Abstract: Determining inkjet printer pen turn-on voltages is disclosed. An inkjet printer has a number of pens, and a number of sets of nozzles in each pen. Each set of nozzles of a pen is fired at each of a number of voltages, to obtain a voltage-value curve for each set of nozzles. A nozzle turn-on voltage for each set of nozzles is determined based on a maximum slope of its voltage-value curve. The turn-on voltage for each pen is determined based on the nozzle turn-on voltages of the voltage-value curves for its sets of nozzles.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a common substrate with multiple sections, each constituting a separate layer of a memory device. Fold lines are arranged on the substrate to define separate sections and to provide a means for folding the sections on each other to form a multiple-layer memory device. In one application, a substrate has a fold line formed by alterations to the substrate material to form a fold line on the substrate. A first conductor section is formed with an array of parallel conductors or wires spaced across the section. A second section on the common substrate has an array of parallel conductors or wires spaced across the second section, the conductors being perpendicular to the conductors on the first section. The first and second sections are folded along the fold line over on top of each other, after a semiconductor layer has been deposited on one or both of the conductor layers, thereby forming a matrix of memory cells.

Abstract: An ink cartridge of a printer includes first and second electrodes on opposite sides of an ink reservoir. Level of ink in the reservoir may be measured by applying a sense signal to the first electrode, detecting a signal at the second electrode, extracting DC content of the detected signal, and using the DC content to determine the ink level.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for increasing the binding strength of a bound text body by increasing the spinal surface area exposed for adhesive penetration greater than an area corresponding to the product of the sheet height dimension, the sheet thickness dimension and the number of sheets. In one aspect, sheet-wise conditioning of the binding area is performed prior to the application of adhesive to increase the bond area between sheets of the text body. In another aspect, the spinal surface area exposed for adhesive penetration is increased as adhesive is applied.

Abstract: An ink drop detector that minimizes costs of a printer by employing preexisting digital signal processing elements in a printer and low cost analog sensing elements. The analog sensing elements are tuned to ink drop bursts, which include a plurality of ink drops, and the preexisting digital signal processing elements extract ink drop characterization information from sensed analog signals.

Abstract: The system for controlling the back pressure in the reservoir of an ink-jet pen includes a pump for removing air from the reservoir and a vacuum regulator to ensure that the back pressure within the reservoir does not exceed a level that would cause the print head to fail.

Abstract: A scanning head printer includes a battery that is onboard a reciprocating printhead for providing power necessary for printing onto a medium, such as a sheet of paper. In a second embodiment, the drive signals for firing ink from the scanning printhead are transmitted in a wireless fashion. If both the onboard battery and the wireless transmission are combined, the scanning printhead can be free of restrictive cables that link the printhead to stationary circuitry. Preferably, the printhead includes power-conditioning circuitry. A stationary primary coil may be employed for inductive coupling to a recharge coil that is mounted for movement with the printhead and the onboard battery, thereby permitting recharging of the battery when the printhead is in a rest position.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead including a flexible substrate having at least one fold therein such that a first section of the substrate overlies a second section of the substrate. Inkdrop ejection chambers are disposed between opposed surfaces of the first and second sections of the substrate. Ink inlet orifices are provided in the first section of the substrate and each of the ink inlet orifices are in fluid communication with a respective one of the inkdrop ejection chambers. Ink outlet apertures are provided in the second section of the substrate and each of the ink outlet apertures are in fluid flow communication with a respective one of the inkdrop ejection chambers.

Abstract: In one of the preferred embodiments, an inkjet printhead includes a nozzle member formed of a polymer material that has been laser-ablated to form inkjet orifices. The nozzle member also has formed on it conductive traces for supplying electrical signals to heating elements on a substrate mounted to a surface of the nozzle member. In a preferred method, the orifices are formed by Excimer laser ablation.

