Abstract: A contact coating device comprising a high viscosity rapid deposition head comprising a deposition body defining a material supply passage; a dispensing/shaping nozzle being formed adjacent in a leading end surface of the high viscosity rapid deposition head for dispensing of the high viscosity material from the high viscosity rapid deposition head, and the dispensing/shaping nozzle comprising a dispensing cavity; at least one dispensing passage providing communication between the material supply passage and the dispensing/shaping nozzle for suppling the high viscosity material to the dispensing cavity; and a heating element for heating a portion of the high viscosity rapid deposition and facilitating flow of the high viscosity material through the high viscosity rapid deposition head. A multi-head material deposition system which comprises a first drop-on-demand device, a second drop-on-demand device and at least one contact coating rapid deposition head is also disclosed.

Abstract: A combined scribing/filling device for scribing a desired channel, trough, trench or groove in a layer currently being fabricated and simultaneously filling the scribed channel, trough, trench or groove with a desired filling material. The combined scribing/filling device comprises (1) a scribing tool having a scribing tip which facilitates scribing of the desired channel, trough, trench or groove in the layer currently being fabricated; and a dispensing/shaping orifice for filling the scribed channel, trough, trench or groove with the filling material. The scribing tip is located coincident with respect to the dispensing/shaping orifice to facilitate simultaneously scribing and filling of the channel, trough, trench or groove. A method of fabricating a three dimensional model from a composite model formed by a plurality of layers, by simultaneously scribing and filling of the channel, trough, trench or groove is also disclosed.

Abstract: A combined scribing/filling device for scribing a desired channel, trough, trench or groove in a layer currently being fabricated and simultaneously filling the scribed channel, trough, trench or groove with a desired filling material. The combined scribing/filling device comprises (1) a scribing tool having a scribing tip which facilitates scribing of the desired channel, trough, trench or groove in the layer currently being fabricated; and a dispensing/shaping orifice for filling the scribed channel, trough, trench or groove with the filling material. The scribing tip is located coincident with respect to the dispensing/shaping orifice to facilitate simultaneously scribing and filling of the channel, trough, trench or groove. A method of fabricating a three dimensional model from a composite model formed by a plurality of layers, by simultaneously scribing and filling of the channel, trough, trench or groove is also disclosed.

Abstract: A contact coating device comprising a high viscosity rapid deposition head comprising a deposition body defining a material supply passage; a dispensing/shaping nozzle being formed adjacent in a leading end surface of the high viscosity rapid deposition head for dispensing of the high viscosity material from the high viscosity rapid deposition head, and the dispensing/shaping nozzle comprising a dispensing cavity; at least one dispensing passage providing communication between the material supply passage and the dispensing/shaping nozzle for suppling the high viscosity material to the dispensing cavity; and a heating element for heating a portion of the high viscosity rapid deposition and facilitating flow of the high viscosity material through the high viscosity rapid deposition head. A multi-head material deposition system which comprises a first drop-on-demand device, a second drop-on-demand device and at least one contact coating rapid deposition head is also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer system is provided, the computer system having a chassis that encloses a processor and a system memory. The computer system further comprises a reader/writer selectively positionable between a storage position inside the chassis and an operational position outside the chassis.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a compact, portable, external optical disc drives. In one embodiment of the present invention, an optical disc drive is comprised of one or more substrates having a width smaller than the diameter of an optical disc and that covers and protects one or more data recording surfaces of the optical disc. The optical disc drive may also include an external connector that is capable of plugging into an outlet of an electrical device so that the optical disc drive extends beyond an external sidewall of the electrical device and is electronically interconnected to the electrical device.

Abstract: A laser-actuatable inkjet printing system for printing an image from digital raster data onto a print medium is disclosed. The printing system includes at least a printhead having a laser-penetrable chamber for holding ink therein. The printhead also includes a plurality of nozzles defined through a wall of the printhead to connect to the chamber. The printing system further includes a laser for producing a laser beam that is scanned across the chamber for selectively expelling droplets of ink. The expulsion of ink is in accordance with the digital raster data. Ink is expelled through multiple adjacent nozzles simultaneously onto the print medium to form each pixel of the image.

Abstract: A laser-actuatable inkjet printing system for printing an image from digital raster data onto a print medium is disclosed. The printing system includes at least a printhead having a laser-penetrable chamber for holding ink therein. The printhead also includes a plurality of nozzles defined through a wall of the printhead to connect to the chamber. The printing system further includes a laser for producing a laser beam that is scanned across the chamber for selectively expelling droplets of ink. The expulsion of ink is in accordance with the digital raster data. Ink is expelled through multiple adjacent nozzles simultaneously onto the print medium to form each pixel of the image.

Abstract: A mandrel for electroforming non-uniformly thick orifice plates and a method of making the mandrel are disclosed. The orifice plates have a thicker border surrounding a thinner orifice area. The mandrel has a metallic layer on a substrate. The metallic layer has a first molding surface that is electrically isolated from a second molding surface. The first and second molding surfaces are for substantially electroforming the border and the orifice area respectively. The mandrel also has dielectric areas patterned on the metallic layer for electroforming orifices in the orifice area. In use, the first molding surface is used to first electroform the border without electroforming the orifice area. As the border builds up, it electrically connects the first and the second molding surfaces to allow the second molding surface to subsequently electroform the orifice area.

Abstract: An improved printhead for easier manufacturing is disclosed. The printhead has a non-uniformly thick electroformed orifice plate having orifices electroformed therethrough. This electroformed orifice plate has a thin area and a thick area. The thick area defines projections from the thin area. The printhead also has a printhead die that includes transducers on a substrate. Each transducer matches to one of the orifices of the orifice plate. The printhead also has a barrier layer on the substrate that is developed to define ink channels and ink chambers for delivering ink to the transducers. The barrier layer is also developed to define a locator. When the orifice plate is attached to the printhead die during assembly, the projections on the orifice plate mesh with the locator on the barrier layer to substantially hold the orifice plate and the printhead die in place to align each orifice to a corresponding transducer.