Abstract: A micro-electromechanical fluid ejector that is easily fabricated in a standard polysilicon surface micromachining process is disclosed, which can be batch fabricated at low cost using existing external foundry capabilities. In addition, the surface micromachining process has proven to be compatible with integrated microelectronics, allowing for the monolithic integration of the actuator with addressing electronics. A voltage drive mode and a charge drive mode for the power source actuating a deformable membrane is also disclosed.

Abstract: It is desired to remove matter on a fluid surface of a tank. The tank defines a circular tank orifice comprising a tank orifice rim, the tank orifice rim containing a fluid surface of a fluid, the fluid overflowing the tank orifice rim to form a fluid overflow, the fluid surface defining a fluid surface center. The matter is removed by discharging from near the tank orifice rim a plurality (n) of jets of the fluid towards the fluid surface center. Any matter on the fluid surface is thereby urged toward the tank orifice rim and eventually removed from the fluid surface by the fluid overflow. In one application, the tank comprises a dip tank and the fluid comprises photoreceptor coating solution or components thereof such as solvents, additives, or both.

Abstract: A portable communication device uses a first electrostatic antenna element and a second electrostatic antenna element and circuitry which is coupled to the first antenna element and to the second antenna element and which derives operating power from an electrostatic field in the vicinity of the first and second antenna elements. The electrostatic field may be provided by an array of exciter elements containing both horizontal and vertical exciter elements so that at some point as a communication device is moved across the exciter antenna array, the device will have sufficient power coupled to it to power up and become operational.

Abstract: Particles are packed in a container. The container is either cylindrical-shaped or box-shaped. The container has a container inner wall and an inner bottom. A ramp is disposed on the container inner bottom. The ramp has a ramp base that is narrower than the container inner bottom. A conical-shaped inclined ramp surface extends upward from the ramp base at a substantially constant ramp surface angle with respect to horizontal and towards the container inner wall. The inclined ramp surface defines a ramp upper rim that is substantially proximate to the container inner wall. The particles have an angle of repose that is less than the ramp surface angle. The particles flow down the inclined ramp surface towards the ramp base. The particles are removed from the container using a vacuum feed nozzle that is disposed proximate to the particles in the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating a photoreceptor substrate, such as a photoreceptor belt or a photoreceptor drum, consists of at least one photoreceptor coating fluid reservoir or diptank. The diptank defines an inlet at one end and a conduit with an orifice at the other end. The conduit includes at least one porous element such as a grid, screen or mesh arranged for suspending a plurality of layers of non-contaminating rounded objects, such as stainless steel or glass beads, in the bottom of the conduit. Photoreceptor coating solution supplied to the inlet is thereby forced to flow through the plurality of layers of beads prior to coating a photoreceptor substrate that is inserted through the orifice. As a result, the uniformity of the coating solution is improved as it coats the photoreceptor substrate, thereby reducing coating defects in the finished photoreceptor belt or drum.

Abstract: A layered cleaning blade includes a first surface forming a wiper surface comprised of a relatively low-hardness material for wiping fluid nozzle openings of a fluid ejecting head as the fluid ejecting head moves in a direction toward the wiper surface and a second surface forming a scraper edge comprised of a relatively high-hardness material for scraping the fluid nozzle openings as the fluid ejecting head moves in the opposite direction. The layered cleaning blade thereby optimizes the fluid ejecting head cleaning process by combining both the fluid nozzle opening wiping function and the fluid nozzle opening scraping function in a single cleaning blade.

Abstract: A cleaning blade has a fixed end and a distal cleaning end, with the fixed end maintained in a substantially fixed position. The cleaning blade has a blade cleaning surface arranged for facing a photosensitive element surface of a moving photosensitive element, with the cleaning end arranged to contact and clean the photosensitive element surface. The cleaning blade has a blade temperature. The cleaning blade includes at least one heater for maintaining the blade temperature at a fixed temperature.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification tag (16) includes stored tag information (56) and at least one antenna element (30). The tag also includes a programmable tag circuit state that is either “on” or “off” based on an “on/off” command signal (35) received by the antenna element. When the tag circuit state is “on,” upon receiving an exciter signal (34) from a proximately-located electrostatic exciter (12), the tag becomes energized, thereby causing it to generate a read signal (38) containing a carrier signal (58) and based on the stored tag information. The antenna element then electrostatically sends the read signal to a proximately-located reader (14), which detects the carrier signal and, under proper conditions, also the stored tag information.