Abstract: In one of the preferred embodiments, an inkjet printhead includes a nozzle member formed of a polymer material that has been laser-ablated to form inkjet orifices, ink channels, and vaporization chambers in the unitary nozzle member. The nozzle member is then mounted to a substrate containing heating elements associated with each orifice. In a preferred method, the orifices, ink channels, and vaporization chambers are formed using an Excimer laser.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a nozzle plate formed of a polymer material that has been photoablated or photo-etched to form inkjet nozzles. The polymer material preferably is a plastic such as teflon, polyimide, polymethylmethacrylate, polyethyleneterephthalate or mixtures thereof. The nozzle plate also has formed in it a plurality of vaporization chambers. The inkjet nozzles are preferably formed in a flexible strip of polymer film by masked laser radiation, where the mask is physically spaced from the polymer film. Heater resistors may be formed on the nozzle plate within each of the vaporization chambers.

Abstract: In one of the preferred embodiments, an inkjet printhead includes a nozzle member formed of a polymer material that has been laser-ablated to form tapered inkjet orifices. The nozzle member is then mounted to a substrate containing heating elements, each heating element being associated with a single orifice. In a preferred method, the orifices are formed by Excimer laser ablation.In other aspects of the invention, vaporization chambers as well as ink channels, providing fluid communication between an ink reservoir and the orifices, are also formed by Excimer laser ablation.

Abstract: In one of the preferred embodiments, an inkjet printhead includes a nozzle member formed of a polymer material that has been laser-ablated to form inkjet orifices, ink channels, and vaporization chambers in the unitary nozzle member. The nozzle member is then mounted to a substrate containing heating elements associated with each orifice. In a preferred method, the orifices, ink channels, and vaporization chambers are formed using an Excimer laser.

Abstract: The invention is fault-tolerant dot-matrix printing that substitutes a tested functioning printing element for a malfunctioning printing element. A detector, such as a piezoelectric membrane drop detector, tests the printing elements for malfunctioning printing elements. Once a malfunctioning printing element is detected, either a detector or a substitution algorithm identifies which section of the printing elements the malfunctioning printing element resides in. The printer controller chooses a defect-free section to substitute for the defective section containing the malfunctioning printing element, disconnects the section containing the malfunctioning printing element, reroutes print signals from the defective section containing the malfunctioning printing element to the substitute section, and alters the scan path of the printhead so that the substitute section prints for itself as well as for the defective section.

Abstract: A substrate for the print head of an ink jet printer includes a plastic base, a metallization layer overlying the plastic base, and a dielectric structure overlying the metallization layer. A thin film resistor is deposited over the substrate, as required. Preferred materials include polyimide plastic for the base, chromium for the metallization layer, and a bilayer construction of silicon dioxide overlying titanium for the dielectric structure.

Abstract: A CVD furnace, having a gas seal and a liquid seal, for chemical vapor deposition of a coating on a fiber. A CVD process utilizing the CVD furnace allows fibers to be pulled through the furnace without drawing gases entrained by the moving fiber into the reaction chamber of the furnace. The process is a hot fiber process, preferably deriving its heat from the meltdown point in an optical fiber pulling process. A coat containing carbon is applied by supplying a reactant containing a carbon having a triple bond. A small amount of silane is also supplied to the reaction chamber to act as an oxygen getter and to prevent tar-like reaction products from clogging the furnace.

Abstract: A splicing apparatus includes a chamber which serves as a locus of functional convergence for a fiber holder, a laser and a viewing system. This arrangement permits several procedural steps, including a splicing operation and a hermetic coating operation to be performed using a single thermal laser heat source and without significantly disturbing the fibers between operations. The apparatus and the method practiced yield a splice which is comparable in optical, mechanical and physical properties to the original cable. Thus, for example, hermetically sealed optical fiber cables suitable for oil-well logging can be manufactured by splicing together the more limited cable lengths available using drawing techniques alone.

Abstract: A coating is applied to an optical fiber to form a thin hermetic seal. The coating is preferably applied on-line by a process such as chemical vapor deposition. The coating retains its integrity under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure thereby expanding the range of uses of optical fibers.