et al.,

U.S. Pat. No.

5,208,604

Silicon micro-
A separate nozzle plate is
667)
High accuracy is
668)
Two part construction
672)
K. Bean, IEEE

machined
micromachined from single

attainable
669)
High cost

Transactions on

crystal silicon, and bonded

670)
Requires precision alignment

Electron Devices,

to the print head wafer.

671)
Nozzles may be clogged by

Vol. ED-25, No. 10,

adhesive

1978, pp 1185-1195

673)
Xerox 1990

Hawkins et al.,

U.S. Pat. No.

4,899,181

Glass
Fine glass capillaries
674)
No expensive
676)
Very small nozzle sizes are
678)
1970 Zoltan

capillaries
are drawn from glass

equipment required

difficult to form

U.S. Pat. No.

tubing. This method has
675)
Simple to make
677)
Not suited for mass production

3,683,212

been used for making

single nozzles

individual nozzles, but is

difficult to use for bulk

manufacturing of print

heads with thousands

of nozzles.

Monolithic,
The nozzle plate is
679)
High accuracy (<1 μm)
683)
Requires sacrificial layer under
685)
Silverbrook,

surface micro-
deposited as a layer using
680)
Monolithic

the nozzle plate to form the nozzle

EP 0771 658 A2

machined
standard VLSI
681)
Low cost

chamber

and related patent

using VLSI
deposition techniques.
682)
Existing processes
684)
Surface may be fragile to the

applications

lithographic
Nozzles are etched

can be used

touch
686)
IJ01, IJ02,

processes
in the nozzle plate

IJ04, IJ11

using VLSI lithography

687)
IJ12, IJ17,

and etching.

IJ18, IJ20

688)
IJ22, IJ24,

IJ27, IJ28

689)
IJ29, IJ30,

IJ31, IJ32

690)
IJ33, IJ34,

IJ36, IJ37

691)
IJ38, IJ39,

IJ40, IJ41

692)
IJ42, IJ43,

IJ44

Monolithic,
The nozzle plate is a buried
693)
High accuracy (<1 μm)
697)
Requires long etch times
699)
IJ03, IJ05,

etched through
etch stop in the wafer.
694)
Monolithic
698)
Requires a support wafer

IJ06, IJ07

substrate
Nozzle chambers are etched
695)
Low cost

700)
IJ08, IJ09,

in the front of the wafer,
696)
No differential

IJ10, IJ13

and the wafer is thinned

expansion

701)
IJ14, IJ15,

from the back side.

IJ16, IJ19

Nozzles are then etched

702)
IJ21, IJ23,

in the etch stop layer.

IJ25, IJ26

No nozzle plate
Various methods have been
703)
No nozzles to
704)
Difficult to control drop
706)
Ricoh 1995

tried to eliminate the

become clogged

position accurately

Sekiya et al

nozzles entirely, to prevent

705)
Crosstalk problems

U.S. Pat. No.

nozzle clogging. These

5,412,413

include thermal bubble

707)
1993

mechanisms and acoustic

Hadimioglu et al

lens mechanisms

EUP 550,192

708)
1993 Elrod et

al EUP 572,220

Trough
Each drop ejector has a
709)
Reduced
711)
Drop firing direction is
712)
IJ35

trough through which a

manufacturing

sensitive to wicking.

paddle moves. There is no

complexity

nozzle plate.
710)
Monolithic

Nozzle slit
The elimination of nozzle
713)
No nozzles to
714)
Difficult to control drop
716)
1989 Saito et

instead of
holes and replacement

become clogged

position accurately

al U.S. Pat. No.

individual
by a slit encompassing

715)
Crosstalk problems

4,799,068

nozzles
many actuator positions

reduces nozzle clogging,

but increases crosstalk

due to ink surface waves

DROP EJECTION DIRECTION

Ejection

direction
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples

Edge
Ink flow is along the surface of
717)
Simple construction
722)
Nozzles limited to edge
725)
Canon

(‘edge
the integrated circuit, and ink
718)
No silicon etching
723)
High resolution is difficult

Bubblejet 1979

shooter’)
drops are ejected from the

required
724)
Fast color printing requires one

Endo et al GB

integrated circuit edge.
719)
Good heat sinking

print head per color

patent 2,007,162

via substrate

726)
Xerox heater-

720)
Mechanically strong

in-pit 1990

721)
Ease of integrated

Hawkins et al

circuit handing

U.S. Pat. No.

