Abstract: A jet head box for a semiconductor substrate and nozzle plate containing fluid jet actuators. The jet head box includes an elongate substantially rigid body having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The body also includes a first recessed portion defining a substrate pocket area in the first surface thereof. An elongate slot extends through the body from the second surface to the first surface in the substrate pocket area. An encapsulant dam is provided adjacent at least one end thereof. A shelf is adjacent the encapsulant dam. The jet head box provides a low cost construction for simple miniature fluid jetting devices.

Abstract: A jet head box for a semiconductor substrate and nozzle plate containing fluid jet actuators. The jet head box includes an elongate substantially rigid body having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The body also includes a first recessed portion defining a substrate pocket area in the first surface thereof. An elongate slot extends through the body from the second surface to the first surface in the substrate pocket area. An encapsulant dam is provided adjacent at least one end thereof. A shelf is adjacent the encapsulant dam. The jet head box provides a low cost construction for simple miniature fluid jetting devices.

Abstract: A micro-miniature fluid ejecting device. The fluid ejecting device includes a semiconductor substrate having fluid ejectors formed on a surface of the substrate. A flexible circuit is fixedly attached to the semiconductor substrate. The flexible circuit has power contacts for providing power to the fluid ejectors. At least one drive circuit is connected to the fluid ejectors. The drive circuit is disposed on one of the semiconductor substrate and the flexible circuit. A fluid sequencer is connected to the drive circuit for selectively activating the fluid ejectors. The fluid sequencer is also disposed on one of the semiconductor substrate and the flexible circuit. The semiconductor substrate is attached to a housing. A fluid source is provided for supplying fluid to the semiconductor substrate for ejection by the fluid ejectors. The fluid ejecting device provides low cost construction for application specific miniature fluid jetting devices.

Abstract: A printhead alignment sensor for an ink jet printer includes at least two terminals defining a gap therebetween. An electrical measuring device detects a change in an electrical parameter between two of the terminals when ink is in the gap between the at least two terminals.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting faulty nozzles in an ink jet printer includes an ink jet print head having a plurality of ink jet nozzles disposed adjacent a print medium. The print head prints a reference image on the print medium formed by ink droplets ejected from many of the nozzles. The print head also prints individual test images corresponding to each nozzle by ejecting ink droplets from each of the nozzles separately and sequentially. A print head scan mechanism scans the print head in a first direction relative to the print medium as the test images are printed. A print medium advance mechanism moves the print medium in a second direction between the printing of the reference image and the printing of the test images, where the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. In this manner, the apparatus leaves nonprinted areas on the print medium between the reference image and the individual test images.

Abstract: An ink detection sensor for an ink jet printer includes two terminals defining a substantially linear gap therebetween. An ink support device supports ink in the gap between the terminals. An electrical measuring device detects a change in an electrical resistance between the terminals when ink is supported in the gap by the ink support device.

Abstract: A printhead alignment sensor for an ink jet printer includes two terminals defining a substantially linear gap therebetween. An ink support device supports ink in the gap between the terminals. An electrical measuring device detects a change in an electrical resistance between the terminals when ink is supported in the gap by the ink support device.

Abstract: An ink detection sensor for an ink jet printer includes two terminals defining a substantially linear gap therebetween. An ink support device supports ink in the gap between the terminals. An electrical measuring device detects a change in an electrical resistance between the terminals when ink is supported in the gap by the ink support device.

Abstract: A printhead alignment sensor for an ink jet printer includes two terminals defining a substantially linear gap therebetween. An ink support device supports ink in the gap between the terminals. An electrical measuring device detects a change in an electrical resistance between the terminals when ink is supported in the gap by the ink support device.

Abstract: An optical encoder assembly for an optical encoder for determining rotation of a rotatable shaft. An encoder housing is non-engageable with the shaft. A receiver plate is attached to the encoder housing, has a first side and a substantially opposing second side, and has a through hole and a window both extending from the first side to the second side, wherein the through hole is engageable with the shaft. An encoder mask is attached to the first side of the receiver plate, has a shaft hole engageable with the shaft, and has a mask grating positioned over the window. A light emitter is aligned to face the first side of the receiver plate and is positioned over the mask grating. A light detector is attached to the second side of the receiver plate and is positioned over the window.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting movement of a sheet of media including a light emitting element and a light sensing element for detecting at least part of the light emitted from the light emitting element and reflected by the sheet, the light sensing element providing an output. The sensor further includes a processor receiving the output of the light sensing element and detecting movement of the sheet based upon the output.