Abstract: In DC pin scorotron charging apparatus for charging a photoreceptor to a final voltage, a first DC pin scorotron charging device initially charges the photoreceptor to an intermediate overshoot voltage and a second DC pin scorotron charging device thereafter uniformly charges the photoreceptor to the final voltage. The first DC pin scorotron charging device provides a generally high percent open control grid area, a generally high emitter slope, and a generally high emitter pin current. The second DC pin scorotron charging device provides a generally low percent open control grid area, a generally low emitter slope, and a generally low emitter pin current.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for producing an endless flexible seamed belt using a punch and die is disclosed. The punch and die have patterned edges in the form of a puzzle cut pattern with extremely small nodes and kerfs. The cutting tolerances of the patterned edges make it necessary to fix the punch with respect to the die so that there is no misalignment of the punch and die between cutting operations. This is accomplished by resiliently fixing the punch to the die, rather than having the punch attached to the force generating assembly as in normal punch and die assemblies. Belt material is positioned between a stock gap between the punch and die and the force generating assembly is activated to provide the cutting force. Once the belt material is cut, the cutting force is removed and the force generating assembly returns to its retracted position. There are two cutting edges on the punch and die so that a first end of one belt and a second end of another belt are formed in a single cutting operation.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for producing an endless flexible seamed belt using templates is disclosed. A first form of the template is a mask template with a template aperture in the form of a puzzle cut pattern to be used in combination with an excimer laser. The template is placed between the excimer laser source and the belt material to be cut. As the excimer laser traverses the width of the belt, the laser forms a puzzle cut pattern on the belt. A second form of the template is a punch and die having patterned edges in the form of a puzzle cut pattern with extremely small nodes and kerfs. The cutting tolerances of the patterned edges make it necessary to fix the punch with respect to the die so that there is no misalignment of the punch and die between cutting operations. This is accomplished by resiliently fixing the punch to the die, rather than having the punch attached to the force generating assembly as in normal punch and die assemblies.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating photoreceptor devices comprises a manifold forming a conduit, the conduit having a length with an input at one end. Multiple diptanks for applying photoreceptor coating solution to devices dipped therein are mounted on an upper portion of the manifold and distributed along the length. The conduit is arranged so that photoreceptor coating solution supplied to the input flows to the diptanks, thus forming a photoreceptor coating solution flow in each diptank. The conduit becomes increasingly narrower as the photoreceptor coating solution flows along the length successively from one diptank to the next diptank. As a result, the photoreceptor coating solution flow speed in each diptank is substantially the same.

Abstract: A microwave binder is used in conjunction with paper tape which is coated with one or more formulations of encapsulated, fast setting, water soluble adhesives to bind pages of a book. The tape spine adhesive is of sufficient thickness to allow it to penetrate into the edges of the pages of the bound edge. The microwave heating causes the capsules to rupture, releasing the adhesives to flow into the bound edge of the book.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification tag system (10) utilizes a radio frequency identification tag (16) that includes stored information. The tag includes an antenna element (28) and a common electrode (26), the common electrode being coupled to ground (70). The antenna element electrostatically receives an exciter signal (30) from a proximately-located exciter (12). Upon receiving the exciter signal, the tag becomes energized, thereby causing it to generate a read signal (32) based on the stored information. The antenna element then electrostatically sends the read signal to a proximately-located reader (14), which detects the stored information. Both energy and data are capacitively coupled by virtue of the unbalanced nature of the network, thus resulting in decreased coupled impedance.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification tag system (10) utilizes a radio frequency identification tag (16) that includes a display (40). The display has an electrooptic display (458) sandwiched between a first display electrode 454 and an optically transparent second display electrode (456). The electrooptic display is preferably formed by the print deposition of a microencapsulated electrophoretic material between the first display electrode and the second display electrode.

Abstract: A flexible electrostatographic imaging member belt comprises two ends with matching puzzle-cut patterns of fingers arranged to be joined. The belt is fabricated by a method comprising the steps of: first, joining the two belt ends to form a juncture; second, applying an adhesive strip to the juncture; third, applying a compressing force to the adhesive strip; fourth, heating the adhesive strip for a heating period; fifth, cooling the adhesive strip for a cooling period; thus forming a puzzle-cut seam; and, sixth, determining when the puzzle-cut seam is satisfactory. When it is determined the puzzle-cut seam is not satisfactory, the heating and cooling steps are repeated. When it is determined the puzzle-cut seam is satisfactory, the compressing force is removed. In one embodiment, the method determines when the puzzle-cut seam is satisfactory based on the total time heat is applied to the adhesive strip.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical fluid ejector that is easily fabricated in a standard polysilicon surface micromachining process is disclosed, which can be batch fabricated at low cost using existing external foundry capabilities. In addition, the surface micromachining process has proven to be compatible with integrated microelectronics, allowing for the monolithic integration of the actuator with addressing electronics. A voltage drive mode and a charge drive mode for the power source actuating a deformable membrane is also disclosed.

Abstract: A switch status monitoring system (10) includes a switch signal processor (16) that operates in either of a supervised mode or an unsupervised mode for each monitored switch (12). Selection of the operating mode is made via configuration data provided to the switch signal processor, for example, from an applications processor (20). In this manner, reconfiguration of the mode of monitoring, supervised or unsupervised, of any particular switch within a system is accomplished by providing revised configuration data and without changes or modifications to the switch signal processor hardware. As will be appreciated, the present invention has application in for example door or window monitoring systems and in other similar security system applications.

Abstract: A testing apparatus determines when an electric motor is acceptable based on measured parameters and fuzzy logic. The testing apparatus measures the following motor parameters: a time for the motor to reach a running speed in a steady-state, thus forming a time-to-speed; a difference between an instantaneous speed and an average speed in the steady-state, thus forming a speed variation; a maximum value of the motor current, thus forming a maximum current; a motor current in the steady-state, thus forming a running current; and a motor vibration energy in the steady-state, thus forming a vibration energy. Based on the measured motor parameters, the testing apparatus then uses fuzzy logic to determine when the motor is acceptable.

Abstract: A welded seam of an imaging belt comprises a surface roughness. To reduce the surface roughness, the welded seam is treated by compressing a portion of the belt comprising the welded seam and adjacent belt portions and, while compressing, heating the welded seam to a heating temperature near but less than the glass transition temperature of the imaging layer of the belt, then cooling the welded seam to a cooling temperature. The compressing continues while the heating and cooling steps are repeated until the surface roughness is determined to be satisfactory. The process then ceases.