4,899,181

727)
Tone-jet

Surface
Ink flow is along the surface of
728)
No bulk silicon
731)
Maximum ink flow is severely
732)
Hewlett-

(‘roof
the integrated circuit, and ink

etching required

restricted

Packard TIJ 1982

shooter’)
drops are ejected from the
729)
Silicon can make an

Vaught et al

integrated circuit surface, normal

effective heat sink

U.S. Pat. No.

to the plane of the integrated
730)
Mechanical strength

4,490,728

circuit.

733)
IJ02, IJ11,

IJ12, IJ20

734)
IJ22

Through
Ink flow is through the integrated
735)
High ink flow
738)
Requires bulk silicon etching
739)
Silverbrook,

integrated
circuit, and ink drops are ejected
736)
Suitable for

EP 0771 658 A2

circuit,
from the front surface of the

pagewidth print

and related patent

forward
integrated circuit.
737)
High nozzle packing

applications

(‘up

density therefore low

740)
IJ04, IJ17,

shooter’)

manufacturing cost

IJ18, IJ24

741)
IJ27-IJ45

Through
Ink flow is through the integrated
742)
High ink flow
745)
Requires wafer thinning
747)
IJ01, IJ03,

integrated
circuit, and ink drops are ejected
743)
Suitable for
746)
Requires special handling

IJ05, IJ06

circuit,
from the rear surface of the

pagewidth print

during manufacture
748)
IJ07, IJ08,

reverse
integrated circuit.
744)
High nozzle packing

IJ09, IJ10

(‘down

density therefore low

749)
IJ13, IJ14,

shooter’)

manufacturing cost

IJ15, IJ16

750)
IJ19, IJ21,

IJ23, IJ25

751)
IJ26

Through
Ink flow is through the actuator,
752)
Suitable for
753)
Pagewidth print heads require
756)
Epson Stylus

actuator
which is not fabricated as part of

piezoelectric print heads

several thousand connections to
757)
Tektronix hot

the same substrate as the drive

drive circuits

melt piezoelectric

transistors.

754)
Cannot be manufactured in

ink jets

standard CMOS fabs

755)
Complex assembly required

INK TYPE

Ink type
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples

Aqueous, dye
Water based ink which typically
758)
Environmentally
760)
Slow drying
765)
Most existing

contains: water, dye, surfactant,

friendly
761)
Corrosive

inkjets

humectant, and biocide.
759)
No odor
762)
Bleeds on paper
766)
All IJ series

Modern ink dyes have high water-

763)
May strikethrough

ink jets

fastness, light fastness

764)
Cockles paper
767)
Silverbrook,

EP 0771 658 A2

and related patent

applications

Aqueous,
Water based ink which typically
768)
Environmentally
773)
Slow drying
778)
IJ02, IJ04,

pigment
contains: water, pigment,

friendly
774)
Corrosive

IJ21, IJ26

surfactant, humectant, and
769)
No odor
775)
Pigment may clog nozzles
779)
IJ27, IJ30

biocide.
770)
Reduced bleed
776)
Pigment may clog actuator
780)
Silverbrook,

Pigments have an advantage in
771)
Reduced wicking

mechanisms

EP 0771 658 A2

reduced bleed, wicking and
772)
Reduced
777)
Cockles paper

and related patent

strikethrough.

strikethrough

applications

781)
Piezoelectric

ink-jets

782)
Thermal ink

jets (with

significant

restrictions)

Methyl Ethyl
MEK is a highly volatile solvent
783)
Very fast drying
785)
Odorous
787)
All IJ series

Ketone (MEK)
used for industrial printing on
784)
Prints on various
786)
Flammable

ink jets

difficult surfaces such as

substrates such as metals

aluminum cans.

and plastics

Alcohol
Alcohol based inks can be used
788)
Fast drying
792)
Slight odor
794)
All IJ series

(ethanol, 2-
where the printer must operate at
789)
Operates at sub-
793)
Flammable

ink jets

butanol, and
temperatures below the freezing

freezing temperatures

others)
point of water. An example of this
790)
Reduced paper

is in-camera consumer

cockle

photographic printing.
791)
Low cost

Phase change
The ink is solid at room
795)
No drying time-ink
801)
High viscosity
807)
Tektronix hot

(hot melt)
temperature, and is melted in the

instantly freezes on the
802)
Printed ink typically has a

melt piezoelectric

print head before jetting. Hot melt

print medium

‘waxy’ feel

ink jets

inks are usually wax based, with a
796)
Almost any print
803)
Printed pages may ‘block’
808)
1989 Nowak

melting point around 80° C.. After

medium can be used
804)
Ink temperature may be above

U.S. Pat. No.

jetting the ink freezes almost
797)
No paper cockle

the curie point of permanent

4,820,346

instantly upon contacting the print

occurs

magnets
809)
All IJ series

medium or a transfer roller.
798)
No wicking occurs
805)
Ink heaters consume power

ink jets

799)
No bleed occurs
806)
Long warm-up time

800)
No strikethrough

occurs

Oil
Oil based inks are extensively
810)
High solubility
813)
High viscosity: this is a
815)
All IJ series

used in offset printing. They have

medium for some dyes

significant limitation for use

ink jets

advantages in improved
811)
Does not cockle

in inkjets, which usually

characteristics on paper

paper

require a low viscosity. Some

(especially no wicking or cockle).
812)
Does not wick

short chain and multi-

Oil soluble dies and pigments are

through paper

branched oils have

required.

a sufficiently low

viscosity.