Abstract: A method of detecting malfunctioning ones of a plurality of nozzles of a printhead in an ink jet printer includes providing a sensor having at least two terminals defining at least one gap therebetween. An attempt is made to jet ink from a first of the nozzles into the at least one gap. A resistance between at least two of the terminals is measured to determine whether the ink has been jetted into the at least one gap. The attempting and measuring steps are repeated for each remaining nozzle.

Abstract: A printhead alignment sensor for an ink jet printer includes at least two terminals defining a gap therebetween. An electrical measuring device detects a change in an electrical parameter between two of the terminals when ink is in the gap between the at least two terminals.

Abstract: An optical encoder assembly for an optical encoder for determining rotation of a rotatable shaft. An encoder housing is non-engageable with the shaft. A receiver plate is attached to the encoder housing, has a first side and a substantially opposing second side, and has a through hole and a window both extending from the first side to the second side, wherein the through hole is engageable with the shaft. An encoder mask is attached to the first side of the receiver plate, has a shaft hole engageable with the shaft, and has a mask grating positioned over the window. A light emitter is aligned to face the first side of the receiver plate and is positioned over the mask grating. A light detector is attached to the second side of the receiver plate and is positioned over the window.

Abstract: Printer (1) is provided with a mode to edit and print forms without reference to or interruption of a host computer and with immediate printing of one or more of the forms. Page data for the forms is preferably stored in flash memory (21) in a high level printer language. Preferably, at initiation of the forms mode at least the first listed document is immediately prepared by the control data processor (17) of the printer in bit mapped form for printing. Documents can be listed on the control panel by name for ready selection for printing.

Abstract: Electromigration within heater resistors of printheads is prevented by taking into account a resistance degradation characteristic of the heater resistors. In one method a burn in operation of the printhead heater resistors is provided in order to bring the heater resistor resistance to a substantially stable resistance value. Alternatively, a method of controlling firing of a heater resistor within a printhead of an ink jet printer involves establishing a desired current density or maximum acceptable current density for the heater resistor. A resistance of the heater resistor is thereafter monitored during printing operations. Based at least in part upon the monitored resistance, a firing voltage across the heater resistor is adjusted in order to maintain the desired current density through the heater resistor or in order to hold current density through the heater resistor at or below the maximum acceptable current density.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a first side frame and a second side frame, the second side frame being spaced apart from the first side frame. A guide rail extends between the first side frame and the second side frame. A guide rod having a first end, a second end and an axis is provided that extends between the first side frame and the second side frame, the guide rod being positioned to be substantially parallel to the guide rail. A printhead carrier that carries a printhead has a slotted portion for slideably engaging the guide rail and has a bearing for slideably engaging the guide rod. A first eccentric bushing assembly is provided for movably mounting the first end of the guide rod to the first side frame. A second eccentric bushing assembly is provided for movably mounting the second end of the guide rod to the second side frame.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for heating an ink jet printhead by using pass transistors to generate heat and warm the substrate of the printhead. The ink jet printhead has a plurality of ink jet printhead nozzle. Each nozzle is controlled by a circuit. The circuit includes a drive transistor that is electrically coupled to a heating resistor, an enable transistor and a plurality of pass transistors.

Abstract: A sensor and method for detecting the presence of a protective tape on a printer cartridge in contact with a printer cartridge interface, preferably a printer carrier cable, in a printer. The sensor includes at least a first contact and a second contact between the printer cartridge and printer carrier cable, and a protective tape on the printer cartridge. The protective tape bridges an electrical connection between the first contact and second contact when the printer cartridge is in contact with the printer carrier cable. The first and second contact are either both on the printer cartridge or on the printer cartridge interface, or one contact is one the printer cartridge while the other is on the printer cartridge interface. The protective tape is an electrically-conductive material, or alternately is non-conductive and can include either a metal strip or a conductive adhesive that bridges an electrical connection between the first contact and second contact.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing a user to program characteristics of at least one light emitting diode (LED) in order to convey information about the operational status of an appliance, such as a printer. The user of the printer selects one of a plurality of display mode options for the LED for a particular operational status condition of the printer. For each display mode option, there is a range of parameters that can be programmed by the user. Display mode setting information for the particular operational status condition (and chosen parameters) is stored based on a selected display mode option. The display mode option may be tested for a particular set of parameters to allow the user to adjust the parameters to his/her liking. Moreover, a combination of display mode options may be programmed for an operational status condition.