814)
Slow drying

Microemulsion
A microemulsion is a stable, self
816)
Stops ink bleed
820)
Viscosity higher than water
823)
All IJ series

forming emulsion of oil, water,
817)
High dye solubility
821)
Cost is slightly higher than

ink jets

and surfactant. The characteristic
818)
Water, oil, and

water based ink

drop size is less than 100 nm, and

amphiphilic soluble dies
822)
High surfactant concentration

is determined by the preferred

can be used

required (around 5%)

curvature of the surfactant.
819)
Can stabilize

pigment suspensions

Ink Jet Printing

A large number of new forms of ink jet printers have been developed to facilitate alternative ink jet technologies for the image processing and data distribution system. Various combinations of ink jet devices can be included in printer devices incorporated as part of the present invention. Australian Provisional Patent Applications relating to these ink jets which are specifically incorporated by cross reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian

US Patent/Patent

Provisional

Application and Filing

Number
Filing Date
Title
Date

PO8066
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,227,652

(IJ01)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8072
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,213,588

(IJ02)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8040
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,213,589

(IJ03)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8071
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,231,163

(IJ04)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8047
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,247,795

(IJ05)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8035
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,394,581

(IJ06)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8044
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,244,691

(IJ07)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8063
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,257,704

(IJ08)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8057
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,416,168

(IJ09)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8056
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,220,694

(IJ10)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8069
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,257,705

(IJ11)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8049
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,247,794

(IJ12)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8036
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,234,610

(IJ13)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8048
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,247,793

(IJ14)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8070
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,264,306

(IJ15)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8067
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,241,342

(IJ16)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8001
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,247,792

(IJ17)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8038
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,264,307

(IJ18)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8033
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,254,220

(IJ19)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8002
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,234,611

(IJ20)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8068
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,302,528)

(IJ21)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8062
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,283,582

(IJ22)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8034
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,239,821

(IJ23)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8039
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,338,547

(IJ24)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8041
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,247,796

(IJ25)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8004
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
09/113,122

(IJ26)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8037
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,390,603

(IJ27)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8043
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,362,843

(IJ28)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8042
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,293,653

(IJ29)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8064
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,312,107

(IJ30)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9389
23-Sep-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,227,653

(IJ31)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9391
23-Sep-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,234,609

(IJ32)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0888
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,238,040

(IJ33)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0891
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,188,415

(IJ34)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0890
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,227,654

(IJ35)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0873
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,209,989

(IJ36)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0993
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,247,791

(IJ37)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0890
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,336,710

(IJ38)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP1398
19-Jan-98
An Image Creation Method and
6,217,153

Apparatus (IJ39)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP2592
25-Mar-98
An Image Creation Method and
6,416,167

Apparatus (IJ40)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP2593
25-Mar-98
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,243,113

(IJ41)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3991
9-Jun-98
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,283,581

(IJ42)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3987
9-Jun-98
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,247,790

(IJ43)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3985
9-Jun-98
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,260,953

(IJ44)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3983
9-Jun-98
Image Creation Method and Apparatus
6,267,469

(IJ45)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

Ink Jet Manufacturing

Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor fabrication techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable manufacturing techniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian

US Patent/Patent

Provisional

Application and Filing

Number
Filing Date
Title
Date

PO7935
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,224,780

Creation Apparatus (IJM01)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7936
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,235,212

Creation Apparatus (IJM02)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7937
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,280,643

Creation Apparatus (IJM03)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8061
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,284,147

Creation Apparatus (IJM04)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8054
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,214,244

Creation Apparatus (IJM05)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8065
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,071,750

Creation Apparatus (IJM06)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8055
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,267,905

Creation Apparatus (IJM07)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8053
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,251,298

Creation Apparatus (IJM08)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8078
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,258,285

Creation Apparatus (IJM09)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7933
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,225,138

Creation Apparatus (IJM10)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7950
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,241,904

Creation Apparatus (IJM11)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7949
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,299,786

Creation Apparatus (IJM12)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8060
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
09/113,124

Creation Apparatus (IJM13)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8059
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,231,773

Creation Apparatus (IJM14)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8073
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,190,931

Creation Apparatus (IJM15)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8076
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,248,249

Creation Apparatus (IJM16)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8075
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,290,862

Creation Apparatus (IJM17)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8079
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,241,906

Creation Apparatus (IJM18)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8050
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
09/113,116

Creation Apparatus (IJM19)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8052
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,241,905

Creation Apparatus (IJM20)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7948
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,451,216

Creation Apparatus (IJM21)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7951
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,231,772

Creation Apparatus (IJM22)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8074
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,274,056

Creation Apparatus (IJM23)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7941
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,290,861

Creation Apparatus (IJM24)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8077
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,248,248

Creation Apparatus (IJM25)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8058
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,306,671

Creation Apparatus (IJM26)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8051
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,331,258

Creation Apparatus (IJM27)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8045
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,110,754

Creation Apparatus (IJM28)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7952
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,294,101

Creation Apparatus (IJM29)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8046
15-Jul-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,416,679

Creation Apparatus (IJM30)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8503
11-Aug-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,264,849

Creation Apparatus (IJM30a)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9390
23-Sep-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,254,793

Creation Apparatus (IJM31)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9392
23-Sep-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,235,211

Creation Apparatus (IJM32)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0889
12-Dec-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,235,211

Creation Apparatus (IJM35)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0887
12-Dec-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,264,850

Creation Apparatus (IJM36)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0882
12-Dec-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,258,284

Creation Apparatus (IJM37)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0874
12-Dec-97
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,258,284

Creation Apparatus (IJM38)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP1396
19-Jan-98
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,228,668

Creation Apparatus (IJM39)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP2591
25-Mar-98
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,180,427

Creation Apparatus (IJM41)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3989
9-Jun-98
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,171,875

Creation Apparatus (IJM40)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3990
9-Jun-98
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,267,904

Creation Apparatus (IJM42)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3986
9-Jun-98
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,245,247

Creation Apparatus (IJM43)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3984
9-Jun-98
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,245,247

Creation Apparatus (IJM44)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP3982
9-Jun-98
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,231,148

Creation Apparatus (IJM45)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

Fluid Supply

Further, the present application may utilize an ink delivery system to the ink jet head. Delivery systems relating to the supply of ink to a series of ink jet nozzles are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications, the disclosure of which are hereby incorporated by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian

US Patent/Patent

Provisional

Application

Number
Filing Date
Title
and Filing Date

PO8003
15-Jul-97
Supply Method and
6,350,023

Apparatus (F1)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8005
15-Jul-97
Supply Method and
6,318,849

Apparatus (F2)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9404
23-Sep-97
A Device and Method
09/113,101

(F3)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

MEMS Technology

Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor microelectromechanical techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable microelectromechanical techniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian

US Patent/Patent

Provisional

Application

Number
Filing Date
Title
and Filing Date

PO7943
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS01)

PO8006
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS02)
6,087,638

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8007
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS03)
09/113,093

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8008
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS04)
6,340,222

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8010
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS05)
6,041,600

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8011
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS06)
6,299,300

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7947
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS07)
6,067,797

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7945
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS08)
09/113,081

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7944
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS09)
6,286,935

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7946
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS10)
6,044,646

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9393
23-Sep-97
A Device and Method
09/113,065

(MEMS11)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0875
12-Dec-97
A Device (MEMS12)
09/113,078

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0894
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method
09/113,075

(MEMS13)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

IR Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of a disposable camera system such as those described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian

Provisional

US Patent/Patent Application

Number
Filing Date
Title
and Filing Date

PP0895
12-Dec-97
An Image Creation Method and
6,231,148

Apparatus (IR01)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0870
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR02)
09/113,106

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0869
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR04)
6,293,658

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0887
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and
09/113,104

Apparatus (IR05)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0885
12-Dec-97
An Image Production System (IR06)
6,238,033

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0884
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and
6,312,070

Apparatus (IR10)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0886
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and
6,238,111

Apparatus (IR12)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0871
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR13)
09/113,086

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0876
12-Dec-97
An Image Processing Method and
09/113,094

Apparatus (IR14)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0877
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR16)
6,378,970

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0878
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR17)
6,196,739

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0879
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR18)
09/112,774

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0883
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR19)
6,270,182

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0880
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR20)
6,152,619

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0881
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR21)
09/113,092

(Jul. 10, 1998)

DotCard Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of a data distribution system such as that described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian

US Patent/Patent

Provisional

Application

Number
Filing Date
Title
and Filing Date

PP2370
16-Mar-98
Data Processing Method
09/112,781

and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)

(Dot01)

PP2371
16-Mar-98
Data Processing Method
09/113,052

and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998

(Dot02)

Artcam Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of camera and data processing techniques such as an Artcam type device as described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

Australian

Provisional

US Patent/Patent Application

Number
Filing Date
Title
and Filing Date

PO7991
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/113,060

Apparatus (ART01)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7988
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
6,476,863

Apparatus (ART02)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7993
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/113,073

Apparatus (ART03)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9395
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
6,322,181

Apparatus (ART04)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8017
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,747

Apparatus (ART06)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8014
15-Jul-97
Media Device (ART07)
6,227,648

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8025
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,750

Apparatus (ART08)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8032
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,746

Apparatus (ART09)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7999
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,743

Apparatus (ART10)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7998
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,742

Apparatus (ART11)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8031
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,741

Apparatus (ART12)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8030
15-Jul-97
Media Device (ART13)
6,196,541

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7997
15-Jul-97
Media Device (ART15)
6,195,150

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7979
15-Jul-97
Media Device (ART16)
6,362,868

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8015
15-Jul-97
Media Device (ART17)
09/112,738

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7978
15-Jul-97
Media Device (ART18)
09/113,067

(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7982
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
6,431,669

Apparatus (ART19)
(Jul. 10, 1998

PO7989
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
6,362,869

Apparatus (ART20)
(Jul. 10, 1998

PO8019
15-Jul-97
Media Processing Method and
6,472,052

Apparatus (ART21)
(Jul. 10, 1998

PO7980
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
6,356,715

Apparatus (ART22)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8018
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,777

Apparatus (ART24)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7938
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/113,224

Apparatus (ART25)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8016
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
6,366,693

Apparatus (ART26)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8024
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
6,329,990

Apparatus (ART27)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7940
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/113,072

Apparatus (ART28)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7939
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/112,785

Apparatus (ART29)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8501
11-Aug-97
Image Processing Method and
6,137,500

Apparatus (ART30)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8500
11-Aug-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,796

Apparatus (ART31)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7987
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/113,071

Apparatus (ART32)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8022
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
6,398,328

Apparatus (ART33)
(Jul. 10, 1998

PO8497
11-Aug-97
Image Processing Method and
09/113,090

Apparatus (ART34)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8020
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
6,431,704

Apparatus (ART38)
(Jul. 10, 1998

PO8023
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/113,222

Apparatus (ART39)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8504
11-Aug-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,786

Apparatus (ART42)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8000
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
6,415,054

Apparatus (ART43)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7977
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/112,782

Apparatus (ART44)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7934
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/113,056

Apparatus (ART45)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7990
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/113,059

Apparatus (ART46)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8499
11-Aug-97
Image Processing Method and
6,486,886

Apparatus (ART47)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8502
11-Aug-97
Image Processing Method and
6,381,361

Apparatus (ART48)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7981
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
6,317,192

Apparatus (ART50)
(Jul. 10, 1998

PO7986
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/113,057

Apparatus (ART51)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO7983
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/113,054

Apparatus (ART52)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8026
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,752

Apparatus (ART53)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8027
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,759

Apparatus (ART54)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO8028
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,757

Apparatus (ART56)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9394
23-Sep-97
Image Processing Method and
6,357,135

Apparatus (ART57)
(Jul. 10, 1998

PO9396
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
09/113,107

Apparatus (ART58)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9397
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
6,271,931

Apparatus (ART59)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9398
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
6,353,772

Apparatus (ART60)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9399
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
6,106,147

Apparatus (ART61)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9400
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
09/112,790

Apparatus (ART62)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9401
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
6,304,291

Apparatus (ART63)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9402
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
09/112,788

Apparatus (ART64)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9403
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
6,305,770

Apparatus (ART65)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PO9405
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
6,289,262

Apparatus (ART66)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP0959
16-Dec-97
A Data Processing Method and
6,315,200

Apparatus (ART68)
(Jul. 10, 1998)

PP1397
19-Jan-98
A Media Device (ART69)
6,217,165

(Jul. 10, 1998)

	Number	Date	Country
Parent	11743655	May 2007	US
Child	12422868		US
Parent	11102847	Apr 2005	US
Child	11743655		US
Parent	10729150	Dec 2003	US
Child	11102847		US
Parent	09112774	Jul 1998	US
Child	10729150		US

Printer With Movable Capping Member And Fixed Printhead And Platen

Information

Publication Number

Date Filed

Date Published

Inventors

Original Assignees

CPC

US Classifications

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (2)

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Continuations (4)